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Robot Bikes? Titanium Carbon can be customised
If your semi 29curious and 27.5 happy I'm sure with 5k in the pot the works s150 from Whyte must be worth a shout, Carbon, well spec'd. Carbon wheels. . Maybe just me. ..
Are you looking for recommendations for what to buy or just interested in peoples 5k fantasy bike?
If it's the former the question is what kind of riding do you do? There's a big difference between something like a Norco Sight and that Hope or a Transition Sentinel.
But “Enduro” is per definition an race machine…. – here you are 100% wrong! Race machines which never win a race are … crap.
If Sam Hill continues his domination then you could feasibly have only 1 2018 bike that isn't crap by that standard. The Rocky Mountain team usually raced on Altitudes last year, rather than the Slayer. The Slayer is not a crap bike by any definition.
Robot? I'd steer clear for the simple reason that if it doesn't work for you, how easy is it gonna be to sell?. Not the prime reason for buying a bike, but one that needs thought.
To be honest the Hope does look awesome but it looks like you'd need to size up. It just seems small on the geo chart.
I'd still be tempted by it after a good test ride (not round carpark)
I was surprised how small the xl HB 160 felt compared to my large G160 Whyte
I'd strongly consider a 29er, I've recently made the switch and am loving how confidence inspiring it is on rough and steep terrain as I feel more 'in' the bike with the increased BB drop. There don't seem to be any downsides with modern 29ers as they seem very nimble and not a handful at slow speed. Something like an Intense Carbine, Santa Cruz Hightower LT or Yeti SB5.5 if you want to spend all your budget or if you want to spend a bit less the base model Orbea Rallon looks great value.
The sizing on the Hope wouldn't work for me as I'd want to up-size for the reach, but the seat tube is too long to run a 150mm dropper. Also you've got the strange proprietary narrow rear hub spacing and some serious low rent rims for a bike of that price and it should have a Fox transfer post rather than a reverb for that price to. I'm sure they'll have a 29er in the works to and will probably revise the geometry on the 27.5 as they can knock up a new mould in house quite easily from what I've seen of the build process.
I'm not sure what that guy going on about Enduro bikes just being for the EWS races is smoking, but he obviously doesn't realise that there are plenty of enduro races going on most weekends in the UK and probably across Europe for that matter.
I heard the hb160 will come with the transfer post.
Tried a large in a carpark and it felt ok. Medium looks to small on paper compared to my spitfire but longer than a medium Enduro.
Hi
Recently visited the Hope factory with a mate who was interested in buying the bike. (Definitely recommend this if you get the chance by the way).
He’s ordered one and apparently it’s coming with a Fox Transfer.
i was asked if I was getting one and I said “No I’m waiting for the 29er” I got what I would call a knowing grin!
Cheers
Steve
The demo I'm having is the Bike Treks one in Ambleside on Tuesday evening. Hopefully there'll be a some careless talk. Grip2 36's and the updated X2 in June as well.
And factory tours - do you just ring and ask?
Hi
With regard to factory tours my mate was torn between large and XL so the guy at the factory suggested he come and get both demos (apparently they have all sizes) and take them to Gisburn for a trial.
I tagged along and took my own bike but we didn’t ride the bikes as the weather was utterly shite but we were still given a tour of the factory and then a car park sizing test.
He’s ordered a Large. I would have gone for an XL if I’d been ordering one-6ft and evenly proportioned with 32 inside leg. My mates a bit shorter than me.
All my other bikes are Large
Cheers
Steve
I’m not sure what that guy going on about Enduro bikes just being for the EWS races is smoking, but he obviously doesn’t realise that there are plenty of enduro races going on most weekends in the UK and probably across Europe for that matter.
Good point. Agree.
But to get some statistical data about the bikes you need a certain number of races and the "team ranking" data.
EWS: 8 race-weekends each year? Couple runs each race weekend. Couple bikers each team... - this makes EWS so important for Enduro racing!
ibis: current team ranking#1, overall last year team ranking #1. This is a clear indication of the quality of the ibis Enduro bikes! The RIPMO or MOJO bike is FAST.
Hope: company with fantastic engineers. They will use EWS to get better. I'am sure they will soon have an "winning bike". Maybe 29 er? Hope and EWS: very possible that they had only bad luck until now. But more likely: that they know already now what they have to "change" with the next bike-development stage.
Mountain biking and "speed"/"fast": not the most important issue.
But if a company designs an Enduro bike - they designed an race machine...-or?
(I'am a trail biker. Love my 130/130 Bossnut V2. No racing. No Enduro. Just fun.)
I’ve currently got a Liteville 301 and I’d go the same again
EWS: 8 race-weekends each year? Couple runs each race weekend. Couple bikers each team… – this makes EWS so important for Enduro racing!
This is exactly what makes the data completely irrelevant for judging bikes.
There are some lovely bikes available at that price.
in no particular order I would be looking at..
Starling Murmur
BTR Pinner
Stanton Switch29r
29r G16 Geometron
Santa Cruz HTLT
Sick! Bikes Deathwish
Sorry chaps, missed the rest of this thread.
On paper at 5'10 I should be on a large HB160, but I have problems with long reach bikes causing back problems. I spent ages trying to make by Large V2 Bronson fit me and gave up in the end. I looked at the reach chart when ordering the Hope and went for a medium in the end.
Was a bit nervous if I'd made the right decision, but when I got it, it was perfect. Only the second bike I have ever owned that felt just right as soon as I got on it. The medium is also very good on the tight steep nadgery stuff that I like to ride.
Lots of other great bikes around at this price point, but I'm over the moon with the Hope. Its likes its made for all day Lakes epics. Despite being fat, slow and old, I've smashed most of my previous strava bests on most ridden downhills.
Good luck with the Demo. I was drooling over the HB they had in Biketreks the week before mine arrived.
Steve, who's getting the Hope then ?
Dave it’s Thomas (Trev’s son) who’s getting one.
He snapped his Intense Tracer swing arm ( 8 years old) and wasn’t sure what to get til he saw this.
See you soon for a ride hopefully?
Cheers
Steve
Had the demo of the HB.160 last night. 16-mile loop in the Lakes starting from Ambleside.
What a machine! Tried the large - seat tube a bit high with the Reverb at full extension, but new ones come with the 150mm Transfer and the top cap is about 1cm shorter which will make all the difference, otherwise it's a One Up dropper going in.
Climbs really well - better than my Spitfire did (RIP) and only 1 pedal strike on the techy, rocky climbs. Got me out of a few tricky situations on the rocky descents as well.
Deposit going down today, then a 10 week wait 🙁
Deposit deposited, now a 10 week wait.