Full suspension £2.5-3k

NikB

I'm looking for a new bike and would like some advice. I currently ride a 2008 Orange 5 Pro which I've enjoyed but feel its time to move on. I think something in the £2.5-3k range will suit but things have moved on a lot and I'm spoilt for choice it seems. Have read several threads on here about bikes in this range recently.

I mostly ride in the Peak district and to some extent North York Moors with the odd trail centre thrown in. I want something a little lighter thats a good climber. Have been considering the Cube Stereo TM and Whyte T-130 Works SCR. I'm not sure about going to a 1x11 setup as there's some pretty steep climbs in the peaks.

Also I'm 5'7" and currently ride a 16" frame, considering getting an 18" would this be too big for me?

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

bdigital

I dont know much about the trails you ride so wont comment on the bikes suitability. I have however ridden the T130 Works SCR. It was great fun. It felt stable, confident but playful and agile at the same time. I rode it on the same day as a I rode a Santa Cruz Bronson and 5010. On the day the Whyte won it for me, but that was in part down to it suiting the trail I was riding at the time.

I would also look at the Giant Trance 1 in that price range too.

Oh and sort out some demos

Good luck

tobamory

yeah i agree

Trance 1
or 5010 if budget allows..

NikB

I don't think I can stretch to £4k to get the required spec in a 5010. However the Trance is one I've considered.
Does anyone know of demo days that I could get to try some bikes at.

bdigital

NikB wrote:

I don't think I can stretch to £4k to get the required spec in a 5010. However the Trance is one I've considered.
Does anyone know of demo days that I could get to try some bikes at.

Theres plenty about if you google. But with the Trance just call up your nearest Giant store and they will order in a demo bike for you. You can take it out for the day and get it muddy

Antm81

Should be handy for you. http://jejcyclefest.co.uk

Might be worth speaking to Fulford Cycles too, I think they're also a Giant dealer.

JodyP

NikB wrote:

Does anyone know of demo days that I could get to try some bikes at.

J E James is doing a demo day in Sheffield in about 4 weeks. Looks like there will be quite a few different brands.

http://jejcyclefest.co.uk/

Antm81

JodyP wrote:

NikB wrote:

Does anyone know of demo days that I could get to try some bikes at.

J E James is doing a demo day in Sheffield in about 4 weeks. Looks like there will be quite a few different brands.

http://jejcyclefest.co.uk/

Hmmmmmm, sure I've seen that link somewhere before ^

NikB

Awesome thanks for that, I'll be booking a couple of bikes to try there I think.

JodyP

Antm81 wrote:

Hmmmmmm, sure I've seen that link somewhere before ^

No idea how I missed that :oops:

NikB

Quick update. Went to the demo day and tested the following bikes:-

Whyte T130S
Giant Trance 27.5
Specialised Stumpy FSR EVO 27.5
Cube Stereo

Couldn't get on with the Giant, felt cramped though don't know why.
The Whyte felt relatively big but it's also not the spec I'd be after - need to try the works to see if the tighter rear end feels any better.
Stumpy rode well, but is a little heavy and the dropper post was terrible, would prefer a slightly higher spec but the next one up is carbon and over £2k more.
The Stereo in the form I rode it was over 14kg! I was knackered so not sure I could get much of a feel for it but felt nothing specific about it. Again I'd be going for a different spec - the carbon version is 2kg lighter in theory.
Still want to try a Mondraker Foxy but no dealers near me so will have to go somewhere to have a go.

poah

spectral Al 8.0ex would be near the top of my list along with a radon slide. also conside rose bikes too

Thewaylander

Try a Mondraker... its the way

Actually don't I want the only one!

ononeboy

I don't know if you can get some sweet deals on Yeti's from Silverfish for demo bikes.
This seems a sweet deal!
http://www.silverfish-uk.com/ProductDet ... -RRP-4499-

Here is the main link

http://www.silverfish-uk.com/Category/14029/Clearance

I got a 575 from them earlier and love it!

kirby700

http://www.ubyk.co.uk/nukeproof-mega-tr ... #p_details

rides like a dream. Size medium for you

and keep the change you filthy animal

Sharky999

POAH wrote:

spectral Al 8.0ex would be near the top of my list along with a radon slide. also conside rose bikes too

for what its worth i bought this a few weeks ago,
http://www.radon-bikes.de/en/bikes/moun ... 275-90-xm/

I've ridden it twice and im faster on my local trails, than what i was on my lighter bike before it broke.

its an amzing piece of kit for the price.

dirkpitt74

kirby700 wrote:

http://www.ubyk.co.uk/nukeproof-mega-tr-275-comp-bike-2014/15804#p_details

rides like a dream. Size medium for you

and keep the change you filthy animal

Bargain!!!! :shock:

Wish I had the available cash at the moment.....

rockmonkeysc

Transition Scout. Best trail Bike I have ever ridden, wicked fun and easy enough on xc epics.

Myster101

kirby700 wrote:

http://www.ubyk.co.uk/nukeproof-mega-tr-275-comp-bike-2014/15804#p_details

rides like a dream. Size medium for you

and keep the change you filthy animal

That's a ridiculously cheap price for such a great bike. Tempted to buy it to keep its bigger brother company

NikB

Thanks Kirby that's a very good deal, will definitely consider that.

kirby700

Yes I was all on for buying a Rose Granite chief then stumbled onto the Nukeproof.

Fantastic bit of kit, just needs a dropper and (been advised) to get a different rear shock but for now is fantastic.

Myster101

kirby700 wrote:

Yes I was all on for buying a Rose Granite chief then stumbled onto the Nukeproof.

Fantastic bit of kit, just needs a dropper and (been advised) to get a different rear shock but for now is fantastic.

Yea a stealth dropper makes them even better, shame mine is currently back in Germany getting fixed :?

Never had a problem with my rear shock but mines the Monarch Plus. If it's working for you just leave it

NikB

How do you get on with the weight of these - the quoted weights look quite heavy?

kirby700

I can't really say its that noticeable, my boardman was about 30lbs and this I think is about 31.5lbs.

NikB

So it rides lighter than it should?

Myster101

If weights an issue then with the money you're saving stick some lighter components on (wheels first). Its never bothered me with mine, rides good uphill and crazy fast downhill. Mines the AM so the TR should ride even better up.

NikB

I'd quite like a Pike so maybe the AM is the way to go.

lostboysaint

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Transition Scout. Best trail Bike I have ever ridden, wicked fun and easy enough on xc epics.

Funnily enough I'd recommend the same.

Not quite sure why so many people look past Transition but I do know that the two people that rode mine bought one and a couple of others rode suitably sized demo bikes at the FOD demo that their old distributor did and bought bikes as well (a mix of Coverts and Bandits).

Get amazing reviews globally, are rider owned and developed - what's not to like? (Other than increasing numbers making them less rare?! )

rockmonkeysc

Myster101 wrote:

kirby700 wrote:

Yes I was all on for buying a Rose Granite chief then stumbled onto the Nukeproof.

Fantastic bit of kit, just needs a dropper and (been advised) to get a different rear shock but for now is fantastic.

Yea a stealth dropper makes them even better, shame mine is currently back in Germany getting fixed :?

Never had a problem with my rear shock but mines the Monarch Plus. If it's working for you just leave it

The Monarch Plus works, the basic Monarch RT3 on the Mega TR is terrible. I have got a Monarch Debonair now and don't like that much either.