Topic starter
While I accept this is not an unusual occurrence for me, this is my first new bike since 2021 and the first new build for- I dunno - a long time. 20% off tipped the scales on the buy it now button. Most of the build was pretty close to what I'd spec.
Three rides in, I'm very happy. New bike glasses and all that, but it has the plushness / small bump stuff of my Yeti SB130 without the switch link and most of the "just point me in the right direction and all shall be fine" of my RipMo. Lighter too, feels like a better climber than both and quite pointy which I like.
Still not totally convinced by electronic shifting (esp after giving the mech a proper rock strike on local trails yesterday), but otherwise build is mostly good. Swapped the bars for some oneup carbons, and will be adding Rimpacts and some other stuff when I get round to it. Might also try 160mm 36s, but it rides really nicely with the 150s so maybe not.
I do like the fact that all the bearings are the same size, etc. Seems really well thought out.
Also wrote a thing about how I ended up buying it which turned into an epic european road trip: https://www.pickled-hedgehog.com/how-has-that-happened/
I might have to sell some bikes. That's not a happy situation.
Posted : 13/04/2025 7:07 pm
Topic starter
I think I'm going to like it less after this evenings activity. The invisiframe kit has arrived. I have written "I shall not rush nor get frustrated" a 100 times to get myself in the correct mental state before opening Pandoras' frame covering.
At least when it's done I can fit bash guard etc. I mean that's an enjoyable non riding activity!
Posted : 15/04/2025 1:30 pm
Lovely bike, I really like that. Good luck with the invisiframe, awful bloody job.
Posted : 15/04/2025 1:41 pm
will be adding Rimpacts and some other stuff when I get round to it.
I said that 2 bikes ago and then I went out and destroyed a front tyre at Hamsterley on day 1.
On the last bike I said it again as I was building the bike the night before driving to Morzine. I slashed a brand new Kryptotal on day 2.
Now the Rimpacts go in first no matter what.
Very nice looking bike though. I had one on my shortlist for ages but swerved for a massively reduced Druid V2.
Posted : 15/04/2025 2:26 pm
Alex reacted
Topic starter
@sharkattack - I rode a Deviate Highlander a few years ago, and nearly bought one. I have wanted one of these tho since the "new" version came out in 2021. As they were knocking 20%-30% off since Feb this year then I assume a new model is coming. I also upgraded those wheels so defo having Rimpacts in there! It's not that I ride that hard, but I an a klutz!
Posted : 15/04/2025 2:40 pm
Topic starter
4 hours of my (and my better half) life I'll never get back... grudgingly I accept it's worth the time, but at the time... hateful. Made once cock up on seat tube but otherwise pretty happy with the finish.
Not done rimpacts as they were on the far side of the beer fridge so I got distracted. Do have mudguard and a proper water bottle so ready for an adventure somewhere even if it's the forecasted hails of trout.
Posted : 15/04/2025 9:23 pm
Mint bike...
Tried Invisiframe once - never again. Think I screwed it up and threw it in the bin after the first piece. I pay people to do it now.
Always run tubes, but the new bike came with carbon rims - had the offer of setting it up tubeless with cushcore (obviously for £££). I'd never get round to doing it and with my record with rims. I paid people to do it. When I want new tyres, someone other than me is doing it.
Posted : 15/04/2025 9:34 pm
Topic starter
Tried Invisiframe once - never again. Think I screwed it up and threw it in the bin after the first piece. I pay people to do it now.
I've done quite a few bikes. Once I had a frame that hadn't yet been cut, so I drove it up to Lee (about 90 minsaway) at Invisiframe and they did it for me. Amazing job. If it wasn't 2x3 hour trips I'd definitely pay someone to do it!
Cushcore is probably the 'gold standard' for inserts, but they can be on the "nuke it from space just to be sure" side of broken tyre lever removal 😉
Posted : 15/04/2025 9:43 pm
Topic starter
Quick update: 4 weeks in, 350km, 10,000m ish of climbing and descending
In: Cushcore F&R, OneUp full chain device/bash guard/OneUp v3 210mm dropper, Unite flat pedals. Still to fit: Oak brake levers for Magura MT7s.
I've also set the rear shock up with Shockwiz, removed one of the two tokens from the 36s and backed off both the HS and LS compression on the fork.
Summary is it's a really good trail bike. Climbs incredibly on any surface, never go near the climb switch. It's light for a 150/140mm travel bike and that helps, but still feels a bit more sprightly than both by SB130LR and RipMo. I've probably knocked the edge of it by adding weight and cushcore, but it's still a really rewarding bike to climb as hard as your legs will let you.
Some bikes I've just gelled with straight away (My Mojo3 and RipMo v1 come to mind), with the Hugene, taken me a bit longer but the more I get off the brakes, the better it is. It may well be the "funnest" cornering bike I've had for a long time. It's also pretty capable on the steep and tech stuff, even with me on board. Not sure I need more travel for 99% of the riding we do.
Also totally sold on the electronic shifting now. I went back to manual on my e-commuter an it felt so crude! I love the quietness of the bike and some of that is the zero chain chatter/rubbing on sprockets. Also went Cushcore for the first time and dropped the pressures a lot. Result does seem to meet the hype of some kind of extra damping, and lots of grip without any chance of rolling the tyres off the rim.
Not going to try it with a 160mm fork. I think that'd be a step back, although a higher BB wouldn't be a bad thing. That bash guard is already taking some punishment! Off to North Wales for four days next Friday. Be good to see what it's like on some trail centre and chewy off piste stuff.
Downsides? That linkage is a mud collector (remember Mud?). The seat tube is quite long, took some measuring before I committed to a 30mm longer post and it's close to the limit of the seat tube insertion depth. Oh and the cable grommets are a bit rubbish. I think that's about it! Probably should ride my SB130 or RipMo to compare, but I don't think that's going to happen.
Posted : 11/05/2025 7:34 am
I've probably knocked the edge of it by adding weight and cushcore, but it's still a really rewarding bike to climb as hard as your legs will let you
I wondered about that. I tried inserts for a while, but ended up defaulting to whatever casing was tough enough to survive my normal, not overly aggressive, riding style, without making the bike feel like a tractor. Then again, I really like climbing, which seems to be quite unfashionable these days.
The difference between my FlareMax with trail wheels and tough, fast trail tyres and the same bike with light wheels and fast, fast tyres is huge. The bit where your legs go 'Oi, do you mind!' on sharp, hard climbs is massively delayed or completely eliminated.
ps: why is the quote function adding your full name. Hmmm...
Posted : 11/05/2025 9:12 am
Topic starter
I run inserts on all my MTBs. Normally Rimpact. Cushcore have more obvious effect- rather than just rim protection.- in terms of grip (lower pressures) and damping (hard to quantify but noticeable). I also like climbing and tend to overthink "do I want to add weight to my bike- is it worth it for any loss of climbing efficiency?"- the answer is normally yes, but one of the aspects of the Hugene that appealed to me was it's low frame weight, also those wheels are very light and *only* running 2.4 tyres (not 2.6s).
Also my guess is there's a lot of anti-squat on the bike, so it does feel zippy when you're pushing a bit harder without any noticeable bobbing.
As a vaguely related aside, I'm going to sell my gravel bike and replace it with as light a hardtail build as I can justify. Mostly for 1-2 day bike packing adventures. The idea of a light, fast MTB with just enough tyre/travel for long days on mixed trails is something I've definitely missed.
Posted : 11/05/2025 9:23 am
BadlyWiredDog reacted
