Hope; bombproof, easy to service, smooth running, well sealed, great noise from the rear hub.

We had a Islabike Rothan that we got our wee boy for his 2nd birthday but had to wait until he could touch the ground as he was quite short! He’s now just shy of 4 and has just learnt to ride his Islabike Bein 14 unaided :-) Never went near stabilisers. Key is not to rush, especially during the winter. It’s the best feeling ever when they enjoy it though.

When it comes to quality waterproof, breathable, robust jackets imo you get what you pay for (RRP).

http://www.descent-world.co.uk/2016/06/30/endura-mt500-ll-jacket-review/%5B/url%5D

weeksy – Member
£1100 buys a LOT of seatposts.

Agreed dude, but a LBS would probably help and give you a temporary one while the warranty was sorted and would save you a lot of time/hassle that could be spent riding your bike :-) I’m not against internet shopping, and there are huge savings to be had, but I am a ‘support your LBS’ advocate. Perhaps because so many friends rely on it where I live.

Another good reason to support your LBS; when it goes wrong they are suddenly the ones you need :-)

The questions to answer before you even start looking at bikes:
– What is the max budget?
– Where do you ride 95% of the time?
– Where do you see your riding in 3 years time?
– What is your current ability, hardtails are far better at helping you improve technique?
– Are you prepared to take a slight risk in fit and buy direct brands like Canyon or do you want the after sales care of a LBS?

Once they are defined you then a plethora of choices. Get to a LBS and try some. Check for demo days (Santa Cruz had one today for instance at Glentress). Try friends bikes. There are SO many bikes out there now there is no one answer. This is a good time to buy however as 2016 bikes are on sale. Big travel often compensates for poor technique; I have witnessed a big-field enduro won on a 100mm Tallboy ridden by a top notch rider. For me, in the full suspension world, Santa Cruz, Whyte and Orange are great options for the UK with lifetime bearing warranty and widely available.

You’ll love it :-)

The 5010 is brilliant; I rode it for a three day 200 mile coast to coast, raced the Ard Moors enduro on it, ride all the Tweed Valley trails on it. The stock bike is well matched with the Pikes (even the basic version) being able to take big hits. The cable routing for the rear brake is annoying but you’ll get over it I reckon! Lifetime bearings for the original owner is a winner. I have a size large, am 6ft and could easily run a 150mm dropper.

You won’t be disappointed.

^ +1 for Keela

It’s worth it to see some of the bikes and clothing :lol:

It’s just undergoing a ‘re-brand’ as I understand it and will be out again very soon. iCycles in Innerleithen has stock.

Another one for the Keela Saxon

Tracey Mosley, Katy Winton, Mark Scott… Pretty good at the EWS. Chris Ball won Tweedlove King and Queen of the Hill on a Tallboy…

Never ridden one but about to get a Hightower… :lol:

I would also consider the T130 – an epic do it all trail bike but maybe not enough if you’re going to do ‘enduro’.

Pedalcover get my big thumbs up.

philstone – Member
Out of the box it wont work with other levers (ie SouthPaw) as the nipple end is in the seattube, the clamp is on the lever.

So they have you by the short and curly! £64 is just unbelievable.

I am using this lever:

http://www.mojostore.co.uk/2017-transfer-lever-assembly-preconfig-1x-under-rem-left-c2x20843512

£64….!! £64…..!! Mental, absolutely mental. Fox Transfer with a £30 KS Southpaw…

By the reviews I’ve seen I would go for the new Fox Transfer. Got two reverbs, reliable as anything. Had one Lev, pain in the ***e.

Nomad.

Surely the ‘Ard series will win the ST award for best event. I rode both of them and will be hovering above the mouse button at whatever hideous hour entries for 2017 open…

Change.org petition now up and running:

https://www.change.org/p/sportscotland-reinstate-mountain-weather-information-service

ScottChegg – Member
How much does it cost to replace the Switch Kashima bits? Yetifan has every last washer listed as a spare for every Yeti; but not these bits.

Does anyone know? Or has it always been warrantied?

£279 from Silverfish: Infinity Link

Mine has been replaced under warranty, no question, but the Infinity Link is only a two year warranty period and, as far as I can glean, from purchase date, not from replacement date.

PLEASE take the five minutes to write; it’s the biggest hope to get the stoopid decision reversed. This has to be one of the most accurate and informative forecasts out there for the hill user.

Thanks,
Tweed Valley Bike Patrol.

I am looking at a 29er Hightower dynastar; but, if it doesn’t sell then I’ll still be one happy bloke on my SB6 :D

dynastar – Member
Thanks for the feedback – really useful.

Good to hear from first hand experience that is actually a problem.

It’s only a problem if you don’t look after it. All I was trying to put across was that it needs looking after more than any other system that I have used. But, the reward for doing so is the most incredible ride, as written in many a review. Whether it’s the bike for you depends on whether you are prepared / have the time / inclination to keep it running smoothly.

Bargain to be had here :lol:

I would also say that the SB6 and Bronson are not quite the same; SB6 is more like a Nomad, the Bronson more like a SB5. Both can charge down “enduro” tracks no worries though.

I have had a Yeti SB6c for two years (and is for sale in the classified….) so here’s my take;

It is an amazing bike. I ride a lot, test the odd bike – by far the best ride has been the Switch Infinity equipped Yeti’s. Before that I had an SB66. Yes it needs care, I grease the Infinity link far more than suggested but that’s because I live and ride in wet, gritty, muddy Scotland and not dry, dusty Colorado. Like any bearing, they don’t like water so if you wash it regularly the bearings (as exposed and only the seals protecting them) will start to fail. The reason the ride is so good is because of the Switch Infinity. If any part of that system isn’t working well (seized bearing, ungreased infinity rails) then the whole ride is affected. So, it just needs TLC and not just lobbed in the garage after a ride. Bit like a Porsche I imagine.

I am on my second Infinity link because I didn’t look after it well enough. Silverfish have been awesome whenever there has been an issue. A new link unit is about £270.

To balance it out, I also ride a Santa Cruz 5010 and my colleague rides a Bronson. The VPP system is brilliant, Santa Cruz have a lifetime bearing warranty programme for the original owner and the bearings are pretty well hidden.

Either bike is damn good, so you would hope for that money. The performance of the SB6 however, for me, makes it a better ride. It has also won the EWS, albeit the rider will play a part! Just check out some of the reviews of the Switch Infinity bikes:
SB5.5c[/url]
SB6c[/url]

if you are wondering why I am selling then, purely because what I really enjoy in riding has changed and the SB6 is just ‘too much bike’.

Alligator pads from xcracer.com are brilliant; if they have them for your brake.

BlobOnAStick – Member
I use copper slip, not grease.

But if I didn’t have any copper slip I’d use grease.

+1.

Good to hear Swelper, hope you are doing ok.

Snowcard. Never claimed but the cover is good.

woolymonster – Member

Tom.Nash – I will tinker the hell out of it, but what kind of TLC does it need, I thought it was merely a grease port to occasionally put some in(?)

As the whole system relies on the switch infinity, if the bearings are even moderately stiff or the link not greased (in the UK) it affects the performance. I have learnt, the hard way, to ignore the advice and keep the link pumped with grease to stop any water/grit working its way in. If water/grit gets in the kashima poles don’t stay kashima for long! The plus side is that taking it apart and reassembling is so simple, just make sure that bolts are accurately torqued. As soon as any bearing feels a bit rough change it, a bearing is far cheaper than the infinity link. When I have had issues though, Silverfish have been faultless in replacing the link. It’s not a show stopper just a consideration.

I took the Primer for a spin around the field at the Ard Rock – it’s pretty mint.. I have a SB6c but going to be selling soon for a Hightower or Pivot Switchblade – imo the craze for big travel bikes is to cater for lack of technique for many; I remember Chris Ball winning the Tweedlove King and Queen enduro on a first gen Tallboy!

The switch infinity link gives an amazing ride (own a SB6c) but it needs TLC; if you aren’t one for being pedantic with looking after a bike the Primer may be better for you :lol:

http://enduro-mtb.com/en/yeti-sb5-5c-x01-review/%5B/url%5D

I ride a mixture of terrain in the Tweed Valley and swear by the Vigilante TCS Tough High Grip on the front and TCS Tough Fast Rolling on the back for most. If it gets grim then the front gets a Warden. If really dry/hardpack then the back might see a Trail Boss but there is little rear wheel braking traction on anything grassy/wet!

Ask your LBS or Hope how they post them.

Drink water loaded with electrolytes such as High5 Zero to stop cramps. Try loads of flavours now to check a) you like it and b) it doesn’t upset your stomach. Drink a recovery drink/shake after dedicated training sessions.

These two things massively helped on a 100km+ a day coast to coast earlier this year.

Tweedlove Triple Crown and hopefully the ‘Ard Rocks again for me :-)

Shorty / DHR2 is my stock combo on the ‘off piste’ living here; if its a real mess then Shorty / Shorty :P

I do not know what trails are in BUT, from having an educated guess at this document….

– Repeat Offender
– Bonar or Waterworld
– The Classic
– Mince Baby Mince
– Some DH track mix

However, they will be out marking all week so please don’t run the volunteers over! I expect the riders pack might come out soon, please don’t ride any trails they say are closed for marking! Gutted I am not racing this one :-(

Been using one for a year and been brilliant; doesn’t lose lock in thick trees, battery lasts for a full day of riding and easily uploads to strava (if you set it to). Some bargains on Sports Pursuit too!
https://www.sportpursuit.com/sales/tomtom-11072016

Hope.