Looking for a new trail do it all bike must be under £2.5k for the bike to work scheme
Looking at Whyte S150s V2
Orbea Occam H20
Any comments or other suggestions ?
Looks like you're looking at 29ers, so:
Bird AM9
Stumpjumper Comp Alloy 29
If 650b are in there the new Bird Aether 7.
Check out the last issue of MBUK / MBR - they both had trail bike of the year reviews. Quite a few over budget but could get lower specced models in budget.
The below review of the Aether - you could spec it within your budget with a less bling build.
Watching this with interest as am in a similar position.
Keep coming back to the Whyte at the moment as I think they look great and seem like a decent spec
In the classic 'recommend what you've got' style, I've got a Whyte S120 and it's fantastic.
Mine a CR so a good spec for the money but the OEM wheels were heavy and the Guide T brakes aren't as nice as higher level ones. It's nimble enough for local (i.e. boring, 25%->50% road) rides but I did a couple of big days in the Lake District and didn't feel underbiked there either. The geometry and big wheels really makes it more stable than you'd expect for a 120mm bike.
Do you have a preference for 29er or 27.5?
I am not looking for a bike at the moment but that hasn't stopped me looking (with all this spare time on my hands) at:
Bird AM9
Canyon Strive
Some of the Vitus bikes on CRC
I do like the look of the Bird out of the above.
Radon slide or Canyon Spectral
As above. I got the Occam. Really happy with it and got a 15% discount which made the choice a lot easier. I looked at most of the suggestions above but my choice came down to Jeffsy or Occam. Occam got it with a slightly better spec. SLX over the SRAM SX kit. I prefer the way you can select gears with the Shimano stuff. Also the matt black look is really nice.
Really happy with it but not really ridden a lot due to the lockdown. The bike shop has reduced the discount to 10% now but thats still £250 off. PM me if you want the shop. They do Wyhte and Specialised as well.
29 seems the way for go
The vitus escarpe is now down to £2.5k . My son has a vitus hardtail and that's very good
Can highly recommend the S-150 from personal experience. That said I'd really consider an Orbea too if I was in the position for a new bike myself right now...
It would come down to a simple choice between the two for me. Do I want a bike with a touch more travel and slightly slacker angles, that weighs a bit more, or would I prefer a slightly lighter bike and be happy to trade off 10mm of travel and very slightly steeper geometry in exchange?
On the Escarpe mentioned above, they’re ok, but the other options mentioned are generally better quality frames and are likely to pedal better.
Yeah the Occam looks great too, I know you can upgrade the forks on the H20 to the 36 150mm but then you start the dreaded upgrade spiral and before you know it you're easily over £3k. Pedals in Edinburgh have a large demo I think so will try and get out once this is all over.
S150. I have one and it’s a bloody brilliant bike!
Seems a lot of love for Whyte S150!
YT izzo?
looks lovely on the front page?
dont discount the Trek Fuel
I'm looking at about this sort of cash (or a smidge more) for a new bike next year.
Commencal Meta TR or AM, Marin Alpine Trail, Ibis Ripmo AF and Transition Sentinel are on my mental list.
I'd be waiting to see if Bird bring out an Aether 9..