Planet X XLS or Cannondale Super X

Viking2136

Cannot decided!

I already have a Boardman CX that I use for cross and commuting so the Boardman will go to commute only (30 miles a day canal path and road) and the new bike will be for cyclocross racing only.

Budget under £2k

So far I have got down to a short list of 2 from about 20

Planet X XLS SRAM CX1
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXXLSCX1 ... cross-bike

or

Cannondale Super X Hi mod SRAM Rival
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... e-ec071030

The SRAM CX 1 on the PX is not a deal maker or breaker as I'm working on the fact that I have broken a number of rear hangers on the course before and replacing the CX 1 hanger at £140 is quite steep but I do like the carbon wheels on the PX. Where as the hanger on the Cannon is about £40 to replace but the wheels !

The rest is quite similar but the only bit I dont like about the Cannon is the bottom pull on the front mech and that the cables run under the BB rather than ontop.

Must be disc, must be hydraulic, must be carbon or weigh in less than 9kg

Your thoughts and suggestions??????

bendertherobot

Xls rival plus snazzy wheels?

Viking2136

bendertherobot wrote:

Xls rival plus snazzy wheels?

Thats options 3 - spoke to PX today to see if i can get a deal

How Far is too Far

I have had a PX XLS 105 and now have a SuperX CX1, night and day difference to ride IMHO. I would have the SuperX any day.

Viking2136

nice one How Far, very interesting comments, Im leaning toward the Cannon in all honestly - can you tell me more?

bendertherobot

Bear in mind you'll need to upgrade the wheels on the dale as well. Perhaps more so.

How Far is too Far

The Rival SuperX does have very basic wheels, I got the CX1 with the Fulcrum wheels which I will be changing soon. But what ever bike you get you will likely want to change the wheels.

The XLS was a nice enough bike, but for me the SuperX is better in every way. It is stiffer and lighter and comes with a better warranty. When riding the XLS I alway felt I was riding a cheap bike if you know what I mean, the SuperX makes me smile. You are right in wanting Hydro brakes as they are miles better than any cable I have used. If you look about good discounts are available in the Rival SuperX as well ;-)

https://instagram.com/p/w_tT2fo_r2/?tak ... rnett.1460

Viking2136

Thanks appreciate your comments, ive been looking for over 2 months now and only really pushing now as the dales have 200 off with Tredz this weekend, I know what your saying about the quality, went to PX factory last month and it doesn't feel quite right, I'd like the the CX1 Dale but I think it would end in divorce which would cost me even more!!!!

How Far is too Far

The Rival dale with some better wheels would make a great bike I am sure. I have done everything from 100 + miles rides to short CX races and it is great bike.

Viking2136

think thats where Im going, mybe a set of carbon wheels next season

Viking2136

what size do you have?

How Far is too Far

My Super X is a 54, I ride a 56 Supersix and I am 5'11"

Viking2136

perfect, i heard they came up a little big, i decided on the 54, im 5 11

bendertherobot

What I would say, on smile quotient, is that the XLS makes me smile more than most bikes I've owned, and I've owned a few! It's the least expensive bike in the garage at the moment but still my go to bike. With different wheels it is a super little thing. For the price I paid, £825, it's amazing and doesn't feel, IMO, remotely cheap compared to, say, my old Canyon Ultimate CF.

I've a Ritchey Swiss Cross disc coming so, shortly, I can fairly guarantee there will be a better bike in the garage but, at the moment, the XLS is a much better CX bike than my Condor Bivio.

I've no doubt that the Dale will be better. But will it be £700 better?

Viking2136

Thats exactly my issue, Id love a garage full but have a tiny little old shed!

Nothing if worth that much more (not when your 50 and no where near the front of the pack) but I thought Id treat myself, if I don't go for the dale it will be the PX CX1 so the cost will be the same!

Back on the decision wagon, where will it stop next!!!!

bendertherobot

If it's one bike for most conditions I might be inclined to steer clear of CX1. You may not like the ratios. If it's for CX then I'd say it was spot on.

For CX duties I spent 2 1/2 hours doing battle on the beach last week on the XLS. I never stopped smiling or thinking that my kit was letting me down.

Viking2136

It is just for cross, I do know a couple of people with the CX1 and they have changed the front ring to a 38 from the standard 42 as they say the ratios are too hard for their legs! But the talk of sub 8kg is sexy! Tomorrow is the decider as the dale come off special offer but PX normally have a sale about now too so might be worth waiting
:roll: :roll:

How Far is too Far

My CX1 is a 42 on the front but I changed the cassette to a 36/11, I find it fine and I do plenty hills and long rides as well as muddy races.

Viking2136

Didn't commit as I got ad extension on the offer (found a valid discount code for a month) away now for 3 weeks with no bike so time to deliberate on what family member is added next!!!!!!

Viking2136

Im back and still no closer to a damn decision!

Now Ive been offered a great deal on this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitu ... prod120681

Which has just complicated things even more although it looks very well finished with full internal routing and a steel at £1500 for full carbon with CX1 and hyro brakes.

Anybody had any experience with this Vitus beast?

Viking2136

Damn it, now of to Evans tomorrow to look at this baby, with all discounts its coming in at £1.5!

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuj ... e-ec069070

Anyone have one?

Viking2136

Just been to see it, looks very nice, super light as well, except for the wheels. Sticking point is currently that it has a 44T on the front with a 11-28t on the back, I know these suffer for low gears and that configuration does not help, the others I've been looking at have been 40 on the front and 11/32 on the rear giving some better low ratios for racing.

Ill keep it on the list but I think the Planet X XLS is looking front runner today! Might pop to Sheffield tomorrow

bendertherobot

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/sram-force-cx1- ... chainring/

Easy and cheap(ish) to have a stock of CX1 ratios. Swap out is easy and, I assume, that the clutch takes care of chain issues as long as you don't swap from, say, 44t to 36t.

Viking2136

Wasnt sure of how it would work, can get a new 11-32 for just over £50 and already have a spare single front with 38T on it, so its still an option, the one in the shop was huge (58) but I think a 54 will be in order. I think the clutch will soak it up but I have a mate who did the same drop in front sprocket and he had to take 2 links out.

Viking2136

With a set of cross lights on as well I think it will go sub 8kg, just looks slightly better finished than the PX

Viking2136

Collected the Fuji today - looks V good, first ride tomorrow to try it out, looks good, wheels are lighter than the Kinesis X lights - report to follow

slam that stem

Too bad you didn't get the Dale. It's a very nice bike and gets rave reviews from friends who have it. They put 25s on it with Crud IIs when the cross season ends in Jan and train on it all spring on the road until things dry out.

I'm sure you'll love the Fuji. Did you compare BB heights - one of the big differences between bikes and it has a big impact on handling etc.

Viking2136

slam that stem wrote:

Too bad you didn't get the Dale. It's a very nice bike and gets rave reviews from friends who have it. They put 25s on it with Crud IIs when the cross season ends in Jan and train on it all spring on the road until things dry out.

I'm sure you'll love the Fuji. Did you compare BB heights - one of the big differences between bikes and it has a big impact on handling etc.

Debated for a long time but couldnt warrant the extra grand! (or divorce) the BB heights is exactly the same as the Dale at 28.1.

38T front going on tonight with a 11-32t rear on order - average speed to work today was 3.5 mph faster!!!!! and the coulr matches my team strip - match made in heaven!!!