Heckler or Zesty ?

yanktanks

Hi Guys,

I am looking for a new bike and have two recomended to me that currently fit into my budget.

the first is a Santa Cruz Heckler in the base D kit with the rock shox sektor forks.

The second is the Lapierre Zesty 314

Can anyone give me any advice on which way to go or throw something else into the mix and really confuse me

Cheers

Martin

Paul 8v

I've got a zesty 314 and I'm really pleased with it. Climbs and decends well and is a great l rounder. Never really been after a full sus before but after riding one I had to have it. Would recommend a test ride :-)

bennett_346

Personally i'd go with the zesty.

Woody80

I had a Zesty and it was brilliant. Looked at SCs as a replacement for my Spicy (looked at a Butcher) but they seemed fairly pricey in comparison?

symanoy

Always pay more for Santa Cruz bikes, I rode a heckler round Coed Y brenin year or two ago, it was alot of fun, it had more character to it than a more off the shelf bike, it descends incredibly well and can handle anything! not so great on the climbs though, was quite a slog. But a fun bike to ride!

Get a test ride if you can!

paul.skibum

Wow no one suggested a Canyon yet?!

I ride an old Heckler (2001 100mm version) and love it - single pivot simplicity, bomb proof, versatile and the newer ones more so. You probably arent quite getting the same vfm for the Santa Cruz I guess.

Anonymous

Heckler, but I'm biased.

Or a step up for that kind of travel and a full pivot system( :P) - Blur LT

If you're London based, pop out to Pedal & Spoke in Surrey Hills and get a demo of any Santa Cruz bikes.

I think Nirvana Cycles in Westcott do Lapierre and might demo them.

sofaboy73

two fairly different bikes, the heckler is more 'burly' than the zesty. great bike had one for 5 years until stolen. great flexibility in the way you can build it up as the frame will take any abuse you throw had it. Only had a brief demo on a zesty, but it felt very much more xc / light trail than the heckler.

depends what you ride and what you intend to do with it in future. personally i'd go for the heckler - more flexibilty as a platform

ilovedirt

I'd rather have a Heckler than a Snappierre myself. Every man and his dog has one as well (Lapierre), i'd rather have something a bit different.

cooldad

ilovedirt wrote:

I'd rather have a Heckler than a Snappierre myself. Every man and his dog has one as well (Lapierre), i'd rather have something a bit different.

That's really funny. Did you think of it all on your own?

rockmonkeysc

I would go for the Heckler over the Lappierre. Hecklers are a great ride and last forever, never heard of anyone breaking a heckler.
I would also consider the Norco Sight and Giant Reign.

warpcow

Obviously I'm biased, but the Heckler really does live up to its reputation: simple, bombproof, fun, versatile. I've ridden a friend's Zesty and it was ok but didn't feel as stable despite being fashionably lower and slacker.

ilovedirt

cooldad wrote:

ilovedirt wrote:

I'd rather have a Heckler than a Snappierre myself. Every man and his dog has one as well (Lapierre), i'd rather have something a bit different.

That's really funny. Did you think of it all on your own?

I know right? I'm here all week folks.

lostboysaint

Neither, Transition Bandit.

poppit

paul.skibum wrote:

Wow no one suggested a Canyon yet?!

I ride an old Heckler (2001 100mm version) and love it - single pivot simplicity, bomb proof, versatile and the newer ones more so. You probably arent quite getting the same vfm for the Santa Cruz I guess.

There's time yet

mr joey

i bought a 2011 heckler frame with rp23 and built it up myself and is a truely awesome bike still not sure if my 140 mm floats are big enough :? but seem fine put 2.4s on it so its more of a beefy trail bike but love it handles everything
just got back from fort william and rode most of the red all day and it was spot on,so for me its heckler