After an interesting day with some scales this morning and me already having been thinking about a new purchase and my thoughts went to "why not replicate what he has".
There's a reason for this as it can potentially be his next bike if i don't get on with it. He's due a new bike in the next 6-12 months due to sizing and this will be a large rather than his current M.
I'm thinking "light, fast, bouncy" which this seems to fulfil all of the criteria
It's used but rides will, the handling feels quite different to the G-170 and more sitting in than sitting on.. Suspension feels plush, bearings seem to be all good (but not a problem anyway) and there's no marks, damage apart from 1 stone chip.
Is this the be all and end all and makes me 20s faster on a segment, well no, but lets not go down that road of "you need coaching", i've got coaching booked, had previous coaching and we don't need to discuss it.
Interestingly i was also looking at this.
https://webuycycle.co.uk/product/specialized-enduro-elite-fsr-carbon-full-suspension-mtb-2017-large/
Which seems to be the exact same bike but in 29er ?
https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/6698/2017-enduro-elite-carbon-29-6fattie/
It seems they made in both a 27.5 fattie and 29, as well as the 27.5. But i don't know what differences apart from the obvious wheels.
It seems the 29er has 160mm front and 165mm rear whereas the 27.5 has 170mm both ends, i guess that makes the geometry equalish on both bikes..
Geometry geeks has the BB slightly higher on the Specialized along with shorter reach and lower stack, a shorter chainstay on the specialized and much shorter wheelbase should make it handle nicely i think.
https://geometrygeeks.bike/compare/whyte-g-170-2018-l,specialized-enduro-pro-carbon-650b-2017-l/
So there we have it, that's todays randomness.
Nice bike. My choice would have been the 29er.
We moved Abigale's on a couple of years ago, looking at that price, someone got a bargain. Still see it out in the Peak and its still going strong.
This looks a newer better spec for around the same price
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3236909/
Lets assume for this discussion i'm still against the 29er idea, irrational or not, i don't know.... but i'm just not feeling the 29er love.
It’s used but rides will, the handling feels quite different to the G-170 and more sitting in than sitting on..
Was that a problem before someone else mentioned it?
Geometry geeks has the BB slightly higher on the Specialized along with shorter reach and lower stack, a shorter chainstay on the specialized and much shorter wheelbase should make it handle nicely i think
None of that reflects the sitting in part above?
Was that a problem before someone else mentioned it?
No, but it was an interesting observation of theirs.
I might sound harsh, but to me it's got all the travel of a proper Enduro bike, wrapped up in some dated geometry with the wrong size wheels. Looking at your link, that's a significantly smaller bike all round, in fact it's smaller than my 110/120mm XC bike. And they love to eat shocks.
Same sort of money on Pinkbike I can see:
'20 Reign SX
'21 NP Mega
'20 Ransom
All of which would be a significantly better option IMO.
Edited to add all my suggestions are 29" - for the reason you stated about going faster.
I might sound harsh,
It's not my bike LOL. you can't be harsh to an inanimate object.
I'm not seeing the Mega...
the other 2 are 29er lol... i'm still against the 29 despite what people think. Maybe i'm being unduly harsh on 29ers... but it's an expensive mistake to find out the answer.
i’m still against the 29er
You need to decide whether to get something your son is likely to win races on, or something that better suits your opinion.
You need to decide whether to get something your son is likely to win races on, or something that better suits your opinion.
Irrespective of what I do or don't buy, he'll end up with the best bike i can afford. Currently he's 100% against 29ers having tried 3-4 at demo days and not liked any.
weeksy
Full Member
No, but it was an interesting observation of theirs.
Buying something shorter and higher isn't going to help that observation. Geting more "in" the bike you would be looking to go longer, but you've been there with the 160 and didn't like it
Nice bikes, those 27.5 versions seem to still be popular for the park rats observed at various locations around the south of UK, and french alps.
As mentioned, they did sometimes wreck (the proprietary) shocks but you can get a yoke and run a normal shock on it if needed.
Lets assume for this discussion i’m still against the 29er idea, irrational or not, i don’t know…. but i’m just not feeling the 29er love.
If you are serious about getting faster, buy a race 29er like hobnob says (enduro race not xc race, obvs) and learn to ride it.
They are different, it will feel wierd at first and there will be some adjustment.
Will be an order of magnitude faster than fiddling with tyre pressures and patterns, and swapping shocks.
But if you want a bike that "gets you down" in a way that is "fun" or even just "not terrifying" when doing national level enduros with your lad, then that Enduro looks good.
Of course, its a 5 year old bike thats probably been ridden at least moderately hard. It might snap tomorrow or it might be the deal of the century. You seem like a competent and consciencious home mechanic though.
worth noting that the bike has a 125 dropper and probably about an inch more possible IF you are the same inseam as the current owner.
From chatting with the owner, it's had an easy life, Swinley etc rather than DH racing.
I'm 100% serious about getting faster... but the reality is quite different to the wish 🙂
But again, this isn't all about that and also in some ways not all just about me... this idea had multiple thought patterns within it.... but maybe based upon what's being said, i should encourage/make him ride a 29er for his next bike anyway lol
Currently he’s 100% against 29ers having tried 3-4 at demo days and not liked any.
I understand that, I have both a 29er and 27.5 (different bikes, but same sort of class - enduro), but prefer the way my 27.5 feels, however the 29er is undoubtedly faster in most (but not all) scenarios, despite feeling slower.
Did he do any timed testing on the 29ers? or just go on feel?
I might sound harsh, but to me it’s got all the travel of a proper Enduro bike, wrapped up in some dated geometry with the wrong size wheels.
Without wanting to sound like I'm taking the piss, but going by past threads that's pretty much what Weeksy's looking for.
Did he do any timed testing on the 29ers? or just go on feel?
Not yet, they were mostly product/video shoots, things like Vitus he tried a couple of different ones that were potentially to be used in their advertising campaigns. (whether they do or not i dunno). We've owned this one since he jumped from a small Specialized FSR, so at that time the 29er wasn't even a discussion as he was only going to what's a relatively small medium frame.
His next bike will either be a big medium or potentially a Large, which as he'll then be 5'7-8 puts him far more into the realms of a more normal 29er.
We'll deffo do some testing before his next purchase though as it would be interesting to know. But as you know, doing that currently is incredibly difficult and he's still not ready at the moment for a new size.
If you are serious about getting faster, buy a race 29er like hobnob says (enduro race not xc race, obvs) and learn to ride it.
They are different, it will feel wierd at first and there will be some adjustment.
Will be an order of magnitude faster than fiddling with tyre pressures and patterns, and swapping shocks.
This is the reality. The big thing on this is compromise & where are you prepared to make it. If you want a fast race bike, it's going to feel like crap riding round Swinley. It will be big, sluggish & awkward.
For the same reason a smaller bike with trail bike geometry will feel fun & nimble in the same place, yet feel twitchy, sketchy & loose when you start to push on, or ride steep stuff & feel 'harder' to go faster on.
Without wanting to sound like I’m taking the piss, but going by past threads that’s pretty much what Weeksy’s looking for.
Which is absolutely fine, if that's the compromise 🙂
Anyway, i've listened to all the wisdom and won't purchase the above bike.
I have instead made a smaller purchase... but that's a whole different discussion 😀
Thanks to all for the wisdom.
I really disliked that generation of Enduro and I say that as someone who desperately wanted to buy one as they looked mint. The 2 demo bikes I managed to get my hands on put me off. This was a few years ago now but they felt high and twitchy like gangly xc bikes with big wheels jammed in. It put me off 29ers for a few years.
Now I'm on a 29er that I really like. It's a Norco Sight and it's low, fast and agile.
Geometry trumps wheel size for handling and you're running out of good options with 27.5 wheels.
Do not buy that bike. Really really don't.
I had that exact 29er model. ( perhaps even that exact bike)
It was on its fifth shock before it even needed a new chain/ freewheel. The worst one lasted less than 80km.
I don't jump, and I'm pretty slow, but still lasted less than 80km.
Spesh replaced the Monarch four times before some kind soul on here told me it was a well known issue that needs a Ohlins to resolve. I got an ohlins and promptly sold the bike.
Apparently the issue is lateral force on the shock. It just kills them.
Now of course some oeople didn't have the issue, Tracey being a key example, but lots did. To the extent that when meeting other owners on the trail it wasn't unusual to swap notes on how many warranty replacements they have had and where they found out about the Ohlins option.
The question is do you feel lucky?
The other minor point is that having ridden an Occam for the last 2 years there is no way I would want that Elite, even if it didn't need new shocks every 80km. But it's all academic.
Having said all of which, it would be really funny if you did buy one and to watch the story unfold on STW 🙂
I bought the 2018 (pink one) in 650b flavour and I absolutely love it. The Rockshox deluxe feels really nice as do the ohlins forks. The swat box in the frame is a great idea and means I generally don't ride with a Camelbak anymore. The 2017 doesn't have the flip chip which the 2018 does. I tried it in the high position to see if pedal strikes were still a problem and it made a huge difference so I've just left it there. Because you can run 2.6's on it, it climbs better than my Stumpy Evo did. I'm pretty sure the sizing went up from the 2017 frame to the 2018.
All in all its great... if you can put up with the obvious jokes about the colour. You should be able to pick one up quite cheaply because most people bought them brand new in the sale for 50% off......Remember those days.
I'll have my large HB 160 frame (Invisiframed from New), wheels and brakes up for sale in April/May depending on when the HB916 is actually released.
27.5" wheels...
I enjoy reading your brain farts weeksy, so please continue to share them.
Interesting to hear about your lad trying a few 29ers, as others have said, if you want speed, that’s where you will find it. Hence why the only 27.5 inch wheel in any top level racing is only found on the back of a few bikes.
Hopefully now covid is being dismissed there will be opportunities for demo days to be run again and you and your lad can try a few new bikes out.
If it were me, I wouldn’t be looking at anything older than maybe 2 or 3 years old, as geometry has come on so far in such a short time, anything before that will be a compromise or just plain dated.
I've also got the 2018 (pink) with ohlins front and back and the rival carbon wheels (it was a bargain).
Very nice piece of kit, I do really like it a lot. Great fun.
Apparently the issue is lateral force on the shock. It just kills them.
Lateral force plus a shock (RS) with a smaller shaft diameter was not a good combo. It’s like they only tested the Ohlins setup before they launched it
Can't these threads just be put in a sub forum on their own rather than polluting the main forum?
😂
Hi Weeksy, as said I think this proposed purchase is a backwards step. It’s more dated geometry than your G170 and on a frame that can eat shocks sometimes. The only benefit is it might be lighter.
For speed in racing then 29er wheels is most likely the way forward. If you’re avoiding 29er wheels still then I think you have to ask what do you expect to improve on vs the g170?
Maybe a shorter seat tube for a longer dropper post, a slacker head tube angle, a steeper seat tube angle, a better fork than a Yari?
Or look at Mullet bikes for some of the advantage of 29er but perhaps a bit more nimbleness. You’ve ruled out the Status now for the shorter back end in case it feels like the Aether - but I’m still adamant you went a size too big on the Aether.
Something like the Saracen Ariel 60 could be interesting if you can find one. The medium size would be the one for you to go for - it comes setup mullet - but also with a spare linkage to run it at 29er too. 480mm reach / 440mm chainstay so it’s pretty balanced front to rear. 64.6 degree headangle / 410mm seat tube. £2500 and has an ok spec for that.
Can’t these threads just be put in a sub forum on their own rather than polluting the main forum?
Yeah, how ridiculous, discussing bikes on a bike forum.
Wind your neck in you Muppet
A few mates have that generation Enduro. The HB160 is by no means an LLS machine, and the numbers make it seem like the Enduro is bigger, but they just feel way smaller.
GG is useful as a guide, but it's no substitute for actually sitting on and riding a bike
Yeah, how ridiculous, discussing bikes on a bike forum.
Wind your neck in you Muppet
The bike content's not a problem it's the endless vacillation and inability to accept the good advice given that's so tortuous.
It's also worth noting that you did invite abuse of your idea in the title.
The bike content’s not a problem it’s the endless vacillation and inability to accept the good advice given that’s so tortuous.
Au contrare Rodney 🤣 I love @Weeksy posts on bike ponderings. Posts a question about a bike/s along with pictures...many responses with other options often including pictures/links...leading to lots of googling of bicycles I will never afford or be worthy of purchasing due to a complete an utter lack of ability whilst avoiding work...and the best part is, no matter what is also in my head about bikes and bits, none of the thought process is going to cost me money. Thanks Weeksy
I used to despair at the amount of time weeksy spends buying, fixing and messing with bikes.
But then he countered with loads of info on how much riding both his son and him do on those bikes. Which restored the balance nicely.
So my current view is that he spends immense amounts of time both riding and fixing, so that's fine by me.
All good.
If you're (seriously) racing nothing matters other than time.
And IMO, until he can wring out every last tenth of a second of his current setup/bike then don't bother swapping bikes.
Can’t these threads just be put in a sub forum on their own rather than polluting the main forum?
Bloke rides bikes and tinkers with them lots.
Bloke posts about it on a forum for people who like to ride bikes and tinker with them.
Only on STW could that possibly be a problem.
BikeYoke do a series of replacement yokes to enable swapping out the RS ones to something a bit more robust
If you look on these posts as weeksy blogging about his bike thoughts rather than asking for advice then they’re quite fun. Just don’t expect him to listen to any of your responses (unless they’re what he wants to hear!)
However they can also be a good indicator of what he’s about to sell - sometimes before even using it. Thanks for the shock Weeksy!
They do seem to be a bit groundhog day.
As someone else suggested, it's worth looking at the Giant Reign, they tend to be better value for money and come in 27.5, 29 or mullets depending on model and ride very well.
The Spesh you list had a short life, the X frames weren't well received overall, hence the complete redesign from Spesh to regain some ground in that market.
If you look on these posts as weeksy blogging about his bike thoughts rather than asking for advice then they’re quite fun
Yeah this - Weeksy just shares his inner narrative with us. Some people keep it to themselves (I do!), some talk to their mates, some share it with the world. I don't see any harm in it, nobody's making you read the thread after all. At least he actually rides bikes and is doing all he can to help his boy progress.
This place is weird sometimes, @weeksy is just blathering about bikes, on a site about blathering about bikes. So what if he doesn't take advice or who really cares? It's all cool as far as I'm concerned.
Personally, really like Weeksy's threads. It's like sitting in a pub after a ride talking about bikes. I'm always happy to hear different people's opinions on bikes and gear; it IS a bikes and gear forum, after all. Keep pondering and posting, @weeksy!
The worry is he actually buys something, then it's all over.
honourablegeorge
Full MemberThe worry is he actually buys something, then it’s all over.
Silly, he's had a Whyte G160, a Bird whatever it was and a Whyte G170 since the beginning of COVID fun - no risk of this train stopping yet!
How dare he talk about bikes and riding them on a mountain biking forum!!!!
And being enthusiastic about it is even worse.
Outrageous, next you’ll be telling me he actually enjoys riding and bonding with his son while doing it!
Utterly preposterous!
And heavens forbid that he actually spends his money buying bikes. That’s crazy talk
Ps - fitness and coaching are what will make you faster 😉
Wind your neck in you Muppet
Best read In a Danny Dyer mockney accent 🤣🤣
Privateer race bike, with a bit of badge (and decent residuals)?
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3261566/
I like the alu models of the more recent V3 and V4 frame designs. Easy to service, worth bolting on nicer bits and will keep reasonable value being a SC.
The geometry is 'modern', but not wildly LLS - and you could fit on either a medium or large with a few tweaks.
I am absolutely stunned that there hasn't been one purchase made ( or made and returned). He must be getting less impulsive in his old age ... 🙂
TBF he did purchase the Status but the shop backed out after he asked too many questions for them to make it worthwhile 😉
And heavens forbid that he actually spends his money buying bikes. That’s crazy talk
I can vouch for that... 🙁
That SC Nomad, who thinks bolting all those multicoloured parts on looks good? (mate of mine has that model in Alu in the S spec with Fox and GX, nice bike but is a fair lump of weight)
Yeah was ace thank you. Very weird as my boy is away so was on my own and I rarely if ever do that alone any more.
Hope you had a good time, sometimes you just need to ignore some of the stuff that gets posted on here. 👍
not been to 417. Is it quite jumpy there? Or do they have more 'regular' runs?
Ignore the grumpy sods.... whats the latest thought process weeksy?!
Bit jumpy really yes. But the blues are pure blue fun.
As for current thoughts, I guess I'm having what you'd call wallet concerns.
Nukeproof mega 290. But the best part of £4000 is a lot to me, but more importantly it's a lot to risk on a bike I either may not like or may not go better on. I tried to get a demo or even just a large I can sit on but I've not managed either just yet.
So currently all I've done is order a new Hope rear wheel from my local shop as my rear is horrible and no fixing seems to be helping it.
Friday is forest of Dean for practice and Sunday is DH race for the boy, so nothing until we've got all that done anyway
Couldn’t reply yesterday as I was banned for calling blokey a Muppet.
Blimey. With some of the tripe posted on here I’m amazed that you can get banned for calling a muppet a muppet 😂
Meanwhile, fair play for getting out on the bike, it’s more than many here seem to do. Odd really considering that it’s a mountain bike forum!
What’s 417 like? I’ve never really heard much about it before, turns out it’s just over an hour from here so might be worth a look. Are any of the trails XC rider friendly or is it an uplift only type of place?
Yeah was ace thank you. Very weird as my boy is away so was on my own and I rarely if ever do that alone any more.
to just go as a solo rider and do what you want rather than trying to chase your son while also being his coach/mechanic/medic/team manager... has this changed your opinion on what bike you like and/or want?
Are any of the trails XC rider friendly or is it an uplift only type of place?
its a grind or a push up to ride the DH trails. theres no "xc loop" as such.
I'm someone who has done full meat powered days at BPW and Cwmcarn and been happy. 417 I say take the bus.
If you were asking about skill - Riding the blues but not clearing the table top jumps, and "getting down" the reds is doable on a modern XC bike with average XC skill I'd say.
If you really want to feel the difference between wheel size setups there's a Geometron demo day at the FoD on Saturday.
They can set the same bike up in any configuration you want 27.5/29/mixed and it doesn't change the geometry.
You'll have to ring them and book to let them know in advance what setups you want to try.
One of the lads might even go on a ride with you and offer setup advice and some tips on technique...
Stu,
Thanks for the info. But we're there Friday and Sunday.
Sat I have to go and collect the wife's trackday zx6
That's a shame.
Might have stopped you keep asking the same question over and over. 😉
Their HQ is only a couple of miles away and they do demos on request.
FYI - I think weeksy is banned again for the mention above of why he was banned so he might not re-comment for a week now! 🤷♂️
I think the Mega 290 would be a superb enduro racing bike in the UK- unless you’re really at a high level the Giga seems a bit much.
FYI – I think weeksy is banned again for the mention above of why he was banned so he might not re-comment for a week now! 🤷♂️
Unbelievable!!
sticky thread at the top. There's plenty on here feel the site has gone downhill because of the way some posters behave, it's been commented on, and the site owners and mods have taken a stance: to quote-
as soon as you start to use insults of a person then you cross the line.
I've ridden with weeksy a few times and irl he's a nice bloke, but "wind your neck in you muppet" clearly crosses that line. Might not be the worst insult ever but it's still a direct and personal insult.
I still remeber weeksy's lad having to go home early because he had cold fingers. Sounds a bit tougher now 😉
Despite trying to stay away from Weeksy 'Whaaaaa! My new bike doesn't make me a riding god' threads, here I am, like a rubbernecker at a car crash.
But I think I've worked it out now.
Weeksy is Hora and I claim my £5.
wind your neck in you muppet” clearly crosses that
Utter bollocks. That is about as benign an 'insult' as you could possibly get.
A perfect example of someone (mods) sticking to the letter of the law rather than the point of the law and hence penalising the wrong people.
PS, bye for a few days 😉
Utter bollocks. That is about as benign an ‘insult’ as you could possibly get.
I totally agree with this, however if that's the way the mod's are going to be with everyone from now on then that's up to them. It just needs to be the same across the board.
My surprise with this is that someone can get banned from the forum for saying why they were banned from the forum!
Utter bollocks. That is about as benign an ‘insult’ as you could possibly get.
Everyones a victim these days. Context is irrelevant.
What ever happened to resilience eh?
Still Drac will love the empowerment.
Haven’t read all the above, so apologies if this is duplication.
I have a 2016 enduro EVO, which started as a 26”, then (after buying new back end) mutated into a 27.5. After the addition of a 29er fork is now a mullet.
I’ve not eaten through shocks at all in 7 years of owning it (still running a CCDB coil).
It’s not especially long, but with the 29er fork, the head angle is a good level of slackness. It sits into its travel as it’s a coil, so a slighty higher BB is no problem.
Al-in-all still a cracking enduro/miniDH bike which I use in the Alps/bike parks etc: it’s not a trail bike for sure, but for nailing lumpy, rooty trails it’s ace.
Only issue is not as much standover as I’d like on the ‘large’ I’m running (to get the reach) so a 125mm dropper is all I can squeeze in.
Mines Alu, so it’s also a big lump, like me.
Context is irrelevant.
I saw Weeksy's "muppet" comment the other day and thought it an unnecessary thing to say. Something that could've caused the thread to change into an argument. But then Drac does that all the time, not with personal insults but arguing for the sake of it. I put it down to this forum just being full of weirdos 😀
"Give me attention."
"No, not that sort of attention."
Only issue is not as much standover as I’d like on the ‘large’ I’m running (to get the reach) so a 125mm dropper is all I can squeeze in.
I had a local framebuilder saw the top off the seat tube on my old Enduro 29, so I could get a longer dropper in there.
Nail on head there chaka.
OP invites abuse in the thread title then gets shitty when someone says something he doesn't like.
If you don't want to hear opinions you don't like don't post on public forums.
Edited for talking balls - or the post was edited
was it "muppet" or the preceding part of the sentance? It wasn't aimed at me but I know which part I would find more offensive. And it isn't Elmo.
Back to topic, if I wanted a safe but enjoyable bike for bike park/recreational downhill, summer morzine trip, and mediocre enduro racing results (pretty much sums up my riding too) then I would happily have that bike, assuming it was in good condition, and fit me.
My current mid travel, fairly conservative angled 27.5 bike on the surface matches up quite well, so maybe I am a bit biased.
I also quite liked the look of the status, and I want a motorbike. I fear Weeksy may in fact be secretly related to me.
However as I said on page 1, if the aim is speed, buy a 29er and learn to ride it.