Had my Genesis Datum a week or so and love it, but it might be a bit spendy and they are like hens teeth at the minute. GT grade would get my vote if sticking to a grand budget, the alloy 105 gets the same TRP HY/RD brakes as my datum and 105 running gear and I think it’s the best looking grade in the range, though none of them are particularly pretty IMO. Genesis Croix de fer 20 is slightly over a grand but gets a gorgeous steel frame and basically the same build as my Datum but it is a hefty bike for purely on road use. Flip side is it’s super versatile and rides very nicely off the beaten path.

its a Fox CTD shock with the new EVOL air can. I used to run my CTD shock with 170psi, but as the EVOL can requires higher pressure I know run at 220psi. I went from the pressure guides on the 2016 Fox DPS shocks, but it seems to be about 40-50psi than you would normally run.

Last time I checked framesets were due in mid-Feb, though when I cancelled my order it still said mid January on my order, so who knows frankly! I was all set for a framesets but having had both the 20 and 10 full bikes built up I actually preferred the red and to make matters better the red was in my size which is more than I could say for the black one! (It was an XL). Genesis have probably been pretty cagey with numbers, it’s the first year of the bike so it was always going to happen, GT were the same with the grade last year, numbers are much better this year. Expect to have bigger production runs for MY2017, but for now they are very hard to come by.

32mm tyres and guards on a 4S would be damn tight, my colleague is running 25c Durano’s on his and it’s looks very tight, certainly no where near as much clearance as the Datum. It does ride beautifully though I have to admit, geometry is on the more racey side but its smooth and if its built anything like as well as my old Maxlight it will be tough as old boots!

Will be getting my Datum 10 this week, good luck getting hold of a frame, i work for a Genesis dealer and have had one in order for the best part of 3 months and still no ETA for it to arrive hence the decision to move away from the frameset to a complete bike. I’ve given one a quick spin and it felt very nice, ultra smooth, stable and the geometry felt spot on to me. Be careful with sizing, I originally had a large on order as this is what size I was with a 2015 equilibrium, but with Genesis’ new geometry on all their bikes I had to go for a medium. Still works out as 56cm frame and fits well but worth keeping an eye on none the less. The 4S is a bit of different bike tbh. A colleague has one and it’s a very nice bike but has nowhere near as much tyre clearance and as such IMO is no where near as versatile. I’ll hopefully be using the Datum as a proper all-rounder; fast on the road, great for fast commutes and also dabble with a bit of light CX/gravel work so it should be ideal for that. I wouldn’t use a 4S for that, I’d be looking at a Crosslight or Tripster as an equivilant really. If you just plan on riding on the road though the 4S would be a worthy alternative and able to take panniers as well, depends what you want from the bike I guess! As an MTBer first and foremost I’m not overly bothered by the lack of pannier mounts on the datum, I’ve always used a rucksack for commuting and a hydration pack on the MTB.

Both are great bikes, but both have their positives and negatives in equal measure. Expect a reasonably long wait for the Datum though as I say.

Had one for a couple of months now and quite pleased with it. It’s not cheap but it seems to keep the rain off and is reasonably breathable and didn’t fall apart on the first ride, which is more than I can say for the last Fox jacket I had! All my mtb gear is Fox but the quality can sometimes be a little lacking and they aren’t as good value as they once were but as a whole I like the look, the cut of the clothing is always good and performance is decent so I’ll keep using them until it’s time to change everything!

Yeah top spec Evo trailstar. It’s not bad by any stretch, but for some reason it just doesn’t seem to inspire the confidence I thought it would. As I say it’s great in the slop, but feels a little washy on harder surfaces.

Forgot to mention, need to be Tubeless ready as well.

Mixture of surfaces really so need a solid all-rounder, probably 50/50 between hard pack trail centre trails and softer, muddy natural trails

Was running a Magic Mary/Nobby Nic combo, the Mary was great in the deep mud but a bit sketchy elsewhere and the Nic was pretty good grip wise but felt super harsh and kind of plasticky if you get what I mean.

If the bikes bought on finance as well you’ve done especially well! Even without that it sounds like a stinking deal, they’ll probably give it a free tune up in a couple of weeks as well no doubt… Some folks really just don’t know when enough is enough.

Had high hopes before I clicked the link, had a max light XC120 for years and loved, so much so I still have the frame! A work colleague also recently bought a racelight 4 seasons and that too is a stunning bike. That new Phase however is gopping. And the geometry looks awful. Shame as its well priced.

All bikes look better with Skinwalls 8) OP, how are you finding the strada’s? Pretty sure I’m gonna get a pair for my Genesis Datum frame when it turns up, but not seen many user reviews.

8 months into owning a 2015 Foxy Carbon and it’s all holding up great, bearings are smooth as and once i’d added a bit of loctite to the pivot bolts from new they haven’t shifted. Lovely bike and the Dune’s are a superb ride, just a little too much bike for me!

Just had some Scouts come into work and they look immensely good fun, a test ride beckons I think!

Try your LBS? They might be cheapest, but you never know they might just have what you’re looking for and you’ll help keep them in business for the times you really need them.

I looked everywhere online for a Magic Mary in 27.5 and also tried hopelessy through work,(I work in the industry) Walked into my old LBS in Aberystwyth and low and behold there was one hanging on the wall, when it appeared no else in Europe had any. Sure I paid a few quid more, but I got what I wanted, in time for when I wanted and to top it off I felt good for helping those guys out a little. It’s not gonna change the world but hey, every little helps.

Come on Ben, spill the beans! Price? Geometry?

Nothing special. Just the old Nobby Nic under a new name.

That’s what I was thinking Woodster! I do love my current BFe, but it’s geometry feels a bit dated compared to my Foxy and I’m not a huge fan of the colours of the 2016 Vantage, so if this is competitive price wise (which I’m guessing it will be) I’ll be very, very tempted!

Have left mine as it came with the indicator on, no way of blanking off without the plate, which annoyingly while coming on full bikes are not available after market yet…

Formula brakes came as stock on my new bike and never saw dirt, replaced with XT’s before it left the showroom.They’re not bad brakes, but keeping them going can be a real pain. Shimano are just easier to live with and a better brake to start with!

M8000 I spec B shifters aren’t due until at least January. Got my stuff through work at my LBS a good 2 weeks ago now.

I moved from a medium Mojo HD to a large Foxy Carbon and the difference is incredible. The HD always felt like a stable ride but its got nothing on the Mondraker. It’s so planted on descents and through corners the speed you can carry is unreal. Yes when it gets really, really tight and speed drops it takes a little more man-handling but I’ve not found anything yet that can flummox it. It’s on the climbs that it really impresses though. On technical terrain it is by far and away the best climbing bike ive ever ridden. If you can keep the pedals turning it will get you up pretty much anything. I’m 100% converted and I’d very much like a matching hardtail to go with it in the future, they’re just **** awesome!

Got my XT stuff from Tweeks Cycles, got 11-42t cassettes and most other bits aside some cranks in stock. Most LBS’s who have a Madison account should have theirs by now or be able to get hold of it pretty easily. The likes of CRC, Merlin etc who buy “grey” market seem to have been caught out on this one. Nice to see the big guys losing out for once and LBS’s coming up trumps. Sure it might be a few quid more but you’ll get it there and then or within days. Nuff said IMO.

I’d go for the Arc’s. I’ve used Stans rims and they are very good but the Arcs are wider, lighter and very sturdy. Easton rims have always been great, just let down by average hubs and dodgy bearings.

Just walked into Summit Cycles in Aberystwyth and picked up a 27.5 Magic Mary Snakeskin, been trying to get through work for ages but no luck, happy to help those guys out, great little shop and finally got what I was after :D everyone’s a winner in this case!

By using both, funnily enough. Mostly it’s just the feedback, but in practical terms I don’t like how light the multi-release is on the XTR at all, just doesn’t work for me, it’s about the last thing I want to be thinking about.

You must be a lot more sensitive to differences in shifter feel than I am then, because they feel identical in use to me! Ive got saint on the Foxy, XTR on the Cotic and I can’t tell the difference.

Is it disgusting and squishy, like horrible 10 speed XTR? Or is it properly bolt-action SRAM-ripoff-ey, like lovely 10-speed Saint? It appears I need a new chain and so the logical thing to do is replace the whole drivetrain, right? But Shimano feel varies a lot… What do you reckon?

Well seeing as the 10 speed xtr and Saint shifters are identical in practically every way besides colour I genuinely struggle to see how you’ve come to that conclusion…

http://www.tweekscycles.com/bikes/full-suspension-mountain-bikes/mondraker-foxy-xr-alloy-27-5-full-suspension-mountain-bike-2015

That page contains the correct geometry for the XR standard Foxy has 67.5 degree headangle so the 160mm fork slackens it out by a degree to 66.5 and raises the BB slightly

I can honestly say I’ve never noticed 650b wheels feeling bigger and more cumbersome than my old 26″ bikes, hell my 650b Foxy has shorter chainstays than my 26″ Mojo HD. 29ers do feel very different but in a blind test I’d be hard pushed to tell if I was on a 650b or 26″ bike. Just ride, get used to it a little more and it’ll all settle down, all this messing around with different sized is messing more with your head than anything else.

I’d go for (and did go for) a Mondraker Foxy. Best bike I’ve ridden and owned by a mile.

My monster bad turned up today after a 4 month wait. Just about fits my large Foxy XR and it seems good quality. Would certainly be interested in another to keep a potential future road bike or my hardtail in, but I’m certainly hesitate after it taking so long. Hopefully they’re over the worse of the supply issues now and things can return to relative normality.

Still not got mine, 4 months I’ve been waiting now…

Only been riding ten years but I’m now on bike number 7 :oops:

2004 Claud Butler Cape Wraith. Off the shelf. Great starter bike, brakes were shite, fork was average but it was great fun to fun to ride!

2006 Kinesis Maxlight XC120. First custom build absolutely loved this thing and could never bring myself to part with it. Very dated these days but still have the frame in the loft ready to hang in a future man cave.

2011 Ibis Mojo HD140. First Susser. Awesome. Brilliant. Kinda regret moving it on to fund bike #7

2012 On One 456 carbon. Replaced the Maxlight frame and moved the parts over fun over a short ride but never bonded with it. Sold the frame after 18 months.

2013 Stanton Slackline 631. Didn’t last long, gutted as it had massive potential.

2013 Cotic BFe. Possibly the most fun HT I’ve owned. Looks awesome, rides brilliantly and is cool as hell. Don’t ride it as much as I should really.

2015 Mondraker Foxy Carbon XR SE. Second carbon full sus and first off the shelf bike since 2004. Didn’t stay off the shelf for long though. Complete game changer of a bike. Best of the lot? Quite possibly.

Wish I’d come across this thread sooner, just ordered one this week :/ not holding out much hope it’ll turn up now

Had my Ibis for nearly 4 years before I got my new Foxy carbon, which is now about 2 weeks old. Before that my main bike was a max light xc120 which was about 5 year olds when I finally replaced it. Kept the frame though, which is kinda what I wish I’d done with the Ibis, bloody loved that bike, gutted she’s gone :(

I could lawman but they don’t come with a warranty

Any LBS worth their salt who deals with Silverfish would sort any issues out :)

For £100 you could have my brand new CR1’s with rotors :wink:

Stretch your budget and you’ll get a brand new Mondraker Foxy, by far and away the best trail bike around IMO. Another to consider is the Cube Stereo 140 HPA for £2.2k you get a brand new bike with a pike, reverb, mostly X0 drivetrain and sram guide brakes. Unbelievable package for the money.

Bit of a bump, anyone else been upto degla recently who can comment on conditions?