Have just got the Maxx-d and am pretty impressed. I don’t have much to compare it against but I can’t really imagine that you’d need anything brighter. The controls are a bit of a faff though on the new one. It’s available with a fair chunk off the RRP at Westbrook cycles at the mo

Thanks – That sounds like it will work then, especially as I reckon my night rides will only be an hour and a half

Thanks all,

Hedgehog /iainc – I think maybe I’d prefer the Diablo having done a bit of research, I just think the 1 hour burn time is a bit of a shame

Thanks everyone for the replies. Fairly sure the maxx d looks like the one for me, even though I’ve been tempted by the 6 pack which looks nuts!

The one question I have is the joystick enough for a helmet, for trail riding? Ie it’s only 800 lumens, is that enough for the helmet? Now I’ve thought about it seems to be quite a big gap in terms of lumens between what you’d have on the bars and what you’d have on the helmet

Thanks everyone for the info.

I hear what you’re saying about going cheap lights to try it if you’re new to it. In my case I think I have to like it, just from a fitness perspective if nothing else it’s going to suck only being able to ride at the weekends! Something to mull over…

Iainc- when you say exposures are great “if you replace them every year or so” what do you mean? I was maybe naively assuming that once I bought the exposures I could use them for many years

Thanks everyone.

Hadn’t heard of Mad Elk but will give them a try

Mikew – it’s tough to know – think for length of arms I’m definitely not T. rex so probably just average for my height.

Raisinhat- you’re right about the new XL session. I’d already clocked that the large is way too small so it would have to be XL for me if I got one. The fact that the Tues CF in large has the same reach and is cheaper with a great spec, I think its a good option.

Thanks all for the input. Looks like the consensus is it’s ok for my height. Much appreciated as you obviously can’t try these!

EDIT – try!

The new ones are considered good, I’ve just bought a sanction, very capable bike. The fury looks good and I think the force is pretty highly rated so I’d be tempted to give it a go

Some of the new fox stuff just seems to be badly designed IMO. I’ve used it for years but bought a couple of short sleeve riding tops recently in large and its way too tight on the neck. I’m only a 15/15.5 collar anyway, so it just doesn’t seem to be right to me. I sent them back and went TLD

I’ve just got a GT sanction and I’d say it would fit your requirements. It’s absolutely solid yet if you pick one up you’d be shocked at how light it is. It feels lighter than smaller travel bikes I’ve owned.

That said depending on your height I would look at the Capra. If I wasn’t so tall I probably would have got one.

Enigmas – is that correct that the 2016s are going to be black? Ubyk or whatever they’re called told me that the 2016 was white only for 650b 160mm. That would appear to be wrong looking at the picture you’ve posted…

I’ve got 2 sets of Devilles, both 20mm and have had no problems with the axle. Mine are 26 though, cant comment on the 27.5 version, maybe they’ve changed something?

I’ve also been after a set of these in black, was put off when I found out they’re only in white this year. I hope that mad elk do have them for you, although when I’ve been ringing round various places looking for a set, it unfortunately seems to be that most shops tend to just get them from jungle on demand rather than holding the stock. But hope I’m wrong

Thanks for the replies. Wanted to check before buying as maxxis tyres aren’t cheap so want to be sure I get the right ones. Think I’ll give these MaxxTerras a go then as the consensus seems to be they’re ok

You can get the dh compound magic mary which id say is fine on a trail bike as its light. Personally I love the minion so would like to see a wide light soft minion. So is the MaxxTerra generally considered to be ok then?

I ordered a set of wheels from bike discount de on Monday via DHL and they’re still not here if that’s any help

He’s based in Shrewsbury apparently

Must be some downsides, is manoeuvrability affected on a long moderaker ?

Thanks everyone – think I will follow their advice then and go for the matte

I have a 140mm knolly and it’s very capable for dh…and I hear it’s bigger brother the chicoltin is even better, so could be a good replacement for your 6.6

Have the hero 3 black, has worked well for me. Hero 3 silver or black might be worth a go, should be cheaper now the 4 is out

Thank you ….sounds like there will be less issues just going for new rotors

Ah ok – I didn’t realise I could use the shimano rotors…I did think there were some comparability issues across certain different brands.

Also didn’t know sram did centre lock rotors – thanks will see if I can find some

Thanks everyone, that’s good news.

I don’t know too much about centre lock but I want to get avid codes or sram guides and they’re 6 bolt as far as I’m aware

The bike is a GT sanction pro. I did just want the frame but can’t find any stock of the frame in the UK anymore. So will get the full bike from Germany then sell the bits I don’t want (brakes/wheels/maybe forks)

Thank you

Yes it is a shop, so hopefully they can arrange shipping. But I have to decide tomorrow really whether I want to commit or not, so just wanted to be armed with the right info. Great to hear no import duty!

200 euros is a bit steep but having said that the price of the bike is good due to the current euro rate

Thank you, will definitely give them a try in the morning

I’ve tried most of the ones in Surrey/London plus reading but no luck. Will try the ones further afield tomorrow, but I was just wondering if anyone could think of a place that might stock one

Thanks Pete. How come you would go XL out of interest? From what I can tell the large has a reach of 462mm, which I would have thought was quite big

Unfortunately I can’t seem to find one of these to demo in a shop, there are frames but no bike to try out. So this is my last port of call…is there any chance someone has one please in large that I could try for size?

But is that clockwise when the bike is upside down?

What is quite strange with the hsc is if you turn it clockwise it actually winds the adjuster out

Eddie – thank you – presumably is that when the fork is upside down?

Mike – I would agree for LSC and rebound – but personally find it quite hard to tell on HSC doing a car park bounce test.

Would expect bearings to last a couple of years…who knows maybe I’m expecting too much

I’ve been looking at one and coincidentally my brother has just bought a 2nd hand one. He lent it to me today, really is an awesome bike.

We did however note a lot of play in the rear end and several of the bearings are shot. He’s now replaced them which was easy enough. Not great on 14 month old bike but I wouldn’t let that put you off. Think I will probably buy a rallon myself

I’ve been there a couple of times now, amazing place – will be going back next year for sure.

Some bits of it are quite steep, but not all of it. Madonna Della Guardia and Mini Champery are two of the steeper/harder ones if I recall correctly.

I guess in terms of how it compares to the UK. Its harder than FOD, probably about the level of the DH black at Stiniog, but not as hard as the Double black at Stiniog.

Hope that helps.

Thanks getonyourbike, although that’s a shame didn’t really want to go as much as 170. How tall are you and how did you find the fit? Am struggling to find one to demo unfortunately

Yep from what I’ve read it’s pretty good downhill, but it’s not a DH bike of course so will have it limits.

Re measuring without sag I’m not sure as they don’t seem to say. But that wouldn’t change the top tube measurement would it? Again it’s hard to make out from the poor quality of the gt image, but it appears that the wheelbase is slightly different also

Just a couple of questions on this in general for anyone in the know:

1. What size fork would you put on it? Its got 165mm at the back, so I’m not sure whether to go 160mm or 170mm at the front. For me the answer may depend on what size fork is needed to achieve the 66 degree head angle. If they’re relying on a 170mm fork to get the 66 degree head angle, then its not very slack at all.

2. Does anyone know where to get reliable geometry specs from? I’ve been going off the pinkbike ones, but the geometry on the GT site is different. I hope the pinkbike geometry is correct. The GT one is a mess if nothing else, I can barely read it, but from what its saying the top tub is 614mm via a blurry image, whereas pinkbike say its 630mm. Which one is correct?

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/gt-sanction-review-2014.html

http://www.gtbicycles.com/int_en/2015/bikes/mountain/gravity/sanction-pro

Damascus- thank you – I will check out how the geometry compares on both. In fact I did find this:

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gt/images/gt_12_Catalog_GEO.pdf

But annoyingly they don’t seem to quote the reach for the 26 version.

Thank you both

Having looked at the reach its 462mm I think for the large. If not for the Dirt article that I read, I would have thought that would be pretty spot on for someone who’s 6 2. Has anyone tried the large?