Important question

[Parrot of Doom]

My riding buddy has just bought this:

http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/products.asp?part...

I urgently need to know if this is better/worse/same as my bike ( http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&prod...) so I can shrug off all his claims of superiority. Can anyone help?

PS Mine has the 2009 fork.

Edited by Parrot of Doom on Tuesday 16th September 12:32

[atom111]

His is miles better

Edited by atom111 on Tuesday 16th September 12:39

[atom111]

Seriously though the Scott looks very XC focused and Meta a little more all-mountain.

I know which i'd prefer and that's the Meta.

[JPJ]

I've got an '06 Genius and it's a very good all round bike, which will do XC, marathon and hardcore singletrack efficiently and well. However, as has been pointed out, it is definitely more of an XC/Marathon bike which can cope with bigger terrain once in a while, than a bike for riding big stuff all the time. It's a bit of a unique bike in that sense. It is also slightly odd with the shock hanging out just ahead of the rear wheel (always caked in mud) so it's not the best mud-plugger, although it does keep going even when you think it shoudln't. The Commencal has been getting rave reviews for a couple of years now and is a much more classic all terrain bike, similar to an Orange 5 in that you can ride it all day, but it's not going to be ideal for XC/marathon racing. However, it's a damn site better when it gets steep and technical, and I think will increase the rider's confidence a lot more than the Scott will.

[Parrot of Doom]

That's a good point about the shock, can guards be bought? I was thinking a big coke bottle cut vertically, like a shin pad.

[neil_bolton]

Well, put it this way, if I wanted to rule at any of the Trail Centres in the UK, both going up and also down, that would be pretty handy.

However take it anywhere remotely pointy, and yours will trump it all day.

The Scott is a more XC focused bike as mentioned before - so hardly comparable unless you're talking uphills...

[JPJ]

You could create something out of flexible plastic, although attachments would need to be very bendy - perhaps rubber 'o' rings - so that the shield could move as the suspension goes through its travel. In all honesty, it seems to cope with the mud okay in that it doesn't stop the shock functioning, but it does get caked very quickly making you think it shouldn't.

[Parrot of Doom]

Well he's an engineer so he'll know Grit rubbing against a seal is never a good idea though.

I need conclusive bragging rights to shut him up basically, or he'll be going on about it all week

I'm off riding with him (and on his new bike) at Cannock Chase tomorrow, he's getting it tomorrow morning.

[mk1fan]

Parrot of Doom said:

he's getting it tomorrow morning.

Lucky him. Nice to have such a close riding buddy

[vwsurfbum]

i cant see 'his' but if its a genius it really is fantastic! i have one, i do mainly do XC but do do the odd drops and jumps, it takes it all in its stride. the best thing is at a flick of a switch its a hardtail! no other bike can do that!
although the commicals are great all mountain and freeride bikes they just dont adapt to its surroundings as easily.
ps my shock never gets clogged?

[Parrot of Doom]

Well its a stunning looking bike, and very light. A lovely piece of kit.

Its just a shame he went over the handlebars tonight, while riding in the dark. Him in front of me, his lights aren't as good as mine so he didn't quite see the wooden staircase along the riverside, he went flying down it and the front wheel disappeared into the 10 inch drop off the last step - with him going over.

Fortunately all that got broke is the little metal collar that adjusts the cable tension on his rear shock adjuster (handlebar mount).

Very very lucky, especially considering he landed right next to some 6 inch square fenceposts keeping the path away from the 50 foot drop to the river....

Imagine how gutted you'd be, spending £1600 on your new bike and then going over the handlebars in the same week...

[v8 jago]

[quote=Parrot of Doom]

Fortunately all that got broke is the little metal collar that adjusts the cable tension on his rear shock adjuster (handlebar mount).
quote]

Its best to leave the leavers slightly loose so if they take a big impact they have a chance of moving a bit rather than just snapping. Suppose its too late now though

[neil_bolton]

Parrot of Doom said:

Imagine how gutted you'd be, spending £1600 on your new bike and then going over the handlebars in the same week...

Of course, I bet you didn't even laugh, not even a little bit, nope.

[Parrot of Doom]

Nah he was really hurt and worried about his bike, and I was a bit worried about him when he fell.

I lasted at least 3 minutes before laughing.

[.Adam.]

Parrot of Doom said:

Imagine how gutted you'd be, spending £1600 on your new bike and then going over the handlebars in the same week...

I've got a mate that did that last year, had just finished building a Cotic Soul, and on his first ride out went over the handlebars and broke one finger on one hand, and two fingers on the other, so he couldn't ride it again until a month later!