Mid travel FS 29er options

Have decided to replace my trusty 2010 Epic with a 29er for XC and winter duties. Regular ride is a Bronson with 160mm floats and offset bushings so fairly slack, but it’s light and pedals well. I want something to complement this but not really compete with it. Out with mates at the weekend who’ve all gone 29er now so rode a couple. Loved the Stumperjumper FSR – 130mm but felt very different to the Bronson, but didn’t like the Trek Superfly – 100mm – felt very ‘old school’ but this was possibly as my mate is very tall so he has a long stem fitted.

Don’t want to go too crazy money wise as it’s my spare bike really, so used or maybe £3k if new (with a view to a sale bargain bringing that down closer to £2k). Trek Fuel EX has been mentioned although I test rode an EX 7 last week and it felt very heavy (maybe just the wheels?).

Anything else I should consider?

Plan B is just to get a second set of wheels for the Bronson and keep the Enves for XC and Trail Centres and then get a burlier (cheaper) set of wheels for DH stuff…

Specialized Camber? My mate loves his.
Orange Segment? IMO always ride lighter then the scales suggest.

Even an alloy Stumpy Evo will have you questioning what the Bronson is good at.

JCL could have a point there, a decent 130mm 29er will definitely give the Bronson a run for its money.

Have you tried a 29er HT? A modern-geometry one would make a good contrast to the Bronson IMO.

Even an alloy Stumpy Evo will have you questioning what the Bronson is good at.

Hence why I don’t want to get something like a Stumpy Evo! I got back on the Bronson yesterday and instantly preferred it to both the bikes I had just ridden, even at XC stuff, but it cost more than both of them put together and I fancy having a cheaper bike for winter duties I think.

Haven’t ridden a 29er HT but didn’t like my last hardtail (Whyte 19) as it just gave me backache!

In typical the STW style of recommending what you have – I’d say an On-One Codeine, it’s ace, but as chakaping mentions it would give the Bronson a run for it’s money.

A 29er hardtail would be a very good bet, but then again that’s how I wound up with a 29er FS as well after riding my Big Top small wheels felt very slow!

Or how about one of these…..

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/66808/Kona_Process_111_29er_2014_Bike_B14PR111LG?gclid=COeFlt-OpcICFS_MtAodXFMAKg

Recommend what you own again: Devinci Atlas Carbon.

The frame is sublime, fantastic finish, with a really great bottomless feel to the travel. It’s only 110 mm, but feels a lot more, especially as you can pair it with a 100-140mm fork. The frame also has reversible chips that can drop everything by 1 degree. Slacked off, with a 120mm fork (SIDrct3) and a dropper, it’s more than capable on trail centre/ upland terrain, good up hill and down, surprisingly good on smallish jumps and drops.

There is one proviso: the standard spec is terrible- I bought a 2013 bike heavily reduced from Freeborn, with OEM easton wheels, a 100mm fox float fork, X7/9 drivetrain, Formula RX brakes and a 100mm stem…! The only thing that has survived is the handlebar and headset. I sold the lot straight off the bike, which meant i basically paid for a heavily discounted frame.

It now has American Classic AM wheels, XT groupset and 120 SIDs, much more in keeping with the capability of the frame.

The usual I’ve got one of these so it’s great posts.

Switchback Unveil 9

A lot cheaper than my Trek Rumblefish Pro but (in my not so great riding ability opinion) a better bike to ride.

Commencal Meta AM2 29er, £1650 reduced price, Medium only, Fishface cycles.

I only asked if you’ve tried a 29er HT because I find mine way more confy and capable than the 26in HT I had before. It just smooths everything out.

And being an alu HT it’s pretty light despite the big wheels.

It did make me buy a FS 29er though!

I see, another of these “recommend your own” threads:

As above, stumpy would be a direct replacement for your bronson, so then you’ll be cutting back to the camber evo, just picked one up, rocket with massive capability, so reckon any 110-120ish capable 29er is still going to give your bronson a run for its money.

Also as above thinking you’re into 29er HT category for something significantly different that will compliment what you’ve got.

That or sell the bronson and get an actual big bike.

What riding do you actually do?

There is a good test report on 3000 euro FS touring bikes in one of my German mags. 4 bikes get a “very Good” rating, the Treck Superfly FS 9, the Scott Spark 930, the Cube AMS 100 Super HPC Race 29 and the Canyon Lux CF 29 7.9. Overall test weinner was the Canyon.

I have not ridden any of them but I love my Kinesis FF29 HT. Not ridden my FS since I got it.

i’d agree with the comments above, there’s little point getting a bike that’s very similar to you current bike.

different is good, similar is daft.

…didn’t like my last hardtail (Whyte 19) as it just gave me backache!

get one that fits, run sensible pressures, and stand up more.

deanfbm – Member
As above, stumpy would be a direct replacement for your bronson, so then you’ll be cutting back to the camber evo, just picked one up, rocket with massive capability, so reckon any 110-120ish capable 29er is still going to give your bronson a run for its money.

Also as above thinking you’re into 29er HT category for something significantly different that will compliment what you’ve got.

That or sell the bronson and get an actual big bike.

What riding do you actually do?

I have toyed with the idea of selling the Bronson and getting a 140mm 29er and a proper DH rig, but to be honest I don’t think I’d use the DH rig enough to justify owning it. I ride Swinley a lot and this is where I think the 120mm ish 29er would be ideal as although I do like to session the fast bits and play in the jump gulley, most of the time it’s just pedalling! The Bronson is so light and pedals so well though that even if it’s a bit slack, I don’t think I’d be any quicker on my mates Stumpy 29er FSR and it wouldn’t be as much fun in the air.

I ride Aston Hill quite a lot but don’t really find I need anything more than the Bronson for that and always like riding back up again for the training. I also do uplift days a few times a year at FOD and BPW where again, the Bronson is ideal and then an annual trip to Europe where I might occasionally yearn for a DH rig, but like to do big ‘enduro’ days mainly (where again, the Bronson is ideal!).

What I want is a bike to use on the muddy 2-3 hour winter rides where the prospect of grinding the XX1 cassette is too painful and although as I type this I think a slack 29er HT is sounding more and more ideal, I wonder if maybe a 100mm 29er frame but with 120mm forks (or a Camber!) might fit the bill perfectly.

It’s good to talk!

Sounds like a Camber would be ideal. Maybe with a super lightweight build rather than the more chunky Evo version? Or taking that even further, maybe an Epic?

One of THESE? Other colours available also. 🙂

moshimonster – Member
Sounds like a Camber would be ideal. Maybe with a super lightweight build rather than the more chunky Evo version? Or taking that even further, maybe an Epic?

I sort of converted my 2010 Epic 26er into an Evo by fitting 120mm Reba’s! Guess I could do the same again with a 29″ version…

What do people think of the Fuel EX 29er?

The Switchback frame above with a 140mm fork would be a cheap but very good option (I’ve ridden one extensively and it’s very capable and versatile).

It’d also give you a good idea whether you wanted to keep smaller wheels. The places you ride, I can see why you might want to.

I ride Swinley a lot and this is where I think the 120mm ish 29er would be ideal as although I do like to session the fast bits and play in the jump gulley, most of the time it’s just pedalling

my rigid 29er (kona unit) is still tons of fun in the jump gulley at swinley
infact, Im struggling to see the point of any rear suspension at swinley these days, although Id like some sus forks when funds allow

Hmmm, just started googling Ti 29er hardtails… This could get expensive!

My feeling is that a lot of the suggest what you have suggestions are erring on the side of trail/all mountain/enduro.

OP I read it that you are really looking for a capable xc bike.

I have tried a Superfly but felt it was very xc race focused.

The best lightweight and fast yet capable of so much more 29ers I have ridden are the Lapierre XR in carbon, super fast and in need of a 120mm fork to fully release its overall trail potental. But for me the number one was the Pivot Mach429 carbon, solid as a mature oak with sublime suspension for both pedalling and terrain swallowing. I would absolutely beef up the fork to a 120mm but i’d go with burlier than a Fox 32 or Rock Shox Rev… then you would have a bike that rocked!!

Both a bit pricey but with end of season deals and bike shops open to offers I reckon you could have a dream machine for your 3K… it’d be some winter hack!

I am a fan of steel hardtails too and that is my next project, 29er and a 130/140mm fork.

Stanton Sherpa looks quite tasty too, I’d like a go on one of them.

Banshee phantom is worth a look 105mm rear and up to 140 on the front. You should be able to build a decent one for 3k.

Whyte 29c and Syntace P6 flex post. HT with surprising comfort.

sprocker – Member
Banshee phantom is worth a look 105mm rear and up to 140 on the front. You should be able to build a decent one for 3k.

Now I do like the look of that….

100mm 29er frame but with 120mm forks

Again recommending what I own BUT

Rocky Mountain Element 950 29er 120 mm frks and 98 mm rear travel

sold my Turner Sultan as the Rocky was better every where, well it climbs better, singletrack flew and more interesting downhill _ the Turner steamrolled everything.

Rode the Fred Whitton on it as well with cx tyres, just a really fab bike and looks great!

Transition smuggler might be an idea? Similar to a banshee phantom I think. Not the lightest but looks a fun bike! You’ll be surprised at what the shorter travel 29ers are capable of. I’ve spent a lot of time on a tallboy and sometimes it makes me question why I’ve got a Nomad!

Plenty of food for thought – thanks all. Need to get some test rides organised I think. Am now thinking I should give a ti hardtail a try too.

As a late to the thread suggestion…

Trek fuel ex 29er

Just bought one myself, is my 2nd 29er, having previously had the trek stache hardtail (slack, low BB, 120mm fork).

The fuel is really nice, 120mm f&r, handles Xc rides perfectly, but also happy to be jumped/ragged.

2015 model has 1×11, reverb, UST ready wheels, other than swapping for a shorter stem, and dumping the bontrager XR3 tyres, it was ready to go out the box. Have been dead impressed with it. Only complaint press fit BB, but same applies with Spez.

I did look at the camber evo by Spez, but the spez range goes either £2500 jumping up to £4k, where Trek has a lot more in between models to suit more budgets.

The HA feels like it could loose 0.5/1degree, but otherwise its perfect.
The stock bontrager rhythm comp wheels seem pretty solid, proper UST ready (don’t need rim tape), stiff, just a tad lardy.
The trek rear shock with the clever valving works really well, is the best shock I’ve tried (having had a CCDB coil shock before).

I came from a SC blur TRc to this and prefer the trek by far.
My other bike’s a Stanton slackline ti, so its a nice balance against a short ride on the hardtail, or knocking out a decent distance on the 29er.

Hope this helps as food for thought…

If you are after a winter bike, why not get a single pivot?

The Superlight may be worth a look. Same geo as the tallboy, which is a fun bike, and only 2 bearings to maintain.