Anyone using a BFe for general trail duties?
How you finding it? Does the DH grin outweigh any climbing penalty?
How is it in singletrack?
With adjustable forks I didn't find there was any uphill penalty..... awesome on the downs.
Preferred the Soul though for general pratting about
Mate had one - rode a lot of ST, some trail centre stuff, natural woodland etc but never really seemed to get on with it - sold it and bought a new Soul. Seems more agile, lighter and almost as tough. But that is just me relaying what he has said, not personal experieince.
Not a personal experience but it strikes me it's going to depend more on the build, a 140mm BFe is going to ride like a stiffer, heavier 140mm Soul.
I'd buy a soul. Cy said they are tough bikes.
a 140mm BFe is going to ride like a stiffer, heavier 140mm Soul.
sure does, I have both the BFe has a Lyrik, the Soul Pikes.
The geometry and fit is identical and your right the BFe is just like a Soul on Steroids.
The on thing it does do though is take rocky descents in it's stride a bit more, but i'm sure the Lyriks have a bit to do with that.
A BFe with a reasonably light build would be perfectly ok for a trial bike IMHO
It's just i'm lucky enough to have both.
I'm the former BFe owner that Nainosliw refers to; I got the BFe as a warranty replacement for a Soul - frame broke between head tube and down tube. New one has a gusset, but I'm content that mine was a one-in-a-million (or so) failure.
Anyway, I think Chucky has put his finger on it; the BFe will take longer forks - but then would you really want 160mm forks on a 'trail' hardtail?! The Soul is a lighter ride, both physical weight and feel - it has a spring in its heel. The new BFe is £100 less than the Soul, so I suspect that the OP is swung toward the BFe because of this?
Chucky - interesting.
That's also another random thought at the mo. Go for both! Soul with 120mm Maxle Reba for general duties, and burly build BFe for being really silly.
There is your answer. 😆
I changed my Pikes for Reba teams for a short while, they are great. I put the Pikes back on because the Soul is better for the rocky drops in the Peaks and lakes with 140mm. (no surprise there) The other problem I found with the Reba's was that with a decent front tyre (Advantage 2.25) on the front, the mud clearance on the brace was bugger all. So much so that on a northern STW ride I almost had to try and get back to the car and drop out of the ride. The front wheel jammed solid with mud.
Just one thing to be aware of.
Got a pretty heavily built up Bfe (Fox 36 Talas, some Saint bits) and it's absolutely fine for singletrack and traily days out. Guess it depends how you ride - I'm a hefty booger and like to give it some welly, so I benefit from and enjoy what the Bfe brings to a 'normal' days riding 🙂