It's new bike time.... And I'm so confused

Ricekrispyota

Ricekrispyota

Member
So I finally saved enough money to get a new ride. I am currently on a 2012 Ellsworth Moment SST.2. It's a little small for me, but overall I love the ride. I demoed the Ellsworth Rogue 60 with the SLX build kit a couple months ago and thought it was amazing. That was #1 on my list....then I started comparing build kits for bikes around that price range and started getting a little frustrated.For the same price as the Ellsworth with the SLX/Fox Performance series build and DTSwiss M1900 wheels ($5500),

For example, I can get

a 2017 Commencal Meta AM 4.2 with Rockshox SuperDeluxe RC3/Lyrik RCT3, SRAM Guide and XO1 Eagle drivetrain and Spank Oozy 345 wheel set ($4243) or

a Canyon Strive CF 8.0 with Fox Performance Float X Evol/ 36 Float CTD, full Eagle Drivetrain,Guide RS brakes, EThirteen TRS+ wheels ($5,000) after import from Germany-when they become available here in the U.S.

Or an Evil The Wreckoning with RockShox Monarch Deluxe RC3 Debonair/ Lyric RCT3, Guide R brakes, SRAM X1 drivetrain and RaceFace Affect wheel set($5399)

I'm trying to compare apples to apples by including companies that aren't the big 3- Trek, Specialized, and Giant- and I'm finding that on most of these bikes, the build kit for this price range is much better than what Ellsworth is offering. It may be due to volume of sales, as I would assume the companies I mentioned probably do more business than Ellsworth but more money for a lower quality build kit is very frustrating to see on that bike. I know the SLX kit is raved for how well it works for the price, but that is exactly my point. Am I missing something as to why some bikes ,that many would equal to or better than Ellsworth, would be cheaper with a better build kit?

I'll be honest, I like to have a bike that is a little different looking, not exactly sure why (my last ride was a Scott Ransom).

Can anyone give me any ideas about some other rides to look into that climb well and decend well- I am not fast on the ups or the downs-

Here is what I would like:
160mm travel
180/160 brakes
Slackish head angle but still climbs well
$5,000 range
I can't build my own ride like dustyyoungblood with the Foes Mixer Trail build he has going on-That thing is awesome- so it needs to already be done.

Thanks in advance.
 
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This: http://konaworld.com/hei_hei_trail.cfm for 27.5

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Hei heis are cool bikes, but krispy would probably be happier with the Process line if going Kona. The Process 153DL, specifically.

Second the recommendation for the Mojo HD3.

Turner RFX is a sweet looking bike.

Commencal and Canyon are direct order/mail order. No dealer. Cheaper prices. My buddy rides a Meta and loves it.
 
Pretty sure I could land you on an Intense Recluse for near that price with good stuff on it. The new Tracer may be overkill. The current Tracer ticks all of your boxes, and since it has been replaced with the new Tracer, existing stock is most likely deeply discounted.
 
This sounds like a rare case of ellzwurth separation anxiety.


+1 on Turner. C Fluxes coming out, RFX and Czar are kicking A respectively.

Go ride some bikes and support your LBS. Base your needs on your riding preferences and less on price and brand. Too many good bikes at reasonable prices to mention. It's all about your riding and the right tool for that job.
 
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Ricekrispyota said:
This is true. I just expect more bang for my buck.

I'm gonna start demoing everything I can. My LBS is overpriced and very low end product. Plus, the owners are not very friendly.

I look into the Turner a bit more. Do they come with a 36mm fork of some type, cuz I flex the 34mm pretty good?
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I can appreciate bang for buck. The brands I've ridden like Pivot, Santa Cruz and Turner may not be the cheapest, but they produce category-leading bikes that are indeed a good value.

Ditch your LBS and go somewhere that appreciates your biz. Even driving a ways to a good LBS to rent/demo is worthy research. Good on you for demoing!!!!

You can get whatever setup you need at Turner. Talk to Jarret or Dave about it. They designed the bikes. Drive to Temecula and ride from the shop on some trails. I did and I ended up with a Czar. Excellent CS and products from a small company with top-down integrity.
 
mike said:
I can appreciate bang for buck. The brands I've ridden like Pivot, Santa Cruz and Turner may not be the cheapest, but they produce category-leading bikes that are indeed a good value.

Ditch your LBS and go somewhere that appreciates your biz. Even driving a ways to a good LBS to rent/demo is worthy research. Good on you for demoing!!!!

You can get whatever setup you need at Turner. Talk to Jarret or Dave about it. They designed the bikes. Drive to Temecula and ride from the shop on some trails. I did and I ended up with a Czar. Excellent CS and products from a small company with top-down integrity.
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I'll be in Temecula this Saturday. I think I'll hit them up. Thank you.
 
Ricekrispyota said:
This is true. I just expect more bang for my buck.

I'm gonna start demoing everything I can. My LBS is overpriced and very low end product. Plus, the owners are not very friendly.

I look into the Turner a bit more. Do they come with a 36mm fork of some type, cuz I flex the 34mm pretty good?
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Where do you live? I can get you set up with certain demos in and around Laguna. Most likely Ibis, Intense and Santa Cruz.

RFX comes with a Pike.
http://www.turnerbikes.com/bikes/rfx-v4-0/
 
herzalot said:
Where do you live? I can get you set up with certain demos in and around Laguna. Most likely Ibis, Intense and Santa Cruz.

RFX comes with a Pike.
http://www.turnerbikes.com/bikes/rfx-v4-0/
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I'm up in Victorville. Kinda a drive to Laguna Beach and unless my kids soccer gets me out of the desert, I don't get to leave here much. Thank you for the offer. If I get down there I will get ahold of you.
 
for me in this price range it's pivot switchblade XT build all day every day. I haven't demo'd one of these yet but the ride around the parking lot was mind blowing. I could also be talked into a santa cruz hightower c model with some upgrades. Honestly these new aggro 29rs are mind blowing. You're going to see a lot of EWS guys on them very soon and I think that they are going to be the hot ticket.
 
I hate to say this, but I think the 27.5 is going to go the way of the 26er soon. Big wheels are just faster. That's not an issue if you ride alone or with only small-wheel riders, or if you don't use STRAVA, but when you ride with 29ers, they will be waiting for you. Smaller wheels have much less gyroscopic effect, and they are stronger, so they may not take over the World Cup race circuit - but if courses continue to be straight, and have more chunk than air, I am guessing the big wheels will take over, if they can make them strong enough.

So yes, if shopping for a new trail bike, make sure you sample a ton of 29ers too. There are some great ones available.
 
herzalot said:
I hate to say this, but I think the 27.5 is going to go the way of the 26er soon. Big wheels are just faster. That's not an issue if you ride alone or with only small-wheel riders, or if you don't use STRAVA, but when you ride with 29ers, they will be waiting for you. Smaller wheels have much less gyroscopic effect, and they are stronger, so they may not take over the World Cup race circuit - but if courses continue to be straight, and have more chunk than air, I am guessing the big wheels will take over, if they can make them strong enough.

So yes, if shopping for a new trail bike, make sure you sample a ton of 29ers too. There are some great ones available.
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With more and more carbon hoops becoming available.....strong and light are attainable.
 
I just wanted to add one thing... the bike that 99% of us need for 99% of our trails in socal is a tallboy or something of that ilk. I'm not saying that riding something more capable isn't worth it, or is pointless or isn't fun. What I'm getting at is that a decent rider is likely better suited to something that has the descending capability of a modern geo trail bike and can climb like a 100-120mm travel 29r.

That being said, if you're going with one bike to rule them all (all day xc epics, park days, shuttles, 30 mile 5k aliso tours etc) then I would be more comfortable with something that had 80-90% of the tallboy climbing capabilities and about 120% of the down capabilities. I think the hightower, switch blade, intense primer is the perfect bike for that quiver killer for socal riding.
 
Ebruner said:
...the bike that 99% of us need for 99% of our trails in socal is a tallboy or something of that ilk. I'm not saying that riding something more capable isn't worth it, or is pointless or isn't fun. What I'm getting at is that a decent rider is likely better suited to something that has the descending capability of a modern geo trail bike and can climb like a 100-120mm travel 29r.
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+1

I don't think shorter-travel trail bikes are a mere fad, I think they just work better for the kinds of riding many of us do.

After letting go my Bronson and going 100mm 29er, I doubt I'll get another 6" trail bike. They're fun as hell for smashing through rough stuff, agreed, but that's probably 0-5% of my typical ride. Short travel trail bike makes a good one-arrow quiver. I sure don't miss carrying that extra 2" of travel around all day for the rare times it can be used. Big hoops and fatter tires complement less travel well.
 
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