[Closed] Yeti SB66, Santa Cruz Bronson, Intense Tracer 2 or [insert 160mm superbike here]

Ibis Mojo HD??

Bronson C

There's a good chance you should be able to demo any of those in the Lakes. I wouldn't go for the Intense though...it's quite a bit heavier than the others you mention, and after owning an Intense myself, won't ever buy another (good bikes to ride, not to own).

EDIT: Do you really need 160mm travel for an all-day bike? I live in the Lakes myself and the fastest folk I know all have 140mm.

cotic rocket

For some reason I'm not that keen on the looks of the Mojo HD. No idea why, just don't like it!

Bronson C is not going to happen - budget says aluminium unfortunately.

And no, I probably don't need 160mm travel, but why the heck not?! 😀

Bronson

2014 Team Spicy.

[quote=justinbieber ]For some reason I'm not that keen on the looks of the Mojo HD. No idea why, just don't like it!
Bronson C is not going to happen - budget says aluminium unfortunately.
And no, I probably don't need 160mm travel, but why the heck not?!
Blur LTC, recycle your wheels and go for it, just got mine with 160mm forks and it feels awesome

SB-66 in that case 😀

http://www.nicolai.net/172-1-ION+16.html

+1 for SB66.
Just about to upgrade the Fox 32s to Pikes.

Although the headline numbers on these bikes might seem similar, they all ride quite differently. Personally, I wouldn't spend the amount you're considering without riding them all.

Knolly? Chilcotin or Endorphin with a 160mm fork?

Tracer 2! That's the only one on your list that is a 160 bike, apart from when its in short travel mode of course! I ride mine all day or I ride DH and most things in between. I've ridden an sb66 as a friend has one and found the long top tube a bit strange and its not that light due to all the metal around the switch link. I found the sb66 to be a long travel trail bike, like a Remedy, but with extra weight. My tracer has had 8 bearings in a year and that is all, a lot better than the Intense of old.

Wheelbase at Staveley should have a Tracer and Yeti next to each other.

If you want a bike for all day epics then you want a bike that's going to be comfortable also.
I chose the SB66 cos it's long....couple that with a short stem and you have a bike that will handle great and give you room to breathe. Most similar bikes are short which makes them (in my opinion) no good for bike days out. I came from a Remedy which was a similar travel bike but was 1.5" shorter VTT which meant long stem for comfort on longer rides. Which sacrificed the handling.

Yetiman - Member
http://www.nicolai.net/172-1-ION+16.html

+1

I've taken to keeping mine in the kitchen, so I can spend the day looking at it.

Have another curve-ball and go for the Alpine 160...

Definitely going to demo them, just creating a shortlist at the moment

Take a trip to Biketreks 🙂

Yes, I feel a trip to biketreks and wheelbase is in order

also have a look up at KMB & cyclewise for some other stuff

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And that is exactly what I was going to suggest.

yeah! defo the carbon enduro!

mikewsmith - Member
Take a trip to Biketreks

POSTED 56 MINUTES AGO #
justinbieber - Member
Yes, I feel a trip to biketreks and wheelbase is in order

Scott Genius 💡
http://www.bike-treks.co.uk/543873/products/2013_scott_genius_730_alloy_650b.aspx

Transition Covert ❓

http://www.cannondale.com/2013/bikes/mountain/overmountain/jekyll/jekyll-3

Justinbieber - don't know where you are in the country but I may well be selling my Tracer 2 shortly. Lovely bike, but I'm caught up in ironman training at the moment and it's just not getting ridden.

Drop me a PM if you want pictures or anything, sure we can sort something out 🙂

The carbon enduro isn't available as frame only, The full build is £7K and features house brand components, wimpy (and a bit poor TALAS) forks, Aviod brakes and it's not actually as good as the other bikes the OP has already mentioned. Apart from that, it's ideal.

Heckler (+10 mm)

Liteville 301 (my current bike).
New Banshee Spitfire (looks very promising and future-proof, supports EVERYTHING including these new 650b wheels. Well, Tracer 2 does this too :))

Vince you can have a go on the Nomad if thats on the list and you can try 1x10 at the same time mate

I went through this decision over the course of about a yaar. Thoughts were:

SC Nomad/Nomad C - A bit high, short in the TT, and a bit old, geometry wise. But was tempted - the Nomad C is very light for what it's capable of, and SC seem to be ahead of the curve a bit with Carbon bikes

Bronson - Better geo than the Nomad, lighter (but not as burly), but 650b meant new wheels/fork for me and ultimately too much cash

Intense - Made by Intense, so no thanks.

Yeti - Hummed and hawed over this one a lot, in some ways I liked the idea of the long TT, but Yeti's insistence on 150mm up front and the overall length had me thinking it'd be poor uphill with my 160 forks on it. Alloy frame is relatively heavy too, considering the travel.

Covert Carbon - For such a big premium over the Alu model, there's not much of a weight difference. Think they played it quite safe and overbuilt it a bit. Was still high on the list, regardless. I just liked it.

Mojo HD - Liked it, thought about it a lot. Steep at the front, compared to some of the competition, though, but I was close to buying one with an angleset.

Scott Anything - having seen the shambles that was the Ransom (knew four or five owners), I'd never consider a Scott, especially one with a complex proprietary shock. Poor initial reviews for the Genius too.

Cannondale Jekyll - Wary of the pull shock, and it locks you into one type of shock. Didn't think past that, tbh.

Enduro - Would happily have had one, but just so expensive, if you can manage to get one frame only. Full build insane money and some ropey parts.

Banshee Rune - Liked this a lot, good value, 650-future-proof, came with a CCDB, but 8.5lbs with CCDB is very burly indeed.

Ultimately got the Ion 16 'cos the angles all looked right, and I figured the build quality and solidity would give me confidence - I was right - fits like a glove, and I trust it. Could probably have saved a pound of frame weight with one of the above, glad I didn't.

Turner Burner (I think slightly cheaper than some at £1695 in raw)

I said this on another thread, but it bears repeating...

Santa Cruz can be likened to Porsche: yes full of tremendous engineering and definitely high-performance, but every second middle-aged overweight businessman has one. All they need to do is get a little bit bigger and they'll be just like Specialized.

Go for one of the smaller boutique brands if you want the same level of engineering, but a whole lot more originality. Turner, Yeti, Ibis, Nicolai are four that come to mind if you want your Pagani or Lambo, to continue the sports car analogy.

And lets not even get started with the court cases SC are throwing around. Now that they're big enough, they're trying to shit all over the smaller collection of boutique brands that they once belonged to.

And I say this as a former SC lover and rider... I'm not trolling, the Yeti court case, especially, disappointed me tremendously and put me right off them.

SamB - thanks for the offer, but it'll be a new frame/bike bought through my company to save VAT and tax.

And lets not even get started with the court cases SC are throwing around. Now that they're big enough, they're trying to shit all over the smaller collection of boutique brands that they once belonged to.

You can but into brand image if you want. I just buy a bike generally. The only people who stereotype you by what bike you ride are generally knobs anyway. Having owned Intense, Turner and Santa Cruz (amongst others); the porsche/lamborghini comparison is a bit bollocks (sorry obelix).

The Nicolais look nice - any reason for the Ion over the Helius?

justinbieber - Member
The Nicolais look nice - any reason for the Ion over the Helius?

Ion's a newer platform - 142 rear, tapered headset, post mount brakes, reverb stealth routing all standard. A bit lighter than the Helius, slacker, lower, and possibly other stuff I've forgotten

Transition Covert (in true STW form of recommend what you've got)

Thanks HonourableGeorge - makes perfect sense now. Ta

I don't think Yeti did themselves any favours when they launched the SB66 with a 150mm Fox 32 fork & effectively marketed it as a long travel trail bike.

When you actually look at the numbers with a proper fork on it, it's a bike that actually encourages you to wring it's neck. With a 160mm 36 on the front it's got a 65 degree head angle, low BB & average to short chainstays. It's a very fast bike.

However, it is harsh if you arn't on it though, you need to be off the brakes & riding it hard to work properly. The long TT helps because the WB is pretty big too.

I went from a Nomad to the 66, the 66 is a whole lot easier to ride faster. I've spent a bit of time on a Bronson too & didn't rate it as highly as the SB, but that's a fitment issue for me. I like a bike with a long front end & slack head angle.

New 650 Five, longer slacker and lower, weight equal or less than previous due to different tube specs.

Hob Nob - Member
I don't think Yeti did themselves any favours when they launched the SB66 with a 150mm Fox 32 fork & effectively marketed it as a long travel trail bike.

Yeah. It was all a bit confused. Sicklines reviewed it, and he put a 160 fork spaced down to 140 on it. May well be a great bike, but the upshot of it all was I never found myself wanting one.

2014 Scott genius LT if you can wait that long? 160 travel so much more usable than the old one, new fox rear shock so no own brand/dt rubbish, adjustable travel/angles/shock behaviour at the flick of a remote and the weight is bonkers light...?

Catvet - I've been riding Fives for nearly 5 years now and I fancy a change. Kinda want something that isn't a single pivot made in Yorkshire. 🙂

Don't get a tracer 275.

Any particular reason why not?

Hmm... I might be in the process of changing my opinion of the Mojo HD. In the words of Terry Tibbs, talk to me 🙂

It certainly looks like 27.5" is going to take off in the next generation of 'trail bikes'. Santa Cruz along with others seems to have dropped 26" from next year...

Something to bear in mind for future proofing.

Since we have reached the stage of recommending what you we have got, +1 for the SB66.
Run mine with 160 34 Floats and no problem climbing at all, and around here there are some steep long climbs to do before reaching the trails.

smatkins1 - quite probably, but I really don't see any benefit to 650b.

Has anyone got any long term experience of the SB66 - I'm slightly daunted by the high cost of the switch link rebuild kit.

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Just replaced the bearings in my 66. Pretty easy job, the big one in the switch was a little tricky but nothing major.
Putting a new Pike on it tomorrow.

I had a very similar dilema. I went to one of the lakes based shops already mentioned with a view to buying a SB66. I hadn't considered an intense but ended up with a carbine which has the angles of a tracer 2 but 150/140 travel option and at the time £300 more than the tracer.
Also you can buy replacement dropouts that turn it into a carbine 275 if thats your thing?
I know they've had their issues in the past but I dont buy into the 'its intense so will break/ is wonky' argument on their current bikes.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Pivot Mach 5.7 Carbon - it's about 150mm front & rear, a very respectable weight & less than a SC Nomad.

ansdy - Member

I know they've had their issues in the past but I dont buy into the 'its intense so will break/ is wonky' argument on their current bikes.

Carbine is built for them by a German carbon specialist, so I'd expect it to be of a completely different standard to their other stuff. Stunning bike too, bar the inexplicable omission of ISCG mounts.

mrlebowski - Member

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Pivot Mach 5.7 Carbon - it's about 150mm front & rear, a very respectable weight & less than a SC Nomad.

It's 145mm - it's probably a step down in terms of intended use to the 160mm bike the OP is after, although we're dealing with fairly blurred lines here.

Enduro Carbon. Can be had as frame only, last time I looked. failing that you can get it from anywhere in Europe,US,Canada and specialized will honour the warranty anywhere in the world. Speaking of warranty it has one of, if not the best.

Imo almost all of the other suggestions put forward are long legged trail bikes. The Enduro is cut from a different cloth, it is simply amazing when pointed downhill, and the new one really does climb and pedal brilliantly for what it is.

wrecker - Member

The carbon enduro , it's not actually as good as the other bikes the OP has already mentioned. Apart from that, it's ideal.

I'm guessing one of three things here. You haven't ridden it, you rode it around a car park, or you rode one that wasn't set up for you.

I've spent time on the base spec comp Enduro and it's awesome. Even with the ctd suspension it's performance is mind blowing. It obviously doesn't have the boutique brand snobbery attached to it that a yeti or santa cruz does, I'll give you that, but it's performance is unquestionable.

+ 1 for the Nicolai's

the Helius has adjustable rear travel though, which is pretty useful for shortening the travel around local trails, then big travel for Alpine trips - combine it with Lyriks or Talas and you have a massivly cabable do it all bike

it is heavy though, but as you are not competing cross country, you should be fine just work the legs more ;)!

and they have 5 year transferable warranty....

Mojo HD owner here.

Great bike, climbs well, descends brilliantly, not too heavy (30lb) all up for mine (inc pedals). I use it for everything, long xc, uk uplift, spain uplift etc.

Large mojo hd
fox 36 160mm talas
ccdb air
shimano xt brakes
XT/SLX 2 x 10 drive train
hope pro ii hubs + dt swiss ex5.1 rims + hans dampf tubeless tyres.
rockshox reverb
easton carbon bars
superstar mag pedals
cane creek angleset (-1.5deg) - not convinced this is worth having

I'm guessing one of three things here. You haven't ridden it, you rode it around a car park, or you rode one that wasn't set up for you.

Neither. I had a good couple of hours on a friends, who is a similar weight to me. The tracer certainly is every bit as AM as the enduro.

I test rode a Mojo HD last night, which was most unhelpful. Stiffer, lighter, climbed better, descended better etc etc. All round, a better bike to ride than the Five.

I now want one.

Which poses a dilemma - do I get a complete new bike, or just upgrade the frame?

Liteville ??

Ventana Zeus 140/160mm travel.

There must be some deals to be had on mojo hd frames now that the hdr is out.

Make a few offers, someone will bite.

I got £500 off mine (frame only) a few years ago.

A HD is a good choice, a few months into ownership and I'm smitten, the thing loves techy climbs and generally feels very flattering,
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yeah, I've got a line on a fantastic deal for an HD. I just need to man up and do it

I rode a carbon Bronson last night. Distinctly underwhelmed.

I was most impressed with the clutch mech and a decent dropper post.

Sam B - Might be interested in the Tracer 2 (replacing stolen Tracer VP) - can you pm me with details (spec, size, price, colour etc). Also, Buzz Lightyear why not the Tracer 275? Tested, rode and liked and current favourite

Pardon the ignorance, but what's wrong with Intense?

(had been having vague notions of getting a Spider)

Pardon the ignorance, but what's wrong with Intense?

They have a reputation for building bikes way out of alignment. Which then break.

Tweeks have the Spider 2 at massive discount (£990 from £1650) if thats your thing (or possibly you knew and thats why youre considering it!).

http://www.tweekscycles.com/components/full-suspension-frames/intense-spider-2-26-frameset-2012

Enduro owner here does it all, haven't looked back. Recently went through OP's dilemma.

I did try the sb66 - very good quick bike, but sizing a bit long. Tried a nomad didn't like the riding position.

Didn't try the mojo HD, love the look but I discounted for the geometry being a bit dated so thought something new may be around the corner. Then the HDR came out and really don't get that.

Sat on the enduro and it just felt right.

650b is growing rapidly so you may want to go that way to future proof the investment. Spicy or Bronson would be my pick of them. But for me it's a 26er for the next few years 🙂

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/80802903@N08/9268543001/ ]Machen mountain[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/80802903@N08/ ]dan45a[/url], on Flickr

They have a reputation for building bikes way out of alignment. Which then break.
Tweeks have the Spider 2 at massive discount (£990 from £1650) if thats your thing (or possibly you knew and thats why youre considering it!).

Is that historical (like Cannondale) or more recent?

Sadly not in a position to buy now, due to 4/12 old second child...

Another very happy enduro owner , been using it as my main ride ever since it arrived , fast enough on the flat climbs so well and makes up for my lack of talent going down hill.

Full bike was never imported into the uk just frames , so build they way you want
Mine tips scales at 28.05 inc cage bell and pump plus the older heavier dropper post.

Carbine is built for them by a German carbon
specialist, so I'd expect it to be of a completely
different standard to their other stuff. Stunning
bike too, bar the inexplicable omission of ISCG
mounts.

From what I heard recently, the Carbine may be designed by some random Germans but is actually coming out of china like all the other carbon frames.

Is that historical (like Cannondale) or more recent?

More recent than "Creak'n'fail" who's failures are definitely historic (Lapierre have stolen that crown), and sufficiently high profile for me to turn down getting an Intense at mates rates last year (cost + VAT)- but that might just be me being overly cautious, I'm sure there are plenty of happy owners out there. And I own a 2010 Alpine 160, so I'm expecting the swing arm to crack at the weld vent 🙄

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