Currently pondering a new bike to compliment my Chromag Rootdown…for use at BPW, Alps, Peaks.

Looking at 29er full bouncers in the 140-160mm rear travel range, Slack (65ish HA), long (470-480mm Reach), etc.  Descending focused

Budget – under 3k pref under 2.5k

YT Capra 29 AL – Pro: Good Spec, Lyrik Con: no test ride

Bird Aeris AM29 – Pro: Custom spec, Lyrik Con: not cheap

Transition Sentinel – Pro: Geo looks spot on Con: “Only” 140mm, Yari

Cotic RocketMax (suspect there will be new longer, slacker version Longshot imminent)  would do a build using spare wheels (pretty sure I can get adaptors), reasonably priced gears and bargain hunt some forks.    Pro: Steel Con: expensive

Nukeproof Mega 290 Comp Pro: Reasonably priced Con: seem to be like hens teeth

Vitus Escarpe 29 VRX Pro: Great spec Con: Only 140mm

Kona Process 153 29 Pro: that green Con: spec not great relatively speaking

Marin Alpine Trail 7 Pro: Cheap, Min/Maxed spec, Geo Con: Yari, it’s a Marin

Intense Carbine Foundation  Pro: Carbon Con: no test ride

Whyte S150 S

Commencal Meta AM29 Essential Pro: Extra 10mm travel, good spec Con: test rides?

Pole Evolink 158  Pro: mega long and slack Con: expensive, would have to do a custom build around existing wheels, bargain forks like the cotic. Would it fit on my bikeracks?

Trek Slash 8 Pro: errr Con:meh

Not sure Specialized do anything suitable that fits my budget.

I have ignored the expensive options of Geometrons, Santa Cruz, Rocky Mountain etc…

Any user reviews? What have a I missed?

My specialist subject! Some quick feedback from my own bike considering/demo-ing/owning…

YT Capra 29 AL – a contender if geometry suits

Bird Aeris AM29 – friend’s feedback underwhelming

Transition Sentinel – frame deals on merlin? geometry & suspension feel should make up for slightly shorter travel, it does on smuggler

Cotic RocketMax – new one was top of my list

Nukeproof Mega 290 – owned one, doesn’t pedal well

Vitus Escarpe 29 VRX Pro – looks very promising

Kona Process 153 29 Pro – bit minging and chainstays too short

Intense Carbine Foundation – dirt review said frame too harsh

Whyte S150 S – would like to try

Commencal Meta AM29 – I get a hernia just looking at it

Pole Evolink – had a very quick go on one, felt so alien I’d want a proper demo

Trek Slash – demo-ed, fast but bland, chainstays too short

Ended up building up a used Orange Stage 6, which is sensational – but expensive new and geometry perhaps slightly behind the curve now if you’re large but not XL. Otherwise I’d have 100% got the new Cotic.

I have a similar list always evolving.  The only bike I have on my list that’s not on yours is the Norco Range.  But it doesn’t get my heart racing in the same way as some others.

Very bargaintastic at the moment though with £650 off.  Down to £1,950.

https://www.evanscycles.com/norco-range-a2-29-2018-mountain-bike-EV306544

I have the Bird Aeris Am9. I think it’s awesome and reviews in the magazines are great too. Not sure what your friend doesn’t like about it?

From Bikeradar:

”Buy if: You want a top-spec trail and enduro riding 29er without paying big bucks”

Price is great too. For example, you mention “descending focused” So I did a quick check on the website, the NX11 build, upgraded with 150mm dropper, Lyrik RC2 front and Super Deluxe rear, 200/180mm rotors, is GBP 2800. How many other bikes can you get with a Lyrik and Piggyback shock, dropper post, and ability to customize the rest too(save money there), under GBP 3000?

Rickos – to be fair on the spreadsheet and I’m not sure why it missed out on the original posting.  External cable routing too, which in my view is a plus point!

I’ve just been looking at that Norco again and it’s got good geo, good spec, but it just looks a bit meh.  A steal at that price though.

Nice list and all bikes I’m interested in too.
I’ve noticed you can pick up the Whyte S150s for £2000 & S150CRS for £2900. Bit of a bargain to be honest..

Not sure Specialized do anything suitable that fits my budget.

Specialized enduro elite . Carbon rear end 29″ wheels. Lyriks. Around 160mm

Rides lovely

2500 quid down from 4200

Specialized enduro elite . Carbon rear end 29″ wheels. Lyriks. Around 160mm

Rides lovely

2500 quid down from 4200

Where are you seeing these?

I have the Bird Aeris Am9. I think it’s awesome and reviews in the magazines are great too. Not sure what your friend doesn’t like about it?

It would be unfair to go into detail, but luckily it’s not hard to demo one so people can decide for themselves.

The AM9 is probably really long if it’s like the Aeris 145. I expect only the Pole and Geometron are longer plus maybe Mondraker. It requires a different style of riding – I’ve found you need to be a bit more aggressive and get your weight forward more than some bikes. I love it but I could imagine it wouldn’t suit everyone.

I’m sat looking out of the window waiting for my 2019 Sentinal frame to be delivered at the end of October.

Where are you seeing these?

Got some spam the other day on them

But it looks like they’re out of stock:

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/specialized-enduro-elite-carbon-29-2017-mountain-bike-black_371835

Even leisurelakes, where I got mine for 2800 is out if stock. Pisstakingly good bike for the price.

Nwmtb seems to have one if Google is to be believed, but 3360, which is a lot

Ive got a smuggler 2018. The only other bike I would look at is a sentinel. Get a reduced 2018 frame and get sendy

I have Sentinel, and whilst only 10mm more travel on the back than my other bike, it really doesn’t ride like it.

For the last couple of years i’ve been riding and racing a Fuel EX, which I ran at 140F/130R. It ended up getting a bit beefed up, and kind of not then being a good trail bike. Then I cracked it. Trek gave me a new frame & i’ve built it back up to a lightweight trail bike again, so it’s under 26lbs & back to being awesome at that.

I had most of a full build in bits anyway, found an eBay bargain frame as I wanted to do this as a bit of a trial thing and punt it on if I didn’t like it, put a cheeky offer in, and it just so happened I got super lucky with the 20% off code they were running that day. Ended up paying really not a lot for a barely used 2018 frame in alloy. Built it up, and even with a high end build, it’s not light, just under 33lbs with pedals – but then Pinkbike reviewed the top spec Capra recently and that was 31lbs without pedals. To be honest, yes it is heavier than my Fuel, which was still sub 30lbs, even with a coil shock, but it’s a totally different bike to ride.

I wanted something a little more progressive in terms of geometry – but not stupid like the Pole/Geometron. I know how you have to get the best out of them, and IMO they ride like sh*t unless you are absolutely flat out, balls to the wall. The Sentinel is a bit of an inbetweener for me in that respect, it’s plenty slack enough, the steep SA compared to what i’m used to is really nice actually & it just feels like a nice bike to ride. There is no avoiding the fact it’s a big bike though and it’s certainly a spinner up the hills, compared to the Fuel which is now like a rocketship. However press on with it, and I can safely say it’s been a long time since i’ve ridden a bike that corners like the Sentinel, it’s savage. It’s not often I can relatively hop onto a bike an just get on with it, especially as I really didn’t like my old Patrol, and it really didn’t work for me. I’m racing it in an Enduro next weekend, then i’m off to Finale for the last round of the EWS which I plan to race it on, which will be fun on a bike i’ve only ridden 3/4 times 🙂

I guess I would try and ride as many of them as you can, you might find you love the super long stuff, you might find you hate it. I seem to have gotten lucky this time, and happy to keep both bikes for different reasons. And as a bonus the shop I ride for does Transition too, so if I really like it that much, i’ll get a carbon one for next years races!

Not sure Specialized do anything suitable that fits my budget.

Looking at 29er full bouncers in the 140-160mm rear travel range, Slack (65ish HA), long (470-480mm Reach), etc. Descending focused

Budget – under 3k pref under 2.5k

https://www.ukbikesdepot.com/m15b0s777p28825/Mountain_Bikes/29_inch_Full_Suspension_Mountain_Bikes/SPECIALIZED_Enduro_Elite_29_6Fattie_2018

Slightly more expensive than above but they do price match but this is a 2018 model.

Someone on here emailed them about a bike and they offered him a deal too good to refuse.

I wouldn’t discount the Intense Carbine based on someone above saying that the frame is too harsh as only one review has made a big thing about that.

I’ve got one with carbon wheels, stem and bars and don’t find it harsh at all and I’d never owned a bike with a carbon frame or wheels before.

I find it pedals really well despite being push and the suspension is progressive so doesn’t blow through it’s travel. It seems just as happy on long rides as messing about on steep stuff.

I’ve read a lot of reviews and this is definitely one of the more balanced ones:

https://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/mountain-bikes/full-suspension/product/intense-carbine-expert-review-52066/

not a 29er – but maybe interesting:

https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/radon-slide-150-8.0-713734

150/150 all mountain bike Radon Slide

1.7 k (!!!)

2×11 Shimano, RockShox fork and shock…

more about the bike:

https://www.radon-bikes.de/en/mountainbike/fullsuspension/slide-150/slide-150-80-2018/

I was part way through buying an S150s on my works’ c2w scheme after finding it ticked all my boxes but this may have had a spanner chucked in it by the finance department deciding to dick with the scheme without telling anyone.  I may find I can only buy from Evans (and on far worse terms).  I will get to the bottom of this on Monday I hope.

Stepping away from the personal rant, I think you may be overlooking Spesh.  Always the pessimist, I went looking to see what Evans could offer me and was distinctly underwhelmed until I took off the price filter.  The 2019 Stumpjumper Comp (2500 in Shimano SLX, 2600 in Eagle NX) looks like a bike that probably ticks my boxes pending handling one. If you really want to go nuts there’s a 36’s, Codes and 63.5 deg HA version (the Evo) at 3200…

I’m thinking the insanely slack Evo is more bike than I need and will fail at being a ‘one bike’ due to over-specialism at the HA, but the Comp looks very interesting.

Aside, I’m noting that NX Eagle is replacing GX Eagle in many ranges for 2019 with GX going upmarket. The effect is that rather than NX being Eagle for the masses it is allowing cheaper builds at a price point and therefore increased profit at same bike selling price. This makes me sad.  Not least because it loses the top gear back into 1×11 range and weighs so much more…

Latest Smugglers are lovely, but they haven’t fixed the rear tyre clearance. 2.3 and mud didn’t go on my 2017. Sentinel looks mighty. I bought my 2nd hand Aeris 120 off a bloke who was trading it for an AM9 after loving the test ride. You’ve got a fab list there, it’d be a whole lot of fun just riding them.

Only had the ‘old’ geo Cotic FS (Flare not a Rocket) but Cotic just don’t make bad bikes. I liked mine a lot. The new Geo on my SolarisMax is brilliant- sure it’s longer but you don’t need to be ‘balls to the wall to enjoy it’, I’m sure the RocketMax would be a heck of a lot of bike.

Obviously the right answer is ‘Ibis RipMo’ but they are stupid money.

2.4 maxxis fits fine in my 2018 smuggler.  2.5 on 2019 apparently.

sentinel for 3k here  on sale

https://brink.uk/outlet

smuggler and sentinel frames 1.5k

Fair enough, When I was looking at the new Carbon Smuggler at the bike show about this time last year, the rep told me it wasn’t any wider and 2.3 was the recommended maximum.

Anyway if they’ve fixed that and you can get a discounted one, it’d be a great choice.

2018 carbon yeah i think you are right. I dont have that luxury mind!

I have a 2.6 NN in the rear of my 17 Smuggler width is ok it’s close to the bridge of the seat stay by 2-3mm so just for Summer use

Scott Genius 940? 29er, 150mm travel, gx eagle, dropper post, modern geometry, travel adjust etc. 3100 seems to fit the bill.

Seen the Orange FS 29ers with going on for 30% discount so you might find one of them in budget if you’re interested?

Orbea Rallon M10 (different spec to above) can get for a little over £3k.

Looking at Fox 36 Performance elite, Fox Dpx2 Factory Kashima, SRAM GX Eagle, DT Swiss 30mm wheels, Maxxis DHF 3C, Aggressor TR, Brand X Dropper.

Full carbon frame.

That’s a lot of kit for the money. Arguably better than Canyon value.

I put the Scott Ransom on the spreadsheet as well as the Genius.

About 1lb in it weight wise and the Ransom in Climb mode apparently climbs very well.

Yes, the AM9 is long, it’s what I really like about it, but then I am 6’5” 😉

Still, if you want a shorter reach, you could size down, unless you are tiny, size “M” is 450mm reach, which is not that long for most men’s bikes.

The chainstay is a bit longer than most at 440mm, so less need to get crazy with weight shifts.

AM9 owner….ace bike, got an angleset and shorter offset lyriks (so same shape as a sentinel, but lighter and better suspension) , loads of fun, engaging, good and manuals and poppy despite the “long” rear end, works well on the flatter stuff as well as the steep stuff jumps well.

Had a similar list to you OP, but fully on board with the SBG style geo on a 29er the sentinel has, the AM9 and S150 are closest but the s150 has a rubbish spec imo so the AM9 won.

Now the SB150 and ransom have been released and looking more at the bold unplugged hmmmm mm.