I've currently got a Santa Cruz Blur Classic and looking to change it over to a longer travel full susser.
Looking at the price of a Blur LT frame I'll give that a miss but would have been ideal with swapping parts over, but otherwise considering a Cove Hustler or Tomac Snyper 140, but not sure what else is in that range.
Any ideas please?
What are your priorities? Weight, downhill ability, climbing etc. There are an awful lot of bikes in the group so some more info would be useful.
I can recommend the cove hustler without reservation.
Agreeing with steveh there.
My priority would be going back down the hill fast so the last herb am is now on my list after the latest dirt mag review.
Cove Hustler's are really underated bikes. It's got really sorted geometry for a 140mm bike (longer wheelbase, slacker headangle, low ish bb, and steeper seatangle) than most of it's competitors and really similar to lots of "hot" new bikes geo's like the revised 5, and Spitfire (admittedly not as low, or quiet as slack as the latter but probably more useable for it).
Cove's have sorted suspension as well, yes it's a rocker activated single pivot but they work great and you can totally thrash them, they've also scored top marks in pretty much all of the bike mag reviews (if that's important to you) 10/10 in MBR, did well in the Dirt review, MBUK etc. The're hand made by YESS in Canada and CRC are also doing them for cheap at the moment, what's not to like?
Keeping the weight to a reasonable level ideally, I'm not into downhilling but just looking to build a bike up with more travel to suit all conditions. My other option is sell the Santa Cruz and buy a complete bike which gives me more scope.
I've just had a week in the Alps but found that more suspension would have been a great help even on the rooty and rocky XC routes I did.
How about a Chumba VF2? 5" travel, carbon rear end, 4 bar and pretty stiff! I am about to laucnh a new offer via a banner ad on STW for a VF2 frame and Fox float QR15 fork for £1599. I could also do a deal on a frame only. mail me at info@progressive-bikes.co.uk
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3647/3575858525_381f2f91d4.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/93388219@N00/3575858525/ ]White Chumba VF2[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/93388219@N00/ ]srbwilson[/url], on Flickr
The Mythic Spitfire is one of the best deals out there right now (around £1120 and a stunning 140/150mm bike. If your priority is going downhill fast then the long low geometry it offers will suit you and your 140mm forks will give you a 66.7 head angle and a 12.9" bottom bracket height however if you need a more technical rock/ride all day setup you just change the shock mount around and you get a 67.8 head angle and a 13.4" BB....nice!
Ibis Mojo? got a large on the classifieds mate....
Otherwise a five? Best bike i have ridden that's why the mojo for sale!
hmmm, not that I'd be tempted away from my hustler but the mythic looks very interesting and quite pretty in the anodised finish.
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Lapierre Zesty. I've got one and it's a marvellous 140mm bike.
Pretty quick uphill and a very confident descender as well. Great fun wherever I ride it.
I'd only get rid of mine if I were replacing it with the carbon version.
Santa Cruz Butcher - 150mm both ends, and cheaper than the BLT2
5 Spot. Ka-pow!
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I had a brief spin on a Zesty, hadn't read the reviews beforehand so wasn't biased, but I swear it had a 50t chainring and I had Caverndish's legs because theres no way a bike should carry that much speed!
Let down by spec though, everythings middleweight, the frame handles like a DH bike only 20lb lighter (very low and slack feeling), but QR forks, and not the stiffest ones at that!
Maybe it'll get sektors/revs next year.
Stay with SC and get a Heckler; you get 150mm back instead of the 140mm, but with a 140 fork front it makes a really nice all rounder.
I've stuck a 140mm fork on my Blur Classic and find it rides fine. Spend the dosh on something else IMO.
I've been looking at various prices of this and that all day, and am still undecided, but will sell the Santa Cruz and ideally buy a complete bike while a few bargains are still around.
I also have a kona hartail so have no space for a third bike (or budget come to that).
Thanks for the help.
Yeti 575, Ibis Mojo SL, Intense Tracer, Turner 5 Spot blah blah blah. They are all good bikes. You need sort out what you want it for and then ride as many as you can. I'm surprised you've not had more replies saying "this is the best - because I own it"
I really fancy a Hustler right now, I've already got a Handjob and just fancy the FS version.
Especially after riding the Handjob for the first time in months yesterday.
Shame I'ma bit short on funds until i sell some stuff, hope CRC have the sale on while 8)
May I add if you've got daft money to spend on a frame I'd be very tempted to demo a Nicolai Helius AC. My CC is awesome but quite steep, very quick and a great climber just a bit too 'fast' for the downs if you know what I mean.
Could do you a nice deal on any santacruz or lappierre
Orange 5 frame
Just noticed you said frame, not whole bike.
Get yourself one of the discounted Zesty 214s, flog the bits and you'll end up with a wicked frame for well under a grand.