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TEAMROBOT Liked a reply to forum topic Why are there still no 200mm+ Enduro bikes?

4/22/2020 9:21am
This same argument is happening in reverse right now in the comments for the "Test Sessions: Five Slack, Short-Travel 29ers" review. Over there someone is complaining that the test bikes are so heavy, so why even bother buying a short travel bike? "If it's going to weigh the same as an enduro bike anyway..." blah blah blah. TRAVEL NUMBERS DICTATE MORE THAN JUST PEDALING EFFICIENCY AND BUMP ABSORPTION. Even if a long-travel bike is light and feels "efficient" pedaling up a gravel fire road, it's going to ride like shit on a flattish pumpy trail. Long travel bikes are built...
This forum topic has 54 replies.

TEAMROBOT Liked a reply to forum topic is more expensive stuff worth it ?

4/15/2020 1:16pm
Another thought on OP's OP: The two biggest differences between drivetrain groupsets are materials and finishing. Fancy finishes don't make components stronger, but materials certainly do. There's a lot more metal and a lot less plastic in an expensive derailleur than a cheap one. Ditto for shifters. Similarly there are different grades of aluminum or steel used , fewer stamped parts and more forged or machined parts, more removable bolts instead of rivets and pins, etc. So while there isn't a big drop in performance going from XX1 to GX, there's a pretty big drop from GX to SX.
This forum topic has 37 replies.

sspomer Liked a reply to forum topic is more expensive stuff worth it ?

4/15/2020 1:16pm
@teamrobot - dialed list except for hub engagement. if you're going from a bottom-of-the-line hub to something nicer, it's noticeable, if you have to pedal for speed or momentum. i'm not saying the upgrade has to be a $500 rear hub, but the difference between a super cheap rear hub found on a $1-$2k bike and a "good" rear hub with better engagement is legit. on budget rear hubs, i've had my foot blow off pedals (flat pedals, not clips) as i upshifted while pedaling on travsery portions of trail. the slack was just too great and the violent thud...
This forum topic has 37 replies.

D(C) Added a reply to is more expensive stuff worth it ?

4/15/2020 1:15pm
Everybody's different, but I notice a difference going from a really cheap, low-engagement hub to something with 36 to 44 points of engagement (like a Hope Pro 4 or DT 350 with 36t star ratchet). It is most noticeable on technical, climbs, where a really low-engagement hub can result in missing the timing of an important pedal stroke to get...

D(C) Added a reply to is more expensive stuff worth it ?

4/13/2020 8:22am
I think the key is to splurge in the areas where you get the most gains. For example, if you're on a limited budget for drivetrain, the shifter has the largest impact on shifting performance, and the cassette is the piece where the most weight can be saved (if you care). For chains, my strategy has been to buy the...

krabo83 Liked a comment about Feature Tested: Maxxis EXO+ Casing Tires - Minion DHF and DHRII

4/5/2020 5:11pm
only problem i see is no max grip option with exo+.
This feature has 50 comments.
It is not dificult to explain!! This is your own infomercial!!! We are in hehre to see how it works and if it would fit us or not!!
This press release has 40 comments.

MTBeerz Liked a reply to forum topic The Best Component Upgrade for a Mountain Bike?

3/30/2020 1:57pm
My last bike (2018 Firebird 27.5) only had a water bottle mount on the underside of the downtube. Not sure what Pivot was thinking, I lost at least a dozen bottles and smashed my bottle cage about once a month. New bike is a Transition Patrol and it has a bottle cage inside the triangle. Crazy innovation by the team of scientists at Transition. Huge upgrade to my riding experience.
This forum topic has 69 replies.

D(C) Added a reply to The Best Component Upgrade for a Mountain Bike?

3/30/2020 9:46am
Geometry is the #1 thing that impacts how a bike rides. I have done a bunch of swapping/upgrading (longer fork travel, DH brakes, carbon wheels), but the component that made the biggest positive difference is a Works Components -1 degree angle headset.

bizutch Liked a comment about video Two-Minute MTB Fork Service with Lee Trumpore

3/12/2020 9:47pm
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I just once want someone to show how to change out fork oil in the dark on a cold winter evening on the front porch(that the missus is still pissed about all the chain lube drips being on) with the wrong tools and stuff falling between the slats into the leaves underneath and digging around in the leaves with a tiny headlamp and refrigerator magnet desperately hoping to find the piece of crap metal (was it even steel) so you can ride with you buddies stupid early the next day.
This video has 26 comments.
Very well said Noah, and fully agree. I believe it was Graves who was once quoted at an enduro race saying something along the lines of. You get to choose the parts you put on your bike, parts you trust, you don't get to choose the wight of the bike using those parts. I can't speak for all the bikes in this test, but since I was personally responsible for picking the spec. on the Banshee Phantom, I feel relatively qualified to offer a little insight on that one. Is it all based on cost vs. weight? Not exactly. Especially...
This feature has 61 comments.

Verbl Kint Liked a comment about video IRAN'duro - Enduro bike trip to Iran

1/22/2020 8:56am
original
It's nice to know that an American site like Vital looks past politics and recent events to post an article like this on the front page. Hit up Hossein Zanjanian, if you ever do find yourself in Iran and need a really fast ripper as company.
This video has 3 comments.

D(C) Added a comment about product review Druid (2019-2022)

9/17/2019 6:44am
Between this and the Troy LTD, which feels more capable on the descents?
This product review has 1 comment.

D(C) Added a reply to 2019 UCI World Cup Downhill Tech

4/25/2019 10:21am
Loic's front tire looks to be a Sharpie'd out DHF, and appears to be 29, with a 650b Slaugher in back. I am guessing Specialized doesn't make 29er DH tires, which is why he's using Maxxis.
Can you put this crap on a 2nd website. This is an MTB site.
This press release has 18 comments.
I’m a bit surprised the X-Fusion Manic wasn’t included in this comparison. It’s a top performer at a bargain price, with best-in-class reliability. It even has a couple of user reviews on this site (one of which was written by me). Also, what’s the discontinued, problem-plagued Race Face Turbine post doing here?!
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3
This feature has 17 comments.

D(C) Added a comment about product review Process 153

1/14/2019 11:14pm
On paper and from the review, this bike looks to compare well with the Devinci Troy, which you also reviewed. How do the two bikes stack up?
This product review has 1 comment.