Looking to upgrade/swap my bike (frame) sometime in the next 12 months.
Currently have a 2022 Nukeproof Mega Carbon 29'er with Fox suspension, Hope brakes, wheels, finishing kit & carbon bars and Shimano XT/SLX drivetrain.
Will be looking to just do a frame swap and keep the components I have.
So far I've narrowed it down to 3 bikes:
> Nukeproof Mega Carbon - £2500 - new version of what I have, but only MX option in Medium frame
> Atherton S150 or S170 - £2999 - again only MX option
> Hope HB916 - £3750 - can be run full 29 or MX
With either of the first 2 I'd need to get my rear wheel rebuilt to 27.5 - not too much of an issue, and all frames are standard 148 boost so can keep my hubs.
Having had 3 Megas (including current one) it would probably be the 'safe' option in sticking with what you know.
The Atherton, well it's an Atherton and I think the Alloy S series are stunning looking bikes, could go with either the 150 or 170 - would probably try and get a test ride on both and see how they compare.
The Hope is just gorgeous, and at the top end of the budget. Never ridden a high pivot and would probably struggle to find one to test ride.
Anyone ridden the Atherton or the Hope and can give some thoughts?
In true STW fashion, ignore the bikes in the original post and suggest something different.
I love my Airdrop Edit MX and the fa t that it's alloy, I'm more willing to throw it down things.
Was also tempted by the RAAW Madonna.
Friend has an Atherton A130 that he loves.
I was thinking "Atherton" from your thread title. I imagine it would be a joy to own (important to me) as well as being an amazing bike.
I'd love one!
I've got a Druid V2 and the high pivot is awesome.
Track down a Hope and test ride one if you can.
Not narrowing it down much... but I'd sort the back wheel and go MX every time.
The Hope is just gorgeous, and at the top end of the budget. Never ridden a high pivot and would probably struggle to find one to test ride.
Anyone ridden the Atherton or the Hope and can give some thoughts?
I have a gen 1 H2 HB916 - it is very good and I really rate the mid-high pivot. It can feel glued to the ground sometimes rather than having "pop", but that could be down to the coil just as much as the pivot location.
I run mine as a mullet but started off as a full 29er. I got my frame early on, and the only issues I have had are the seat tube under the clamp cracking (I think the ID of the seat tube was a fraction too large, but front triangle was replaced under warranty) and an idler disintegrating, but that was down to me not replacing it when it was worn.
Bargains can be had on used full bikes for the price of a frame if you can go down that route.
Other current bike is a Kenevo SL and that also is very good, but not as very good on twisty stuff and the downs as the 916. If there was an e-916 I would possibly get one, but I'm going for a Forbidden Druid CorE instead. Previous bike was an HB160 which I also liked a lot but the 916 is streets ahead. Before that a Banshee Spitfire which was good until it snapped.
I'm in NE England near Newcastle if you're anywhere near and an H2 will fit you (break it and you've bought it, though!)
@teethgrinder You're on the same voyage as me!
I've got a Levo SL which I bought to share with the wife and it's a weapon on the trails. I still love my Druid but I'm thinking Druid CorE eventually and just admit we're a fully electric bike family now.
A Hope E-916 would be amazing, especially if they offered a frameset option.
I've not ridden either Atherton or Hope, but I had a good poke around both when they displayed the A-series bikes at Ft Bill WC one year (stands facing each other!). Hope was nice but it was the Atherton that really did it for me. Purely based on appearance/desirability.
Raaw Madonna already mentioned and would be on my list too, but if I was leaning that way I'd go all in and get the Geometron G1 instead - helpfully fulfilling the STW trait of recommending what you ride.
Other end of the £££ scale, great value for a Saracen Ariel 60X frame + Fox X2 shock + extra mullet/29er link + rear 12x157 hub.
Geometron is a good shout if you want an infinitely adjustable bike that will probably live forever. There's always loads of used ones available at very reasonable prices. They're a hard sell. Luckily mine got nicked.
I'd have another one if I had the room. My G16 was the best bike I'd ever had at the time.
Had a 916 (V1 bike) & it looks like the V2 addressed some of the V1 issues, have they fixed the seat stay brace hitting the back of the seat tube on full bottom outs? I see they are still persevering with the T47 BB however.
It was one of the bikes I shifted on the fastest. Considering I’m a high pivot fan, of all the HP bikes I’ve ridden, it was the least interesting. It was also one of the most noisy bikes I’ve ridden in a long time.
If I was buying a bigger travel bike again (which to be honest, I wouldn’t now without a motor as 140/150mm bikes are so good), I wouldn’t really look any further than a Madonna V3. Good, sensible geometry, good suspension kinematics, no weird standards, bombproof & silent. It is exactly what an enduro bike should be.
The Athertons have too many geometry compromises (all that effort to create 12 different front triangle sizes & can’t be bothered to even do a half arsed effort on the rear centres 🤦♂️)
Thanks all, another couple of good options.
Will try and see if I can get a ride on any of them.
Airdrop Edit MX
I was considering one of these, ended up with a Madonna... But the Edit MX is currently available with a decent % off.
Another one I was considering was the Marin Alpine Trail XR. Lots of adjustability and supposedly a great park bike which is fine as we've spent the last three summers in the Alps.
Out of the three I'd discount the Nukeproof simply because the other two are more desirable IMO. Sounds like I'm being a tart but when spending such a lump of cash I want to enjoy owning the item rather than it being white goods. Non fancy hardtail? Get whatever offers the most for your money. Flash full suss? Needs a bit more.
Big fan of Hope so that would be on my list but having seen an Atherton up close I'd be happy with one of those too. If you can get up to Barnoldswick Hope might let you have a demo (same with Atherton HQ TBF) as they're a friendly and helpful bunch?
You've not said why you want to replace what you have, its not exactly old, what are you looking to improve with replacing it?
That reason would help drive what you might recommend....
Do you not like the geo, is it the wrong size, do you want something else that is more 'bling' etc?
TBH, if it was me....
You won't get much 2nd hand for your current frame, so buying a new one will be a load of money I would rather spend on a biking holiday, unless you have a real desire to change the frame for some reason...
Nothing wrong with that if you do, but an 'enduro frame' is a pretty broad church, from 'super enduro'' ~180mm monsters, ~150/140mm more versatile AM-enduro bikes, geometron type geometrys to shorter ones, playful ones vs planted etc.....
So yeah, back to the original question, what is the driver of why you want to replace the frame and go from there.
When I built my new bike before Christmas, the Raaw Madonna and Airdrop Edit were both high on the list but like you OP, I stuck with what I know and got my 4th Orange in a row.
Lots of recommendations for Airdrop and Raaw here so I have some comments on those.
At the moment In our garage is a the same Carbon mega as you currently have, an Edit mx and a Madonna.
Both the Edit and Madonna are better riding bikes than the mega. Considering the mega is/ was a great bike the newer models put it to shame, they're so good.
If I was picking between the Edit and Madonna, I'd say the edit is a more fun bike and the Madonna is a more focussed bike built for speed so it you're going to look at them hopefully that helps a bit.
If it makes any difference, the finishing of the Madonna is top notch as well, the bearings have been incredible.
Aren't Airdrop and Raww made by Genio in the same factory in Taiwan, alongside Privateer and probably loads of others? It would explain some of the visual similarities.
I might be wrong. Happy to be corrected.
As above, I have an Edit MX and it's a wicked bikepark machine and it's entirely replaced DH bikes for me. I've also had some big days out and pedalled up some massive hills with no drama. The Madonna I've ridden briefly in full 29er mode was a monster truck in comparison. Rapid everywhere, not as agile.
Aside from being a ‘standard’ 4 bar layout and aluminium I’d not class the Airdrop / Raaw / Privateer (Mk1, the Mk2 has the visual appeal of a pile of sick) as being visually similar once you’re close up and look at the details regardless of where they are manufactured.
Deviate relaunching tomorrow
always fancied a highlander/claymore myself
It looks like you want a mullet...? And that's about it?
Why not fit a 27.5 to your Mega and even out the geo with an offset shock bushing or two, or an angle set, etc?
If you're happy with everything else about your bike then this makes sense.. BB may end up slightly too low but not always, however if you have dosh burning a hole in your pocket then just buy whatever tickles your fancy as it's all much of a muchness...
So yeah, back to the original question, what is the driver of why you want to replace the frame and go from there.
Nothing more than I've had it a few years and fancy a change.....
Nothing wrong with it and it still rides brilliantly and handles everything from a pootle round the local trails to Peaks to Bike Park Wales, Dyfi and anything else.
Like the look of the Raaw Madonna - very nice.
I like Airdrop but the the choice of raw or Allegro beige isn't massively inspirring - now if they did it in the same purple as the Slacker...
Not a massive fan of raw/brushed ali frames as they don't seem to age well. The Atherton being the exception as it's machined lugs and round tube.
Don’t be dismissive of the raw finish. A mate of mine had a raw Bird AM9 and it still looked fresh after a few years. I have a raw Raaw Madonna that I bought used, and again the finish is still looking good. I think that a lacquer over the bare metal helps this.
I know you have your list, but chucking another option into the mix - if only for the colour name alone 😆
The Druid is amazing but you can't just switch wheel sizes. You need whole new chainstays which are a few hundred quid.
Mine is full 29 and staying that way.
In that case high up my list would be the pinion geometron (especially if you can get to try one out) I would be a little concerned about 'extra' drag on my unfit legs of the gearbox, but very much would be attractive if real world it wasn't a significant issue.
But honestly, take your current bike to the alps, or finale, or Canada 😉
Not a massive fan of raw/brushed ali frames as they don't seem to age well. The Atherton being the exception as it's machined lugs and round tube.
Anything bare alu frame (Geometron) isn't for you then. I'm an unashamed tart and give mine a quick once over with mild/extra-mild grades of 3M scouring pad stuff once or twice a year.
But the Airdrop and, I believe, the Madonna are clear lacquered over the bare alu and they don't suffer the same oxidisation issue as bare alu. Airdrop especially looks amazing in real life, yet to see a bare Madonna.
I think I saw Airdrop had some of the new Filter MX frames in their outlet for decent prices recently. It's meant to be their trail frame but 150mm is kinda pushing into enduro territory and the geometry looks good.
Also worth considering, I am kind of coming round to the idea that an 'enduro' bike is best suited to an e-bike application, with normal pedal bikes being the trail and XC bikes...
I mean, the point of enduro (outside of actual enduro racing) has kind of moved to 'uk' downhill to me.
Getting to the top easily and doing more of the fun stuff with a capable down hill bike really is just mincing uphill, if the ups are not the point, then might as well maximise the fun part....
Then for rides you want the pedal experience, and trail bike that is better to pedal than an enduro bike but capable is a good option.
And for proper pedal rides new XC bikes are getting better and better at the fun parts....
So, maybe a e-enduro bike, and some slightly more pedal friendly tires for your nukeproof?
It looks like you want a mullet...? And that's about it?
Not necessarily looking for a mullet - just that most of the bikes I like are mullet.
Don't seem to be many full 29'er enduro bikes around that I like the look of lol
Smaller rear wheel might be helpful though as I sometimes do buzz my butt - short legs lol
I'm 6'2 and I used to buzz my arse on a full 29er. Nothing worse than diving into a steep chute and being bumped in the crack by the back wheel.
I swapped my Privateer 141 for an Edit MX and haven't been abused from behind since.
Doesn’t feel like a monster truck. I find it a great all rounder. Honestly happy to ride it round it xc trails as much as enduro /dh stuff.
I'm 6'2 and I used to buzz my arse on a full 29er. Nothing worse than diving into a steep chute and being bumped in the crack by the back wheel.
I swapped my Privateer 141 for an Edit MX
5'7" here and saw mates the same height or not much taller than me suffering with arse scrub on their 29ers....
It's what swung me to a mullet set up.
It's also why I run a mud guard on really steep stuff. Plastic between your butt cheeks is much nicer than spinning rubber.