I went back and forth between these two for a while. In the end went for the Canyon (and got a good deal on last years Strive 9.0SL through their outlet). If the Wicked 160 Ltd would not have had such a long waiting list I may well have gone for that.

My thoughts:

Canyon pluses:
more established brand
better warranty
frames look better thought out and finished (couldn’t help thinking the YT was just a cheap copy of a LaPierre)
better paint
have a ‘UK service centre’

YT pluses:
better value (their BOS bikes are incredible VFM)
frame design ‘influenced’ by one of the most successful AM bikes of the moment

Sizing also seemed to fit me better in the Canyon. Hard to get a good idea without sitting on one in the flesh, but through my trawling of numbers and pictures I decided the Medium YT was too long for me (and the Short too short). I went for a Medium Strive even though the online fit thing told me Small.

Also at the time I bought mine there weren’t any decent English reviews of the YT: seen a fair few recently which have all been very positive.

I’m very happy with my Canyon. Can’t say I’ve fallen in love with it, but that’s probably more about me and my riding at the moment than the bike.

Dave

I really like my Kevlar slide-on grips: hairspray and small zipties at each end and never come loose. Taken them off a few times too without any grief.

I’ve got both! Really good jackets.

As others have said, Flux is a fair bit warmer and much bulkier. Flux sizes up a bit bigger too. Flux has extra chest pocket and Velcro cuffs.

5’9″ here on a Strive. Calculator said small. I went for a medium, fits perfect. Wouldn’t want it any smaller.

We’ve got a working cocker. From ‘proper’ working stock: parents were working dogs and a fair few field trial champions in her pedigree [willy wave off].

Our first dog and she’s been great. Loves to fetch sticks and balls, and doesn’t settle when we’re out as she always wants to be chasing stuff. In the house she’s really chilled, gets left half the week 8.30 till 3.30 and she doesn’t seem to mind at all: just sleeps in her cage as far as I know. Very good with the kids too, though ours is very focussed on me and my wife as the ‘masters’.

Does need a lot of stimulation, exercise, and loves training. Gets out for 2 decent walks a day. From our experience I’d say you have to think about what they’ve been bred top do (flush out game, retrieve game, and listen to commands). If you can spend a fair bit of time playing similar games our’s is very happy and content.

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20120822-P8220623[/url] by dave_woods[/url], on Flickr

Not sure on your rights here: you do have a month to return for refund I think, but not sure where you would stand with this now.

I’ve had a Canyon Strive which had a few minor issues. Have all been sorted now, but was a bit of a pain in the **se dealing with the UK service Centre who then seem to defer most stuff over to Germany. All sorted but not quickly.

Sounds like your issues are all sortable, but a fair bit more hassle than dealing direct with a good LBS: just think of all the money you’ve saved buying direct!

You sure you should have 125psi in the Talas? My 36s have got 50psi in them.

Like you I thought long and hard before getting one. Nearly ended up with a YT Wicked Ltd, but their lead times and very poor response to emails put me off.

I’ve had my Strive (ESX9.0SL 2011) a few weeks now and happy so far.

At the moment not fully singing on the way down but I’ve only had a couple of rides on a new rear shock, and not sure its broken in properly yet, and I’m hoping it will feel a bit plusher. Mine’s a XV can, not the XXV on some 2012s.

Climbs really well for a 160 bike.

Build quality really good. Looks very good in the flesh.

I’ve made use of their UK Service Centre: I’ve had a few issues with mine (mainly because it was an ‘ex-demo’). Helpful to have English speaking contact, and ability to phone. My issues sorted to my satisfaction, but did take a little while, and could have been a bit more ‘customer focussed’.

I’m just shy of 5’9″ and on a medium. Happy I did, but I tend to prefer slightly long bikes.

Had a hell of a lot of rain in sheffield over last 2 days. Might need your water wings in a couple of spots!

Fifthearl: I am exactly the same height as you. Went through the same quandry. Ended up with the medium and very happy with it. I do tend to prefer bigger rather than smaller frames. You are welcome to try it for size if you are near Sheffield.

I use the KMC ones on SRAM and Shimano chains. Work well but a right b**ch to undo (I can only do it with pliers).

Always worn Oakley sunglasses myself without a problem. Depending on the course, googles could get bloody hot on any climbs.

Mikey: would really appreciate that: on the point of pressing the order button, but need that bit more encouragement!

Dave

Thinking of one of these myself. Apparently a review in February Dirt magazine. Anyone got a copy they could scan for me please?

davewoods33(at)hotmail.com

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092[/url] by dave_woods[/url], on Flickr

and

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carirn& dog& bike[/url] by dave_woods[/url], on Flickr

Sheffield police: PC 3972 Hamlin, Woodseat Station, 0114 2202020

Steve, what’s the stats for the Hamsterley route?

Just to add by tuppenth. I rode one of the pre-production Rockets. Usually ride a Trek Remedy. What struck me was the bikes stiffness but mainly the ‘pop’. So easy to get it in the air off any little launches so loads of fun.

Also followed a mate on another pre-production Rocket. He was flicking the back end up and around far more than he usually does on his Alpine.

Get yourselves a test ride!

I have a 4 month old desire for sale. Comes with a Casemate tough case and Martin fields screen protector. It is unlocked and rooted (a major ball ache but makes a huge difference as it gets round the low internal memory problem) and comes with a 16 gig card. 130 posted.

DFB Powder Coating near Chesterfield stripped some cranks for me, and did a good job on stripping and coating a steel frame.

They’re experienced in dealing with motorbikes and bmxs, sure they will be able sort you out.

I’ve been lucky enough to ride one of the first protypes.

Wasn’t convinced about a steel FS bike: can’t work else everyone would be doing it surely?

But was very surprised: looks right in the flesh (realistically probably the most important to a frame’s success at the end of the day!), light weight, very stiff (noticeably stiffer laterally than my 2010 Remedy), and rode very well. The one I rode had a rp23 on it and more ‘pop’ than any other bike I’ve ridden. Very responsive, loads of airtime off any little bumps/roots – a lot of FUN!

And yes, this might be a bit biased as I am a mate of Cy’s, but I’m not a Cotic fanboy, and have owned a fair few of recent sorted full sus bikes.

And is it worth the price? Only you can answer that.

I do have a set for sale in mid rise. 35 posted. uncut. pic here:

http://WWW.Flickr.com/photos/63886175@N03/page2/

Just taken said wheel apart and pawls do look a bit worn. LBS must have been absolute monkeys /rip-off merchants to suggest changing freehub rather than pawls.

Interesting discussion in a way and I realise this is all shades of grey.

If I was buying something from a mate I’d expect 100% him to put it right without a question. And I’d do the same for a mate of mine.

If I’d bought it from a car-boot / guy down the pub, then caveat emptor, my loss.

Question is where does buying stuff off this forum sit? I’d hoped it was a bit more towards the ‘buying off a mate’ than some others think.

When we are buying stuff essentially unseen / untouched off unknown people on an internet forum we have to exercise trust. I guess up to now part of that was my assumption that if there were any existing (yeah, I know that’s debatable) problems with the parts I bought most sellers would sort them. Seems based on this thread that some would and some wouldn’t.

And to be honest, the only reason I did post up here was Rob’s (in my view) rude response to my email. I intentionally did not name him, nor had I made a decision about whether I would.

…and it was a long walk home because my wife shuttled us out to the ‘top of the hill’ in the peaks to ride home. Serves us right for being lazy.

Rob: don’t think I’ve made you out to be a villain. Just stated the facts and asked for opinions.

Fact is the wheel went less than a mile before it failed totally. Now I might be lying about that and it’s actually been ridden twice round the world in that time… You’ll have to take my word on that, and I don’t think even Rob doubts it.

Fair dos I have had the wheel a month: my fault and a lesson learnt.

Bit different to wear and tear over a month. My take on the whole saga is: the rear hub wasn’t working (I’m guessing exactly the same problem I have now), Rob took it to LBS and paid for it to be fixed. They replaced wrong part. He spun it by hand and believed it to be fixed. Sold as having ‘new freehub’. I bought it believing it to be fixed and in as new condition. Passed same hand spin test when I got it.

First ride out under my 10 years old’s steel thighs it fails. Not wear and tear, just not fixed properly, and in no way fit for purpose when sold to me.

Rob: if you had kept the wheels yourself and found the problem, would you have complained to your LBS? Or not said anything for fear of being “cheeky” or “making them out to be a villain”.

And just to clear things up I am in no way implying that Rob knew about the fault when he sold them, just that he has not been very “nice” in his responses after the problem came to light.

Anyway, I’m off to buy some pawls……

I’ve mailed the seller this thread address to let him have his say if he wants.

I’m not losing any sleep over it, and will buy myself the new pawls tonight…

Just one of those experiences which make me less likely to use these Classifieds as I don’t see it as in the spirit of buying and selling over what I have believed to be a very ‘friendly’ website. Now if it happened on Pinkbike or even SouthernDownhill I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised…

Sounds great. Loads of good stuff kicking off in Sheff at the moment!

I’m only just down the road in Totley, and got a couple of kids who need their skills honing. Give us a shout if you need any help.

Dave

Come up a bit small: I’m usually a 43. I wear a 44 in Am41s (with a bit to spare for thick winter socks). Got 5:10 Karvers in a 42 which are the slightests smidge smaller than the Am41s.

also look at RoseBikes

They usually come with a couple of 10mm spacers to insert in the air spring: whatever size spacer you add reduces travel and ride height by that much. Lots of instructions on web and on the SRAM site. I’ve found 15mm plastic plumbers pipe works a treat: just drill a couple of 2mm holes in it for air flow.

Dave

I’ve had a couple of pairs of 5:10s: original suede Impacts and Karvers. Fell out of love with them (too heavy and bulky, and shit in soak up water like a sponge).

Got a pair of old Nike Air Whistlers, Nike sticky sole not sticky enough for me, so resoled with Stealth rubber at FeetFirst. Very good, but not in the slightest bit water resistant. Resole lasted really well too.

Recently got a pair of AM41s which I’m liking a lot: good waterproofness, light and stiff, and not noticed much difference in grip from 5:10 soles.

I do think technique has a lot to do with grip, and that as my technique has got better I no longer need the ultimate grip of 5:10 rubber. You see a fair few world cup guys riding with all sorts of Nikes / Vans etc. Now either they’ve all been resoled with Stealth rubber, or they can manage just fine without the absolute grippiest soles.

I had a first gen one for a bit a good few years back. I’m 5’9 on a good day and could get saddle up to correct height with a long post. Mine was a long, figured that the extra length would work well as an all-round bike. I even bodged a front mech on it with some cable stop or other.

TBH I didn’t get on with it, I’d come off a Flow Moe which was shorter and def more playful for me. Found it hard to get the front end up on the Holeshot. I also finally realised that for me full sus bikes are better. Think it was the last hardtail I owned!

Did look ‘right’ though!!

Got a brand new black hope sitting here if you are interested…

I found the standard of riding has gone way up over the last 4 or so years. First time round I had 2 crashes within 100yards of the quali start line, losing loads of places, then overtook people all the way down to sneak into the main event.

This year was hoping to do better as I’m sure I’ve come on a fair bit as a rider, but even with the benefit of experience and as good a run as i could have hoped for I didn’t even make the main event(top 400), and seemed to be me holding the ‘locals’ up rather than t’other way round. Not that many dummies there anymore!

With such a big field though there are always going to be people of a similar ability though to make a ‘race’ of it.

We’ve always camped down in Allemont at Camping le Grande Calme: great chilled campsite, good bus uplift up to the first lift, warmer than up in Alpe d’Huez, and right at the bottom of the Mega course for a quick getaway on Sunday. Not a lot going on though if you’re after nightlife.

not sure I’d call the mega course piss easy. none of it hugely technical, but after 1 hour of full on riding just holding on to the bars is a challenge.
new qualifier course is pretty brutal to ride at race pace. far less climbing this year than when I last did it about 4 years back.

you will be ok on your enduro but a bit more travel might make it more fun. dual ply tyres good. next time I do it i’ll try and do a load of upper body exercises beforehand. Arm pump on the quali was unreal!

I’ve got some brand new in box genuine Shimano finned metal pads. £22 posted a set (2pads).

davewoods33@hotmail.com

Orange San Francisco for well under a hundred quid. The Monte Carlo seems a bit better , for a bit more (but no unlock yet). Neither of these will run Flash (though there is a hacked version out there). My San Fran will not run Iplayer which is a PITA.

For a bit more I’m probably going to get an Acer Liquid Metal from Expansys at around £130

Theoretically straight pull will be stiffer, stronger and lighter I think. I’ve got a pair of each and notice no difference. You’ll have a harder job getting straight pull spokes as spares in an emergency.

Bars a fairly personal thing. Easton Havocs, Chromag FUBAR and Sunline VOnes seem universally liked.

And BTW I’ve got a set of uncut black 2010 Easton Havoc aluminiums 750mm or thereabouts. Little used with a few scuff sto anodising (mostly under grips). £40 posted.

I’ve had a couple of Remedys. Old one with the ‘standard’ shock did bottom very easily (though sorted with volume reducers in air can).

Never felt my DRCV shock bottom out and its had a fair bit of abuse. I weigh 150lbs and I’m running 135psi rear for 30% sag. I’ve been struck by how well it does pedal but I’m used to heavier bikes. You checked you’re compressing the shock to equalize the chambers and are getting the right sag?

Other possibilities that either the shock is f***ed or as others have said you really need a shorter travel bike.

I had a Remedy 9 and all the finishing kit was pretty good. Bonty stuff tends to be reasonable weight and strong. I’d be surprised if there’s that much spare to save. I-beam post and saddle and carbon bars are probably your best bet. Going 1×10 or 1×9 can save you getting on a pound.

I’d try decent gear on 0121 4233532

Thankfully not needed to do this for a while, but when I did I had better luck with the Sainsbury’s on Archer Road: and easier to stay ‘under the radar’ round the corner out of sight! You are using the flat tyre button, right?