I'm thinking about one of these 2nd hand. I like the look, but not sure if it's right for me. I've been looking at shorter travel 29ers, poss 27.5ers Lively fun, agile trail bike type things like I hear the Trek Remedy is. And the Norco Optic, Evil Following (maybe - recent addition that one)
Reviews thin on the ground. Not much on here exhibit A below. I thought these were more at the full speed tanking, smashy smash end of things. Is that about right, or are they nimble enough for lower speed tech twisties and mucking about on?
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/stanton-swich9er-fullsus-whos-got-one/
I had one on loan for a few weeks at the end of last year. It was very well specced with fox factory fork/dropper, all Hope bits and high end carbon rims.
Bearing in mind this was my first experience on a long travel LLS beast, I found it a mixed bag. It was definitely best suited to pointing down; the slightest sniff of tech terrain and/or a downward slope and it just seemed to wake up, eat it up then beg for more.
It was much heavier that I'm used to, but really nicely balanced and encouraged confident tight cornering, so tech twisties not a problem.
General messing about? Give me my lighter hardtail any day. Also it was a bit of a slog for longer road bits, but I suppose that's to be expected.
So the trial convinced me that my riding (Peaks/commuting/trails/jumping/messing about) isn't gravity enough to need an enduro rhino.
Hope this helps
I bought a SwitchbackFS 160mm. That was after spending a couple of days test riding the SwitchbackFS 140mm, 160mm and Switch9erFS 140mm.
The Switch9erFS is without doubt the faster of the 3. The ride with Fox 36's felt buttery smooth, at no point did it feel cumbersome or lethargic in tighter twistier stuff. If I wanted an out and out Enduro race bike this would be my choice.
Both SwitchbackFS' felt more 'communicative' in comparison, I felt I could feel more of what was beneath my wheels, they couldn't match the outright speed of the 9er but if poppy and playful is your thing the smaller wheeled bikes definitely felt more fun.
I took the 160mm over the 140mm as the ride felt that bit more plush and a little less fidgety over bigger rocks etc.
The thing which finally swung it, should I want to I can buy different linkage and convert mine to 140mm, or if I really wanted to I convert it to a 29er with new linkage and rear end.
One final point, after a solid year of riding I needed to replace one of the shock bushings, whilst at it I checked all linkage bearings for play etc. Each bearing was still sound with no play.
I have a switch9er fs frame on order - been waiting a while as they have had a few issues which they should now be sorted with.
Test rode one last year and my dear god it was awesome, it just felt right and fitted me well.
Im not a weight weenie and with that yes it is heavy, however im a steel fanboy and this was my first choice after test riding the cotic rocketmax, switch9er and canyon torque.
Reason theres not many real life reviews is the fact that there have been less than a hundred made so far i think.
Cheers all! I'd seen the enduro mag thing, ta though. Didn't know if I should read it as a review of an enduro bike (i.e.: playful - for a full-on enduro bike, etc)
"Enduro Rhino" has confirmed my suspicions a little. I've got no doubt about the build quality, that's one of the attractions, I went along to the Peaslake demo last summer and listened to Dan talk about a lot of it - bearing & bushing design choices etc. I didn't try one because I was riding the hardtails. Wasn't really thinking about FS at that point. I do remember one guy saying it was an amazing ride, but just too much for almost everything he rode. Probably the same for me.
I've always ridden hardtails, but I've had some voices in my ear about FS. Current thinking is get something lively and playful, trail rather than enduro, but if I've already got a hardtail for that, why not expand the envelop and get something more towards the other end?
Who knows, I just need to ride a bunch and see, I guess. That was the plan until a mate said he was selling his Sw9erFS...
I will add that i also have a hardtail (Cotic BFE), so this is to add to my arsenal for gnarlier stuff i ride and a few enduro events which i was signed up for however corona may have put a delay on that.
If i was only going for one bike i would have chosen a more trail orientated rig.
Ed.. I thought you might be eyeing that frame up!!
I think it'll suit you, as like you say you've the HT for lighter stuff...
Come the summer, I'll prob be on my FS mostly..
DrP
Damn you! Just when I was talking myself out of it!
It's exactly the right size...
I've had my SwitchFS 140 for just over a year now, number 007 and all I can say is it's just an amazing machine!
I think I know the frame you're looking at and they're just superb!
I can honestly say it's the best bike I have ever had, the guys at Stanton are just amazing to deal with and it was made by hand in the UK, to some that might not count for anything but I'm a big believer in supporting small British companies.
My mate who has a 2019 SC Bronson CC rode mine and said it didn't feel alien at all, felt like it was his bike. Not sure if that's a compliment or not though 🙂