Got the need for a new steed !
Anyone thinking along these lines ? If so which would you choose ?
Cheers
But neither of those options is a horse?
Anyone got a sensible answer ? No offence bol.......
Hmmm...difficult one. Is it the Spesh Stumpy Carbon EVO, or the Epic EVO? I know from experience that the current (2011) Zesty would leave the Stumpy for dead on climbs, but I much prefer my carbon Stumpy on descents. (have just come back from early evening ride on Zesty 514, over a descent that I rode Stumpy on last Sunday, and Spesh felt even faster and more planted). Can't comment on Epic EVO, but would imagine it's a much perkier climber than the Stumpy EVO.
IMO, it depends on your priorities, if you live for the descents - Stumpy EVO, but if the 2012 geometry changes haven't screwed up its superb climbing ability, then I'd say the Zesty would be the better all-rounder.
Cheers fattatlasses and yes it is the Stumpy not the Epic (mistake in the title).
Unless that evo had a 10m carbon complete frame, (it doesnt) including the chainstay and seat stays then save your money and just get a Aluminium frame. I had a 11 S-works carbon frame and went to a 11 SJ evo and save your money.
None taken 😀
I don't know much first hand about either bike, but when I rode a standard 2010 stumpy it struck me as being the most bike I would ever need in this country. I'd be surprised if adding an inch or so of travel didn't compromise it a bit.
I've never tried a Lapierre so I cannot comment. Although they both have a chainstay pivot, I suspect that the Lapierre is quite a lot more pedal reactive than the FSR.
I do like the look of the Stumpy Evo, if it were a case of one bike to rule them all for me, this would probably be it.
I really like my Stumpy Evo 2011, so can only imagine the carbon 2012 will be ace! The 11 bike got good reviews all round, only held back by supposed mechanical faults.
Zesty probably does climb better, but I love the Evo on the ups and especially downs. Fun bike!
if it were a case of one bike to rule them all for me, this would probably be it.
This just about sums it up really!
I have no experience of the Carbon Spesh Stumpy, but had a 2008 Aluminium version that rode really well ... However, it doesn't compare to my Zesty 914, which climbs like it's got a point to prove, eats miles on the all day rides and descends better that I am capable of ... the only downside is that always half expecting the plastic frame to snap every time I'm out on it.
If I was starting again I'd get the 514 Ally model.
All excellent advice. Any more of it out there ? Hopefully before I part with my hard earned cash.....
hey there, me again 🙂 Being a serial bike whore (with wife constantly reminding me that I need to sell at least one bike!), I currently have an '11 Zesty 514 and an '11 Stumpy Carbon Comp - the latter is not the EVO model, and doesn't have the 'Brain' shock. IMO, the non-EVO Stumpy descends and rails berms with a bit more confidence than the Zesty 514. Having said that, my wife recently bought a Zesty 214 in the sales, and TBH, it feels better than the 514, both descending and ascending!! I've done some anoraky back to back runs on both and think it's down to shock volume & tune (boggo Float on 214, larger volume RP2 on 514)
The way my wife on the 214 can pull away from my Stumpy on climbs is pretty b****y annoying :-). I know there's lots of variables - but - I'm normally quite a lot faster than her. I stuck her fave Minions front and back on the 214, and she runs 'em tubeless at 18psi. The sag was set at soggy 'all mountain' AND the 214 is about 3 to 4lbs heavier than the Stumpy. My Stumpy was in XC sag with a crossmark back tyre and Nev stick-e front, and there was no way I could catch her without Propedal or full lockout on. (overtook her her on all the descents tho....ha! 😀 )
Dunno what the full carbon Zesty is like, but the 514 has a slightly funny 'plastic-ey' sound from the carbon rear when it rattles over hard/loose rocks - there's definately nothing wrong with it, but it does sound very different to the 214. The Carbon Stumpy doesn't have any of that sound, but then the rear triangle is aluminium.
Forgot to mention in previous post - I was chatting someone who'd had an EVO Stumpy and had had a bit of a love/hate relationship with it, because of its climbing performance FWIR. The consensus in the bike shop seemed to be that, ridden with a modicum of skill, the non-EVO Stumpy is more than enough for British trails - and the EVO version would be better for places like the trail centres that offer the option of uplifts (I've not ridden the EVO though, so can't comment from personal experience on that).
Cheers.
p.s. TBH, if I was getting a Zesty again, I'd go t'other way and get a 214 or 314 cheap, then stick some decent light wheels and fork on it - no wincing when rocks slam into the downtube then 😀
The new Zesty is much more sensitive to small bumps and I felt slightly better on the climbs too. I would definitely go for a Lapierre Zesty with the new OST+ suspension. Obviously I am a Lapierre dealer but they have deeply impressed me, especially value for money wise.
The only bike that surpasses it, when you're spending up to £4K rather than <£3K is the Pivot Mach 5.7.
Forgot to say the press fit BB IS truly tragic. Trying to find an adaptor at the moment for a customer's to make it into a proper BB. Truly hate them.