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Good point - but there's no bumps higher than 5" at Inners
Good point but i was thinking about the downhill course.
Its a no brainer !
Yeti 575 even with 160 mm forks climbs very well
I just got an Alpine with Talas's on it. I know it won't climb as fast as my old Stumpy FSR, but at least I can now hammer it back down and do some drops and jumps without it squirming everywhere, and it's a damn sight lighter than my old Patriot. I'll just have to get a bit fitter.
Backhander the 5 AM is a bloody good bike
What do I say Buy a scooter 🙄
LOL try a Mondraker Dune
Marin Wolf ridge - last years models are an absolute bargain at the mo. alot of bike for the money...
and very fun to ride.
Backhander the 5 AM is a bloody good bike
So good you were trying to sell yours a bit ago? 😉
I can recommend the Pitch/Enduro too - no problems getting up big hills in the Lakes on my Pitch.
+1 Yeti 575
Tracer VP - as said in earlier posts its a superb all round bike. Mine is built on the lighter side with Float 32 140, XT/XTR and Stans 355's. Comes in around 26.5lbs.
Obviously will depend on budget though........
i would like a Knolly, not ridden one or seen one other than mags/website but just fancy one!!
Iron Horse - 6.6 or even a 6.4 with the DW link.
One of the bargains of the year at Evans - £999.00 - Change the wheelset though - must weigh 20lb by themselves, probably to accomodate the average American rider....
Hemlock?
(the pitch is an awesome bike, but built for tall people with short legs)
Titus El Guapo.
Better than the Intense 6.6 and the Nomad I had before. Also much better than the Spicy, Remedy and Orange's that I've test ridden.
LOL Grumm yer so good I decided to keep it
and had it resprayed !
So yep Orange 5 AM 😉
I can pedal up most things on my SX trail, however its not fun! Had a demo on a Lapierre Spicy 916 and it was completely different.
Alpine 160 here. No problems pedaling but would happily go a bit heavier for the downhill buzz. I'm flat out with a double and bash and not at the bike's limit. If you want it for the downs more than the ups you won't be disappointed.
the pitch is an awesome bike, but built for tall people with short legs
I'm short with short legs and it fits me just fine. It is pretty long but I can't say it's ever been a problem.
Whilst the 5 is great, the only thing "AM" about it is the bloody fork and a double and bash chainset! otherwise it's just a great trail bike.
I love mine but would happily swap for a Spicy or a Tracer both of which are better bike IMO.
I cant see the need for anything beyond a 5 or zesty for UK riding unless you're the ugly side of 14 stone. Its hard enough to push an out and out xc bike to it's limits short of Fort Bill or Inners. A fuel ex 7 served me fine in Morzine/Les Gets this Summer but then I don't like the tank-like point and go of a DH bike.
+1 Intense Tracer - Best bike I've ever ridden uphill or down
456 Ti with Fox 36 talas's on big volume tyres - no one said it couldn't be a HT!
+1
Just get the Spicy, you know you want one....
mafiafish, what if you were the wrong side of 14st?
Ahem, out of curiosity you understand.
A fuel ex 7 served me fine in Morzine/Les Gets this Summer but then I don't like the tank-like point and go of a DH bike.
Dude you must have been battered to shit. And big bikes are only tank like when they're going slowly!
Its hard enough to push an out and out xc bike to it's limits short of Fort Bill or Inners
Really! I think you're speaking for yourself there.
Nomad
im hankering after the spicy too.....just wish you could buy a frame only
Remedy
One of these: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36888467@N08/4043654108/sizes/l/
About 32lbs and pedals very nicely indeed.
My Chumba XCL is a pretty handy 6" bike I can pedal it up hill and have a big grin on the way down, is nimble through the twisty bits and composed and confident on the rough ideal really.
I ride my Turner 6-Pack all day, up and down anything that's there. They don't do the Ht version anymore but I think the DW link one isn't too far away. Be interesting to see what people make of that.
Ibis Mojo?
i've had a nomad for 2yrs and there's nothing around that I would change it for at the moment.
None of the bikes listed above are bad bikes. I think once we all get the 'new bike syndrome', especially with your own set up, that then automatically is the best bike ever. Until I buy something else that is....
If money's an issue, a discounted Reign (and then maybe upgrade bits) could be a good option.
I've got one and it does just what you describe pretty well.
Blur LT2 - 5.5" travel - light and efficient enough for XC, but strong enough for doing 3 to 4 foot drops all day (not me I might add). Can't explain, but it just feels right. You can put 160 forks on it if you want more bounce for downhill stuff
Nomad with Fox 36 TALAS without a doubt. Still going strong after 2 years with no problems whatsoever.
Its hard enough to push an out and out xc bike to it's limits short of Fort Bill or Inners
I'm not saying it would be fun or as fast and obviously an 80mm hardtail is going to take a biker of bitchin' skill to ride it down there but the bike would be fine. I'm just confused as to why such extreme bikes are necessary and furthermore considered all mountain when they are really not an all rounder. In my humble opinion the orange 5 and its peers are all mountain as can be seen from their capabilities. There might be a dozen world cup DH courses where they wouldn't cope but for everything else they would be fine.
Dude you must have been battered to shit. And big bikes are only tank like when they're going slowly!
It was fine apart from the super thin grips and only thing it couldn't handle was the big drops(as far as my skills go) on the Champerey DH.
It was nice to have a lighter, balanced bike for the jumps but I'll definately be taking something burlier this Summer... so excited already!
I like the look of this Helius AC. Personally I'd change the Pikes for a 150mm alternative but otherwise it's pretty sweet.
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Sorry meant Mont cherry not ChamperyIt was fine apart from the super thin grips and only thing it couldn't handle was the big drops(as far as my skills go) on the Champerey DH
Selling a Spicy 216 and 316 2010 off at www.flyingfoxbikes.com. I think they're on ebay now.
Cove Hustler with 140mm forks.
Cove G-Spot with 160mm forks.
mafiafish - MemberIts hard enough to push an out and out xc bike to it's limits short of Fort Bill or Inners
I'm not saying it would be fun or as fast and obviously an 80mm hardtail is going to take a biker of bitchin' skill to ride it down there [b][i]but the bike would be fine[/i][/b]. I'm just confused as to why [b][i]such extreme bikes are necessary and furthermore considered all mountain when they are really not an all rounder[/b][/i]. In my humble opinion the orange 5 and its peers are all mountain as can be seen from their capabilities. There might be a dozen world cup DH courses where they wouldn't cope but for everything else they would be fine.
Taking rider skill out of the equation, and assuming by "extreme" you mean 160mm travel bikes I'll tell you why they are considered all mountain or all rounders - compromise. They will climb a hill as well as can be expected and then get down the fun stuff as fast as you can short of a DH bike. You might not be willing compromise climbing ability for descending ability or durability but others happily will.
And whilst an 80mm travel bike can be rattled down most things you absolutely will not be faster than someone on a Reign X or similar nor will an 80mm travel bike with xc components last very long if used on Fort Bill for example, day in day out. You might feel faster but I promise you you aint. You'll be quicker up, sure, but some people want to push the limits of their own skills and bravery on the any terrain they come across, not just the limits of their xc bikes build quality and they are willing to lug around some extra heft to do so.
There might be a dozen world cup DH courses where they wouldn't cope but for everything else they would be fine.
I can see what your trying to say, but an example...now i used to race downhill at expert level (until it got too expensive). After i sold my dh bike i was left with an orange 5. Great bike, but even on my local inners dh trails was left wanting. You cant really attack fast or rough sections on a 5, just ride them. That may be fine for most, but not when your used to racing! So i sold up and got a spicy...the spicy only has a little extra travel but feels so much more like a dh bike than the 5. You can ride it more like a dh bike, yet it still climbs as good (if not better) than my old 5. Moral of the story...if i still had my dh bike i wouldnt need a spicy, but i dont so i do!
This should do the job nicely.
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nor will an 80mm travel bike with xc components last very long if used on Fort Bill for example, day in day out. You might feel faster but I promise you you aint
I think you misunderstand (if that's the word) me, obviously I'm not saying that a 80mm bike would ever be quicker on a dh course I just meant that it could 'do it'and that a 140mm bike could do it well as well as other things well(all round, no real compromises). I'm more getting at the concept of I want to do this attitude that a bike is incapable of something because it's not got enough travel/the right geometry etc. I also fuly agree that an xc whippet bike would, most likely fall to bits as would your joints after a few runs!
Gonna add a Rocky Mountain Slayer SXC.