I'm thinking of taking advantage of my works cycle to work scheme and treating myself to a new bike. I think I'm looking for a mid travel (140mm ish) do it all 650b FS - something that can climb and pedal well but also give me confidence descending and jumping. I don't ride anything too gnar these days but still like to have fun on the bike. Most of my riding will probably be at Northampton Bike Park and Woburn with the odd days out to Cannock, BPW etc. Currently riding a Dartmoor Hornet hardtail but I really miss FS, if feels way more balanced to me and a lot more confidence inspiring.
With that in mind what does everyone suggest for something around a grand, maybe £1500 max? I used to have a YT Wicked 650b (with my 26" stuff on it) which I really liked and wish I didn't sell it! I'm thinking I should prioritise suspension as I have fairly decent parts (SLX drivetrain, Elixirs, Specialized dropper) from my current bike that I could move over if needed.
The other option is to slowly upgrade my current bike but as it's all old standard parts I'm not sure how viable that is. 135x12mm rear/20mm front Pro 2's and 26" forks being the main points of concern, I don't know if there adaptors for the hubs and the fork won't fit 650b wheels AFAIK. Or I could just get a 26" FS frame, but as good tyres are getting a bit scarce now I'm not sure if that's a good idea.
Sounds like a bird aether7
Or a Transition Scout, Vitus Escarpe.
I’m not sure how you’ll do it for under £1500 new, unless you find something heavily discounted. The way the used market is I suspect it would be easy secondhand.
The way the used market is I suspect it would be easy secondhand.
I thought used bike prices were high.
I’m not sure how you’ll do it for under £1500 new, unless you find something heavily discounted. The way the used market is I suspect it would be easy secondhand.
I was looking at the more budget brands like Vitus, Polygon and Calibre (though they haven't been in stock for ages now) - but yes true most of them seem to come with Suntour forks which look a bit bargain bucket. Worried about a cheap fork feeling like a downgrade from my nice old Lyrik.
As a halfway house, what would a 29er with some bouncy high volume tyres feel like compared to my 26"? I'm only 5'8" so not sure if they'd feel like a gate and be rubbish at being "flickable" - but the better rolling performance of 29" with some big tyres might be nice on a hardtail, and the HT opens up more budget for a better fork?
Closest you might get new, but depends on C2W scheme your employer uses, could be a Vitus Mythique, Polygon Siskiu, or a Boardman FS. My work only uses the Halfords scheme and an awful lot of retailers will have naff all to do with them.
Edit - you beat me too it on brands, but I have a Vitus Sommet and the quality is excellent. (Not a stealth ad as doesn't fit your travel/type requirements, but I've put it up for sale because I just don't use it.)
“I thought used bike prices were high.”
They seem to have dropped a lot recently (or they’re hopeful old prices they aren’t selling).
“As a halfway house, what would a 29er with some bouncy high volume tyres feel like compared to my 26″?”
It’s not really a halfway house, 29” hardtails are more capable and smoother over the rough than 26” versions but it’s not like how a full-sus feels. Saying that, I love how my 160mm 29” hardtail feels but it’s not for everyone!
Have heard great stuff about the Vitus bikes if you can get one in budget.
Plugging what I have, Sigma Sport have Occam LT's SLX build on sale still at £2500, that's £1000 off. I can vouch for the fact its more trail than Enduro and its very good overall.
It’s not really a halfway house, 29” hardtails are more capable and smoother over the rough than 26” versions but it’s not like how a full-sus feels.
Thought that would be the case, wishful thinking on my part! What I prefer with a FS is how it feels like both ends of the bike are balanced and doing the same thing rather than the front moving up and down whilst the rear stays solid. Guess an extra 3" in the wheels isn't going to change that!
The more I research the more I think I'm coming to the same conclusion as I did last time I looked at new bikes - stick with what I have but get the fork lowered to 150mm and set up properly for HT riding, maybe try SPDs again for a more secure feel over rougher trails. Cheaper suspension doesn't seem to have come along much in the past few years if the reviews are anything to go by so I'll probably just be disappointed coming from my Lyrik RC2DH.
The used market seems ok but unfortunately I don't have the spare cash lying around to drop on a bike, hence why monthly payments on the C2W scheme looks appealing.
In stock and under budget if you need an XL
Tredz do the Boardman MTR range too. Think they're around your budget
Sounds like a bird aether7
Not for £1500. Frame & shock is about that.
Also there’s not that much choice in 27.5 these days as I’ve recently found out.
I have an Aether 7 and it sounds like the right bike for you. Maybe join the FB Bird group and see if anyone is sellin one.
Airdrop a good option in 27.5
Bird have a few Aeris 120 frames left @ 650. Their site mentions 12 months interest free credit. They're great guys, give them a call, see if they can help.
You might find a Trek Remedy around with some retailers, whether you’ll find one that cheap who will also be willing to do it on a cyclescheme is another thing.
Bird have a few Aeris 120 frames left @ 650. Their site mentions 12 months interest free credit. They’re great guys, give them a call, see if they can help.
OP might get a frame, fork and wheels for something close to his budget.
Or frame & fork and see if Superstar have any of those £120 wheelsets left.
And in the STW spirit of going way over budget, this looks very hard to beat for the money (same or less than a lot of frame only options)...
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-escarpe-27-cr-mountain-bike/rp-prod206173
How tall are you?
I was reluctant to switch to a 29er after some early test rides put me off. Guess what? Modern ones are sorted.
Now I can't see why I'd ever ride smaller wheels again. Unless I physically couldn't fit on one, or I was a committed jibber.
Also, fully read and understand the terms and conditions of your cycle scheme. I didn't. I just got stung for a final fee of £110 and the bike is still 'theirs' for another 2 years. To make it 'mine' now was £440. I haven't really saved anything.
On the cycle to work scheme you do save quite a lot of money.
I’m looking at a new frame for my commuter / turbo / bit of fitness training bike that’s got more relaxed geometry. £900 frame costs £660 I think it was. That’s paying monthly payments over 12 months with a final payment at the end of that to own the bike at the end of 4 years. If I wanted to take full ownership at the end of 12 months it’s a lot more expensive as you’re paying a % of the value of the bike at 12 months old rather than 4 years old.
Just be aware most bike shops won’t honour a sale price against a cycle to work voucher as I think they pay a fee to the scheme based on the rrp.
On the 27.5”vs29er thing I’m 5’9 with longer legs / shorter arms and torso. My 29er is brilliant - although very occasionally I’ll buzz the back wheel with my arse - but we’re talking maybe 5 or 6 times in nearly a year. It’s defo faster / smoother than 27.5” though.
For £1500 brand new you’re going to struggle with much full suss apart from very bottom end stuff. Suntour air forks are ok but I don’t think the longevity is there vs something like a RS Recon Gold (the one with alloy stanchions / moco damping / air spring).
The polygon Siskiu T7 29er looks ok for £1600. Looks like a 29er version of a Calibre Bossnut. I think the D7 is the bossnut effectively and is 27.5” - but it has less suspension travel and so that combined with smaller wheels means it’s probably going to hang up more on roots and rocks.
Also in budget you’ve got the Boardman Matt 8.8 - similarly ish spec to the Polygon. Also 29er. I think I prefer the look of the polygon personally.
The Vitus Mythique doesn’t look to bad either and you can have 27.5” or 29er.
For £1500 brand new you’re going to struggle with much full suss apart from very bottom end stuff.
Yeah this is becoming quite apparent now! Don't really fancy going back to cheap suspension, it feels horrible.
I think what I'm going to do is take a look at my fork settings to see if I can dial it in to be less "divey" on the hardtail - it's still pretty much set up how it was on my FS and probably needs looking at.
If I'm still not happy after that then maybe just get a used 650b FS frame that rides ok with my 26" gear til I can afford to change the fork and get the wheels rebuilt. Like I said I really liked my old YT Wicked 650b on 26" so maybe look for something similar.
Could you use the voucher on frame only and move your parts over?
That Aether 7 option could be had with a decent coil shock for £1673 or maybe £40 cheaper with a rockshox deluxe ultimate air. That’s with rear axle / seat clamp etc.
If you’ve got non-boost wheels you could use velo solo spacers to fit your hub into the frame ok (assuming you have 142x12 axle). Your fork should fit and is hopefully a fairly long travel one on a hornet.
Bb might be low ish with 26” wheels but there isn’t that much different in size really. You could rebuild your current hubs onto 27.5” rims at a later date etc.
https://www.bird.bike/product/aether-7-frameset/#configuration
If you’ve got non-boost wheels you could use velo solo spacers to fit your hub into the frame ok (assuming you have 142×12 axle). Your fork should fit and is hopefully a fairly long travel one on a hornet.
I have Pro 2 (non-evo) hubs so looks like there's a 142x12 conversion kit available. Which velosolo spacers would go with that?
Fork is a 170mm Lyrik RC2DH so should be plenty.
If I can figure out the spacers/converters then that Aether 7 frameset looks a good shout. Airdrop Edit looks great too.
Here’s a review of the boost conversion kit. Essentially it’s 2 axle spacers and a rotor spacer (only works with 6 bolt rotors). Really simple and does the job for quite cheap.
I’ve owned an Aether 7 and test ridden an Airdrop edit - think it was a v2. I bought a Bird Aeris 145 over the edit having tested them back to back. I felt the Aeris was more poppy and playful and I didn’t think the balance felt right on the edit - I felt too over the front wheel. Might have been because it had a Yari on the front and very active cane creek coil shock on the back. But I think they’re only the v4 now so the geometry has changed.
The aether 7 is more playful than the Aeris 145 but outgunned at bike parks like Antur Stiniog where you get beaten about on the shorter travel bike. If you do a lot of that then perhaps the Edit is the better option - quite a chunk more travel.
I won't be riding properly rough bike park/DH stuff that often, mostly it'll be Northampton Bike park which is quite smooth at the minute (but has some big jumps where that extra confidence from more squish is nice), and Woburn DH which isn't too rough either but again some big features. Odd day trips out to FoD/BPW/Cannock etc.
The Aether is probably the smarter choice but I always liked the look of the Edit since v1 came out. My favourite bike I've owned for DH fun is the Scott Voltage with 170mm both ends, so if I could have that downhill/jump confidence with better uphill ability that would be great.
My Status 140 was £1,900 with the ride to work voucher. Once the Spec tyres were ditched in favour of Maxxis, it turned into quite a nice bike.
I've got one of those velo boost kits still in the packaging if you need one. I have one on a non boost fork on the wifes Aether.
I have owned a V1 Edit small and now run an Aether 7 medium which I prefer size wise (5'8"), especially the short seat tube/longer dropper.
I'm not the raddest rider but last year when I bought the Aether I really did find a new found confidence on the steeps and jumps. It certainly didn't hold me back at Dyfi, although I found BPW felt rougher.
All this said, I specced it reasonably light but have since added a coil shock and soon to be Lyric over the Pike so by the time I've finished it will be just as heavy as an Edit V4 I imagine.
I'd be going for that Vitus that chakaping linked to up there if your C2W scheme will allow it. But I'd go for the 29er version and I'm only 5'9" ish....
Just popping back to share this with you OP.
https://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/isotope-v6-wheelset-uk-made-hubs.htm
Code 66WHEELSET gets you a nice quality set of 650b hoops for about £125.
Can you stretch to that instead of pissing about with boost adaptors? You'll probably flog your 26in wheels for close to that.
You’ll probably flog your 26in wheels for close to that.
probably unlace them and flog the hubs for that
Thanks for that chakaping! I may actually just buy them now as that's a great price. Just sit on it til I decide on a frame!
Happy to help 🙂
If you're set on 6560b, it's a no-brainer and will give you options re. frame & fork vs full bike.
I mean I've never ridden a 29er so maybe I should try and book a demo ride before I go ahead with commiting to anything. I've always liked fun flickable bikes rather than barges, and I'm a short arse 5'8" with a 29" inside leg, so not sure if it would be for me really.
I have the same doubts about 29ers and started a thread a while ago, there’s some interesting comments from people in there https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/will-i-have-to-buy-a-29er-next/
I’ve bought an Aether 7 frame to move everything across to, hopefully I love it. I still plan on trying some demos for 29ers next year.
I’m a short arse 5’8″ with a 29″ inside leg, so not sure if it would be for me really.
Same measurements as me, pretty much.
29ers are fine.
I'll have to try and find one to have a go on! So are people thinking 650b is on its way out already then?! I've only just got my head around the current standards haha, I'm so out of the loop. That thread reminded me of Banshee Bikes, I really wanted a Rune or Spitfire a few years back! They have swappable dropouts for different hub and wheel sizes too.. interesting.
Where are you in the country Tom? I’m 5’9 on a medium Sentinel - having come from a medium Aether 7. The Sentinel is a bit heavier, a bit slacker, but longer travel - but it feels pretty similar to the Aether. But it trucks through jank better and still corners alright - the 29er wheels get more grip everywhere too.
Mullet is also a thing - 29er front wheel / 27.5” rear - could be another good option - although a lot of the bikes that have mullet are at the more expensive end of things sadly. The only affordable mullet frame I’ve really come across is the Saracen Ariel 30/60 and that has a stupid superboost rear hub.
I'm in Daventry so West Northants/almost Warwickshire I guess! As you can imagine the local trails aren't exactly gnar round here but the bike park is fun.
Ah ok - I’m in Bristol. Often in South Wales or FOD but not that close to you - or you could have had a go on the Sentinel.
Yeah 650b is becoming a bit niche now.
I've not ridden your local bike park but a short or mid travel 29er would be perfect for the Woburn enduro trails.
Have to say the Sentinel looks properly sorted geo wise, 29ers seem to have come a long way since I last looked at them. Where's the best Midlands ish trail centre to book a demo ride? Not necessarily a Sentinel, anywhere that does a decent modern 29" FS would be cool just to give it a go. @joebristol I have ridden FOD quite a bit in the past so will give you a message to take you up on that offer if I end up finding the time to take a day out there any time in the near future!
_tom_ yeah no worries - let me know if you do.
I’ve only had a go on one other recent ish 29er which was a Tallboy cc and that’s what broadly convinced me to try a mullet or 29er. It was one of the slightly older tallboys where the geo hadn’t been updated so wasn’t that long or slack but it felt livelier than my aether 7 Tbf even on the bigger wheels. Albeit the aether was on a dhx2 coil and 150mm Lyrik at the time so maybe that wasn’t surprising.
It'd blow your budget but Cotic are doing demo rides out of their office in Calver in the peak district. Their Jeht would fit the bill of modern 140mm trail bike