Starting another one bike to do it all thread, looking for a “quiver killer” that will magically descend like a DH bike, but also pedal like an XC bike, make me pop higher, last longer etc… I’m selling my Rocky Mountain altitude and want to replace it with a 150ish bike, main thing I’m looking for is something a bit more supportive and responsive on flatter and slower speed trails, as the altitude is pretty squishy. Altitude feels good on bigger jumps at Pacifica or Livewire but not great on tighter transitions and pedaling out of saddle it moves a lot. I’m in NorCal, probably 10-15 Northstar days a year + a few other park days. Pedaling a lot, I usually ride to the trails for my weekday rides. I like slack seat angles. My altitude is a size large. Mostly looking at used bikes, stumpy 15 or previous gen Evo, fuel ex, previous gen Bronson/hightower. I need some more outside opinions so I don’t second guess my purchase quite as much. I demoed a 15 last year and riding in Santa Cruz summer conditions just felt like I was blowing through all the travel constantly but maybe a different shock setup or shock would feel better, my friend has a Cannondale habit LT that I’ve ridden a decent amount and really like except the seat angle is just too steep for me.
the new Fuel EX is a great choice, It's a little on the heavier side but pedals well and can be easily adapted to whatever you want to throw at it
My better half is on a previous gen Bronson and loves it. Does everything from park laps to XC rides. I (briefly) owned a previous gen high tower and I found it very XC. It pedalled very well but conversely there was a lot of pedal kick back. It felt very under gunned in the park (unsurprisingly).
Bronson v5 or Nomad v7. I live nearby, have a Bronson v5 which was great but I tried it long shocked/over forked and it doesn't give up anything in tight tech but gives a bit more cushion on jumps. My only gripes with the latest SC bikes is the limited seat post insertion due to the tunnel, and a bit of chain slap on deep compressions. Ochain on them is really nice.
Yeah that’s my concern with the v3 Hightower, a lot of people say it’s significantly more XCish than the Bronson V4 despite looking really similar on paper. I ride flats so the kickback is a bit of a concern, the 2021 Altitude has pretty low antisquat and feels great with flats. I rented the new gen altitude for 2 days in Maribor and struggled keeping my feet on the pedals. V4 Bronsons are still expensive on the used market but if I can find one that isn’t totally overpriced I will probably get it.
My main concern with the new gen Bronson, Hightower, and fuel ex is the seat angles just being too steep for me. I run my seat slammed back on the Altitude which is only 76ish on paper. I might demo a Hightower or Bronson in Santa Cruz if they have demos for them right now.
I'd try to demo them (both Fuel MX and Bronson). The Fuel has a slacker seat tube angle (one of the reasons I gave it a pass), and I am running mine slammed forward on the Bromad. I don't think I'd slide mine back until I finally get a bike with like a 79 though. Bronson & Hightower have a quite tall stack, which reduces how hunched over you need to be pedaling. Ibis Ripmo also has a pretty conservative seat tube angle (76.5 for M & L). From the reviews, it's a lot less of a park bike than the rest of these though.
I’ve got a S5 Stumpy 15. With the basic Genie shock it can feel like two different bikes, a little less air and really fast rebound makes for a pillowy ride that’s fairly easy to hit bottom, but not too violently unless you really mess something up. More air (talking 25% versus 30% sag at the shock) and slow the rebound and it feels like most any other trail bike. Better bottom out and not super smooth on the feet but a much more energetic feel. I’m also a flat pedal rider.
Don’t forget that you can get a 9point8 Fall Line dropper with a 25mm offset head if seat tube angle is the thing stopping you from getting a particular bike.
https://9point8.ca/collections/dropper-seatposts
Fellow Altitude owner here..
You can also buy a new link and shock and turn it into an Instinct. Keeping a 1 bike solution. Might not scratch the itch of buying a new bike, but will give you less travel for flatter trails.
I’ve got a Ripmo v2 with a Cascade link. As everyone knows, great pedaling platform, but struggles on the rougher descents. I had a v1 Bronson from 2014-2021 and there are still downhill times I can’t get close to on my Ripmo. I have not tested out the Ripmo v3, but based on the reviews seems to still have the downhill limitations that a Bronson takes care of. FWIW, the Cascade link did improve downhill comfort but I still get a bit unsettled on it in the chunk.
I own a v3 Hightower and have ridden it a ton in the last 2.5 years. I can confirm it pedals extremely well. ive done 6-7 hour rides on it and it pedals so efficiently it's wild.by far the best all arounder bike ive ever ridden. ive taken it to the bike park a few times and it definitely lets you know its not an enduro bike lol. that's why I have a spire I ride in the bike park.
I can't say I notice a ton of kickback but to be honest ive never really paid attention to it so im curious to see if ill notice it now haha.
I know you're trying to go to one bike but is there any possibility of you keeping the altitude and picking up a shorter travel bike as well? I think that's the sweet spot. I owned a 2021 altitude and loooooved that bike but I had to sell it due to it being a size too big for me that I impulse bought when it was really hard to get bikes back in during covid. if it was a medium id still have it today.
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