I'm a fan of the single pivot suspension, & want a new (29er) FS bike, am I doomed to go down the Orange path? 😯
Joking aside, I've tried numerous 4 bar suspension bike & aren't keen on them, but never really tried any faux or vpp/dw linkage bikes. Reviews tell me that SP action is described as 'active', all I know is I like the directness/poppiness and found the 4-bars too sofa like.. I do understand the SP's aren't the most efficent & have weakness/issues, but like the feel. So am I onto a hiding to nothing, or will I find another suspension system I like?
Demo's would be the answer I know, but you try getting one for the less main stream choices
In all honesty, practically nobody can predict what a bike will ride like from the spec and the numbers- you need to either really know your stuff to a bike-engineery degree, or work at MBR 😉 I mean, I've had 3 different FSR bikes and they all rode really differently, 3 single pivots and they were completely unalike.
Testrides, or reviews you trust, or just buy one at random and declare it to be brilliant without riding the competition, like everyone else does.
I have been through FSR, Single Pivot an VPP and whichever version Rocky fall into these days.
In short going from SP to something like VPP will be strange, it took time to warm to it and learn how to ride it again, none of that pop and launch of a SP in many ways but a more rewarding ride once you adjusted to it's strengths. The one thing of the VPP that makes me really happy with it is the stuck like glue back end. When you need it, it tracks really well and was the thing I could never get a SP to do effectively. It's worth an extended demo if you are still curious, I did a weekend on my Blur LTc to start getting the best out of it when I got it.
The one extended demo I have managed was the whyte t-129, really wanted to like it, & it was practically perfect other than the feel of the rear suspension. I came away feeling if I bought one, it would do everything I want/need but I'd forever be cursing the suspension, I'm not sure I could ever learn to love it. A quick demo on the Enduro 29er left me feeling the same (not a serious choice, just had the opportunity to try). Riding purely a HT for the last 2 years hasn't helped I imagine.
NW, nail on head, who do I trust? Stw mag reviews are pretty good but they haven't reviewed the latest & great yet.. Owner reviews are interesting but hardly the most objective.
Really wondering what ex-SP owners moved onto & we're happy with, as SP have been fazed out by many