160mm Bikes – Choices, Choices, Choices

DEANFBM –
I ride a bit of everything – Mostly singletrack where i live BUT Wales mostly for proper riding –

Have been to all these in past 12 months

Afan x 8
Cwmcarn x 5
Coed-y-brenin x 5
Coed Llandegla x 3
Cannock Chase x 3

Im not the fastest up (mainly coz im a dirty smoker) but will smash up pretty much any downs I hit pretty hard – Which is why I was thinking 160mm might be better for coming down! However the 160 fork option has me thinking! 😆

Orange Alpine without question, with a CCDB.

and I’m wasting your life?

😆

Afan x 8
Cwmcarn x 5
Coed-y-brenin x 5
Coed Llandegla x 3
Cannock Chase x 3

I have smashed most of these on a summer season with pikes. TBH I don’t think I could smash them much harder on a 160 bike, I might just feel less beaten up at the end.

I’ve only ridden Cannock out of that list but 140mm forked hardtail is more than enough for that. Llandegla looks similar from what I can tell. My DH bike is 180mm but tbh even that felt like too much for the kind of trails I liked in Whistler, 140 or 160 would be about right and probably faster on the hardpack jump trails (and I’m considering hardtailing it next year). Depends what trails you’re riding though I guess. I think I only bottomed out both ends once on a horribly landed/overshot ladder drop. For the techier stuff maybe you’d use more of the travel.

For that sort of riding 160mm and slacker HA + more weight is going to slow you down going up and down not speed you up?

I got a 160 bike during the summer to replace an Evil Sov. Lyriks on upfront. Use it for all sorts, local trails incl canals, Wyre, Cannock, Peaks plus taken France 3 weeks in summer and just got back from a week in the Dales.
I really like riding it and its not particularly heavy. Feels solid like the Sov did but more forgiving and confidence inspiring. Does not take any of the fun out of riding, quite the reverse for me. So if you want a 160 its not going to ruin your riding IMO.

i’ve ridden afan’s trails on a number of bikes from 120-160 and i can honestly say i have had the most fun and the least fatigue on the 160mm.

i am a “plugger” up hill, so i dont care if it takes me a while, i just need it to spin efficiently and be manoeuvrable.

you’ll probably notice, i am biased, but i do love the Transition Covert! 🙂

I’ve gone from a Foxy to a Dune (custom spec) a couple of months ago and I’m loving it.

Light (a few oz over 30lbs with reverb and SLX transmission), pedals well, great suspension system, AMAZING geometry.

Was riding it down Helvellyn last weekend. My first time and it was unstoppable on the rather technical, Alps-like descent from Grisedale Tarn.

I got a deal on the 2011 Dune R, which is QR rear. The one thing I would like is a maxle/x12 rear axle – which the higher models (and perhaps the 2012 ones) have.

Anyway, highly recommended – drop me a line if you want more info.

Heh, I got a tag. Wonder who that was from.

prob Cynic Al (I’d guess mine’s from him too)

I’m with GW, gooner you don’t sound like you know what you want. When I go to the alps I stick on 180mm forks and only ride the DH trails. Others go on orange fives and ride up the hills.
anyway, how bout a last herb?

i’ve ridden afan’s trails on a number of bikes from 120-160 and i can honestly say i have had the most fun and the least fatigue on the 160mm.

Afan on a 160mm bike would be about as much fun as riding to the shops.

Afan on a 160mm bike would be about as much fun as riding to the shops.

that rather depends what you are used to…

my 160mm bike!

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He’s asking ‘what 160mm bike?’ not ‘try and tell me I have overkill bike needs’…jeez.

I got a Spesh 2011 s-works enduro. Its fricking amazing. The lightweight of the carbon really makes it very versitile. Even in Alu its light (for its class). Its THE tool for what you want in my opinion.

We’ll Im happy with my Covert.
but could do with making it a tad lighter.
I fancy the new Yeti SB66 though or a Carbon Covert.
spicy this year should be brilliant, and I think the new Saracen should be pretty good too.

Afan on a 160mm bike would be about as much fun as riding to the shops.

The Porn shop? Thats ALWAYS fun

I saw the Saracen race team doing a photoshoot at Woburn today.. I think they were on the new Ariels. Look very nice. A bit more spesh enduro styled than the old frame design.