choosing a 29er..?

I’ve been looking at purchasing a 29er after having a shot on one. Hired a standard trek alloy hardtail 29er and rode it round my local trails.. loved it! I’d like something reasonably light as I like going up as well as down. Been looking at the Whyte t129- but would have been good if they did a carbon one to keep the weight down. Also looked at a trek fuel ex 9.8. The one that really catches my eye is the Santa cruz tallboy.. but it’s eye watering expensive.. anyone have any of the models I’ve mentioned and could give me some feedback?

Budget?

Budget

Canyon nerve, new ones look pretty good.

Budget would probably be absolute max 3k (it would have to be a used tallboy probably )

What do you really want it to do? The Tallboy’s a bit of a bigger bike than the fuel ex… Is it to be an XC bike, trailbike? Monstrous shit-kicking enduro bastard?

Ridden all the ones you mentioned above (although only ridden an alloy Trek not the carbon one), and even owned a T-129…

Now own this…

It’s not cheap, but it’s way better than any of the others. The Whyte T-129 is a great trail bike, with just the tight rear tyre clearance against it IMO.

Want it to do a bit of everything.. I ride trail centres and torridon,skye, devils staircase etc..not really interested in enduro stuff..

I know the sort of riding you’re thinking of and a mid travel 29er should be spot on.

I think the industry is still catching up on geometry a bit though, and I expect there’ll be some better options in a year or so.

In the meantime I’d go for something cheaper as a placeholder. It’s what I’ve just done in fact.

You don’t happen to be a medium do you?

Transition Smuggler

Was top of my list but I just couldn’t stretch to one and then there is probably a carbon version in the pipeline. Which the OP might prefer.

Quite like this…..

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/spark-940-2016-mountain-bike-ec122578?country=GB&currency=GBP&esvt=886-GOUKE1142310&esvq=&esvadt=999999-0-516296-1&esvcrea=77496165536&esvplace=&esvd=m&esvaid=50080&gclid=CjwKEAiApYGyBRC-g_jIstuduV8SJABCEzhZmGFcZ_G1c1xV3WSjDT-kkw02rx01-LWVdXgw8_sXBRoCAXHw_wcB

I own a Whyte T129s 2015 great bike for trails etc maybe a bit much for all day xc stuff.

I think the industry is still catching up on geometry a bit though, and I expect there’ll be some better options in a year or so.

I’d argue the opposite to be fair…

I’d say looking at all the current 120mm travel 29er trail bike options, compare them to 2/3 years ago, and there’s a wealth of good options out there now. Chainstays are for the mostpart quite a bit shorter, head angles slacker, ETT’s and reach figures have got longer (and correspondingly shorter stems fitted), bikes are being designed around the incresingly popular 1×11 drivetrains, and back ends are pretty much all bolt thru now too… Add to this that a lot of manufacturers are moving away (or trying to) from 29ers as they generally see that it’s a market in decline, and I’d say that now’s the time to buy if there was one.

Northwind – Member
What do you really want it to do?

This +100

Wheel size is part of the bike not the intended use.

It does sound as though one of the modern 29ers with a slack front and not too much travel would suit you pretty well. So, in no particular order:

Orange Segment
Transition Smuggler
Banshee Phantom
Evil Following
Whyte T129
Plus any that I forgot 🙂

Whichever one looks nicest to you really or comes up second hand at a decent price.

I haven’t ridden one, but if I was in the market for a 29er it would be top of the demo list, the new Orbea Occam.

http://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/occam-tr-m30/

29ers continue to spark interest on here probably because they’ve turned into a bit of an enigma to non believers. As the bike industry is now getting it with regards to geometry and travel, I think they’re set for a revival.

Any 130mm in long, low and slack flavour will have you grinning from ear to ear.

I’m considering one, but it would be a HT and keep my 26″ Enduro as my FS

2017 the year of 29er revival. Even DH bikes.

Trailrider Jim – Member

I think they’re set for a revival.

Is there any “revival” about it? 650b stole the limelight/novelty factor but a few manufacturers have said that 29ers are selling more than ever, there’s more models (and better)out there… B+ seems to have generated a load of interest too, though might end up being a competitor I suppose. They’re not news any more but that’s not the same thing.

Good list here…

Orange Segment
Transition Smuggler
Banshee Phantom
Evil Following
Whyte T129
Plus any that I forgot

Just forgot the Kona Process 111 and maybe Mondraker Crafty and Spesh Camber evo?

But for me pretty much all of these bikes are compromised by weight or geometry quirks or ruled out by price and warranty reputation (yes, I mean the Evil).

I’m not privy to any insider info – but I’d expect more brands to be coming up with short/mid-travel fun 29ers now that it’s proved a popular sector.

I’m not really any quicker on 150mm than I am on 120mm so it seems a bit pointless for me to be carrying 30mm extra around as that’s (in theory, I know it doesn’t really work like that) a 30mm lower bike.

Having said that I didnt do too bad with keeping up with a load of 26/650 120-160 bikes at BPW on my hardtail so I’m struggling to justify the cost, doesn’t stop me looking though

Just forgot the Kona Process 111

Doh, how could I forget the Kona 😳 They were one of the first to cotton on to this setup.

Intense Carbine, would be a good alternative to a Tallboy LT (basically same VPP suspension) and some crazy offers on these at wheelbase at the moment, full bike at under 3K.

And a question for Mboy, is that an Evil Following, and if so, are they as good as all the reviews reckon?

T-129 is a great riding bike. Rear clearance doesn’t sound like an issue for your riding, hell it isn’t a problem for mine and I’ve had it up and down Snowdon, Cadair Idris and various big peaks stuff.

Cracking trail bike, I run mine at 130mm

What fork scandal42? Thinking of trying something bigger than the reba on mine.

TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR, what’s that hardtail?

ne, would be a good alternative to a Tallboy LT (basically same VPP suspension) and some crazy offers on these at wheelbase at the moment, full bike at under 3K.

The Carbine is one hell of a bike, but it is designed around a 150/160mm fork. May or may not be overkill for the OP’s requirements but it’s worth noting.

And a question for Mboy, is that an Evil Following, and if so, are they as good as all the reviews reckon?

In a word, yes… It’s a bit of a marmite bike I’ll be the first to admit, but in the 5 months I’ve had it I’ve not wanted for anything else. I’ve ridden many of its direct competitors, and where they all seemed very good at doing one or two things and flawed at others, the Following is just really bloody good at everything! But there’s a lot of backlash against it.

Those who don’t get it will point to Evil’s chequered history on a couple of models, that it’s a 29er (yeah those people still exist in their droves!), that it’s carbon when most of its competitors are ally, that it’s bloody expensive and even that they don’t like the looks (I think it looks awesome but then what do I know!). It’s a bit of a leap of faith bike, but I’ve not looked back since buying it other than to look at the trails I’ve ridden on it and the times I’ve achieved.

I’ve just got the Orbea Occam Tr 29er. Absolutely brilliant, my first 29er and I’m blown away. Was eye watering expensive though!!.

Love my Pivot Mach 429 carbon (100mm back end but 105-130mm fork) but that Evil Following has got me drooling. Need to ride my bike again and fall in love again!

I rode a Scott Spark on a uplift day in the Himalayas in the summer and rated it. It’s a good all-rounder, but doesn’t have the niche brand for here. Not that I care!

Z1ppy it’s a Last Fastforward. Got one on order 🙂

Oh look, a budget mid-travel 29er frame has popped up in the classifieds, looks like it’d make a great entry to the world of wagon wheels for somebody!
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-hammerhead-thumper-frame-medium

😉

If you want something like a SC Tallboy, I can recommend Devinci’s Atlas, especially if you can get the carbon version. I’ve ridden one back to back with a Tallboy on a couple of occasions and they are so close in handling and character – both of them are completely nuts around trail centres:) but also very capable on nataural trails. A key difference is that the Atlas is designed to run anything from a 100mm to 140mm fork, so perhaps a bit more versatile than the Tallboy – and the chainstays on the Atlas are 15mm than the Tallboy (FWIR), so it feels very agile and darty. (I owned an Atlas until recently).

The other bike I’d strongly recommend having a demo of would be a Specialized Camber Evo (’15 models are discounted at the mo.). I’ve owned a non-evo Carbon camber and currently have a boggo Alu version. I liked the non-evo version for its lightness and nimble handling and found it brilliant for trail centres and most natural trails. The evo is a bit slacker and has 10mm more travel, and the Alu frame gives it a much burlier feel than the carbon – at the expense of feeling slightly porky. I guess it would be relatively easy to shed a couple of pounds with sensible upgrades and 1x though. I think the evo does have the edge when natural trails get rough, but for trail centre stuff I preferred the non-evo. Compared to the Tallboy and Atlas, I feel the Cambers have a slightly less manic character, but on longer days on unfamiliar trails, I found this to be an advantage. its a close one, but I think as a general purpose trail bike, maybe the Camber just sneaks it. I guess it depends whether you prefer the feel of VPP/DW or Spesh FSR suspension.

HTH

Wow.. lot of replies! I had enquired about a banshee phantom but wasn’t sure about the look of it. It ticked the box’s in all other respects apart from maybe the weight. There’s a lot of good suggestions there guys and gives me plenty food for thought. Not really a fan of specialised bikes but they keep coming recommended so they must be good..

Got a lovely Segment 2016 Large frame for sale if you did end up going that way 🙂

Good list here…

Orange Segment
Transition Smuggler
Banshee Phantom
Evil Following
Whyte T129
Plus any that I forgot

Plus the Switchbacks Unveil / Hammerhead Thumper

TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR, what’s that hardtail?

Last Fastforward – available Feb

View post on imgur.com

Best bike I’ve ever had. definitely recommend it.

@gfrew88.. that’s what I’m leaning towards. There just out of my price range for a new one. I’ve seen a used one that I could afford, but obviously no warranty with it and I’m not sure I’d like a carbon bike with no warranty

I had a demo on a Santa Cruz Tallboy LT carbon an to say I was underwhelmed is an understatement. Discounting any obvious bias for my bike my mates Specialized Camber Evo is a much better ride and half the price.