Which of these full sus bikes?

[torqueofthedevil]

I want a full sus MTB. I need it to be on finance - I.e can't go 2nd hand / eBay.

Having a look on Paul's Bikes - they have some good deals.

Looking around the 1200 - 1500 mark

I'm just under 6ft so I think I need medium? Ad it's better to lean towards slightly smaller than too big.

Which is better out of these that keep cropping up

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s154p5256/CANNOND...

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s154p5516/GIANT-A...

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s183p5506/GIANT-A...

There's a few variations on those but basically them. Think I want 27.5 over 29.

Am I right in thinking that rear suspension set up like that is not as good as where the shocker is up near the top tube rather than down near the pedals?

[Bobley]

Medium Giant Anthems are not that big. I've had one for 5 years and I now let my kids ride it. It really messed up my riding. I'm 5'11" and when I went back to buy a new 27.5 and I sat on a medium I was told in no uncertain terms that I was better suited to a large. Sadly they couldn't source a large bike in the spec I wanted so I ended up on a Specialised camber 29er in large.

The 27.5 vs 29 argument is purely down to your usage. I'm more XC and the 29er certainly rolls well but I jumped straight to 29 without trying 27.5 so I cant say which is best but I'm just happy that I now have a bike which suits my size... although my standard 29er wheels do appear to be falling apart ( 2 spokes gone in less than a year vs never touched the XT's and Mavic 26ers I used on the Giant..)

Suspension design is much more complex than shock position but the horizontal top tube mounted option is popular on the present batch of best bikes (Spec Stumpy/camber/enduro,YT Capra,Lapierre Spicy/Zesty, Pivot Mach)...but thats not to say the Giant system doesn't have its fans.

[torqueofthedevil]

Actually I think is be happier with this - cheaper and seems a better spec to me?

19" surely must be the size to go for (I'm just under 6 foot)

[Silvs]

This!

You will need a large!

https://www.canyon.com/en/mountainbikes/bike.html?...

Re: the finance. Just get a little personal loan!

[torqueofthedevil]

Silvs said:

This!

You will need a large!

https://www.canyon.com/en/mountainbikes/bike.html?...

Re: the finance. Just get a little personal loan!

That does look good - do they not do finance? Yes loan is a possible.

[Silvs]

They don't do finance. I was in your position and had about 1300 quid to spend. Took out a little loan for it. I have the spec below that one and it is fantastic! Cannot fault them. The quality is excellent and it is really well spec'd for the price. Really recommend them. the frame is stunning!

[tjdixon911]

torqueofthedevil said:

That does look good - do they not do finance? Yes loan is a possible.

Interest free credit card?

I am just under 6ft, I have a Canyon Spectral in Large and a Giant XTC 1 29er in Large - they both feel right for me, Medium would be too small - my mate rides Medium bikes which when I ride them feel far too small for me.

[deadtom]

torqueofthedevil said:

Am I right in thinking that rear suspension set up like that is not as good as where the shocker is up near the top tube rather than down near the pedals?

I would say it's better to have the shock mounted low and central, like the giants do. It keeps the weight in the right place and to my eye at least, looks a lot nicer

of those bikes I would probably choose the giant anthem. The cannondale is nice and I really like the brand, but it has a pull shock which could well result in headaches when it comes to finding someone to service it

[torqueofthedevil]

Do we all free rh canyon is the best though?

I will go down the interest free credit card route!

Large frame.

Just one query I see the back shoker on the canyon had a remote selector so can pick from climb / trail / descend. But would any of them fully lock it like u can on front forks? I ask because I'm used to road bikes and a firm frame and will probably do a bit of road / path cycling to get to trails and do a fair bit of climbing (I'm in yorkshire!) so I don't want to be bouncing all over the place losing momentum!

I was set on a hardtail but there are so many rocky paths and that near me I'm now set on the full sus!

Cheers

[Herman Toothrot]

Fox CDT, Climb fully locks it out.

[deadtom]

torqueofthedevil said:

Do we all free rh canyon is the best though?

value for money wise, yes canyon are hard to beat, but be aware that warranty issues can be a major pain to sort out with the mega value brands like canyon, yt etc

[Clinton Baptiste]

I've just got that anthem in the link above (anthem 27.5 2) cost me the grand some of £1059 from je James, it was the only one they had left and in my size too (xl). Picking it up tomorrow can't wait!

[nacnac]

Herman Toothrot said:

Fox CDT, Climb fully locks it out.

Not on my Canyon Spectral shock it doesn't. Perhaps some of the shocks are supposed to lock out fully but do your research to find which ones.

[snowdude2910]

My cube has fox forks and doesn't completely lock out on front or back I bought it from wheelbase.co.uk on 0% finance can't fault the service, 2 of my mates have bottom of the range cannondale hard tails and have had nothing but trouble with them they seem to eat chains, have st wheels and one of them snapped his frame the other day where the rear triangle meets hopefully cannondale will cover it under warranty then again my cube could turn out to be just as bad I've only done 1 ride on it but I'd like to think the shimano xt and fulcrum wheels will fare better.

[Clinton Baptiste]

Yeah the Fox ctd doesn't fully lock out in climb mode it just stiffens up a bit.

[torqueofthedevil]

Clinton Baptiste said:

Yeah the Fox ctd doesn't fully lock out in climb mode it just stiffens up a bit.

Are most going to be like that?

Is it a nightmare going up hills?!?

[Bobley]

Yes, they are much of a muchness. I switched my Fox for a Rockshox and the Fox is certainly much stiffer in Climb mode than the RS but neither causes any concerns. All modern full sus bikes XC-Trail bikes climb pretty well. Most of my mates leave their suspension alone on rides, its only me who fiddles about in a vain effort to keep up!

[Clinton Baptiste]

Bobley said:

Yes, they are much of a muchness. I switched my Fox for a Rockshox and the Fox is certainly much stiffer in Climb mode than the RS but neither causes any concerns. All modern full sus bikes XC-Trail bikes climb pretty well. Most of my mates leave their suspension alone on rides, its only me who fiddles about in a vain effort to keep up!

This pretty much sums it up. Op, don't worry even though it doesn't fully lock out it will be fine on climbs. We are not taking about cheap crap from sports direct here.

[Clinton Baptiste]

torqueofthedevil said:

Are most going to be like that?

Is it a nightmare going up hills?!?

Far from it, in fact I found my mates full sus carbon climbed better than my Hardtail.

[jimmyVX]

Ive a Canyon Spectral in Medium, my only gripe with the bike after a year is its a bit too small, in hindsight I should have returned it. I would recommend it to anyone though, its lightweight, been bulletproof thus far, and love the way it rides. Im just over 6ft for reference.

Just need to find someone who bought a large and wishes they went smaller for a swap.......... Unlikely I think!