[Closed] Covert v Tracer2

I've ridden both. IMHO, the tracer has better climbing manners, the covert wins on the descents.
Both very nice bikes so it depends on your preference.
I really really liked the tracer 2 though. I'd kill for a cabbie on one of the new carbines.

I was surprised by the weights of both frames. Both more than 7.5lbs, closing on 8.

SC Nomad is under 7 - that's a longer travel bike than the Covert, although admittedly a more expensive one. Tracer hasn't got that excuse.

The Mk1 Tracer was lighter, but they all broke, so Intense had to add some bulk. They are both pretty hefty though.

I swapped a Spicy for the Tracer 2 and find it to be a very good bike for my style of riding which is anything my local trails in Calderdale throw up.Overall it feels more sure footed and with less flex than the spicy.Trying to fit a chain device is a nightmare on the Tracer 2.

Flex on a Spicy?

Ordered my tracer 2 last week. Hoping to get it mid next week. will post some pics and a what it's like as soon as I can!

Can't say I've ever considered the spicy to be anywhere near flexy.

Mrh86> I expect you to be completely even handed & admit immediately if you have purchased a dog & are regretting it. I know I would.

Ive got a covert. Gone over to it after cracking a zesty. Its amazing on the downs. Doesnt climb as well as the zesty (surprise surprise) but still climbs very well. Mine weighs in at 26bl incredibly so pretty damn light for something that goes so well when its pointed downhill. it feels soo planted on the trail. I feel I can brake so much later than I could on the zesty.

Heres a little piccy....

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Rob_514 beautiful pic to get that to 26lbs is awesome, spec list please would like some ideas as I too would like to keep the weight down.

Silly narrow XC rims on a hard hitting AM bike will help, but 26lbs?

Yeah - 26lbs? - I have a full XTR tracer (36's, CK hubs, 819 rims - RQ tyre on front, race king on rear) and that is pushing 30lbs - the covert frame is not half the weight of a racer frame.

Don't think so 🙂

We need some some STW 'official' scales

I think 26lbs is massively optimistic too. Mine is 35. Doesnt stop it from being the best bike I have ever owned.

Its been weighed on some feedback scales. It came in at somewhere around 26.8bls. Spec's are fox float rlc fit 36 160, thompson stem & post, nukeproof bars, formula oro 180/160 brakes, hope pro2's on 719's, race king folding rubber, xt cranks, single e13 ring, xtr shifter, xtr shadow plus rear mech, xtr 10 speed cassette & xt spd pedals.

To be honest I wasnt too bothered about the weight of it, I was just chuffed to have it in under 30bls. Trying to get it down to ride abit like the zesty. Tis an awesome bike. Hard getting used to wide 760 bars!!!

Hope you find a rig that fits for what you want it for.

26lbs loler!

Go for the Tracer 2 you will love it 😀

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Mugboo - Member
We need some some STW 'official' scales

Damn right, I'm amazed at some of the weights people claim on here.

being charitable - 4lbs for the wheelset, 7.75lbs for the frame, 5 lbs for the 36s, 2 lbs fr the crank and BB, 3lbs for the tyres.

It might be 26 lbs if the brakes, discs, bars, stem, grips, shifters, derailleurs, cassette, cables, saddle, seatpost, pedals and chain are only 4lbs. *cough*

That Covert is lovely, but no way is it 26lbs. My Bandit, which is a significantly lighter frame, is over 28lbs and that's with carbon-crowned Rev World Cup forks. Not that it matters - if you like how it rides then who cares how much it weighs! 🙂

To be honest would be happy to get either bikes at around 30lbs but is i just me or does the covert look to have cleaner lines, would like some more feedback as to how each rides, by the way more pics would be nice.

My Kona Stinky weighs 25lb

My Kona Stinky frame weighs 25lb

😆

Dunno about clean lines on the Covert, I'm not a fan of the big plate welded between top and down tubes.

Tracer's a cleaner looking bike... suspect it would break a lot sooner than a Covert though.

I demoed a Covert a while back, found it comfortable and right instantly. Was hitting drops within five minutes of sitting on it. It's that sort of bike.

ashfanman- That's better 😆

honourablegeorge how did it climb and did the rear feel planted?

I do really fancy a go on a Stinky someday though - just to see if they're as much fun as everyone says. That and a Pitch.

Well, you can have a go on my imaginary 25lb one if you like. 😀

When you say fun do you mean kills any sort of fun on most DH tracks due to it weighing a tonne (escept mine)and being completely overkill?

Well, you can have a go on my imaginary 25lb one if you like

Thanks, but I don't think I'd get very far without you fitting the missing 15lbs of parts... 😀

Ride them both and decide.

Or get the Intense if you like playing russian roulette.

[imaginary]ashfanman- Nice one! You sent that road gap huge, with a suicide no hander too! [/imaginary]

Hee's mine

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Definitley more bike than needed for my riding - still love it tho. Pedals efficiently but the weight can be felt on climbs, don't know how much it weighs (not particularly bling spec) think I will weigh it late out of interest

fudge9202 - Member
honourablegeorge how did it climb and did the rear feel planted?

I didn't have a huge amount of time on it, and didn't do any massive climbs, but it went up everything pretty well - was my first experience of 1x9 and I didn't miss the granny at all. I'd ask someone who owns one though, all I had was that demo ride.

26 lbs 😆

this is mine - weighs in at 32.8 lbs
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Dave

I have a covert. There is no way its 26lb but for me its not the kind of bike you weight (I've never weighed any), its a bike I want to be able to hammer downhill, jump and then climb to the top without too much extra pain.

Agree that its very easy to get on with, angles seem well sorted and the backup from Transition is excellent.

I have an intense and a transition. Niether of the model you want opinions about, however its not gonna stop me telling you that they are both 25lb (or less) when the wheels, seat post and drive chain are removed.

& I'm sure whichever you buy, you will be very happy with. At least you won't be on here telling everyone what a barge it is and how you never which you'd stumped up the cash for it.
Can you imagine how stupid you'd look if you made a mistake and admitted to it!

alfabus cool colour mate was figuring around that sort of weight just could lose a couple of pounds bodyweight I suppose!!

Might have been 28.6bls. Got the numbers the wrong way around I suspect. Sorry... it was only weighed quickly out of curiosity. So yeaaa discount that weight from my post. Whatever it still rides very very well (when I dont feel over biked for the majority of stuff I ride). Climbs very well for a big 160 bike & descends like a mini DH rig. Horse's for courses I guess. Which ever you go for you'll love it (just you might love the transition alittle more...).

Just out of interest Fudge are you going to buy a frame or full bike?

Frame, unfortunately not got an endless supply to a money tree! I have some parts already, am wheels and forks will probably run 2 x 10 with magura brakes answer dj stem and a set of answer protaper carbon bars that I have. Will maybe try running tubeless? Also the ubiquitous dropper post with a ti railed sdg saddle.

Sounds like a sweet build which ever frame you go for. What do you think of those protaper bars? Do they flex at all?

the bars are awesome I have both the alloy and the carbon and they are mega superb at taking the buzz out of the trail and mega comfortable with great rise and backsweep well worth the £100 no regrets at all and they look awesome!

Nirvana Cycles in Westcott should have both available for demo shortly as they are in the process of building up a Tracer.

heihei sounds good but in Ireland

Some more pics to help you decide 😀

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If you go for the T2 then speak to Rob over at Bikeactive as he will be able to do you a good deal on one. Or drop me an email I can help you sort out a bargain 🙂

....(hoping mine arrives tomorrow!!! 🙂 )

fudge9202 - Member
heihei sounds good but in Ireland

Fudge - Moycullen Bike Works in Galway was where I demoed the Covert - they had a large that belonged to the mechanic, think the owner has a small. There's trails a few miles from the shop.

No idea where you could try an Intense.

Extra UK (distributors for intense) have some demo tracer 2s apparently. Not in an XL though.

honourablegeorge will be on the phone in the new year cheers for the heads up, ichabodcrane will do if that's where I throw my cash many thanks for the offer.

Ichabod why doing you also tell him about the mucho funtime you're had with the rear end of your tracer? 😛

I take it it failed! mucho big time!

Stevelol: Ichabod why doing you also tell him about the mucho funtime you're had with the rear end of your tracer?

That was just specific to my frame :p no one else has had an issue out of all the people we know with them.

And if it wasn't wonky it wouldn't be an Intense

Here is my lovely covert..

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Has to be said the covert looks stunning in orange strange its not one of the 2012 colours

TBH I wasn't keen on the orange but I went for it to disguise my purchases. I previously had this mountain cycles battery and I hoped to hide the covert (and the tr450 I bought in the same colour) from the financial controller... It worked until she read my credit card bill.
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Now I love the transition orange colour. I think its cos the bike is so ace, it could be pink and dog poo colour and I'd think it was awesome.

A great man once said something about having any colour as long as it's black..

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I had a go on an Intense one time down in Alpe D'huez, it was a nice bike, not sure what model it was though, and nothing feels as nice as your own bike, once you make it your own and put nice mudguards, lights and shit to heavy it right up..

That mudguard makes me feel sick. I know it's winter, but c'mon... 🙂

steezysix - Member
That mudguard makes me feel sick. I know it's winter, but c'mon...

It completes the aesthetics of the bike imv and being a trained designer I know about this stuff, so practicalities of mud brown skid marks up trouser arse of work clothes aside, I'd fit them anyway, I had them on all summer long.

Other riding folk constantly accuse me of the love that dare not speak its name on STW, but I don't care, so vomit away, the mudguards stay..

Trained designer? It wasn't the mudguard that I found truly offensive, but that you'd fitted lights onto the stanchions of your forks. Interesting.

I'm kewell like that..

Wimmen run after me in the streets..

There goes that kewell dude with the awesome bike they cry..