2008 575
Bike Forum
Santa Cruz or Yeti?
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Posted 5 months ago #
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I love my Yeti but only slightly more than the SCs I've had. There's 3 Blur LTs in my group which perhaps says a lot. I chose the Yeti in the end because (at least where I ride) there aren't any others like mine. And (with Jedi egging me on) I can do stuff like this on it
Posted 5 months ago # -
I've been riding a Blur LT for 5 years or so, it does everything very, very well from XC to the Alps.
The Yeti 575 has a carbon rear end, I'd steer clear of that myself, just my opinion.
As said above, you can get a used Blur for good money in the classifieds. I will unfortunately be letting mine go soon, sad day, but if you are in the market for a large BLT in anodised Orange, give me a shout. It's been well loved!
Posted 5 months ago # -
Just come back to the site and read all the comments!
I'm still looking anyway, just don't have the cash at the minute.
I'll update when I've taken the plunge!
Posted 3 months ago # -
Best thing is to take yourself on a couple of test rides and decide for yourself. Both brands have a good reputation. Boutique? Well yeti are rarer and a guess slightly more boutique but I think that's splitting hairs. Both have bikes that will do the job and do the job very well. Go demo and decide.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I built this for quite a bit less than 2k. The frame is 2nd hand but everything else is (was) new...
It was either going to be a Heckler, an Orange 5 or a 575 but ultimately the decision was dictated by what I could get for a reasonable price on eBay (that ruled out the 5). I narrowly missed out on an '08 575 and then ended up with this.
For the record, I love it
Posted 3 months ago # -
What demographic do you fit into?
Solicitor = Yeti
Searching for lost youth = SCPersonally, I'd buy a Giant. Lots more for your £2k.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Good to see that Orange Heckler in its proper environment, not a pesky manicured trail centre!
Posted 3 months ago # -
What demographic do you fit into?
Solicitor = Yeti
Searching for lost youth = SCI like that, very witty.
What demographic do Nicolai owners fall into?
Posted 3 months ago # -
Even at £3k an alu Blur LT still has Deore parts which is pretty diabolical. Sure, if you're spending £4/5/6k then why not get something 'boutique' (whatever the hell that means) but at £2k? For £2000 I wouldn't buy either. You'll get a lot more for your money from Giant / Trek / Specialized et al.
I don't see many Yetis or Santa Cruzes up here. I've got a Yeti and I always feel a bit self-conscious on it, like I'm expected to beast every climb and hammer every descent - otherwise people will think I'm a total banker with more money than sense. Perhaps people aren't as judgmental in real life as they are on forums, though. Still, it's much better to be a boss on a Taiwanese bike than be rubbish on a good one!
Posted 3 months ago # -
What demographic do Nicolai owners fall into?
Engineers?
FWIW, I think Yetis are lovely bikes. So much so, I'd feel terrible about parking one in a bush and scratching it if I owned one.
All the people I know that own SC Blurs seem to get through bearings at an unreasonable rate, so I'd tend towards a single pivot from them.Posted 3 months ago # -
I had an 07 575 for 4 years. Testament to the bike is that I kept it that long despite loving shiny new things. It's light, handles well and copes with all sorts from day long rides to light DH. I found the frame sizing comes up larger than other brands, found the rear a little flexy and felt a little perched on the bike when riding, rather than in the bike. The last may seem an odd comment but that's how it felt to me. In short, a good bike but I'd thoroughly recommend a test ride first. I replaced mine with a Nicolai AM as I wanted something a bit beefier. And I'm not an engineer.....!
Posted 3 months ago # -
Both brilliant machines. I love the Heckler. Simple design, and it just works. You are spoilt for choice with the two.
Posted 3 months ago # -
All the people I know that own SC Blurs seem to get through bearings at an unreasonable rate, so I'd tend towards a single pivot from them.
Dunno why people bang on about bearing life on SC bikes, FFS they off free replacements for life!
Posted 3 months ago # -
I thought I was set wanting a 2012 Stumpy Evo, but this thread makes me want one of those cheapo 2009 575 frames from CRC
The high BB is the one thing that puts me off, I quite like sliding along the ground bumping on the rocks.
Posted 3 months ago # -
The bearings are free, but they don't cover labour. With all the jiggery required to square up the bearings in them it's quite a time consuming job.
Posted 3 months ago # -
After 18 months in a workshop the most common bikes in for bearing replacements were prob specialized or Scott ransom. My own 2010 blur which I have ridden 2 to 3 times a week has required 1 bearing. It is BTW for sale cos I just got a nomad. I have also owned 4 575's which all required bearing replacements.
In short bearing can and do fail... its a small cost. Buy what you like not what you think has the best bearings.
At 2k best value all round, my vote would prob be a specialized.
TPosted 3 months ago # -
Solicitor = Yeti
[quote][/quote]
Searching for lost youth = SCPersonally, I'd buy a Giant. Lots more for your £2k
Ha, I have it the other way around. I've wanted a Yeti since Missy Giove, John Tomac and Myles Rockwell were in the mags on them. Santa cruz has no meaning to me at all, and they are too short for me anyway. I have the Giant and its good, but doesn't have that specialness a Yeti does...
Posted 3 months ago # -
Thanks for all your comments. When the crunch time finally came I evetually came out of my denial and realised £2k was out of my budget. I've decided on a 2011 Ghost ASX 5500 for £1300 (I could have got one for £1050 if I had the cash now). I think this will be a great introduction for me and should last me some time.
After reading the responses on here I checked out Canyon bikes. They look great and all reviews I found were positive. Maybe next time that's what I'll get!
Posted 3 months ago # -
I hated the Blur LT when I tried one.
The only bike I would be tempted to swap my Five for would be a Santacruz Nomad. Awesome bike, you could probably pick up a low spec second hand one for £2k.
The bearing warranty is only for the original owner.
There is a santa cruz demo day at Llandegla next saturday by the way. Perhaps try the nomad next to the Blur.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Alpha1653 - Member
Santa Cruz is less of a "boutique" brand than Yeti
Not sure that's true - you won't see job lots of Santa Cruz being flogged cheap on CRC, for one.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I dunno, by the sounds of it neither Yeti's US HQ or Silverfish were particularly impressed about CRC circumventing the usual procedures and grey importing a load of Russian-bound Yetis. I heard murmurs about the generous 5 year warranty not being honoured etc.
I'm sure the same thing would happen if CRC could get their hands on a container of Santa Cruzezezeses.
Posted 3 months ago #
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