[Closed] Full Suss 29ers - What's out there?

I had a spin on the Niner RIP @ Mayhem and almost got the plastic out there and then, nice bike with no noticable rear flex even with my ample arse on it. It's a bit above your budget though 🙁

Have a look at a stumpy 29r they are about £2k now but the 2010 models will be out soonish so you might get a good price on one.

[url= http://www.astrixsports.com/monk.html ]Astrix Monk[/url]
It ploughs over most things happily, climbs better than you'd expect. XL fits me well at 6'5", and probably suit taller. Next years frame sounds as though it'll be even better.

MrTall, the ventana is a cracking bike.
it is a lot more robust than many of the other full sus 29rs.
i run mine with 120mm reba bolt thru's and to be honest the bike is capable of a lot more than i can give it.
with a propedal shock there is zero bob on climbs and with the shock open it takes drops and rockeries without any bother.

mine is a 21'' and i am 6ft 4'' so unless you are nearing 7ft a 23 would be ideal.
i think you can get the rear end beefed up to what you want but i am 20 stone and there is zero flex in the rear.

[IMG] [/IMG]

Astrix is interesting, never heard of them before. Are you UK based Jalopy, is there a UK importer and how much are they here? $1100 usually seems to turn into £1100 if bought here.

Stumpjumper is more than i'd like to pay for a Spesh, i was hoping for them to bring out a sub £2k 29er.

It's annoying as the choice is huge at the £2k mark in 26". I reckon in a year or two that i'll have a lot more choice in 29ers but don't want to wait that long. 🙁

You've not mentioned the Turner Sultan - which you could get if you decided to sell parts of your body and top up your fund. 29er FS are still a fairly new thing, so not going to be in the core range and thus cheaper. Sometimes you have to pay for what is best for you - I had to accept that a while back.

Ton,

Did you use Riverside cycles (UK importer) or did you get it direct from the US? I can't find a US $ price anywhere, all the retailer sites just link me back to the Ventana Homepage? UK price seem to be £1500.

I like the idea of the bolt thru Reba's although i'm 'only' 16 stone. I reckon the 23" would be the one for me if i went for one.

Whereabouts in the UK are you? If i was ever near your area would it be ok to be cheeky and have a look at it in the flesh?

yes, got it from riverside....alan is a sound bloke.
i am in leeds mate, but i get about a bit to ride.
you are more than welcome to take it for a test ride..

TooTall - i mentioned the Turner along with the Santa Cruz = megabucks.

I recall you were off to the states to test one - did you get it?

I realise that i'm looking at a niche area so will have to pay over the odds (although i am very happy indeed with my £750 Rockhopper) and it's not that i can't afford to pay silly money if necessary, it's just that i'd rather not if possible. I never really seem to be able to tell the difference between a £1k bike and a £3k bike so don't feel justified in spending the cash. If i got to test a £3k bike in my size and i loved it then i'd go for it but you are fully aware of how hard it is to get a tester in silly sizes. 🙁

Ventana is still top of the list for me but i'd be looking at at least £2300 for frame forks and wheels. Although if i could recoup a bit from my trance then that could bring the price down by £3-£400 maybe?

Ton, my buddie lives in Leeds and i go up to ride with him a couple of times a year so i'll chat to him and see when he's next free for a weekends riding. Thanks for the offer, it's appreciated. May well take you up on it. Might ring Riverside in a mo as well.

MrTall,

No UK importer for Astrix at the moment I think - Bonthrone Bikes did have a frame or two in when they were still going. I shipped mine out (with a 10% discount) through Universal Cycles. Ended up a hair under a grand with duty, IIRC.

I'm in W London, and you're welcome to try it out, though not until I replace the leaky shock (a Manitou Swinger - they now come with the better RS Monarch, I believe). Probably a couple of weeks. Let me know. I'm often over at Swinley if you ride round there.

Thanks Jalopy, i'll bear that in mind.

Ton, just spoken with Alan at Riverside and he was very helpful, he's going to see if he can track down one of his customers who has the 25" frame (he's sold 2 to 6'9" & 6'10" chaps) for me to have a sit on. Then if i could try your 21" as well then hopefully the 21" would be a tad small, the 25" a tad big leading me to the 23" as spot on. 🙂

Well, I've had a Niner and albeit an 07 model and the 09/10 is around and much stiffer blah blah, I would not buy one. I thought the HTA is too steep (Also own a SIR9 *for sale* and for me, this is too steep as well).

I can't get plussed about Turners. Ask SSTu what he thought about one.

The Monk is a solidly built bike that you wont go far wrong with. The Ventana is also similar in quality, if you can stand the look of it. Of course I like my Lenz, and for my riding style it suits me well.

As for sizing I would go smaller than your HT RHopper. Having tried a 'big' 29er (ETT 25.25") I have now gone 'smaller' (23"). This is much, much more fun. I can move about all over the bike, pull it this way and that, lift the front etc). I will always go for the smallest frame I can possibly get away with. With you inseam I can see you with a long seatpost, but shorter TT

My 2c

Bonesetter, how tall are you?

Im 6ft4 and most of my bikes are 24-24.5" toptube with at least 100-120mm stems. I was looking to swap my single-speed for a 29er with a 25"+ toptube and then run a shorter stem (to keep the reach the same but speed up the handling a little to compensate for the bigger wheel) but not sure now after reading your comment. See Ive got a 'play' bike that is 23" top-tube and a short stem and my back kills after a long ride so im wondering how you manage with that short a bike?

Ta, Rich.

i agree with bonesetter about the size thing.
i think i could have got away with a 19'' on the ventana..

Rich. TBH I asked Devin Lenz to supply an XL (24.625 ETT) with a large seat tube height (19"). What arrived was by my reckoning a medium (23.4) with a large ST!

I didn't spot this sizing error till well after it was built and I was riding it for a while. But I'm so glad it worked out like it did, for the reasons above.

I still have my Niner SIR 9 *cough, for sale* which is 25.25. This is just too big for me now, and the TT is so high there's little seat post showing, and of course a compromising standover 😳

I have had the Niner for over 2 years, and have enjoyed it, but having tried a smaller bike there's no going back. Oh, your lower back pain. I only suffer it when I get very tired on the bike, but that happened on all bikes, otherwise no problems.

One more thing - I run a 50mm stem & 2" risers! My Niners to start with had a flat bar with a 90 stem.

6' 2.5" 34.5 inseam (short legs)

Just been up to Two Wheels in Stourbridge and they have said they could do the Turner Sultan 29er for £1600 (instead of the normal £1900 apparently) which is something to think about now as it's only £100 more than the Ventana (i thought it'd be a lot more).

Nige, i was hoping you'd be in the Wyre with us yesterday as i was gonna pick your brains on the ins and out of full suss 29er's. Remember how much you had to drop my seatpost when you tried my Rockhopper though, my legs and arms are far longer than yours despite me being only 3" taller.

It'd be interesting to see if i'd be alright on Ton's 21" Ventana but i know the one 21" bike i still own is a tad too small for me. When Ton sells his in a months time maybe i can get it at a knock down price 😉

Two Wheels said that Singlespeedstu tried a Sultan 29er from them and liked it but was waiting for the carbon Santa Cruz instead. They had a normal Blur carbon in the shop and it was very nice i have to say, sooo light but i'd be frightened to ride it and ruin it.

Steve - YGM

I think the CB Tall Boy would be like the Blur - one drop or crash on a rock and the frame's toast 😯

Wouldn't mind a play on one for a bit though 😀

I tried a Sultan on Saturday, after riding a Hifi 29er for a couple of months. The Fisher front end is better, but the rear of the Turner felt brilliant - really nicely planted compared to the Hifi. The Turner is more neutral handling, whilst Hifi does tend to encourage you to hammer it into every corner as fast as possible. The front of the Hifi glued to the backend of the Turner would be perfect 😉

Cheers but my email address off here is my home one, not work so i'll read it later (not techy enough to access it remotely).

I may pop over to see you at some stage to have a chat and to look at your Shockwave, sorry, i mean Lenz ;-).

Jonathan, i'm annoyed that the Fishers don't go any bigger than 21" as the HiFi full bikes are 'only' £1800 & £2100 and i'd rather buy a fully kitted out bike than get a frame and build it up as it's always more expensive that way.

I'd happily buy a Hifi but even in 21" i'm told they come up a bit small? I looked at the Fishers in Chevin Cyles but they didn't have any 21" in store to sit on.

MrTall - Member

I may pop over to see you at some stage to have a chat and to look at your Shockwave, sorry, i mean Lenz ;-).

Very welcome, anytime

I'd happily buy a Hifi but even in 21" i'm told they come up a bit small?

I'm 'normal' sized (5' 11") so was riding a 17.5 inch 'medium'. It felt plently long enough, and many 'medium' frames tend to come up a bit short for me. That medium I was riding has an effective TT of 23.5" (according to the Fisher site) and the XL (21") an effective TT of 26.5" - which is a good chunk longer.

It'd definitely be worth hunting one down to sit on as they are excellent bikes for the money.

jonathan - Member

the XL (21") an effective TT of 26.5" - which is a good chunk longer.

It'd definitely be worth hunting one down to sit on as they are excellent bikes for the money.

Hey, that might be up your street after all Mr Tall

The 21" Hifi29er is down as 637.60mm toptube on the website so i dont think its 26.5"

Pity, it did sound just a chunk too much

Foes 29er due possibly this year.

http://www.bikerumor.com/2009/04/09/speaking-of-29ersfoes-29er-seen-in-the-wild/

The 21" Hifi29er is down as 637.60mm toptube on the website so i dont think its 26.5"

Sorry - yes - my bad - 3 and 7 confusion!

25 inches then... so not quite as promising for you 🙁

How about a Voodoo Canzo 29er [url] http://www.voodoocycles.net/08_canzo29.htm [/url]

Good feedback on mtbr 29er forum, although you would have to buy from US

Nice looking bike actually but only up to a 20" frame size so no good to me i'm afraid. 🙁

[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/circus-giant-rides-proper-size-bike ]Here is my test ride[/url]

I will be buying the bike - just couldn't get it this time - but hopefully before the end of the year.

where can i place my order for one of those FOES jobbies 8)

I'm sure this is a ghey thread in disguise.Lots of talk of inches,inside leg measurements & sitting on each others property. 😆

[url=

you go[/url] guys, looks like we could all do what these comedians are. I know it's a HT, but it's quality entertainment

my buddie lives in Leeds and i go up to ride with him a couple of times a year so i'll chat to him and see when he's next free for a weekends riding

I'll speak to the FPO (Fun Prevention Officer) and see when she'll next allow me out to play.

More on the Foes it is due 2010, 4inch travel and...gulp...$3000 with the Curnutt xtd, £2250 with Fox (Curnutt is worth the extra imho)

http://seaotter.mtbr.com/2009/04/24/foes-racing-29er-and-pasadena-commuter-bike/

Hey Steve, can you get a Salsa Big mama in your size?

Also has Voodoo Canzo been mentioned?

Nige,

Voodoo only go up to 20" so no good.

Salsa looks very interesting, i've just read a fair few reviews on it and they are all positive. Plus it's £100 cheaper than the Ventana for the frame (although RP2 instead of RP23 on the El Capitan). Supposedly comes as a full build but i can't find anywhere that lists it other than as frame only. Comes up to a 22" which i'm pretty sure would be ok.

Currently on a shortlist of 2 then......... Cheers for the heads up. 🙂

Salsa now at the top of the list as Speedgoat in the US have a full build With Reba's at $2750 (£1700ish)!!! Plus a bit of international postage (less than £100) that seems a very good deal so the only problem would be import duties payable. Any idea what they might be anybody??

Sppedgoat will not mark the value down.

I would guess with 4.7% duty, Parcel farce's handling fee, and then **** tax (the biggest sting) on the whole lot (inc shipping) be between £100 & £200. At least the pound has recovered. It was low when I had to cough for the balance payment on the Lenz

The Big Mama was my second choice before the lenz. i would defo have one. A gorgeous looker for for. and as you say all feedback positive. An excellent and strong trail bike. Built by Salsa too. Go Steve Go!

Your wlecome to try my Dos Niner which is a 20" as I think the geo is pretty similar to the Big Mama. I'm 6'3" and from post extension I'm probably at a bout 70% of the max size although I am going to switch to 180mm cranks in the not too distant future.

(I can't quite bring myself to go back to a Full suss hence the soft tail)

I started a thread about Duty and people seem to think it would be more like $1000-$1100. I'm guessing you bought the Lenz frame only which is 4.7% duty (cycling componentry), whole bikes appear to be 14%.

I wonder if they could send the frame and then the componentry to get around it? Double charges then though i guess.

Bloody import duty and tax...... 🙁

Nobody seems to sell a full build one in this country. Full build i think looks lovely in the orange. Very tempted once i get confirmation of duty and geometry. Might have to talk to you about that as i'm not really sure what the angles mean in the real world.

Kind of you to offer Duc, thanks.

Whereabouts in the UK are you? And do you like the Salsa?

Here's another option: I'm 6'4" with 36.5 cycling inseam and this is a Niner Jet XL with a 90mm stem. I'm only 75KG and I can feel some flex, but it's a great bike, bought before the pound crashed so decent value.

[img] [/img]

Yes I do like it although still playing with stem length and things.
I'm in Northampton but can have the bike up at SITS if you are going to be around

flex with someone who weighs 75kg...............
thank **** i never bought a niner....................... 😯

Compared to a SC Blur I had last time. Some of that flex is in the wheels 🙂

Just off for some pies...

I'll second the Dos Niner, I have a 20" at 6'5" and I rather bloomin love it. Not entirely a full susser, only 1" at the back, but its just enough to take the worst of the sting out of it. With the angle of attack of the wheels, it rides like it has about 3" at the back.

I find the wheels flex at low speeds and tight turning circles, but once out on a flowing bit of trail, its superb.

My baby:
[img] ?v=0[/img]

Andyl - did you buy that one off ebay - i saw one on there in that size not too long ago that went pretty cheap? i like the look of them.

Starting to look like i may go for the frame only option as it's in the sale at $1250 when its £1400 here! Even with the worse exchange rate now, it's still a hell of a saving and duty is lower if i don't get the whole bike. I can get wheels and fork over here and swap the rest of the kit over from my trance although i would prefer new shiny everything! Should be able to get frame, fork and wheels for around £1600 and then recoup a bit from selling trance wheels and fox fork.

I like the Ventana but at £1500 compared to £1100ish it's a fairly easy choice to make.

Gonna talk to Bonesetter and sort it out soon hopefully.

Duc, I'm in Brum so northampton is not too far for me i guess, i may well toy with having a look before i get the 22".

Ton, i thought the same as you about the Niner, i'm 100kg so would not want a flexy bike. Salsa seems pretty stiff from the reports but the Niners do look nice. Love the Salsa in Orange. 🙂

MrT,

Yup, I got it on Ebay, £500 for the frame and a set of brand new reba race with poploc and all that gubbins, £200 for the wheelset and a good rummage in the spares bin for the rest of the build. A ss figid forked version just went as a full bike for a song on there too, a real bargain (check completed listings, but you may cry).

It was a bit of a gamble, but the frame was mint, and the forks looked like they hadn't been fitted... It rides beautifully, and the softtail gives me near hardtail weights (4.1 lbs on a Park scale for the 20" frame and shock) with the comfort of a short travel full susser. And it handles my 100+kg without complaints, climbs without the front end wandering about and the back end is stiff (however the wheels are a little flexier). Paint job needs protected though, the drive side chainstay has seen the worst of it, and it is a thing of beauty in my eyes!

Frames regularly listed for £750 new on fleabay.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Niner RIP. 😉

I'm 290lb on a bad day and couldn't find any noticable flex in the back end which for a 120mm rear travel 29er i was plesantly surprised about. It was so much like sitting on my BlurLT, only with more stability, it was uncanny. 😛

Definatly on my list if i decide on a full suss 29er despite the price 🙄

Niner are lovely and the XL is good for up to 6 foot 8 inches.
You would need to special order a 22" dos Niner - this could take some time.

The Foes 29er will be available around September we hope.

Prices are expected to be the same as the Prolite 2:1 (approx £2399 with the Curnutt shock).

Its all dependant on the exchange rate but hopefully 2010 may see some small RRP reductions.

J

Mr Tall
I have the same problem and I am currently looking for a bike the same size as you, May be get a discount for ordering two the same ? or poss sell your rock hopper to me ?
Nick

jamie@balfa - Member
The Foes 29er will be available around September we hope.

Prices are expected to be the same as the Prolite 2:1 (approx £2399 with the Curnutt shock).

Its all dependant on the exchange rate but hopefully 2010 may see some small RRP reductions.

ton shakes his piggy bank, to see if there is owt left in it......... 😉

Nick,

Looks like i'll be ordering a 22" Salsa Big Mama frame later today so should have it in a few weeks time and am already in the process of buying the build kit (1st bits due to arrive today!!).

I'm keeping the Rockhopper as i like to have a choice of HT and FS for when the weather is awful. I'm in Brum so not a million miles away from you and i'd be more than happy to let you have a test ride on either as i know from experience how difficult it is to find a tester in a tall bloke sizing (the Rockhopper was one of two i could find in the entire country).

On that note i have been wondering about sorting out a STW 'Tall Blokes' club where we could 'pool' our current collection of bikes allowing fellow tallies to be able to try out a big size before buying. I know Ton has kindly offered to let me have a go on his if i'm up near Leeds but i've now chosen the Salsa over the Ventana (mostly cos it's way cheaper!). Just a thought as even now i'm still a bit nervous that the Salsa will fit me as i've never sat on one. Had i gotten an opportunity to just throw a leg over somebody elses then i'd be far happier.

Good idea or not?

Mr Tall

Good idea, maybe if enough names are collected a list could be presented to a dealer in the hope he would stock some xl size bikes. It could be a good Business for someone I am sure people would travel to buy a bike if it was the right size, I would.
Its good of you to offer the chance to try your bikes for size poss take you up on that, thanks.
Good luck with the Salsa Big Mama

Nick

good idea mate
i have 3 29rs now.
people are free to try them............. 8)

Very good idea Steve - what would the criteria be for being a tallie?

Look forward to seeing the pics...

Like Ton I also have three 29er- Haro Mary SS, Turner Sultan, and an Inbred

And one of which used to belong to Ton!

Here's a pic of my Turner...

[img] [/img]

And count me in for the tall blokes club...

3 29ers-

Turner Sultan (Large)
On-One Inbred (19.5")
Haro Mary SS (20")

All available should anyone want to try- based in Surrey, close to Swinley.

May have a Singular Swift to add to the list soon too... 🙂

For the win!

[IMG] [/IMG]

Well i ordered my 22" Salsa and Maxle Reba this afternoon so it should be here within a month, maybe less than 3 weeks if things go well.

It'll be my 2nd 29er to go with my 23" Rockhopper. I also still have my 22" Trance (for sale soon), 22" Hoss (singlespeeded) 21" Hardrock (ex commuter), 63cm Roadbike and 25" Nexus Geared Hybrid (plus a 22" hack and 25" ancient roadbike)

I'd suggest the criteria for being a 'tallie' would be if you can not fit on anything under an XL frame (21" minimum) as anything under 21" is reasonably easy to get a test ride on (when i lived in London, Evans always had a fair few 21" bikes in various stores). It's the 22" and above bikes that are pretty rare and very hard to get a sit on as no small stores will stock them. Also frames such as Ton's Ventana, my Salsa and the Turners which are not available as fully built bikes here.

As this thread has shown there are plenty of taller chaps with shorter legs who can fit on more normal bikes and then there are freaks like me who find XL and XXL frames are still too small.

I just felt that as there does seem to be a growing number of taller chaps riding now (my group has 2 0r 3 others up to 6'5") that it would be useful if we could find a real bike to sit on first before we blow several thousand pounds on a bike we hope will fit. If somebody else on here had a 22" Salsa i would have been prepared to drive at least 100 mile radius from my home to have a look before i bought one. It would have been extremely helpful. At least we now have a thread here we can look back on if one of us is buying a new bike which somebody else already owns in a bigger size. Most of the decent choices are catered for in one way or another.

Steve