Ill second the Trance, FClinder has his set up awesome and he shreds some gnarly trails on it. With the right build the Trance can be a mean lightweight do-it-all fully.
Older = Pre-05. They're 5" of travel, a bit lower slung, and look less like a Demo:Could someone define "older" Enduro? What year? What's the difference between those and the new ones?
I'm not looking for a brand spankin new frame if I can help it. Used heckler and sometimes blur 4x frames are pretty easy to find. I don't think I've ever seen a used covert frame for sale.for the record, the covert frame (transition frames in general, actually) are relatively cheap; i'm looking at a covert now and i can get it for less than the heckler. never mind the 4x....
I am 5'11" and have a 18". The real TT is 21.5" long. I would get the 20" if I were you. I climb a lot on my bike and it feels great to me and run a 45mm stem too. The frame is very strong with very little flex. This surprised me and made me very happy!!!! It will feel much like the SX. Like I said I put it through the test every time I ride it and I am about 175lbs. I do run air shocks front and rear too.How tall are you? What size frame did you get?
I'm 6'4" and want something small enough to throw around but not so small that I can't comfortably put the seat up and climb all day..
For those that have not seen it and the build here it is. The pic is not up to date and a few parts have changed since the pic was taken, but the curent build is below.Ill second the Trance, FClinder has his set up awesome and he shreds some gnarly trails on it. With the right build the Trance can be a mean lightweight do-it-all fully.
You left out the FSR in the above and "No" to the statement above!!!! I see a lot and I mean a lot of mud here in the South East. I have not had a problem out of the Giant VPP design at all and have been on this design for almost 6 months now. I will say a Single pivot is almost maintenance free as I road Morewoods last year. Great bikes!!!!I think single pivot is the way to good. On an xc bike you just want to ride and with as little maintenace as possible......the Blurs, Giant VPP, and MKIII, just wouldn't want to take on the off the bike stress of all those pivots, in mud they will be a problem. Single Pivot is virtually maintanence free.....
It's the whole cleaning thing......if you have time and space then yes clean your bike. Personally i would rather spend the extra 10 minutes on the trail. I rode from november through January here in cold slushy sometimes muddish trails and the only time my Heckler left my truck was when i was riding it......For any bike that is ridden in the mud or elements that gets the proper cleaning after every ride you will not have as many problems with much like any single pivot bike. My friends always laugh at me for as much as I clean my bikes, but I also have fewer problems too.
Word.another bike is the Stumpjumper FSR.....i've never ridden one but it looks like a Slalom xc bike to me.....seem to hold up well enough too....
Some companies have gotten very good at pivots. I'm not real anal about cleaning, but my bikes are well maintained.For any bike that is ridden in the mud or elements that gets the proper cleaning after every ride you will not have as many problems with much like any single pivot bike. My friends always laugh at me for as much as I clean my bikes, but I also have fewer problems too.
Hope this helps....
How tall are you and what size stem? I was looking at those pretty hard before I went for the SJ. (I'm 6'0", running a Large - 24"tt, with a 50mm stem)For those that have not seen it and the build here it is. The pic is not up to date and a few parts have changed since the pic was taken, but the curent build is below.
06 Giant Trance Frame Size 18"
Thomson Stem and Seat Post
Understand I am not a Single Pivot hater. I would be still on a Morewood if it wasn't for the deal I got from Giant. It was too good to pass up. I am not trying to start a SP/MP war here. My quote was to take care of you bikes and you will have fewer problems with it. Thats all....Some companies have gotten very good at pivots. I'm not real anal about cleaning, but my bikes are well maintained.
I've literally broken the frame on some linkage bikes before the pivots had a hint of slop, and on another one of my bikes I went throught a phase of rebuilding something every 15 rides or so before they got it right.
I still stand by my post above.
*edit* Oh, and winter in nor-cal isn't the same, but I ride all winter, rain or shine.
Read Post # 49.How tall are you and what size stem? I was looking at those pretty hard before I went for the SJ. (I'm 6'0", running a Large - 24"tt, with a 50mm stem)
*wow, three posts in a row.. I'm leaving*
No SP/MP war needed. My post was actually meant to state that mp bikes aren't necessarily higher maintenance than SP. But it really depends on the manufacturer.Understand I am not a Single Pivot hater. I would be still on a Morewood if it wasn't for the deal I got from Giant. It was too good to pass up. I am not trying to start a SP/MP war here. My quote was to take care of you bikes and you will have fewer problems with it. Thats all....
Ahh, you're taking my advice! If you do a search, you'll find my comments on the Prophet along with others. The biggest complaint that some have had is that the rear is flexy on the standard version.Ok, so I've taken pretty much no one's advice and am leaning towards picking up a cannondale prophet. It looks like fun with 140 mm rear travel, the possibility of a rigid rear end if I get the mx with the 12mm axle and an adjustable HA from 69 deg to 67.5 deg.
So what does everyone think about these bikes? Who's ridden one? How much does a build setup more for trail riding than dh weigh? Is any some horrible reason why I shouldn't even consider it?
Forgot about that one. I don't really have the single pivot's logged into my "recomendations book", but I like those frames. Really good deals, simple design, etc, etc.Ok, so I've taken pretty much no one's advice and am leaning towards picking up a cannondale prophet. It looks like fun with 140 mm rear travel, the possibility of a rigid rear end if I get the mx with the 12mm axle and an adjustable HA from 69 deg to 67.5 deg.
So what does everyone think about these bikes? Who's ridden one? How much does a build setup more for trail riding than dh weigh? Is any some horrible reason why I shouldn't even consider it?
Have you ridden an MX as well? Any idea if the rear axle is the only thing with more beef, or if it's a heavier/beefier frame overall?Ahh, you're taking my advice! If you do a search, you'll find my comments on the Prophet along with others. The biggest complaint that some have had is that the rear is flexy on the standard version.
They are the same fork. One has a 20mm axle and the other doesn't. I have the Revelation because its over 1 pound lighter. Thats a lot off the front end!!!!! The fork works great!!! Ether way you go you will like it.what fork would be recommended? pike vs revelation?
AND the Revelation has 130mm while the Pike has 140mmThey are the same fork. One has a 20mm axle and the other doesn't. I have the Revelation because its over 1 pound lighter. Thats a lot off the front end!!!!! The fork works great!!! Ether way you go you will like it.
Yes you are right. Forgot about that.AND the Revelation has 130mm while the Pike has 140mm
I think a large would work out for you....Spec comes in 4 sizes instead of the usually 3, so there large is a true large. As for the rest...try shortish stem like 90mm and i wouldn't do the layback seat post, i really don't even understand why anyone would ever use one.....I am 6'0" to 6'1" depending on the day, would a large work out?What have done to accomodate stumpys to more aggressive riding?I have been thinking about doing the following: shorter stem, layback or telescopic post, different fork (little more travel to slacken the ht); what does the order say about these changes? what fork would be recommended? pike vs revelation?
i own a prophet 800, and have never seen/ridden an mx, but I do know that they are slightly beefed up with added gussets. I don't know much further than that.Have you ridden an MX as well? Any idea if the rear axle is the only thing with more beef, or if it's a heavier/beefier frame overall?
Definately go for the 19" frame size, it'll work out great for you.so I am going to try and highjack here for a moment, kind of...I'm a dher who needs a training bike. I recently tried selling my dh rig to get a reign x1 as a do it all race/training/fun bike but that didn't work out. So now I am going to pawn off my ht iron horse yakuza ( pm me if interested) and try to grab an 06 stumpy base (red one with bb7's) to ride some trails on. I have some q's:
I am 6'0" to 6'1" depending on the day, would a large work out?
What have done to accomodate stumpys to more aggressive riding?
I have been thinking about doing the following: shorter stem, layback or telescopic post, different fork (little more travel to slacken the ht); what does the order say about these changes? what fork would be recommended? pike vs revelation?
I'm sure I'll have more q's later
I would decide whether the bike is going to see significant jumping or lift assisted use. For a trailbike, my prophet feels plenty stiff. I don't have a ton of time on it, but it was plenty adequate as I put a couple miles in on some varied XC. It felt like it could handle some small stunts or drops, but I would hesitate to make it a regular DHer. It climbed well and didn't seem to bob noticably, which was impressive for a nigh 6" travel frame. I weigh 185, btw, and rode the stock wheels with overinflated hutchi pythons. I feel that the weight and usability price you pay for the MX isn't worth it unless it's going to see a lot of jumpin' n stuntin'.Rad. Still sorta un-decided on a MX vs. regular prophet. I saw the thread that the regualrs are super flexy and I'm a pretty heavy guy so maybe the mx.
Whatever frame I get, looks like a Lyric is going on the front.
+1, and I have two 07 SX TR III frames. A new medium is for sale if interestedThe SX is imo one of the most perfect bikes for your description. I had one for over a year now and it is by far one of the most fun bikes I've ever had. Coming from a slew of xc frames, the slacker head angle and more aggressive geometry of the sx made trailriding fun again. It is a true do-it-all bike.
yup, called my rep at giant, they are sold out until the 08 production run. there are three bikes that have not been delivered to a shop yet but they have been claimed by guys at the western regional distribution warehouse.Have your looked at the Reign X1?? its awesome all mountain? freeride bike.
how much would that effect angles etc?Yes you are right. Forgot about that.
I've never heard of that brand.......Looking for a fun to ride anywhere frame