all mountain bike advice

jake08

Hi everyone im looking for advice on what full sus bike to get. I want a bike that can ride up hills but also take some rough treatment down hills. I have been looking at the cube hanzz pro AM the spec and price looks quite good does anyone have any experience of this bike? Also is there any bikes you would recommend?

Thanks for your help

rockmonkeysc

How much do you have to spend?

jake08

Im looking to spend between 1500 to 2500 or 3000 pounds. Im considering the o% finance route aswell

robz400

I've just bought a 2013 Cube AMS 130 race for just the sort of riding your talking about.

The 2014 ones are due out soon and there's a few 2013 models still around with around £500 off the list price... you'll have to manage with a 26" wheel though :shock:

rockmonkeysc

A Nukeproof Mega would be my choice. Excellent bike and absolutely solid. Climbs surprisingly well as well.

StuShez

The Hanz Pro is a great bike but its massive - a mate has one and with 180mm front and back it comes in at 37.5lb. Great freeride bike but he struggled on the ups for a few months until his fitness caught up.

I've bought a strive, comes in around 30lb and climbs like a goat. 160mm f & r and takes plenty of hammer. Nukies are nice bikes though, very nice

CitizenLee

A Specialized Enduro might be something else to consider.

Again, the 2014 models should push down the price on the 2013s.

jake08

I did think the hanzz pro is a big bike however my fitness isnt too bad. Does the hanz have a lockable rear sus?

I have also looked at the nuke mega they look like a good solid bike however I thought the spec looked better on the cube with a lot of shimano kit on it compared to the nuke which has sram. I believe shimano is the more favoured kit?

cooldad

You're the one who looked at the spec.
Does it?
Although it's the shock that will have Propedal or similar, not strictly the bike.

rockmonkeysc

The Nukeproof is considerably lighter.
The Hanzz is a real tank and has no propedal or any sort of lock out. With the same tyres on my downhill bike would actually be lighter!

JMcP92

I wouldn't go with the Hanzz for that kind of riding, too much bike, too much travel, too much weight. Be great on the downs, but painful on the ups
I'd recommend something more along these lines:
http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k325/a ... frame.html
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/nuke ... -prod81835
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/comm ... -prod83531

Mojo_666

The Hannz won't work out well (my mates cant pedal them up hills for shit), The bikes my mates ride and can climb well are the Nuke Proof Mega, My Santa Crzuz Nomad also flies up.

jake08

okay thank you for the help i have also looked at the nuke mega and santa cruz as well as the hanzz and i think im gonna leave the hanzz to be honest. i have also looked at the trek remedy which looks like a solid bike

rockmonkeysc

Don't completely discount Cube. The Stereo or Fritz would be much better than the Hanzz. The Stereo looks ideal for what you want though I would still go for the Nukeproof Mega AM. They are solid and a really great ride. They climb well and are even better going down. A lot of the European and Canadian bike parks use them as loan bikes because they are indestructible.

welshkev

yep, +1 for the nomad

I also like the look of the mega tr.

Thewaylander

i like the 140 - 160 mm mondrakers, not as good pedalers as the Nomad but better on the down IMO having ridden both bikes

jake08

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-Fritzz-180 ... 66737.html

this fritzz looks pretty good to me

welshkev

jake08 wrote:

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-Fritzz-180-HPA-Race-26-Mountain-Bike-2014-Full-Suspension-MTB_66737.html

this fritzz looks pretty good to me

link doesn't work.

and I can't find the fritzz on the tredz website. is it 180mm travel?

welshkev

when you say "rough stuff downhills", do you mean full on downhill tracks or just trail centre red/black routes?

rockmonkeysc

The Fritzz comes in two flavours. 180mm tank or a lighter 160mm version. Have a look at the Stereo as well, thats a lighter 160mm bike.

jake08

the one i posted is the cube fritzz 180 HPA race 2014. i went to bikepark wales i want some a bike that can do the ups and black routes down. i am only looking for social/enjoyment not racing.

rockmonkeysc

That's a big climb and some gnarly black descents. I wouldn't want to ride that climb on a 180mm tank. Whatever you get will be seriously compromised somewhere. Just get a downhill bike and use the uplift!

jake08

ye it is a steep climb i did it on a 29er hardtail. it was a bit bumpy on the way back down. i have looked at the specialized enduro but according too many reviews a coil upgraded is needed. too many bikes to choose from.

JMcP92

I had the same issue to be honest, when I was looking for an AM/Enduro bike, my criteria were as follows:
Good climber
Great descender
Lightweight (e.g. carbon)
Good rear shock as standard

I ended up getting a nice deal on an Intense Carbine frame and now my baby, meets all the above criteria and it's just a nice bit of kit on the whole.
All in all, what I found was it was really down to preference, I would recommend not going north of 160mm for travel because you start to get into freeride big-hitters which aren't made for climbing quite the same and are heavier. After that, just nose around for what floats your boat, if you don't mind going second hand look into Pinkbike's buy/sell, always something worth looking at there:

http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1464738/
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1457250/
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1436987/v
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1442557/
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1461383/
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1461913/
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1449267/

That's a decent selection though I fear I may have not been that broad in price, but I did just check the first few pages. Regardless, all in all down to personal opinion, what floats your boat and what you think will do the best job

rockmonkeysc

With a coil shock you don't get any pro pedal. I had a Giant Reign X, 170mm allmountain bike. It's very hard going on the climbs and a bit lacking on the down as well. It had a coil shock combined with one of the most efficient suspension designs and it still didn't pedal very well.
The worst thing is you use all your energy getting up the hill and can't give it as much on the way down.

welshkev

as rocket monkey said, you'll be compromised somewhere. me personally i'd go with 160mm travel and learn to ride smoother

poah

RockmonkeySC wrote:

With a coil shock you don't get any pro pedal. I had a Giant Reign X, 170mm allmountain bike. It's very hard going on the climbs and a bit lacking on the down as well. It had a coil shock combined with one of the most efficient suspension designs and it still didn't pedal very well.
The worst thing is you use all your energy getting up the hill and can't give it as much on the way down.

you don't need propedal to climb - I had no issues with the fox van RC on my ghost going up or down

poah

jake08 wrote:

Hi everyone im looking for advice on what full sus bike to get. I want a bike that can ride up hills but also take some rough treatment down hills. I have been looking at the cube hanzz pro AM the spec and price looks quite good does anyone have any experience of this bike? Also is there any bikes you would recommend?

Thanks for your help

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/comm ... -prod83509

rockmonkeysc

POAH wrote:

jake08 wrote:

Hi everyone im looking for advice on what full sus bike to get. I want a bike that can ride up hills but also take some rough treatment down hills. I have been looking at the cube hanzz pro AM the spec and price looks quite good does anyone have any experience of this bike? Also is there any bikes you would recommend?

Thanks for your help

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/comm ... -prod83509

Ultra short warranty and a reputation for snapping frames. I wouldn't touch a Commencal, especially for harder riding.

miceden

You dont get a lot for your money component wise but Lapierre make some really good bikes... suggest you take a look at the Zesty and Spicey.

Would also suggest you look at Santa Cruz, and perhaps Rocky Mountain... and +1 for the Cube Stereo.

rockmonkeysc

Aluminium Lappierres can be a bit fragile as well. Carbon ones are ok.