So, the Kona Process looks like it's going… WTF comes in next though.

We can sit here and debate the why, the what etc but in simple terms, it’s not the right bike IMO for what i really want and need.

But the discussion moves more towards what will/should replace it

I’ve been discussing the Commencal Meta AM29 i sold to Beanie with him, but he’s doing his best to put me off it hahahaha. It’s sounding at the moment like it’s had a tough life since it left me, so may need a bit/lot of TLC. Not that i’m against that idea, it’s not beyond my skills etc.

The other thoughts are based along the same lines really. a deg68 head angle 29er.

There’s a YETI SB-95, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331985686125?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
I’m trying to get a price for a buy it now from them… but i think that would suit really well.

There’s a higher spec than Beanies Meta AM29
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282201902536?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Then a Specialized Enduro Comp 29
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282196608980?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I think realistically these are more the sort of bike i’m going to gell with, the sort i’m going to be happy with and enjoy more.

So it’s just a question really of which/what/recommendations/ideas really guys.

Other things sitting in the list are Whyte T129, Specialized Camber but they’re a bit ‘Fish’ really. Whereas the others above are like the Fish on steroids.

WHat’s wrong with the Process? Struggling to understand what a 29er Enruro will give yo that the Process wouldn’t

And why does that Commencal say “Upgraded 650b” in the title?

Nothing until your ribs are healed and you can actually try to ride it like it needs to be ridden? All those bikes are equally ‘big’ in terms of downhill ability and won’t be light unless you throw a lot of money at them…

You read this? https://dirtmountainbike.com/bike-reviews/trail-enduro-bikes/specialized-enduro-29-six-ways-three-wheels-sizes.html

Also assuming the Process is a 111, don’t sell it, I don’t need another on the market that I have to resist buying.

the Process is a weird one for me. Due to the long low slack setup, with quite a laid back seatpost it just feels, a bit weird. With the long front end it feels a bit disjointed and the front doesn’t seem to flow well, it’s like you move the front of the bike and then the rear, whereas with say the MetaAM29 it’s more just all 1 bike, not 2 halves.

The top-tube feels too long, but the bike feels too small at the same time…

It doesn’t really feel like a bike i can use day-to-day, and in some ways of course it never should be. ut that’s my mistake and decision i made at the time, maybe i’m asking it to be something it was never designed to be.

From reading your posts I would think you’d be better off with a carbon Stumpy than an Enduro. The Stumpy Evo has a 68ish degree HA (the old model)

Smuggler ?

Are you related to Renton by any chance?

sillyoldman – Member

Are you related to Renton by any chance?

No, but i don’t see why it’s such a weird one, not all bikes are right for all people, just because the Process is a brilliant machine, doesn’t mean it’s a brilliant machine for everyone.

Jeffsy?

New Spark.
https://www.scott-sports.com/gb/en/products/249541008/SCOTT-Spark-900-Premium-Bike

weeksy

the Process is a weird one for me. Due to the long low slack setup, with quite a laid back seatpost it just feels, a bit weird.

FYI, the Command Post on the Enduro has a ridiculous amount of layback. You could of course swap it for one without as much but I’m not sure if the frame geometry is setup for a layback post

This is worth a look: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/nukeproof-mega-290-review-2016.html

I’ve got the same process as you Weeksy.

It’s a pig uphill unless you’ve got the legs to thrash it up, it can feel a bit sloggy on the flat. I really like the long front for descending technical big mountains, but it’s way too much bike for trailcenters (cwm carn, afan primarily). The short rear end is awesome for squaring corners and rear wheel steering. Jumps like nothing else i’ve ridden. The shock can take some serious fiddling with pressures and other setting to get it feeling it’s best in my opinion.

I still love mine though, i wish they’d hurry up and bring carbon version. 😀

obvious 29er with a ‘shorter’ tt is tallboy lt

but why limit yourself to 29er?

That’s an interesting one…

It COULD be argued it’s less bike than i WANT in some ways, but also VERY hard to argue it’s not the exactly correct bike for what i NEED.

https://www.granarycycles.com/product/2016-specialized-camber-comp-29/

llama – Member

obvious 29er with a ‘shorter’ tt is tallboy lt

but why limit yourself to 29er?

I guess it’s just personal preference over the last few years mostly, it also give good interchangability between parts should something break etc as i’ve got spare wheels.

But that said, i’ve got spare 650B wheels too, so i’ve got nothing against 650B. But i’ve ridden mostly 29ers for the past 4-5 years from a Giant XTC29, Spearfish, MetaAM29, Charge Cooker and recently the new Parkwood i’ve bought. So it’s in some ways, ‘what you’re used to and enjoy’

P.S, just because i don’t reply directly to you guys, don’t think i’m ignoring your posts, it’s just that i’m picking up some particular parts/questions that i can comment upon.

Remedy 29? I’m a fanboi obviously but it’s very good, if you can find a used one at a sensible price. One of those where 140mm inexplicably feels totally reasonable for blue routes or for downhill, shouldn’t really work but it does.

OTOH it is a bit ugly, and you can’t really get excited about Trek.

Camber is decent but I couldn’t find any reason not to get a stumpy instead, the shorter travel just doesn’t seem to have much advantage except for the “less travel- makes things harder” thing. I think mostly just because it’s not an especially great pedaller.

Is this post about bikes?

It’s the only #enduro bike i’ve ridden so my experience is very limited. I’ve had it since 2014 so i’ve probably got used to it’s eccentricities.

My other bike is a rowdy 29er HT (fireeye hot tail or something) which by comparison feels has a very short TT when sat climbing.

One thing i hate about it is the width of the chainstays, my trailing left ankle is always screaming after a few days of riding. I’ve taken to sticking a rolled up sock in my sock to protect my ankle bone.

OK, joining in the battle then….

http://www.leisurewheels.co.uk/m1b3s1p13216/SPECIALIZED-Stumpjumper-FSR-Comp-29-2016/RS_GB/51434
Stumpy29 Comp.

The Orange segment which is bursting the budget a bit… but not more than i can manage
http://www.jejamescycles.com/orange-segment-pro-full-suspension-mountain-bike-2015.html

There’s also a very reduced Trek Fuel
http://www.jejamescycles.com/trek-fuel-ex-9-7-29er-mountain-bike-2014.html But being a M it may be a smidgen too small.

I imagine we’re falling into the whole, try before you buy arena here.

I love my Bird Aeris but it’s too much bike a lot of the time (especially here in the FoD as I’m not troubling the DH runs at any speed..). I think these look great: http://www.bird.bike/new-aeris-120-pre-order/ and while you have to buy new, they are excellent value. And you can get a test ride.

I very nearly bought one but went: http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/flareMAX instead which will run chubby or 29. Mate tried the standard 27.5 one and loved it. Again you’d probably struggle to find a second hand one tho. Sam @ Cotic runs round the country doing demos and it was after one of those I decided the flare max was for me.

Both have quite long front ends tho which I like being a SLC (Stumpy Legged Chimp).

You want the new shape Segment like me. It’s ace.

Check out this one:

http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=3647&category_id=143

Look in the size options and you can upgrade to 1×11 SLX for £75. Then add the 10% discount code and it comes out at £2046. Bargain considering the current frame with custom colour is £1600 on it’s own.

Oh, and mine turned up with better rims, Deore brakes, the current black Fox shock and current Orange spec SDG Belair. 😉

They also have some of the older Segments that might take the discount code.

Leading the running then is the

http://www.leisurewheels.co.uk/m1b3s1p13216/SPECIALIZED-Stumpjumper-FSR-Comp-29-2016/RS_GB/51434

Stumpy FSR Comp 29.

It’s got all the right bits hanging on it, dropper post etc too which is nice and at £1650 new is a great price IMO

2nd on the list is the Yeti SB95, but could quite easily move to the top if i could win it on Ebay for a decent price. Also comes with a very nice dropper too.

How tall are you Weeksy? Flange has what sounds like a very nice Remedy for sale in the classifieds for around the money you’re talking.

6’0 give or take an inch.

i’ve tried a couple of XLs over the years and they’ve felt too big. But thanks for the idea 🙂

Did you sell your spearfish frame seeing as you are not answering on classifieds? 🙂

Ah sorry Devs… Not seen a question. I gave the whole bike to a mate i’m afraid.

Trance, Remedy, Scout, Process 134, Stumpjumper, Stereo 140, 5010, Meta TR, etc.

Plenty of good 130/140mm 650b travel bikes.

If it were a 29″, i’s be looking at the newer breed of shorted travel, more trails geometry based stuff rather than the older style of bike.

I never really gelled with Enduro 29er. It was a great bike and plenty fast but my feeling with it wasn’t good.

Perhaps you need smaller wheels, or bigger tyres?

Overbiked?

Could keep it Kona with a 2016 hei hei trail DL in the sale?

I just bought one – I ride south downs / north downs(peaslake) etc, trail centres and rare forays to alps and pyrenese all in a very non enduro way – ie ride up and down all day, without a gopro but with a garmin 😉

Hei hei’s sensible modern geometry and equipped for peddling up and downhill its more capable than I am. Clearly a light frames not going to take big hits like the process but neithers a camber.

Wanting the ‘big hits’ and the super tough riding is one thing, being able to manage it is something completely different.

When i owned the Commencal MetaAM29 i always felt it was WAY more than capable compared to me, but i had another Spearfish and a Charge Cooker so felt 3 similar 29ers was a bit too much. Hence the Meta got sold.

I’m trying not to make the same mistake as with the Kona and going to ‘new school’ hence having my thoughts at the Yeti, Meta, Stumpy, etc, rather than say the Whyte T130 which i rode and was quite similar in a bad way to the Kona.

I don’t have any affiliation/leaning towards a particular manufacturer and i don’t really feel the need to rule any out either.

The ones on the list now are all around the same sort of basis of geometry, budget, components etc.

I potentially have someone coming for the Kona tonight, so if that all goes through i should be ordering something tomorrow.

Just to muddy things further, the Vitus Escarpe 29er is good. Similar to the stumpjumper in terms of travel

I’m just on CRCs website actually looking at what they have.

I have to admit apart from seeing them about at times i don’t know much about Vitus bikes. But whilst on CRC the Zesty AM and XM looked pretty… Sadly seem to suffer from PFBB issues on the reviews… but… Hmmm.

I must say, the Escarpe seems to have very nice specs. But at 14.2kg it seems heavy, especially as the review of the Zesty XM has that as being just 12.5kg…

Weight isn’t massively a factor in any decisions to be made… but if i can get a great bike along with it being a big lighter, then it’s all well and good

http://www.jmtb.co.uk/lapierre-zesty-xm-327-2016.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjw7Ne_BRDRmP2ojKfzv98BEiQAPuqPyTXP6B0HjU1uGl8aka1eDbm6SXQuUl-ZfDPbrgdDTAwaAmyC8P8HAQ

Sadly, reading up a bit more on the Geometry of the Zesty XR, it’s actually fairly similar in both Reach and TT to the PRocess 153, with a 67deg HT angle too, making me think i’d only be opening a can of worms and it not being terribly different to the Kona.

transition smuggler

Way over budget i’d expect before i even begin to Google.

Looks like the deal on the Kona is going ahead tonight then.

The shortlist is now 3

1. http://www.leisurewheels.co.uk/m1b3s1p13216/SPECIALIZED-Stumpjumper-FSR-Comp-29-2016/RS_GB/51434
Spec FSR 29

2. http://www.leisurewheels.co.uk/m1b3s1p13165/SPECIALIZED-Stumpjumper-FSR-Comp-650b-2016
Spec 650B FSR comp

3. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331985686125?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Unless something astounding other than these jump out at me, then i think these are the way forward. I can sit here and look and look from a GT Sensor, to the ZestyXM to the Scott Genius 750… but the truthful answer is, i don’t really know… i’m guessing that within certain limitations i’ll just accept it and get used to what it is..

SB95 is the wrong colour, DISQUALIFIED.

Hahahahaha, good point.. but DAMN it’s nice isn’t it.

The only argument with it is that i’m borderline too tall potentially for it. I’ve owned a few Mediums in the past and ridden a few others. My Hardrock sport was fine, my Bionicon Supershuttle was possibly a smidgen small, my mates Zesty is TINY !