So i’m it’s my 40th in the summer and what better way to celebrate than spending some cash on a new toy.

I have a soul which i really love despite it bieng only a 26″ bike and it’s great on 90% of my local riding. I’ve taken it to the lakes, afan and up on exmoor and although everything is rideable on a hardtail, there are times when i feel it would be nice to begoing a little faster without getting so battered. I’m thinking a fs bike would be a nice thing to have for those times and as a counterpoint o what i already have.

I’m 5’6 and a lightweight so i dont think i want a 29 er but i am prepared to think 650b. Although getting a spend of a frame& forks only approved and temporarily garaging the soul is probably easier than dropping 3g on a complete bike in one hit.
Doesn’t seem like much comes up secondhand in the right size.

i dont want to end up over biked everywhere at home and I suppose what i really envisage is a kind of full bounce soul (but that isnt out yet is it Cy?) I think a rocket/ heckler kinda thing will be too much. It has to climb as well as descend, an “easy” 10 mile loop here has 1500ft of climbing.

I like the idea of a santa cruz (long story but i was a big roskop fan from 80’s skating) and the blur tr or the solo or the bantam look appealing.

What else would you guys think to look at?

You want a shorter travel trail bike like a Trek Fuel EX or similar. 130mm travel, good geometry for climbing and descending.

Obviously you’re talking about the higher end of the market, but a bike similar to the fuel would do what you want.

Definitely check out the Nerve.
http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/series/nerve-al.html

Yeah, actually i rode a canyon nerve am around whinlatter a few months ago and had a lot of fun. 150 forks on it but went up fine!

guess a zesty is another thing to look at?

The Bantam would appeal to me just for the simplicity of single pivot suspension.

Giant Anthem or Trance

I do like the look of the bantam plus it’s a cost effective way of becoming a proper SC fanboi!

Having little FS experience i’m not sure how much difference a single pivot will male in my real life non-pro riding?

I was in the same boat as you and recently ordered a full suss frame. I was rolling on a Ragley Blue pig and as you say there is nothing that can’t be ridden with a hardtail, but over back to back days you tend to get a bit beaten up. I am awaiting a 2014 Transition Covert frame. I wanted a Cotic Rocket but who knows when they will ever turn up. Maybe you should have a look at the Transition bandit which is 130mm travel. Comes in 26″ wheel so you could just swap over your current stuff.

You Might want to give Anthony a call at Tamed earth bikes. He rides a piglet so similar to a soul and deals with transition bikes. Can’t recommend them enough, super super helpful on the phone.

John

Transition bandit!! Should be spot on imo obviously.

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/transition-bandit-for-sale-size-small

BOOM! There is your bike!

For me when the fs itch started I spent a fair bit of time test riding bikes 26ers,650b and 29ers ended up with a Trek Fuel ex 29er but iam a bit taller than you(5′ 10″) and so far it’s been everything I hoped it would be so don’t rule out 29ers but test,test and test again 🙂

I’ve got various bikes but used my Orange 5 for 99% of rides. Now gone to a 5 29 and expect to use that just as much. For me FS is simply better and more fun then a HT. If I want to go the other way the fully ridged comes out.

My full sus is a 2013 trek fuel ex 8 the 26er tho not the new 29. Find it very comfortable for long rides and it climbs well.

Not in a position to buy right now but the bandit looks really on the money. Sure the treks are great bikes and maybe I’m a sucker for niche but treks never really excite me.

Testing is a great idea but living in the arse end of nowhere (well north devon) there aren’t many shops with demo bikes anywhere close and most demo bikes are too big. Might have to journey somewhere with a demo day on I guess

Edit: Looks like the bandits gone 27.5!

http://www.tamedearth.com/product/transition-bandit-275/

I feel your pain Creepers. I’m in Exeter so no demo for me either. Short of spending £100s worth of fuel to ride somewhere I don’t know in most likely crap weather. It says the same for the Covert but they still do a 26ers of both. The Covert I have on order is a 2014 26er.

I agree as well, Treks have always been a “mehh” ride in my book. Also a big thumbs up for the Transitions with regards to looks, relatively straight tubes. I hate all this bendy hydro-formed nonsense. Looks like the bike has been left out in the sun too long and melted in the middle!

John

That’s good to know john. Do you know if bike shed have any demo bikes? Suppose they will only be specialised if they do!

I really like the look of the bandit, seems like it would tick a lot of boxes. Sizing might b a difficult choice though. I’m between 5’6 and 5’7 which is right on the bubble for small and medium. Currently on a small soul with wide bars and a 50 stem

Take a look at the Transition Bandit and Trek Fuel EX.

I tried them earlier on in the year and really liked them. The Fuel EX was a bit more composed and had a 50/50 balance between climbing and decending. The Bandit was a slight bit more orientated to descending but just felt so much more fun to ride and was the one that I went for.

Giant Trance also gets good reviews and fits in with your requirements.

I didn’t really ask in there as I assumed it would be Specializeds and judging from there ridiculously biased stock they would almost certainly be 29ers. If I am around that way tomorrow I will pop in and ask though.

I haven’t ridden one but people seem to love ’em. I would say small but there is a degree of personal preference. I’m 5’10 and currently ride a 16″ Blue pig but that has a long top tube so to compensate I have ordered a Medium Covert. I think reach is the thing to size on, you can always put the saddle up.

John