Hi all,

A friend is on the hunt for a new bike to replace his trusty 2010 Specialized enduro.

Key requirements :-

– ~160mm travel
– Long,low,slack
– must have dropper post, 1 x gearing, decent forks/shock, decent brakes.
– Does not want to be making major changes to the spec after purchase, ie buy and forget.
– reliable, good aftersales support (should it be required)
– does not have to be carbon fibre – alu is fine.

Anyone aware of any last years bikes being sold off, or any other bargains.

Budget £2500-£3000 – but if the above can be achieved with less, then great.

I am reluctant to recommend the Canyons or YT’s due to the shocking aftersales and reliability concerns.

edited to add – must be a complete bike, he doesnt want to be messing around building it, and I’m not building it for him.

Aeris – simple

If he can accept 150mm rear travel then Bird Aeris fits most of that as you can pretty much pick what you want (as long as 160mm Pike forks are okay) and won’t have to change anything, excellent company to deal with too and transferable warranty. (just building up mine after popping over this weekend for a frameset)

Not the best time of year for bargains.

Maybe this with £300 off via BC discount…
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-sommet-pro-suspension-bike-2016/rp-prod135388

How big is he?

It’s only a bargain if it fits and suits you otherwise it’s just a cheap bike.

If he’s not tall or a weight weenie, this is possibly the most fun enduro bike going…
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/74808/Kona_Process_153_2015_Bike

Could upgrade to XT 1×11 at purchase.

It would need to suit someone 5foot 11 inches,so I think those konas are out. Nice bike though, would’ve been a decent recommendation.

Aeris is a good option as well.

Rose Unle Jimbo on that budget. He can finesse the spec and the cost. U.K. Rep, great reviews.

Is he tied to a wheelsize? Maybe a bit leftfield but check out the BMC Trailfox range at Evans. 29er, 150/160mm, good sizing (I put an angleset in mine because I’m a slackbike fetishist but it’s pretty on-trend as standard)…

The all-alu frame is a bit of a lump tbh but the carbon and half-carbon can also come into this budget. They used to be too expensive and the cheaper ones had really iffy specs (not bad parts, just chosen for price not suitability) but this year’s are much better. Though the colours are, um… challenging? They also have some of last year’s on big discounts.

Everyone knows 29ers are boring and can’t do corners:
https://www.facebook.com/jacobgibbins/videos/10156750110635273/
2 of these in the top 10 at EWS Argentina

Bird Aeris..

These are supposed to be coming next month, the CR model looks tremendous value and smartly specced – would just want a seatpost upgrade…
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/first-look-vitus-sommet-carbon-enduro-mountain-bike.html

Speaking of 29ers, this seems an unbelievable bargain

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/296964/products/specialized-2015-enduro-elite-29-full-suspension-mountain-bike-black.aspx

It does sound very much as though you’ve described a Bird Aeris (excepting 150 mm rear travel). In the Alps with mine right now :D. With your budget you could get a blinding spec.

+1 for Aeris

Bird Aeris.
Or Commencal Meta V4.

Thanks all, some good suggestions there.

The commencal Meta AM V4 Race rockshox looks decent value for money (if £3k for a pushbike can ever be considered good value for money)

I have also proposed a mondraker dune R, specialized enduro elite 29/650b, orbea rallon x10, GT sanction expert.

Canyon and YT are so good and so cheap though that with anything else you’re paying a huge premium for after-sales support which you probably won’t need. I’d rather keep £500-£1000 spare out of the £3,000 budget to rent a bike or replace parts should I need to send anything back. Look how much bike you get if you buy the cheapest Capra vs. the Aeris.

Check out Freeborn Bikes -sale devinci

Some excellent deals on the Spartan Carbon XP and SX on there. Massively capable bikes by all accounts – I know a mate who rides for Freeborn who has raced his for DH while waiting for that seasons Wilson so good down as well as up!

I gotta well someone has to say it, DAMN those Birds are munters!

I would also be taking a looksee at those Devincis.
Always seemed ahead in one way or another and I even think they’ve gone carbon for most if not all of their range.
They also seem to look like reet killer deals on Freeborn’s site.

Those devincis look a bit old fashioned when compared to the current long,low,slack trend. Plus they appear pretty heavy for a carbon bike,and some reviews say they have odd suspension characteristics which makes them a bit ‘bobby’ if pedalling out of the saddle. I could be wrong as I haven’t ridden one,but on paper they don’t appeal to me.

Have a look at the Saracen Ariel’s.

I have one and love it, very versatile.

The Devincis do have adjustable geometry, so make sure you look at the numbers in ‘low’ setting. The are a bit heavy for carbon, as they have a pretty robust aluminium rear triangle. bear in mind they have a lifetime frame warranty though- I’ve not looked into the small print, but i was reassured by Freeborn people that it does mean ‘lifetime’…?

Not a gnarpoon, but i have an Atlas, and it rides very confidently downhill, despite the ‘steeper’ angles.

Specs on those Devincis are pretty basic though.

I may have something (very nice) of interest, drop me a line thegeneralwreckerATyahooDOTcoDOTuk

https://www.evanscycles.com/norco-range-c7-3-2016-mountain-bike-EV243365

Norco Range C7.3?

£250 off TRADE250

I thought it was a bike for a mate not yourself, it doesn’t have to surely appeal to you.

Orbea rallon x10 – £3099 and you can get a bit off at some dealers

That Devinci Spartan Carbon SX – is X1 11sp throughout with Guide Brakes, Pike RC dual air, Monarch RC3 Debonair, and stealth reverb.

Not bad for £1600 of retail. Ok the Jalco Rims on Formula Hubs might not be the pimpest wheels but the rest of the spec is pretty good for change out of £3K.

How did he get on with his 2010 Enduro.

I thought it was a bike for a mate not yourself, it doesn’t have to surely appeal to you.

He’s asked me for my recommendations, I wouldnt look at the devinci myself , therefore I’m not going to recommend it to him either.

How did he get on with his 2010 Enduro

loved it.BUt I get the impression he fancies trying a different brand, even still I have suggested a 2015 enduro elite – as I dont think you can beat them for value for money.

Orbea rallon x10 – £3099 and you can get a bit off at some dealers

where have you seen an x10 for £3099? cheapest I could find on a quick search was £3199?

Radon swoop 170?

Radon swoop 170?

looks killer value for money, but is it any good? couldnt find any reviews in a quick search.

On second look the devinci looks interesting, but all the reviews comment on how much it bobs when pedalling out of the saddle, not sure whether its going to be a pig on the climbs, and the fact that it comes as standard with super gravity tyres kind of implies it may be a touch too downhill focussed, maybe?

Looks good value for money though, cant deny that.

Orbea Rallon, Maybe 3199 but Bike Active did me 10% off on credit so 2800 ish may even get less for cash.

http://www.ubyk.co.uk/m/product.php?CI_ID=20613 – lapierre zesty 827 with £1500 off in probably the right size ? That would be so tempting having enjoyed a go on a lesser version.

Spesh enduro. The way they are being discounted can only mean a new one is imminent so bargains to be had

I’ve had one for 3 years now and it’s still brilliant

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/kona-process-153-mountain-bike-id85374.html?gclid=CjwKEAjwi9K4BRCQzq7d1c6A_XASJABueAO2dIP8QfoKCF4ktLEFtY5-JTFfQXVM3YB9JakV0QkGNBoCXZbw_wcB

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/74808/Kona_Process_153_2015_Bike

Or

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/66808/Kona_Process_111_29er_2014_Bike_B14PR111MD?gclid=CjwKEAjwi9K4BRCQzq7d1c6A_XASJABueAO21j3llZao8MhTEAH5xlE144LBFGb3v-C8QP5yky_4pxoCw8_w_wcB

That Propain Tyee CF is in the ballpark and sounds like a very interesting proposition!

I had a spartan for a while until I had to sell due to a house move. Having had a transition patrol and specialized Enduro I can honestly say it was the best bike I’ve had for the downs. I rode it in la Thuile and it was nearly as quick as the tr500 I took out there the year before!
They climb just fine and grip really well. The one thing you’ll notice is how plush they are. Really a very good bike.

I’m looking around myself at the moment and it’s on the list but also looking at other brands such as transition and nukeproof. The only thing that puts me off the Spartan slightly is the geometry. I’m just over 6ft and had an xl to get the reach and effective top tube I wanted, not a massive issue as the standover is ok but worth considering.

Incidentally further Devinci bargains here:[/url]