I'm pretty old school with my bikes but a Plus hardtail has tickled my fancy - I haven't bought a complete new bike for years - but none of my existing parts (forks/cranks/wheels/tyres) will be compatible with this bike
I guess if I really like it I could sell all the redundant parts but part of me thinks I should just stick with what I know rather than jumping on another bandwagon?
I have a specialized fuse pro which is brilliant. Only 120 travel but very capable and great fun. Use it for riding in the lakes
Just got a sonder transmitter on cycle2work scheme, it is the base model, but doesn't feel like it. Only had a snowy ride on it so far, but it feels solid and confidence inspiring, gripped really well in the conpacted snow/icy stuff.
Plus bikes are pretty much all boost, so better to bite the bullet and get a complete build.
Plus bikes are brilliant.
If I was able to keep only one bike it would be the plus bike.
Horrible bloody things. I really don’t get them at all having spent a week riding one.
Lots of grip, especially on loose climbs but they feel horrible and vague when cornering and the undamped bounce when things got faster was a bit disconcerting.
Have you tried one yet? I’d try before parting with any cash.
Nothing wrong with jumping on a bandwagon. You may enjoy the ride. But the trick is to jump on just as it's getting going, so that you can jump off again while people are still interested. To mix my metaphors horribly, I think that ship may have sailed when it comes to plus bikes. That's not to say that they don't have their place. Some people love them and will no doubt want to keep riding them, but the bid interest has died down. That could mean that it's a good time to pick up a second hand bargain though.
Personally I tried plus and couldn't see the point. It seemed to add weight and drag for very little benefit. I love my full on (5") fatbike. But, for me, plus was neither fish nor fowl and I'd prefer to have a proper fat bike and a proper skinny bike rather than something in the middle. But, as I say, it's all personal preference.
Nothing wrong with jumping on a bandwagon. You may enjoy the ride. But the trick is to jump on just as it’s getting going, so that you can jump off again while people are still interested. To mix my metaphors horribly, I think that ship may have sailed when it comes to plus bikes. That’s not to say that they don’t have their place. Some people love them and will no doubt want to keep riding them, but the bid interest has died down. That could mean that it’s a good time to pick up a second hand bargain though.
Not sure it has sailed - but I do think there has been a convergence - most "plus" options started with 3.0" treads a year or so back, and then seems to have settled on 2.8, whereas standard 27.5 has upped to 2.5 / 2.6 should you want it. Boost providing a pretty versatile platform to play with widths (or go 29 in a lot of cases).
I have two 29ers and a plus bike. The latter that has done the most miles in the last 2 years. Not significantly compromised in XC speed or downhill capability. Is that down to the tyres or the bike itself (Solaris) - I don't know. But I do enjoy it a lot.
Not just recommending what I own - I figured if I didn't like it I would sling a set of 29 wheels on and sell the plus. But never felt the need.
I wouldn't be as negative about Plus as mindmap, but I would second the "try it first" advice.
I like 2.8in myself, but it's very much a dry conditions option for me, mostly riding singletrack in the woods.
The bike I'm looking at is 2.6 but with room for 2.8
Thanks for your thoughts so far
See my Chameleon thread - there you have a genuine back out to a plain old 29er, which is raved about in that format too.
I'd also considered the Pipedream Sirius in a similar vein - I'm sold on Plus for summer, but it doesn't work so well as a winter bike on the chalk and clay. So I'm going with 2 wheel sets, with the added plus that if I get a 'big day out' booked (100Km plus off road) I can go 29 on summer treads for a bit of free leg.
I've got a Ghost Roket and it is ideal for me. 45mm rims and 2.8 tyres with a 130mm travel fork, it's got tonnes of grip (so much so that my fat bike has hardly been ridden since I got it) but I feel it handles really well. It can feel a little draggy over smoother trails, but otherwise a plus HT is the right bike for me.
Your size has an effect on how any bike rides, including plus bikes. They rarely mention that in reviews.
If you are over 6 foot then it will feel in scale with you and ride pretty normally.
If you are smaller and lighter maybe a 27.5 with 2.6s will be more appropriate.
2.8s in the summer & 2.3 / 2.4s in the winter.
2.8s with 14/15psi-odd actually create less drag than 2.3s with 25psi on anything rougher than smooth tarmac / compacted hardcore. The tyres conform better to tiny bumps, stones etc rather than rolling over them
2.8s with 14/15psi-odd actually create less drag than 2.3s with 25psi on anything rougher than smooth tarmac / compacted hardcore. The tyres conform better to tiny bumps, stones etc rather than rolling over them
I'm not sure about this. Running my 2.8s at around that indicated pressure they were still pretty draggy.
I don't really mind though, they're just different (and more fun a lot of the time).
Some interesting reading :
www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/article/are-275-wheels-and-tyres-better-than-29ers-47047/
PLUS hardtail: Merida Big Trail 800 is neat. 2017 model maybe for around 1.4 k?
I by myself are not such a fan of 2.8 rubber yet. Possible that these tyres improve as well in the future.
But in the range of 2.6 inch? Lots of good products to pick from.
The next bike I build will have 2.6 inch rubber. Won't be my fastest bike then - but hope: really a playful fun bike?! Boost & 27.5 and 2.6 rubber. Full suspension 150/150.
Like to try this and that and expect some good fun with this toy.
Some interesting reading :
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/article/are-275-wheels-and-tyres-better-than-29ers-47047/
Very thorough article, but he seems to have his plus tyres pumped up significantly harder than most riders.
Might try mine closer to 20psi and see how it feels.
Tried 29+ and didn’t get on with it. Maybe unlucky, but I just had puncture, after puncture, after puncture. Sealant everywhere on every other ride and the punctures never sealed either.
Went through two back tyres in three months. That was pretty much all my disposable income gone on a tyre! Pissing around with tyre pressures killed the fun for me too. I prefer standard tyres and don’t miss any of the supposed benefits.
Were you using light casing tyres? I use 27.5+ rubber in the region of 1050g+ & have to date had no issues.
Yeah, why not?
Niece has a rigid Surly 1*1 tubeless with 2.8 or 3.00 tyres.
It weighs nothing and it's fun. Very capable in the right conditions.
And you can still run 29 wheels and narrower tyres and suss fork, so if you pick the right frame for you it's a win/win anyway.
First tyre was the chuppacabra (?) that came on the bike, second was a bombolini. Glad I gave it a go but just found the whole thing a bit meh. There’s nothing wrong with normal sized 29 and 27.5 wheels and tyres. Just another non-existent problem fixed.
I suppose it depends on where you ride. Lots of rocks around my way. The tyres would also try and kill you right in the face if they do much as saw mud.
That sounds more bitter than intended 😀
bikeradar article:
great! Didn't expect that.
The bikeradar tester is quite optimistic about these tyres and a future in EWS Enduro racing. Good!
Sounds also like the tyre manufacturers are doing their job and that the fat tyres are quite good already now.
It's yes from me.
Bought a Marin Pine Mountain 2 , boost, 650b plus.
I'm more of a bimbler rider now, and have fitted a pair of Lauf forks.
Feels really good, some semblance of comfort without any full suspension, can feel a little draggy on occasions, but a very good compromise as a hardtail.