Just curious, what's the perfect 'all-round' / do-it-all MTB? Something for big pedal all-mountain days out, that can also be sent down DH tracks. Does it even exist? If not, what would it ideally look like?
I just recently built up a We Are One Arrival 170 and it is hands down the best bike I have ridden.
I have only run it as a 170/170 29er, but it pedals, pumps, pops and picks up speed like the previous Transition Sentinel and new Smuggler I had before but at the same time it bombs and monster trucks downhill like my previous 170/170 Patrol and new Intense Tracer 279.
The ability to change the linkage out and run it as either 130/140/152 rear makes it a quiver killer. I cant wait to pick up one of the other linkages and try that out, but I just cant decide what other linkage I want or do I just bite the bullet and buy both other linkages. But even as a big 170/170 enduro bike it is hands down one of the best pedaling and handling bikes out there.
Bikes like the spectral are what you are looking for, the Sentinel is OK but lacks balance.
the stumpy evo is OK in alloy, requires CC link.
Marin Alpine Trail is pretty good but more towards the gnarly DH stuff.
It's not hugely beneficial for a brand to make a "do-it-all" bike, I used to target that kinda bike and had all of the above plus others but they all have trade offs.
Ended up with a Fuel gen 6 & a Torque mullet with a 180mm fork, best choice i made.
Ive been running this setup this year and its been awesome
stumpy evo alloy with cascade link
Older SDU air and new SDU coil with HBO switch out depending on the season
change tires/headangle/shocks according to what I need, park season I keep the burlier setup on and deal with it during the week XC riding, winter time I keep it light and use it for everything.
Whatever bike fits you and your riding style the best. This is subjective and has a lot to do with biomechanics and the area you're riding in vs the area the bike was designed for. Demo lots of bikes, figure out what you want and buy a specific bike and then be a jerk about it on the forums. This is the way.
Whatever bike fits you and your riding style the best. This is subjective and has a lot to do with biomechanics and the area you're riding...
Whatever bike fits you and your riding style the best. This is subjective and has a lot to do with biomechanics and the area you're riding in vs the area the bike was designed for. Demo lots of bikes, figure out what you want and buy a specific bike and then be a jerk about it on the forums. This is the way.
100%, Whatever you decide, get straight on the internet and justify your purchase by saying all others are shit.
Plan your tradeoff, because there will be one. I went with a Commencal Meta AM a few years back so I could pedal up and blast down. (It is slightly more a "blast down" platform, to be sure. That works just fine for me, because I love the downhill part and do not care if I'm slow on the climbs. No bike in the world is going to make me into a climber!)
If you really want to have efficient pedaling and still be able to come down the park laps without killing yourself, go with a "trail" platform.
In the last couple of years, I always went with more aggressive geometry, more travel, longer reach, etc. thinking it would solve all the problems while still being able to do everything relatively well. I ended up with a Forbidden dreadnought, it is indeed an awesome bike and loves to be ridden crazy fast. It's just overkill for 75% of the stuff I ride but still nimble and playful enough to not feel like a big boat. After a big season of pedalling it around, I ended up buying a Specialized Epic Evo to replace my gravel bike. While at first I didn't think I'd ride it that much, it is actually my daily driver know haha. This bike is just so much fun, it can handle rougher stuff and relatively big gaps easily but always feels like bringing a knife to a gunfight. On flowy trails, it is way faster than my Forbidden. I do believe that a "one bike to do it all" will always have compromises, sadly. My next bike will probably be something in between those 2, I love the new druid v2 but am not exactly convinced a high-pivot layout is optimal for a "shorter" travel bike
If you are actually going to send it on dh tracks (ride close to top of your personal skill level) then there is no substitute for travel. Once you are going fast on rough terrain suspension is the difference between your wheels surviving and rolling down the mountain vs chattering down the mountain.
I find 160-180 travel rear is the sweet spot. 160 being a little more pedal able and 180 being a little more stable at very high speeds. I’ve stuck with 170 as there is less bob than 180 which can be a little like a pogo stick when pedaling at slow speeds.
there is also no substitute for a dual crown fork in terms of stiffness. But one will make your bike heavier and clumsy on climbs. So adding one to an enduro rig just makes an pedalable dh bike as opposed to makes the bike more versatile. And there is no doubt you can absolutely rip a single crown.
kinematics make a big difference in how a bike rides. Something like a spec enduro or the current wave of high pivot bikes will be more plush and grippy but slower in/out of corners and pumping. Something like a transition will be harsher in straights but will be more lively to rider input.
Lastly if you are doing a lot of jumps (especially ones that have steep lips) there is no substitute for shortening chainstays and steepening the head tube angle a bit. On the flip side a slacker head tube angle will give a lot of grip when riding down steep downhills and longer chainstays greatly improve cornering traction.
At the beginning of January I received my new V3 Santa Cruz Hightower and its by far the best bike I have ever owned. Coming from the Bronson, 5010 and way back the Giant Trance and Reign.
I started with a 160 Fox 36 fork and changed it the air shaft to 150 to give the bike a little more "allroundiness"..this bike literally does everything good - climbing, decending, and its very light footed. Good service and has the glovebox to stowe all kind of things for those big day. Started tinkering with the linkage and installed a Cascade link for the füll 148mm travel (short mode). If I wanna get rowdy, I still have the 160mm air shaft.
Its a great price - yes, SC are expensive but they are really good.
The build kit is pretty straight forward, DT Alu wheels, complete Shimano XT Drivetrain, Oneup contact points and seatpost..I love that thing.
In the last couple of years, I always went with more aggressive geometry, more travel, longer reach, etc. thinking it would solve all the problems while...
In the last couple of years, I always went with more aggressive geometry, more travel, longer reach, etc. thinking it would solve all the problems while still being able to do everything relatively well. I ended up with a Forbidden dreadnought, it is indeed an awesome bike and loves to be ridden crazy fast. It's just overkill for 75% of the stuff I ride but still nimble and playful enough to not feel like a big boat. After a big season of pedalling it around, I ended up buying a Specialized Epic Evo to replace my gravel bike. While at first I didn't think I'd ride it that much, it is actually my daily driver know haha. This bike is just so much fun, it can handle rougher stuff and relatively big gaps easily but always feels like bringing a knife to a gunfight. On flowy trails, it is way faster than my Forbidden. I do believe that a "one bike to do it all" will always have compromises, sadly. My next bike will probably be something in between those 2, I love the new druid v2 but am not exactly convinced a high-pivot layout is optimal for a "shorter" travel bike
What is it about the HP/idler platform that you dont "beleive" in for a shorter travel bike?
Bikes like the spectral are what you are looking for, the Sentinel is OK but lacks balance.
the stumpy evo is OK in alloy, requires CC...
Bikes like the spectral are what you are looking for, the Sentinel is OK but lacks balance.
the stumpy evo is OK in alloy, requires CC link.
Marin Alpine Trail is pretty good but more towards the gnarly DH stuff.
It's not hugely beneficial for a brand to make a "do-it-all" bike, I used to target that kinda bike and had all of the above plus others but they all have trade offs.
Ended up with a Fuel gen 6 & a Torque mullet with a 180mm fork, best choice i made.
Curious what you mean by the Sentinel not being balanced?
Just curious, what's the perfect 'all-round' / do-it-all MTB? Something for big pedal all-mountain days out, that can also be sent down DH tracks. Does it...
Just curious, what's the perfect 'all-round' / do-it-all MTB? Something for big pedal all-mountain days out, that can also be sent down DH tracks. Does it even exist? If not, what would it ideally look like?
This is such a cool question,
as alluded to in the other posts there is a tonne to consider, what kind of terrain are you riding?
What kind of terrain do you want to ride? (its easy to get yourself overbiked in this category)
How often?
What kind of rider are you? (are you popping off every side hit, are you riding the brakes, are you trying to schralp berms?)
The Sumpy Evo, Trek Fuel offer a tonne of adjustability, pedal well, descend well, and just plain rip
The Transition Sentinel is an all day machine, that can smash bike park laps
The Knolly Fugitive can be setup as a LT or ST bike, and is so well built youll have it for a lifetime of fun and smashing!
The new Druid, and prolly Optic make excellent trail bikes that can get you down some hole puckering terrain
So many great choices out there, it all just depends if you want to highlight the UP or the DOWN, or the in between!
I just recently built up a We Are One Arrival 170 and it is hands down the best bike I have ridden.
I have only run it as a 170/170 29er, but it pedals, pumps, pops and picks up speed like the previous Transition Sentinel and new Smuggler I had before but at the same time it bombs and monster trucks downhill like my previous 170/170 Patrol and new Intense Tracer 279.
The ability to change the linkage out and run it as either 130/140/152 rear makes it a quiver killer. I cant wait to pick up one of the other linkages and try that out, but I just cant decide what other linkage I want or do I just bite the bullet and buy both other linkages. But even as a big 170/170 enduro bike it is hands down one of the best pedaling and handling bikes out there.
Bikes like the spectral are what you are looking for, the Sentinel is OK but lacks balance.
the stumpy evo is OK in alloy, requires CC link.
Marin Alpine Trail is pretty good but more towards the gnarly DH stuff.
It's not hugely beneficial for a brand to make a "do-it-all" bike, I used to target that kinda bike and had all of the above plus others but they all have trade offs.
Ended up with a Fuel gen 6 & a Torque mullet with a 180mm fork, best choice i made.
Isn't that what Enduro bikes are supposed to be?
Bronson V4.2 ! Best bike
Ive been running this setup this year and its been awesome
stumpy evo alloy with cascade link
Older SDU air and new SDU coil with HBO switch out depending on the season
change tires/headangle/shocks according to what I need, park season I keep the burlier setup on and deal with it during the week XC riding, winter time I keep it light and use it for everything.
Whatever bike fits you and your riding style the best. This is subjective and has a lot to do with biomechanics and the area you're riding in vs the area the bike was designed for. Demo lots of bikes, figure out what you want and buy a specific bike and then be a jerk about it on the forums. This is the way.
100%, Whatever you decide, get straight on the internet and justify your purchase by saying all others are shit.
Plan your tradeoff, because there will be one. I went with a Commencal Meta AM a few years back so I could pedal up and blast down. (It is slightly more a "blast down" platform, to be sure. That works just fine for me, because I love the downhill part and do not care if I'm slow on the climbs. No bike in the world is going to make me into a climber!)
If you really want to have efficient pedaling and still be able to come down the park laps without killing yourself, go with a "trail" platform.
In the last couple of years, I always went with more aggressive geometry, more travel, longer reach, etc. thinking it would solve all the problems while still being able to do everything relatively well. I ended up with a Forbidden dreadnought, it is indeed an awesome bike and loves to be ridden crazy fast. It's just overkill for 75% of the stuff I ride but still nimble and playful enough to not feel like a big boat. After a big season of pedalling it around, I ended up buying a Specialized Epic Evo to replace my gravel bike. While at first I didn't think I'd ride it that much, it is actually my daily driver know haha. This bike is just so much fun, it can handle rougher stuff and relatively big gaps easily but always feels like bringing a knife to a gunfight. On flowy trails, it is way faster than my Forbidden. I do believe that a "one bike to do it all" will always have compromises, sadly. My next bike will probably be something in between those 2, I love the new druid v2 but am not exactly convinced a high-pivot layout is optimal for a "shorter" travel bike
If you are actually going to send it on dh tracks (ride close to top of your personal skill level) then there is no substitute for travel. Once you are going fast on rough terrain suspension is the difference between your wheels surviving and rolling down the mountain vs chattering down the mountain.
I find 160-180 travel rear is the sweet spot. 160 being a little more pedal able and 180 being a little more stable at very high speeds. I’ve stuck with 170 as there is less bob than 180 which can be a little like a pogo stick when pedaling at slow speeds.
there is also no substitute for a dual crown fork in terms of stiffness. But one will make your bike heavier and clumsy on climbs. So adding one to an enduro rig just makes an pedalable dh bike as opposed to makes the bike more versatile. And there is no doubt you can absolutely rip a single crown.
kinematics make a big difference in how a bike rides. Something like a spec enduro or the current wave of high pivot bikes will be more plush and grippy but slower in/out of corners and pumping. Something like a transition will be harsher in straights but will be more lively to rider input.
Lastly if you are doing a lot of jumps (especially ones that have steep lips) there is no substitute for shortening chainstays and steepening the head tube angle a bit. On the flip side a slacker head tube angle will give a lot of grip when riding down steep downhills and longer chainstays greatly improve cornering traction.
At the beginning of January I received my new V3 Santa Cruz Hightower and its by far the best bike I have ever owned. Coming from the Bronson, 5010 and way back the Giant Trance and Reign.
I started with a 160 Fox 36 fork and changed it the air shaft to 150 to give the bike a little more "allroundiness"..this bike literally does everything good - climbing, decending, and its very light footed. Good service and has the glovebox to stowe all kind of things for those big day. Started tinkering with the linkage and installed a Cascade link for the füll 148mm travel (short mode). If I wanna get rowdy, I still have the 160mm air shaft.
Its a great price - yes, SC are expensive but they are really good.
The build kit is pretty straight forward, DT Alu wheels, complete Shimano XT Drivetrain, Oneup contact points and seatpost..I love that thing.
What is it about the HP/idler platform that you dont "beleive" in for a shorter travel bike?
Curious what you mean by the Sentinel not being balanced?
This is such a cool question,
as alluded to in the other posts there is a tonne to consider, what kind of terrain are you riding?
What kind of terrain do you want to ride? (its easy to get yourself overbiked in this category)
How often?
What kind of rider are you? (are you popping off every side hit, are you riding the brakes, are you trying to schralp berms?)
The Sumpy Evo, Trek Fuel offer a tonne of adjustability, pedal well, descend well, and just plain rip
The Transition Sentinel is an all day machine, that can smash bike park laps
The Knolly Fugitive can be setup as a LT or ST bike, and is so well built youll have it for a lifetime of fun and smashing!
The new Druid, and prolly Optic make excellent trail bikes that can get you down some hole puckering terrain
So many great choices out there, it all just depends if you want to highlight the UP or the DOWN, or the in between!
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