Ideal 'one' bike solution?

James Huang · #1 11-06-09, 17:36

Hi all,

If you could only have one mountain bike (and many of us do), what would it be? A 5" trail bike? 7" FR rig? Hardtail???

David Suro · #2 11-06-09, 21:58

The Yeti 575 is a good all arounder. 5.57" of travel is plenty for most rides, the bike is realtively light for the amount of travel it provides, and front/rear suspension are tunable to provide a very firm ride for cross-country conditions.

kiwirider · #3 11-06-09, 22:27

Already got it ... My Scalpel Carbon with an 80mm Fatty Headshok on the front.

My old Scalpel did me proud on pretty much everything that I wanted to ride (you should've seen the funny looks I got on things like "River Runs Through It" and stuff like that where you "absolutely need" a massive free ride machine) and this one does better thanks to the extra bit of rear travel and lighter weight.

General observation - the MTB community has got teched out and, as a result of that tech, soft. My first MTB was a fully rigid Diamondback Ascent EX - fully rigid because Allsop were yet to invent their flexy stem, let alone anyone coming out with suspension. We used those bikes for downhill, trials riding and good old fashioned XC. Yeah, sure, there's more that can be ridden these days on modern bikes, but I still honestly believe that most people out on the trails are "over bike-d" and that less is usually more ... Then again, that may be the cyclocross racer in talking too ...

flyor64 · #4 11-09-09, 08:57

Agree with kiwirider's observation. I just sold my rigid cannondale that I raced as late as '99...

Also agree that we'll normally "over-bike" ourselves. The new tech out there is just too attractive to ignore forever. I openly admit to this

. I bought and race(d) a Scott Spark.

But to be honest I will ride my steel SS29er more and have been racing it more as well...to the point where I want to try and race my whole season next year on it.

Exempting the true DH and FR guys, I think most of us are fine on a hardtail or lightly suspended bike 90% of the time.

If funds were there but I could only have one bike, I'd go ti 29er 1x9 (32T up front, 12-36 in the back...or 30T up & 12-34 in the back). 80-100MM fork and fully spec'd with handbuilt wheels (Chris King's laced to Stan's NT or something similar)...

James Huang · #5 11-09-09, 14:37

Hi all,

Ok, I think I need to add an amendment to my original question here. If you could have only one MTB, what would it be? And on what sort of terrain are you usually riding?

flyor64 · #6 11-09-09, 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Huang

Hi all,

Ok, I think I need to add an amendment to my original question here. If you could have only one MTB, what would it be? And on what sort of terrain are you usually riding?

Vassago Optimus Ti or Moots Mooto-x Slider

Set up SS or 1x9...probably back and forth depending on race/ride terrain.

I ride in Norway...it's not flat really anywhere. In the south were I ride mostly ist's a lot of up and downs between sea level and 1000 feet. Pretty solid mix of single track, bike path, gravel and farm roads. At first I didn't think the singletrack was as technical as the stuff I road in the southeast US but I'm finding and riding a lot more technical stuff as I learn more and more of what Norway has to offer.

ProTour · #7 11-09-09, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwirider

Already got it ... My Scalpel Carbon with an 80mm Fatty Headshok on the front.

My old Scalpel did me proud on pretty much everything that I wanted to ride (you should've seen the funny looks I got on things like "River Runs Through It" and stuff like that where you "absolutely need" a massive free ride machine) and this one does better thanks to the extra bit of rear travel and lighter weight.

While a carbon Scalpel might be adequate for the trails you ride, it is in no way adequate for the steep, aggressive all mountain trails many riders prefer these days. It isn't strong enough for any type of aggressive jumping or drops, and it has the completely wrong geometry for any seriously steep riding. I don't doubt you could ride River runs Through it, but less than 1 day of riding Clown Shoes, A Line, or Schleyer would bust that Scalpel into pieces of plastic. A carbon bike like the new Enduro could probably handle those types of trails, though with a skilled rider.

Some short travel bikes, and even hard-tails, can be ridden on super agro terrain, but the Scalpel isn't one of them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwirider

General observation - the MTB community has got teched out and, as a result of that tech, soft. My first MTB was a fully rigid Diamondback Ascent EX - fully rigid because Allsop were yet to invent their flexy stem, let alone anyone coming out with suspension. We used those bikes for downhill, trials riding and good old fashioned XC. Yeah, sure, there's more that can be ridden these days on modern bikes, but I still honestly believe that most people out on the trails are "over bike-d" and that less is usually more ... Then again, that may be the cyclocross racer in talking too ...

This is the same tired, dogmatic, completely wrong argument we've been hearing from the retro-grouches for years now. Technology has alowed mountain bikers to do things people had never imagined before. It has pushed the limits of skills and trails to a whole new level. The sport has always been fun, now it's even more fun, if you have the courage and the skills.

karlboss · #8 11-10-09, 09:17

some short travel and hard tail bikes can be ridden on aggressive terrain? what are they, a short list will be fine.

RDV4ROUBAIX · #9 11-10-09, 12:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Huang

Hi all,

Ok, I think I need to add an amendment to my original question here. If you could have only one MTB, what would it be? And on what sort of terrain are you usually riding?

MOOTS Mooto-X YBB/or Rigor 29er.

My stomping grounds here in the Mid West consists mostly of technical singletrack, rolling prairie lands, river valley rippers, ski hills (not mountains) converted to MTB trails in the summer months. Full suspension is overkill here, hard and soft tails with a decent front fork is the norm. Thanks to Dr. B.Rose for starting the SHOCKSPITAL, we now have a decent suspension triage unit.

Not Riding Enough · #10 11-10-09, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Suro

The Yeti 575 is a good all arounder. 5.57" of travel is plenty for most rides, the bike is realtively light for the amount of travel it provides, and front/rear suspension are tunable to provide a very firm ride for cross-country conditions.

I love my Yeti 575 but perhaps it is too good for a single bike. I need another bike for commuting as I don't want it stolen etc.