Canyon or Vitus 29er for XC racing

mfndcc

Guys,

Hoping some of you can help relieve my headache of choosing between the following two 29er machines:

1. VITUS RAPIDE 29 HARDTAIL http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=81008
£1,799, but can get for £1,700 with work scheme
All sram components, which I don't think last as well in the Irish mud and wet
decent weight @ 10.9kg

2. GRAND CANYON 9.9 http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes ... tml?b=3015
£1,535 so a bit cheaper.
Really like the sound of the terralogic fork as its a set up and leave option
slightly heavier @ 11kg
Have to order from Germany and 5 week wait time

Any thoughts guys on comparing these two options? Obviously race performance is key to my decision, but I want good value for money, reliability etc

Greer_

Personally I'd have the virus but that's because I prefer Sids over Fox, and X9 over XT. Why wouldn't Sram last as well? The problem with Fox forks are the incredibly short service intervals - RS just need some TLC every now and then. However, the canyon is a bargain!

mfndcc

Thanks for the thoughts Greer. Its just a feeling based on the longevity of the sram components I have on my current 26 bike.

PS - judging by your xmtb kit we probably race together, tho maybe not the same cat

Greer_

Well if you're looking for a bike like that I'd imagine you're a category or two above me (S4)! Was racing at Ballykelly yesterday, were you there? But its more user preference really, especially for racing. Will it be just a race bike, or training bike too? If it's just for racing, I'd be more inclined to go for the canyon, just because of the forks. Its a service every 30 hours of riding for the Fox forks, so I'd have to do it every month or so.

mfndcc

Wasn't at BallyKelly as had a road race down at craigavon, but they got the times wrong so wish I'd gone to B'Kelly. Raced S3 last year (tho S4 @ B'Kelly) & will probs do same this year, though not usre how many races will be able to do.

Didn't realise the fox forks need so much in the way of service. I'm a numpty when it comes to stuff like that. Why do fox need so much more servicing than sids!? The terralogic fork does sound the business.

Greer_

Was a tough race! I was glad I didn't have the extra lap! The next one is in Rostrevor at the start of May, should be good - they're not using the new trails though. And the NPS this weekend which I've got a lift too This is my first year of racing, so really just trying to get a feel for it. I just noticed the NDCC in your username, there were a few riders of yours there yesterday!

Page 3/4 of this http://media.canyon.com/download/manual ... x_2012.pdf - I've seen a lot of Fox forks with really worn stanchions when they're not serviced regularly.

mfndcc

yeah, i loved that wee course last year. that was my first year at racing and it soon became an addiction :-) ...so welcome to the world of xc racing!

Cheers for the info on the servicing

Greer_

Cheers haha the first drop off was a bit scary, so went to do the 'chicken run' which was even more sketchy! Its all experience ... I defo need it!

No bother, just noticed the Vitus has a carbon frame, the Canyon doesn't. This is also worth a look - http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k1275/ ... r-8-0.html - would leave some spare cash for a nice race wheelset to get it under 11kg. Some nice looking bikes on that website (Cubes and Radons).

The Rookie

On topic, the older Sram jockey wheel design suffered in wet/mud, but the new centre bolt ones (aka Shimano copy) last just as well as Shimano, also the changes to pull ratio etc for 10 speed seems to have resolved the issue with the return spring on 9 speed SRAMs not overcoming mucky cables as well as the 9 speed Shimano did.

Vitus for me for the RS forks for the reason given, I wouldn't sweat the 'alleged' weight difference though...with no standrads some are with pedals and some without, some are small frame, some medium....

mfndcc

Thanks guys....more food for thought! I really am stuck between these two! I'm interested in knowing just how much of a benefit a carbon frame really is over alu, other than the weight difference (for racing) which may be the ultimate deciding factor.

rossi1981

sorry to resurrect an old post, but you mention the short service intervals on the Fox forks. having spent all of 2 seconds on google i found the following:

http://www.ridefox.com/fox_tech_center/ ... ervals.htm

it clearly states they need a service every 200 hrs/annually. which you should do on most forks that get used.

also, which bike did you end up getting? thinking of a canyon or vitus myself