I have pretty much made up my mind on what I want.
~150mm travel
~12.5kg or less
2x10 gears
I have tested the Whyte 146S and I loved it and it fits what I want. But what do people think of the YT industries Wicked and the Devinci Dixon.
Also what else should I consider testing.
cheers
Dafoxster
I've also ridde the 146S and it's an amazing bike! The spec on the Wicked is pretty damn good for the money but the head angle is a bit steep. I'm sure with it being half the price of the 146S you'll be able to find some money to fit either some offset shock bushings or a Works Headset, though. It would be a sorted bike then.
I got a YT Wicked a couple of weeks ago and it's fantastic. Great spec for the money and good angles - I couldn't be happier. Get yourself a bash guard and a Blackspire Stinger and you're good to go. Buy one!
Head angle actually feels slacker than quoted - [url= http://www.mbr.co.uk/featured/just-in-yt-industries-wicked-150/ ]this article[/url] seems to agree.
Don't know about the Dixon but have ridden a Hectik for a few months now and really pleased with it.
I have had my Dixon since the Spring. I kind-of ended up with it by accident after I warrantied a Spitfire. I sold my SX Trail and took the Dixon to the Alps and didn't really miss the SX Trail. I'm just breaking down a Blue Pig because the Dixon is nearly the same weight and pedals really well too. Its the best design and build quality I've had in a bike and Freeborn are good at sorting out a specific build at a good prince.
+1 for what Shandy said, got a Dixon and very pleased with it too, a bit expensive but the guys at Freeborn are good to deal with and my 4th Devinci (johnsone, Frantik, 2010 wilson and 2010 Dixon) so know that they are good solid bikes.
Yes the Dixon is nothing short of superb. Devinci's are made to the highest standard in Canada and are very tough with high quality bearings etc. 12.5kg is very do-able but may not do this frame justice as it wants to be ridden hard. Mine comes in at around 14kg, size large, DH tyres, DH bars, gravity dropper, Enduro wheels etc. Even in this tough "enduro" style build the bike flies uphill due to the extremely efficient DW Split Pivot but mine is built for the mountains of Scotland so on the heavier side. I have seen a 26lb full build on a Dixon so if you ride more tame stuff/trail centres only then it should build really light.
Check out what they put into it here [url]
Customer service at Freeborn is excellent.
Duir, the Dixon is defo a bike that gets better the more you 'push' it, the faster you ride it the more it seems to want! in flat single track it does seem to plod a little but I have got it at the slack setting (due to forks set at 160mm), built mine with 36's, Easton Haven wheels/finishing kit, 1 x 10 and reverb, all in weight of about 29ish lbs which isnt too bad.
+1 for comments re; Freeborn (my local shop), Paul, Jim & Joe are really good to deal with a well as good riders.