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With 140mm forks
IMO normal 456.
Why?
Neither. They are so last season. Blue Pig is what you need.
I went summer season and thought it was great, totally converted me to really slack head angles now!
[i]Why? [/i]
i imagine because the 456 was designed for long forks whereas the summer season was designed to give a slack angle with shorter forks (around 100 iirc)
I also ran the summer season with pikes at 140mm
I found that when I wound down the Pikes the summer season handled better. When I had them extended it felt 'loamy' on turns etc. The 456 I had a test ride on felt great.
The other downside of the slacker head angle was any sort of climbing- getting your weight over the front wheel is bloody hard as your front wheel is further forward? I'm saying this from a punters perspective of course and cant claim to be either a stunning rider or technically good at analysis!
The other downside of the slacker head angle was any sort of climbing- getting your weight over the front wheel is bloody hard as your front wheel is further forward?
Makes no difference, its how far your weight is forward of the back wheel that matters ;0)
Ive got a [b]Summer 456[/b], its an 18" so a bit small/short for me but its a hoot when going fast. Downhill its a deamon, goes over stuff really easilly. I find that the front wheel being slightly further forward means you can bring your weight a little further forward too, making rough tracks a bit easier on the legs. If your just crusing along singletrack it can be a bit slower (handling) than somthing with a steep head angle, but if you standup and thrash it then you dont notice (you do tend to get knackered very quickly cos of this tho).
Hi STATO, how tall are you?
about 6-4, i normally ride somthing with an 1" longer top tube and a 100-120mm stem, so the 18" 456 feels quite short for me with a 80mm stem, which is the longest i want to put on a bike with 140mm forks, 750mm wide bars and DH wheels 😈
(best photo i have at the moment)
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6ft1 here, still you wouldnt be that much further forward than me I guess. Like the grips BTW 😉
wow, an interesting and usefull thread on STW, !!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm off to buy a 456 🙂
I have the Summer with 130mm TALAS forks and I've never felt the need to wind them down for climbing steep sections. Maybe occasionally the front has wandered, but that would be me not getting in correct position. I think the Summer is a great bike. My bro-in-law just sold his 456 and bought a Summer. I think you would be happy with either TBH. I'm 5'10" and have a 16" frame.
I had "the Bro in Laws" Summer. Bought an Dialled Alpine (15.5/22), preferred the ride, sold on the Summer. If money is no object and Mike has the size of Alpine you want get one. I appreciate they are not identical, but are similar.
If the Summer fits your budget get that. It's a great ride and whilst feeling odd (to me) at first (slight flip-flop sensation on the steering when climbing steep / twisty stuff) which I put down to the slack HT (with 140 Pikes) I soon adjusted and then didn't notice it.
You sub-consciously adjust to intial peculiarities in bike traits once you've ridden them a bit (IMO).
I'm 5'10" and got a 16" Summer with a high rise, 70mm stem. I've briefly tried a mate's 456 in 18" and found it a bit gate like / high TT. Just bear in mind what / how you want to ride and which size might be best for you. IME go smaller on the Summer.
Saying all that, it's just a facking boike 😉