Xc full Susser around the £1800 mark

taffygriffiths

Hi guys!

So... After getting annoyed with my current 2011 ltd comp feeling small and hurting my back, I went for a wander round the local bike shops today.

I was really going to look at high end hard tails.

I do really like the orange crush. Seems a good package overall? And I'd even consider the fox upgrade
http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.p ... ory_id=143

But... Speaking to some of the dealers, I've kind of fallen for a full Susser.
A bit more trail comfort and future potential?

I first tried a lapierre zesty 214. It was a nice bike, and well equipped, but even in an Xl frame, the cockpit felt very compact to me, and the slack head angle and 150mm forks made the front feel a bit strange to me. I'll give it to the bike that it is more of a trail bike..

The only other bike that I managed to try today was a cube 120 pro 29"er. After getting over the weird feelin 29" wheels, it felt like a really nice ride, and of course, a good spec!

I also really like the look of the ghost amr 5700/5900. But I haven't heard much about them? Again.. Seems quality? Fox ctd front and back and good drivetrain
http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.p ... ory_id=182


Now.. I'm 6'2", and 17 st with what seems to be long legs!

There seems to be mixed advice over 29" wheels.. Some say they wouldn't ride anything else... Some say it doesn't really matter... Argh!??!? Some manufacturers don't even really make 26" bikes any more? Is it the future? Should I go with them?

As for my riding. At the moment it consists of mainly 30-40 mile rides on paved and unpaved tracks, gravel and short trail rides. I'm hoping to hit up some of the local infamous welsh trail centres this year tho, so I want soomething to cope!

The last thing I want though, is for a full Susser to be bobby on the climbs, and power sapping. If anybody thinks i should avoid the full sus, then say! Lol

What else can you guys advise to look at? I'm a sucker for quality of components. Some manufacturers you seem to pay huge premiums for their name on a bike and they chop the quality of the components down to plain Deore. If I have to I would upgrade them, but for about £1800' I'd like the best I can get!

Chuck your ideas in the pot guys! I need help

Stu Coops

If it's a quality spec that floats ya boat you'll be hard pushed to beat the Canyons, go to there website and take a look, lot of bang for ya buck.

taffygriffiths

Im liking the look of those canyons.

shame its online only, and their measuring tool doesnt seem to work for me! lol

very good spec for the money, and seem to get very good reviews!

popped out to some other LBS' today..

tried the giant anthem which was a lovely bike, but i really like the X1... which is like £2300 lol.. but they dont do it in xl! strange.. as they do the X2 in XL and its the same frame??

looked at the norco sight 3 se. but again it was 140mm and didnt really do much for me.

also had a call to say that the cube ams 120 29er isnt available

ive narrowed it down to 3 bikes at the moment

ghost amr 5700/5900
cube ams 110 race
canyon nerve al 7.0/8.0

now.. i now none of these are what you would call the 'mainstream' bikes.. am i really loosing that much quality within the frame? levels that the average rider would notice?

obviously the frame is important, and is pretty key to the bike...

any opinions on them?

cooldad

Most manufacturers use frames built for them by huge Asian factories. Merida make a lots of them, and own Specialised.

taffygriffiths

so essentially... im not loosing out that much that i will notice on one of the better value german brands... if at all?

Well.. ive kind of got it down to 2 bikes..

the Ghost AMR 5700 at £1800

and the Canyon nerve AL 7.0 at about £1400 posted


now.. i know there is about £400 difference.. and the specs are very much the same...

but.. the ghost can be had at 2 local bike shops, so i can probably get at least 10% off or more (which should bring it down to about £1600), plus easy local support if its needed. the big one tho, is that i can finally try the bike before paying.

The canyon seems to edge the Ghost on spec slightly, but... its online only... im guessing a size, and if theres any issue, it has to go back in a box to the factory....

so... ive now hit a dead end in my decision... i love both, so im scared of picking one, for wishing i had picked the other! lol

help!!! arrghh! :?

Stu Coops

Both decent bikes but my mate has the Canyon and for me it has to be that but it's you that's riding it not me and as you say it's an online purchase but that's why there so reasonable, happy hunting

taffygriffiths

Well I went for the ghost amr 5900 in the end.

Picked it up today and went for an hour or so ride.

So far I love it. Great bit of kit. Like floating along compared to a hardtail! :P

Great spec for the money, most reviews online of them are very positive.

Need to learn how to set air shocks tidy now! Lol

felix.london

Giant Anthem X or X 29er

chez_m356

felix.london wrote:

Giant Anthem X or X 29er

no its a Ghost AMR 5900

felix.london

chez_m356 wrote:

felix.london wrote:

Giant Anthem X or X 29er

no its a Ghost AMR 5900

didn't see he'd already bought the Ghost!...should've got an Anthem though :twisted:

taffygriffiths

i did look at the Anthem, and the Trance.

the price points on the anthem are (x2 £1700) and (x1 £2400), and i wasnt overly fussed on the X2, and the x1 was out of my price range.

the trance felt a bit... slack upfront for me.. i did like the 29er, but i couldnt seem to get one anywhere.

Kowalski675

taffygriffiths wrote:

the trance felt a bit... slack upfront for me.. i did like the 29er, but i couldnt seem to get one anywhere.

Medium X1s are sold out at the importer, my local shop has a small.

Ben_morris

Hi,

How are you finding your ghost mate?

I called in my LBS and they had a few in, looked very nice.

Ben.

taffygriffiths

i love it so far. cant really fault it at all. comfy, rides well, and a good spec to it.

i can fault the Fox fork mind... that lost all its damping, 1 week into its life, and spent this week back at mojo being fixed.

hey ho! cant blame ghost for that really! lol

just glad i bought from a local shop really.

Ben_morris

Looks a very nice bike. I was a work and we collected some cardboard from a bike shop in chesterfield and I told him. Was looking for a new bike but had no idea what to buy, so much choice.

He priced me a ghost AMR 2976 for £2000.00. This bike and yours looks very similar.

Did i read somewhere your over 6ft? What size did you buy? Im 6ft 6 so will need biggest size.

Ben.

P.s sorry for all questions.

taffygriffiths

the amr 2976 is a 29" to start, and the rrp is about £2300, but it does have full xt drivetrain incl brakes, plus remote and 15mm fox fork.

£2000 seems like a reasonable chunk off?

im 6'2", but i have a reasonably long inside leg. when measured with a spirit level pulled up into my crotch, it comes out about 36".....

most bike shops tell me i need a 20"/ large bike, untill i explain that my old bike it 20" and a 400mm seatpost is at max extension :P

edit... im by far an authority on bikes, so take it with a pinch of salt, but i believe the ghost frames use a horst link suspension, which seems to be a well regarded setup?

Ben_morris

Yeh i am going to go down the 29er route * i think * lol. Ive no idea if its the right move but everyone ive spoke to advised me it is a good choice.

It is a very good price. Igloo cycles in chesterfield, nice little shop.

My measurements are same as you really, Same leg length.

I might pop back tomorrow and have another look.