Dream Bike up to £3000 budget - i need help spending my money!

stevekoz

So.

I find myself in the extra ordinary position of being able to buy a brand new bike up to the value of £3000. I can't go one penny over. So ideally the bracket you are in is the 2500 - 2999. Im looking for a forever bike. I've been swapping and changing for years due to 2nd hand purchases. I now want to buy something and keep it.

I've been doing my research. I've had plenty of full sus bikes before. I don't ride anything major but i need a good comfortable bike for all day hacks and heavy xc work. So nothing upwards of 150mm travel i don't think. Ideally 130/140mm front and rear. I prefer a dropper post. I like a bike that doesn't flex in corners and feels rooted with good traction. I like a bike that has strong braking and doesn't dive down due to the fact I'm a heavy rider i guess at 220lbs (6ft 2).

I have found so far

Santa Cruz 5010 D (2018)
Specialized Stumpjumper 29er (2019)
Mondraker Foxy R (2017)

I'm wondering which of these would be a good fit for my requirements. If any and what other peoples recommendations are.

Thanks in advance.
Steve

cooldad

Bird Aeris. 120 probably.

JGTR

YT Jeffsy 29. Probably, far better suited to what you need than the Aeris, just read the reviews.

stevekoz

I like the YT. I'll see if i can get a demo.

Of the 3 i have listed - does anyone have any opinion or thoughts to add.

I am still torn between the SC and the Specialized, i think with the Mondy coming in third. But only as its a brand i'm not as familiar with.

steve_sordy

Stevekoz wrote:

............... I like a bike that has strong braking and doesn't dive down due to the fact I'm a heavy rider i guess at 220lbs (6ft 2).

.................

Even if you set the %sag perfectly, the design of the bike and the suspension components it is fitted with can still exhibit "diving" at the front or "wallowing" at the rear. Or at least, unbalanced performance.

Read this:

https://bikerumor.com/2014/10/30/bikeru ... -download/

It will tell you more than you thought was required to set up your suspension.

Oh and PS: Take a look at the Whyte T130 series. It has won Trail Bike of the Year and other awards. The suspension design is so good that the 130 feels like more (but in a good way). The bike is designed by Brits for the British market and British conditions. Take a look at the warranty. I've got one and it's brilliant. I've had bikes with more and less travel and this does the job.

JGTR

Stevekoz wrote:

I like the YT. I'll see if i can get a demo.

Of the 3 i have listed - does anyone have any opinion or thoughts to add.

I am still torn between the SC and the Specialized, i think with the Mondy coming in third. But only as its a brand i'm not as familiar with.

You won’t get a demo, it’s an online retailer.

joebristol

Whilst I love my Aeris 145 I wouldn’t recommend it here necessarily. I think the Whyte T130 mentioned above would be a great option here for you. Would imagine it would get better spec for the money than Santa Cruz where you pay a lot for the brand name usually. I don’t know much about the stump jumper, but I’d imagine the Mondrager is probably quite long.

joebristol

YT do sometimes run demo days periodically - not sure when though - you need to be lucky with timings and locations. Plus last year they had their uk demo fleet stolen I believe.

stevekoz

Joebristol wrote:

Whilst I love my Aeris 145 I wouldn’t recommend it here necessarily. I think the Whyte T130 mentioned above would be a great option here for you. Would imagine it would get better spec for the money than Santa Cruz where you pay a lot for the brand name usually. I don’t know much about the stump jumper, but I’d imagine the Mondrager is probably quite long.

I am 6ft 2 and have a long reach. but stubby legs (32in). so oddly shaped. I wondered if the stretched out nature of the mondy would be a good thing. But can't find one to test out locally.

As for the SC - i keep getting told to buy Santa Cruz. Chats to a few LBS and they all say get the SC despite it having a worse spec it will be a better overall bike - i can't quite fathom that. Is SC really that good that it can put low end components on and make a better bike than mondy/speccy that can fit mid level kit for the same money?

JGTR

SC are good bikes and quality is probably one of the best but you pay for the name. Depends what’s important to you.
Mondraker are a bit Marmite, but they are long so may suit your body shape, Specialized do 2 versions of the Stuntjumper IIRC, ones a bit longer and slacker.
I’d 100% recommend a 29er, I have a 140mm YT Jeffsy 29er and use it for long distance XC (50 miles plus), BPW & 5000ft climbs sat Afan.

JGTR

Also a lot of retailers are now doing XL & XXL sizes, so worth checking

billycool

The Stumpjumper is a good bike but I don't think Spesh offer such good value for money as they used to.

The Stumpy is 150mm front and 140mm rear and I know 2 riders who had them and `downsized` as they found they overbiked for normal XC type riding. Maybe have a look at the Camber as that is more in the 130mm camp.

SC are good bikes but arguably a bit pricey as you are paying a bit for the label. You might not get the best bang for your buck.

No idea on Mondraker.

Whyte T-130 is a very good bike - even at 130mm, it feels more `capable`.

I don't know anything about Bird or YT but I've always heard good things about them.

As you say, 130/140mm (and maybe 120mm) are probably good options. Ref the forks `diving`, you can try tokens to help make them more progressive and maybe a bit more air and set the sag nearer 15% to see if that helps. I'd suggest forks with 35mm or 36mm stantions, although some can be a bit heavier.

http://www.mbr.co.uk/news/the-best-moun ... rks-334725

It's nice to be in your position and I'm sure that whatever you get will give you a lot of fun.

jamski

Not sure why an Aeris 120 was so quickly dismissed? For XC/trail riding it's pretty spot on, and can also handle a lot more. Takes a 140mm fork if you want, and you can literally spec every part yourself, as well as having a really good demo before you buy. For £3k you could build yourself (or to be more precise, tell Bird what you want them to build!) one hell of a good bike.

JGTR

jamski wrote:

Not sure why an Aeris 120 was so quickly dismissed? For XC/trail riding it's pretty spot on, and can also handle a lot more. Takes a 140mm fork if you want, and you can literally spec every part yourself, as well as having a really good demo before you buy. For £3k you could build yourself (or to be more precise, tell Bird what you want them to build!) one hell of a good bike.

My comment was based on riding one, it’s a very capable bike but I found it to be more gravity focused than XC, I found it quite sluggish at slow speeds and really needed to be ridden aggressively to get the most out of it. Point it downhill and it flies. Also demoed a Whyte T130 aswell, great bike, very nimble and good fun but ultimately I went with 29er as I prefer them for more all round riding.

JGTR

They don’t make the Camber anymore :-( the 2 bikes became so similar that they only have the Stuntjumoer, shame as I had a 2013 Camber and with a few component changes it was an awesome trail & XC bike.

jamski

JGTR wrote:

jamski wrote:

Not sure why an Aeris 120 was so quickly dismissed? For XC/trail riding it's pretty spot on, and can also handle a lot more. Takes a 140mm fork if you want, and you can literally spec every part yourself, as well as having a really good demo before you buy. For £3k you could build yourself (or to be more precise, tell Bird what you want them to build!) one hell of a good bike.

My comment was based on riding one, it’s a very capable bike but I found it to be more gravity focused than XC, I found it quite sluggish at slow speeds and really needed to be ridden aggressively to get the most out of it. Point it downhill and it flies. Also demoed a Whyte T130 aswell, great bike, very nimble and good fun but ultimately I went with 29er as I prefer them for more all round riding.

See I haven't found that at all. Beaten all sorts of PBs on flat roads or uphill. The one I demoed had a really draggy tyre on the rear, but with a faster rolling tyre and perhaps a few more PSI I find it great for grinding out the climbs or flat sections. I have the RT3 shock too, so you can really get it firm. You're right about the downhills though. Smiles for miles!

JGTR

Fastest I’ve ever been downhill is on an Aeris, scared the bejesus out of me!

tallpaul_s

Canyon Spectral CF8.0 - £2699 + postage


Or if you're able to squeeze out another £150 - Cube Stereo 140 HPC TM.

£3500 RRP but with 10% BC discount it's £3150. For that you get a carbon/alloy frame, Fox Factory 36 HSC/LSC forks, Fox Factory DPX2, Fox Factory Transfer dropper post, Code brakes, GX eagle, Newmen wheels (1650g).



You won't need an XXL at 6ft 2in, I'm 6ft 3in and can choose between an XL or L sizes depending if I want something a bit long or some something more agile.

steve_sordy

Stevekoz wrote:

..............

I am 6ft 2 and have a long reach. but stubby legs (32in). so oddly shaped. I wondered if the stretched out nature of the mondy would be a good thing. But can't find one to test out locally.

.................

Unless YT have lengthened their bikes in the last two years, I'd take care to have a good look at the geometry. By all means look at the reach and the stack to ensure you get a good feeling basic fit. But be aware that a very steep seat angle can eat into the space for your body. Even with the saddle fully back, you might feel slightly cramped. I fixed it by rotating the bars a bit. But if my arms were longer, I'd have had to get a longer stem and/or a wider bar.
Another issue to consider is the height of the saddle when the dropper is fully into the seat tube, but fully extended. I found that the standard 150mm dropper left my saddle too high for comfort. Not too high to ride, but 5-10mm makes a lot of difference on the trail. When the Reverb failed in its first few months, I persuaded Rockshox to swap it for a 125mm version. Happiness abundance.

So the Mondraker bikes could be a good bet for your body shape. But as always the answer lies in a test ride. You don't have to do a full on trail ride from the LBS though! Keep your eyes open and when you see one on the trail ridden by someone of about your height, engage the rider. Tell him that you really like them and are thinking of getting one, what does he think? Ask if you could sit on it to check the fit. With permission, ride up and down for 50 yards or so. That should be enough to know if you are close to a good fit. Check the saddle position to see how far back it is on the rails, as you may have more adjustment room. Ditto where the dropper body is set into the seat tube. Ignore how it rides as the bike will not be set up for you. Use the magazine reviews to see how the bike rides. Get the geometry from the Mondraker website. Compare with a bike you know fits you.

bobbydigital

Cotic FlareMAX

angry_bird

https://www.merlincycles.com/intense-sp ... 0QAvD_BwE#

JGTR

Makes me wary when a bike is discounted 48%, what’s wrong with it?

jamski

JGTR wrote:

Makes me wary when a bike is discounted 48%, what’s wrong with it?

It’s last years model and it won’t be long before we’re seeing 2019 bikes. That’s why it’s cheap.

angry_bird

Probably a combination of it now being an old frame and Intense going down direct sales route so their prices dropping significantly.

JGTR

jamski wrote:

JGTR wrote:

Makes me wary when a bike is discounted 48%, what’s wrong with it?

It’s last years model and it won’t be long before we’re seeing 2019 bikes. That’s why it’s cheap.

48% though! Must have a significant surplus of stock left, again wonder what’s wrong with it? Generally it’s the s***e bikes that get knocked out at mega discounts.

eric_draven

JGTR wrote:

jamski wrote:

JGTR wrote:

Makes me wary when a bike is discounted 48%, what’s wrong with it?

It’s last years model and it won’t be long before we’re seeing 2019 bikes. That’s why it’s cheap.

48% though! Must have a significant surplus of stock left, again wonder what’s wrong with it? Generally it’s the s***e bikes that get knocked out at mega discounts.

I bought a Rocky Mountain Slayer frame from Merlin about 9/10 years ago and it was 50% off,the carbon Intense bikes should be more reliable then their aluminium ones that used to seem to crack quite a bit,the one thing that stopped me of buying a used Tracer 5-6 years ago,YT have 10% off the Jeffsy at the moment,if you could push another £250 you could get a CF Pro,defo the direction I would lean,great spec for it's money

kmcd21

So much choice out there !

Considering new specialised 2019 stumpy myself. I’m wanting to downsize from a capra as it’s sluggish on flats and hills.

The spesh looks quick and nimble and capable of bike park as it has been tested in whistler bike park.
Local bike shop will give me a demo and bike fit and support so it s very appealing.

Canyon spectral carbon looks awesome. Stay away from the alu as there are issues with chain stays cracking at the moment.

lostboysaint

You don't mention wheel size (and neither does anyone else!).

Transition Scout if you're looking at 27.5"

mindthegap

kmcd21 wrote:

So much choice out there !

Considering new specialised 2019 stumpy myself. I’m wanting to downsize from a capra as it’s sluggish on flats and hills.

The spesh looks quick and nimble and capable of bike park as it has been tested in whistler bike park.
Local bike shop will give me a demo and bike fit and support so it s very appealing.

Canyon spectral carbon looks awesome. Stay away from the alu as there are issues with chain stays cracking at the moment.

I've just got the 2019 Alloy Comp Stumpy 29er and am very impressed with it so far. It's much more nimble than I thought it might be and is genuinely quick on flat and downhill and is very stable and forgiving so far (Touch wood!). Carbon comp is another £1000 and has exactly the same components but on a carbon frame which is a few 100gs lighter. Both have Fox Rhythm 34 Fork and Fox DPS shock etc. I'm very impressed and think it's pretty good value for the components. The Fox fork gets better reviews than many of the higher end RockShox forks.
Definitely worth a test ride in my opinion.

kmcd21

I've just got the 2019 Alloy Comp Stumpy 29er and am very impressed with it so far. It's much more nimble than I thought it might be and is genuinely quick on flat and downhill and is very stable and forgiving so far (Touch wood!). Carbon comp is another £1000 and has exactly the same components but on a carbon frame which is a few 100gs lighter. Both have Fox Rhythm 34 Fork and Fox DPS shock etc. I'm very impressed and think it's pretty good value for the components. The Fox fork gets better reviews than many of the higher end RockShox forks.
Definitely worth a test ride in my opinion.[/quote]

Nice job ! Jump and ride uphill without complaints ?

mindthegap

kmcd21 wrote:

I've just got the 2019 Alloy Comp Stumpy 29er and am very impressed with it so far. It's much more nimble than I thought it might be and is genuinely quick on flat and downhill and is very stable and forgiving so far (Touch wood!). Carbon comp is another £1000 and has exactly the same components but on a carbon frame which is a few 100gs lighter. Both have Fox Rhythm 34 Fork and Fox DPS shock etc. I'm very impressed and think it's pretty good value for the components. The Fox fork gets better reviews than many of the higher end RockShox forks.
Definitely worth a test ride in my opinion.

Nice job ! Jump and ride uphill without complaints ?[/quote]

I don't do big jumps but it is very poppy and easy to do lift off features along the way - More than I thought it would be. It also climbs well, the tyres are 2.6 so pretty heavy but not had any problems at all with them running them tubeless. It just feelsa really natural bike to ride immediately and very, very stable over whatever the terrain is.