Short Travel Full Sus Recommendations???
jesper98
Posts: 46
Hi, I want to buy a short travel full sus. The problem is that it has to be tough as I ride quite hard on the downs. I currently have a Giant reign 1 which is a fantastic bike but a bit too much bike for what I need. I don't do big jumps etc so I'm looking for something which has 4" of travel and a bit lighter. The new Commencal Meta SL 4 looks the business but it's out of my price range (at the moment). However, I've also seen a Commencal Super 4.1 for a decent price.
To sum it up I need a 4" full sus for UK trail centres which can take a beating.
Cheers!!!
To sum it up I need a 4" full sus for UK trail centres which can take a beating.
Cheers!!!
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Comments
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Giant trance? Spesh camber?0
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Just bought a Giant trance X3 and love it, absolutely love it. Although if you are sold on 4" you are looking at the Anthem which gets good reviews0
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oodboo wrote:Transition double. Might be a bit heavy though.
He doesnt do jumps and you suggest a full suspension dirt jump/slope style oriented bike - smooth.Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0 -
Budget?0
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If you're happy with the suspension system on the reign how about trying a trance?
out the transition range I'd have thought the bandit would have been the best choice.
Also how about the GT Sensor?0 -
Realistically however hard you think you ride down, if you arent doing huge jumps and drops to flat you dont need an ultra strong bike - you just need a bike with a bit of a trail attitude so a Trance, Camber, Ghost AMR etc etc - if you have a Reign I dont really see the point in changing bikes just to get less travel - if you want a lot lighter I can understand that but less travel makes little sense.
As for the Transition Double - it just seems to make no sense as a xc bike for someone not regularly doing large jumps and drops.Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0 -
VFM - Canyon...
The Short travel Cube looks great (as a hardtail fan it looks like an HT!), a bloke in the club rides one and loves it,Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0 -
Agreed but the OP asked for something tough with 4" travel. Fits those requirements.paul.skibum wrote:As for the Transition Double - it just seems to make no sense as a xc bike for someone not regularly doing large jumps and drops.
Personally I would be looking for an 08 Specialized FSR xc frame. Then I'd put some 120-140mm forks on it and some tough wheels. I had one of these bikes a while ago and it took a beating under my 15st (back then) with the standard 100mm toras. The Toras were noticable flexy though so that's why I'd go for the bigger forks (I'd probably look for some u-turn pikes), plus it would slacken off the geo a bit. But that's just me and everyone has different requirements.0 -
jesper98 wrote:Hi,
To sum it up I need a 4" full sus for UK trail centres which can take a beating.
Cheers!!!
What's the definition of 'taking a beating'? And why a 100mm bike? Are you looking for something lighter? Or a bike that takes less out of the trail than the Reign?
You say you are 'hard on the downs'... you mean you like to ride fast through any rough stuff? Wouldn't a 100mm bike buck you around too much?
Sorry for all the questions... but am trying to get a handle on what you really want.Cool, retro and sometimes downright rude MTB and cycling themed T shirts. Just MTFU.
By day: http://www.mtfu.co.uk0 -
I think the term 'take a beating' needs a little explaining.
Personally I wouldn't say a 100mm travel FS bike has to be deemed weak or not up to the job, unless a beating means launching off every lip and crashing a lot at speed on rocks etc.
Trail centres are really only as demending as the riders ability imho, so a good and light bike with a rider that rides smooth and doesn't crash a lot will be more than ok.
I ride a 100mm FS that weighs less than 25lb and would happily take it round any trail centre XC red or black route, but it could quite easily be damaged / destroyed by riding it wrong !0 -
Thanks for all your replies - really appreciate it!! To clarify, I ride the trail centres around South Wales: Cwmcarn, CwmRhaeder (??), The Whites, The Wall, Brechfa etc. I've been mtb'ing for about 5yrs and go at least once every week, twice in the summer and spring. My reasoning for getting a shorter travel bike is to 'feel' the trail more and in the process shed a little weight for the climbs. I ride fast downhill but also try to pick the best lines rather than smash through any old shape. Having a shorter travel but strong bike appeals to me as it would make the trails more challenging. Hope that makes sense????
Cheers,
Mike.0 -
Just go the whole hog and shorten the rear travel to zero - get a long(er) forked HT as that sounds like what you really want!Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
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Sounds like you'll be fine with any mountain bike ie I don't think you need to concentrate on the strong part of it. I would expect any mountain bike to put up with the stress you are describing.0
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The Beginner wrote:Just go the whole hog and shorten the rear travel to zero - get a long(er) forked HT as that sounds like what you really want!
This. Sounds like it would be fun for the riding you describe
Or if it must be a full susser what about an Anthem?"Why have that extra tooth if you're not using it?" - Brian Lopes
Votec V.SX Enduro 'Alpine Thug' 2012/2013 build
Trek Session 80 -
Long forked hardtails arent really fun for trail centres. The guy said he wants to feel the trail a bit more and enjoys picking the best lines.
Get a short travel hardtail if anything.0 -
I wouldn't get a hardtail as I had a back op about 15yrs ago so I appreciate a full sus more than most. I started off on a hardtail but then switched to a full sus after 6 months or so. I did initially look at the Giant Anthem but where the top tube meets the seatpost looks frighteningly skinny to me. Obviously Giant know what they're doing but it looks too fragile for my type of riding. I suppose I'm just after a change to spice things up - any excuse for a new bike (even though I've had my Reign for 4yrs+
) The Commencal Meta SL 4 ticks all the boxes apart from the price tag - better start saving!!!
Thanks again!0 -
Pivot Mach 4 looks ideal, as does a Morewood Zula and a Nicolai Helius AC (or CC, i cant remember)0
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styxd wrote:Long forked hardtails arent really fun for trail centres. The guy said he wants to feel the trail a bit more and enjoys picking the best lines.
Get a short travel hardtail if anything.
Complete bollocks! I had a 100mm travel hardtail aswell as my full suss. I broke my full suss and had to ride my hardtail for a few months . I enjoyed the hardtail but wanted more travel, I now have a cove stiffee with 150mm forks and it's the most fun bike I've ever owned....no fun my arse. 100mm travel hardtail rattled my teeth out0 -
I did initially look at the Giant Anthem but where the top tube meets the seatpost looks frighteningly skinny to me. Obviously Giant know what they're doing but it looks too fragile for my type of riding.
You make it sound like you're Steve peat hammering fort William. Most/all bikes these days can handle trail centre abuse, especially if, as you say you pick the best lines and don't just hammer over stuff!0 -
welshkev wrote:styxd wrote:Long forked hardtails arent really fun for trail centres. The guy said he wants to feel the trail a bit more and enjoys picking the best lines.
Get a short travel hardtail if anything.
Complete bollocks! I had a 100mm travel hardtail aswell as my full suss. I broke my full suss and had to ride my hardtail for a few months . I enjoyed the hardtail but wanted more travel, I now have a cove stiffee with 150mm forks and it's the most fun bike I've ever owned....no fun my ars*. 100mm travel hardtail rattled my teeth out
If you just like holding on and hoping for the best then I can see why you'd want 150mm. I wouldnt call this bike riding though.0 -
styxd wrote:welshkev wrote:styxd wrote:Long forked hardtails arent really fun for trail centres. The guy said he wants to feel the trail a bit more and enjoys picking the best lines.
Get a short travel hardtail if anything.
Complete bollocks! I had a 100mm travel hardtail aswell as my full suss. I broke my full suss and had to ride my hardtail for a few months . I enjoyed the hardtail but wanted more travel, I now have a cove stiffee with 150mm forks and it's the most fun bike I've ever owned....no fun my ars*. 100mm travel hardtail rattled my teeth out
If you just like holding on and hoping for the best then I can see why you'd want 150mm. I wouldnt call this bike riding though.
What exactly would you call it then? It's a bike, I ride it, I very rarely ride trail centres anyway. If you can ride the trails I ride on a 100mm travel hardtail and not feel shaken to bits you're a better man than me - and I've ridden them on a 100mm travel hardtail!! Even on Cwmcarn I didn't really like 100mm of travel. :roll:
But I'll bow to your superior and god like riding abilities0 -
Fun is subjective - for some people riding fully rigid is fun, for others riding 10 inches at each end. On all sorts of terrain.0
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supersonic wrote:Fun is subjective - for some people riding fully rigid is fun, for others riding 10 inches at each end. On all sorts of terrain.
Fair point, but anyone who rides a rigid off road is just weird
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Welshkev - thanks for your comment but have you seen the Anthem in person? If so you'd know what I'm talking about. I'm no Steve Peat that's for sure!!!0
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You could try a Pivot M4X with a dropper - makes a pretty good trail bike by all accounts with a design for slalom, dirt jumps and so on - which probably takes us back toward the double someone suggested earlier and I poo poo'ed although the M4X is a lighter but single ring only bike.
I'd be tempted by a new Nukeproof Mega Trails - a 130mm bike, built tough, dropper ready, chuck a 2x10 setup or a 1x10 maybe and it would be a great tough all mountain trail bike - perfect for any sort of riding I'd imagine.Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0 -
welshkev wrote:styxd wrote:welshkev wrote:styxd wrote:Long forked hardtails arent really fun for trail centres. The guy said he wants to feel the trail a bit more and enjoys picking the best lines.
Get a short travel hardtail if anything.
Complete bollocks! I had a 100mm travel hardtail aswell as my full suss. I broke my full suss and had to ride my hardtail for a few months . I enjoyed the hardtail but wanted more travel, I now have a cove stiffee with 150mm forks and it's the most fun bike I've ever owned....no fun my ars*. 100mm travel hardtail rattled my teeth out
If you just like holding on and hoping for the best then I can see why you'd want 150mm. I wouldnt call this bike riding though.
What exactly would you call it then? It's a bike, I ride it, I very rarely ride trail centres anyway. If you can ride the trails I ride on a 100mm travel hardtail and not feel shaken to bits you're a better man than me - and I've ridden them on a 100mm travel hardtail!! Even on Cwmcarn I didn't really like 100mm of travel. :roll:
But I'll bow to your superior and god like riding abilities
To be fair - he has a point - I last rode Afan on my 100mm hardtail and it was super fun on that bike - I was actually glad I had left my full susser at home as I was riding on the limit and had I had a bit more bounce my limitwould probably have wandered a little beyond my skill and then off the side of the trail into the valley below!Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0 -
paul.skibum wrote:welshkev wrote:styxd wrote:welshkev wrote:styxd wrote:Long forked hardtails arent really fun for trail centres. The guy said he wants to feel the trail a bit more and enjoys picking the best lines.
Get a short travel hardtail if anything.
Complete bollocks! I had a 100mm travel hardtail aswell as my full suss. I broke my full suss and had to ride my hardtail for a few months . I enjoyed the hardtail but wanted more travel, I now have a cove stiffee with 150mm forks and it's the most fun bike I've ever owned....no fun my ars*. 100mm travel hardtail rattled my teeth out
If you just like holding on and hoping for the best then I can see why you'd want 150mm. I wouldnt call this bike riding though.
What exactly would you call it then? It's a bike, I ride it, I very rarely ride trail centres anyway. If you can ride the trails I ride on a 100mm travel hardtail and not feel shaken to bits you're a better man than me - and I've ridden them on a 100mm travel hardtail!! Even on Cwmcarn I didn't really like 100mm of travel. :roll:
But I'll bow to your superior and god like riding abilities
To be fair - he has a point - I last rode Afan on my 100mm hardtail and it was super fun on that bike - I was actually glad I had left my full susser at home as I was riding on the limit and had I had a bit more bounce my limitwould probably have wandered a little beyond my skill and then off the side of the trail into the valley below!
my point was he said that long travel hardtails aren't fun at trail centres, i disagreed cos i have a blast on mine. but like sonic said - fun is subjective
and like i said, i've ridden trails on a 100mm hardtail (afan included) i didn't enjoy it and can go much faster on my cove than i ever could on my giant (and i still have the fillings left in my teeth )
and i don't hold on and hope for the best, i'm not the quickest rider out there, but i reckon i'm pretty good 0
