“$20K is too much. You can probably get by ok with just $15K…”
I’m confused. Do you mean per bike? Because I was talking about getting both for that price.
When I read this I first thought I should explain I was kidding, then I realized you may be kidding too? This may be why emoticons were invented…
…or you could be serious in which case I would answer that a mid-level Epic can be had for under $4K, with the Marathon version (IMO the best value/performance build) only a bit more. www.specialized.com
Go FS. I picked up a never riden Ironhorse Azure Expert (28lbs) for $1250 on ebay. It’s a $3500 bike. Be patient and the deal will come to you. I reccomend you get sniping software of use a sniping web page. I use eSnipe and it’s worth every penny in fees to not have to bid during the auction. I’ve raced about 10 adventure races and well over 2/3 of them on a FS. Look into a Giant Trance or the Santa Cruz Blur, you can find good deals on them everywhere. Also there are tons of Trek Fuel 90’s and 110’s out there you can get a good deal on through craigslist. Here is one in my area for $800 that you could then sink $600 more into new upgrades and have a kick ass bike.
All depends on the terrain you’re riding, but FS bikes are SO efficient now that a HT is all but eliminated for most riders. HT are around mostly for really good riders who can select the right line and ride very light.
Also, the Cannondale Lefty forks are AMAZING! Get one if you get a chance. If you get a deal on them, look at the Scalpel by Cannondale. Pretty light, pedals super efficient, rides great.
The Epic is also a good choice, but don’t skimp and get the one with the M5 aluminum. The M4 seems to be pretty heavy, but that might just be me.
A little late to the thread but FS for sure!!! plus not that I’ve done anything longer than a day long adventure race but you’re pretty beat after all that trekking and stuff, the FS is a lot easier to handle when you’re tired and beats you up a lot less.
If you can get an EP deal on both bikes are killer. I’ve got several friends who absolutely love their scalpels. I’ve also ridden the full carbon Rush a bunch and it’s a simply amazing bike. The top level builds are around 24lbs with 4-5" of plush no-bob travel front and rear. Amazing bikes.
If you have +$2000 to spend you can get into a nice mid-level FS bike. Unlike a previous poster, I do not think you can get away with spending $400-500 on a race worthy bike…
These days FS technology is so good that the only thing you are really sacrificing is a little weight. In many cases they perform as good or better than HT’s in a variety of conditions… even climbing. Many of the new designs have some sort of lockout or SPV that enables the bike to ride like a hardtail when the suspension is not needed. I have been racing on Trek TopFuels for three seasons now and have been VERY impressed! I didn’t think I would ever switch from a HT, mostly because of the weight issue, but I can say without a doubt that the FS has made me faster. And weight hasn’ really been factor… of course it’s a carbon frame with all sorts of goodies on it. I’ve got mine down to about 22lbs with pedals and without spending an obscene amount of money!
Take a look at the Trek TopFuel 8. Aluminum frame, Avid Juicy 5, XO rear der., and lot’s of other nice parts for about $2250. The Specialized Epic’s are nice as well, although a bit heavier. If you end up going the HT route the Trek 8500 is a great bike (especially with the new frame) or look at the Specialized Stumpjumper HT (not FSR.) Cannondale makes great bikes, although reliability has been an issue lately and there is always the problem of compatibility of the 1.5 headtube (several companies are making headset reducers if you ever decide to go with a “traditional” 1.125 fork) and the high cost of repair/replacement for headshocks/leftys.
I would be cautious about buying a used Mtn bike online… you never know how the previous owner rode it or took care of it. If you do go the ebay (craig’s list, etc.) route, take it to a mechanic and have it checked out.
Try and ride as many different bikes as you can. Reading our opinions will only get you so far! You need to go out and feel what suits you best. Good luck!
Full suspensions are for extremely rocky terrain and extreme technical trail riding, we are talking boulders here. There is no need for it. It’s just added weight. Hard tails are faster you lose less power transfer. You may want to consider getting a 29er instead of a 26 inch wheel if you go hardtail, much better for rolling over roots and rocks. Slower on switchbacks, but perfect for Adventure racing and XC. I don’t care much for Cannondale’s 29er though. It weighs like 29 lbs and doesn’t have the best components. Check out Felt’s Niner Pro. Great value, weighs in at ~24/25 and some change plus has a great component package.
Go test ride a 29er though, some people including myself absolutely love them, but some are really turned off. I think the climbing and rolling benefits of the 29er outweigh the switchback sluggishness from the higher center of gravity, but most XC, Xterra, and Adventure races are not miles and miles of tight switchbacks. I know people with the same Mountain biking background I have who can hang with me when I ride my 26 hardtail or my 26 FS do not have a prayer keeping up with me when I am on my 29er when we are on moderate → fairly technical terrain. Once you get into boulder jumping and vertical drops, you definately need a FS.
Ohh, check with your LBS. The stump jumper is coming out with a 29er this year, not sure of the package, but if you get a discount on Specialized it might be the way to go.
Ok, so 3 bikes at relatively the same price point, the Stumpjumper FSR Elite at $2800, the Epic Expert at $3100 and the Stumpjumper FSR Expert at $3300.
What are the pros and cons of each? I think the difference between the two FSRs is the rear Brain shock. Does this work? How? Is it worth it?
The Epic is a completely different frame, are the two frames designed for different things? What type of riding? Thanks!
"When I read this I first thought I should explain I was kidding, then I realized you may be kidding too? This may be why emoticons were invented… "
Of course I was kidding! I could never condone racking up that much debt on bikes. These days, you can do well with a measley $5-8 thousand dollar custom job. It just wouldn’t be as Slowtwitch impressive unless it costs more than 5-10 times as much as most of our first cars.
As far as mountain bikes go, the only thing I’ll ride offroad is my trusty, dusty, potentially rusty Jamis Dragon. I only spent $3K on it, but the feel of Reynolds steel is something I wouldn’t trade for all the high tech shocks in China.
I feel the mountain bike market has geared us all to being able to ride over moon craters, when most of us are really just riding hard packed trails and fire roads.
I agree, the MTB industry is trying to sell people far more then they will ever use.
Hard pack and fire roads would not even warrant a MTB hard tail. I ride my cross bike on what most people are “Mountain Biking” on. I ride my hardtail on what most people are riding FS on, and people generally don’t go where I ride my FS, I typically might see 1 or 2 other guys out in the course of a day when I am riding full suspension.
Dude go ride a 29 hard tail and compare it to a full suspension and you’ll want the 29er.
“The original post was regarding Adventure racing and Xterra. Neither would warrant a full suspension bike.”
Have you ridden the XTERRA SE Championship course or the World Championship course? I’m pretty sure MOST people would be faster on a FS on both courses.
“So go by a FS for the 2 courses that may warrant it”
Those were just two examples off of the top of my head. For anyone outside of the top 30-40% of the pack, the FS might be SLIGHTLY less efficient (though many companies SAY they give up little to no efficiency at all) and SLIGHTLY heavier, but faster because it will make up for the mistakes the rider makes. The FS will allow them to carry speed over rocks/roots that they’d get bucked on when riding a HT.
“Which 29er do you own?”
Don’t own one, and don’t really want to. I’ve ridden plenty of them (Gary Fishers, Felts, Cannondales, Orbeas) none impressed me enough to make a change, have limited tire/wheel options, and and ADD rolling weight.
Now if I were racing an XTERRA with a bunch of fire roads, maybe I’d consider the 29. But increasing the amount of energy needed to get the 29" wheel rolling isn’t the direction I’m trying to go. Making it harder to nail a switchback? not my idea of an advantage.
Yeah, if just racing Xterra courses a light hardtail is the way to go…the MAJORITY of those courses aren’t technical enough to warrant a FS, in my opinion.
