I'm kinda thinking out loud here, but also open to advice if anyone cares to offer...
First off...
I live in central NY... trails here are rooty and fairly technical... no 2+mile climbs here like out west, but also not a lot of flat ground... always going up or coming down.
Background...
I had a Yeti 575 that I ABSOLUTELY loved. Until I cracked the frame. I discovered the crack early this past season and with 3 races on the schedule, I was in a pinch to find a replacement. My thinking was that I'd take advantage of Yeti's crash replacement to get a new 575 frame, so I'd buy a racier bike for racing and to get me through until I got the new frame. I ended up with a Niner Air 9. Yeti wasn't as cooperative as I was hoping (unrealistic expectations more than bad service, but that's for another thread)... so I've still got a cracked 575 and I've been riding the Air 9 all season.
The Air 9 is a great bike, just not well suited to my type of riding and my local trails... at least not as an every day trail bike. So I'm back looking at replacements for the 575.
Options...
Specialized Stumpjumper Carbon
Pros: carbon frame, lifetime frame warranty, decent build, can get through a good LBS
Cons: no travel adjust in the fork, unknown ride quality (though I'm sure it's great), pricey
Yeti 575 frame replacement
Pros: known ride (awesome), significantly cheaper
Cons: 2yr frame warranty, need a few other bits to make the conversion happen, but still probably 1/2 the price of the Spec.
Those are the leading candidates right now, and I doubt I'll look at other options. If I go with the SJ, I can swap the stock fork for the fork on my current Yeti (150mm TALAS). I could also sell a few parts from my old Yeti to offset some of the cost... but I doubt this would be significant.
If I go with the Yeti, I know what I'm getting, I know I'll love it, but I have a pretty sour taste in my mouth with the warranty/support/replacement process. Again, it's more my unrealistic expectations than it is Yeti's support, but it is what it is.
I ride A LOT, so I don't mind spending the money if it means I'll be happier longer. I've cheaped out before and in the long run just end up spending more... so I'd rather do it right the first time. Though like most people, I don't want to spend more than I have to.
So that part of the conversation is pretty straight forward. The complication comes when I start thinking about the Air 9. I could sell it and that would go a long way towards covering the additional cost of the SJ, or completely cover the cost of the 575. But I'm a firm believer in not selling gear that is already paid for... it's not costing you anything to own, and at some point you'll want it back.
So, put yourself in my shoes. Would you go with the Spec or the 575? Would you sell the Air 9 or keep it?
First off...
I live in central NY... trails here are rooty and fairly technical... no 2+mile climbs here like out west, but also not a lot of flat ground... always going up or coming down.
Background...
I had a Yeti 575 that I ABSOLUTELY loved. Until I cracked the frame. I discovered the crack early this past season and with 3 races on the schedule, I was in a pinch to find a replacement. My thinking was that I'd take advantage of Yeti's crash replacement to get a new 575 frame, so I'd buy a racier bike for racing and to get me through until I got the new frame. I ended up with a Niner Air 9. Yeti wasn't as cooperative as I was hoping (unrealistic expectations more than bad service, but that's for another thread)... so I've still got a cracked 575 and I've been riding the Air 9 all season.
The Air 9 is a great bike, just not well suited to my type of riding and my local trails... at least not as an every day trail bike. So I'm back looking at replacements for the 575.
Options...
Specialized Stumpjumper Carbon
Pros: carbon frame, lifetime frame warranty, decent build, can get through a good LBS
Cons: no travel adjust in the fork, unknown ride quality (though I'm sure it's great), pricey
Yeti 575 frame replacement
Pros: known ride (awesome), significantly cheaper
Cons: 2yr frame warranty, need a few other bits to make the conversion happen, but still probably 1/2 the price of the Spec.
Those are the leading candidates right now, and I doubt I'll look at other options. If I go with the SJ, I can swap the stock fork for the fork on my current Yeti (150mm TALAS). I could also sell a few parts from my old Yeti to offset some of the cost... but I doubt this would be significant.
If I go with the Yeti, I know what I'm getting, I know I'll love it, but I have a pretty sour taste in my mouth with the warranty/support/replacement process. Again, it's more my unrealistic expectations than it is Yeti's support, but it is what it is.
I ride A LOT, so I don't mind spending the money if it means I'll be happier longer. I've cheaped out before and in the long run just end up spending more... so I'd rather do it right the first time. Though like most people, I don't want to spend more than I have to.
So that part of the conversation is pretty straight forward. The complication comes when I start thinking about the Air 9. I could sell it and that would go a long way towards covering the additional cost of the SJ, or completely cover the cost of the 575. But I'm a firm believer in not selling gear that is already paid for... it's not costing you anything to own, and at some point you'll want it back.
So, put yourself in my shoes. Would you go with the Spec or the 575? Would you sell the Air 9 or keep it?