Where’s your £4k going? New bike…

Keep hovering over a new FS bike and both of these are on my radar at the moment

Anyone ridden both?

2024 Stumpjumper Evo Expert

Frame FACT 11m carbon chassis and rear-end, asymmetrical design, 29/27.5″ Trail Geometry, SWAT™ Door integration

Fork FOX FLOAT 36 Performance Elite, GRIP2 damper

Stem Alloy Trail Stem, 35mm bar bore

Crankset SRAM GX Eagle, with Aluminum Guards

Shift levers SRAM AXS POD Controller

Brakes SRAM Code Silver Stealth, 4-piston caliper, hydraulic disc

Seatpost OneUp, Dropper Post-V2, MMX lever, 34.9

Used Santa Cruz Megatower with mostly new stuff

Frame – NEW 2024 Santa Cruz Megatower C, NEW Headset

Shock – NEW 2025 Rock Shox Vivid Ultimate HBO, 165mm Travel, NEW 450lbs Spring

Fork – Rock Shox ZEB Ultimate CH2.1 Debonair – 170mm Travel, freshly serviced

Wheelset – Reserve HD30 SL Carbon Rims laced to DT Swiss 370 Hubs, NEW Enduro Bearings F&R

Drivetrain – Sram GX AXS 12sp Wireless Mech & Shifter, NEW Sram XX1 Eagle Rainbow Chain & Sram GX 10-52t Cassette

Crankset – NEW Sram X01 Lunar Carbon 165mm DUB, NEW Sram X01 Chainring & NEW Sram DUB BB

Brakes – Sram Code RSC 4-Pot (NEW Pads), NEW Sram HS2 220/200mm Rotors

Cockpit – NEW Burgtec Ride High Josh Bryceland 38mm Bar, NEW Burgtec Enduro Mk3 35mm Stem, NEW Burgtec Josh Bryceland Signature Super-Soft Lock-on Grips

Seatpost – Rock Shox Reverb C1 175mm, 1X Lever, Freshly Rebuilt

Saddle – NEW Burgtec ‘The Cloud’

Tyres – NEW Maxxis High Roller 2 3C 2.5WT F & R, Reserve Philmore Valves & Fresh Sealant

They’re different categories of bike, really – so what are you after? Trail bike or enduro-y bike?

I can’t see a bad component on either, tbh, you’re on a lovely bike either way

Buy four Bossnut’s at £999 and give three away?

I spotted this earlier:

https://www.uprisebikes.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/gt-force-carbon-elite-full-suspension-mountain-bike–tan__86679

And I’d add in a guitar, a 4 string tenor banjo, a spotting scope, and of course a bunch of roses. I should have change left.

What kind of riding do you do?

I feel like the Evo is similar in intention to my Transition Sentinel – it’s  an all mountain sort of bike. Long travel trail / enduro lite. The Megatower is a bit more of a bruiser – especially with that big heavy fork on there.

Both seem well specced and are decent – but you probably need to think about what you’re really after and what you ride most.

I’d think a Bird Aeris AM could be built up for that kind of money. Very happy with mine.

They’re different categories of bike, really – so what are you after? Trail bike or enduro-y bike?

10mm difference up front, 15mm out back unsagged

Other than the Megatower being 29 all round and the Spesh being Mullet, there is very little difference in the geo numbers. They aren’t that different tbh. Maybe a Hightower would be a better comparison to the Spesh, but I prefer the Mega. On that note, I don’t want a Spesh Enduro, so maybe I am leaning a bit more to the trailsy side

I’d have thought the Hightower is more comparable to a Stumpy Evo than the Megatower. Both good bikes but the SC edges it for me personally on the spec.

The Stumpy would suit my needs better, and I actually bought a used frame to build up – then realised the seatpost insertion was a deal breaker for me.

So that may be worth checking.

keep an eye on the sales you should be able to get a new discounted Santa Cruz for that money.

You get all of the warranty/bearings etc being the first owner

i wouldn’t get the stumpy as it doesn’t support non-wireless drivetrains. Stupid decision.

The yoke linkage connection to the rear shock would put me off the Stumpy.

I can’t recommend what I ride as you can’t get them anymore……

But if I was buying new I’d possibly push the budget and go for the Atherton S150.3

Or possibly one of Birds offerings – like the AM etc.

I’ve had a current generation MT, I have a mate with a Stumpy Evo Expert.  Both very nice bikes, the MT is definitely on the bigger / gravity end than the Stumpy which will be a better singletrack ripper given it’s lighter weight.  The MT is surprisingly easy to live with for a big bike, it climbs well and is OK on flatter rides, but if you mostly ride trail centres or lots of natural singletrack you’ll be over biked.  If you are more gravity oriented then it’s a good choice (my Mk2 went to fund my Kenevo SL, I now own a Mk1 MT for uplift trips).  The MT is really well built, easy to live with and work on and the parts on the one linked are top notch.

In terms of the Stumpy budget for a new bar, the stock Specialized bar is a horrible shape.  Also the Roval rims seem to ding easily (though I did get a warranty on mine without any issues – Roval have a 2 year no quibble replacement scheme for the original owner) – mine are releageted to spares now (replaced with Reserve alu wheels).

i wouldn’t get the stumpy as it doesn’t support non-wireless drivetrains. Stupid decision.

It’s the outgoing model, which does take cables.

Get something from the boys at Sussed mate

https://www.sussedbicycles.co.uk/

Get something from the boys at Sussed mate

https://www.sussedbicycles.co.uk/

Right click on the Megatower pic and

a) that’s where it’s from

b) now sold

On that note, I don’t want a Spesh Enduro, so maybe I am leaning a bit more to the trailsy side

I’d agree / err on the trail bike side.  Contrary to popular opinion I think you can ride an XC bike down an enduro track and have fun even if you don’t trouble the Strava leaderboard, but riding an Enduro bike on an XC loop is pretty miserable.  Even if defining the stumpy as a trail bike feels a bit dubious.

now sold

Bugger, was available when I created this post

Olive Mango Aeris 9 Large – Retail Special

How about this one?

Nothing against that outfit, but why pay a dealer margin for a secondhand bike when prices are so low anyway? I’m sure OP knows enough to source something himself.

How about this one?

I have an Aeris 9, it’s really good but it’s a proper enduro bike – bit rubbish for easier/undulating trails.

I’ve bought cheap hack bikes unseen but £4k without a test ride? No way. Have a go on them and decide.

If you ring oscar and have a chat he can source you a bike that you want/spec your want

10mm difference up front, 15mm out back unsagged

And the Stumpy is only 10/15/20mm more than some XC bikes, so travel is just a small part of the picture.

That generation stumpy was close to being the ideal bike for me. Light enough to be a trail bike, great geometry & adjustability, but let down by its ability to eat shocks for fun, the paper thin down tube, its habit for lower pivot bearings & poor (IMO) suspension kinematics (too small a shock for the travel & very low levels of progression).

The Megatower is a big, bruiser of a bike. On fast rough stuff I would have it all day long over the Stumpy. A fairer comparison would be the Hightower.

For 4k though, I wouldn’t have either. I’d be hunting for something lovely that was second hand.

Nothing against that outfit, but why pay a dealer margin for a secondhand bike when prices are so low anyway?

That Megatower is virtually brand new.

Sussed bikes are actually quite reasonable when you look at the kit they put on and it’s not going to need servicing any time soon

If I was choosing, and it was to be my main/only bike… I’d take the Stumpy. If it was to be a big mountain bike, and I also had a hardtail or trail full sus… the SantaCruz frame, but a different build. But I’d buy a metal bike anyway. Always.

Brand new megatower for the win – itll be a little bit heavier on the climbs but so much more capable in the steep and rough. You ll get a warranty with this from mtbmonster for 5K………..

https://mtbmonster.com/sale-santa-cruz-megatower-cc-kit-x0-axs-purple/

I’d be inclined (if that megtower is sold and you’re more on the trailsy side of things with one of these options:

Sentinel

https://shop.windwave.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes/transition-sentinel-carbon-mtb-xt-complete-bike-loam-gold__10672?currency=GBP&chosenAttribute=01.21.11.4384&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAACfiTqsBxuV7A0NvNmhDyBiUccKvi&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-vqJr4L9iQMV3JRQBh0V2DpkEAQYAyABEgJeffD_BwE

Hightower:

Santa Cruz Hightower Carbon C 2024

Also the Bird Aeris AM is interesting – although there is a lot of stuff out of stock for build kits. A Lyrik ultimate would be my first choice fork for an AM type of build. I’d probably go Shimano mechanical with sram brakes personally – not a fan of electric shifting on mtb.

Some big discounts at stif on new bikes. Might be able option there?

Hightower:

Santa Cruz Hightower Carbon C 2024

I’ve gone off Transition due to the ridiculously low stack height and the spec on that Hightower is woeful compared to the bikes I’m looking at tbh

Brand new megatower for the win

That’s decent though for the money

Any of those previous generation Trek Slash left cheap? 

That’s a brilliant all rounder if the seat post insertion suits you.

Maybe it’s just me looking at the wrong bikes – but medium vs medium the Sentinel v2 carbon and the Megatower are only 5mm different on the stack height. Stumpie Evo is a bit taller though 622 vs 627 vs 635.  Only 13mm in it which is nothing really with spacers or a taller handlebar.

On reflection that might be the incorrect size Stumpie – the S3 has a stack of 626 and reach of 448.  So I’m not really sure where stack height comes into it.

As a left field choice https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes/scott-genius-st-900-tuned-full-suspension-mountain-bike-2024-in-blackgreen__45354

^^ killer 30lb carbon everything bike that’ll be quicker up, down, left and right than most other enduro raceable trail bikes.
You could probably XC race it to and it’ll certainly be happy on all day rides
2024 clearance in carry over 2025 colors.. whats not to like!

Heavily discounted Bold (under 3k) very similar to the Scott Genius posted above but with a bit less travel.

https://www.99bikes.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes/bold-linkin-135-ultimate-x01-eagle-axs-carbon-mountain-bike-in-white__56480

I would’ve suggested that Linkin 135, but I’m trying to figure out getting a medium shipped out to Canada so protecting the medium inventory 😉

I went from Megatower to Stumpy Evo.

Megatower is more of a bruiser, I never really got along with it. Stumpy is noticeably more lively but still plenty capable in the rough stuff.

Others love the Megatower but the Stumpy is the clear winner in my eyes.

Here ya go:

https://www.blazingbikes.co.uk/index.php/trek-slash-9-8-xt-2023-mountain-bike-matte-deep-smoke.html

New, half price Hightower with GX AXS for £3,449 at Stif? (and the rest on C+H)

Santa Cruz Hightower Carbon C – GX AXS NGT Kit

Bold Linkin seems to be the worst colour imaginable IMO.

There is very little between the Hightower and megatower  in weight and riding.  The stumpy will be lighter just .. but for the money and spec the Genius  is stunning .

Maybe it’s just me looking at the wrong bikes – but medium vs medium the Sentinel v2 carbon and the Megatower are only 5mm different on the stack height. Stumpie Evo is a bit taller though 622 vs 627 vs 635.  Only 13mm in it which is nothing really with spacers or a taller handlebar.

Good point – it was a previous look at a Spire that led me to believe there was a very low stack – I’d not really compared these. Maybe verything is low these days

That Genius for the money is outstanding. Maybe it’s just me that finds the look a little challenging though

I’ll not be buying a Trek, Bold, or Bird – not keen on any of them

Another one is this ’22 Bronson for less money. Yes, I know it’s not a trail bike