Which FS MTB? Options

[Freeride]

I know this will be a holy war, but I need a new MTB and some recommendations. I know everything about road bikes and basically nothing about MTB's. I have an old Raleigh Hardtail with Judy shocks and XTR caliper brakes - yeah - I'm old school.

Anyway, I tried one of the Epic Brain FSB's last year in Moab and just loved it. I tried another FSB in Durango but can't remember what it was. Long story short I would like to convert my hardtail to a bar bike and be done with it.

So, I know I don't need/want a full 50lb downhill machine, so mega-travel isn't a worry. I want something more XC to do singletrack on and don't care about giant Northshore teeters and drops.

I know Alpnsk8 was into the Santa Cruz Blur a couple years ago and I've heard lots of goodness about those.

So - help me out - what should I look at and expect to spend?

TIA!

[kevkor]

I love love love my transition preston. I used to have a yeti 575 but it's definitely more of a xc bike than a do all. the preston can take a serious beating and still pedal up the hill with the best of them. It's a little heavier but you can build one up w more of a xc kit to roll in at around 30-32lbs. would totally recommend one as a great do it all bike.



http://www.transitionbikes.com/2007/PrestonFR.cfm

This post has been edited by kevkor: May 2 2008, 06:01 PM

[oldschool]

Staying local, I have the 2007 Red Transition Covert which is even more of an XC/AM rig and lighter than the Preston which I was going to get and got talked out of. I LOVE the Covert and it can take the drops I feel comfortable with and with a a swap of the wheelset, I can drop a bunch of weight and have an all day backcountry rig.

But, there are a slew of good 5x5 bikes now. So, like with the road bike, just find one that fits well.

I rode a SC Superlight for a long time and loved that bike too. I also still have my Raleigh Phase 2 which they don't make anymore I think that was/is a good XC bike.

Depends on your budget too. You can get a good 5X5 across the board but as with the road bike, you'll pay to get the weight down. You can go from, say, a grand for a backcountry worthy rig to 5K if money is no object.

[kevkor]

Staying local, I have the 2007 Red Transition Covert which is even more of an XC/AM rig and lighter than the Preston which I was going to get and got talked out of. I LOVE the Covert and it can take the drops I feel comfortable with and with a a swap of the wheelset, I can drop a bunch of weight and have an all day backcountry rig.

But, there are a slew of good 5x5 bikes now. So, like with the road bike, just find one that fits well.

I rode a SC Superlight for a long time and loved that bike too. I also still have my Raleigh Phase 2 which they don't make anymore I think that was/is a good XC bike.

Depends on your budget too. You can get a good 5X5 across the board but as with the road bike, you'll pay to get the weight down. You can go from, say, a grand for a backcountry worthy rig to 5K if money is no object.

why'd you get talked out of the preston? I've ridden a covert and liked it a lot but it really couldn't take jumps like i wanted.

[oldschool]

I don't feel like I have anything to prove anymore and I can go as big as I feel comfortable with if the tranny is kind. Plus, I saved a bunch of weight for what I really like to do which is the long backcountry descents. 6 up front and 5.5 in the back and, what, a pound and a half lighter than the Preston. The Preston would have been a tank for the bigger all day rides.

You'd be surprised what Kyle and Kevin rode the Covert off of at Galby and else where. If I wanted to go bigger, I would have just got a Grand Mal.

[Hardboots]

What was the issue with jumping it?

I have an old Giant with 3" at each end, and v-brakes. Kinda want to upgrade, but it's low on the priority list. Might just get a front fork & wheel & disc brake.

[oldschool]

Breaking it. (And, then, usually yourself as well.) Like with anything. It just depends on how well it is built and whether it can stand abuse if the landing isn't that good.

The Preston has a beefier frame and a coil shock but the penalty is in the weight. IF you need a lighter bike. If you don't then, its a benefit. Kevkor lives up North and probably rides Galbraith (Some light DH and Freeride but most would call it an "All Mountain" hill nowadays.) a lot and the Preston is perfect for that Though the Covert does just fine. (I don't hit the 10 footers anyways...). And, maybe some other trails nearby if he has the skills to go and push the Preston's limit. But, it would be a tank on a pure XC ride.

For a new front fork, wheel and disc you can almost sell that Giant (a Warp or a VT?) and get a new bike that's got better components and discs front and back.

[Hardboots]

Giant Tomac something. Tomac 990?
If it was just a little smaller I could rationalize a new bike by giving this one to my GF.

[kevkor]

Breaking it. (And, then, usually yourself as well.) Like with anything. It just depends on how well it is built and whether it can stand abuse if the landing isn't that good.

The Preston has a beefier frame and a coil shock but the penalty is in the weight. IF you need a lighter bike. If you don't then, its a benefit. Kevkor lives up North and probably rides Galbraith (Some light DH and Freeride but most would call it an "All Mountain" hill nowadays.) a lot and the Preston is perfect for that Though the Covert does just fine. (I don't hit the 10 footers anyways...). And, maybe some other trails nearby if he has the skills to go and push the Preston's limit. But, it would be a tank on a pure XC ride.

For a new front fork, wheel and disc you can almost sell that Giant (a Warp or a VT?) and get a new bike that's got better components and discs front and back.

I used to live up north and still ride up there mostly, but I live in Seattle. I definitely ride more light DH and FR than XC when i can find a decent trail but I've found the preston does great on long rides too. If I had a lighter wheelset to swap out it would be perfect, might pick one up soon. First, I like the covert and think it's cool that TBC came out with a more XC/true all-mountain ride. Great bike. The reason I like the preston though is it has slightly (barely) slacker geometry, shorter standover height (most important), and a shorter wheelbase. All of which make it a little more nimble for FR and light DH (in my opinion). As far as weight goes, yeah the coil weighs more but the difference in frame weight is only ~1lb. I prefer a coil shock and I'm over 200lbs myself so a couple lbs here or there on the shock or the frame really aren't noticeable to me.

Truth is thought, I'd probably trade in my Preston for a Bottlerocket in a second.

Agree that if you're going to buy new wheels/disc/fork you'd be better off investing in a whole new ride.

oldschool, we should hook up for a ride sometime.

[Freeride]

OK, so you guys like one brand and two models of MTB's and you are gonna meet up CraigsList style and make love. It took us 7 posts to find a new MTB friend.

Cool.

Any other bikes I should look at?

[kevkor]

my bike is better.

what was this thread about again?

[oldschool]

Rode with Kevin and a bunch of Bottle Rockets yesterday.
I was the only Covert there. Though some of those guys have 'em for light FR and XC too.
Yeah, a BH would be a nice addition to the Covert to cover the spread. But, sure not pedalable...

Reid, there are a bazillion bikes in that genre. I've heard great things about the Giant Reigns, the Blurs, the Jamis Dakars, Specialized Enduros, you name it.

You definately would get a bigger response over on the WA forum of MTBR (more epic, XC crowd) or Ridemonkey (more FR/DH and wanna be kiddee crowd) or the BBTC list serve. I think only Kev and I really ride here. Alpnsk8 says he does but neer really does...

[Freeride]

Rode with Kevin and a bunch of Bottle Rockets yesterday.
I was the only Covert there. Though some of those guys have 'em for light FR and XC too.
Yeah, a BH would be a nice addition to the Covert to cover the spread. But, sure not pedalable...

Reid, there are a bazillion bikes in that genre. I've heard great things about the Giant Reigns, the Blurs, the Jamis Dakars, Specialized Enduros, you name it.

You definately would get a bigger response over on the WA forum of MTBR (more epic, XC crowd) or Ridemonkey (more FR/DH and wanna be kiddee crowd) or the BBTC list serve. I think only Kev and I really ride here. Alpnsk8 says he does but neer really does...

Cool - thanks bro. Yeah, I figure it's sort of the same with road bikes...buy a decent one, there are lot's to choose from, find one that fits and you'll be fine. MTB's seem a little more discipline specific though.

[alpnsk8]

yes mtb'ing is way more specific to the type of riding that you do. and of course how much your willing to $pend!

Though I love to downhill, and have even done some races on a borrowed big bike, I am definitely more of an XC rider. I like to earn my downhills and prefer epic all day rides (palisades, taneum, chickamin). And if I am tooling around the local rides tolt/blackdiamond/beaverlake and even tiger, I am fine with a hardtail and sh!t it is usually on a single speed.

That being said.

From what you originally stated, a good all-mountain/trail bike, would probably be the ticket. under 30lbs. around 5 inches front and rear. Not an XC race bike but more of a marathon bike.

Something like the "covert" talked about before or the Yeti 575 that would be fine choices.

Here are some more (and there are many others):
specialized stumpjumper fsr,
sc blur lt,
titus motolite,
pivot 5,
ibis mojo.

Sorry I didn't chime in sooner.... Yeah Free, get a new bike and come riding with me bro' or.... I'll come visit you in winthrop (there are ton of good rides over there) and we'll do some epic's.

[kevkor]

as far as all-mtn goes, I've never heard a bag thing about the Enduros.

I'm a transition whore though because they're local and really cool peeps.

edit: oh, and because they make sick bikes.

This post has been edited by kevkor: May 6 2008, 12:54 PM