Forum menu
Here’s my dilemma: I haven’t ridden xc/trail/AM (whatever you want to call it) for quite a while now, preferring to focus on DH with my trusty Spesh SX Trail. However, recently I have been hankering after getting back into it, especially after looking at a Norco Sight in Evans the other day (0% finance is very tempting, and affordable).
I could use my SX Trail but I feel with 170mm of travel front and rear it is a bit of a sledgehammer, if you get my meaning, and also a bit on the porky side.
I fancy getting a full-sus (I find hardtails fine on fast and technical stuff, but the constant chatter gets old quickly for me), but don’t want to spend too much (maybe around £1K) in case I don’t actually use it too much. My ideal bike would be 140-160mm travel with a slackish head-angle (67/68 deg).
The other option is to replace my SX Trail, but I want something that is still suitable for DH uplifts and DH holidays, which I find my SX Trail perfect for.
I would mainly be riding around the Surrey Hills, Swinley and South Wales.
Suggestions?
Bump!! For the lunchtime crowd 😀
Interesting. I've been in a Similair place, but for me, FS had quietly destroyed my trail riding without my realising it. Reverting to a capable hardtail brought back the excitement and physical effort I was so addicted to years agin. Being forced to float the rear while the front takes the big hits is massive fun. I find it much more engaging that just blasting through on full shocks.
I find it much more engaging that just blasting through on full shocks.
That's where you are going wrong: You shouldn't ride a full sus like that 🙂
As I said, it's not riding hardtails on steep, fast, technical trails I don't like (I can ride them down pretty much anything I can on my full sus), it's just the constant bumps on innocuous trails that get very tiresome. Plus, I do also like the feedback of suspension rebound and like to use it.
Anyway, I am tempted to try and lighten by Spesh, but it still will be a compromise.