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Dear Forum,
I know the Nerve v Spectral question is a perennial 'favourite' on STW but I can't find much info/opinion on the [u]2016[/u] models. Put simply, there seems to be much less difference this year. The Nerve AL 9.9 (more or less same price as Spectral 8.9) has a 120mm fork with 34mm stanchions, so apparently a beefier set up than earlier Nerve models. As compared with the Spectral, only 10mm travel difference up front and 20mm difference behind. The listed weight difference is 300g but this would be taken up with the Conti tyres being used (Protection versus Racesport). What is going on?
I've copied the geometry etc for the large sizes below but this counts less (to me) than your opinions. There are slight differences in reach (+12mm for Nerve) etc but are these really very different bikes??? I like 29ers as a tall-ish person and for their ground coverage, climbing ability and I've not mastered aggressive cornering at all. I mainly do trail but get to ride in the Alps a couple of times a year; getting 'airborne' every now and again. What sort of a beating can the Nerve handle? Worth looking at the Spectral just in case? I should be able to test both at the Roc d'Azur this October but that's quite a wait. When do Canyon sales start anyway?
Many thanks in advance,
Gaidong
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