Any riders out there with opinions on any of these frames please?

Thinking of buying one.

All the best.

They are 3 very different suspension types, depends what you prefer really. I am biased but even i would say all 3 frames are very good, and obviously could not comment on the ride of the three bikes as that would not be fair.

The VF2 can be had MUCH cheaper than the other 2, which may help make your mind up 🙂

As Si says, they are 3 different designs. The Chumba is a 4-bar, Intense a VPP, and the latest 5-Spot is a DW. I have ridden a number of 4-bar bikes (old HL Turner 5-Spot, Ellsworth Truth, and Titus Motolite), a couple of VPP designs albeit the 1st version rather than VPP2 (SC Blur, Blur LT, 4x, VP Free, and Intense Slopestyle), and a couple of DW designs (Ibis Mojo and DW 5-Spot).
4-Bar – nice and plush, no influence of braking forces, but needs pro-pedal to insulate any pedal-induced bob.
VPP – no bob, but hits when pedalling in granny ring can lead to some kick back through the cranks. From reviews, this seems to be much improved with VPP2.
DW-Link – no bob, no kickback, nice and plush, sprints well

I personally think the DW design is best but clearly I've only ridden one of the bikes you mention. I currently own and love the DW 5-Spot – it's not especially light, but rides beautifully and feels pretty bombproof. I would note that the Spider probably compares more closely to a Flux – the Tracer would be a more direct comparison to the 5-Spot.

Si, heihei,

That's why I've picked them because they are different suspension types and I'm not altogether sure how they each react to given situations. I currently have a Whyte E5, which I'm keen on as it's light and feels agile (compensates for my inadequacies) but when climbing it tends to squat/hunker down too far into its travel. I tend to sit down and mash/spin as opposed to being slick and out of the saddle.

heihei that breakdown was very helpful. Thanks.

Si, on appearances alone the VF2’s are a big tempt!

All the best.

RE: squatting and hunkering down in its travel when climbing.

that sounds odd for a whyte E5.have you messed around trying diffrent rebound settings/pressure? when was the shock last serviced?
sorry if all the above is all well but ive never heard of this bike doing what you said by anyone thats owned one. havent noticed it myself either.

deluded I run a Chumba XCL which has a 4 bar setup, the pro-pedal is effective on the climbs. I've not ridden a VF2 but the XCL is up there as one of the best bikes I have owned and that's post first few ride joy, this is comparing against the likes of Orange 5, Specialised Pitch all great bikes but the Chumba has something a little extra that neither of those delivered.

deluded – I would say that in my experience the best design to avoid squatting whilst climbing is the DW. The pedalling pressure when climbing makes the rear of the bike "sit up" more than the 4-bar design. As a result, I'm running 160mm Fox 36 Floats on the 5-Spot as it doesn't need travel-adjust forks, even at that length. This isn't the case on 4-bar designs imho.

I agree with forge197. I had a XCL which was just stolen from me. The bike was almost too perfect. I liked my suspension to be active and never used propedal, but I did replace the stock dhx 5 air with a pushed rp23 (which I preferred by far).

On paper the VF2 seems to have the same geometry as the XCL, it's just quite a bit lighter.

edit:

That said, I am also tempted by the Spider 2 as a replacement for the XCL. All common sense says I should stay with Chumba, but I'm known for making stupid bike related purchases and regretting them after…

Si, the VF2 looks very much a similar price as the other two.
spider2 can be had for ~£1500.
Anything I dont know about?

I have a VF2 which I like. Its better than the Titus Motolite it replaced (in my opinion anyway).

With a sensible build (XT, air Pikes, Race Face Deus, Hope Tech 4's & Pro II's) its ~30 pounds. That makes it feel pretty stable on the downs.

I read a review in MBA that said it was best for straight up and straight down again (and I think they know what they mean!). Will be trying a 70mm stem and wider bars to see if that improves the singletrack tech stuff (where I find it tends to stall but that could easily be coz I'm shite).

My only real regret is that I didn't try a Giant Trance X as for ~2k it looks a heck of a bike (nowhere local had one in stock when I was buying).

Don't have experience of anything else so cant help further. Heres a photo though:

niiiice

backhander,

From Si's site – Chumba VF2 – medium black, was sent to dealers to drool over, never been ridden or built £1199. Perhaps this?

Metalheart. Do like them alot but of course I would need to have a tear on one. You don't see many about.

The comments have been very helpful. Still deciding.

All the best.

Metalheart. Do like them alot but of course I would need to have a tear on one. You don't see many about.

The comments have been very helpful. Still deciding.

Deluded, I'm from/in Aberdeenshire where men are never effusive about anything (must be something in the water) sorry…

A couple of years ago I went to buy a superlight and ended up with a motolite instead as I preferred the way 4-bar rode (over single pivot). Never quite gelled with the titus. Feel much happier and confident on the chumba. I'm not really the best of help am I? I got mine under the introductory offer earlier on in the year. Progressive tend to do deals on things changing every month or two. He's got 1/2 price floats which would be a good match for the vf2 (I never really dick about with the travel, just leave it on 140 pretty much all the time). I did fancy those new 150 TALAS 15QR though but they are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too expensive for me (even at Dippers prices).

I see you are based the opposite corner of the country so no point in offering to meet up to let you have a shot on it I guess.

Si, the VF2 looks very much a similar price as the other two.
spider2 can be had for ~£1500.
Anything I dont know about?

If you drop me an email, i'll wow you with some prices 🙂

MH,

Tear as in to tear something in half 🙂

excellent support for Chumba on the MTBR site, which is advantageous, as per Turner……..

excellent support for Chumba on the MTBR site, which is advantageous

I mentioned having my Chumba stolen on a MTBR thread and was soon contacted by them to let me know I will have a discount should I choose to replace it with another Chumba.

I don't think service get's mch better then taht.

I've had a look at the Chumba and they sure look like a bargain, and aesthetically they do it for me.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=540488

seriously – the chumba guys are first class from what i can gather….

Tear as in to tear something in half

Round these parts it you break it you replace it (or tear is what it'll do after 'insertion' ❗ )

Probably just as well you are too far away…

Oh and the problem with mtbr is the plonker(s) who sometimes post on there… 😀

MH,

Thanks for the initial consideration/offer. Just a figure of speech (tear), I would respect someone else's property.

I don’t doubt there would be some sort of fitting retribution up your way for any type of slight, particularly for a southern Englishman 😀

All the best.

Deluded, I would hope/expect that you would! I was tongue in cheek too.

I'm not a subscriber to the FEB 'tradition' up these parts.

Hope you figure out what you want though (and that some of this has helped…).

😕

I bought a DW Turner after a seried of Horst link bikes. Its the first suspension bike I really get on with, the suspension action is superb and it climbs way better than I can.

However it creaks like mad and if you are heavy, the large air can shock is a bit poop without a tune.

MetalHeart – good to see another Chumba in Scotland looks a very nice.

forge – Hi…

not too many of 'us' about I guess.

Anyone ridden the VF2 back to back with horst link 5 Spot?

Replacing my ageing 5 spot next year, really keen to maintain that "sitting in it rather than no it feel"

Si are you doing any demos in the North West?

No Intense Spider 2 owners, or at least Intense VPP2 with any opinions?