Which 140mm 650b for £2500?

broona
broona Posts: 414
edited March 2014 in MTB buying advice
Sorry to post yet another which bike thread, BUT following on from my thread here - viewtopic.php?f=20005&t=12954723 I've decided that a 160mm travel bike is just going to be a little too much for me, rode my mate's 150mm Granite Chief again at the weekend and even that's more bike than I really need!

I think the sensible option is a 140mm 650b, still 10mm more travel than my Boardman, but the bigger wheels should help a little too, is there much better out there than the Canyon Spectral AL 8.0 for £2300 - http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes ... tml?b=3252

I'd really like Rockshox either end, but I suppose I can live with Fox, lol! :P

Comments

  • The Northern Monkey
    The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,136
    broona wrote:
    but the bigger wheels should help a little too

    Was the granite chief the 650b version?

    pinkbike seemed to like the Spectral, as does Fabien Barel!
    http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Canyon-Spe ... iewed.html
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • broona
    broona Posts: 414
    The Northern Monkey wrote:
    broona wrote:
    but the bigger wheels should help a little too

    Was the granite chief the 650b version?

    pinkbike seemed to like the Spectral, as does Fabien Barel!
    http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Canyon-Spe ... iewed.html

    Yeah, his is the 2014 650b, beautiful bike and I'd be very tempted to get one if he hadn't already, after all, I did recommend it to him in the first place...

    Thanks for the review link, I'll have a read through now! :)
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Geometry counts for a lot more than travel.
    My Mega TR has 130mm travel but is better suited to more aggressive riding than your boardman because of the longer, slacker geometry.
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235
  • broona
    broona Posts: 414
    RockmonkeySC wrote:
    Geometry counts for a lot more than travel.
    My Mega TR has 130mm travel but is better suited to more aggressive riding than your boardman because of the longer, slacker geometry.

    Appreciated, I am looking for something a little slacker than the Boardman but nothing too extreme, think it's 68.5°, 66 to 67° should feel more composed downhill which is mostly what I'm after.
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Take a look at the Mega TR. Good value and a great ride. Transition Bandit is very good as well.
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235
  • lawman
    lawman Posts: 6,868
    RockmonkeySC wrote:
    Take a look at the Mega TR. Good value and a great ride. Transition Bandit is very good as well.

    This.
  • ej2320
    ej2320 Posts: 1,543
    I'm really liking my Transiton Covert

    But if you want 140/150mm then I'd check out the Bandit, supposed to be stiff and slack and better up than the covert
    The covert is just built more like a DH bike so will ride better on technical descents and drops

    I suspect the Mega TR is very similar to the bandit in this sense
    with the Mega AM similar to the Covert
  • Cqc
    Cqc Posts: 951
    Banshee spitfire
  • broona
    broona Posts: 414
    Anything that involves building up a bike from a frame and bits is well beyond me, I just want something I can jump on and ride away, lol!

    Thanks for the suggestions, will do some more research before spending my pennies.
  • ej2320
    ej2320 Posts: 1,543
    broona wrote:
    Anything that involves building up a bike from a frame and bits is well beyond me, I just want something I can jump on and ride away, lol!

    Thanks for the suggestions, will do some more research before spending my pennies.

    It really isn't that hard, my Covert was the 1st bike I've built and a cheap tool box, tube of grease and several YouTube tutorials I taught myself

    You could even buy all the bits and give it all to your LBS and they'll build it charging only the labour fees
  • broona
    broona Posts: 414
    Just been paid, so I've ordered the Granite Chief, slightly different shade of black to the one my mate rides, lol - http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-gr ... -Mfdc-jdIq
  • AAddict
    AAddict Posts: 77
    broona wrote:
    Just been paid, so I've ordered the Granite Chief, slightly different shade of black to the one my mate rides, lol - http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-gr ... -Mfdc-jdIq

    Sweet, what's the ETA?
  • broona
    broona Posts: 414
    AAddict wrote:
    broona wrote:
    Just been paid, so I've ordered the Granite Chief, slightly different shade of black to the one my mate rides, lol - http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-gr ... -Mfdc-jdIq

    Sweet, what's the ETA?

    The frame's in stock, so hopefully next week! :)

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