Transition Covert if you want a proper all mountain 29er.
Transition Bandit if you want an allround full sus 29er.
+1. I Tired the Bandit 26 and totally loved it. Hoping to buy a frame a and build it up in a few months. The 29er version is supposed to be the same thing but with bigger wheels. Transition have a demo fleet which they send round to dealers so get in touch with your nearest dealer for a demo.
Spec is ok to be honest, I think it was the reverb that sold it for me
I have done some reading up and everyone I know who has ridden it said it rode reall well, I've not ridden mine yet it's still on the bike stand getting some stuff changed from standard, brakes, shifters, bars and a few other small bits. bars had quite a sweep back and that made the cockpit just a little short for me.
I was going to swap the wheels but to be honest they aint too heavy, bit lighter when I go tubeless on them.
£2000 for the bike but got it for £1760 cash, a good deal too 8)
Tremendous news, and that is the figure I shall aim for as well. A Canyon Nerve AL 8.9 is £1,800 has a very similar spec, its got better brakes (elixir 7 v elixir 5's) but no reverb dropper, and it runs fox performance instead of rockshox.
Like yourself, have only heard good things about the Whyte.
This is the first bike I have had with Rock Shox, Im interested to see how they are. Given the choice i would go DT Swiss all round!
I swapped the shifters for XO Gripshift and the brakes for HOPE X2. I was after a slightly longer travel FS but this has a nice head angle and is edging on all mountain. I had a Niner RIP 9 FS with 120mm travel but it was a bit to XC for me.
I never really took much notice of whytes because I didnt like the mahoosive rear sus set up and I always thought they were expensive. Seems now that they have got some well specced bikes at nice prices.
Based on reviews from people who've actually ridden one, the Gyro does seem to tick most of the OP's boxes. It should be pretty easy to arrange a demo as Orange are usually pretty good at supplying demo bikes through their dealers. So, take one for a spin and let us know what you think.
I agree a lovely bike, but try and get a complete build at sensible money!
I did consider the Covert 29, but at over £4k for the spec that i would want, its just not a sensible purchase.
After having a Nomad and a Blur LT, I can give a 5/5 to my TB. I have tried this bike in technical courses with roots, rocks, slippery tracks, drops and jumps. It is true that a 29er could be less maneuverable in close turns at the beginning. But is just getting used to the bike.
I can say that the TB is a nice bike for riders that have to pedal a lot. I only have seen the difference with my Nomad when it comes to big jumps and drops. I feel more comfortable jumping in my Nomad, but I think that is a fact of getting used to the bike. I feel safer in my 29er when it comes to rock gardens because of the wheel diameter, also, It feels nice when turning at high speed, the bike has an amazing grip compared to my Nomad, I feel that I can lean my bike more to the ground.
Posts
Transition Bandit if you want an allround full sus 29er.
Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
Allround - Cotic Solaris
+1. I Tired the Bandit 26 and totally loved it. Hoping to buy a frame a and build it up in a few months. The 29er version is supposed to be the same thing but with bigger wheels. Transition have a demo fleet which they send round to dealers so get in touch with your nearest dealer for a demo.
The Cube stereo 140 29er is a cracking bike and spec for the money at £2900, had a spin on one the other day and its mint.
I ended up with the Whyte 129s 29er insted, I couldnt justify the cost of the SC tallboy LT build.
Whyte 129S 29er.
Giant Trance X3 - stolen.
I have done some reading up and everyone I know who has ridden it said it rode reall well, I've not ridden mine yet it's still on the bike stand getting some stuff changed from standard, brakes, shifters, bars and a few other small bits. bars had quite a sweep back and that made the cockpit just a little short for me.
I was going to swap the wheels but to be honest they aint too heavy, bit lighter when I go tubeless on them.
£2000 for the bike but got it for £1760 cash, a good deal too 8)
Whyte 129S 29er.
Tremendous news, and that is the figure I shall aim for as well. A Canyon Nerve AL 8.9 is £1,800 has a very similar spec, its got better brakes (elixir 7 v elixir 5's) but no reverb dropper, and it runs fox performance instead of rockshox.
Like yourself, have only heard good things about the Whyte.
Giant Trance X3 - stolen.
I swapped the shifters for XO Gripshift and the brakes for HOPE X2. I was after a slightly longer travel FS but this has a nice head angle and is edging on all mountain. I had a Niner RIP 9 FS with 120mm travel but it was a bit to XC for me.
Whyte 129S 29er.
looks just like a Spesh?
not that thats a bad thing, but i liked Whytes when they were a bit different?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... gn=froogle
Now for sale Fatty
Whyte 129S 29er.
http://www.transitionbikes.com/PDF/TRANSITION_switchback08.pdf
Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
Allround - Cotic Solaris
I did consider the Covert 29, but at over £4k for the spec that i would want, its just not a sensible purchase.
Now for sale Fatty
After having a Nomad and a Blur LT, I can give a 5/5 to my TB. I have tried this bike in technical courses with roots, rocks, slippery tracks, drops and jumps. It is true that a 29er could be less maneuverable in close turns at the beginning. But is just getting used to the bike.
I can say that the TB is a nice bike for riders that have to pedal a lot. I only have seen the difference with my Nomad when it comes to big jumps and drops. I feel more comfortable jumping in my Nomad, but I think that is a fact of getting used to the bike. I feel safer in my 29er when it comes to rock gardens because of the wheel diameter, also, It feels nice when turning at high speed, the bike has an amazing grip compared to my Nomad, I feel that I can lean my bike more to the ground.