Its 2016 model – bought about a year ago.

Its really low mileage as just not ridden it as much as I should!

The frame has a few marks, but everything is is really good nic. Had its frst service, 3 month, 6 month and years service all done. The forks have not been serviced – mainly down to the low mielage they have done.

Anyone using the NX 1×11 on the TR as it would be all I could afford if I got one!

To be honest I have been struggling for a while! My initial excitement of getting my first FS got me out a lot, but then I started to dislike the bike and it became more of a drag, than fun.

Hoping the new bike will bring the fun part back.

Excellent – just what I wanted to hear – will pick one of those 2!

I just sold my FS, and thinking of a HT, but not 100% sure my old bones will be too happy about it!! Might look what other cheap FS bikes are out there!

The Crush has a seat angle of 73.3°

I have no clue to what is classed as normal/slack these days!

My LBS are a Saracen dealer amongst others and he recommended a Zenith 29er and said it was a hoot to ride…

https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p113575/saracen-zenith-trail-29er-2018-mountain-bike

I’m not sold spec wise though.

I just priced up a Bird with a dropper (the cheap one) and it has come in at £1400. Without the dropper and change of bars you can get one for £1200.

Is the Tarn20 quite a long bike? I was looking at one but wasn’t sure if I needed a medium or large as one of the reviewers had the large as being too big for 5ft 11?

Can you class the Orange Crush as all round?? It’s at a decent price at sunset.

The 2017 Marin Nail Trail 7 650B is down to £900.

Hills mainly smooth but sometimes rocky/chalky. Do a fair bit of seated climbing, but it’s worth it for the downs and the twisty stuff!

Pro review is here

Orange Crush S review

Did pop in to my LBS today but they only mainly deal with Saracen so recommended the 29er Zenith, but not sure on the spec.

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Saracen-Zenith-Trail-29er-Mountain-Bike-2018-Hardtail-MTB_113575.htm

I miss having a bike I enjoy riding, but hopefully get that sorted soon!!

Orange Crush Pro? Sunset are doing 2017 models at a good price – then add SAVE10 to the checkout which brings the Pro to £1349.

P7 Pro 2017 is £1367 if you want a bit of Steel

I wanted to generalise my needs in one thread rather than lots of random ones. I should have just bumped one of them I guess.

Will try 760mm with 60mm before I get a 780mm bar, but thinking if I go 780mm I can go 50mm

5ft 11, but think my arms a little longer than norm!

I think I have quite a wide span – when I was trying the press up position with a pair of 760mm bars in front of me, i was definatly in a slightly wider position than the bars themselves.

Have my eye on some Nukeproof 780mm bars so might just go ahead and order! They do a zero degree rise or a 5 degree rise stem so further choices!

Just done it from my phone – thank you for the link!

Stem is 50mm, with 68.8 angle.

0 degree gives 1mm more reach and 4mm lower. Just done it from my phone – thank you for the link!

Of all the things my work blocks, it blocks that site! Will check when home!

I just bought one from Chilli Technology through Facebook. Was £39.99 with bigger battery and 960 bright with one touch low beam.

It’s ace!

Will roll with them as it seems all will be fine! I don’t exactly do any big jumps or drops… well if any!

Confusing times! I’m going to tray arrange a trip up there if I go for the bird – too much £££ to get it wrong!

I find myself more comfortable sitting slightly more upright than being stretched out which seems to be the way ti ride these days! My Trek is definantly not a long bike by any means.

The Chester bars are a lot cheaper and the cheaper race face stem brings the build in lower!

I think I want a HT and the FS! I raised the bars and the Trek feels much better – changed to a 50mm stem and feels nicer. Not 100% convinced on the Renthals I have put on so might have a shop around too see wht cheap bars I can find to try instead.

Ben said that the TR is very long and recommended a Medium with 40mm stem and 35mm riser bar.

Thats why I went with the turbine r bars and stem. The Chester bars are over half the price and 780mm so maybe a better option. Still 35mm rise.

Interesting about sizing. I got responses from 2 people at Bird recommending different sizes.

Changing the spec starts to take me over my slim budget unfortunately.

I know it’s a very different bike and longer travel but the Crush Pro comes in at £1350 too once you apply discount.

https://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=4659

Mixture of SLX/XT. Short dropper though but easy fix later down the line.

Pm coming your way pigyn

Ok maybe not can’t message you!

Just a noob question – but is it ok to run stems without any spacers above the stem?

My FS is a Trek Fuel 2016.

I’m just finding I am putting to much pressure on my wrists and the front end is quite low. It has 750mm bars (5mm rise) with a 70mm stem.

I think wider bars might be a start as if i try doing press ups with my hands at 750mm I feel quite unsupported and it was mentioned that this was a good way to find ideal bar width?

Will try get on some demo days and in the mean time pick up some alternative bar and stem combos to try!

I think so – as I’m not sure if it suits my needs. TBH, not sure if the Bird does either.

I’m at a point where I’m looking at so many options I am getting my head even more confused – hence so many threads and questions.

Basically want a bike that can climb well and do XC and trails. I spend quite a lot of my riding in the saddle across the flats but then will jump in to the woods and some red routes along the way.

Or I could just try stick with my FS and re arrange the bar/stem combo, but its hard to figure that out without a proper bike fit or trying loads of bars/stem combo’s!

Takes the crush pro to £1349 with that code!

But think I would be buying the wrong bike…

But it’s so pretty!!!

P7 looks good but I just don’t like green!!!

I love the crush pro but not sure if it’s a bit overkill for my xc/trail riding!!

https://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=4659

I could shift all the stuff off my FS on to the Bird Frame if I knew what I was doing! But I don’t and my fork is 120mm!

Think I’m going with a grey bird… boring colour I know!

Just emailed bird with regards to sizing.

I might ask if they could fit a Trans X dropper if I supply. Probably not – but worth asking!

Yeah the fork is the emajor downside of the Vitus, although they have 1 VRX left at CRC which has a reverb, SLX, Yari etc, but again its adding a further 10mm of travel.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-sentier-vrx-hardtail-bike-xt-1×11-2017/rp-prod146562

I think the Bird hits the sweet spot of travel for me.

Emailed Bird with regards to what riding I do and sizing. Im hoping the brand x will work on the medium and large.

Other bike I had on my shortlist is the Vitus Bikes Sentier VRS 2017 which is on offer at £899.99 with money to spend on upgrades.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-sentier-vrs-hardtail-bike-slx-1×11-2017/rp-prod146561

But to get it to Zero TR spec it would entually cost more!

Anyone used Brand-X Ascend dropper post? Would be a cheaper option if I could fit it myself!

I have been spoilt on the FS with my dropper and I think I would miss it too much!

With the reverb and changing nothing else it is 1520. With the Aeffect Dropper Post 1410 – but can’t find any reviews of that dropper.

22KG – impressive! Should keep the bike planted!

Marin is here:

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/marin-nail-trail-7-2017-27-5-hardtail-mountain-bike-black_375069?origin=pla&kwd=&currency=GBP&gclid=CjwKCAjwlrnNBRBMEiwApKU4PGUg7VndrB8TBlaN6K1c7zkxQ4jjxWxCmZxpEbeVHBl2MhBEM0rSmRoC9AsQAvD_BwE

When I first looked at a Bird Zero (this was a while back) they had the option for some more budget friendly forks but now it only has the Yari & Pike options. They had quite a decent X-Fusion fork avaliable before which made it more affordable!