Enduro bike advice

I’m not sure why you’d go from an Aeris 145 to a Spectral?

Why not just buy the 160 linkage for the Aeris and a pair of 160 forks on and then you’ve got the best of both worlds

It’s mainly because the cost of new forks makes my eyes bleed. I feel like a new bike is simply better value. Plus: new bike.

That’s said, selling the hardtail would cover forks and shock. There’s my self-justification out of the window!

The fact is, most EWS riders are using 170mm or more travel and most of the trails used aren’t crazily different to ones you’d encounter in the Alps.

Except most of the EWS athletes are physically strong and ride a lot faster, usually over the worst of the rough stuff to save 1 second.

I agree lots with this, although adding lots of braking bumps

Alpine trails are just like normal trails, just they go down for longer…

I do think on a long travel bike for everything you need a rear shock with a decent climb function. The Cane Creek IL Coil is great for this, in addition to being amazing downhill. I know it depends somewhat on the type of suspension you’re running but I doubt any bike with 160-180mm of rear travel is going to not bob at all in climbs without some help from the rear shock. The CC climb switch seems to do this better than most.

“It’s mainly because the cost of new forks makes my eyes bleed. I feel like a new bike is simply better value. Plus: new bike.”

Why do you need new forks for the Aeris?

Everything I’ve read about the Aeris 145
suggests that even with the standard linkage it’s a better bike downhill than the Spectral. I may be biased because I had a previous gen Spectral on holiday a few years ago and it was no comparison to my Spitfire.

But if you want more travel then you don’t need to change the forks or shock on the Aeris, just the air shaft and linkage.

Why do you need new forks for the Aeris?

I don’t *need* new forks. I’d like to try a 2.6 which won’t fit in my current Yari. And as most of my riding is rocky to say the least, the Yari is a bit on the harsh side. It soaks up the big bumps OK but it kills my arms on any prolonged rocky stuff.

Appreciate your view on the Spectral vs Aeris, it’s likely saved me a chunk of money 🙂

I have a 2020 Jeffsey 29, 150 rear 160mm front, does just fine in the Alps and the UK, I looked at the Capra but think it’s just too much for UK trail riding, youngest son has a Canyon Spectral 150 mm front and rear, perfect all rounder, my mates on DH bikes couldn’t get near him in the Alps this summer.
I think modern geometry and decent set suspension a medium (150mm) travel bike is more than capable of taking everything you can throw at it.

I went from a Stumpjumper to an Enduro as my only bike and I frikkin love it. It’s a very decent trail bike which climbs really well then bangs back down stuff without a care in the world. Who cares if you don’t ‘need’ 170mm travel, when you can have it for very little penalty. Don’t listen to the overbiked mob…. just get what you want.