Cos I only just gone and won one in that there Dream Bike comp WOOHOOOOO!
130 for sure. The 160 was dated when it came out. Now it's really dated.
Well done. Lucky sod.
Lucky sod indeed! Never won anything significant before, been on cloud nine all afternoon since I got the call.
Genuine question though, which to choose and why? Heart is saying 160 cos of all that travel available but head is thinking maybe 130 is the best way to go.
What sort of trails are you riding? If nothing ultra-gnarly then 130 would be fine.
Would have to be 130 I think for me, as I have a couple of long travel 650b bikes already, but I guess it depends what you want it for. I doubt you’ll be disappointed with either! Enjoy!!!
Definitely the HB130. Bigger wheels and more modern geometry will make it just as quick as the HB160 downhill and quicker and livelier the rest of the time. Congrats!
Cheers Guys! Home trails are all typical Yorkshire Dales type trails but I'm up for going and riding anywhere/anything really. Recently discovered the joys of bike parks in the form of Gisburn, where I have been going quite a bit lately and I really enjoy doing stuff like the Hope line and Hulley Gulley, red trails etc.. Only been back into riding a year or so after having a non functioning leg for a few years.
Not really had much experience of modern geo bikes, still riding an 06 Stumpy 26er. Went to a YT demo day at Gisburn a few months back and tried the Jeffsy and Capra, both in 27.5 and 29 formats. Found climbing the easiest on 29er Jeffsy but was most confident on the descents on 29er Capra. Wasn't blown away by 27.5 of either models but that could just be my lack of skills.
Edit: Also hoping to have a go at a couple of Enduros if that makes a difference.
Great to see someone on here win, makes me feel like I might win one day! Well done fella.
I would defo choose the 130, my riding is lakes, gisburn, Lee quarry, rivi etc'. But bear in mind I am also crap at riding mountain bikes.
130 every day of the week and twice on sundays
Another vote for the 130.
It'll be way better for the kind of riding you describe and you'll fly round gisburn compared to your usual bike.
Megaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
I’d choose the 160 because it always seemed as if it would be ideal for the kind of riding that I like to do. But then I’m outdated too.
HB130 has a water bottle mount so it gets my vote. It also sounds like an ace bike and just about the perfect all-rounder.
Wow. Congratulations. That's a beautiful looking bike.
I'd also say 130 for your described riding.
Pics when you get it.
I'd choose the 130. Because i already have the HB160.
another vote for the 130 and congratulations OP.
Yes, congrats.
Well done! HB130 if it was me.
130 all day long, it comes with a bigger forks (150), longer reach and bigger wheels so it’ll be far more fun than the 160 ..
Good quality 130mm trail bikes can handle the worst the peaks, Pennines and lakes can throw at them
Cheers for all the comments and congrats folks! Certainly seems to be a lot of love for the 130 and I'm swinging that way myself. Gonna have to see if I can get to try one out for size. The video above does stress that it is a trail bike rather than enduro. I don't need an EWS capable machine but would like something that can confidently handle a typical UK enduro, would this fit the bill?
I honestly think it'd be quicker than the 160 at most UK enduros.
150 front and 130 rear is very capable on a 29er.
Ask Hope what they think though, they will be happy to advise and pleased you've chosen one of their bikes, I'm sure.
(or was it just a choice of those two?)
Twas just a choice of these two. But I chose to enter cos I wanted one.
would like something that can confidently handle a typical UK enduro
A hardtail could cope with a typical UK Enduro! Personally, I'd be all over the 130.
If your near to gisburn then your not far at all from the Hope factory. Pop over and try them both.
@lowey email sent to Hope to see if they mind me going for a test. I am an hour from Gisburn, about hour 15 from Hope. Not far at all really.
Next dilemma, I can choose between Fox or Ohlins suspension at no extra charge, with the fork available as air or coil. Might start another thread about it to see if I can attract the suspension gurus.
I'd go with the Fox, much easier to setup and better performing than the Ohlins.
3 chamber system in the RXF36 is a nice idea, but took me ages to setup and always felt sticky. Set of Lyriks/Pikes/36's/34's you'd have them pretty close in 30mins.
STX shock in my expeerience was unrelilable and when was working was pretty average. TTX coil is very very good though.
@Sir HC I'm not sure if the TTX coil is an option, it only mentions air on the website. The RXF36 is available as an air or coil option. I'm guessing you are refering to the air version with 3 chambers? I don't want something that is difficult to set up. I currently ride and old set of Marzochis with four different air chambers and I can never get em right.
I touched one in Morzine... I got told off in Morzine .. I couldnt afford one in Morzine after buying my Megatower .... Stunning HB130 (but up the fork to 140mm )
Yep the HB130 name is the rear suspension only, one of the sponsored riders had a 160 on front of his at Boltby bash enduro , looks a beauty
Happy days! Off to the Hope factory tomorrow to try some bikes 🙂
Pics when you get it 👍
Awesome. Jealous as. By all accounts a superb bike. I entered the same competition and didn't win. I can only assume there's been some kind of mistake. Stewards enquiry surely..
The 130 all day long. Unless you've realistic aspirations of winning one of them enduros, 130mm at back and 140mm at front, on a 29er, will be more than enough bike!
@funkrodent well I certainly dream of winning one of them enduros but the reality is I will just be happy if I finish.
So, had an enjoyable couple of hours at the Hope factory this morning. Got shown around the factory by a guy called Doddy who is in charge of the HBs. That place is amazing, everything being manufactured in house to an extremely high standard.
Tried three bikes. The 130 in L and XL and the 160 in XL. The 130 in L felt comfortable seated but a little on the short side for me. The XL 130 was slightly too stretched and low at the front for me seated but spot on when standing. I think this could be sorted easily enough though by moving the seat forward a bit and another spacer under the stem. The XL 160 fit me perfectly from the start but I think the lighter weight and the way it pedaled up hill will make me choose the 130. The 160 also pedals realy well but the 130 is better for me.
Hi
Not that I can afford one at the minute but I would love an HB130.
Not sure whether I would go for a L or XL so could I ask how tall you are and what your proportions are like-gibbon arms, short legs etc?
For reference I’m 6ft and fairly evenly proportioned with 32” inside leg
Cheers
Steve
@fatgit Well, I thought I was 6'2" but OH measured me the other night and said 6'1" so old age playing a factor I think. Inside leg is 35" in riding shoes so I think my back and arms are short in comparison to my legs if that's any help. The XL had a 150 dropper fitted which had about 1" of insertion left to go.....ooo..er missus!
Jordan-Cheers for that.
Interestingly when I was at the factory last year when my mate was getting a 160 we tried both and I would have got an XL without a doubt.
I prefer a roomy bike so would tend to go XL with a short stem I think 🤔. May have to look at a shorter dropper though.
Thanks
Steve
@fatgit You would need to try it. The 130 XL definately feels a good bit longer than the 160 XL and is fitted with the short 35mm stem as standard.
I am starting to dither over which size to get. Like I said, the L was comfortable but a tad short and the XL definately made my back feel a bit too stretched out for long days in the saddle. The saddle could have gone forwards 20mm or so and More spacers could be added to raise the stem but do I want to be riding a bike with the saddle fully slammed forwards and 40mm of spacers under the stem or would I be better off with the L fitted with the 50mm 20 degree rise stem instead of the 35mm? Would I notice the 20mm less reach while standing? I don't know.
Pick the one that needs the smallest adjustment to make it fit.
@Trimix I'm glad someone can think more logically than I can 🙂
I just rode a 130 for a few hours at a pedals demo day. We did the off piste stuff at glentress.
It was faster than my Nomad on ho chi min, which I think says everything
You can get a 150 fork and 203 rotor as options. Oh and all the bits in purple:)
I loved it, it was so fast up hill and felt every bit as competent as my Nomad till it got either very very techy or steep.
It felt a really premium product and I couldnt believe how quiet and rattle free it was, the cable routing is excellent.
I would buy one in a flash, but i hated the brakes. They lacked bite and didnt feel as good as my zees! Maybe it was the pads...
Got loads of pics, but crikey knows how to post on here.
No love for the HB160 then? - tell you what, anyone who’s got one that they don’t want, can they sell it to me at a knock-down price please?
I love mine. Saw one on Facebook for 3k the other day
So, I went back to Hope today to try the bikes again for size.
I tried the L with a 50mm stem instead of the standard 35mm and the bike felt very comfortable to my back in a sit up and beg kind of way but the whole bike still felt a bit short somehow. So tried the XL with the standard 35mm stem but with an extra 10mm spacer under it. Result! That's the one for me.