Yep, all good, found out myself today. Very enjoyable as haven’t done whites in a while plus wasn’t even raining 🙂

Perkesie, sorry to ask what might seem obvious but is goodwood and darkside open again?

Thanks…

Both great bikes and would be top of my short list as well. Assuming we are talking about 2013 models.

I prefer the contact points on the zesty, bars, stealth reverb, gobi saddle.

I prefer the fox 34 forks on the stumpy. (if your are intending going to the alps or doing the mega the 34 fork will pay off)

Which one can you get the best deal on? Zesty looks slightly better value at full rrp.

Otherwise if you are still stuck, just choose the one that looks the best to you…..

Good luck 🙂

I went from an alloy zesty to a carbon zesty to asr5c and don’t regret it one bit. I feel the Yeti is better at just about everything.

I demo’d an alloy yeti and really enjoyed that. The carbon is better but only slightly, obviously lighter but also feel less trail buzz. Carbon also looks the nuts..

I have debated the plush comments with kryton57 before, I feel the yeti is not as plush as or forgiving as a zesty, but does not slow you down or limit you in any way. The yeti 5 is the quickest trail bike I have tried both up and down…

Santa Cruz trc is also worth a look if you want this type of bike…

To answer your original question….Get the carbon if you can 🙂

I haven’t been in the last few weeks but knowing the rain we have had I would go for the gorlech red route. The surface is usually good in most weather but with more deep puddles after the amount of rain we’ve had this weekend. Overshoes and waters proofs recommended.

Raven doesn’t hold up so well in the rain (soggy muddy climbs).

Enjoy 🙂

I’ve had both, 1 stumpy and 2 zestys.

Both very good bikes, I preferred the zestys as we’re more stable and fun descending, climbing was about the same on both…. but no doubt these days would enjoy the stumpy evo!!

Test em out.

Deanfbm, thanks for the input. What you’ve said has got me thinking I really should try it out. As my alpine 160 is a fantastic bike especially when the terrain gets bigger and steeper which I do love. But when using it for enduro racing I find it lacks trail speed on less elevated sections.

The sb66 could a good option for enduro riding but I’m worried I would miss the damping of my ccdb on the alpine come uplift day…Only one way to find out!

Duner, thanks for your feedback, I’m in South Wales so Manchester is a bit of a trek. If you find yourself in afan/cwmcarn though give me a shout. I have been known to go up to llandegla, but the alpine would be a waste of time there. Over biked springs to mind 🙂

Thanks honourablegeorge! Some good points there. Suppose I just need to try one out and see for myself. It’s a good excuse to pop to afan anyway 😉

Kingofbiscuits – I’m loving the crossmax st’s they won’t be as stiff as the flow rims nor give quite as good tyre profile( I have set on my alpine 160) but the st’s are plenty stiff and strong enough for trail riding, they accelerate very quickly the engage is def quicker than pro2 evo hub. Plus they look the nuts to! Go for it 🙂

[/url]
Yeti ASR5 Carbon[/url] by dan45a[/url], on Flickr

I went with the Yeti, I really liked the blur trc but was a bit more money. No regrets though the asr5c it is a flyer up and down, plus slack enough to really push it harder than a 5″ bike should allow.

In my experience carbon isn’t just about the weight saving, I prefer the feel of the ride.

I can only echo what Nicksee says. Was up there this morning and is a great addition to the wall. really good fun, abit groomed but very enjoyable.

Reminds me of a mini glentress now with all these options….I’m one happy Welshman 🙂

Sorted….I played with AA website a bit and finally got it to quote instead of sending me to the under writers. Got £3.5k cover per bike 🙂

Spoke to my old company and sounds like axa who under write MS… plus many others have changed their cover so that’s why I was having trouble.

Thanks again all for comments.

Thanks for the suggestions all.

Really struggling now. No one will cover the bikes, seems company’s are limiting bike cover to about £1500 per cycle unless an under writer is involved.

Money supermarket quote come up but as soon as you link to site and add bikes they either can’t offer cover or need you to deal with an underwriter.

Tried a bike only policy, that was £717 per year plus about £250 for my household!! Cycling is more expensive than ever 🙁

M&s won’t cover me. £500 per cycle isn’t good enough.

Any other companies out there that approach it like m&s with blanket cover?

Leisure lakes cheltenham

As JCL says 2013 enduro carbon would be the top choice. I looked into it but the frame alone is £3800 from my LBS and thats if they can get one.

Otherwise I would say a lapierre spicy, I’ve tried one a few times and seems to cover all bases. Used one In the alps also and was spot on.

or this year whilst in alps the mbuk long term test zesty was at our chalet, a carbon 514 fitted with fox 34 160’s with offset shock bushes to bring bb down and slacken it off. Crossmax ST wheels… Was a lovely bike v.light and again a great all rounder. Rider said it had been superb for a week in morzine doing the passports loop and dh runs.

So much choice…good luck.

Ok it was 26.1something…lbs

That was weighed at my LBS and on park scales before transferring build to yeti frame.

Sorry didn’t get the picture. Will remember for next time. 😉

Max torque, that is a beaut! Perfect build….

How do you find the crossmax st’s.

Stilltortise, I’d had 2 zestys and had the 714 for 2 years, nothing wrong with them, just got itchy feet. And went for an asr5c 127mm rear with a 140mm fork which give a 67 deg HA.

Do I regret it……not at all the yeti is quicker just about everywhere for my type of trail and enduro riding. Slacker and lower. Just not as plush as the zesty so if you want something more comfortable the zesty is the way to go. I have an alpine 160 also so that covered me for uplift and alps etc..

Both awesome bikes in their own right.

My 714 carbon was about 26lb with upgraded wheels. They are very light for a 140mm bike.

I got a yeti asr5c now which is about the same weight but with a reverb fitted.

Zestys are great, I had 2 and loved them. Carbon one feels a lot lighter/quieter/faster than the alloy IMO but the cost reflects that.

rhysw, I’m in cardiff and bought my asr5c 12 months ago from Don Skene.

I couldnt get a demo there, but went to skyline cycles at afan and tested the asr5 (alloy), I loved it…the rest is history…

For info – My build is a meduim, with 140mm floats, 50mm stem, 711mm bars, reverb. 1 x9 XT, R1 brakes. about 25.5lbs.

Pretty much agree with the above comments on the bike, its awesome up and down. I came from a carbon zesty and dont regret it one bit. Its not quite as plush on the rear, but feels a lot quicker on descents. I think its down to the 67 deg HA you get running 140mm fork and the low BB.

Agree with the comment its not for uplift days nor would I use it in the alps. Thats where your enduro comes in 🙂

I’ve got the gpx file so gonna try it this weekend, will post how it goes in case anyones interested.

That makes a lot of sense! Bugger.

As Mintyjimb sugests using one of these seems to be the easiest way for my solution:-
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=34779

Anyone got any expieriences of using these conversions kits? Is it reliable?

Thanks for the responses. suppose i’m just looking for the easist way to swap the wheels between the 2 bikes.

This chip system sounds good, I did think of fitting this when building the yeti but didnt want to change my wheels/hubs. This could be perfect opportunity.

Or as Mintyjim says the 12mm axle that slides in for qr may be easiest?

Thanks Fuzzhead, so if the new rear wheel is a 135×12 hub it will fit both bikes (maxle on alpine and using a 12mm axle on yeti)?

I only weigh 70kg and mine have been ok for the last 12 months but have started to notice a few dings of late.

They are light but I’m planning on getting a stronger wheelset for the trail/enduro riding.

My biggest complaint with them is I cant get them to hold up on tubeless after a few hard runs. I ran UST rims for 2 years previous and never had a single issue.

Keep an eye on this article from dirt for the YT:-

http://dirt.mpora.com/news/the-once-over-yt-industries-wicked-160-ltd.html#

I saw the demos of it in morzine and the locals/residents were impressed!!

For a160mm bike take a look at the YT industries wicked ltd. the spec alone is awesome for £2300 plus the fact the frame geometry is spot on. If I was buying again that would have my money.

Ive had 2 zestys, I’m 5’8″ and had a 46cm zesty, size was spot on. I had a 42cm zesty in the early days this was perhaps abit small but only just.

Amazing bikes! Go for it.

well.. what bike?? I ended up taking my yeti ASR5 in the end as got it patched up (prob one of the smallest bikes there). And yes that was me at the start of stage 4 going over the bars to an audience!!

TBH – stage 4 was the only time I felt under biked. I was very pleased to be on the ASR5 on the endless fireroad climbs.

Had a coupe of punctures so higher volume tyres next time I think. Was also struggling to clip in to spds on the starts which wasn’t helping. so maybe flats?

If I had taken the alpine 160 those climbs would have wore me down. Not sure how some of them guys were doing it, saw one guy on a giant faith climbing to stage 5 late in the day(respect).

cost no object – Perfect bike IMO carbon spicy/nomad/enduro would by spot on.

I had a great time and cant wait to get on it next year.

sorry to hijack this,

I live in cardiff but only ride the trail centres as dont have the local knowledge having moved down from midwales 6 years ago. (was a bit spoilt for natural stuff up there and miss it)

would be really interested if anyone could let me know of some good MTB routes around rudry/machen area. I ride my road bike that way a lot and always wonder where the MTB trails are/start from/link to? Cheers.

I may not have a choice of bike now!!

Took the Yeti to Cwmcarn last night for some DH runs, all was going well, strava running so not using much brakes…then all of a sudden puncture in the rear, on checking I now have a massive dent in my rear wheel and the shock linkage/bushes have lots of play…. grrr

If my LBS can’t work their magic this by thursday I will be on the Alpine 160 this weekend. Not such a bad thing, but I will probably be the one blowing through my ass on the climbs 😳
cheers all

Thanks for the input guys.

I’m probably gonna go with the yeti ASR5. I was informed by the organiser the loop was 32km, so not so short. Think I’ll appreciate the extra energy for the timed sections.

Can’t wait to get on the trails now 😉

There are some good routes around builth, I know as grew up riding around there but there is nothing waymarked. Not sure where I’d start trying to describe a route…

John Lloyd the organiser of the CRC marathons and the new Ritchey Trailmasters is the man to speak to for local route info, I think he also does guiding or at least used to? His contact info is in the link below.
http://www.trailmasters.cc/contact.php

Llanwrytd Wells is a good option not far away, IMO the best riding in the area. I know you can get maps to follow some great trails from there. Dothie Valley route being one of them.

Good luck!

Thanks for the feedback guys. I was told by my LBS I have very limited options with the BB on my frame (Yeti ASR5C). Not sure if this is correct?
Would a SRAM BB fit the yeti? or hope?

YT industries wicked ltd is worth a look. Bos suspension front and back, xo kit, mavix crossmax, and 29lb £2350!! A good all rounder which make other 160mm bikes look drastically overpriced.

When in morzine earlier this year a resident guide from where we were stayin demo’d it and was blown away.

The slash is lovely and I see the attraction but abit much for most uk trail riding in my opinion, plus all that bontrager finishing kit at that price puts me off.

http://www.yt-industries.com/shop/index.php?page=categorie&cat=21

I agree with iain1775, if you’re looking to save wieght look elsewhere. Wheels maybe?

I had oros on an early zesty, and had lots of trouble. Again could have been a bad set,went back to formula many times. I now have r1’s which feel in a different league.

I demo’d a bike with the new xt brakes and they were amazing, felt perfect to me, with a good lever size for one finger braking as well.

But if your oros work, I wouldn’t bother changing and invest elsewhere. Carbon bars, 1×10, wheels….? Good luck 🙂

thought so 🙁

Any idea if you do the Beast route and cut out the loop between hermon and gomez up the road, how much distance this saves?

Anyone – can you do the false teeth section on the dragons back trail?