Best Full Sus 29er All Mountain?

Crayfish

Not that I can afford it, but I was wondering what people's opinions were on what the best All Mountain 29er (full sus) is, forgetting about the cost.

I'm thinking the lack of a decent travel 29er fork may for some people mean they don't consider there to be a fantastic AM 29er yet... Opinions?

paul.skibum

I havent tried one myself but I'd imagine a Tallboy LT would be right up there. Review I read recently certainly suggested it was pretty good.

Crayfish

There doesn't seem to be many who are riding 29ers here in the UK - perhaps they're only popular in the US?

cooldad

Because it's a commie big pharma fatcat banker military industrial complex conspiracy.

b45her

or because brits are far less prone to believing hype than our cousins over the pond .
ive tried afew and wouldn't pick any of them over a 26er .

have a look on some US based forums they'll be more than happy to tell you how they go up hill without you even having to pedal and turn even champeryesqe desents into little more than fire roads :roll:

lawman

probably a tallboy LTc fitted with a fox 34 and an angleset, or an intense tracer 29. Either one would be good, shame the colours on the tallboy aren't great. needs more lime green!

Personally I don't think a long travel 29er will ever become that mainstream, 26 and 650b will rule the 150+ travel brigade, but frankly I'm more than happy with 26" wheels

VWsurfbum

santacruz tallboy LTC or a Intense bandit are my choices, will be going down that route later this year maybe next, but i have got a FS 29er already and is much better for me than my old 26" wheels

Crayfish

Just did a quick check on MTBR and the full sus 29ers with more than 45 reviews are:

Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp (48 reviews scored 4.52)
Santa Cruz Tallboy Carbon (76 reviews scored 4.88)
Niner R.I.P 9 (92 reviews scored 4.88)

paul.skibum

But that's probably because you are a commie big pharma fatcat banker military industrial complex lover right?

They may well pedal up hils without any effort on my part (or so people who love them tell me) but they also get stuck in between trees and have the turning circle of a house boat (or so people who dont like them tell me)

Crayfish

Supply and distribution seems a bit limited here in UK so far - not sure you can get the Niner RIP made up as a full bike... and the price of the Tallboy LT built up is ridiculous.

Anyone have any thoughts on the Orange Gyro - seems a bit cheaper...?

cooldad

VWsurfbum wrote:

santacruz tallboy LTC or a Intense bandit are my choices, will be going down that route later this year maybe next, but i have got a FS 29er already and is much better for me than my old 26" wheels

But you name your bikes after girly pop singers and are very Andyish, so your opinion is worthless.

pilch

I've got a Titus Rockstar 29er 100mm/120mm forks, the bike I had before was a Yeti 575 with fox 150mm forks. So far I have ridden Cannock, Afan, Glentress & Inners on the Rockstar, in the majority of cases - but not all for trail centre riding, as a direct comparison the Rockstar is quicker (Strava) and has more grip in the corners than the Yeti.

I have yet to compare it on the lumpier natural stuff, but I suspect it will be a little slower but not by much, technical climbing is FAR better on the Rockstar. The 'tight corner barge' thing is a factor, but in an entire weekend of riding in scotland there was 1 issue on a section where I fluffed it in the same place as I had done previously on my Yeti... other than that I didn't manage to wrap myself round any trees or get wedged between them.

Small bump/'jittery' descents and rooty sections are better on the Rockstar, it seems to flatten them out, larger step downs are better on the Yeti (more travel).

I haven't tried any of the other 29er FS offerings, but i'm pretty pleased with my choice, one thing you need without a doubt is a remote dropper, dropping the seat transforms the handling I think its essential to get the best out of the bike... and a beard of course.

VWsurfbum

cooldad wrote:

are very Andyish

OMG i cant believe you just said that!

VWsurfbum

i agree with everything that Pilch said

and Crayfish dont get the Orange, i'd even recomend the the Specialized over the Orange!

rockmonkeysc

Tried a few (Trek Rumblefish, Singular Swift, Intense Spider), seem to make more sense as short travel xc bikes than as AM bikes. Steering is not as nice, especially in tight turns and feel a bit sluggish out of turns. Tyre & fork choice is also a bit limited.
Bigger wheels do make a difference in soaking up small bumps but they won't help on landing jumps and drops and a big wheel will always be heavier or weaker than a equivilent 26" wheel.

Crayfish

I must have given the wrong impression - apologies. This thread is not supposed to be to debate the old 29er vs 26er argument.

Just looking for feedback on decent 29 er FS All Mountin bikes, which can be sourced in the UK. Theres tons of stuff out there on the US forums e.g. MTBR but I was looking for the UK perspective.

What's wrong with the Orange!!??

DodgeT

Crayfish wrote:

What's right with the Orange!!??

ftfy

lostboysaint

Transition Bandit 29

VWsurfbum

DodgeT wrote:

Crayfish wrote:

What's right with the Orange!!??

ftfy

Its just a 5 for bigger wheels :shock: :roll:

rockmonkeysc

VWsurfbum wrote:

DodgeT wrote:

Crayfish wrote:

What's right with the Orange!!??

ftfy

Its just a 5 for bigger wheels :shock: :roll:

So it sounds like a sack of spanners?

VWsurfbum

RockmonkeySC wrote:

VWsurfbum wrote:

DodgeT wrote:

Crayfish wrote:

What's right with the Orange!!??

ftfy

Its just a 5 for bigger wheels :shock: :roll:

So it sounds like a sack of spanners?

Well not seen/heard one in the flesh and Hope wheels are optional

Crayfish

anyone out there have the Orange Gyro?

Crayfish

Bumping this.

I'm still researching what the best value All Mountain 29er is that's available in the UK.

Looking for it to come with a dropper seatpost (preferably Reverb), decent hubs (e.g. Hope Pro2), and tubeless rims as minimum...

Ideas?

rockmonkeysc

Sounds like you need a custom build!
I'm not convinced that a 29er will make a good all mountain bike. Lack of suspension travel will make harsh landings uncomfortable and bigger wheels will add weight or lack strength.

lawman

Titus are testing a 29er el guapo, as good value goes very few off all that off the shelf, transition bandit 29 custom build would be my bet if you want value.

cooldad

Crayfish wrote:

Bumping this.

I'm still researching what the best value All Mountain 29er is that's available in the UK.

Looking for it to come with a dropper seatpost (preferably Reverb), decent hubs (e.g. Hope Pro2), and tubeless rims as minimum...

Ideas?

So what research have you done over the last few weeks, or is this the extent of it?

cooldad

Crayfish wrote:

Not that I can afford it, but .... Opinions?

Plus I'm kind of failing to see the point of the thread. You aren't actually looking for a bike.

Crayfish

lawman wrote:

Titus are testing a 29er el guapo, as good value goes very few off all that off the shelf, transition bandit 29 custom build would be my bet if you want value.

Yep - I know a guy who's testing the El Guapo. He likes it - says it has better grip than previous bikes he has ridden and watching him on it it clearly handles really well. He's been beating it to death though and I think the bushings are starting to exhibit some play. Not convinced about its durability as yet, but definitely worth a look.

MTBSC

A Santa Cruz Tallboy LTc with:
Fox Float 34 and Float shock with Kashima coat and CTD
Full Shimano XTR drivetrain
Shimano XTR Trail brakes (180/180)
ENVE AM 29 carbon wheels
Rockshox Reverb seatpost
Maxxis Ardents
ENVE DH bar
Thomson X4 stem
ODI Ruffian grips
Chris King headset and bottom bracket
Fizik Gobi XM saddle
topped of with pedals of your choice. Perhaps XTR Trail pedals?

ride_whenever

I have a bit of a soft spot for the genius 900 although I prefer the 27" one.

Stu Coops

Mate of mine has just bought a Trance 29r full XT i know it's a 125mm travel but it's gone everywhere my 140mm has although i think the Trance 29r looks a bit strange but they seem to get good reviews and the maestro suspension is excellent.