[Closed] So, if I wanted an AM full-sus 29er...

I've got an Orange 5 29 and think it's ace. It looks a big old lump but doesn't ride that way. It handles twisty single track just as well as my old 26" 5 but is much faster every where else.

ive just ordered a titus Rockstar in carbon from On-One to go with my fireline 29er

"The Zesty 29er looks to have a steeper HA than my Stache, which is no good."
"Kona Process 29er is a bit short on travel"

Lol
Obviously nico and Alex are struggling and could use your advice.
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/2014-Process-Platform-Big-Massive-Fun-Times-3-video.html

I love my Yeti SB95, it's easily as agile as the Nicolai Helius CC it replaced. I was sceptical about 29ers before test riding it, but loved it after taking one out on a demo.

turner sultan sorry own one........
rocky mountain instinct,,,,,,,owned an element

niner rip...........

specialized endure......I would like to try one but ticks the boxes

Budget? Would it be wrong to suggest a Nicolai ION 29er, or an AC if you can still find a frame?

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Have you read the reviews of the Process?
[url] http://cog.konaworld.com/archives/18566 [/url]
[url] http://www.konaworld.com/downloads/MBR-111DL.pdf [/url]
[url] http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Kona-Process-111-DL-Review-2013.html [/url]

A few others others:

[url] http://www.konaworld.com/satori.cfm [/url]
[url] http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/mountain/enduro/enduro-comp-29 [/url]
[url] http://www.lenzsport.com/detail.php?prodID=8 [/url]

I ride a '12 Transition Bandit 29, it has 130mm at the rear and 140mm at the front. It is a great bike but it has its limits, yes I can hit trail centre trails hard and it is fantastic but for places like Antur Stingog or for very fast bloulder runs in the Lakes I do fear for the wheels, they simply don't have the robustness that smaller wheels boast.

On a hardtail the benefit of larger wheels rolling over stuff is a big boon but on a fairly long travel full susser that is reduced, the benefit rather than the actual effect.

One of the main benefits of bigger wheels is not the rolling but rather the BB drop. On a 29er you are placed a long way below the axle line, the same applies for a 650B (I cannot refer to it as 27.5'' as it is not) you end up about 10mm further below the axle line than on a similar 26er.

This gives a more stable feeling, better cornering and you still get a noticable improvement in roll over. Add to this the increase in wheelbase and overall the bike feels smoother and more stable yet still good to corner.

I guess what I am saying is try a 650B, you get great geo, plenty of travel and a dropped BB plus better rolling...

If you are set on a 29er then I would be looking at the Nicolai Ion if I had the cash or maybe the Transition Covert but will need a shock tweak.

Couldn't afford £2k for a frame, which unfortunately rules out Nicolai, Yeti, Santa Cruz.

I'm sure the Kona is an awesome bike but it's 110mm real travel? I just can't see how it'd be enough for me in the Lakes etc. But then I'm not as good a rider as Alex Stock.

Should try a 650b first I guess, but it's a bitter pill to swallow.

Frame then

titus new on one

salsa horsethief te older one are reduced

secondhand

turner

I like the look of those Pyga thingys..

Whtye T129S ? 120 both ends, very very impressed so far can't see the need for more travel, better off with a skills lesson 😉

I got on well with my RIP9 for those duties. Only circa 115mm travel at the back but felt like more. It takes a 140 fork. I reckon it would have been amazing with a Pike. I think I'd go for a Pivot if I was buying now.

There is a quality JPS Five29 available from a friend of mine for I think £2.4k complete Ono. He's basically skint tho loves the bike. Mail me if you want his details.

My Turner Sultan has shrugged off anything I cack-handedly throw at it as far as riding and falling off are concerned.

Building a good set of wheels is key. I've never feared for my wheels but I'm using strong spokes, a stiff hub and Enve rims.

The Derby's also build a very strong wheel. Build them up with a set of comps and away you go in my opinion.

The Mavic SX 29s are also very good and strong.

The Revolution 28 wheel set on my Covert 29 is plenty tough enough for anything. I'm not the lightest person, the bike is not the lightest bike around and my riding technique is not super slick and I've been riding my bike for the past couple of rides with two broken spokes (the spokes broke due to getting tangled up with the rear mech after me not setting the low limit screw correctly). The wheels are still running perfectly true and have handled a few knarly rocky trails and a few jumps and drops, so a reasonable test fro the robustness for a keen recreational rider. I'm pretty confident they're plenty strong enough for anything you may want to throw at them.

Banshee Prime or Stumpy EVO 29.

I'd agree with Chainline, reference the wheels. I'm probably about 4 months further down the road than the OP, having tried a 29HT, loved it being over 6ft tall, and got 29AM curious.

I'm still loving the Enduro29, but that's out for you as you've said. Have you had a look around for a Stumpy Evo 29 frame? Sometimes they pop up for sale. If not, the new Kona Process gets amazing reviews. I wouldn't be worried about running 'only' 110mm travel with the angles that thing has.

But back to the wheels, the standard Roval's on the Enduro were terrible, if you pushed it hard into berms or squared off corners, I could get the tyre to buzz the chainstays, the wheel was flexing so much.

Now on a wheelset I built around some of the Derby rims, and no more floppy wheels. The bike is so fast, it's hilarious. I've had to learn how to go round corners again, because it doesn't seem to slow down for anything, and I'm not used to carrying speed the way it does.

Just expecting a massive crash any time soon now 🙂

I'd love a Process - top of my list, but they aren't available for aaaaages. Horsethief looks next best numbers wise.

Enduro 29 looks good, but they'll never get my money.

Wheels are key, I agree. I think that for a 29 build they need to be more of the % spend. If not you end up with heavy, weak or both. The mavic 29 st are really impressive. I'm testing a pair just now.

I wouldn't usually recommend a Five but the 29er is bloody good. The standard build is ropey as you'd expect, and the tyre clearance isn't as good as you'd want really, and some combination of the flexy swingarm and dirt-cheap wheels meant even with terrible OEM contis I could still push the tyre into the swingarm in corners... But still, it was bloody good fun, and just felt like it wanted to take on the world.

Rocky Mountain
Scott
Cube
Mondraker? Lbs lad has just got his new Dune 650 for doing Scottish Enduro series and managed 13th, only beaten by some "pros" in the Dudes event! Is still grinning from era to ear. He also managed top 20 on a Blue Pig on the one before that!!

Think I will be waiting a while till this wheel size thing settles down, at 6ft and 15st and not able to afford to experiment like a lot of people on here! Will be taking my auld '05 away again on any holidays 😆 any new bike is likely to be my last due to retirement looming in the next couple of years and pension unlikely to service an expensive hobby + the auld body is slowly falling apart 🙄

Mavic's EN821 UST rims are available now - means you can lace them up with decent hubs rather than the Mavic toss, and use decent replaceable spokes. 2mm wider than Crossmax ST as well, so better tyre stability and shape.

Just got a set, but not built them yet...

i can concur regarding the wheels.

i was on Arch EX for a coiuple of years and now onto Derby Rims with comps. WHAT A DIFFERENCE !

as mentioned above, fast as f00k and they simply track accurately. like skiing on super-stiffs. incredible 🙂

I should also say worry less about the HA. Whilst I personally like it slacker, the SC lt is 69deg the Ripley similar and I've seen people doing daft stuff not hem without worrying. The Ripley is only 120mm.

My bro in law followed me down Antur Stiniog on his 120mm/140mm Norco Shinobi and it didn't slow him down at all.

The Shinobi is another one to consider. They've stopped it now, even tho its a great bike with their 650b onslaught, so it's massively discounted at Evans again. It's a bit slacker than some, similar to the Covert.

Kona Process 111

In true stw style I'm going to recommend my own bike - A Kona Satori.

130mm rear travel and 140mm front, with a 68 degree head angle. Can be found 2nd hand at great prices, paid less than £600 for my frame.

Me too, even though I've never even seen it, let alone ridden it

Commencal Meta am2 29

Just out interest, what are the "comps" being mentioned?
EDIT: Clocked that they might be the spokes...

DT Comp spokes probably?

😀 I did edit before I saw you post, but cheers.

Have a look at the Canyon Spectral 29. I'm a believer so take my hint with a pinch of salt but the spec is very good for the price.

C

Spesh Enduro 29er, longest travel 29er + shortest chainstays is a brilliant combo

I spent a weekend demoing one recently and it was crazy how fast it went in a straight line, found myself pedaling to go faster in areas where i'd usually be holding on for my life.

Surprisingly corners and jumps well, only area where i felt it was slightly slow was in tight-right angle corners, where it felt a bit of struggle. To be fair though that was compared to my Ragley blue pig, and every 650b/29er has felt slow in tight corners compared to that.

I wanted a long travel 29er it would be the only one i'd consider. (and no i'm not a fanboy, I don't usually like spesh! 😀 )

Gotta be a Cube Stereo or Spesh Enduro. Love my Stereo.

If you a VIP member at Leisure Lakes they got a 2013 Stereo for less than £2k

I have the privilege of riding with MBnut and earlier in 2013 and after riding his Bandit 29er he pointed me in the direction of the Banshee Prime. I must say that's it's brilliant. I don't ride anywhere as hard as he does but it's very confidence inspiring and the adjustable drop-outs really do give you a variety of options. I'm more than happy at trail centres on it and it's great at Surrey Hills and my local trails. If you can find one I fully recommend a try.

Build below is just over 30lb for a medium frame.

[img] [/img]

As a process 153 owner I'd be very keen to try out a 111 , my reasoning being that on the descents I forget I'm on the 153 and think riding my dh bike

we have process 111's in stock and 153's lol and Im riding one 😀

Cube Stereo 140 hpc,amazing value, and a great bike to ride,up down & all around!

Where are you Sancho?

I'm lovin my Tallboy LTC with a few mods.
Slacking it out a bit with a works components headset and some angle reducing shock bushes has transformed it. It used to feel fine on Alpine rides now it feels even better than my Nomad.
That ION 29er looks interesting though.
Might have to get a test ride on one before we go away next year.

Another biased option. Commencal meta AM? £1020 for the frame with a fox rp23 direct from Commencal. Or £770 frame only

Or full bike [url= http://www.commencal-store.co.uk/PBSCProduct.asp?ItmID=12501116 ]Meta AM 29er 2012[/url] mixture of XO and X7, Formula RX and even a reverb.

Loving my stumpy evo, got some pikes to try on it next. I would have had the commencal but both bikes I had from Crc had misaligned frames 😥

Cube stero got to be one of the best for performance and value ,nirvana bike shop in westcott got a demo there's not much on the stock bike that needs upgrading
Tonyb

on one codeine when they decide to release it ?

bigoldhillsroundhere - Member

on one codeine when they decide to release it ?

personally I wouldn't buy the first run of a new frame from on-one

wait to the second/ third batch when the obvious design/ QA issues are sorted

The Codeine can't run a front mech and I can't afford 1x11 mate, otherwise I'd be all over the CCDB version.

Some really good ideas on here though, including a few I wasn't aware of.

Lots of wheel chat but what do people reckon on forks? Will a Revelation be up to the job of riding gnarly rocks?

I'd have thought not but having ridden one on my 29er HT it seems like the fork is less of a limiting factor than with 26in.

I find the couple of Revs I own a little flexy.
My 34 is much better on steep rocky stuff.
Having said that I'm waiting for a Pike to replace the 34.
Then i'll replace one of the Revs with the 34.

And so it goes...

All roads would seem to lead me to a Pike - but not until I've sold off my 26" kit. And I can't do that 'til I've seen if 29" is indeed the way for me.

I like the look of the new Mavic 821 UST rim for wheels, maybe built onto the new Hope Pro 2 Evo.

@Singlespeedstu let me know if you want a bash on the Ion. I'm sure we can arrange something. Small differences to the production bike but not matrial to getting a feel for it.

I might just take you up on that.
Cheers.

Might i add my suggestion of a Banshee Prime in raw!! Mate of mine had a go on it the other day and i rode i
his 5 Spot, he was really impressed with it too mainly its movability and how stable it felt in the air and over rocks etc…… he is better than me and far more experienced so i'll take his word for it ha!

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8126/8671975525_b1349ddd63.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8126/8671975525_b1349ddd63.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/61562308@N03/8671975525/ ]Barry the banshee[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/61562308@N03/ ]Belles and Whistles[/url], on Flickr

My revs do flex some, but they're not really the knarliest fork out there. After riding my mates Shinobi on fox float 36s I immediately noticed a difference. How much of that is down to the increased stiffness I don't know, but I'm working hard to pull forward my Pikes upgrade. Not a completely disastrous fork for a 140mm 29erAM bike, but not as good as the more expensive and burlier options. I guess that's obvious though.

I'm in Leeds let me know if you want a go

This year I am hoping to build a slightly more agressive full sus 29er. My plan is to go down the Salsa Horsetheif route, the forks I am looking at the X Fusion Trace (51mm offset, 34mm stantions) and as for wheels I expect they will be carbon in some form or another! I have done quite alot of reading on the chinese carbon 29er rims and they seem to be holding out very well for lots of people, so I may go that route, or the Derby rims if they are available to be posted to the UK.

@Bigmantrials you can get the Derby's from a Richard@gravity-sports.co.uk.

Light bicycle are also bringing out a wider version of their rim/wheel.

Got myself a cheap Zesty for the year ahead's riding and I'm going to bide my time and demo some 650b and 29in FSers in 2014.

This thread's been really helpful though, so cheers all.

[img] [/img]

Horsethief with traces

Anymore photos of that llama?

The Horsethief IS my next bike how much does it weigh llama ?

I've got a Banshee Prime and Kona Honzo and they're both amazing bikes. Coming off a 26" enduro, I thought I'd have to slow down a bit on the Prime, but I'm a lot faster on the same trails. Short back end and long front on both bikes means they can be thrown about and both are tough as hell.

Lester - Member ive just ordered a titus Rockstar in carbon from On-One to go with my fireline 29er

Great bike, I have the aluminium version... a very flattering ride

Resurrecting this thread because I'm taking the plunge.

Those of you who ride mid and long-travel 29ers - how do you find a 140mm fork compares to a 26in 160mm fork on rugged terrain?

Was gonna go 150mm (frame is 130mm rear travel), but now tempted to just get 140mm as the geometry might be a bit better and they're in stock now.

Thoughts welcome.

I think the [url= http://www.blueflowbikes.com/ ]Thumper[/url] frame adding to the thread (130 rear travel/140 up front), does have it's own [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/best-29er-am-full-suspension-frames-hammerhead-thumper-stumpjumper-kona-satori ]thread[/url] (close due suspected 'advertising' I believe) but it still should be mentioned.

Yes it looks a marvellous frame and a crazy bargain.

But let's talk about forks now.

😉

Opps apologies, thought you were just bumping an old thread (so I just added info), didn't realise you were the OP!

NP - the reference to the Thumper is quite appropriate actually.

chakaping - Member

Resurrecting this thread because I'm taking the plunge.

Those of you who ride mid and long-travel 29ers - how do you find a 140mm fork compares to a 26in 160mm fork on rugged terrain?

Was gonna go 150mm (frame is 130mm rear travel), but now tempted to just get 140mm as the geometry might be a bit better and they're in stock now.

Thoughts welcome.

Like everything, it's impossible really as geometry, position, shock etc play a massive factor too.

My previous was a 170mm Bionicon 26" and I don't feel any more 'under-biked' on my AM29 with 130mm that's for sure. It's a similar sort of sit back AM geometry on both, so both just batter their way through things.

I've recently upgraded my 140mm revs to 150mm Pikes with 51mm offset and its a very noticeable and significant improvement. Not only are the Pikes noticeably stiffer than the revs the handling of the bikes is also significantly better. The affect of the Pikes with 13mm more A-C length a degree or so slacker HA and a slightly longer wheelbase has definately worked. The front end feels like it bites in better giving more confidence in looser less grippy terrain, and the bike is more agile. Also when things get steep the bike feels better and instils more confidence. All subjective stuff - I can't back up with improved back to back times or explanations referring to geometry, but it is simply better than it was before. I went for the dual Position forks so on steep climbs I drop the front to 120mm and the bike is a much better climber than it was before also. So a win win basically - apart from the hit to the bank balance that is.

I'd be looking at a Pike either way.

Suppose I'm mainly thinking just about rock-gobbling performance.

In my experience there's a tipping point from 140mm to 150mm on 26in bikes, where the bike stops hanging up on rocks and stuff.

But of course the 29er wheels roll way better, so 140mm might be more than adequate. Hard for me to tell on my 140mm 29er HT, because the rigid rear end limits my speed.

come try my Meta out if you're down south and a large.

cheers for the offer, I would do but I'm oop north and medium

🙂

Aaaargh – I just wrote a huge reply about my experience changing from 160/170mm bikes to a long travel 29er and I’ve gone and lost it. I knew I should’ve typed it up in Outlook first before posting it 🙁

Basically, in conclusion, 140mm forks on my Helius AC 29er were more than capable, 150mm Pikes were betterer, and I’m now on 160mm Pikes. It’s still early days on the 160mm Pikes but I reckon the 150mm Pikes were the sweetspot (with 145mm of rear travel).

That's good info cheers.

Leaning toward sticking with the 150mm Pike I've ordered I think.