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So there's some good deals on the carbon version knocking about.
I currently have an old model Scout. I love it. However, I think I'd love it more with slightly more modern geometry and bigger wheels. It'd be in addition to a long travel 29er enduro bike.
Anyone have any experience with these bikes? Good and bad. Cheers!
just built up an alloy 2017 to replace my bandit29. not done many miles on it yet but like it so far.
only mediums, sorry!
Not got a Smuggler but do have the new Spur and it's insane! Smuggler geo is similar but the frame/build will make it heavier, but it'll still be pretty light with the right kind of build, would definitely go lighter than burlier, didn't see the point of builds with Lyriks/36's, just keep it light and lean and it'll be a seriously rapid bike and great fun to ride.
Theer are a lot more short travel 29er options about now than when the Smuggler was launched, so there may be better value - and / or more progressive geometry - to be had elsewhere.
e.g. the YT Izzo has quite similar angles, the Orange Stage Evo is slacker and has a longer rear, the new Stumpjumper is slacker and you can put your lunch in the frame...
Not got a Smuggler but do have the new Spur and it’s insane!
thats what I really wanted, but at £500 for the frame and a direct swap all the parts over from my bandit i went for the cheap option.
i loved my 2018 sbg smuggler. I would say it depends on your build but if you go burly it will be too close to a long travel enduro bike to justify, so i would just take the LT shred sled instead.
if you go for a light build then cool, you will get something different from both bikes.
I had a 2018 carbon Smuggler for a few months before it was stolen last month. With a mid weight build (carbon bars, EXO tyres, GX 11 speed) it came in at 30lbs without pedals, so not the lightest for the travel but not too bad considering how capable it was.
It was a fun bike to ride, but it wasn't a particularly responsive pedaller compared to some other short/mid travel bikes I've tried. The flip side to that is that descending the rear end feels more like an enduro bike, but I did find I would bottom out now and then. The stock Fox DPS shock comes with the largest volume spacer in, so no way of making it more progressive without changing out the shock.
I'm on my third, keep coming back to the smuggler after forays to others: Trek Fuel, Hardtails (get to 1000miles and I've had enough!), Nukeproof Reactor.
Had two V1's in larges and now on an XL V2, as wanted something that had a similar cockpit length to my geometron and that I could stick an angleset in to bring it down to 65degrees.
Its no lightweight with Lyriks, XT drivetrain. Really good fun to ride on the mellower trails and local xc.
I'd consider replacing it with the new Stumpy, not sure about the Spur or Izzo, from a frame longevity point of view and reviews of the stumpy have been quite positive
not sure about the Spur or Izzo, from a frame longevity point of view
So far my Spur's held up well, paint is a little thin and chips easily (shouldn't have been lazy and got an invisiframe kit) and it feels solid, plus maintenance wise there seems little to go wrong, just 6 bearings in the back end, threaded BB and "normal" headset.
I don't think it would take to a burly build kit as well as a Smuggler, but it really doesn't need it IMO, it's dialled as is and is way faster up, down and along anything than I've ever ridden, knocks the pants of my previous T130 and even my Foxy XR, which had a 160mm 36 up front! The Sid fork and Sidluxe shock are incredible for how tiny they are, really impressed given it weighs so little, mine's around 12kg with XT Trail pedals, bottle cage, fork fender and Exposure light mount.
some interesting points there, cheers all.
on the value side of things, the price of a smuggler frame currently makes them as good value as anything else. plus lots of other stuff is not currently available.
whilst i have no evidence for this, i'm also a little bit concerned that these lighter bikes (Spur, Izzo etc) may not take the hammering it is likely to receive quite as well as the Smuggler would. I'm Tweed Valley based, so even a tame ride is likely to take in some trails that a more burly bike would be best on.
agree that trying to keep it reasonably light is the way to go. if i go for this i'll probably look to get a pike ultimate and the usual xm481/350 wheels, with an XT drivetrain if i can find one with short cranks.
decisions decisions. thanks again.
My Smuggler is now my only mountain bike. It does everything I ask from it.
It's built up fairly light but nothing exotic (Pikes, Arch / DT wheels, Exo tyres). Pedals well and covers ground quickly. It's a really fun bike. Mines 2017(?) so not the slackest or longest, I've never felt it's held me back. If you can get one at a good price, I'd definitely recommend it. Is it discontinued now?
I would love a Spur or the new Epic Evo, as my riding has become a lot less gnarly over the last few years. TBH the Smuggler is my least ridden bike, so I can't really justify it...
I’m Tweed Valley based, so even a tame ride is likely to take in some trails that a more burly bike would be best on.
Having taken my V1 Smuggler to Innerleithen/Golfie, it felt out of its depth on the steeper/rougher trails (date night, waterworld, liver damge), I'd be picking the big bike! Round glentress and the tamer off piste it will be fine.
I've a 2017 Xl one, i think its great, i keep thinking about changing it but bang for buck is great and reasonably all roundish depending on build/ wheels etc. not too slack but slack enough. 140/150mm forks are fine for a big guy on an XL its a v. capable trail bike as all the reviews suggest.
It was a fun bike to ride, but it wasn’t a particularly responsive pedaller compared to some other short/mid travel bikes I’ve tried. The flip side to that is that descending the rear end feels more like an enduro bike
Exactly how I'd describe the 2017 one I had (with a slackset and 140mm fork). Especially when I fitted the CCDBair and offset bushings as well.
In light of the OP's clarification, it would be a great short-travel option for the Tweed Valley. Cotic Flaremax is the other obvious one (but heavier, but there's a used one on the classifieds).
They will totally take a hammering, took mine to finale twice, did a trans provence on it, various ews qualifying rounds etc. The smugglers from 2018 onwards as far as i am aware have had no history of manufacturing defects , snapped stays etc ... the only thing i would say is that you will feel it more in your body the day after , compared to longer travel bikes.
I had a 2017. Agree with what's been said up there. Great fun downhill, not the best to pedal up hill. I went a bit mad and fitted a coil shock which made the back end even more bottomless.
Rear tyre clearance was a bit poor. I did look at the 2018 Carbon version but ended up getting something else. Bought mine discounted so the price of the carbon one shocked me a bit!
Ah yeah, tyre clearance on the carbon frame is quite tight to the seatstay bridge. I never put anything larger than a 2.3 on mine (tried Specialized Slaughter 2.3, Specialized Eliminator 2.3 and MSC Singletrack 2.25) and with all of those could never fit more than a 4mm allen key in the gap between the tyre and the bridge. I definitely wouldn't want to go bigger than any of those.
This is top of my list of frames to transplant my hardtail parts on to. Had an eye out for 2018+ large alloy frames for a while and they don't seem to come up very often.
the tyre clearance is annoying. wish they'd sorted that.
Have a 2018 alloy smuggler, so first of their SBG.
I think it’s effective at pedalling and copes well with big days at Afan and the like. Much happier place to be than the Aeris I had before it in terms of the ups. For 120mm the rear feels bottomless. Rear clearance isn’t great but 2.3 is all I need and I could go a bit bigger.
Had mine nearly two years and only paid £1800 new. Replaced the Level T brakes and NX gear for Guide RE and XT and it’s even better.
Not a light bike though, albeit I don’t really notice the weight.