Mountain Biking - I need advice...

I am about to buy a new bike. But there's a jungle out there. Types and brands...
I want an All Mountain. And I have sort of narroved it down to Santa Cruz Nomad and Scott Ransom.
Any experience and advice here?
Other bikes can also be considered :)

I am about to buy a new bike. But there's a jungle out there. Types and brands...
I want an All Mountain. And I have sort of narroved it down to Santa Cruz Nomad and Scott Ransom.
Any experience and advice here?
Other bikes can also be considered :)

I'll be able to tell you about the Nomad in about a month :) Almost done with the build :) You might read up at mtbr.com in the manufacturer forums. They have a TON of stuff on the Nomad in the Santa Cruz forum.

i hear very good reports on marin's all mountain bikes

I saw a Scott Ransom 20 recently, looks sweet with Mavic Crossmax SLR. Too bad I cant test it though. Nomad already has its own reputation. Not sure about the Ransom though

What about the Giant Trance?

Transition Preston FR? That would be my pick.

Transition Preston FR? That would be my pick.

The Preston is nice, but the bikes he was looking at were fairly light (respectfully) while the Preston comes in at around like 10-11 lbs for the frame.

Eh, what's a few pounds here or there? What are you? A weight weenie?;)

I love Maestro bikes :) ,darn it who introduced me to BMC bikes again?

:rolleyes:
I love Maestro bikes :) ,darn it who introduced me to BMC bikes again?

Funny how the OP narrowed it down to 2 bikes but still gets an earload of crap about other bikes that he has no interest in...especially one that's going to be too heavy for his intended purpose.

The Nomad seems to be the bike to beat these days. I'd probably lean toward that one.

Or you could look in to the Enduro Pro, Jamis Dakar XAM, Giant Reign X, SC Heckler, Trek Session or Remedy, Yeti 575, Specialized Demo 9...it may weigh more but who really cares about 10-15 pounds anyway, right?

Or maybe just a Trek Pilot?

well weight weenies will care a couple of hundred of grams, I know some riders who remove all their bike decals to reduce ounces. Thank god Im not that extreme yet, for me a few hundred grams is disappointing. Thats all.

:rolleyes:

Or you could look in to the Enduro Pro, Jamis Dakar XAM, Giant Reign X, SC Heckler, Trek Session or Remedy, Yeti 575, Specialized Demo 9...it may weigh more but who really cares about 10-15 pounds anyway, right?

Or maybe just a Trek Pilot?

The Nomad is an excellent bike and compares very well to the others mentioned here. Especially the Yeti 575. I was in the same boat as you a few months ago wanting to get another AM rig to replace my Spec. Enduro Expert ('05 w/DHX Air 5.0). I tried to test ride as many bikes as I could and once I rode the Yeti, I was sold. I'd suggest that you do the same thing. Go ride as many bikes that fall in your category and get the one that YOU like best.

Here's what I found:
Giant Reign - awesome suspension, but BB height too low. Kept whacking pedals on everything
Spec Enduro Pro - basically a new version of what I have already but with new components. Awesome bike all around, but just heavier than I wanted. Almost an AM/FR bike. Great bike for rugged AM stuff.
Jamis Dakar XLT - good overall bike, but nothing jumped out at me so I kept looking
Yeti 575 - Just an awesome AM trail bike. Light for almost 6" of travel (28lbs). Good component spec (Enduro build kit). Awesome suspension - Climbs like a goat but with seemingly endless travel on the descents. No other bike handled both as well as the Yeti 575.

All I can say its....Good luck.