Urgent - what new bike?
Discussion
Hi everyone,
After having my much-modified Pinnacle stolen, the insurers are offering me a like for like replacement (well, as much as possible).
The bike they have suggested was a 2014 Specialised Hardrock Sport Disc. However, looking at this brings up 2 problems.. a) its a 29er, which brings all sort of future pain for finding wheels, tyres, forks etc... and b) I've been reading several reviews, all of white absolutely slate it!!
The budget is 450, and I can choose from any of the bikes on this site:
http://www.bikereplacement.co.uk/catalogue.aspx?so...
I am quite tempted by the Scott YZ10 - Prior to the Pinnacle, I had an 07 Voltage YZ35 and really liked it. I'm not so up to speed on the other makes like Mongoose, Felt etc, so can anyone give me a good recommendation? Requirements are: hardtail, 26", hydro discs, adjustable or lockout-able forks, at least 24 speeds, and preferably something that wont look stupid with skinny tyres on it rather than the in-vogue swamp shoes.
Thanks!
Matt
After having my much-modified Pinnacle stolen, the insurers are offering me a like for like replacement (well, as much as possible).
The bike they have suggested was a 2014 Specialised Hardrock Sport Disc. However, looking at this brings up 2 problems.. a) its a 29er, which brings all sort of future pain for finding wheels, tyres, forks etc... and b) I've been reading several reviews, all of white absolutely slate it!!
The budget is 450, and I can choose from any of the bikes on this site:
http://www.bikereplacement.co.uk/catalogue.aspx?so...
I am quite tempted by the Scott YZ10 - Prior to the Pinnacle, I had an 07 Voltage YZ35 and really liked it. I'm not so up to speed on the other makes like Mongoose, Felt etc, so can anyone give me a good recommendation? Requirements are: hardtail, 26", hydro discs, adjustable or lockout-able forks, at least 24 speeds, and preferably something that wont look stupid with skinny tyres on it rather than the in-vogue swamp shoes.
Thanks!
Matt
ChemicalChaos said:
Hi everyone,
After having my much-modified Pinnacle stolen, the insurers are offering me a like for like replacement (well, as much as possible).
The bike they have suggested was a 2014 Specialised Hardrock Sport Disc. However, looking at this brings up 2 problems.. a) its a 29er, which brings all sort of future pain for finding wheels, tyres, forks etc... and b) I've been reading several reviews, all of white absolutely slate it!!
The budget is 450, and I can choose from any of the bikes on this site:
http://www.bikereplacement.co.uk/catalogue.aspx?so...
I am quite tempted by the Scott YZ10 - Prior to the Pinnacle, I had an 07 Voltage YZ35 and really liked it. I'm not so up to speed on the other makes like Mongoose, Felt etc, so can anyone give me a good recommendation? Requirements are: hardtail, 26", hydro discs, adjustable or lockout-able forks, at least 24 speeds, and preferably something that wont look stupid with skinny tyres on it rather than the in-vogue swamp shoes.
Thanks!
Matt
Can't help with the recommendations, but I can't see it being a 29er causing problems with buying tyres/wheels etc. I'd say most bikes sold now are 29ers, so it wont be a problem. I actually went into the Glentress bike shop a few months ago desparate for a new tyre and they didnt haven any 26" tyres in stock, just 650b and 29".After having my much-modified Pinnacle stolen, the insurers are offering me a like for like replacement (well, as much as possible).
The bike they have suggested was a 2014 Specialised Hardrock Sport Disc. However, looking at this brings up 2 problems.. a) its a 29er, which brings all sort of future pain for finding wheels, tyres, forks etc... and b) I've been reading several reviews, all of white absolutely slate it!!
The budget is 450, and I can choose from any of the bikes on this site:
http://www.bikereplacement.co.uk/catalogue.aspx?so...
I am quite tempted by the Scott YZ10 - Prior to the Pinnacle, I had an 07 Voltage YZ35 and really liked it. I'm not so up to speed on the other makes like Mongoose, Felt etc, so can anyone give me a good recommendation? Requirements are: hardtail, 26", hydro discs, adjustable or lockout-able forks, at least 24 speeds, and preferably something that wont look stupid with skinny tyres on it rather than the in-vogue swamp shoes.
Thanks!
Matt
The Felt stuff seems pretty well built. My Felt road bike has done 7k miles in the last 2 years with very few issues. It's budget end of the scale. Friend rides one of the 29er MTBs and is happy with it.
Where do you ride it? If it's mainly cross country, canal path type stuff a 29er would be a big advantage to what you've had before. Like has been said, 29er/650b is easy to get stuff for now.
Where do you ride it? If it's mainly cross country, canal path type stuff a 29er would be a big advantage to what you've had before. Like has been said, 29er/650b is easy to get stuff for now.
Thanks guys. I think the main reason I want to stick with 26" is that all my other bikes, parts and spares are in that size and I like the interchangability.
As I say, the bigger issue seems to b the lasting that particular bike got in all reviews, citing poor quality and compromised handling and geometry.
The bike i end up with will indeed be used for commuting, set up as a hybrid with road biased reasonably skinny tires but still with front sus. I prefer to hybridize MTBs are they are more hefty and robust than lightweight pure hybrids
As I say, the bigger issue seems to b the lasting that particular bike got in all reviews, citing poor quality and compromised handling and geometry.
The bike i end up with will indeed be used for commuting, set up as a hybrid with road biased reasonably skinny tires but still with front sus. I prefer to hybridize MTBs are they are more hefty and robust than lightweight pure hybrids
Other than the actual wheels and tyres themselves, what spares do you have which are wheel size specific?
I recently decided to replace my MTB, as it's getting on a bit. My initial thought process was exactly the same as yours.
Then I tried a 650b!
It's amazing how much more smoothly it rides over bumps than the 26", and - at least to my inept skill levels - there's no really discernible loss of agility, which I think there would've been with a 29".
If you're mostly commuting on canal paths and roads, though, I'd definitely go for 29".
Personally, even though I actually have new, fairly decent wheels which I could swap over from my old bike, I'm still ordering the 650b, because I'm not going to be riding the really tight, technical sort of downhill rides which are probably the only place where 26" would be worth the extra hassle.
I recently decided to replace my MTB, as it's getting on a bit. My initial thought process was exactly the same as yours.
Then I tried a 650b!
It's amazing how much more smoothly it rides over bumps than the 26", and - at least to my inept skill levels - there's no really discernible loss of agility, which I think there would've been with a 29".
If you're mostly commuting on canal paths and roads, though, I'd definitely go for 29".
Personally, even though I actually have new, fairly decent wheels which I could swap over from my old bike, I'm still ordering the 650b, because I'm not going to be riding the really tight, technical sort of downhill rides which are probably the only place where 26" would be worth the extra hassle.
Kermit power said:
Other than the actual wheels and tyres themselves, what spares do you have which are wheel size specific?
I recently decided to replace my MTB, as it's getting on a bit. My initial thought process was exactly the same as yours.
Then I tried a 650b!
It's amazing how much more smoothly it rides over bumps than the 26", and - at least to my inept skill levels - there's no really discernible loss of agility, which I think there would've been with a 29".
If you're mostly commuting on canal paths and roads, though, I'd definitely go for 29".
Personally, even though I actually have new, fairly decent wheels which I could swap over from my old bike, I'm still ordering the 650b, because I'm not going to be riding the really tight, technical sort of downhill rides which are probably the only place where 26" would be worth the extra hassle.
Oh come on! Yet another person calling the death of 26"! And why do you recommend 29" for road use? I'm asking this having just ridden 180 miles on my antique 26" bike over 3 days. Can't say I encountered any issues with my minuscule wheels.I recently decided to replace my MTB, as it's getting on a bit. My initial thought process was exactly the same as yours.
Then I tried a 650b!
It's amazing how much more smoothly it rides over bumps than the 26", and - at least to my inept skill levels - there's no really discernible loss of agility, which I think there would've been with a 29".
If you're mostly commuting on canal paths and roads, though, I'd definitely go for 29".
Personally, even though I actually have new, fairly decent wheels which I could swap over from my old bike, I'm still ordering the 650b, because I'm not going to be riding the really tight, technical sort of downhill rides which are probably the only place where 26" would be worth the extra hassle.
nammynake said:
Oh come on! Yet another person calling the death of 26"! And why do you recommend 29" for road use? I'm asking this having just ridden 180 miles on my antique 26" bike over 3 days. Can't say I encountered any issues with my minuscule wheels.
It's very difficult to call 26" anything but dead if you're looking to buy a new bike!I wanted a Specialized Stumpjumper full suss. You don't really get much more mainstream than that, but it's no longer sold as a 26" now.
It's not just Specialized either. Take a look on the Evans website, to take just one example where you can sort by model year. They have 310 mountain bikes so far in the 2015 model year. Of those, just 20 are 26", with the remaining 290 being split roughly evenly between the other two formats.
Certainly there's nothing wrong with continuing to ride a 26" bike you've already got, but in terms of buying a new one, it's the Betamax format of the MTB market these days. You might still be able to get spares and upgrades for them now, but how long do you think development of them will continue, given the minute share of the new bike market they now represent?
As for why I suggested contemplating 29" for road or canal path type riding, this was simply an extrapolation of the advice I received fairly universally whilst researching my own purchase.
Twistier, more technical riding suits smaller wheels, and relaxed, smooth cruising suits larger wheels. Given that there's nothing smoother and more relaxed than Tarmac, I'd assume the 29" to be the logical choice.
As many will tell you, Betamax was the superior format in terms of picture qulaity comaprted to VHS.... 
In fact the 26/29 debate is very similar. Sony thought they could dictate the market standard but didnt reckon on JVC developing VHS which went on to take the greater share of the US market, which in turn allowed them greater access to the European market to the detriment of Betamax. "Purists" would continue to use 26", sorry Betmax, because it had better picture quality but eventually new releases dried up and Sony stopped supporting it.
So I see Trek et al trying to dicate the new wheel size standards, be it 650b or 29" and a whole host of people still satisfying the purist market and continuing to produce 26" bikes... When the likes of Cotic stop making a 26" bike, we can concede defeat to the marketing w
es at Trek and Specilaised but until then, I'll stick with my Betamax.
In fact the 26/29 debate is very similar. Sony thought they could dictate the market standard but didnt reckon on JVC developing VHS which went on to take the greater share of the US market, which in turn allowed them greater access to the European market to the detriment of Betamax. "Purists" would continue to use 26", sorry Betmax, because it had better picture quality but eventually new releases dried up and Sony stopped supporting it.So I see Trek et al trying to dicate the new wheel size standards, be it 650b or 29" and a whole host of people still satisfying the purist market and continuing to produce 26" bikes... When the likes of Cotic stop making a 26" bike, we can concede defeat to the marketing w
es at Trek and Specilaised but until then, I'll stick with my Betamax.pablo said:
As many will tell you, Betamax was the superior format in terms of picture qulaity comaprted to VHS.... In fact the 26/29 debate is very similar. Sony thought they could dictate the market standard but didnt reckon on JVC developing VHS which went on to take the greater share of the US market, which in turn allowed them greater access to the European market to the detriment of Betamax. "Purists" would continue to use 26", sorry Betmax, because it had better picture quality but eventually new releases dried up and Sony stopped supporting it.
So I see Trek et al trying to dicate the new wheel size standards, be it 650b or 29" and a whole host of people still satisfying the purist market and continuing to produce 26" bikes... When the likes of Cotic stop making a 26" bike, we can concede defeat to the marketing wes at Trek and Specilaised but until then, I'll stick with my Betamax.
This is fair enough, but remember that the OP has a replacement budget of £450! He's not going to get too far down the boutique, purist route with that sort of cash, and future parts and upgrades are going to be significantly more expensive too, if only because of economies of scale. In fact the 26/29 debate is very similar. Sony thought they could dictate the market standard but didnt reckon on JVC developing VHS which went on to take the greater share of the US market, which in turn allowed them greater access to the European market to the detriment of Betamax. "Purists" would continue to use 26", sorry Betmax, because it had better picture quality but eventually new releases dried up and Sony stopped supporting it.So I see Trek et al trying to dicate the new wheel size standards, be it 650b or 29" and a whole host of people still satisfying the purist market and continuing to produce 26" bikes... When the likes of Cotic stop making a 26" bike, we can concede defeat to the marketing w
es at Trek and Specilaised but until then, I'll stick with my Betamax.Thanks everyone,
I've weighed up the advice and the available bikes on the site.
I really fancied the GT and Mongoose 650B bikes. They were ideal spec, apart from one thing - 650 tyres only exist as knobblies. Research suggests that as the size was solely invented for trail bashing, no one makes slicks in that size.
I looked at the Lapierre 29er at £480, but couldn't justify extra outlay as its already costing me enough time and money to sort this all out.
In the end, I settled for the Scott YZ10 - I used to have an '05 YZ35 so it's somewhat of a known quantity. The only thing bugging me is that it has the lower end Suntours without the lockout of the GT, but then the retrofitted Bomber Atoms on my stolen Pinnacle didn't either.
I've weighed up the advice and the available bikes on the site.
I really fancied the GT and Mongoose 650B bikes. They were ideal spec, apart from one thing - 650 tyres only exist as knobblies. Research suggests that as the size was solely invented for trail bashing, no one makes slicks in that size.
I looked at the Lapierre 29er at £480, but couldn't justify extra outlay as its already costing me enough time and money to sort this all out.
In the end, I settled for the Scott YZ10 - I used to have an '05 YZ35 so it's somewhat of a known quantity. The only thing bugging me is that it has the lower end Suntours without the lockout of the GT, but then the retrofitted Bomber Atoms on my stolen Pinnacle didn't either.
ChemicalChaos said:
...I really fancied the GT and Mongoose 650B bikes. They were ideal spec, apart from one thing - 650 tyres only exist as knobblies. Research suggests that as the size was solely invented for trail bashing, no one makes slicks in that size...
Not slicks technically, but definitely "road focused" tyres...http://nextdaytyres.co.uk/details.aspx/SCHWALBE-BI...
...Next Day Tyres list 3 other road tyres for 650b wheels, but no stock of any of those at the moment.
Link here... http://nextdaytyres.co.uk/search.aspx?Search=ROAD%... ...it may be worth searching by name to see if any other suppliers have stock of the other ones mentioned.
Oh well... They aren't available through the insurers suppliers site, and tis a tad late now anyway.
You're right though - by slicks I should have put road biased. I went for Halo twin rails in the end - they have built in puncture armour and won't make the bike look like its skipped leg day at the gym
You're right though - by slicks I should have put road biased. I went for Halo twin rails in the end - they have built in puncture armour and won't make the bike look like its skipped leg day at the gym
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