I’ve got a Monarch Plus on my T130C RS, but only just got it as a warranty replacement as Rockshox don’t produce the normal Monarch in 216x63mm size. Honestly I think it’ll be a bit hit or miss, I’ve seen plenty that are fine but working in the trade I’ve also seen a few Monarch Plus’s stuck down as well. Fingers crossed mine will be ok! Have also seen my fair share of Fox shock issues as well though, so you could punt for the Fox and still end up with a duff shock. I have read reviews that say the T130 doesn’t feel as good with a Fox shock, it’s overdamped and harsh, so would likely need a custom tune on top, further adding to the expense. As I say I’ve only had it one ride but my Monarch Plus with an ML tune seems pretty good, I know have suggested the ML3 tune which is the lightest Rockshox offer but either will likely do the job just fine.

I’ve got my Monarch Plus with some TF Tuned low-friction bushings and they seem to have noticeably less resistance, the standard Rockshox mount kits are shite as has been said elsewhere. Also worth bearing in mind that with a Monarch Plus on a large frame I can only use a 650mm water bottle, a 710ml Camelback bottle wouldn’t clear the reservoir, so on a small frame you might not be able to fit a bottle at all with any piggy back shock.

A bit less aggro than the Honzo, the reach is fair bit shorter and the chainstays are longer, will give a more “XC” feel even with the same 120mm fork as the Honzo. But still a very nice bike, only cancelled my order as other things cropped up and as I say I realised you can only use Shimano drivetrains with it and I’m sold on Eagle these days!

Yep Genesis Mantle or Saracen Zenith worth a look. I did have a Mantle on order until I realised it uses a direct mount Shimano mech hanger so you can’t use Sram on them, but if you’re happy to only be able to use Shimano (I wasn’t) then definitely worth a look as the Mantle is seriously nice otherwise!

It gets bloody cold up there at the best of times now as Steve says! Just driving from Wrexham up to the car park the temperature dropped nearly 5 degrees last week, and it’ll be even colder as you get higher up. Green is the way to go and the cafe is ace, so wouldn’t discount it entirely

Madison have the R414 in stock so most LBS’ should be able to get hold of one within a few days.

DB IL coil might be one of the few non-piggyback options, not many manufacturers sell 216×63 shocks without a piggy back. Have a T130 myself and recently had my Monarch replaced with a Monarch as SRAM dont make the standard Monarch in that size anymore. Fox make the DPS in that size but it’ll be over budget. Singletrack reviewed a DT Swiss shock on a T130 not long ago, might be worth checking out that review

Usually it’s whenever my seasonal 7Mesh clothing delivery arrives! There kit is just so nicely put together and the attention to detail is unreal. It’s just damn nice gear and so understated, nothing like the garish crap from Fox I’ve worn in the past that fell apart on the first ride.

Working in the trade I see a lot of new kit, almost on a weekly, if not daily basis, and I have noticed it takes a lot more to wow me these days! The new Transition SBG bikes are nice and I was very much in “WOW!” mode when my Whyte arrived 18 or so months ago, but really there isn’t much that excites me these days in terms of bike kit, especially as far as complete bike’s go. I did get excited by my Chromag carbon bar and ranger stem, again just because they look so nice and also had an out loud wow moment first time I used my Maxx-D on a night ride, it was like having a second sun attached to the bars!

The T129 doesn’t have the best overall suspension of Whyte’s full suspension bikes, it’s pretty well documented in review that the back end could never really keep up with the front and the geometry. The T130 and newer S150/G160/G170 are better in this regard. Rather than buying a new shock, I’d perhaps look at getting the Monarch tuned by TF for similar, might get better results than simply switching shocks.

Never had any noise issues with Eagle, the XT 11-speed on my old Mondraker however and other bikes I’ve ridden with it have sounded horrendous. To be fair I’m not a fan of any 11-speed gear, all the Shimano I’ve ridden has sounded awful and not been particularly slick and 11-speed SRAM just feels cheap and nasty and that’s before the narrow/wide upper jockey wheel goes out sync!!

Just got a new Eagle oval ring to try out and a Hope BB as the GXP one is goosed, just waiting on stickers for the Monarch Plus and mine will be back up and running!

T130 is a great all-round bike, fun and playful but it can do fast as well. Not as fast over really stuff as a 29er or longer travel bike but just so versatile. The carbon T130 is now a 3 year old design, i’d expect a new or revised version for 2019 MY, I’ll be interested to see what they do with it!

Trying to spend less on the bikes as whenever I do I seem to make them worse than better! Even spending out to get the T130 serviced at various places has been a f#@&ing nightmare, fork service was OK, shock service/replacement has been a disaster thats kept me off the bike for over a month, christ the first shop I took it too couldn’t even index the gears properly or replace a set of brake pads and they have a great reputation as well… From now on I’m going to leave my bikes be until they are genuinely fubared!

@bacondoublechee, where did you get the ML3 tune from? Will try the ML tune but already tempted to go for the ML3 tune or just say blow it and go down the Vorsprung Tractive Valve route!

Been through a right service/warranty journey with my Monarch RT3 off the T130, but hopefully the end is in sight after 4 weeks without a bike and I’ll have a shiny new Monarch Plus in ML tune in hands later today. How have folks who’ve changed to this shock been finding it? Presuming it’s a bit more supple than the standard Monarch? I am bit concerned it’ll affect climbing performance, has anyone noticed an increase in pedal bob when they changed over?

Yet to see a Strada in the flesh but have had a quick look at the 3T Exploro and they’re super nice bikes, would be keen to see how the Strada rides.

For those asking about 1×12 for the road, it’s coming. Sram very, very stealthily launched an XDR frehub body, basically a modded standard XD driver from what I understand that will take a narrower range 12 speed cassette.

SRAM explains XDR freehub body, which will make 12-speed road possible

If you sign up for their newsletter you get an extra 5% off when you spend over £100 if that’s any help.

7Mesh Desperado is my go to short sleeve jersey for summer months, it’s a nice merino/polyester blend and the fit is very, very good. Comes in a nice range of colours and the quality as ever with 7Mesh is second to none. The only criticism I have is the lack of rear pockets and the fact they don’t make a 3/4 or long sleeve version, but that is being super, super picky to be honest as it is a great jersey.

I used it to get the spoke length for my Pro4’s Arch MK3’s and it was within what I’d consider a reasonable range, though admittedly I ending up using Sapim D-Lights rather than SuperComps I used on the DT calc, but from what I can gather they’re basically the same weight wise. I would imagine it’s the rims/hubs that are heavier, especially if you used claimed weights, pretty sure Hope’s are with XD driver which is a smidge lighter than the Shimano one. Also worth bearing in mind the stock DT calculator uses alloy nipples, unless you got CRC to spec the same I imagine they used brass, which would add 50-60g without too much bother.

Transition Sentinel would get my vote, initial feedback has been very favourable.

Given the Monarch on my T130 has just gone for service after 15 months and less than 100 hours riding and the place servicing it have said there’s wear on the stanchion I’d definitely get it serviced and the pike as well. Even with only using the bike a couple if times a month 2.5 years without a service is way too long. I’d get them both done or you’ll likely be facing an expensive bill in future when stuff starts to wear, you never know, it might have started already and you’ll be out of warranty and the prices for replacement CSU’s and the like is not cheap…

Love my T130, great blend of speed and fun. The new Scout is a bit weighty but the feedback on SBG bikes I’ve heard from riding buddies has been very positive. Haven’t ridden the Flare but would very much like to give one a go!

Bit left field but I’ve heard great things about the Norco Sight 29 and Devinci Django 29, both have had rave reviews in the press, the Sight 9.2 in particular got a great review by BikeMag and looks decent-ish value with GX Eagle, Pike, DT/Raceface wheels and a full carbon frame.

Do it. I’m now on my different 4th carbon frame since 2011, first a Mojo HD, then a 456C, Foxy Carbon and now my T130C RS and as far as materials go they’ve been solid, I’ve found geometry makes a bigger difference in truth.

The Carbon Smuggler is the #1 bike I’d be looking at to replace my T130 if/when I do ever feel the need too. The new SBG Transitions in alloy are hefty, and I mean really hefty! We had an XL Smuggler with the GX Eagle build and with pedals it was north of 34lbs. Felt it would survive a nuclear Apocalypse but christ that’s heavy for a 120mm trail bike! I baulk at my T130 weighing a smidge over 30lbs so a bike thats 10% or more heavier is a no for me!

Doing the maths you could go easily sub 30lbs on the Carbon one, I reckon sub 29lbs inc pedals is doable without going silly with carbon wheels and crazy light parts. Plus there’s also going to be the day you’ve just ripped a section of trail and you stop at the end and some other punter rocks up on a carbon one and you’ll wish you went carbon, not alloy!

Had 26 inch versions on my old Ibis Mojo for 4 years and until I started riding light DH on them they were ace, light, stiff and reasonably tough, you’ll be fine

Also work at a Transition dealer and had no idea this was coming, or the carbon sentinel. They have gone quieter on new models after leaks of the carbon patrol and other models, had very little info on the SBG bikes before they came out, saw it all online before we had any info

Well the bike I said all along could replace my T130 is now a reality… I need to test one of these soon! I hadn’t actually looked at the geometry in any detail but had been throwing some numbers around in my head if I could make a 29er exactly how I thought would be ace, 470-480mm reach, 335mm BB, 460mm seat tube, 425-430mm chainstay, 66.5 degree headangle, 76.5 degree seat angle and by Christ with a 130mm fork the Smuggler wouldn’t be far off that! The frame weight is actually respectable as well rather the 9lb monsters the aluminium ones turned out to be. Now how can I afford one?!

11-speed Shimano gear is pretty crap tbh. I upgraded from a 10-speed XT drivetrain to 11-speed and actually wanted the 10-speed back within a month. The 11-speed XT feels flimsy and plastic. In fact so does the Sram 11-speed stuff I’ve ridden! I’m beginning to think 11-speed is a bit of a waste of time on all fronts! I’m on Sram Eagle 12-speed now and its by far the best drivetrain I’ve ever used. Smooth, feels well built and so far hasn’t missed a beat. Walks all over all the 11-speed stuff and feels just as good as the 10-speed kit XTR kit used to love. If you’re dead set on upgrading I’d go GX Eagle with an X01 shifter and call it done!

I’ve got Guide RS brakes and had a set of RSC’s on bike for a while and I do like them. Shimano have truly cocked their brakes up in last few years, the XT M785’s I had on all my bikes for a few years were far better than the newer M8000’s and XTR’s I’ve tried. I’ve ridden dozens of sets of Shimano brakes on test bikes and I can count on one hand the amount that didn’t have a spongy feel and/or a crazily wandering bite point. Hope are nice as are the new Magura MT Sports, which look a bit of a bargain to be fair!

Overall I’d stick with what you’ve got or as I say, go for Eagle and a better set of Guides (RS or RSC) or try Hope/Magura.

Have a 2016 Datum 10 with the same wheels and they’re alright, the bearings aren’t great but they’re decent enough and are not too heavy. A lighter set has been on my list for a while but to be honest for the amount I use the bike they’re more than adequate. I would probably go DT Swiss in truth if I decided to change, their new range is light, tough, tubeless compatible and I have heard issues with the Hunt wheels and Datum forks, so I’d be tempted to potentially avoid those.

7Mesh Guardian or Revelation. Will last forever and the quality is unreal! For any weather I won’t wear anything else these days, but their wet weather kit is especially epic!

Don’t see how it’s any different to when Raceface introduced the CINCH cranks rather than X-Type… it’s not a new BB standard, you don’t have to buy it, but as someone who had to oversee ordering a whole host of BB30 and GXP cranks and BB’s when Eagle came out I for one am glad they’ve simplified it!

I never used to like Sram, I was always a Shimano fanboy through and through, but Eagle has been so good on my T130 I’m converted. I’ll be investing in a set of X01 DUB arms when my BB wears out for sure!

How are folks who have upgraded to 140mm forks finding the ride? I’m toying with the idea as I’ve always had bikes with mismatched travel and find I’m lacking confidence in the front end of the T130, thinking an extra 10mm of cush might be the way forward!

Yep, had it for about 6 weeks now and it’s spot on :) the power output is slightly ambitious if you stand up, I got a read out of 1166w at peak power which I doubt is hyper accurate, but otherwise I can’t fault it

It’s just there to quieten the cable nose & stop it rattling, you could take it off, but I imagine the cable would rattle significantly. I have 2017 T13-C RS myself and it’s not caused me any problems leaving it there, you should be able to thread the new cable through easily enough.

7mesh for clothing, it’s just incredible. The fit, quality and performance is simply second to none and their customer service having dealt with them directly is exemplary. Wish they did gloves and more though!!

Giro for shoes & lids, great fit & value and they seems to last super well. Also used them for years going back to when I bought a zen.

Stan’s for rims & sealant. Rims are ace. Light strong and so, so easy to setup tubeless.

Exposure lights. Only recently started using these but have been blown away. Awesome performance and again the customer service is ace.

Chromag bars & stems. For little other reason than they look the dogs, but to be far the cutlass carbon bars are awesome. Precise but forgiving and the shape is perfect.

Ran that setup on my old Foxy Carbon. The simple answer is, don’t. Absolutely useless. Creaked all the time, bearing life was awful and was constantly concerned I was damaging a very expensive frame & crankset. Avoid!

It is far, far better than the old one. Fitted one to the reverb on my T130 and haven’t looked back. perfectly matches the shape of my Eagle shifter and it just feels so intuitive to use, I actually find myself using the dropper more than before!

Ben you have a PM!

Somehow stumbled across the page for the new soul, regular navigation takes you to the old one though.

https://www.cotic.co.uk/product/soul

That is one loooooooong bike, but if they have kept the weight the same that is very impressive! Tempted to just get a frame and swap the bits off my T130 for winter use!

Used my 7mesh recons for a year and they look brand new still, not full waterproof but unless you’re out in a downpour all day you’ll struggle to wet them out. Just bought some 7mesh Revo’s which are fully waterproof, looking forward to trying those out. Can see why people go for the homemade army ones, but honestly the fit and quality of the 7mesh is more than worth the extra.

Ohhhh no. No. And No. Bars and stem must be from the same brand! Heathen!!

Yep, running a 50mm Chromag Ranger stem because its nice and matches the bars.

Mudguards? MTFU. A front is acceptable, a rear is just wrong. Buy Waterproof clothing.

Running a side entry Syncros Carbon cage on my Large T130C RS and can easily run a 750ml Camelback bottle.

Not a chance. I fitted an evol air can to my Fox CTD shock on my old 2015 Foxy Carbon and the dropper cable rubbed the air can something chronic. New bike has a Debonair Monarch RT3 and the air can is far, far bigger than the Evol one. I doubt it would clear the frame let alone not rub the dropper cable!