been a few years since i have owned a full sus bike. i think i am in the market for a new full sus 29r.
the best bike i have owned was a ventana el capitan.
this design
i was told at the time that this suspension design was the best for heavy riders.
is this still so, and if it is, what bikes come with this design now.
That's a four bar Horst link, loads of bikes use it now the patents expired, whether it's best for big uns is another ten page argument but it works well imo...
There's a big El Capitan on eBay at the mo for not a lot..
I wouldn't worry about the suspension design particularly - just get whatever you like best. Lightish guy thrashing the shit out of something is way harder on suspension and everything else then big guy trundling along at their leisure. Would pay close attention to wheel build, esp for a 29er, as you no doubt know.
Big guy hammering the balls of it, then yeah - worth a consideration of suspension design, but that doesn't sound like you?
Trek Stache 29er plus demo one you will like I reckon
Hardtail but handles a lot of trail
khani - Member
That's a four bar Horst link, loads of bikes use it now the patents expired, whether it's best for big uns is another ten page argument but it works well imo...
There's a big El Capitan on eBay at the mo for not
Looks like a single pivot with a linkage operated shock to me - dropout is on the chainstay.
More helpfully, something with one of those newfangled wide hubs perhaps? Is it Pivot that are the widest now?
Well spotted, I'm going blind I'm my old age...
I don't usually just recommend what I own, but have a look at the Kona Process 111.
Nice big xl, very sturdy and the most fun bike I have ridden.
I'm big....6'3 130kg in kit......Transition Smuggler has taken everything inc 4ft drops with Jedi and then with out the finesse when I wasn't on a course and is still running solid!!
There is no design that works better or worse for heavy riders per se, but a low leverage helps a lot with the management of shock pressures, as does a reasonable amount of progression. The leverage curve to determine progression often be found online but if you don't know what you're looking at you'll not find it helpful. Leverage ratio can be easily calculated though, it's travel divided by shock stroke Eg 150/63. The lower the number the more likely the shock will be working in its normal pressure range for a heavy rider.
It's spo subjective, as ever, a "my best" may not work for you.
I'd look at +tyres, the way ahead IMO for reall off road and non-bmx-style trail parks.
Real off road? So, like mud? My plus tyres are pretty shite in mud, certainly wouldn't say they're the way forward. They have their place mind.
was thinking something comfy in lakes/wales/dales. obviously not for jumping off anything, and i dont tend to go too fast nowadays.
so something comfy............ i love bikes, but bleeding hate choosing new ones.
a 120mm forked steel hardtail, that takes big tyres would more than likely be ok...... 😐
What did you not like about the spesh 29er you had?
Ventana Zeus or El Capitan. Now totally different to the one you owned. As always superb build quality and tough enough for any rider.
the spesh enduro was far too much bike for what i needed. it felt far too long, i couldnt keep it online when going downhill, came off twice pretty bad. it also felt pretty wallowy climbing. a single 32 front with a 12/36 was also too much for me..i needed to swap it all.
In the finest non tradition of stw - not what I own - have a look at whyte. I had a good blether to the guys at tweedlove and they talked a lot of sense.
I'm big....6'3 130kg in kit......Transition Smuggler has taken everything inc 4ft drops with Jedi and then with out the finesse when I wasn't on a course and is still running solid!!
I can also recommend one of these for a big un.
Nukeproof Mega 290, Ohlins Coil and an Ohlins RXF up front. Had a play with one in a shop, I don't know what dirt are on about when they said they don't feel as sensitive as a Fox 36. Weirdos.
But maybe too much bike?