Forum menu
I was about to pull the trigger on a spectral 7.0ex when this appeared
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/bikes/bike-detail.html?b=3874
Anyone tried the 29er and a 27.5 spectral? The 29er is rediculous value with full M8000XT, full fat Pike and CCDB.
Got a 29er spectral....love it.
I was vaguely looking at these a while ago.
Main difference seems to be the 29er is a bit of a shorter, less aggressive frame.
Personally I'd go for the 650b, not to say the 29er wouldn't be a perfectly good bike - especially for the money - but the geometry looks due an update.
The spec on that 29er looks amazing. I have a 2014 spectral 7.9 for which I paid more or less the same as this one. I love the bike but the fox suspension that came with mine definitely lets it down. With a pike and the ccdb inline it would be pretty much perfect I reckon.
That kinda what I though, but them I am cynical to marketing bs and the fact any tests of these types of bikes are typically done in the Alps of BPW, where I don't live.
Basically I ride a Scott scale 29er ATM and while it's a good bike, it isn't rad enough for my liking. I am not after a downhill bike as most of the trails I ride a fairly tame, I just want something that I can get airborne on without quite so much puckering!
29er's are massively out of vogue. Even the brands that were heavily pushing the benefits of 29ers, especially in mid travel full suspension guise, have all but turned full circle and have now all but eliminated 29ers from their ranges (unless XC race HT's).
Why?
My guess is as good as anyone else's, but the flip side is there's a few incredible bargain 29ers out there now! 29ers still make sense for many applications, and plenty of people (myself included) still prefer them. Unlike 26", the wheel size isn't about to die rapidly, so decent tyres/rims/forks are going to be around for some time yet.
Spectral wouldn't be my first choice for a few reasons, but if I was buying one, I'd pick the 29er over the 650b version anyway.
Mbuk and what mountain bike have reviews of the 29er spectral in this months issues for why it's worth (I was very bored in smiths!)
They basically say the geometry is a little short for current trends and as a result was a little twitchy in steep technical descending but for less "gnar" trails it was a very good bike.
Make of that what you will
I'm not really fussed by what's "in vogue", I generally only ride at night on my own so only doggers ever see me!
Speed and fun are what I'm interested in.