Thinking about getting a Last Herb AM to build up as my XC bike. Anyone tried one?
How is it on XC stuff? I'm trying to find a bit that is capable of doing a resonable distance ocassionally, but mostly I'll just be using it to razz around on the local trails.
I like a slack bike (current is 67 head angle) and do the odd jump (nothing huge tho) and uphills are really just a necessary evil...
I had a Last Herb DH for a very short while so this may only be partially valid, but I didn't like how the back end worked.
It had a very high leverage ratio in the 1st half of it's travel that made it way too active. I had the pro-pedal wound right up and increased the spring rate way past what all of the spring calculators recommended, yet it still sat right into it's travel. It was a better when riding but it ramped up harshly at the end.
Not for me, but as I said it may not be that valid when talking of the AM version.
I'd check it out on Linkage Demo Program and compare it to similar bikes.
I'm pretty sure Guy at Flow (flowmtbguy on here) had one - it'd probably be worth asking him what he thought.
I've got a Herb DH and I love the way the rear end works... Horses for courses I guess, once I'd ridden it everything else feels unresponsive at the back. It did take some getting used to though, every so often it short circuits my brain into thinking there's hardly any air in the tyre.
Not entirely helpful for the AM though! Other than that it's well put together and finished etc, and the company seem good to deal with.
Mine was too small as well so it wasn't a hard decision to get rid; i know what you mean about low tyre pressure. I was constantly pinching the sides and scratching my head. which shock do you have fitted? Mine had a Dhx5 fitted that may not have suited it that much.
DHX4 in mine... For a medium, it feels really short- or maybe the BB is quite far forward, but either way there's not much knee room when climbing. Fine on the descents but I like to ride up things too and it's just as well I wear knee pads...
I think it's just a matter of taste tbh, it's a pretty extreme approach to the whole single-pivot-with-complications thing though.
Cheers guys - bump for the morning crew...
How short is short? I'm 6ft and thinking of the medium
Hi Ewan
I know joerg from Last very well as he rides with us a few times..
Really nice bikes, and go against the German ethos of short, tall and steep angles..so sorted geometry.
I rode the Herb FR i think it was, the frame do come up smaller than others, I guess for you, you may need a large.
Drop Steve Jones a line from Dirt mag, he loved it and will give you some honest advice...
I considered one recently as well and got in touch with the UK importer. I think the Herb FR is ostensibly the same frame as the Herb AM, possibly all that changes is the eye to eye of the damper and where it bolts to the frame.
Either way, the only thing that put me off was the weight. The AM frame weighs, IIRC, about 3.5kg. I can't remember if that's with or without shock, but either way it was the same as my current Nicolai Helius AM or more. So it wasn't going to result in a lighter bike.
That said, the flexibility of the whole pacakage is fantastic; build it as anything from 140mm to 170mm, with either a 135mm or 150mm rear and a 150mm 32mm fork or a 160mm 36mm fork. It's a fantastic package.
Yes, They're small for their 'size'. I bought a cheap CRC one and from a seated position it was fine, but when I stood up my knees touched the bars; I had to ride the recent mini downhill on the balls of my feet.
