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Have you looked at the Intense Primer?
Just got a Privateer 141, ticks all the boxes. Great spec for the money, Not the lightest but you dont feel it when peddling, Only ridden it twice but felt mint on the steep stuff.
That's very nice. Just been over to the Commencal site. Are they direct only? The Meta AM looks really nice, geometry looks spot on too.
Bird AM9 is always the answer.
I quite like the look of the Privateer 141 but couldn’t get one when I was looking. I’d heard lots of people had been let down by the company on promises and stuff.
If they’ve got stock though they seem worth a look. The frame looks very similar to the Sentinel alloy to be fair.
That’s very nice. Just been over to the Commencal site. Are they direct only? The Meta AM looks really nice, geometry looks spot on too.
A mate has the meta tr and it’s a really nice looking thing in a raw polished kind of finish. He says it’s quite a heavy thing though - but the geometry etc is good.
Direct only yes - maybe check what the VAT / Duty situation is with them.
I feel like it's already been said, but you should try a large Bird AM9. You'll get a lovely spec for that budget. 🙂
Have a look through the Bird Cycleworks Owners Facebook page, then arrange a demo. If their isn't a demo centre local to you, then ask on FB & chances are someone will let you try one.
Do intense even have a UK distributor these days, would be worried buying a brand that doesn't appear to have an easy warranty or spares solution!
Forgot about Commencal, they are very nice in the flesh, would definitely have had one, but as you've probably found, also hard to get in the UK easily.
I feel like it’s already been said, but you should try a large Bird AM9. You’ll get a lovely spec for that budget. 🙂
Have a look through the Bird Cycleworks Owners Facebook page, then arrange a demo. If their isn’t a demo centre local to you, then ask on FB & chances are someone will let you try one.
Just tried to build an AM9. They don't have stock of many components with no due dates. Only a domain fork and basic shock. I could pick those, but I know I would end up upgrading.
Just tried to build an AM9. They don’t have stock of many components with no due dates. Only a domain fork and basic shock. I could pick those, but I know I would end up upgrading.
You sure? I just tried it on my phone and they showed lyriks, super deluxe coil, shimano 12 speed etc all in stock when I clicked on the shimano 12 speed builds.
I've been following this thread as I'm in the same situation. Decided at lunch to get a SC Hightower alloy frame I'd seen in the sales and build that up how I wanted. Only it's been sold during my deliberations & can't find another. Typical.
However, I've just looked on the Privateer website and I think I'm in love...
So………
That’s the Reign gone. This is much harder than I thought. Have visited a few shops, and I’m still none the wiser.
Keep looking at the YT Jeffsy, but not sure on the direct sales model.
Threw my leg over a Forbidden Druid. Oh my. But way too expensive.
Starting to crunch some geometry numbers. Seems that even from 2016, things have moved on.
One of the numbers I keep getting drawn too is seat tube length. On my Reign it was never listed on the geometry spec, but measured by hand was about 490mm. However, I did run my dropper (150mm) about 40-50mm out of the seat post as I have very long legs. The Reign had a bb drop of 0mm. 29ers seem to have a bb drop of around 30-40mm, I assume this is to do with the larger wheels.
I like the look of the Reactor but this has a seat tube length of 508mm, but a bb drop of 33mm. Reach quite a bit longer at 514mm, compared to 458mm on the Reign. Would this make me feel more perched on top of the XL reactor? I tried a couple of 29er bikes over the weekend in Large, and all felt similar to my current Reign even though they were all longer by 30mm or so. I assume this is to do with seat tube angle. Old Reign was 73deg, seems that 76-77deg is the norm now.
Basically I want something a bit longer but also I want to feel like I'm in the bike rather than on top of it. The joys of being lanky!
For your budget and geo requirements I would highly recommend a Privateer. Rough round the edges compared to a Santa Cruz, but they ride extremely well and the value is very hard to beat. My other half has just bought a Mega 297. Lovely bike and if I'd had the budget (and I could have got one) I would probably have gone that way, but it was almost double my 161.
Yea, the 141 looks really nice. 3 months delivery currently. I have a couple of trips planned before then so would like to have something before then.
Canyon Spectral is on the list too, but again, April delivery.
I do keep hovering over the buy button on the Jeffsy Core 3. I'm also not 100% on carbon.
Basically I want something a bit longer but also I want to feel like I’m in the bike rather than on top of it. The joys of being lanky!
I'm equally lanky (+35" inseam) and for us a steeper seat angle is a real benefit because of how high we have to run the saddle.
Also with the new geo it's worth sliding the saddle well forward so when you sit on the bike you can understand how it feels to pedal, and then when you stand you also can feel how the reach is.
IMO the first bike I've ever ridden that fitted properly was a Cotic when they went to their LLS geo. I tried both the L & XL, and Sam let me adjust and play with both. In the end I bought the L as I found the XL just too long when climbing.
I've still the bike, and love it but I have ridden the newest generation version and found that with the steeper seat angle I'd buy the XL.
They've got 2 years 0% on 🙂
Large Sentinel 2022 alloy here in stock - not sure if you need large or xl:
Kit on it isn’t bad for a premium ish brand - not going to be quite as good as direct sales (e.g YT) but the frame is good, the fork chassis is good, the brakes are good and the wheels aren’t bad. Replace the NX mech with one from higher up the range when you break it but other than that it’ll be decent out the box.
Cotic is getting a lot of mentions. Maybe a bit too expensive for me, even builds with Deore on the Jeht and RocketMAX are over £4k. I want to stay away from finance if I can, although 0% is tempting.
Sentinel looks good. I tried a large Spire which I know is 27.5, but it felt the same size as my Reign, so would go XL. NX is gash, I have it on my hardtail and it's really clunky and noisy. I know that's an easy fix.
How about a Trek Slash 8? Looks good, gets great write ups...
The current Spire is 29er and is their biggest Enduro bike - a step higher than the Sentinel.
Patrol is longer travel than the Sentinel and more of a park bike - think they come as a mullet - I’ve heard they’re hard work pedalling for whatever reason.
I’ve only had a quick go on an NX based bike and it was ok I guess - I’ve got XT 12 speed on one bike and gx eagle 12 speed on the other. Gx has a lighter action which I like but actually I can’t get excited either way tbh.
Heard that deore mechs are a bit crap too - someone who rides regularly says the clutch bus terrible on the know he’s got and will be going back to xt shortly. Slx seems decent though - other than perhaps the jockey wheel bushings not being too clever.
Ah, it was a Scout, sorry.
160/150mm is my limit really. If the NP Mega was 10mm shorter travel front and rear, that would be top of the list.
I've ran SLX for years with little issues.
Definitely don't think the Patrol would be considered a "park bike". It's a very close rival to an SC Bronson and is billed very much as a do everything burly trail bike. Tremendous value also.
Orbea Occam M30 worth a look. Trek fuel ex, one in the classifieds at a decent price.
Geometry on the Occam looks pretty old school, and not sold on the looks.
I didn't think this would be so difficult!
The 2022 patrol has a 63 degree headangle in low and has to use 165mm cranks to avoid too many pedal strikes according to reviews - also rated for triple clamps I believe.
Most of the ones on Pinkbike are on triple clamps or Zebs / 38s and with huge coil shocks and DH casing tyres on them. It’s not the full on enduro bike (Spire) and the Sentinel is probably the long travel ish trail bike. The patrol is longer travel again and mullet - I’d think it was more fun park bike personally - I wouldn’t want to be pedalling it on all dayers.
Yea, it's too much bike for me.
The Sentinel is a nice frame, but for £3.5k I don't think the spec is great value. NX at that price on an alloy frame is a sin.
Spectral AL 29 looking a likely candidate now, delivery end of March.
Spectral always looks a nice bike - if the price stacks up after import duty / VAT then I don’t think you can go too wrong with that.
I forget now if you looked at the Sonder Evol as there’s normally quite good kit on those. No prestige brand premium to pay - I guess similar to Bird.
Spectral 29 AL 6 is £3k inc all taxes, then shipping of £40 on top.
If that’s inclusive of duty then it seems a really good deal.
That canyon looks decent, just comparing to the jeffsy and bar the obvious carbon frame the specs are fairly similar.
I will say the threaded BB on the canyon might be the deciding factor, I'm soon to be on my third bottom bracket on my jeffsy since Oct 2019, and 1300km. Make of that what you will 🤣
Yea, I'll be coming from Pressfit, I feel the pain!
I may have placed an order....
Been following this thread also after having all my mtbs stolen inc my Spec enduro carbon. I've just placed an order via cyclescheme for a Trek Slash 8 2022, looks brill 🙂
I've got good trails near me (Innerliethen- Golfie and DH runs) with steep tech, so looking for a capable bike to mop up when my skillset runs out)
Let us know what you end up going for.
I've been in a similar boat and became kinda obsessed with the banshee titan as a mullet. Then I saw the meta am29 and that also tickled my fancy.
Interested in seeing how your purchase goes. Curious about fees etc.
when my skillset runs out
Well if that was my method I’d need a full on DH bike.
I’ve ordered a Spectral AL, due end of March. I just can’t look passed the spec for the money, and couldn’t quite justify the extra £800 for a carbon frame on the Jeffsy. Specs are broadly similar. Not sure I will get on with the Code R brakes, those might go and replaced with Shimano.
Well if that was my method I’d need a full on DH bike.
Not sure if that is complimentary or not lol 🙂
I’m very similar to you, 6ft 1 and run a Capra 27.5, It’s on the smaller size for what would be really comfy for me, so looking to upgrade at some point but I’ve still not done it. Don’t like the idea that I could struggle to demo something or wait ages for stock either…
What year is your Capra and what size is it?
Just made the error of joining a Spectral owners FB page….😂
So it looks my order for the Spectral has been pushed out by a month, taking it to the end of April. That's going to be mighty tight for my Scotland trip. I might have to look elsewhere. Good thing with Canyon is that they don't take payment until two weeks before shipping for at least I'm not out of pocket. This caught my eye....
https://cyclefactory.co.uk/ibis-ripmo-af-t3-metal.html
But some reviews suggest build quality isn't great and it's a bit burly for a trail bike.
I looked at the Ripmo AF option before buying a Sentinel. Meant to be a really decent bike - it’s on the cusp of long travel trail bike / enduro bike but it’s meant to pedal quite well with the suspension system it’s got. Ultimately I preferred the look of the Sentinel so I went that route but I don’t think you could go too wrong with a Ripmo.
So after way too much internal debate, I decided to place an order for an Ibis Ripmo AF. I prefer the spec, Shimano drivetrain, brakes, and the DVO Suspension (not that I will know exactly what I'm doing with it), and dealing with a LBS.
The Spectral was great value, but with a long lead time and the SRAM gearing, maybe I wasn't 100% sold on it despite the spec and geometry. I did think about the Spectral 125, but I think I would maybe end up wishing I had more travel too many times.
However, I still have an element of doubt with the Ibis. Not sold on the looks, and the complex linkage made up of bearings and bushings, worries me a bit for long term reliability. But I can't fault the spec and the price. I hope the sizing works for me, I went for the XL. It felt right in the shop. I also tried a large, but it felt just like my Reign in terms of reach which is something I wanted to change.
I didn't count on this process being so stressful tbh. I've parted with a lot of cash, I hope I have made the right choice.
Interesting thread. I have a 2018 Whyte T130 but would like to try a 29er and something with a steeper seat tube angle - I have an XL T130 and the 485mm reach is great standing up but I feel stretched sitting down on climbs. (Might try a shorter stem in the meantime but it’s just a niggle and not so much of a problem to fix in last 3 years!).
That spectral looks great esp in the orange. Food for thought.
@stcolin - I think you’ll be alright with the Ripmo. Meant to pedal well and be quite lively - rather than an enduro plough type bike. Dvo suspension is ok - have you got one with a Jade X on it or the Topaz Air - guessing the air version for £3500 ish?
Spec seems alright - deore is ok - although the clutch in the mech can go baggy and has no external adjustment. Got 4 pot brakes and I think decent tyres (doesn’t specify the compound on the advert I saw).
Have to post some pictures up when you collect it!
Right, I need a break from the world.
Here she is. I don't care what you think of the state of the garden.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51903220661_a713243da7_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51903220661_a713243da7_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2n5vzdR ]Ibis Ripmo AF[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/colinhines26/ ]Colin[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51903543629_74231dd3d6_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51903543629_74231dd3d6_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2n5xeeg ]Ibis Ripmo AF[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/colinhines26/ ]Colin[/url], on Flickr
Hopeful for it's first ride this weekend.
The weather looks better than it has been for ages so should be a good weekend for testing it out. Imagine with the air shock / dw link it’s going to climb pretty well. I’ve never had a dvo fork / shock so interesting to see how you find it.
Enjoy!