The shame, the shame. I’m about to join the tedious legions who talk about mountain bikes rather than mountain biking.

But such is life. I need some input. (not that I’ll get any with my offensive comments above )

Curretly got an Obis Mojo Special Brew ( the cheapskate version from about 8 years ago)

It’s OK. Never really gelled with it due to the shit components and the fact that the stem never properly holds the fork in place. Been through many headsets. But in reality it’ not a bad bike. Done a few epic cycles on it and love it uphill. It really flies uphill.

But downhill it’s a bit mince. It flexes like spaghetti (cooked) and feels like it’s about to break, though it generally doesn’t.

Until recently I was happy to put up with the rubbishness downhill as I’m more of a XC chap and the kids’ bikes were much worse. But in the Alps last week it really showed its limits. The front tyre exploded on Popeye in Tignes and I had to really limit the speed on the rocky stuff. Given how much the weans enjoyed the uplift, I think we’ll be going back again next year.

So I need (want) a bike with much more downhill capability.

Have been deeply drawn to the Spec Enduro Elite 29er due to 2 reasons:
* The reviews say the BB is too high (hate low BBs)
* The missus has a Stumpie, and despite the fact it is 3 sizes too small, it just has that feel about it which wants to head down the nearest steep hill.

Is it worth splashing £3k on that, just for annual alps use, or will I use it much more in the UK and hence develop a liking for downhill biking?

Sorry gotto put kids in bed.

INput please

If I had an enduro bike I’d be using it in the UK frequently. I would go on rides that have big or long downhills just because I had the bike for it. In fact, I do. And they leave me with a big ol grin.

A mate of mine just picked one up for less than £3k – a chuffing steal for one of the best bikes you can get in that category. Don’t buy into this ‘overbiked’ nonsense. The better rider you are the less suspension you need, so unless you’re sh1t hot when you point the thing down hill then you’ll use all of the travel. I ride a long travel 29er and use all the suspension on it, don’t consider myself to be a particularly good rider, but have a hoot on it on some pretty gnarly trails up in the peaks, and when i’m just after an after noon saunter have fun around the local trail centre. It doesn’t everything. I’m definitely more of a clumsy oaf over the ground rather than a graceful, floaty thing, but who cares, i’m having fun.

If that’s the bike you want (not need) then get it and have a blast.

What kind of cycling do you do in the Alps? Also how long to you plan to go for each year?

Have you considered hiring a bike when out there. It’ll be 75-95euros per day of ‘lost’ cash but if you’re buying a bike just to use for a few days a year it could be a good option.

The better rider you are the less suspension you need

No, the better rider you are the more suspension you can take advantage of.

YT Capra.

Currently £1899 for the entry level aluminium one, Or £2899 for a carbon one. The most confidence inspiring bike I have ever ridden downhill in the alps, that I can also comfortably ride all day 70+ miles back on English trails.

A lot of the enduro bikes out there will probably meet your alps smashing requirements just fine – just perhaps don’t go too far towards the DH orientated stuff if most of your riding in the uk is general xc type use rather than uplift days.

The jeffsy from YT might be more up your street than the Capra if it needs to be a 29er rather than 27.5. I don’t know anything about the specialised if I’m honest.

I generally ride trail centres in the uk – but I’m more of a survive the uphill to let rip on the downhill kind of person, and do maybe 2 or 3 uplift days a year.

Previously managed fine on a Boardman Pro FS for this which was a 130mm travel bike at both ends (although I extended the forks to 150mm), but upgraded to an enduro type bike back in May and it’s awesome.

So it’d be amiss if I didn’t suggest what I ride (in Stw style) – a Bird Aeris 145. Feels like a good compromise between trail style of bikes and full on enduro bikes. 160mm travel front and 145mm travel rear. Has a fairly slack head angle and long reach for good stability downhill, but also climbs better than my trail bike that I had before – particularly on tricky /
Rocky technical climbs.

Well worth a test ride and can be had well under your £3k quoted budget.

the fact that the stem never properly holds the fork in place

I don’t understand this bit.

Yes that comment seems a little odd. Surely if you had the correct headset and the right length steerer, then tensioned the top bolt properly then did the stem bolts up there isn’t much to go wrong?

Its not about what you spend, its what you want and what you save and the Enduro Elite is a great bike. They will be getting snapped up at that discounted price.
Our daughter has a medium Enduro 29er and rides it from every day peaks pootles, local trails through to competing DH and in the EWS. Its her go to bike when she has to chose in the garage.
If its what you want go for it, thats what I always do.

Get a demo and do a serious ride to see how a big bike feels. Spec are great at demo’s but also like inventing lots of special propriatory parts 😉
Also in the ball park would be the commencal meta am v4.2 – I picked up the base model and with some quick mods (dropper/bar/stem) it’s a fine bike and the same frameset that just took out the womens EWS in whistler.
Though as with the Enduro it’s a lot of bike, perfect for the big mountain days and the alps but… if you like uphill and don’t have access to a lot of mega descents maybe something with sorted geometry and less weight/travel might be a better all round solution. A used enduro with big rubber on it could do you very well and cheap for your 1 week in 52 and UK based uplifts.

You won’t be over biked, get on it ride it enjoy it, you’ll be fine. (They pedal well and whilst they’re definitely more fun pointed down and going fast, they’re also surprisingly nice for plodding)

Not sure how high the too high bb is but don’t think that because a low bb annoys you on bike a it will do on very different bike b. Equally there’s possibly a lot of “not 2018 enough” in the review.

Personally the only thing which might make me think the enduro wasn’t for me would be suspension platform, ride one and try it and if you can speak to a few owners about bearing life etc. (My 3rd hand anecdotal “experience” being enough for me but not really valid).

If you want one buy it if you’re able, the couple of folk i know that have had/do have had nothing but praise for the ride at least.

What kind of cycling do you do in the Alps? Hiring…

Wanted lift assisted XC, but didn’t find much. Did most of the enduro routes at tignes which were great. VERY Bike Trip for example was amazing. Did the red DHs in Tignes. Loved the Le8 at les arcs. Did some reds at la thuile but didn’t really like the place. Failed on a few blacks at la thuile.

Uk wise, CYB WHW is my sort of thing.

I’m put off hiring by the fact that the only bikes to rent in Tignes were major DH beasts. And the brakes were on the wrong side. And many shops wouldn’t let us take the bike overnight.

Thanks for all the input

the fact that the stem never properly holds the fork in place
I don’t understand this bit.

No idea what the cause was, but the headset would never stay tight for more than a couple of rides. It would always end up with a front fork wobble. Had various bike shops look at it and had various new headsets but it always returned. And the headsets didn’t last long at all.

PS. The YT bikes look great but I couldn’t bring myself to buy a bike from a company that puts so much utter shite on its website.

Even by mtb standards the copy on their site is drivel.

I have a Capra and a Jeffsy (29er). Both the top spec carbon ones.

They overlap a bit, but basically both are so capable at a wide range of riding neither will be leaving you feeling like your riding a compromise.

Pick the one you think will suit you and your intended riding. For the spec they are unbeatable.

Both bikes lived up to the marketing hype and the online reviews.

the headset would never stay tight for more than a couple of rides.

Not sure what that has to do with the stem. Sounds like it was not assembled properly and/or the head tube was damaged so the bearings wouldn’t seat properly.

ARGHH, buyer’s remorse. Repent Repent.

Just put down the £50 deposit on the last Enduro. Got to collect it this afternoon.

But feeling soooo guilty about dropping that amount of money on a blummin bicycle.

Help!!!

Ride what you think what you will like – don’t be worried about being ‘overbiked’. I would take a look at the 29’er Jeffsy, it might tick a lot of your boxes.

*Edit. Just seen your post above. I think you will have great fun on the Enduro and it will give you a lot of pleasure! Don’t feel guilty!

How does todays price for the enduro compare to the price of the “cheapskate ” bike from 8 yrs ago ? I bet the spec is better value .

Not just me who finds the mojo sl stiff as a dead fish then. Glad to hear it, I really must get round to replacing mine