I’m looking at a Genesis Mantle 10 as my return to mountain biking, my previous (and current) being an old rigid steel framed Diamondback Topanga!

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I can’t find any reviews on the Mantle 10 as it’s pretty new, Genesis seem to be a decent brand from other bike reviews I’ve read and the bike I tested felt good and looked lovely. I enjoyed the feel of the 29er wheels too.

Ultimately I’m asking whether the bike is a good buy?

Get a test ride and a leg over one at your bike shop.

They look pretty decent and well designed. We have a 20 on range and it seems to be getting some good comments.

Already tried it, nice ride, but then not being massively experienced I’m probably easy to please!

Do Genesis generally get their bikes right?

We stock them cause they are ‘right’. Seriously – they seem to get it right everytime.

Have an i0iD and have ridden mates’ alptitudes, cores… All seem well thought out and good to ride, not the most glamorous or eye-catching. I’d bet most of their bikes are similar, though the weight puts me off their steel cx and road ones.

Cool, I’m coming from heavy steel frame, rigid forks and very ineffective cantilever brakes so it seemed very high tech and smooth to me!

Not tried a Mantle but own a Core and its ace. Concur with TBC, they just feel “right”

i’ve a 2010 Alpitude………………Awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’ve got a 2012 Latitude – its been great this year, one thing that I have noticed (and am a little disappointed about) is that on mine the paint is quite thin and marks easily (if that sort of thing bothers you), but then again its head plenty of use this year!

I like my Fortitude SS. Only ridden a couple of times but felt ‘right’ straight away.

They’re great bikes – the only thing I’d say is that Mantle 10 is designed as a ‘race’ bike so unless you’re racing it might be worth looking at something less racey?

The body position felt pretty hardcore but still comfy, the shop suggested adding a longer stem to make it more everyday useful.

Would you not want to go shorter in the stem to move your body slightly more upright & less racey?

spec and geometry (and description) look bang on for trail riding. Lovely looking bikes. I’d stick with the stem as it is for now until you’ve ridden it for a while – I certainly wouldn’t think it would need longer – the top tube lengths are nice and generous.

got a 2011 core 40, love it.

Although the back wheel did fail on mine when I was up a aviemore a few months after I bought it, completely cracked right around the diameter of the the rim, quite nasty actualy.

Had to buy on new back wheel from bothy bikes while I was up there to continue the trip.

No idea if that’s just a one off or not, but thought I’d mention.

I recently got my hands on an ex display genesis core 26.5 for a bargain price on eBay and I can honestly say it is the nicest bike a have ever owned, it handles beautifully and is a pure pleasure to ride!! You couldnt go wrong with one, the only thing I would say is that I haven’t tried the new mantles as they are 29ers?? But they will probably be brilliant!

Theres a 19 inch mantle 10 on ebay with two days to go and its three hundred?

Got a Altitude 30 and have been really happy with it. Got rid of those terrible Continental Mountain King tyres, changed the bars to 750mm and will be swapping the stem to a shorter 55mm one, but if I’m being honest or didn’t need it. Has made it feel more gnarr though 8)

Seeing as no-one else has put a picture of theirs up, I’ll break the ice.

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Genesis by Jonathan Roch, on Flickr[/img]

Genesis FTW

Yes, I do love my Genesis bikes! I’ve had iO ID and older iO SS – definitelly worth considering as they’re all have quite relaxed geo and I’ve got a weak spot for steel! Still toying with the idea of building up a Croix de Fer and probably the Alpitude if it’s poss to convert to 650b.

Genesis for the win.
Just rebuilt my Altitude, after a visit to the powder coater – It’s just so much fun to ride.
Can’t see the Mantle being any different – they just seem to get their bikes right.

I’ve got a Core 40 and so has my gf. Really happy with them, lighter and quicker than my Maverick. I would strongly recommend.

I have a core 30 and the frame has handled everything iv thrown at it without flinching iv even done some DH on it and I’m a big guy and its never failed. There frames are amazing. James Olsen who designed the core and others at genesis now designes for pinnacle for Evans and the iroko is the same geo as a core and is miles better speced for the money.

here’s my core 40, complete with replacement back wheel.

My Abyss built up from a frame, great wee bike, atlhough It has me lusting after its steel brother, the aptitude

My Altitude Ti…

Have had this bike for ages now (and the 853 steel version that preceded it), and much as I keep toying with getting a newer bike, I love this one so much I don’t want to sell it! It just feels “right”.

I have had a mantle for about 3 weeks, and for the most part it is a great bike. The only issue I have had is that the stock tires are too wide for the frame, it has rubbed paint off the seat stays which pissed me off a bit (I am still waiting on Madison for touch up paint). I changed the tires to 2.0 racekings which seem fine for clearance.

— the iroko is the same geo as a core and —

Not quite the same 🙂 but a similar kind of bike yes.

Agree with previous post set up (Fortitude) feel good, however disappointing with paint finish, cable wore through to bare metal in one ride.

My wife and I share an iO singlespeed. It’s OK.
It looks nice, it’s reasonably well made, the handling is neutral.
But it’s heavy, and very, very sluggish uphill and the paint is falling off in big lumps. I’ve changed the very heavy OE tyres but it’s still lardy, and 1/2lb heavier than my ’93 Explosif which has heavier tyres and 24 gears.
We don’t ride it much and I can see it being the next bike to be got rid of. It’s just uninspiring.