New downhill Bike

rockmonkeysc

I'm selling my Reign X and getting a proper DH bike but can't decide what to get. I have got £3500 to spend but I don't want a German mail order bike. I like the Glory but it isn't very good value compared to the alternatives. The GT Fury looked ok until I read some reviews, the 2013 Scott Gambler looks like it could be ok but I doubt it will be very good value.
So far it's between the Nukeproof Scalp DH pro or the Norco Aurum 1.
Any other bikes I should have a look at?

supersonic

It's all about testing as usual. Geo varies a lot, as does sus - you need both these to work with you.

I'd try and get a ride on the Fury and Gambler at least.

styxd

Buying a new downhill bike is strange as you can never really test them. For this reason, Id just get a YT industries cos they're such good value.

But what Id really do is buy something 2nd hand around the £1500 mark

oodboo

What about the Trek Session 8:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec029896

I've heard good things about the Mondraker and with 45% off it's a bit of a bargain (if you're small):
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/mon ... e-ec024931

Lapierre DH 720:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/lap ... e-ec031552

rockmonkeysc

I have tried a Session 8, didn't like the rear suspension. I had seen that Mondraker, amazing value but too sizes too small. Not sure about the Lapierre, heard about a few cracking.
I agree with Supersonic but finding bikes to even sit on in a shop is hard enough, finding demo bikes is impossible.

Biffz0id

Morewood are doing some pretty decent value bikes. The spec on the Izumu is pretty decent for two and a half grand or there abouts.

supersonic

Contact dealers about testing - infact, I'd email the distributors direct, and send a copy of this thread. Say you have 3.5k to spend, what can they do for you?

Stevo_666

The Saracen Myst and Kona Operator are worth a look, although the price points of the two main models of each are either a way below or a way above your budget.

Also if you can't realistically get a test ride of the ones you're interested in, I don't see why you should write off the German mail order bikes?

supersonic

Also if you can't realistically get a test ride of the ones you're interested in, I don't see why you should write off the German mail order bikes?

Exactly, as you will be getting a far better spec.

Stevo_666

supersonic wrote:

Also if you can't realistically get a test ride of the ones you're interested in, I don't see why you should write off the German mail order bikes?

Exactly, as you will be getting a far better spec.

It looks like some of these are starting to land in the UK now (someone on here has just taken delivery of a Canyon Torque FRX recently and the YT Tuesday 2.0's are starting to be delivered to people), so there should be some good feedback on the Germans soon.

If I take the plunge and go for a DH bike at some point, it will probably be German...

lawman

avoid lapierre at all costs, they have serious issues. the scalp is a superb bike for the money, it rides very well and has a world cup spec, would be my choice by a flying mile

lostboysaint

Transition TR450. Work of art frame, excellent build options.

supersonic

http://www.yt-industries.com/shop/index ... bjm4m7p11k

Wow.

Stevo_666

supersonic wrote:

http://www.yt-industries.com/shop/index.php?page=product&info=215&x96114=akvh0vl6f70sq3lak4d71hbjm4m7p11k

Wow.

+ potato

Double wow (if you spotted this last November - hope they do another limited edition):
http://dirt.mpora.com/news/limited-edition-yt-industries-tues-20-dh-offer.html

delcol

i would of got a yt ind if they had been available in time for my trip to whistler.. the tues 2 is a decent bike at a very decent price..


still think the norco aurum is smart though....


it's tough trying to decide which bike to pick it took me weeks of researching and pondering before i made my mind up..

this was another i wanted but it was out of stock at the time..
this would probably better for you as it's more geared towards downhill... i know you said you dont want a german mail order bike but the value for money is impressive..

peter413

That YT looks stunning value but can I recommend going the custom route? I did building my 224 and then my Rocky and all the bits that are on the Rocky at the moment come to a total of about £2600, what the frame should have cost on its own.

It can take some time and you do have to be lucky to get the best deals but that build I'm totally happy with and it's all parts I want so I'm not always thinking oh I wish it had that part instead of coming with this instead. Just think that a few bits changed on that YT equals what it would have cost me to build up a bike I'm happy with to start with.

rockmonkeysc

I know the German bikes are great value but I have spoke to a few people who have been very unimpressed with YT's customer service, even before they take your money service can be poor. The Canyon has good spec but there is something about it I don't like, not sure what but I just don't like it. Rose are the other German option but I emailed their UK distributor because I know he used to take demo bikes to races but I never got a reply.
Also if I break a linkage or drop out or need bearings can I get them quickly from German mail order companies?

DodgeT

supersonic wrote:

http://www.yt-industries.com/shop/index.php?page=product&info=215&x96114=akvh0vl6f70sq3lak4d71hbjm4m7p11k

Wow.

By eck I do like that :cool:

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Also if I break a linkage or drop out or need bearings can I get them quickly from German mail order companies?

Probably just as quick as you'd get them over here, ze germans are very efficient..

rockmonkeysc

Probably just as quick as you'd get them over here, ze germans are very efficient

I work for a large German company & I can honestly say that ze Germans are NOT efficient. They are always on holiday.

DodgeT

Was a bit tongue in cheek, minus the emoticon... I deal with a large german branch myself and efficient they are certainly not, unless it suits them... Yes, european holidays seem better than ours.

However, bike discount seem to be. Both myself and a mate had reverbs delivered in 5 and 2 days repectively.

felix.london

supersonic wrote:

http://www.yt-industries.com/shop/index.php?page=product&info=215&x96114=akvh0vl6f70sq3lak4d71hbjm4m7p11k

Wow.

That's the bike I'd settled on after months of deciding but than I found the Session 8 for €2K and went with that. Wasn't overly impressed with YT pre-sales customer service either.

delcol

having worked for a huge german company for years i would agree they aint efficient at all, and from the research i did yt customer service aint that good it's almost non existent...

felix.london

Yep - compared to ROSE who seemed to be well organised and replied to emails saying when/where I could get a test ride, which components I could/couldn't swap etc. YT was p1ss poor

Then again - I was contacting them as soon as the Tues 2.0 was shown on their site with annoying questions about bike weights & delivery times :roll: so maybe they were just overstretched

Stevo_666

I've got a feeling that YT have overstretched themselves/demand is running ahead of what they can produce. The advertised lead time for a Tues 2.0 is now about 3 months (plus nearly 2 weeks to deliver...). I also spotted a thread on another forum where people are griping about late deliveries and lack of response to emails on the limited edition version.

That said, I reckon that once it's actually delivered the you'd hve a good bike at a cracking price.

felix.london

Yep - this is finally what tipped it. The lifts open here next w/e and they couldn't guarantee delivery by then (this was back in February) and I have got to be on that 1st lift!

cat_with_no_tail

How are you enjoying the Session 8?

I have just this very second paid to hire/demo one for an uplift day at Inners in July.

rockmonkeysc

I emailed Hotlines who distribute Nukeproof & they phoned me and arranged for a medium & large bike to be at a local shop so I can at least try for size, prod the shiny bits & a pedal around the car park.
Unfortunately they couldn't arrange a proper demo but what they were very helpful & arranged the best they could.

steelie600

slightly OT here but is that ad for the YT right?? All that spec for 2.5k euros??

WoW + a sack of potatoes!

delcol

yep it's right,, they sell direct like canyon so no middle man.. hence the price...

rockmonkeysc

Can't argue with the value. Even if the frame is sh!t the components are worth that much at least. It's their customer service which puts me off.

delcol

i thought this with the canyon could be worth getting it just for the parts alone and sell the frame..