Hi,
Sorry not the most original topic but I’m hoping to buy a new enduro bike in the next 6-9 months and hope you lovely lot can help.
I currently ride an AirDrop Edit v2 and love it, but I fancy a change. I ride mostly in the Peak District on the techier descents. I love trying to clean natural and steep stuff. I do the odd enduro and occasionally fit in a trip to ride gnarlier longer descents.
I’m leaning towards a Nukeproof Mega 275. I like the idea of a bit more travel and a slacker head angle, but geo that’s not dramatically different to what I have now. The specs are good IMO and it gets good reviews. There’s also a fair chance of getting one at the end of the season with a decent discount. Would anyone who has ridden one let me know what they think?
I’d like to demo one but the travel and hassle involved will probably mean I don’t get round to it!
Ideally I’d like to pay 2-2.5k, but will push to 3k fit the right bike. I’m also considering a Radon Swoop, Bird Aeris, Orange Alpine, Trek Remedy, Transition Patrol, new Norco Sight, Commencal Clash and Vitus Sommet so if anyone has ridden one of these it would be interesting to know what you like about them.
Cheers,
Jon
I’ve had my 2018 one for a couple of years and love it.
Head angle is actually slacker than stated (I measured 63.8 on line before I upped travel to 180 at the front - MBR had similar results on their test bikes). I think this makes it spot on - it never feels too slow in the steering department.
There are longer bikes out there and some with steeper seat angles, but I think the geometry is perfectly balanced - slack and long enough to be stable but not so long that it’s not playful.
Suspension wise it’s great - enough ramp up only to bottom out on big big hits, but still supple enough to use most of the travel the rest of the time.
My bearings lasted a couple of years of being ridden about 1.5k off road miles per year - mostly Wind Hill and BPW plus the odd enduro race.
The 2020 models are a bit longer IIRC in certain sizes, but otherwise identical to mine.
I’d go alloy witha Lyrik, as this represents the best bang for buck imo.
JP
I’ve ridden the Airdrop V2 that had a Yari front and a coil in the back (test ride for a few hours). I then rode a Bird Aeris 145 the next day and preferred it so bought one of those. Just sold it to go down to something shorter travel - the new Bird Aether. I’d say the Aeris is a bit poppier than the Airdrop and it’s also longer. The 145 is currently on offer I think as there’s a new version of it called the AM160 just out.
Liked the Aeris but I think I went up a size too long probably. They’re a great company to deal with for support and warranty etc so I’d recommend them.
With the Trek Remedy it’s a little more conventional in geometry -‘I think on fast rocky stuff it won’t be quite as stable, but you might find it steers quicker for the steep technical stuff.
Definitely try to get a few test rides as some of the bikes listed are quite different to the others.
I owned a mega 290 and it's the best performance bike I've ridden
Mine was a 2018 version
Not the lightest bike but climbed ok
Technical descending around calderdale was just magnificent and uplift days at stiniog and bpw were just outstanding on this thing
Downsides
The bearings lasted only a few rides but they have since upgraded all models with Enduro bearings
Mine also had the wrong loctite for the pivot bolts which was interesting as they were fussed
Paint is shocking rather than been just thin it's like an egg shell so when it chipps is peels easily .invisi framed from new but areas not covered got bad
Sold it recently for a orange stage 6 and build quality of the orange is in another league but it's not in the same league as the mega performance wise .
Thanks, that’s helpful all. Bit worrying about the pivot bolts - did they sort that out for you?
I’m thinking of the alloy version with the lyrik, unless one of the carbon ones happens to have a big discount.
As the for the other bikes I’ve considered I sort of think that although there is some variety they would all be good descenders and fun to ride, just with slightly different pros and cons.
Following as im also looking at buying one too, will be an upgrade from a 2012 stumpy so expecting a big difference. Will be mostly used round the tweed valley
Wheelbase have got a demo day at Staveley have got a demo day in a couple of weeks that’ll have 275c and 290c plus some of the other bikes you’ve mentioned.
Looking to replace my Capra so have booked on to test both flavours of Mega plus the Slash. Hoping to chuck a leg over the Superfoxy too although I’d need a lotto win to take the plunge.
I have a remedy (shameless plug its in the classifieds at your budget)
I wouldn’t call it an enduro bike personally the slash is treks enduro bike. The remedy is a long travel trail bike. Its fun to ride and climbs like a goat. If you want out and out speed down hill then look for something else. If its fun you want then theres not much that can touch it imo.
I’ve never had a problem with the bolts - just check them every ride. Bearings lasted a couple of years for me.
Just got back from Wind Hill and it’s so good on the blacks there. Give one a demo.
JP
I'm on my third Mega, my bro is on my older one and I've never had pivot bolt issues, I use a silver marker pen on the black pivots so I'll know if they move, they haven't budged. The bearing issue is now sorted with enduro max and the sd ultimate shock has more adjustments. I'll probably get another mega frame but medium long next time, or I might try a transition patrol, external brake routing is a plus for me.
For an all rounder the mega is hard to beat, especially when well discounted at crc every year and has shimano or sram specs unlike transition patrol.
I had the same kind of choice, even own a Aidrop V2. I went for a Privateer frame which should be here next month, they are doing full builds now, so maybe worth a look. If it I didn't fancy a 29er I'd have just got a V3 frame.