100%

There are a few recent frames that were made in the U.K. but they’ve stuck with (or gone back to) Taiwan for the foreseeable.

I spoke to Dan about it a fortnight ago.

Frames are arriving very 6-8 weeks.

There’s no secret to it, obviously the £999 steel frames are made in the UK now with Reynolds tubing and the Taiwanese steel bikes are made from 4130 at £649.

I think there’s too much cost in extra tooling and skilled labour for the Ti rigid frames especially when they are so busy with the steel stuff.

The Sherpa’s and Switch9er in Ti that are available to order are all Taiwanese made.

The tubes are taiwanese too, always have been as Reynolds cannot produce the tapers Stanton need.

Older Sherpa Ti’s may be UK made, but I think a lot of the process was outsourced by Stanton and it is cheaper and higher quality to have it done in Taiwan.

Probably a 17″ in a Sherpa and medium in a Tarn Ti.

Both have too tall seat tubes for me in the Larger size.

How simple the options were back then!

Gripshift or rapid fire, Rockshox Quadra 21R or Marzocchis…

My mate had one of the first Hope mechanical disc brakes in 1995… oh how we turned green with envy!!!! He was 14/15 at the time!

GT Karakoram 1995 model, bought for £550 RRP £750

Range chromoly, decent Mavic rims and Deore LX throughout.

Wanted a Konus Kilauea or Explosif but these were £800-950 ish

Thanks for everyone’s input.

I’m inclined to stay at 160mm and try 44mm offset for a change that I may/may not even notice!

Yes perhaps, but I bought the Nomad on a bit of a whim as an ‘as new’ secondhand bike without selling my Enduro.

I’ve always wanted a SC but couldn’t justify the cost compared to better value products. If I didn’t still have the Enduro I wouldn’t have been in doubt.

But the doubt led to the weigh in and I’m not sure I will gain anything in terms of up or down speed just 3lbs in weight!

If a Bronson builds up <27lbs WITHOUT XX!, light tyres and carbon rims why is the Nomad C so heavy, albeit the cheaper C version?

A bike is a tool first and foremost and I can’t help thinking my Enduro is the better tool in hindsight.

Although I haven’t ridden the Nomad yet so purely guesswork.

If I had better and quicker mechanic skills id like to break both bikes down and compare frame weights.

It must be in the frames. Can’t find Nomad frame weight info anywhere other than SC ‘from 2.8kgs’…

Doubt it will climb much better if at all over 27lbs 13ozs Spesh.

And comparing more fairly a Enduro Expert 650b to a Nomad I can’t believe it will walk all over the Spesh on the downs as they both have 165mm and slack HA.

@ Pawsy_bear

Can you share the bikes build here?

Thank you!

Medium Nomad C 2015 X1 spec with 2.3 HR2 on WTB i25 with \hope pro2, Monarch Plus/Pike and RF Atlas pedals 31lbs!

My previous bike which I still have is a Spesh Endure 26 Expert (carbon) at 28lbs!

Spesh has similar tyes, pedals, saddle and I upgraded the shock to a CC DB Air CS adding at least 250g to the stock weight!

Just bought the Nomad and debating whether it can be worth carrying an extra 3lbs for its downhill prowess?!?!?!?!

I think not… what to do?

I agree with Hob Nob, I moved from a Minion DHF 2.5 ST and HR2 rear setup to a MM and HD f/r combo.

The front is looser unless it’s really loamy and the rear although quicker is less grippy.

Stick with Maxxis and try a shorty or a DHF 2.5 in whatever compound you fancy.

Thank you, anyone else ridden both?

Anyone?

Spesh Butchers are a Minion copy and are not particularly high volume.

I second Trail King / RQ 2.4 as these are huge.

With these you get the hallowed 650b on a 26″ rim! Wouldn’t rotate on the rear of my Pivot Mach 5.7!

I replaced a Monion DHF 2.5 ST with a Magic Mary TS, only ridden at Cannock a few times but in the firm dry conditions the MM hasn’t got the grip of the Minion DHF.

Can’t be bothered to swap it back though but expect it to be much better in loamy soil or wet conditions.

FYI I also swapped out an HR2 on the back for a Hans Dampf. I think there is too much grip on the back with an HR2 ie too draggy. HD feels like a faster tyre with ‘enough’ grip.

If they lack power as well as noise it will be a leaky caliper.

I had to change the front and rear of my 2012 Kona Kila Watt running XT’s.

LBS mechanic wouldn’t have it that they were leaky and rebled them at my cost several times.

Bell doesn’t fit me but the MET did.

So it’ll come down to the shape of your head!

If getting a petrol, my suggestion is a Lawnflite.

It’s not a windup, given that half the retailers and all the manufacturers force the ‘irrespective of use change every 4-5 years’ spiel, I was surprised to receive such old stock.

Top man on both scores

Thank you

Got the MM but wrestled for 3 hours trying to get it to seat and inflate on my Crossmax SX.

Rear HD went on with my pump no problem.

Tried the inner tube tip but as soon as I deflated it both beads unseated and I was at square one again.

Aside from co2, where do I get and schraeder to presta adapter for use with a compressor?

Had to run it with a tube tonight which is only a short term solution.

Anyone else? I have ordered a MM in snakeskin just need to decide between a HD and the RR!

Currently running a Maxxis HR2 and it is quite draggy compared to previous Trail King 2.2.

Hi Hob Nob, I’ve been running a Minion 2.5 DHF in 42a compound and it does everything I need it to at Cannock and in dry conditions. However, it is draggy and last week at FoD on the woods I felt like I needed bigger knobs to dig in to the loamy/muddy conditions.

I accept that it won’t be as good in the harder, drier conditions we may experience this summer.

I picked up a Spesh Carbon Enduro last week and although the Butcher looks very close, is doesn’t offer the same support in fast corners as the Minion. Having said that I think I was arriving at corners faster on the new Enduro!

With tubes (I’ve run Crossmax tubeless all year on the Minion/HR2 combo) the Butcher and Purg combo was a lot more comfortable over the trail.

If I do go for a MM, is a Rock Razor a good shout or will I miss the straight line grip of day a Hans Dampf on the back?

And should I go Pacestar compound for the rear?

Thanks,

Oli

Is the trailstar snakeskin still decent or do I need to go for the vertstar version?

C63 AMG estate gets me to Cannock in good time and has never been so ‘cheap’ to run!

I did try a charge for one ride and thought it was good and very well damped compared to the Minion EXO.

However as a dual ply with and extra 6 ounces+ I guess it would be.

Just wondered what other people thought regarding weight and wear rate.

Sounds like the MM isn’t for me then.

I’ve bought a Spicy 916, and am swapping a couple of new bits from it onto the Mach.

It’s been a nice bike but I’ve always fancied a Spicy and I find the Mach’s STA too slack now I have a reverb and climb with the saddle right up.

I have Pikes and Crossmax SX I want to fit to the Spicy.

Just get them muddy and don’t clean them!

As the yellow bits are a patent type plastic, I doubt it will dull at all.

Erm… Dunno!

I really don’t understand the options outside shimano hollow tech!

Most keen MTB’ers I know build their bikes and upgrade/replace major parts on a rolling basis. For that reason I can’t see any of my mates going for 650b, unless a bike is nicked and they replace with a factory bike.

Rubber Queen 2.2 UST are less than 780g. I changed recently to a Minion DHF on the front and a High Roller 2 2.3 on the back.

More front end grip (it’s a 2.5 ST!) but both tyres are noticeably heavier and far draggier.

I think RQ’s are a very good tyre, and when I’m ready to swap to something more traily, I will be deciding between these and HD’s.

I’d be interested to hear from people who have changed from 2.2 RQ’s to HD’s on their feelings. Grippier possibly, but also draggier I fear?

Love the 5.7 but can’t help thinking I need a bit more bike sometimes. Been offered a swap on my 5.7 for a Firebird from someone looking to go the other way. Great bike but I would also consider a Blur LTC if I was you. A medium would prob be a good fit for you (read the 5.7 sizing thread again).

Anyone?

@bedfordrd

How would you compare the Charge to the HD trail star in terms if dry loose trail cornering and general non muddy descending.

Yes, it’s the lack of front edge ‘bite’ that I’m missing. That’s why I’m considering the 2.5 Minion DHF EXO. Will they go up with a track pump on a proper UST rim with sealant?

In the interests of aesthetics I would prefer a rear tyre of the same brand… High Roller LUST 2.35? Would that be slower than my 2.2 RQ?

How do the Butcher and Purgatory combo size up against a Minion 2.35? As I want more width and volume than that on my full susser.

Have thought about a Minion Exo 2.5 but not UST.

Any more with experience of both RQ and HD’s?

Jeep wrangler with 4.0 six cylinder? Tough a sold boots and good offroad standard.

I have 2010 Range Rover and wouldn’t trust it for a 5 week on/off road trip!

Landrover are all a bit temperamental, especially the drivetrains.

If you need something bigger, then what about a Nissan Patrol?