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Hi Guys!
I'm after a MTB for myself. I've had a look round and I really like the Lapierre's and can get a good deal on them. I am thinking of going for a X-control or a Zesty (not sure what spec at the moment though).
The X-control seems to be more cross country orientated with 120mm travel etc, where as the Zesty looks like it's more of an all rounder for downhill stuff?
Ideally I was looking for a XC bike as I mainly ride singletrack and fire roads etc, would a Zesty be overkill? Would the position be wrong for XC?
I currently ride a Specialized Stumpjumper MMC circa 98 with rigid forks, so it's fairly old-skool, but I like the position (long stem, narrowish flat bars etc).
Cheers for any help!
Dave
On paper I'd say the x-control is more suited to your riding, even something with 100mm travel. I have a Zesty which I use for both XC and more technical downhill singletrack, in most cases the 140mm travel is a little OTT, nice to have it though.
Zesty will give you more scope (and possible confidence) if one day you suddenly decide to get more adventurous. That's not to say don't go for the XC ...
Is there any disadvantages for going for the Zesty?
Apart from the travel, what are the differences? Geometry etc?
and some more questions!!
With my Specialized, I am running a 2.2 tyre at the front, ran quite low to absorb the shock and a 1.9 at the back. I notice that the Lapierre come with 2.2's at the front and back. Will I need tyres this wide with a FS bike, and do I run them at higher pressures than I would with a rigid framed bike?
What models are we talking about?
Disadvantage could be price and weight, so potentially slower on climbs, but that depends which model, Zesty 514 upwards has carbon frame. You can run thinner tyres if you want, I tend to run thinner at the rear with a fatter one upfront with more tread, I tend to run my tyres at 38 psi, the trails are still pretty hard and dry, then 30-35psi in the gloop with a mud x or spesh storm.
It's your choice what tyres you run. I've run all sorts of 1.8-2.3 combos on mine, and that include mixing/matching slicks, semis and knobblies.
Currently running a 1.8 Marathon on the back with a 2.1 Fire XC on the front.
PSI is IMO down to conditions [u]and[/u] rider weight. I think I run 40+ in most dry and/or road conditions, or mid 30s for wet/gloopy.
I've got a Zesty 514. 2011 model and use it for XC and messing about at trail centres it's a great bike imho. I can't comment on the xc as i've never ridden one.
Go for the Zesty i'd bet you won't be disapointed. 😀
I don't think I would be dissapointed if I got a Zesty, but I just don't want to get one and then get that 'I wish I'd have got X instead"! 🙂
I just wondered if someone else had had the same dilemma and what they did!
Thanks for the tyre tips btw!
The one thing I would say is that's a shed load of people on this forum with Zesty's, me included, awesome bike.
Probably worth popping over the the Lapierre Owner's Club forum.
A bit more info would be helpful, i.e. where do you ride, where do you *want* to ride, and what kind of riding do you aspire to.
The X-Control is a fast trail bike, but can be used as an XC Enduro / Endurance race bike quite capably.
The Zesty is an out and out trail bike, it's very capable climbing, and quite involving descending - but it all depends on the intended use, 140mm travel can make a lot of riding feel dead, whereas a 100 / 120mm bike can make you feel more in control and more on the edge. All dependant on where you're going to ride, and how you want to ride.
I'd say most of my riding is on singletrack, fireroads & cross country. I'm not a big air person and I wouldn't really be downhilling. Interesting point about the dead feeling. Am I right in thinking you can't lock out the suspension on Zesty's either?
My 2010 zesty 514 locks front and rear, never had an issue with dead feeling, I do plenty of all day XC rides on the South Downs, super quick up and down, no issues. Never ridden the x-control to compare though.
You can have Propedal on the Zesty from 314 up in 2012, and the fork is an RL, which will have lockout.
To be honest, from what you're saying the Zesty will be too much bike and you'd get a lot more out of an X-Control.
Have you had a look at similar bikes?
I'd be looking at:
Scott Spark
Giant Anthem / Trance
Trek EX8 / 9
Trek Top Fuel
Canyon Nerve XC
Santa Cruz Blur XC
I've ridden quite a lot of bikes, and what feels awesome to someone else doesn't feel awesome to me; and vice-versa.
I'd recommend trying a few bikes out - if you can find a local bunch that go out on rides, see if you can borrow one of theirs for a run - to gauge what you prefer the feel of.
Personally, the Spark is the best XC bike I've ridden - bonkers fast going down, and climbs like a road bike.
It is a lot more involving that something like an EX8, but less so that something like an Anthem - which is a full on animal on singletrack.
There's a lot of bikes out there, and I know how it feels when you set your heart on a particular bike - you try to mould your mind into thinking that it would be the best bike for what you do - but there probably is a better bike for you out there 🙂
Just to get your going...
I should say, I have no affiliation with Scott.
And.... if you're set on Lapierre, there is the new X-Flow to think about.
It's supposed to bridge the gap between the Zesty and the X-Control. It's a beefed up X-control, one of the issues I had with the X-Control was the lack of pivot in the stays - felt like the back end was really harsh - the X-Flow seems to have addressed that with the rear pivot...