So I have managed to save some money for a new bike but I can’t make up my mind. I have sort of narrowed it down to a Jeffsy Al base 29 or a Stumpjumper Comp 29 12 Speed.

What would STW choose and why? Alternative choice welcome.

Riding is mostly Epping Forest but with some trips up north as well.

Of those 2 it’d be the Jeffsy for me, simply because I don’t like the Stumpjumper’s non-symmetrical frames.

Jeffsy will most likely have better spec, Stumpjumer will have better geometry and warranty support.

IF you’re the sort who’ll upgrade a few things over time anyway, I’d definitely go Stumpjumper

The Jeffsy has slightly lower spec. SX Eagle against NX and a Yaris RC fork versus a Fox Rhythm 34.

I’m not sure I’m the sort of rider who would be able to really tell the difference between suspension components

Well I know Epping Forest fairly well, and I’d suggest going for the best pedaling bike you can find – and perhaps even considering shorter travel 29er.

If I were living down there again I’d have a 120-130mm FS as my main bike, perhaps with a longer fork.

Considered an Orange at all? How tall are you?

I have had an Orange but can’t afford a brand new one. 2K is about the budget.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record…

https://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/giant-trance-29-2.html

£1800 short travel 29er. Not cutting edge geometry but great pedalling and climbing bikes

Bit over your price but this would tempt me with 30% off

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Stumpjumper-FSR-ST-Comp-Carbon-29er-Mountain-Bike-2019-Trail-Full-Suspension-MTB_201332.htm?sku=606902&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnL7yBRD3ARIsAJp_oLaTNN6UBZjpxWDJX1KJI33QQyEsYe9I1z7s4_3TAQSX61zbmVZ3ZT8aAh2CEALw_wcB#

If something goes wrong it will be sorted a lot quicker than most others, and you get a SWAT box.

I have had an Orange but can’t afford a brand new one. 2K is about the budget.

Ah sorry, I assumed about £3k from the price of that stumpy but I may have been looking at the wrong one (carbon frame).

Anyway, you may want to consider one of these at a little over £2k, but I’d suggest sizing up and adding offset bushings…

https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/orange-stage-5-pro-29er-2019-bike

I know someone selling a 2018 specialised enduro (Elite, I Think) that live close to epping forest.

Some nice suggestions there. Not making this any easier though.

Also a regular Epping rider.  Both of those bikes will work well around Epping but my question would be….  ….will you go to other trail centres?   Epping doesn’t need all that travel as chakaping suggests but it won’t do any harm to have it in hand should you be off to Afan a couple of times a year for example.

Nothing wrong with your choices, go with your heart because you’ll be thrown up loads of bikes on this thread of which yours will be equally as capable.

@Kryton. I should have said. I have a hardtail I use mostly for Epping. This bike is for Epping in summer but also for away days. I have ridden the hardtail at BPW and a few other centres and while it is doable it’s not as enjoyable as it could be.

I wasn’t trying to be a bike fascist about it, we used to ride Epping on enduro bikes (before they were called that), and look for all the rooty bits.

If you have a regular bike for there then a 140 or 150mm bike might make more sense, I agree.

Ah.  Well im riding a clockwork evo over the winter and id ride my FS during the summer also.  But, i race so i have a Scott Spark.

Given the rest either of your bikes or anything in th 140-150mm range would be great.  Some are better at climbing, some heavier… its your choic .  You get great value from on of the new Vitus FS bikes on CRC though, might be worth a look.

What about the equivalent Canyon? A mate bought a Neuron last year (to replace a stumpjumper funnily enough) and he absolutely loves it.

Ah. Well im riding a clockwork evo over the winter and id ride my FS during the summer also. But, i race so i have a Scott Spark

I’ll bring my stage 4 down when I’m visiting next, should be perfect for Epping and Broxbourne.

You guys are not making this any easier. Was out today. Some places you really needed a canoe rather than a bike.

I like some of the Vitus bikes but a couple of the guys I know have or have had them and the quality of some of the frames has left a little to be desired. They are great value for money though.

Must admit that Orange is very tempting. Just wish they had a large in Orange.

Is FS actually needed? You could open up spec choice further with a HT on that budget.

Yes, Not for Epping so much but more for away days.

OK, What about Bird then, not ridden any but owners seem to like them.

Must admit that Orange is very tempting. Just wish they had a large in Orange.

They have it in Sterling Silver or Charcoal Black though – two of the best-looking colours.

OK, What about Bird then, not ridden any but owners seem to like them.

Nice but budget is around the 2K mark

I’m kind of in the same boat as you in that I have the cash for a £2k bike now and the Jeffsy is tempting but I’m waiting a few more months until I can afford a Ripmo af.
Ibis Ripmo AF comes in at around £2800 if you shop around as there are a couple of online stores doing 10% off. There aren’t many better pedalling full sus bikes than a dw linked bike. Plus ibis have got the budget bike nailed by using great suspension, wheels and tyres on all models.

https://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=9563&13283=61524&13284=61528&13285=61530

I’ll bring my stage 4 down when I’m visiting next, should be perfect for Epping and Broxbourne.

Let me know if you’re up for a riding buddy Chakaping.

Let me know if you’re up for a riding buddy Chakaping.

That would be nice, will do.

🙂

For£2000 I bet you’d love a 2019 Giant Trance 29.

Ideally after a bit more travel than the Trance.

Epping Forest is my weekly haunt and I would also advise a Single Pivot Orange unless you are quite handy with Pivot bearing changes.

Calibre sentry gets good reviews and look good spec for 1600 quid.Similar travel to stump jumper comp.hold there price well too I reckon.

I also quite like the look of Orbea Occam H30. Any thoughts on these?

Sunset MTB have the Orange 4 for 2k or the Stage 4 for 2.5k.

How about a Bird Aeris AM 145 Comes in under the £2k, or the Bird AM9 which is a smidge over.

I think I might have to save a bit more or sell a kidney. 🙂

Luckily it’s still pretty grim out there so no rush to get it just yet.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Tbh it’s a bit easier if you stick to a reasonable 2 – 2.5k budget, add more money and the choice gets harder, the Trance for 1800 is a mega value bike and will cope with a lot more than its travel would suggest.

I thought I would provide some feedback n this. Thank you all for your suggestions. After all that I went for a Orbea Occam H20 witht the SLX build. Got a really good price as well. Bike arrived yesterday and I’m pretty happy with it.

Really impressed with Orbea’s attention to detail and the finnish on the alloy frame is impressive. It actually looks like a carbon frame with no sign of welds anywhere. CAn’t wait to ride it but will be putting that off till closer to the end of the month when we go to BPW.

Once again thanks for all the help and suggestions.

Lucky you.. My M10 is arriving next week, been waiting since the beginning of Nov last year.

Would love to hear some ride impressions once you get out on it. Will probably post some of mine once I’ve had it a few weeks as well.

Nice choice. I demoed the Rallon and came close to buying that but stuck at 27.5. Enjoy.