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What demographic do Nicolai owners fall into?
Engineers?
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FWIW, I think Yetis are lovely bikes. So much so, I'd feel terrible about parking one in a bush and scratching it if I owned one.
All the people I know that own SC Blurs seem to get through bearings at an unreasonable rate, so I'd tend towards a single pivot from them.
I had an 07 575 for 4 years. Testament to the bike is that I kept it that long despite loving shiny new things. It's light, handles well and copes with all sorts from day long rides to light DH. I found the frame sizing comes up larger than other brands, found the rear a little flexy and felt a little perched on the bike when riding, rather than in the bike. The last may seem an odd comment but that's how it felt to me. In short, a good bike but I'd thoroughly recommend a test ride first. I replaced mine with a Nicolai AM as I wanted something a bit beefier. And I'm not an engineer.....!
Both brilliant machines. I love the Heckler. Simple design, and it just works. You are spoilt for choice with the two.
All the people I know that own SC Blurs seem to get through bearings at an unreasonable rate, so I'd tend towards a single pivot from them.
Dunno why people bang on about bearing life on SC bikes, FFS they off free replacements for life!
I thought I was set wanting a 2012 Stumpy Evo, but this thread makes me want one of those cheapo 2009 575 frames from CRC 🙁
The high BB is the one thing that puts me off, I quite like sliding along the ground bumping on the rocks.
The bearings are free, but they don't cover labour. With all the jiggery required to square up the bearings in them it's quite a time consuming job.
After 18 months in a workshop the most common bikes in for bearing replacements were prob specialized or Scott ransom. My own 2010 blur which I have ridden 2 to 3 times a week has required 1 bearing. It is BTW for sale cos I just got a nomad. I have also owned 4 575's which all required bearing replacements.
In short bearing can and do fail... its a small cost. Buy what you like not what you think has the best bearings.
At 2k best value all round, my vote would prob be a specialized.
T
Solicitor = Yeti
Searching for lost youth = SCPersonally, I'd buy a Giant. Lots more for your £2k
Ha, I have it the other way around. I've wanted a Yeti since Missy Giove, John Tomac and Myles Rockwell were in the mags on them. Santa cruz has no meaning to me at all, and they are too short for me anyway. I have the Giant and its good, but doesn't have that specialness a Yeti does...
Thanks for all your comments. When the crunch time finally came I evetually came out of my denial and realised £2k was out of my budget. I've decided on a 2011 Ghost ASX 5500 for £1300 (I could have got one for £1050 if I had the cash now). I think this will be a great introduction for me and should last me some time.
After reading the responses on here I checked out Canyon bikes. They look great and all reviews I found were positive. Maybe next time that's what I'll get!
I hated the Blur LT when I tried one.
The only bike I would be tempted to swap my Five for would be a Santacruz Nomad. Awesome bike, you could probably pick up a low spec second hand one for £2k.
The bearing warranty is only for the original owner.
There is a santa cruz demo day at Llandegla next saturday by the way. Perhaps try the nomad next to the Blur.
Alpha1653 - MemberSanta Cruz is less of a "boutique" brand than Yeti
Not sure that's true - you won't see job lots of Santa Cruz being flogged cheap on CRC, for one.
I dunno, by the sounds of it neither Yeti's US HQ or Silverfish were particularly impressed about CRC circumventing the usual procedures and grey importing a load of Russian-bound Yetis. I heard murmurs about the generous 5 year warranty not being honoured etc.
I'm sure the same thing would happen if CRC could get their hands on a container of Santa Cruzezezeses.