WHAT full suspension 2009?

supersonic · November 2008

A few popular, highly rated and well specced full sussers here to have a look through, from XC to AM.

Under £500:

Decathlon Rockrider 6.3 - £360: Has a spec most hardtails can only dream of this price, so to find adjustable damping on both fork and shock is amazing. The only full susser worth looking at for this money.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-6-3-34963775/

£500-£1000

Carrera Banshee ~ £500 (check stores for current prices): Burly hard hitting all mountain bike available from Halfords. Decent spec, but heavy weight makes this a short ride special rather than all day mile muncher.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

Focud Superbud - £800: not quite the same as last years, but still has good parts despite new lower price. Tora SL forks are highlight of package.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Focus ... 360037553/

Specialized FSR XC Comp - £1000: gets a longer travel (120mm) lighter M4 chassis for 2009 based on the legendary FSR design. Well thought out spec with good forks and wheels, great drivetrain and finished off with dependable Spesh kit. (my tip for bike of the year ;-))
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-FSR ... _20988.htm

Giant Trance X5 - £1000: another 09 bike that bucks the trend for lower spec/higher prices. 5inch travel Maestro frame travel with 120mm Recon fork with an all in weight of 30lbs makes for a top value package.
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/EN-GB/bik ... 434/32482/

GT ID5 XCR - £1000: Halfords special and MBUK test winner combined 5 inches at both end on a tough, great pedalling platform at a decent weight.

£1000 - £2000

GT Force 3.0 - £1200: not the best spec, but lighter revised geometry 6inch travel frame on the superb Idrive system provides great all round performance.
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.GT-Force-3.0-Mo ... _21060.htm

Trek Fuel EX7 - £1500: new APB rear sus sytem takes the single pivot concept to a new level with a string of great reviews. Motion control fork, good wheels and lightweight Bonty kit complete the picture.
http://www.ride-bikes.com/products.php? ... 1922&rs=gb

Orange 5 S - £1800: simple non nonense frame and spec has a big following. Tough all round bike.
http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/114908.html

Mongoose Teocali Super - £2000: a host of features as standard makes the Freedrive equipped full susser stand out in the AM market: 15QR forks, Cobra adjustable seatpost, extra volume airshock and tough but light finishing kit.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/mon ... gn=froogle

BlackSpur · November 2008

Who wrote the description on the Decathlon page?

The fork is flexible, stiff, and always available in descents

supersonic · November 2008

Hehe, yep, I noticed that, think something got lost in the translation!

rapid_uphill · November 2008

im not really a fan of treks but i would pay £1200 for it.

Anonymous · November 2008

i completely agree about the fsr, gotta be worth a grand.

rapid_uphill · November 2008

disappointed with that new super bud the 08 model is much better

supersonic · November 2008

Well it was 200 quid more, and 2009 has usually seen price rises.

have to judge them for what they are, not what they were.

toasty · November 2008

Glad they've finally brought the FSR XC's up to speed

My 2007 one (same frame as 2008) pretty much felt like my 2001 Enduro, I really wasn't sold. Far too much bobbing up and down climbing bizarrely, they really relied on clever shock technology.

I've got high hopes for this new one given the opinions of current Stumpys, Enduros and Pitchs

rapid_uphill · December 2008

is the new Felt Compulsion any good?

stumpyjon · December 2008

Nice to see some honesty from Decathlon as well

Restricted use not suitable for downhill racing, BMX/dirt/competition riding.

Shame a few more of the budget retailers don't follow the same course.

BoardinBob · December 2008

Any opinion on the Trek Fuel EX5.5?

Coil fork which will push the weight up but the fox shock on the rear is a bonus in this price range

http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.p ... gory_id=80

Daz555 · December 2008

I like the Trek Fuel Ex 5 5 a lot and was pretty much sold on getting one in Jan on the Cycle2Work scheme.

However, the FSRxc Comp has really got me thinking. It looks very very nice indeed.

Choices, choices, too many bloody choices!

zero303 · December 2008

Clever move from Spesh there with the FSRxc - I can see why they've held off moving to the Stumpy design as the FSRxc is aimed at the more budget market and it was wise to keep the two distinguished - however, with the price increases for 2009 they've actually given '09 FSRxc buyers something more for their money design wise but cleverly specced the stumpy (as well as keeping the FSRxc M4) to keep the two bikes different enough.

I think they may have dropped the ball though in that '09 looks to be the year of the 4" bike come back (Marin Alchemist, Orange ST4 and Meta 4 all offering 4" but with 5" Geometry, having cracking reviews and making us rethink travel requirements). Which also means I was COMPLETELY wrong in my '09 predictions as I said we'd see the death of the 4" bike (expect for racers).

:roll:

Surprised to see the Orange Five on that list - probably THE most hotly debated bike on these forums innit? Loved and loathed in equal measure

supersonic · December 2008

Put the Orange 5 on for that reason, a lot do like it. Try not to let my personal opinions get in the way ;-)

mygiantmtb · December 2008

i'm looking dor a good xc full sus 09 model any suggestions?

supersonic · December 2008

Be best to start a new thread, stating your budget, riding style, terrain you will be riding and as much info as possible.

Do none o the above models take your fancy?

ride_whenever · December 2008

What about the bootleg, rides fantastically according to a couple of guys i know who have swung a leg over it, and only £1900

supersonic · December 2008

Need to add some more, keep them coming (xc, trail and AM)

Daz555 · December 2008

Anyone got any thoughts on the X Fusion 02RLA shock on the FSRxc?

Bit of an unkown quantity for me.

supersonic · December 2008

Works fine! Actually made by ex Fox workers.

Smocker · December 2008

Got to be a Scott Spark now that you can get them at realistic prices.
Just get one.

BoardinBob · December 2008

The Boardman full sussers are back up on their website

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/mtbfs/index.html

supersonic · December 2008

Are they on Halfords yet?

BoardinBob · December 2008

Not yet

supersonic · December 2008

Split topic into the general section for discussion on Boardman

bellys · December 2008

stumpyjon wrote:

Nice to see some honesty from Decathlon as well

Restricted use not suitable for downhill racing, BMX/dirt/competition riding.

Shame a few more of the budget retailers don't follow the same course.

iv got this bike and tust me its not to bad i done the marin trail and mac forest (MBR) with not a prob and also im out riding 3 times in the week only thing wrong i snapped a chain and also changed the brakes for hydrolic
but apart from that well worth the money the forks are suntor sr dont know how long they will last but if i get 12mth i will be happy as you get 2yrs warrenty on them and 5yrs on the frame.

xtremedash · December 2008

The Specialized Pitch Pro is a very impressive AM bike for the cash. It looks to be identical to last years. It does have lower spec on a few components, but the frame and fork (RS Pike) make a worthwhile purchase, ready for a few upgrades in the future (e.g better Crankset).

Daz555 · December 2008

I have a quick question about the shocks on the FSR bikes.

It seems they have gone standard with a 190mm (7.5") eye-to-eye shock length but from what I can see the shock travel (1.75") is not common. Looking at RockShox and Fox sites shows that their shocks all come in 7.5x2.0".

So still not standard after all? Or is it so easy to alter the travel of a 2.0" shock to 1.75" that it does not matter? I suspect that one problem of running a 2.0" travel shock on a frame designed for 1.75" is that you might get bits of the frame hitting other bits.

clarkson · December 2008

another shout for the pitch. got to be mentioned!

smackmypitchupǃ · December 2008

XtremeDash wrote:

The Specialized Pitch Pro is a very impressive AM bike for the cash. It looks to be identical to last years. It does have lower spec on a few components, but the frame and fork (RS Pike) make a worthwhile purchase, ready for a few upgrades in the future (e.g better Crankset).

I think the Pitch Pro is very underrated. I love mine. I love it cos I came from a Gary Fisher Genesis geometry which I loved and the 19in Gary Fisher and the 19in Pitch Pro are about the same top tube length..

I also think the frame is rather like the older Enduro (the one everyone seemed to like most) and I am happy that the Pitch frame is 50-100g or so heavier built than the Enduro frame.

I am in the process of upgrading a few things on mine. I am currently selecting heavier wheels and I am switching the Avid Juicy 3 over to Hayes Stroker Trails (I prefer them). I also intend to get rid of the seat (ouch). I'm not fussed about the Deore crank since I really can't see much of a difference between XT and Deore crankwise. However, pride and snobbery will probably see a fancier crank installed when I get a Hope bottom bracket fitted (which is also on my list of things to do).

zero303 · December 2008

I wouldn't say the pitch was underrated - it's had cracking reviews and it's hardly a secret and not an uncommon site on the trails...

At the start of the 08 season the Spesh Pitch thread went on into hundreds of posts I think!

WHAT full suspension 2009?

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