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I had my heart set on a Saracen Aerial 80, but after an email from the manufacturer, they won't be available until the end of summer and won't ship to Europe. What similar freerider should I be be considering? Single crown forks and lots of travel. Thanks stw.
Commencal Clash.
Propain spindrift
Latest Norco Range and Evil Wreckoning both look nice.
tomhoward
Full MemberWhy single crown?
This. Odd to limit yourself when it’s uplift only
Ebike?
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Runs away and hides...
YT Capra? Mines an absolute bulldozer.. plenty of travel and single crown forks.
The geometron in the classifieds and stick a longer fork on.
A mates choice is a transition sentinel.
No association with the geometron in the classifieds but was happy on my g13 in Whistler and am about to get back on an uplift weekend for the first time in ages.
Single crown because I'm not very good and don't need the extra stiffness. I'm not doing road gaps or big drops. I had to bail on the black run at Morgins, so I'm after something that's one step away from a full on DHer.
Whyte G180.
I mean, I wouldn't have one, because of the standover, but seems like a solid option.
A Geomotron (suggest the G1) will make an amazing uplift bike that you can also ride around the woods on. Marcel designed recons 160 upfront is enough for even Fort Bill.
Since getting on one in 2015 I am very happy indeed.
Thanks all. That's given me a few to consider. I quite like the look of the Spindrift and wish I had enough money for the Evil. The Whyte looks a bit special though.
Transition Patrol alloy 2022? Or if full 29er than the Transition Spire look like a monster.
Loads of other options - just depends on budget and what you can get in Europe.
Would have thought the Canyon Torque or YT Capra could do a job. Plus Commencal do some big bikes that would be decently sturdy.
As an outside option the Airdrop Slacker looks good but not available until the summer
Status is a good shout I had a bounce on one the other day. Looks and feels like a lively bike.
I wouldn't even look at a Geometron and I say that as an owner/lover/fanboy. For strictly bike parks and uplifts I'd want something much shorter and more agile.
Ah yes - the Spec status 160 looks decent for the price.
+1 for the whyte. Ok I admit I’ve got the cheat version, but it’s astoundingly confidence inspiring - they really know what they’re doing with suspension and geometry.
I'm going to join in with the STW tradition of recommending what you own. Cotic RocketMax,. beautiful, plenty of travel, DH bike geometry (almost).
Depends what you already have, what your skills are like and what your intentions for it are. I’d either go with something like a Status for a more fun and lively ride or a DH bike if you just really want to smash out as many runs as possible at maximum speed.
Would also depend on your budget, which bike park and how often you’re actually going to go and use it.
Very disappointed in everyone recommending 160mm travel bikes.
Uplift bikes should be 170mm at least, preferably 180mm. And I'm on board with the OP wanting somethign with a single crown that can be pedalled around when the mood takes him.
What wheel sizes are you after OP? What's the budget?
Very disappointed in everyone recommending 160mm travel bikes.
If you ask on pink bike in sure you would get a different answer.
I doubt many people on here only ride park 🙂
What's the budget? For similar money to that Aerial you could likely get a V4 SC Nomad. 170/170, but can easily go 180 on fork. It'll take a DC fork should you wish and there is also the Cascade Link.
I wouldn't focus too hard on the millimetres of travel at the exclusion of other factors. There's lots of good playful bikes with 150 or 160mm of travel. Fewer to choose from at 170.
I just had to Google the Whyte. Hard pass on that monstrosity.
I've been looking at the Status 160.... (although arguably i should buy the 140) and they're cracking value. Sure the NX is a bit low spec, but the rest is great on it... they're a cracking buy IMO.
If only i could demo one.
I wouldn’t focus too hard on the millimetres of travel at the exclusion of other factors.
There are plenty of long travel super-enduro (aka freeride) bikes about now, there's simply no need to make do with less.
I have a Radon Swoop AL 29er, 170mm rear and 190mm fork. It's a bit of a sponge to pedal around and the suspension was poor with an air shock - but with a coil shock & progressive spring it's an absolute unit.
If I were buying one now, and had a decent budget, I'd look at the Nukeproof Giga, Geometron G1, Transition Spire (Not Patrol because the Spire can be mulleted anyway), Canyon Torque, Propain Spindrift, Spesh Enduro and (if someone else was paying) the Norco Range.
And yes, I have been doing a lot of idle browsing with the thought of replacing my frame in recent months.
The only exception I might make is the Privateer 161, because the price & geometry are spot on, the frames are chonky and I've heard such good things from owners. And they are over 160mm travel anyway 😉
Do you mean bike park, as in groomed, jumpy, flow trails, in which case you want something with a relatively short back end and not loads of travel, and to be “poppy” or downhill trails which are uplift accessible, but also the ability to climb back up, in which case buy a Geometron.
I wouldn’t worry about expensive drivetrains for this kind of bike as it’s goal isn’t to pedal everywhere. You want something that works and is cheap to replace like NX or Deore.
Even though you say you’re not that good, I still wouldn’t rule out a DH bike with dual crown forks.
If you already have a decent 140-160 bike already then I’d go big for the park bike. Otherwise you might as well just ride what you have
5 ish year old DH bike? Buy now, sell at the start of summer for no loss or possibly profit if you don't like it.
Thanks for all the input. I'm currently riding a 5/6 year old NS Soda with 170 Lyriks . It's served me well but I think an inch on the top tube and a couple of degrees off the steerer would save a few over the bars incidents. The saracen fits the budget and the spec.
Edit: I actually had that exact black and red 661 helmet from the only ride park video. oops.
Tell me about your swoop.... was just looking at the 2022 10.0 hd and wondering if i could get tax free shopping on it 🙂
Some decent savings on the Orange website atm if any of those float your boat?
This is what I'd be looking at for a no nonsense dedicated uplift single crown bike. I was chatting to a guy on the triple crown version yesterday and he was very impressed.
I still agree with what I said over a year ago on this ancient thread, except now I'd 100% buy that Airdrop Slacker.
DH bike every time. I had the misfortune to bring a commencal clash down a steep janky bikepark at the weekend after the rider spannered himself.
It felt super twitchy and like I was sat over the front wheel. Absolutely terrifying. I guess others would class that as playful.
Not for me.
Stable and stuck to the ground so I can get down as quickly and safely as possible.
Stable and stuck to the ground so I can get down as quickly and safely as possible.
Sounds wild
Sounds wild
Says the bloke who's scared to go to dyfi in case he falls off and hurts himself 🤣
I'm not scared of Dyfi at all it looks right up my street. I just have personal experience of going directly from a bikepark to a hospital bed and I'm trying to be pragmatic.
no Dyfi is fine, if you want to go slow you can, but it does encourage you to go fast
also separate park bike is a dh bike
I’m not scared of Dyfi at all it looks right up my street. I just have personal experience of going directly from a bikepark to a hospital bed and I’m trying to be pragmatic.
Indeed the same, on more that one occasion. I always ride on my tod & site owners have always been super helpful in looking after my stuff till I get discharged.
Hence I ride a dh bike to minimise risk these days. Allows a greater margin of error till I get ejected into the scenery.
Absolutely loved my old Scott Voltage (had 2 of them actually!) - great play bike and I even winched it around the Long Mynd and Cannock a few times. 170mm each end which felt good to me and it was playful enough for jumps whilst being really confidence inspiring on rougher DH stuff too. I've been looking into getting a do it all trail/enduro bike but now wondering if I should look for a used second gen 27.5 Voltage! Loved having a bike you can just blat down any trail and not be worried.