Help choosing between two bikes.
Discussion
raf_gti said:
missing the VR6 said:
Specialized do have the imagine! (Sorry!)
What do you mean by feels dead?
As I said, it's only what I read in reviews so no first hand experience. What do you mean by feels dead?
I do remember them saying the bike was a bit slow at steering and not the livliest of back ends, possibly riding a bit 'heavier' than it actually was.
I personally like a bike to feel sharp and lively which if you are riding the trail centre's, is an important trait IMO.
Yep, I do have the full suss bike.
I have changed the tyres (Mountain King 2.2 Protection) and the saddle (Ritchey WCS). I weighed it on our digital scales at 12.3kg.
I would like to see the review that says its dead, if one exists, as its a stunning bike that urges you to ride faster and faster. Its home is on a fast narrow track through the trees and the steering/back end (fortunately) feel alive. In this habitat, it leaves my mates for dust.
Mine also came with a factory fitted Monarch 4.2 but I doubt this makes too much of a difference to the handling.
Eta: There are a few independent reviews on the web and they all seem pretty realistic of all of these bikes. My choice would be between the Boardman and the Spesh. Having now ridden a high spec Spesh to compare to my own bike (with its couple of mods), it would be a hard choice. Perhaps the Spec just pips it, but this would be mostly on heritage, not on performance. There was nothing in it on performance and both bikes would be fine for riders much more demanding than me. It might be worth getting some 'back issue' mag tests.
Edited by Raven Flyer on Wednesday 28th July 17:18
I do like a direct front end, that I feel is one of the main let downs of my current bike.
I'm going to try a Boardman and see what it's about but I'm not sure I like the idea of having to upgrade the bike to get it as good as the Stumpy. I just don't see the point in buying a bike that needs modding to get it better. i don't mind upgrading if something breaks but I don't want to bugger about with it being new. That said I have absolutely no idea what a Monarch 4.2 is so maybe it'd be worth it?
I'm going to try a Boardman and see what it's about but I'm not sure I like the idea of having to upgrade the bike to get it as good as the Stumpy. I just don't see the point in buying a bike that needs modding to get it better. i don't mind upgrading if something breaks but I don't want to bugger about with it being new. That said I have absolutely no idea what a Monarch 4.2 is so maybe it'd be worth it?
Mine came with the 4.2 fitted instead of the 3.3. My guess is the factory had run out of 3.3s. The reviews were on 3.3s and I doubt it makes a lot of difference. Both have good compression and rebound range and compare directly to the Fox unit on the Spesh.
I would guess the external air can Fox, on the Expert Spesh, is similar to the dual air Monarch (next up from mine) but they both carry yet another price premium.
Changing my tyres was worth it as the Kevlar Contis inspire a lot more confidence, especially on softer surfaces.
The 20mm Maxle makes the front track perfectly, even over tree roots.
I would guess the external air can Fox, on the Expert Spesh, is similar to the dual air Monarch (next up from mine) but they both carry yet another price premium.
Changing my tyres was worth it as the Kevlar Contis inspire a lot more confidence, especially on softer surfaces.
The 20mm Maxle makes the front track perfectly, even over tree roots.
Raven Flyer said:
Mine came with the 4.2 fitted instead of the 3.3. My guess is the factory had run out of 3.3s. The reviews were on 3.3s and I doubt it makes a lot of difference. Both have good compression and rebound range and compare directly to the Fox unit on the Spesh.
I would guess the external air can Fox, on the Expert Spesh, is similar to the dual air Monarch (next up from mine) but they both carry yet another price premium.
Changing my tyres was worth it as the Kevlar Contis inspire a lot more confidence, especially on softer surfaces.
The 20mm Maxle makes the front track perfectly, even over tree roots.
I pretty much have no idea what any of that is or means!?!?I would guess the external air can Fox, on the Expert Spesh, is similar to the dual air Monarch (next up from mine) but they both carry yet another price premium.
Changing my tyres was worth it as the Kevlar Contis inspire a lot more confidence, especially on softer surfaces.
The 20mm Maxle makes the front track perfectly, even over tree roots.
I really don't know about bikes I just enjoy riding them so am unfortunately led by what friends, salesmen and you good people on PH tell me.
Raven Flyer said:
It doesn't really matter. At £1500 ish, there are no rubbish bikes. They are very good or even better.
Kind of what I was suspected really, I think it probably comes down to personal preference more than anything. Thanks everyone for your input much appreciated, hopefully in the next week or two I'll have a new bike and will update the thread.
Aaron
I've also recently bought a Boardman Pro, although mine is the HT.
There's a thread on it here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12...
Took it to Afan on the weekend for its first proper outing and was massively impressed with it. The forks and brakes are phenomenal, which was the biggest bugbear with my previous bike. It's also extremely light and the top of the range SRAM kit (X9/X0) is very slick.
I did quite a bit of research before buying, and all the reviews I saw were extremely positive. At £999 it's astonishing value for money - you'd generally need to spend £1500+ to get anything else with a similar spec.
The only real criticisms I found were of the tyres and saddle, both of which are easily solved (and like the previous poster, I changed both of these immediately).
There's a thread on it here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12...
Took it to Afan on the weekend for its first proper outing and was massively impressed with it. The forks and brakes are phenomenal, which was the biggest bugbear with my previous bike. It's also extremely light and the top of the range SRAM kit (X9/X0) is very slick.
I did quite a bit of research before buying, and all the reviews I saw were extremely positive. At £999 it's astonishing value for money - you'd generally need to spend £1500+ to get anything else with a similar spec.
The only real criticisms I found were of the tyres and saddle, both of which are easily solved (and like the previous poster, I changed both of these immediately).
Good morning folks, just thought I'd update. Decided yesterday on a bike and bought the Ghost AMR 5700, only thing to change on it is the saddle as I'm too fat for the thin Selle one it comes with. Looking forward to hitting Summer Lightning in Dorking and hopefully Afan in October on it. thanks for everyones input.
Raven Flyer said:
What made you chose the Ghost?
In my very amateur opinion there was very little to differentiate between them in riding, but I didn't like the way the Shimano SLX worked on the Trek as opposed to the SramX9 on the Ghost and as the Ghost was £100 cheaper and they threw in £100 of goodies that was enough to seal the deal. Do have a little buyers remorse today as I can't get out my head all the reviews and reccomendations I've read and recieved on the Trek.Looking forward to getting it on Sunday and seeing how much improved life is with a full sus.
missing the VR6 said:
Raven Flyer said:
What made you chose the Ghost?
In my very amateur opinion there was very little to differentiate between them in riding, but I didn't like the way the Shimano SLX worked on the Trek as opposed to the SramX9 on the Ghost and as the Ghost was £100 cheaper and they threw in £100 of goodies that was enough to seal the deal. Do have a little buyers remorse today as I can't get out my head all the reviews and reccomendations I've read and recieved on the Trek.Looking forward to getting it on Sunday and seeing how much improved life is with a full sus.
How are you getting on with the Ghost?
I just got one too
Chose it over Trek Fuel, Spesh Camber/Stumpy, Whyte T-120, Lapierre etc etc
why? Because I test rode one and knew it was the bike for me! They are amazing bits of kit of hacking around the UK trails.
missing the VR6 said:
Still loving mine, has proved a trusty steed for about a year now. Have fitted a shorted stem and riser handle bars, also had to buy a new front wheel after pringling original one!
Like the look of the 2011 colours.
Have you ridden it much?
Shorter stem already fitted and thinking of tinkering with the bars Like the look of the 2011 colours.
Have you ridden it much?
Not yet, just had time inbetween weddings/stags/work for one shakedown ride round Brissle. I think this Sunday could be a good for a proper day out.
Not convinced on the standard issue nobby nics but then its a tyre I've never got on with. We'll see...
If you're in Bristol you should treat yourself to a trip to Cwmcarn or Afan with it, mine was superb round there.
I love the Nobby's they've lasted brilliantly and seem to be pretty good in all conditions, although they weren't great on the DH/Freeride bit in Friston forrest last week, the mud just wouldn't come off it was like riding on slicks which is odd as all winter at my local centre they were great, differnet mud?
I love the Nobby's they've lasted brilliantly and seem to be pretty good in all conditions, although they weren't great on the DH/Freeride bit in Friston forrest last week, the mud just wouldn't come off it was like riding on slicks which is odd as all winter at my local centre they were great, differnet mud?
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