Short Travel Full Suss

dthom3

Hi Folks,

I did the Mary Towmeley Loop MTB Challenge yesterday on my trusty old Giant XTC 3. I did however suffer from a really sore lower back and decided that next year I really need to do this on a full suss bike. We went over miles and miles of cobbled bridleways.

I live however in Huddersfield and most of the cycling I do involves prolonged climbing so I don't want a particularly long travel full suss bike.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a short travel XC full susser?

Thanks.

majorbloodnock

What's your budget, DThom3?

Semper in excretia; sumus solum profundum variat

dthom3

Up to œ1500

guilliano

I'd be looking at building a GT i-Drive 4 XC (frame only, œ500 from CRC) or getting a Trek Fuel EX8 or Felt Virtue 4 at that price. Spesh Epic is also œ1500 and worth a look

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guilliano/

majorbloodnock

Agree with Guilliano's suggestions, but would also include the Giant Anthem and the Commencal Meta 4

Semper in excretia; sumus solum profundum variat

MaxRocks

I would also consider the Giant Trance, I test rode the Commencal and Spesh but prefered the Trance.

Save the Cheerleader, save the World.

My Mighty Giant

SRI

Go to your LBS and try them out.

Get an Epic. I have one and it rocks. However, the brain shock isn't to everyones taste. (Definitely try it out though).

I'd say try the trek top-fuel 8 rather than the ex 8 - the ex has 5" of travel - does this classify as short travel these days?[:0]
(I tried both top fuel and ex and didn't like either, you should still try it out though).

juankerrwmb

Giant Anthem, Spesh Epic perhaps?

Seagull

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by SRI</i>

I'd say try the trek top-fuel 8 rather than the ex 8 - the ex has 5" of travel - does this classify as short travel these days?[:0]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Depends on which mag you read. In MBR terms 5" barely even registers on the suspension radar.

The best thing is to test some 4" and 5" and see what suits you best. Try and get a full day or even weekend demo rides, many bike shops offer this length of testing. It may be that the riding position as well as the suspension travel will have an effect on your comfort, nowadays 5" seems to be the length for all day full sussers so you may find these more comfortable for all day rides rather than a biek designed specifically for XC racing. If you get a bike with a well designed geometry and suspension shock you shouldn't get too much pedalling inefficiencies.

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futon river crossing

From your email your asking for a full susser that will climb well.

If you get the right bike, it will climb well regardless of the tavel, for instance many forks reduce their travel for climbing.

The short travel bikes ie <100mm tend to be more race oriented design with steeper headtube for more responsive (twitchy) handling. Try out the Giant Anthem, which is highly regarded and Spesh Epic, I'd also look at mid travel bikes, like Giant Trance and Spesh Stumpjumper FSR and compare how they climb, and descend ans see which bikes you have the most fun on.

Looking at your post again - you say you're getting a sore back - in which case, a race oriented bike might not suit. I've also had a similar problem with my back - Since changing to a Spesh Stumpy FSR - which has a much more upright seating position, my back has improved.

My Bike

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dthom3

Thanks for all the feedback, I'm off to look for some test rides.

Cheers.