Nu Skool through axled xc bikes?

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Nu Skool through axled xc bikes?

26 posts & 12 voices | Started 1 year ago by mansonsoul | Latest reply from coatesy

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mansonsoul - Member

I've been looking around for a full sus bike to replace my steel singlespeed. I'm looking for something with a few of the latest gizmos, I think as a reaction against a good 6 years on an SS:

-Tapered headtube (flavour of the month?)
-Seat tube that can take that Rockshox dropper post
-142x12 rear axle (seems like a great idea, a rear through axle as easy to use as a QR)
-Can take a chain device for a 1x10 setup (I want gears, but not too many, and certainly not 30!)

I thought the 140/150mm bikes seem like they have a bit too much suspension, I think 120mm seems enough, or am I wrong, bearing in mind I've never had a FS before?

I was looking at the Trek Fuel EX9, but then realised it had a push fit BB so can't take a chain device. Anyone got any other suggestions?

Posted 1 year ago #
warpcow - Member

This looks interesting.

1.5 headtube (with a 1.5, 15mm axle fork too), 142x12mm axle, normal BB, 120mm front and rear, and I'd guess from looking at it that the seatpost is at least 30.9. Oh, and it seems like excellent vfm.

Posted 1 year ago #
thisisnotaspoon - Member

120mm is plenty, the new 'nu-skool' currently seems to be for even less (but even slacker/lower) to get DH bike handling out of lighter and more responsive frames, check out stuff like the orange ST4.

It's gone full circle almost, we're back in the 90's, everythings purple-ano and DIRT is raving about a 5.5" travel freeride/DH bike!

I car park demo'd a fuel-ex, its a bike, if goes down steps, it goes up slopes, it jumps, it does drop offs. Trek have done what they do best and build a bike with no handling quirks.

Dont worry about the lack of chain devices, you may be able to fit something like a MRP-X1, or just run a double which (IMO) is a far better solution than 1x8/9/10, 1x just comprimises wayyyy too much.

Posted 1 year ago #
pastcaring - Member

yeti 5 ? don't know the seat post size though

Posted 1 year ago #
mansonsoul - Member

Spoon, why do you think 1x10 compromises too much? I'm interested as I've not used gears for a long time now, so would like to hear the opinions of people that have used the more modern stuff.

Posted 1 year ago #
titusrider - Member

Lapierre zesty takes a chain device and pedals well for a 140mm. Dirt mag love it (take that to mean whatever you want - i see it as positive!)

Posted 1 year ago #
mansonsoul - Member

But does 140mm take away all the fun, or am I looking at it the wrong way round?

Posted 1 year ago #
Kato - Member

Well I've just bought a Zesty to replace my 100mm Rift Zone and i'm very much a "wheels on the ground" rider. MInd you it's not arrived yet so I can tell you if it's taken all the fun out of it

Posted 1 year ago #
thisisnotaspoon - Member

I ran a 1x9 for about 18 months. It was always in either the bottom or the top gear, no ammount of faffing with front ring size would find a happy medium. It's all the downsides of SS and gears (not enough range, still has dangly bits) without the upsides (simplicity, or lots of range).

2x9 (+bash if needs be) on the other hand with a 36 or 38 big ring and 26t inner is ace, I miss the outer sometimes for fireroad spinning, but I also miss the rocks/stumps/logs it used to catch on!

The zesty is good, the suspension has quite a rearward path initialy so stomp on the pedals and it pretty much locks out, sit and spin and it remains active though (whichcraft I tell 'theee!), certainly doesn't feel like a 140mm bike on out of the saddle climbs, in the saddle it wasn't so great (well, as good as any 140mm bike), almost the reverse of logic as most sussers penalize standing up and mashing the pedals.

Posted 1 year ago #
freeridenick - Member

all beefy little fun bikes with 100mm of travel.

meta 4x
transition double

or just get a nice long travel hardtail....cheaper and alot of fun.

Posted 1 year ago #
GW - Member

tinas - how did you manage not to get the hang of riding with the simplicity of just one chainring?
a 36T chainring and 11-36 cassette would give enough range for anyone fairly fit to ride almost anywhere off road.

36/36 - low enough for any climb thats faster to ride than push IMO(esp if coming from a SS)
36/19 and 36/17 are probably my most used gears for any flat/undualating flowing trails (but I tend to pump/jump my way through stuff not braking rather than pedalling.
and 36/11 only ever used on roads.
36/12 is enough for the motorway/tissot/off-beat wall at fort william on a DH bike. so I don't see why you'd be in 36/11 a lot!

Posted 1 year ago #
ooOOoo - Member

Maybe he's stronger than you

Posted 1 year ago #
Blower - Member

a nice hardtail would be a good choice,as said above.130mm up front jobs a good un.

Posted 1 year ago #
mansonsoul - Member

ooOOoo, I reckon I'm pretty strong, but I've got used to spinning if need be, so I'm certain I wouldn't be annoyed by that...

I definitely want a FS, just to have a completely different experience really. Like I said, I've never had one before, so why not?

Posted 1 year ago #
thisisnotaspoon - Member

I had a 38 to 11-34 setup, and yes it could winch up anything in the Peaks if I struggled with it, but its faster and easier with a double so there's no way I'd go back.

All your adding is the weight of a shifter and a granny ring, 150g maybe even 100g?

That and it allows a better chainline as the chains running towards the center of the cassette 90% of the time, not in the big/little gears.

Posted 1 year ago #
Blower - Member

well go for it mate,a FS will be good,if you've never had one before yes.

Posted 1 year ago #
mansonsoul - Member

Any other ideas about bikes I should try out anyone?

Posted 1 year ago #
mansonsoul - Member

Just to let anyone interested in this sort of bike know, I've found this Whyte T120s that looks like a good un.

Posted 1 year ago #
Blower - Member

Asthetically im not keen on Whytes,but spose to be very good ride,
im sure someone on here would be able to recomend you a good un with 120mm travel,complete bike.
whats yer budget?

Posted 1 year ago #
mansonsoul - Member

Around £2500. Coming from hardtails, I'm not looking for something that completely irons out the trail, I just want something fun that I can chuck around as well as go for long pedals in the hills. And something stiff with wide bars sounds like a completely change from what I have now, which will be fun.

Posted 1 year ago #
Blower - Member

well the flavour at the minute imo ;0),,, is Orange and the model for you maybe the ST4,i think builds start around the £2000 +, cant go wrong with one really,

Posted 1 year ago #
SpokesCycles - Member

You don't need chain device mounts. Just BB mount it, it's fine (if not a simpler solution as it doesn't require any bodging, sawing or filing which every device I've ever tried to fit to ISCG mounts has needed).

Fuel EX and Orange ST4 are the only bikes to consider in the budget.

1x10 is a compromise. I run it, but I'd say I was fit (not STW fit, but actually fit) as are most of the people I know that run it. Your average rider will be over geared for serious mountain stuff.

However, if you live down south and don't ride any mountains then 1x10 is fine.

Posted 1 year ago #
Blower - Member

get you luke

Posted 1 year ago #
SpokesCycles - Member

Hell yeah.

I think it's jam rag week...

Posted 1 year ago #
mansonsoul - Member

But the Fuel Ex has a press fit bb so I don't think a bb mounted chain device will work. I think I'm pretty fit too. I live in Scotland, but I'm sure that'll be fine.

Posted 1 year ago #
coatesy - Member

Personally, i'd be looking at an Orange 5 with a Maxle swingarm, ticks all the boxes you've asked for bar the amount of travel, even has routing for the remote operated seatpost. Find your local dealer and arrange to take one for a demo, may make things feel too easy at first, but a bit more speed will sort that one.

Posted 1 year ago #

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