[Closed] Do I need a new bike? If so which of these?

not what you want but can you not ride your current bike in wales? That way your local riding will improve no end.

That is of course as long as your bike isnt totally unsuited.

Keep the hardtail as that's the bike you're going to ride most. Hire a full sus and save up and buy one for when it's necessary.

Do I need a new bike? If so which of these?

No & none.

Save your money and just buy some bigger tyres for your away days.

Ride more and enjoy 😀

Irrelevent of HT or FS, you will most benefit from a slacker front end and a longer fork.

The Scale has neither.

I do think you'd be better with the fuel/stumpy than the 'bigger' options (Phil Corleys?), and they would be fine for the Chilterns too.

You've had your replies from the hair shirt brigade so far. 🙄
You've got a head down arse up racing bike at the moment- I'd say off that list get the EX8 - the bike gets great reviews from just about everone that's owned or tested one, it's got enough travel for you to ride most everything in this country, but still won't feel like a dead weight on flatter trails.

Well, I guess it depends on your riding, but most importantly what you want to get out of it, and where you want to take it!

I had a similar problem a year or two back, although my finances only extended to a Scale 70 ;-). Bought the bike not knowing what riding I really wanted to do, and enjoyed riding it enough to get hooked. I became more and more interested in techy rocky stuff - Coed y Brenin and rock strewn gullies in the Peak. The bike continued to cope - upgrading the forks (yours will be a lot better than my old Darts!), fitting a shorter stem and riser bars and better brakes (again, your brakes should be fine) helped. Eventually I took the bike the Alps (Verbier) and really discovered the limitations.

My solution was to get a 6" full suss bike, but I later took all the bits off the Scale and put them on a Cotic Soul. For me the Soul works well - I can blast it XC, but the geometry copes well when things steepen up.

So I guess there's plenty of options:
1) Tweak the Scott with a few upgrades.... but know that the geometry will always be limiting
2) Keep the Scott and hire as required... but I don't get the impression you really need the out and out XC performance of the Scott???
3) Sell the Scott and get a 100-140mm full suss bike.... but this might be overkill, especially for the local stuff
4) Sell the Scott (or the frame at least) and get a slack angled hardtail... although it'll never be quite as quick as a full suss on bumpy downs

If I were you, I'd go for 4 - I've been amazed how well slack angled steel hardtails ride, and you'll keep all the acceleration for your local trails, but I'm making a lot of assumptions about where you want to take your riding

keep the scot, and buy the remedy n+1 and all that.

Usefull info heh......

I'd say hire a full suss until youre sure you want to shell out one - I got a full suss and after 6 months of riding it reverted back to hardtail and love it. the FS is hanging in the shed, its a decent bike but i much prefer the HT and I find it just as capable as the FS.

4) Sell the Scott (or the frame at least) and get a slack angled hardtail... although it'll never be quite as quick as a full suss on bumpy downs

Not always the case, all depends on the rider 😈

This is the route I wouls advise having forsaken my Kona Dawg Primo for a Ragley Blue Pig. forge who posts on here dallied with a Yeti asr5/575 for a while but is grining from ear-ear on a new Prince Albert 753.

Good [b]steel[/b] /Ti or alloy hardtails with big tyres and long forks are the new full sus

It's as well to remember (unless perhaps you're being paid to ride) that you're doing this as a hobby, to make you happy. If you think the Trek will make you happy, (and why ever not it's a very good bike by all accounts) then go for it.

I suspect any number of mid travel XC oriented full suss bikes will suit you perfectly, from off the shelf Trek and Speshes to top of the range Yetis and Turners.

Seems like a nice problem to have... 🙂

I had a similar dilema last year. I had a litespeed race HT which I really liked, but asnt ideal for the bigger stuff (especially for a mincer like me). I bought a Pitch to complement it, but found that whilst it was quick down hill it wasn't as much fun as a hardtail, and so got very little use. I finally decided to replace them both with a more trail oriented hardtail, which is almost as quick to race and a lot more involved on bigger decents (read slower and more knackering) but a he'll of a lot more fun. I certainy don't have any regrets.

I am a huge advocate of simplicity. I think you, or indeed anyone, would benefit from a bike they like riding and can cope in any conditions. How interested are you in being the fastest rider on the fastest bike? Or would you rather "suffer" being a little slower by having a jack of all trades bike, that could still be just as fun to ride?

One bike is simpler and cheaper, and you can forget about it till it breaks. It's up to you to decide what compromises you want to make on that bike.

But maybe N plus 1 is always right, what do I know! 😉

well said mansonsoul

I resisted the full sus for yrs, took me 3yrs of test days to arrive at the Kona I eventually bought. Not the bike I set out to buy btw and is now 5yrs old.
My old(16yrs)ht needs some tlc hence the reason I ended up buying a reasonably priced long travel ht which has become my main bike, the fs not having turned a wheel for nearly 9mths now.

nickday.....If you do have to get it out of your system I`d go for an EX, mate raves about his.

theres nothing at a trail centre that can't be ridden on a scale. i've had scales/sparks for years. fantastic bikes, all round quick, and cope with most riding, for big scottish mountain days i'll take the bigger bike, but thats just for a change in riding. theres nothing i've found to worry me on a "race" bike.

Better keeping what you've got. As said, maybe some slightly fatter tyres?

its about want not need!
get the bike you want

What Jedi said (as usual).
Get what you want, if it makes you happy it's probably worth it!

I'm quite amazed that some are saying about using the Scott at trail centres. Took it to Afan last year and found it no fun - OK on climbs (my weak point) but on the fun trails or downhill sections I found myself slow and looking god the smoothest route which took all the fun out of the fun bits.

My initial preference was the Lapierre (and yes partly cos it looks great) it has great reviews as does the Trek - but as mentioned it's probably overkill for my local riding.

Which leads back to the SJ or the EX. I had an SJ before and liked it but the Trek gets ace reviews..... Like the thought of the adjustable travel on the SJ for climbing (as mentioned - my weak point)

So general feel is that a good, sorted XC bike would suffice in all but the most extreme situations.. But which? And should I be looking beyond the SJ & EX???

I'd sell the Scott and go for a well-spec'd Giant Anthem X (or maybe even wait for the 29er version due out in a couple of months...). Would only be a slight compromise (if at all) for your usual trails and a lot more fun at a trail centre. Otherwise get the Zesty, they're still at fun places where a hardtail is all you really need.

The Trek or the Zesty.

Zesty rear suspension makes it accelerate like a shorter travel bike but it has a nice slack head angle, mine doesn't feel like overkill in my local woods and hasn't felt out of its depth anywhere yet either.

As Jedi said it's about want, not need, but that's no reason not to get a new bike.

IMO one bike to do it all is the way to go. Apart from being cheaper and simpler you get used to it's performance and quirks so you get more confident on it.

Also IMO if it's one bike it needs to be a FS with 130-150mm travel that pedals well up the hills and has the right geometry for going down. Probably any of the main manufacturer offerings will be good, but you MUST go and test ride as they all feel different and suit different people.

I tested the Trek EX something, Giant Reign and SC Blur LT. All similar on paper but the Blur stood out as being better in every respect.

I really wouldn't recommend having a full susser as your only bike. Keep the hardtail and maybe buy a full susser too when you can afford it.

I have a Trek 8k, which gets a lot of use on my local trails, and a Santa Cruz Blur LT, which only gets ridden when I got further afield to terrain that warrants it.

I really wouldn't recommend having a full susser as your only bike. Keep the hardtail and maybe buy a full susser too when you can afford it.

Depends on your perspective and where you ride. I wouldn't recommend a HT as your only bike. For the majority of people who ride big stuff and trail centres there are plenty of times where a HT just doesn't work.

Nickday1 - Member
I'm quite amazed that some are saying about using the Scott at trail centres. Took it to Afan last year and found it no fun - OK on climbs (my weak point) but on the fun trails or downhill sections I found myself slow and looking god the smoothest route which took all the fun out of the fun bits.

depends on how comfortable you are riding it i guess. some people don't get on with "race" bikes as they feel too far over the front and worry about that, making it less enjoyable.
I like a head down aggressive position. regularly ride all sorts in it. including days playing riding up then down the dh tracks at innerleithen.

CaptainMainwaring - Member
. For the majority of people who ride big stuff and trail centres there are plenty of times where a HT just doesn't work.

But on the OP,i'd agree with IanMmmm, keep what you have for the moment. save up and try out a few full sussers before one as an addition instead of replacement.

CaptainMainwaring - Member
. For the majority of people who ride big stuff and trail centres there are plenty of times where a HT just doesn't work.

I don't get that, what do people come across at trail centres that is a struggle on a ht but so much easier on a full sus?

If you read it I did not say just trail centres, and I said the majority of people, not all. You are obviously one of the minority

We're in danger of getting into the "I'm a more capable rider than you" territory here. Sure, some people could ride a downhill course on a unicycle and find it fun. For most people it's more fun on something that gives a bit of confidence, whether HT or full suss.

I'm inclined to agree that you should just go for whatever you really want and can justify to yourself (and or other interested parties). If you change your mind down the line you can always swap it. Best thing you can do is buy it off here so at least you won't loose much if you change your mind like I did.

[i]its about want not need!
get the bike you want[/i]

You only 'need' one bike but you might 'want' more. 2 months ago I only needed one bike but got some money I wasn't expecting so am waiting for a new bike to arrive, cos I want it.

Am loving that attitude : )
The Lapierre shouts at me on looks and frame, the SJ shouts at me as I've had one before and like the idea of the adjustable forks, the Trek EX8 shouts at mainly due to reviews I've seen and the Trek Remedy shouts at me cos I've ridden one and liked it.
Head says SJ or EX8 heart says Lapierre...

Get the Zesty then, you're unlikely to regret it.

One point i'll make is how often do you ride and do you fix your own stuff?

Me and my mates ride at least twice a week and don't have time to get to the bike shop all the time so 2 bikes make sense as every ride something breaks or wears out on someones bike!

Both my bikes are slack head angled, longish travel, mid weight types (One one summer/Cotic Hemlock) because i like techy stuff and prefer grinding uphill and having fun on the downs.

If most of your riding is fairly fast n easy then theres no point buying owt too hardcore.

HT is cheaper to run and only a little slower unless its really rocky..With an adjustable fork you can have the best of both worlds.

Never heard anyone who didn't like their Lappiere though.

Just to add the new CEN PA with the 750 tubing and a nice ti seat post is just a brilliant bike, it has replaced a 2010 Yeti ASR 5 for a variety of reasons.

I am very pleased that I didn't jump back to a Full Suss from the ASR as the PA is filling the gap perfectly, I do have a 6" Travel Full Suss for more rocky stuff.

This weekend it's going to be a tough decison on whether I take the HT or the FS and that hasn't been a problem I've had for some time, but a nice one to have none the less.

Don't think you can beat a sorted HT for maximum trail satisfaction, I'd got with rtb25's option 4.