I’ve never been able to successfully mount up my ti H-Bars – brakes and shifter (heresy again) issues… Need to sell…

My front & rear 29 NN 2.4’s are doing a grand job in the present wet woods conditions. Seems to shed mud OK, and grip is decent too.

Running mud x rear on the FS which I’m changing out for a Beaver

Your SIR9’s HA is steep enough without going 450 😯

The ac’s on the short side isn’t it?

There are those with extensive experience, who prefer the diamond with unicrown over the spaceframe with truss (steel)

Here’s one

Gotama – Member
Brant will undoubtedly comment but from the geometry it looks like its been developed for a similar purpose to the Yelli, Singular Buzzard etc. In my opinion it would be best suited to a stem of 50-70mm. Google Chromag and Jinya and have a look at those videos. Obviously he is an amazing rider but ultimately that is the type of riding i believe these bikes are designed for. If that’s what you aspire to and doing something similar at your own level then one of these frames is for you.

The other way of looking at it is what don’t you like about the giant? If nothing then instead of looking at these more aggro hardtails why not treat yourself to a Niner Sir 9, Cotic Solaris….which are probably closer in geometry to your Giant but nicer* frames. For certain trails my swift feels much more fun to ride than my yelli, just depends on what i’m doing. Buy a bike that is wrong for your riding and irrespective of how much man gush there is on here about it, you still won’t enjoy riding it as much as you’d hoped. I think the Chicken Cycles blokey said that if you go to him for a custom frame he will go for a ride with you to make sure he makes a bike that is right for you rather than what you think you need.

* obviously subjective before anyone jumps on my back

This is good info. I have slacked out 120mm 29er’s and while initially great fun at ploughing through stuff they quickly loose their sparkle

The Kona Raijin with a carbon fork has my heart right now, just gorgeous – not too slack, not too steep, spot on ‘flexy’ ti frame feel, synergises perfectly with the Niner fork

The right bike for you and your trails = long-term bed partner 🙂

m_t_b – Member
I have a Yeti SB95 which with 127mm of rear travel is a little more than you have mentioned but it absolutely rips. Has the shortest chainstays of any FS 29er so very nimble and the rear suspension does not wallow gives lots of feedback. Overall I have been v impressed after 6 months.

CS’s are 17.5″ on the SB95 – there are many FS 29er’s with CS quite alot shorter than that

I have to agree with the looks thing, there’s something about Giant bikes, the straight TT & rear suspension layout…

I do like Specialized though and think they make dialled bikes – I own a 120mm Epic FSR 29, which I really like except for two things – it’s too much bike for my daily riding (not really a negative is it), and the other thing is the brain shock. It has issues – then you have to take it to a Spesh dealer, who charges £120 to service it.

Spesh replaced my shock & brain even though I bought the frame/shock from the US and the bike was just out of warranty, so top marks there for Spesh CS. Brilliant bike apart from that

LBS was offering the M-109 S for £2500 which I thought was OK considering carbon rims and all.

You need to have a spin round on it yourself and make your own mind up AND compare it to other bikes. I was left underwhelmed. It has alot going for it – lofting was a sinch, the rear suspension worked very well and was super efficient on the climb with no bob. The Fox CTD fork couldn’t be locked out and had terrible bob when in the climb mode. LBS said the fork needed servicing… The fork steerer tube had been cut right down to the stem was on the HT. I usually run spacers. Small point but combined with a possible dodgy fork made the descending bar height quite low and compromised.

But there was something more fundamental which didn’t sit right. The bike didn’t feel agile, spritely and willing. It didn’t equate to a long-term fun ownership – for me, on the trails I ride it has to be said (woodsy, hilly, steep).

The RM Element I ended up buying, from the first few pedal strokes felt right at home. Quick, agile, alive. I just wasn’t totally convinced with the Whyte and it wasn’t until getting onto something else (including back on my much loved rigid – very different bike I know), in this case the RM I immediately could see the difference

YMMV of course. I’m looking forward to seeing what mboy makes of the Whyte bikes. Hope this long winded helps and gives you something to look out for. Good luck

niner – which one?

Budget?

This

the great thing about these tyre threads is it reminds you what’s in the shed 🙂

Yes, I enjoyed the Stout, but so far the new Hans Dampf is proving pretty similar. Might be just new bike kit, but it grips well. Durability, listed on Schawlbe’s site doesn’t get a good rating

Anyway, I’m after rear 2.2 wide rubber 😉

I think the mud-x is over rated. Like said, it’s OK except on roots, so if you don’t encounter any of them, the mud-x will be OK

I’m going to try a Beaver – lightweight and from all accounts sounds very good

I’ve seen mention of folk discussing ETT and RM somehow making the cockpit geo somehow different.

You must get the ETT right for you and the clever geo RM have made will follow.

I am a shade under 6’3″ and always go for Large 29er size, 630 mm ETT on the RM sizing which is the 20 fits me very well

For the tease, drib n drab… I’m out

He isn’t

Surely you have/can get some more pics

Non in stock anywhere until 15th Nov

Looks very nice, any better pics?

Is that the DT ovalised… and the TT?

Can anyone find anything on shedfire’s site?

Anyone got the pics they can post up?

Nice one, thanks 🙂

A bike which has recently given me great joy is the ti Kona Raijin.

29er, short CS, beautiful flexy all in the right places frame, which all gives a lively and agile feel. It’s totally gorgeous.

It cost £1100 and is bargain

Whyte have gone cheapish on price, but also are new to 29. Their heart is in the right place, but I would recommend a demo

vondally – be sure to post pics 🙂 Enjoy!

Evans aren’t going with them again next year, and something happened with them and Silverfish last year… that leaves no UK distributor…

If it’s any help, for my woodsy, odd trail centre riding, my favourite goto bike for the last year or two is a rigid (29er steel, and now ti frame/CF fork).

For the times I want to go fast (or wnat more confidence on unfamiliar trail), HT or FS is my choice. I have a 120 FS which is a little too much bike and doesn’t get used, even for trail centres. The 100mm will sit better, get more use, and make a the best all-rounder

MicArms – Member
Is that a 140mm rotor on the back there?

😆 yo Mic – 140 is the new 160 you know (it’s actually a 180 😉 )

Mal-ec – Member
Nice colour matching of the shock. Like.
Looks like a very slack seat post angle. Wouldn’t want much more than that showing.

POSTED 35 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

Actually quite steep – 74°. It’s something which adds to climbing attributes.

The seatpost has quite alot ‘in’ the tube

Gotcha – thought you meant yesterday eve…

Are you B-O-Track?

I thought the Whyte had a decent snap feel to it when putting power in, didn’t feel heavy. Carbon wheels helped

mboy – how did your test ride go?

I’m nearly 6’3″ and the large fits like a glove with a 90 stem (& wide bars)

Ended up going AA home Insurance with bikes declared – £235 with two bikes (the ones which are in a vulnerable position) with agreed £2.5K value

Clearance has been cited by a few as limited. A 2.25 will clear. RM knew this and their remit was the width is fit for purpose

I like big 2.4’s on the back of my HT/rigid, but on a FS there’s really no need

I think they’re really intended for front end grip

Hey mboy, thanks for the offer. I demo’d the M109 S (size L)… here’s a little blurb write-up I posted on mtbr…

Thought it to be a little dull (being hard on it), and ended up buying a Rocky Mountain Element 970 – much more of a personality… and much more fun, not to mention super efficient peddler. The Whyte’s HA is very slack (69.5° as compared to RM’s 70.6° which is where much of the liveliness comes from I think. I was a fan of slack

Just my view of course, let us know what you think

You demo’ing both the M & T?

Brilliant grip

Giant are probably THE best in the business for warranty and frame replacement, so should be good

Is it the 26 or 29 version you have?

protect your bubble – 330 per month! That’s alot.

I’ve given up on the standalone cycle insurance – needs to be ahousehold/new for old on bikes – who keeps their bikes for more than 3 years anyway?

bowglie – you’re bang on the mark with your post. I’ve just bought the Rocky Mountain Element 29er (pic above).

My priority was an efficient pedlar and 100mm travel. I have a FSR 120mm and this is too much bike for my usual riding. The SC options were just too much money, and the VPP is not quite as efficient as RM’s (and Giant’s Maestro), plus the Anthem’s ~18″ CS’s don’t make for a ‘quick’ handling bike in the twisties. Idemo’d Whyte’s M109 S and the super slack front was slow. The Element (& TB/Anthem) have steeper HA’s which as a long-standing slack fan, am coming around to the idea slightly steeper is more long-term fun