I've narrowed down my second bike to one of these 2 (currently have a 2016 Smuggler with 115mm travel).
Geometry wise they are almost identical, only difference is travel 140/130 vs 160/150.
90% of my riding is Surrey Hills, the rest is BPW, odd trip to Alps etc.
Optic (trail) is the bike for the rider I am now, Sight (all mountain) feels more the rider I want to be (bigger drops and jumps).
Evans carries Norco so only demo I can do is around the shop, which is pretty much useless...
Can't decide between the two...
29er for each model?
Sight all the way. 77-78 SA vs 76 SA too.
I'm on a XXL 29er 2019 Jeffsy with 150/150mm and will probably put in a luftkappe with a 160mm air shaft at some point this year. 80% of my riding is surrey hills/covert woods/other kent not particularly hilly stuff, but I wanted something that would also handle proper welsh/scottish mountain natural riding, alps etc etc.
A (well designed) 150mm travel 29er is just about the perfect 'do-it-all' bike for me, I'll happily do laps of Bedgebury, and then take it down snowdon/helvellyn/Nevis top chief the week after.
Sorry, yes, 29er both.
Probably XL size, as I'm 1.84cm
Perfectly timed video, he even touches on the Sight vs Optic choice:
As I’ve said before, and it does apply to both, the biggest issue is having to give Evans your money and the support if something goes wrong.
That said, if i discount that as a reason, the Optic looks like a brilliant trail bike. Numbers look good, everything seems to be well thought out & based on the reviews it’s had, apparently rides great too.
The Sight also looks great - biggest concern was touched on in the Pinkbike review, the rear shock. It’s tiny. If a 160lb guy struggled to set it up, that is a concern for me.
Friend has just got a C2 so I’m going to have a whizz on it this weekend 🙂
@Hob Nob
The C2 your mate has, did you mean Sight or Optic, and have you ridden it?
🙂
I think Evans will let you swap if it goes wrong choice wise
https://www.evanscycles.com/help/right-bike-guarantee
I had the same dilemma. I went with the optic. One of the main reasons was due to the word 'fun' that was used so many times in the pinkbike field test review. Plus they also mentioned it will ride much bigger stuff than the travel numbers would suggest.
I have enjoyed every ride on it thus far. I ride surrey hills/Redlands area fairly regularly and will be taking it to BPW in april and then onto somewhere in Europe later in the year (possibly Alps or Finale Ligure). I have no worries or fears if the bike will or wont be able to handle stuff. I have confidence that it will.
But then a lot of it comes down to rider ability. If you are a wizz on a bike, you will be able to ride most things on most bikes. And then if you are the sort of person who likes a bit more squish to get you out of trouble, or if you like the seat of your pants stuff a shorter travel bike can sometimes provide.
Having said all that, the Sight seems to be getting glowing reviews too.
But if I was in Evans with a fistful of cash, I would still choose the Optic!