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Got quite a few bikes here, but the one I almost always grab is the Zenith LSL, so I guess that answers that.
I have one bike mountain bike. It seems to do everything I want but I have only owned dduring lockdown. Canyon Neuron if that matters. 130mm travel 29er with not that trendy geometry
I guess it all depends what your one and only bike is for. No point in getting a hardtail if all you ever do is downhill. I think a good rule is get a bike for 90% of what you do and 10% of what you may do. If I HAD to have one bike I would have my Solaris Max (maybe trade it for a 160 BfeMax) - its totally capable of all the trails locally to me and back home and I could do some bike packing on it with a few adjustments.
I spend almost all my riding time on my hardtail - a beautiful, new (to me) Custom Kingdom Vendetta. But honestly, if I could only have one bike, it would probably be a full suss. If I’m on unfamiliar territory, or out on a long ride with my mates, my Bird Aeris is a lot more forgiving than any HT, even my Vendetta.
Perhaps I would choose to only have the HT at home, but then rent a Full susser on the occasions when I go to BPW or Fortwilliam?
If I had to have one bike it would probably be a Pipedream Moxie. I like the look of them but couldn't justify one as it covers too much ground in terms of what I already have. It's probably a far better climber than my (old) Trailstar, is as capable as that and my Pitch (and probably my Norco Shore as well) and I've seen one built around an Identiti XCT fork that would work well as an all day / Bikepacking setup. Maybe not the best at everything there but certainly capable of doing them all well enough to justify its existence.
I'd go for a mid travel 29er, with a light wheelset for xc riding and a burly wheelset for racing Enduro and bikepark trips
I still have never ridden a full sus bike. I have one bike which is a Trek Roscoe. I really like it and suits what I am able to ride. Did a day out in the peaks two weeks ago and it was fine. Legs were pretty beat up after bits like potato alley but at least maintenance is minimal.
I should add, one MTB really doesn't work for me though, I ride a real variety of trails and like to have a choice of bikes to suit.
For me it'd be either my Epic or, more likely, the latest version of that.
I only have one bike in total. If that one bike had to be an MTB it would be a high end Scott hardtail XC bike I would think.
I too only have one. A current (last) gen Cotic Soul. If I could have one with an unlimited budget it would be a Swarf Contour. Prettiest bike ever made to my eyes, has just a little travel and still looks like a hardtail.
Currently just a Nomad 2, but strongly looking at the Transition Spur.
I'm not up on recent models but it's be:
29" wheels
140mm fork
Hardtail, likely steel, slightly slacker than pure XC geometry
Screw-fit BB
Shimano XT build
Not sure what fits that critia.
My Remedy. Now on my 4th version, they just work (for me) on everything. Uplifts, XC, Peaks, Welsh weekenders. Does it all, comfortably!
singlespeedstu
I’d sell my Geometron G16 27.5 er and my G13 29er and replace them with a G1 with all the mutators, 29er and 27.5er forks/wheels.
The variations you can run that in are massive.
You should do that anyway 🙂 G1 is worth the upgrade. There are some sale frames on Nicolai site now (with Marzocchi coils, but you could grab an EXT later)
Out of my current crop of bikes it would be the Bird Zero TR, a 27.5" 130mm hardtail, ditching the knackered 26" 120mm FS bike (Canyon Nerve XC) and the 27.5 rigid mtb commuter (Brand-X HT-01/Exotic Forks), presumably could keep the 24" street trials bike, hurrah.
If just one MTB and no other bikes, then I'd want something that would serve me for commuting , XC/Trail, and trials (which I'm poo at). Rigid forks, 27.5" wheels, clearance for 2.4" tyres, maybe a DJ based frame (meaning 26" wheels) with gears (Sam Pilgrim recently 'hybridized' his DJ bike with gears AND a front brake). 90+% riding from doorstep, mix coastal/urban/xc.
If I was going the other route, 1 x MTB, + road bike + trials bike, then I think a 130mm XC bike would probably do it, though I'd be very tempted by 140mm trail bike and really a 120mm XC bike would probably do for my local riding - would need to test ride (not something I've ever really done). Mix commuting to 50% MTB 50% road bike. I'm really curious about 20" trials bikes.
I only have 1 mtb aand thats a Whyte S150, does everything I need.
my Stanton Slackline.
I've just converted my Kona Unit back to single speed because I've ridden it all of once since I got it, because the Stanton just does everything better, so I figured putting the Kona back to SS is sensible, as it means I've not got something very different to ride.
If i could only have 1 mountain bike then i probably wouldn't do mountain biking as much, this question comes up a lot and the reality is that folk who try a 1 bike solution end up limiting what they can do and rarely enjoy it as much as before, unless they do a limited range of biking.
It would have to be my Bronson because the bike is perfect for the kind of riding that excites me most. I would really miss my Superlight round the local woods though. Can I keep my gravel bike for winter though, or I wouldn't get out much?
I only have one MTB. In fact each of my bikes are in very different categories so there's little overlap
My MTB is a rigid Mk1 Solaris. I do have a suspension fork for it but I haven't used it in a couple of years now I think. Perfect bike for riding round my local area and for bikepacking, which are its main activities. But has also ridden in some more adventurous areas and been just fine. Gives me a good excuse for being slow
A mid travel (~140 mm) full suss 29'er
Seems the most all-round to me, and is essentially what I have as my main MTB (a Hightower with 135 rear, 150 front). Handles everything from longish XC rides to uplift days better than I can.
this question comes up a lot and the reality is that folk who try a 1 bike solution end up limiting what they can do and rarely enjoy it as much as before, unless they do a limited range of biking.
Not true in my case. I can do every type of MTB riding bar downhill on my bike and I’m too old with too little skill to do that any way. I also thoroughly enjoy it all too. A lot of folk can only afford or only want the one MTB as evidenced by a lot of the answers so far. If you’re talking one bike for all riding though then that’s a different kettle of fish.
this question comes up a lot and the reality is that folk who try a 1 bike solution end up limiting what they can do and rarely enjoy it as much as before, unless they do a limited range of biking.
You missed the caveat the OP gave us, we can have as many road bikes as we like (I'm counting gravel/adventure/CX bikes as "Road").
I only have one MTB now, it's not used much in wet weather anymore, I also have three drop-barred bikes and a fixie, the only thing that none of them are any good for is hitting rough trails and gnarlier stuff, which is naturally the use case for my one MTB. I would gain nothing from having multiple MTBs, trust me at my peak I think I owned four and it was just more cost and maintenance for less actual riding time. Sometimes 'less is more'.
My fitness and riding ability are far more limiting than the actual tools I have available...
this question comes up a lot and the reality is that folk who try a 1 bike solution end up limiting what they can do and rarely enjoy it as much as before, unless they do a limited range of biking.
I agree, if I had to go from my trail bike and 29er hardtail down to one MTB, I could do it.
I would either keep the Bird 120LT, or replace it with a slightly more travel enduro full suspension (I've always craved a Bronson).
BUT Either way, I'd be giving up XC riding, and maybe being a bit more reluctant to go out in bad winter weather. I personally would not enjoy slogging a sticky tired squish bike around roads and bridleways.
I'd be replacing this with either running, or road/gravel riding (new bike required) for mid week excercise, bad weather etc.
Basically I'm not willing to give up trail and light downhill (I'm a wimp) riding on a nice full squish bikes - the pinnacle of my enjoyment, and I'd be prepared to sacrifice/change the bulk of my miles/excersise to achieve this.
I only have one and it's an Orange Clockwork Evo. For me it's just the ticket and there is no conscious desire to have just one, it does what I want it to and it's fun.
Ibis bow Ti.
That’s not going to happen so a carbon short travel 29er. Probably an Anthem.
Something almost exactly like my Remedy 29.
Do I need to pay for it and the upkeep? If so I´d keep my Laufey hardtail. Fox 36´s and 65º head angle, it´s brilliant and dead simple.
If not then I´d have my Rallon. Fox 38´s, coil shock and it´s up for anything. I´ll be a little slower on the climbs that with the Occam but I´ll get there eventually. I´d miss having an e-bike for lots of things but it´s the one I can live without, although I reserve the right to change that answer in 10 years!
Something almost exactly like my Remedy 29.
Did you get anywhere with the modded front triangle idea?
The one I already have.
My Cotic Soda Max.
Steel FS 160mm or Steel 150mm Hardtail
Right now my fav bike in my stable is my steel torrent. I have quite a few nice bikes but always go back to it.
tomhoward
SubscriberDid you get anywhere with the modded front triangle idea?
A little way- found a couple of good options for getting it done, did some measuring, settled down to decide exactly what sizes I wanted, got a new hardtail which made me think more about that, then, coronavirus. So it's all on pause til the words "financial security" don't make me laugh
Most people only have one mtb, so hardly unusual. In fact, outside of bike forums, most people only have one bike period, gasp!
Anyway, the best bike for you is diffident than for me. Where do you ride, what style of riding do you have, how tall are you, what bike brands does your preferred shop spec all influence your choice.
It’s cool that there are so many good bikes out there these days, and a very broad variety. Add in some customization, and everyone can ride the bike they like best.
My current MTB is a Bird AM9 with some serious modeifications.
Our local trails are not long and steep, so a 120-150mm travel bike suits me well.
I like big tires.
whenever i have had more than one bike, nothing but the newest ever got used and the older ones were often raided for parts so got rid and just have one now.
On-One Fatty. Not particularly good at anything but makes me smile, is dead simple with no suspension, low level x5 groupset, and always the first bike out the garage. Tbh i might as well get rid of the other 4 mtb types as they gather dust. (not a bike collecter, just a crap seller)
Thanks for all the responses so far - I've really enjoyed reading through them & getting a little glimpse into different people's riding psyches.
Diversity is ace, innit.
I can't wait to get a mtb bike (any mtb bike!) & get out riding again, but in the meantime, this thread is great entertainment & is keeping the dream alive, so please keep um coming.
My Cotic Flare, can do everything I want. Can't see me ever retiring it unless I can't get parts.
Jones Plus. The Jones Plus is a bike for riding fast, slow, the rough with the smooth; safely, aggressively, laid-back or raging; with a big load or stripped to the bare essentials; on road, dirt, mud, snow; in the mountains, on the flat lands, around town or across the county; around the world or your local loop; for getting rad or just getting away. 🤩
I have two - my Banshee Spitfire and my custom WaltlyTi hardtail ("Slacker"). I think these will likely be the last two mountain bikes I'll own and if I was forced to give up one of them it would, very regretfully, be the Spitty.
Slacker is long enough and slack enough to take on trails that are way beyond my skill level (or cajones), but it keeps making me want to try more; it's also lively enough to take on Wellington's twisty hillside trails; all that and comfy enough to deal with a long day in the saddle.
Of course, that is assuming I get to keep my drop-bar bikes, one of which is my Salsa Fargo, that takes on bike packing (and touring, and commuting) duties...