[Closed] 29er full suss advice

I've had my Niner RIP9 for 2 years now.
I would still buy it today if I had to get another.
It is perfect for the south Wales UK trail centres that I ride.

After buying this:
[img] [/img]

I decided to buy this:
[img] [/img]

And I love it, Trek Rumblefish 2 and it's a cracker, so much so I've put the Niner up for sale.

I've upgraded the brakes to hope M4's and put Hope Evo/Stans ZTR hoops on it, found the Bontrager rims quite weak. Otherwise a great bike.

I looked at the rumblefish 2 as well but couldn't find any recent reviews so thanks for the reccomendation. (It matches my marlin too!!).

I reckon the Salsa Spearfish is looking interesting (and good value), but not many out there yet. Giant Anthem seems to always get good reviews.

http://www.bikerumor.com/2011/06/08/2012-scott-spark-full-suspension-mountain-bike-26-and-29er/

Should fit in quite well if you have a few months before you buy.

[img] [/img]

completes coming soon...

[url= http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/salsa-spearfish-complete-bike-29er-1404-p.asp ]linky linky[/url]

I have been blasting around it this week. Damned fast, and its a conversation starter. We have crammed in around 10 demo rides in 4 days before the press get it, and everyone has enjoyed it. We are certainly get a demo bike (aka Charlie wants a new bike).

See my thread about the new Kona - if you're after a trail/am type thing.

found the Bontrager rims quite weak

^^Thats my next ride 8)
Could do with a write up please charlie

Santa Cruz Alloy Tallboy when they are released. 8)

Ibis mojo 29er is hotly anticipated. New Niner carbon looks great. Spesh epic/stumpy? New titus in the pipeline...giant anthem....santacruz tallboy gets good feedback.
spearfish seems good value, would like a test ride.

ventana el capitan..............a proper big boy's full sus 29r. 😉

lipseal... in summary, so not a full on Salsa Spearfish review:

sprints like a hardtail... yeah yeah yeah, heard that before, but it really does.
The stays flex by 5mm giving it an extra tight sprung feel (difficult to describe).
damned fast
eats descents.
happy in the air
Handling is planted, solid, tracks well. Responds well to rider input.
80mm rear end, sounds short, but being over-biked is for poeple who are not like us.
2x10 is cool... plenty of range.
sizing feels smaller than expected, so call me if you need any help.
damned fast, so damned fast that its cheating. they should be banned to stop iders of moderate fitness looking epo fit.

dirt rag have reviewed it...

All depends what you want from a 29er FS. I know that personally I don't want a XC or endurance racer. My hardtail is fine for that. There are a few 120/130mm ones, like the Rocky, Norco Shinobi orTurner Sultan which get good reviews and are definitely worth consideration if you want a burlier bike. I'm sure the Kona will fall in to this category too.

I want something bigger though, so I'm selling my Turner and getting an Intense. Now all I need is a 29er 160mm fork but I might have to wait until Rockshox let it out of testing.

ventana el capitan.........a proper big boy's full sus 29r.

Ventana El Rey, an almost as big boy's full sus 29er

One of these :

charlie thanks will be in touch as soon as I can get funds together. I ride a medium(18") El Mariachi so I'm hoping that the geometry is close? 8)

I can't recommend a Santa Cruz Tallboy highly enough!
[img] [/img]

[url= http://robdeanhove.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-bike-general-lee.html ]More info on mine HERE[/url]

[img] [/img]

Rob
[url= http://www.bigrobracing.co.uk ]bigrobracing.co.uk[/url]

Bin the full suspension idea and just get a Yeti Big Top.
Lovely frame 🙄

Bin the full suspension idea and just get a Yeti Big Top.
Lovely frame

I'm sure it is and well reviewed, but way over-priced surely?

Also depends on your budget, the current Tallboy frame sets are expensive, as are the Superflys, Spearfish looks an absolute bargain, for me I went with the Anthem X 29er. It is absolutely the best XC bike I have ever ridden, my build wasn't cheap but you can get the X3 giant builds for fair money.

[img] [/img]

the problem with the spearfish is the currency conversion £995 (945 on CTBM) for a $1000 frame

chumba HX2 £399 for a $499 frame

who is taking the p*ss?

I presume these frames are shiped to US then shipped to UK which puts price up (shipping, tax, duty on each leg). Now if batches of frame scould be sent direct to UK surely it would be cheaper.

All US frames have a similar conversion rate, Tallboy and Jet9 for example are pretty much £ = $. The Spearfish seems like a bargain here 🙂

Really intruiged to hear some more feedback, my main worry is it being a bit flexy for 6'6", 14-15 stone riders 😕

# Clink - Member

I presume these frames are shiped to US then shipped to UK which puts price up (shipping, tax, duty on each leg). Now if batches of frame scould be sent direct to UK surely it would be cheaper.

tax and duty would be on the wholesale price XX% of the $1000 US

does CTBM import direct or is there a distributor?

it seems a shame that a frame that should cost £7-800 (to allow for shipping taxes etc) and would probably sell very well at that price is being pushed out at $=£ because they can

All US frames have a similar conversion rate,

see this

chumba HX2 £399 for a $499 frame

someone manages a better exchange/ import rate

someone manages a better exchange/ import rate

He is the importer and retailer, so can afford to cut the margain slightly, also needs to make them attractive price so they sell.

Regarding the spearfish, glad to hear from Charlie its as nice as other reviews say it is, slightly concerned by sizing tho provisional 'sit on while half built' puts it similar to my other bike so not overly concerned. Still in the final stages of building mine but it should be using it at the STW weekender if anyone wants a closer look. Tho if you want to take it on a spin round the carkpark you better bring something nice for me play on too :0)

someone manages a better exchange/ import rate

Thats the minority though, Chumba are offering a good rate, rather than everyone else who is the norm.

Speaking about the above, would it not have stacks of sideways flex, given the stays are designed to flex anyway. I get that they're ovalised, but would it make that much difference? I can see how it works in things like the Jekyl/ASR5, but carbon would be suited to exactly that.

Any platform on the Monarch as well? That'd be my other concern. Looks fantastic value though!

What frame are you comparing it too STATO? I fit very well on my 21" Scandal and was hoping the XL Spearfish would be much the same. 😕

I had a Large Yeti ASR-SL (alloy with Ti-flex-pivot back end), and now a Large Spearfish. The spearfish is deffinately stiffer laterally with the wheels out, even tho the stays are longer due to being a 29er.

Size wise they measure up similar on the Geo charts, and a quick sit-on in its half built state confirms that. The only difference being the bars are a little higher on the 29er with the same stem, but since i had a 17*rise stem on the Yeti to help my back, running a flat stem on the Spearfish will put me right back where i was.

Cant wait to try it out now!

I should also point out, the Yeti has near as dammit the same rear suspension set-up. On that i originally ran a 5th element, it was rubbish, switched out to a RP3 and the bike was transformed, absolutely rapid. Now for the last 2 years it sort of got neglected, so the pro-pedal switch basically did nothing, still, the bike was ace! bit of pedal bob when stood but thats just poor form for riding a full-sus. Im expecting the Spearfish to be just as good, if not better due to the 29er-ness and if the shock is a little wooden (like some say) then ill switch it for a fox, not for the pro-pedal tho, for the damping quality.

Interesting, I'll be keen to hear how you get on with it 🙂

Briefly. Salsa is imported by a bunch of good guys who honour warranty, ride bikes and play fair.
There are no extra costs Over self-import once you throw in import duty, vat and shipping.
But what you do get is dedicated salsa personnel based in the uk who look after you, have a damned big volume of stock, spares and all the back up we need.
Don't judge a bike by it's price tag... Life is too short. I know what it's like to be super skint, but if you have a grand for a frame, you have a grand for a frame... If you don't you have to Cut corners and this is ok, but it does not make the expensive frame bad. There are so many factors in pricing and "because we can" ain't one if them. I reckon the guys are taking a bit of a hit on this one, cutting margins, getting it out at a damned good price. My guess is that it won't always be this cheap.
No one is taking the p**s.
I pick what I sell based on product quality and back up. Also I like what I sell, if I don't dig it, I don't sell it. I am sure this is retail suicide if you read books on retailing. but I am also sure that sticking to my guns, sticking to the good stuff, dissmissing the crap, while actually riding bikes is the reason my little set up suceeds when logic dictates that wiggle should rule. Back up is damned important, knowing a mech hanger can be with you next day means a lot.
At £999 the spearfish is serious contender... That is backed by good folk, and me.

Flex. Didn't notice any and i am 16 stone. Actually after tonight it may well be 17.

Don't know if my XL Salsa Big Mama is any comparison to the Spearfish but i've not noticed a lack of stiffness in the rear end and i'm 6'7" and over 16st kitted up. I looked at the Salsa's at Mayhem and had a good chat with the main guy there and he was well informed and a thouroughly decent chap. I've got 2 Salsa's (XXL Fargo as well) and think they are really nicely put together bikes.

I've also had a few emails to and from the Salsa tech guys and they reply quickly and are very helpful. £999 for the Spearfish seems like a bargain and it's also around 2lbs lighter for the frame than my Big Mama.

Having said that, The Specialized guys at Mayhem said they were hitting the 29er market hard this year so thay may well come out with something interesting as well?

I'll be sticking with the Big Mama for a while yet though. 🙂

Salsa make great bikes - I own one.
But all the brands above dabble in 29ers bar one.
Niner have been making 29ers only for longer than anyone else bar Gary Fisher.
Thats all they do and they have a great customer service reputation.
I've had my RIP9 for 2 years now and it still completely amazes me every time I ride it.
[img] http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=189997&d=1292506697 [/img]

Charlie...your pic way up there^^^...

Is that all that was left of the Bankes Arms after your beach party...?

🙂

That Niner is gorgeous hugor. How tall are you ?

I keep looking at a Santa Cruz Tallboy, they just look awesome and pretty light as well for a 29er.

but i keep looking at the Yeti Bigtop hardtail as well.

I've also had a few emails to and from the Salsa tech guys and they reply quickly and are very helpful.

Same here, sent email at 9am UK time asking about using a seatpost with a shim (wasnt sure how much post insertion i needed with the seat-tube brace) and it was answered by 9am their time!

That Niner is gorgeous hugor. How tall are you ?

Flex. Didn't notice any and i am 16 stone. Actually after tonight it may well be 17.

Cheers Charlie, sounds solid. Might well look into getting one in a month or so.

Toasty... we will be building up our 20" demo in the next week. Give me a shout if you wanna try it.

Rustler... No that is Upton heath after the big blaze.