XC/Downcountry bike

Currently have a 2021 Giant Trance X and for the majority of my rides it’s probably far too much bike.

It spends most of the summer plodding along the Canal, some fast flowing woodland trails and the Occasional Jaunt to Gisburn Forest. I’m never likely to do Jumps or Huge drop offs. Mainly XC or whatever it’s called these days. It gets a break for 3 months in Winter so I can service it.

Anything lighter and faster for up to £4500? Also have a X Caliber 7 Hardtail I use as a Gravel/Road bike for winter as I can’t stand drop bars.

the Occasional Jaunt to Gisburn Forest

Ive not been up there for a few years on my Giant Anthem 26er. I went back up and tested a load of modern ‘trail’ bikes. ie Spec Turbo Levo SL, Orbea Rise, Whyte E Lyte

Yes they were all ebikes, but what I did note was just how much more fun they made Gisburn just because they were more slack geometry. Now how that differs from this new Downcountry segment I dont know, but I definitely liked 160mm up front travel compared to 150mm and you could ride anything with out risk of over the bars moments.

So not that helpful, just dont discount trail bikes. Anyhow your bikes nearly brand new, why the need to change?

I’ve just bought a 2023 Epic Evo Pro reduced from 8k to 4k. Im not sure there are any left and the only ones I saw were small. I’ve come from years of rigid bikes and my last full suspension was bought in 1998 so I can’t usefully compare it to anything but it just wants to go fast everywhere and I’m certainly enjoying it

EpicEvo is the answer you are looking for. (AveDave beat me to it)  There will be people on shortly talking other XC/DC bikes, but they’re wrong;)

Certini as one outlet have quite a bit of reduced price stock

Love my epic evo I got this winter, covers ground at a disturbing speed, yet feels capable of more than I’m happy to ride.

The Specialized Chisel would fit the bill. Perhaps enough in the budget for some lighter wheels (I’ve no idea of the weight of the standard wheels, just assuming that they would be a little heavy as it’s not an expensive bike)

If I had £4.5k I’d be looking at a Transition Spur or the new Chisel FS frame only and building it up.

If you can find one at a discount then I’m sure the spec’ would be great. Or the best option

if you have to pay full wack then a canyon Neuron will get a good build for the money

Infact id say the cf8 build is pretty good at £2800

They also do the lux trail. The cf 8 is £4300 which gets xt and posher fox suspension

i have an older Neuron. It sits next to a gravel bike. On paper it’s rubbish. But the reality is that most of its rides are tame. I can think of 2 or 3 descents in 3 years where it started to feel out of  its depth.

If you can find an epic evo it would be worth a look. Very capable. With electronic shifting and the fork/shock brain it is relatively clean looking.

Scott Spark would be another option. Very similar.

Canyon lux trail also worth a look. This is what I went for, largely based on cost/availability at the time. Very capable.

All bikes are compromises. The Lux goes up well and is reassuring on the downs. Tyre choice makes a big difference but I normally run it with XC tyres and have no trouble.

I saw this as a new thread and chose not to reply with the classic recommend what you’ve got… but seeing as weve now got some posters nearing consensus here I may as well chime in with epic EVO. That’s exactly the bike you’ve described.

this looks like the pick of the bunch on your budget for me: https://www.certini.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes/2023-specialized-epic-evo-expert-mountain-bike–gloss-carbongold-ghost__92624

they’ve recently launched the epic 8 EVO which is 10mm longer travel, and you can get some builds of that in your budget but I’d be putting my money on last years model at a higher spec with a healthy discount.

I was in the market for an Evo as suggested previously, however a Cannondale Scalpel presented itself for 3k reduced from 5k at Wheelbase, and I love it, suspect i would’ve loved the evo too if the offer had been there though!

There’s a Epic 8 Evo Comp in Staffordshire in Medium.

Also looked at waiting for the Chisel Comp.

The Canyons I like but didn’t have my size last time I looked.

Did have a look at Ebikes but I don’t think I’m ready for one just yet.

Bar Heart attack hill at Gisburn I think I’d rather get fitter. I’m only 38. Maybe when I’m push 50 and they aren’t all 150 mm monster bikes.

Another Lux Trail here – great bike for where I ride (the Lakes).

Apparently the new generation are even better (or slacker at least…). Well worth a look from a value perspective too.

Recommend what you’ve got (I’ve got one of the older ones with out the UDH compatible rear end 🙁 )

https://uk.yt-industries.com/products/bikes/izzo/core-4/616/izzo-29-core-4-nt/

1/2 price epic Evo Pro here….. is the bike your looking for.   Watch for Certini or Balfes Bikes sales.

I have an Occam LT also, and as much as I love that bike, I’m wondering why I need it now the Evo is in the mix.

Kryton.  Would be good to hear more about your Evo. What you like, don’t like etc. how it runs in different terrain and when you choose the Occam over it.

I still live in hope that they might redirect a few from Europe to Balfes …?

You don’t see Transition Spur’s reduced that often if it’s a size large you’re after:

https://mtbmonster.com/transition-spur-nx-2023-aqua/?setCurrencyId=2&setCurrencyId=2&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADyMdUNG81WRQ-JM9n_lA5iN6ZWO_&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy4jPhKzwhwMVk5GDBx2ehTIhEAQYASABEgIEDPD_BwE#fo_c=302&fo_k=fefd9d18d00bd5938a8645e7263f4a2b&fo_s=gplauk&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_keyword=

Unfortunately medium for me.

Certini seem to have various flavors of epicevo in medium, within your price range. Also chisel fs

I went down this path and got the Spur thanks to recommendations here, and it’s great. Did manage to pick one up for sub £4500 from Start Fitness in 2023.

2022 Epic Evo Pro XTR here too, 50% off RRP from Cycle Revolution. Check Certini, Tredz, Balfs Bikes.

Some Youtube raving about the Scalpel here though;

2024 Cannondale Scalpel Test Ride & Review (youtube.com)

Cannondale Scalpel Review! (The Most Affordable Bike in the Test?) – YouTube

As a bit of an alternative take, if you’re not racing, blowing £4.5k on what’s essentially a pared-down race bike seems a little excessive, though I get that it’s not necessarily a purely logic-based decision. Have you considered buying a second set of very light xc wheels with super-fast tyres to the Trance and seeing if that scratches the itch?

I’ve just done similar with my FlareMAX and with fast-rolling 2.25″ basically XC race tyres and wheels to match, it feels like a different bike, or maybe feels like a brighter, pingier, younger more spritely version of itself. I still have burlier wheels and tyres for rough, techy stuff, but for just hurtling around, the faster set-up feels great and grips a lot better than you might think too.

Obviously you don’t get the entire NBD anticipation/dopamine hit, but it’s a lot cheaper and might just be enough to make your Trance a little bit more appropriate for your riding.

+1 Flare Max, 3 bikes in 1 (XC, Trail and Enduro).

My pal has his with a 120mm SID, light wheels & fast tyres while mine’s running a 150mm Lyrik and fine at the Golfie & the like with big brakes & tyres but equally fine set up for trails on High Rollers.

For the more XC end of the spectrum the Epic is a good option. There are some fairly heavily discounted Santa Cruz Blurs around too, which would also be a good choice.

Considering they have similar travel to the Spur, their intentions are very different. You can, in reality, ride everything on either of them, it’s where you are prepared to accept your compromise.

@thegenerist – I race and train on mine, coming from racing on a Scott Spark just for extra context.  Part of what I’m about to say needs to account for the fact the Occam feels like a Trail bike vs and Enduro bike even at 150mm – it’s taught, sprightly and you don’t feel it wallow ever.

Somthe Evo then; mine is the “7” with the 110/120mm suspension.   I race in “high” chip mode (-0.5 HA and +5mm BB) as I feel it makes a difference in steering snappiness and climbing for the twisty trails which are my normal training and racing.    I’ve ridden it plenty of times in the “Low” chip mode too, the swap is two bolts and 5 minutes.

I find the Epic to be amazingly capable; despite having recent health issues I’m faster in places on the Epic that I was on the Spark.  It rides light, wants to go forward and accelerate and never feels mushy when climbing.  It has an amazing way of dealing with trail obstacles with aplomb, seems to have more traction than you’d expect from your tyres (I’m currently Barzo/Mezcal) and I don’t feel any Bob or bucking from the suspension once’s I’d got my settings dialled.  Downhill, boy it’s capable.  IMO it rides like a much bigger bike through the travel, and a “light trail” bike through the frame – that is, the suspension just works so well and gives so much control like a bigger bike, but the frame remains lively, willing and within your control.  Fit for me is just perfect at 181cm on a Large, and is the only bike where I sat on it from stock and it just felt bloody “right”.

I guess all in all it’s a superb handing, comfortable, easy maintenance (outside BB and AXS) machine with well thought out manners, geo, cable runs and frame design that cover a lot of bases for people. I rode my Occam last weekend, and even as I removed that from the man cave I was looking at the Epic thinking, well why don’t I just take that….

Some scenarios I’ve experienced which may help;

a) XC Racing – high chip and firm mode on the suspension – fast and nimble with added DH capability

b) 6hr training and racing – never got as tired as the Spark, bike was fast and comfortable for every hour

c) small pops and drops at Hadleigh/Swinley – easy and stable

d) Railing local forest singletrack – im currently keeping up with a friend on an e-bike, and actually building a lead downhill at he reaches its speed / motor limit

So overall i think it’s just a stunningly capable, fast, fun comfortable good looking, good climbing and light trail/race which is easy to maintain, no foibles I can detect.  I used to describe my Spark as the Jack Russell to my Occams Labrador, I think I’d place the Epic with more elegant manners than the Spark, probably a Greyhound vs the Labrador.  And that’s which I doubt the Occam now because when i want that slow cosseting enjoyable ride from the Occam that I couldn’t achieve on the Spark, I can now get that from the Epic – but then immediately turn up the dial if I want to.

Not sure if that diatribe helps as all, I’m happy to answer any other questions.

To give you another viewpoint  – just sold my Epic Evo as whilst a fabulous bike the wear, tear, and ongoing maintenance was costly and a good hardtail was a better option for me as more maintenance friendly and more fun / satisfying to ride well, pick lines and beat mates on ebikes.

Now shopping for super bling hardtail  🙂

James

Well the Epic Evo probably is your best option, but I’d love to build up one of those pink Chisel FS frames.

On the more trail side of things, I feel bound to suggest an Orange Stage Evo as very lively and fun for what it is (and discounts widely available ATM).

Possibly the perfect bike for Gisburn IMO.

To give you another viewpoint  – just sold my Epic Evo as whilst a fabulous bike the wear, tear, and ongoing maintenance was costly 

I think for the sake of a few bearings & a shock service once a year, I’d rather pay a couple of hundred quid not to go anywhere near a hardtail.

Chisel FS is on my radar, to replace my Chisel HT. Want a bit of comfort for my aging backside.

Friend has a SC Blur and loves it.

Epic Evo sounds like a great choice.

That Epic Evo pricing makes me think I should get one just because I’ll never see a deal that good again. And I wasn’t even looking for a new bike!

makes me think I should get one just because

That’s what happened to me – I was as far into the Evo pro 1/2 price whilst saving £5k for a bike in 2025 which likely would have been worse spec, so I pulled a trigger early.

Really liking the look of the Chisel also as it’s a bit cheaper. But since getting rid of my motorbike I’m after getting a new toy. So part of me says stuff it and get the Epic.
Gonna keep the Hardtail as my winter slop chuck in the garage and forget. With my Trance I usually get it in the Garage beginning of December and check round it and give it a thorough clean and lube and replace anything that needs it. And get it back out around March or Earlier if it’s not a winter of constant rain like last year.
Hopefully looking to buy just after Christmas.
When is the Chisel Comp suppose to be in stores.

i got told a medium Chisel Comp will be in stores in November. Base model is imminent and the frameset in a week or two.

That was from https://www.jscycleshack.com/ who i might add will likely do a deal when you come to buy.

Certini have Chisel FS in stock

https://www.certini.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes/2025-specialized-chisel-comp-shimano-mountain-bike–gloss-moss-green__95907

I’m in the market soon for similar. I want light so am looking at the Epic Evo/8 and Blur. If I wasn’t going light then the Transition spur would probably be top of the pile along with the Orange Stage Evo.

Discounted Yeti ASR Framesets

2024 Yeti ASR Frame – Medium or Large – Spruce For Sale (pinkbike.com)

Those yeti frames are way way overpriced. Nice…but only for the carpark riders

😉

Chisel FS Frame £1.4k, xt groupset with brakes £450, Pike ultimate 120mm £585…… Know what I’d be doing. Tbh If I didn’t think I’d lose a chunk on my Enduro bike selling it then I probably would given the sort of riding I’ve been doing recently.

Hhhmmmm many thanks Kryton. Loads of useful info there…