All mountain- Boyfriend wants to replace Norco Six Three!

[Louisa911]

My boyfriends Norco Six Three has finally started to wear out after 3 years of hard riding, the bottom bracket part of the frame has completely worn and its new bike time.

He rides mostly trails, Glentress, Glencoe, Fort Bill etc, and been riding for about 18 years. He's 6'6" and athletic build, agressive rider so quite heavy- his Norco was sturdy and could take some heavy hits (until now, haha). He is stuck between a more freeride/downhill orientated bike, and a 3-chainring more allmountain type setup, if strong enough for some light downhilling too. He likes the look of the Lapierre Spicy 316 but doesn't look like it would hold up to much abuse. He doesn't want a Kona Stinky or any Kona for that matter as he doesn't like the riding feel. He doesn't really want a Felt Redemption either, as he hasn't heard much about them and has never experienced one.

He DOES like the Santa Cruz Bullit FR 1.5. Which is a starting point I guess. But he is open to suggestions as to what to look at now. Budget is around £2500 or there abouts.

Anyone have any ideas? Cheers!

[ezi]

Trek Scratch ?

[Flippin' Kipper]

Orange Five or Santa Cruz Nomad?

[Ruxpin]

It is a difficult choice - lots of nice bikes out there....

New or second hand?

I'm enjoying my Nomad



I picked it up second hand and it has cost less than £2.5k over the last 18months including purchase, a full service, new xtr cassette and chain, new xtr cables, new tyres, grips, spds, bottom bracket, wheel bearings, tf tuned shock and fork service.

Edited by Ruxpin on Friday 2nd July 08:38

Edited by Ruxpin on Friday 2nd July 08:47

[slomax]

Realcycles.com have got some pretty nice deals on the commencal range at the moment on both the all mountain and downhill bikes. Might be worth a look.

[rhinochopig]

Needs a new BB so has to have a new bike - well done that boyfriend. Please tell me you're helping pay for it

[Pablo16v]

If you're looking for strong then something like this might fit the bill. This is a large so might still be too small for your boyfriend.

http://www.gravity-sports.co.uk/2nd-hand-stuff/15-...

[FunkyCEO]

rhinochopig said:

Needs a new BB so has to have a new bike - well done that boyfriend. Please tell me you're helping pay for it

Lol If he rides a Norco and for a number of years, I'm guessing its the frame thats knacked around the bottom not just the BB


Think this would be worth a look if you can find a local dealer http://www.transitionbikes.com/Bikes_Covert.cfm or more beefy http://www.transitionbikes.com/Bikes_Blindside.cfm

Edited by FunkyCEO on Friday 2nd July 12:56

[P-Jay]

Hmmm well the Spicy is a tough old bird, will put up with a lot of abuse (MegaAvalance type abuse) but if he want to go bigger it's the 6-7" coil sprung stuff:

Intense 6.6
Nomad
Specilized SX Trail.
Stinky Air (I know that contridicts the above but it suits)
Cove G-Spot

But, Nomad aside they're all too heavy /slow rolling for me, I'd stick to the proper AM bikes like the Spicy, Endruo.


Oo Oo Oo almost forgot!

Perfect the new Spesh Endruo Evo, wont be in shops for a bit, but GOD DAM!!!

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2010/06/2...

36's, Coil DH4 shock, but reasonanly light and pedalable and OE telescopic seatpost means he's got half a chance to build some speed up.

[Poloding Along]

Just to throw in something a bit different, a Merida 150. 6 inch travel front and back.

Been riding mine for a couple of months now and loving it, climbs well and can still descend rapidly.

[anniesdad]

Intense Tracer/Slopestyle (previous model).

If not, then the Nomad.

Fabulous bike.

[nessiemac]

I ride a SC Bullit and use it for mainly freeridey/downhill where it is a superb bike but i'm looking for a bike i can also ride up hill as well at times but can still descend great as well.

I hired out a SC Nomad a couple of weeks ago and it is the bike i should have bought!! Light enough to get uphill the hills but superb on the downs as well. Loved it!!

Edited by nessiemac on Friday 2nd July 20:39

[Louisa911]

To the above comment about buying a new bike just cos the BB has gone, yes the frame is completely worn. Its been attempted repaired 3 times this year so far and the problem is reoccuring so its new bike or frame time, and new bike is the easier way to go considering the components are knocking on now too.

I think the Nomad is the best choice too, reviews look amazing and it would suit him perfectly but he doesn't want to show any interest in it. Go figure. He's looking at the Spicy 316 and the Orange Five now. Cheers for the comments and help

[Session]

Best AM bikes atm are, in no exact order, Trek Remedy, Lapierre Spicy, Transition Covert, Orange 5 or a Nicolai if you have the money.

[rhinochopig]

Louisa911 said:

To the above comment about buying a new bike just cos the BB has gone, yes the frame is completely worn. Its been attempted repaired 3 times this year so far and the problem is reoccuring so its new bike or frame time, and new bike is the easier way to go considering the components are knocking on now too.

I think the Nomad is the best choice too, reviews look amazing and it would suit him perfectly but he doesn't want to show any interest in it. Go figure. He's looking at the Spicy 316 and the Orange Five now. Cheers for the comments and help

Whatever he does, do not go on the MTB magazine reviews. Find a spot that will let him demo them. Personally, other than frame reliability and paint finish I'd ignore the advice on here too, beyond narrowing the choices down to a few.

ALWAYS buy on a test ride as different bikes suit different people. Given he's very tall it is especially important for him.

[Louisa911]

Thanks for the advice.

We have a friend that works at locally based Kudu Bikes (great online store btw, shameless plug!) who could get him an Orange or Scott for discount price, presumably VAT free. So I think he is leaning towards a Five, considering he can go higher spec for the money with the discount. Given he's very tall and quite aggressive, do you reckon it'll be suited to his riding? Mainly used on trails but does enjoy the bigger drops and jumps you can find there.

[Pablo16v]

Why not go for the slightly beefier Orange Alpine 160? A couple of lads I ride with have them and they take some serious abuse.

http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/2010/alpine-160...

[rhinochopig]

Louisa911 said:

Thanks for the advice.

We have a friend that works at locally based Kudu Bikes (great online store btw, shameless plug!) who could get him an Orange or Scott for discount price, presumably VAT free. So I think he is leaning towards a Five, considering he can go higher spec for the money with the discount. Given he's very tall and quite aggressive, do you reckon it'll be suited to his riding? Mainly used on trails but does enjoy the bigger drops and jumps you can find there.

I'm 6' 5" - my advice stands. Try them. What suits many on here may not suit him. I learnt that, very expensive, lesson buying off the back of a ride around the block and MTB mag reviews.

Have a trip to the Seven Staines and rent the bikes he fancies.

[anniesdad]

rhinochopig said:

Louisa911 said:

Thanks for the advice.

We have a friend that works at locally based Kudu Bikes (great online store btw, shameless plug!) who could get him an Orange or Scott for discount price, presumably VAT free. So I think he is leaning towards a Five, considering he can go higher spec for the money with the discount. Given he's very tall and quite aggressive, do you reckon it'll be suited to his riding? Mainly used on trails but does enjoy the bigger drops and jumps you can find there.

I'm 6' 5" - my advice stands. Try them. What suits many on here may not suit him. I learnt that, very expensive, lesson buying off the back of a ride around the block and MTB mag reviews.

Have a trip to the Seven Staines and rent the bikes he fancies.

It's good advice but certainly, for me at least, it's just not feasible to spend loads of time, trying out/demo'ing all the bikes that might take my fancy due to time constraints. Before I bought my bikes (except for the 24-Seven that I bought on a whim as it was/is matt black with green highlights ) I read about them and took advice from friends in the know, bought them and haven't looked back.

What's good for the Goose isn't always good for the gander.

Just my 2p....

[rhinochopig]

anniesdad said:

rhinochopig said:

Louisa911 said:

Thanks for the advice.

We have a friend that works at locally based Kudu Bikes (great online store btw, shameless plug!) who could get him an Orange or Scott for discount price, presumably VAT free. So I think he is leaning towards a Five, considering he can go higher spec for the money with the discount. Given he's very tall and quite aggressive, do you reckon it'll be suited to his riding? Mainly used on trails but does enjoy the bigger drops and jumps you can find there.

I'm 6' 5" - my advice stands. Try them. What suits many on here may not suit him. I learnt that, very expensive, lesson buying off the back of a ride around the block and MTB mag reviews.

Have a trip to the Seven Staines and rent the bikes he fancies.

It's good advice but certainly, for me at least, it's just not feasible to spend loads of time, trying out/demo'ing all the bikes that might take my fancy due to time constraints. Before I bought my bikes (except for the 24-Seven that I bought on a whim as it was/is matt black with green highlights ) I read about them and took advice from friends in the know, bought them and haven't looked back.

What's good for the Goose isn't always good for the gander.

Just my 2p....

But you don't demo dozens of bikes. Typically most people narrow it down to choice of 3 or 4, and you can probably tick off 3 out of the four at a demo day, of which there are an ever increasing number. The point I'm making is this, you wouldn't buy a car without driving one, so why do the same with a bike - especially given fit is much much more important with a bike. £2k+ is a lot of money to waste if the bike doesn't suit your riding style.

The thing is on a lot bikes the geo doesn't work as well in the larger sized frames, and the tube sizes etc are not altered either to accommodate the higher loads. A frame that suits a 5' 8" magazine rider who scores it 10 out of 10 may be a flexing bucking nightmare to someone who is 6'6".