Tough single pivot

Sambuca

After having lots of multi pivot suss bikes which have all needed maintainence/bearings on a regular basis and creaked due to mud and water etc I've decided single pivot is the way to go. Riding is the important thing so want a super tough single pivot for trail centres and general riding in usual wet uk conditions. Orange 5 is the obvious choice I guess but anyone know of something better? Just want a strong bulletproof bike that can be ridden hard and not need to be pulled apart on a regular basis....

coomber

Cannondale gemini/phrophet. Older Marin's were good. Not ridden one but would imagine you'd be hard to beat a Santa Cruz - if you are hard riding go for a bullit perhaps.

miss notax

Santa Cruz Bullit is a big beastie of a bike - rides beautifully but I wouldn't want to slog it around a xc route / trail. In my opinion it's better for downhill stuff / Alps type riding.

Santa Cruz Heckler could be a contender though? Nice beefy trail bike? Or a good old Orange 5? Personally, if I could only have one bike it would be my 5

cat_with_no_tail

Bionicon Edison, just to be different

supersonic

Single pivots do not always give you the maintenance free ride (or less) that you want - they can be flexier, which stresses the pivots more, and certainly loads the shock bearings more. Some bikes like Marin last a lot longer than some single pivots.

styxd

I'd go for a Prophet/Orange 5/Morewood/Nukeproof

I wouldnt go for a Santa Cruz.

HTH

cooldad

I easily got four years out of mine (Kona) with no maintenence, and replacements were about £25 on Ebay and an hour or so to fit. Not a major issue really.

ThePriory1978

If its a true single pivot you want, imo there is only two choices worth considering. The Orange 5 or Santa Cruz Heckler. I'd have the Heckler.

If you want what is a single pivot bike with an extra linkage to change the suspension curve (i dont know the technical term, faux bar maybe). Then Diamond backs Knucklebox, Nukeproofs Mega, Santa Cruz's Butcher are all essentially hard hitting single pivot bikes updated with an extra link to tune the suspension curve for modern requirements.

I'd have a Heckler and be very happy. Shame its not CCCP available.

supersonic

The link also supports the shock better, increasing life of the bushings.

I'd also test these SP bikes, because if you are used to something like a Horst bike, which has virtually no pedal kickback, then an Orange etc is going to feel very different.

benpinnick

cooldad wrote:

I easily got four years out of mine (Kona) with no maintenence, and replacements were about £25 on Ebay and an hour or so to fit. Not a major issue really.

... an hour or so mostly done by someone else

Sambuca

I'm currently on a 2012 carbon zesty which is a super fast feeling ride but I've already had creaking from the linkages and the front mech is the best mud catcher around, also managed to knock some descent size chips into the carbon hence me wanting something super tough and mud proof! I'll be keeping the zesty for dry work and xc duties.....

cooldad

benpinnick wrote:

cooldad wrote:

I easily got four years out of mine (Kona) with no maintenence, and replacements were about £25 on Ebay and an hour or so to fit. Not a major issue really.

... an hour or so mostly cocked up by someone else

FTFY, but your assistance, including doing it right the second time was invaluable, appreciated, indipensible etc.

Hint to others - if you have bits left over, they are necessary and you've cocked it up.

lawman

Sambuca wrote:

I'm currently on a 2012 carbon zesty which is a super fast feeling ride but I've already had creaking from the linkages and the front mech is the best mud catcher around, also managed to knock some descent size chips into the carbon hence me wanting something super tough and mud proof! I'll be keeping the zesty for dry work and xc duties.....

Kinda defeats the point of even having the zesty doesn't it? The heckler is a good bike, would be my choice if you wanted a single pivot, but the zesty came be quite fragile, might be worth selling that and getting something tougher that you can use year round. A carbon Nomad, Yeti SB66c or Mojo HD would great as a year round bike, both are incredibly tough and light enough to use anywhere

jonnyashworth

I think supersonic is right here. Single pivots might seem simpler but due to extra stresses on the bearings could end up requiring more regular maintenance. My blur LT has grease ports on the lower linkages and conical bearings so you can attach a grease gun to it and push fresh grease into them. Also the bearings have a lifetime warranty so if you grab a spare set from santa cruz you can get the knackered ones swapped free when they are spent and have a good set ready to go (so no missed riding time). So in my humble opinion go for a better quality, better performing frame with better aftersales and sell the zesty frame on. They tend to fetch good money on ebay so.....

sofaboy73

If you are going to go SP, definately go for the heckler. Had mine for 5 years and never had to touch the bearings once and only had to swap out the lower shock bushings twice and I by no means looked after that bike.

That being said, I recently upgraded to a nomad and would never go back. Obviously can't comment on the longevity of the bearings as only 6 months in, but it's a tough old beast and I think they have a life time gaurentee on the bearings