Anyone else ordered one? First Carbon & first 29er for me, two things I swore I would never have. Made a liar of myself with this one though!
Can’t wait!
Aye. Frame only size H2, with most bits coming over from my HB160. Went for the Ohlins coil, and hopefully it'll be the new TTX.M2.
Going black components this time rather than the understated orange/green on the 160. Just need the Evo cranks now.
Aye. Frame only size H2, with most bits coming over from my HB160. Went for the Ohlins coil, and hopefully it’ll be the new TTX.M2.
Going black components this time rather than the understated orange/green on the 160. Just need the Evo cranks now.
Yep frame only here too H3, going Ohlins coil rear and RFXM2 36 or 38 front. Going to run as mullet as that saves in new rear wheel!
Saw the chameleon one at the factory. It's very nice, but can't justify the extra £500 over the also very nice plain carbon.
Saw the chameleon one at the factory. It’s very nice, but can’t justify the extra £500 over the also very nice plain carbon.
Personally I think the plain carbon looks incredible. As a previous lover of CNC, tig welding or steel bikes it has taken a lot for me to want to go carbon. The geometry, build quality and attention to detail won for me with the HB916 but let’s be honest it’s one if the best looking bikes anyone has produced in years!
i didnt really take much notice of the previous bike, but having had a quick look... that is a delightful looking machine!
Unfortunately i dont have any need for an Enduro race bike, but if i did, that would be very high on the list of wants!
I look forward to seeing some of your builds!
I have no need for an endure race bike either, and I'm still getting one.
Mine will/should be:
H2 frame in raw carbon, Ohlins TTX.m2 shock
Fox 36 Grip2 Factory Elite uppers* with new 29" lowers
Hope Pro4 in black on DT XM481 with Mary and Betty 29x2.4"
Hope bars* and black Hope AM stem, Bjorn grips
OneUp 210mm dropper* & 30.9-31.6mm shim
Stealth Charge Spoon
Hope Evo crank in black with black 30t round ring
GX AXS* with 10-50t cassette*
Tech3 E4 with Tech4 lever blades**
* Off of HB160
** Off of hard tail
i didnt really take much notice of the previous bike, but having had a quick look… that is a delightful looking machine!
Unfortunately i dont have any need for an Enduro race bike, but if i did, that would be very high on the list of wants!
I look forward to seeing some of your builds!
I think that this and similar bikes while billed as Enduro race bikes actually make fantastic all day bikes in places like the Lakes and the Highlands where it is often very rough and steep.
yeah, bike's pedal so well these days, you can ride them all over. Wont be the most efficient thing, especially with the idler drag, but if it doesnt bother you, then go wild! 😀
yeah, bike’s pedal so well these days, you can ride them all over. Wont be the most efficient thing, especially with the idler drag, but if it doesnt bother you, then go wild! 😀
I can’t imagine it’s not more efficient than my current 36lb steel all day bike that climbs really well! As for the idler, initial reports say that idler drag is almost unnoticeable.
Seems the launch will be at Ard Rock next weekend with supply soon after to the early orders.
Fizzing!
yeah, i am looking forward to prodding one!
It truly is a thing of beauty. Im really not set on the high pivot after riding a Druid but the 916 would look stunning on the wall.
I think the chameleon looks stunning but a brief test on the Highlander and Claymore last weekend didn't wow me so I wouldn't buy without at least one test ride.
They had them on show at EWS @ Innerleithen and they are lovely
We're launching it at Ard Rock, if you're there be sure to pop by the stand with any questions. We'll have display bikes in the painted finishes and a few demo bikes in raw carbon.
a brief test on the Highlander and Claymore last weekend didn’t wow me
Care to share a few bullet points on how they rode?
@chapaping this was at Comrie Croft, both were running Fox air shocks, probably X2. The Highlander was the 140 version with Helms and the Claymore Zeb's. I tested both in a large at 178cm tall. I've been on a ML AM9 coil shock for ages..
Reach is 465 on the Highlander and 490 on the Claymore iirc, the Bird is 475.
Both the Deviate bikes were super efficient on climbing. I actually prefer a bit more squidge or give on climbing, so never use the climb switch on my coil but the AM9 doesn't climb too badly.
There was no bob to be felt in the open setting, and watching my mate climb on the Claymore you could tell this was the case visually.
The suspension wasn't really optimised to my prefrences, I used probably 80% of the travel but there wasn't much pep although the Croft is not really Claymore territory..
I preferred the Highlander for the terrain but there was nothing in it climbing wise. The Claymore was noticeably more lazy on the front end but no doubt it would excel in fast terrain.
Descending there was a bit more noise than I expected and I felt a bit detached when pedalling (maybe due to the extra chain, pulley etc)
Really smart looking bikes and I am local enough to organise an extended test ride to get the suspension more to my liking. The I prefer the simplicity of coil over the five variables of the X2.. the Deviate can run coil too.
Interesting, ta.
Big difference in feel over the rough bits? Magic rock-gobbling properties live up to the hype?
Chod just got real!
I have a shipping date for my frame now.
@teethgrinder - how long until you get it?
Has anyone tried one yet? They had demos at Ard Rock but the S3 was out and I didn't have time to wait for it to return.
They look great, would love to have a play on one.
Dunno yet. Should have shipped to the shop yesterday but I'm wanting it Invisiframed so may need to go to them to get scanned.
Ringing the shop soon to find out so I'll update after that.
I'll start building my drool reserves ready for the pics when it arrives!
I was considering this frame until I noticed it doesn't have ISCG tabs, ..I'm wondering why on this type of bike you would omit these?
The alternative options for chainring protection are pretty rubbish,..a BB mounted bash? Or as Joe Barnes has a rather dated Hope 1/4 Bash plate which requires spider mounted chainring...and this is only available for 32t and up(I'm currently using a 30t)
Anyways, so much about this bike seems right but such a simple thing put me right off.
It's on it's way to the shop. Invisiframe probably not ready until next week, but the shop are sending me some photos when it arrives with them.
Fizzing!
I was considering this frame until I noticed it doesn’t have ISCG tabs, ..I’m wondering why on this type of bike you would omit these?
That does seem a bit strange. Not ideal - and assuming it has a regular HT2-type BB - but I used a BB-mounted bash on a previous bike that lacked ISCG tabs, it replaced one of the spacers. Strange omission on such a bike though.
BB is T47, like the HB.160 BB. There's a bonded in alloy shell, then a screw in alloy shell in which the bearings are pressed.
TBH, I'm not bothered about lack of ISCG05 mounts for a bash guard. Rather the ring takes the brunt than it gets transmitted to the frame.
I dunno - people don't really use chain guides all that much these days
It's at the shop! Just waiting on invisiframe...
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Exciting for you, looking forward to seeing pictures of it built up
FFS, as if I wasn't dehydrated enough! 🤤🤤🤤
I have seen our first one in the flesh today, it looks amazing. Had a good poke around then wrapped it up to be sent for the Invisiframe template, it's an H2 so you will be waiting on this if yours is an H2 teethgrinder.
In typical fashion the first one to be delivered is the only one we haven't pre-sold, so if anyone wants a real treat have a look at this
- https://www.pedalsbikecare.co.uk/products/hope-hb916-stock-bike-h2-air-neutral
The pictures aren't what it is - you have to read the spec.
In even more typical fashion, our demo (that I will be stealing) is one of the last to arrive and might be into October, so I can't give any ride feedback/review type stuff yet. Except that it's very well put together, as expected, same as the 130s.
Nice! How long do invisiframe usually take too turn around the templating?
Shouldn't be too long, just been picked up so they will have it tomorrow, hopefully next week sometime but I don't want to put words in their mouth. I have no idea how they do it 😂
Guess so. Almost tempted to not have it done so I can go get it.
Moar pics courtesy of Biketreks Grizedale...
The raw carbon finish does wear really well, my 130 was one of the first to be built and still looks great after a clean down. Or get it done with one of the generic kits like a ridewrap Covered kit, gets the most high traffic areas.
Must be time for some built pics @teethgrinder ?
I'm hoping to get a demo at Tweedlove.
I started a new thread
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/nbd-a-new-hope/
It is rather good, though. Harder work going up, but it's a 29er with 165mm cranks... I just need to pedal harder.
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Any long term reviews of these things? I can't stop looking at them. I'm hoping someone can put me off.
I've had mine since Aug 2022. Guess that's a canny long time.
Started life at full 29er build from frame only...pics above are the day after picking it up, and was just needing a new rear hose as it was a bit longer than expected (470mm reach for an H2 vs 439mm reach for the HB160). Build has changed a bit since...now it's a mullet (xm481 on Pro 4 still, though), Conti tyres, V4s, higher rise Renthal bars, and a harder spring 🐷).
Bloody good bike, and much better than the HB160, which wasn't a bad bike at all, but there's probably 5 years of geo development between them. Also my first 29/mullet bike so that was a learning curve.
To me, rides better as a mullet...was buzzing my arse when it was a 29er. That doesn't happen on my KSL, but that's an S4 and a bit bigger.
Kept the adjustable headset upper cup in slack, and with 165mm cranks get the odd pedal strike. Probably would've got 155mm if they had been released.
Options soon after release were better that when i put my deposit down in March 2022. I went frame only, and bought parts along the way, but the rolling chassis would've been good with all the Hope gear and Ohlins 38's, which aren't cheap.
If you like Hope parts, they're a bargain compared to other brands (relatively speaking), and the sponsored riders have had a lot of very good results over the last season, but obviously some of that is due to the rider
As for problems, my main issue was the idler pulley which I wore out in 7 months (Aug-Mar, so over winter) and 1000 miles. Obviously it's a wear item, but it wears so gradually you don't really notice until it's too late, or at least I didn't 😂. Just changed the last one out so 10 months.
It's a keeper.
Oh, and the Butty Box is useful, but not a game changer. Bit fiddly to get stuff in, but once in it doesn't rattle.
I’ve had mine for about 10 months now. It replaced a Dreadnought, which is still my favourite bike from a pure riding perspective, just not reliability - the problem was solved by me cracking it in the end.
Ive ridden quite a few different HP bikes & my other half still has her Claymore, which I steal on occasions too. The Hope is the least HP feeling HP bike I have ridden, which is kind of backed up in the numbers, as it’s by far the one with the least amount of rearward axle path. I’d probably describe it more as a mid pivot. If you haven’t ridden others it wouldnt be an issue, but I am a fan of a rearward axle path.
That said, it does ride nicely, although I don’t ride it as much as I thought I would, which is a symptom of how good decent trail bikes have become. I spend most of my time riding smaller bikes, because they really only give up a tiny bit in descending, but the difference in climbing & more mellow trails is significant now. That’s not an HP or Hope specific thing, I think it’s just Enduro bikes are a little bit of a one trick pony now.
In terms of the actual bike, it’s well put together & I haven’t had any reliability issues with it. My niggles relate to yet another pointless BB standard it doesnt need, no ISCG tabs, half a UDH hanger with a weird Hope proprietary bit which means no T-Type & no internal hosing guides. I haven’t had the reported issue of some bikes having the seat stay brace contacting the seat tube on a hard bottom out. I have checked it with a couple of shocks & have 4-5mm spare on mine, so not sure what thats all about.
Overall, id say it’s a good bike that rides well. It’s a big bike, and definitely wouldn’t be my everyday choice for anywhere in the UK & I’m not sure they are worth the nearly £4k for a frame, I’m fortunate that I didn’t even pay half that, but then that’s probably more of a reflection of the industry as a whole at the moment. I don’t think any frame is worth that much.
I there might be better bikes out there for 95% of the time, personally. Again, thats not Hope specific - thats more aimed at Enduro ‘race’ bikes.
Thanks fellas, lots to think about. I spent all last week fantasising about one while I was being battered to death on the incredibly rough trails around Málaga. Not sure I'd need one for most of the time, even though I do like it rough I don't have easy access to that kind of riding.
There's a few things I'm unsure about. They're not worth the RRP but it's not exactly easy to pick up a used frame to try it out.
£6745.00
Hell's bells, you can get an Ebike for that.
That stupid BB standard was the prime reason I went for a Claymore over the HB916
It's absolutely bonkers that it doesn't have ISCG mounts 🤯
There’s a few things I’m unsure about. They’re not worth the RRP but it’s not exactly easy to pick up a used frame to try it out.
I’m seriously considering splitting mine & putting it up for sale if you are looking for a raw H3. It’s been Invisiframed from new & is immaculate.
Yeah it's a gorgeous thing but there's a few things about it that seem daft.
I wouldn't be paying for a full bike. Zero chance of that happening. I'd be buying a frame with an Ohlins coil shock and scrounging like a fiend for everything else.
Or I could just buy a used Geometron G1 because I already know it would be awesome.
Edit: beaten by 1 minute. 1st choice would be a H4 to be honest because it's almost bang on what I already have but with more travel. Get some pictures up though, and an inflation busting price to get the juices flowing.
The size might be an issue for you then, as I’m 185cm so the H3 is my ideal.
https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/26127312/
Currently got a Fast Fenix shock on it, but if you wanted to put something else on it, I can reuse it on another bike 🙂
I'm closer to 190cm. Hopefully I run into one while out and about so I can have a closer look at one in the flesh.
I'm dead set on the Ohlins coil though. The one on my Privateer 141 is mint.