Help me choose a $ No Object XC Racer
 

Currently I have a 2000 Litespeed Pisgah with full XTR (last generation) and the fact that I don't have disc brakes, tubeless, or those slick new STI type shifters is really starting to bug me. Does anybody have any ideas on a bike with full XTR disc, Mavic CrossMax SL, feather-light? Full Suspension or hardtail as long as the FS has a lockout option. I was thinking about upgrading my current frame but by the time I pay for all that stuff aftermarket I may as well buy a new frame as well.

Thanks for your input!
-ross

I test rode an STI mountain bike and found that I hated the bike shifting after a drop-off, such as a curb. I really like Merida bikes, but they don't sell them here(at least I don't think so. Merlin bikes are amazingly sexy. Specialized and Trek are options, but if you want to go all out, then you can get nuts on a bike.

I'm not sure what you mean by the STI shifters but I am talking about the new integrated XTR shift/brake levers on the new group. (similar to the STI type levers on road bikes.)

Production or Custom?

Full squish, hard tail or soft tail?

Frame material preference?


I'm NOT a XC type rider, but if I had my druthers, this would be my considerations:

Full Squish Aluminum: Intense Spyder XVP (VPP Technology) www.intensecycles.com
Titanium Hard Tail: SEVEN Sola www.sevencycles.com or Independent Fabrication Ti Deluxe www.ifbikes.com
Steel: Independent Fabrication or Gunnar Rock Hound www.gunnarbikes.com
Custom: Strong www.strongframes.com

L8R

Well,
1 ) custom or production doesn't matter
2) I was thinking if I did full suspension something like the Cruz Blur- nothing overkill. I was thinking this because it seems with a lock-out option and the low weight of FS, it seems hardtails are all but obsolete.
3) Aluminum doesn't have much sex appeal but, whatever performs and rides the best.

Ah-
Just saw the XVP is essentially a re-branded Blur.

Re: #2 (ht's becoming obsolete) - it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Lock-outs are a nice feature but I'm not sure about the weight or handling closing in on a classic ht at this point. I am seeing a curve with some long-time riders where they go from ht to fs and back to ht.

Santa Cruz and Intense bought the Outland VPP Patent together and both incorporate the design.

The Blur has a bit more travel and is more "Trailbike" oriented. The Intense Spyder XVP is more "RACE" oriented!

Also the Intense has a lot more attention to detail and a bit more CNC'd parts. It's slightly lighter too!

L8R

moots, ellsworth, slingshot, or another lightspeed might interest you.

So am I. Since you push down and pull up to operate them, the force of me coming down on the bars inadvertantly triggered a shift.

I head that the Ellsworth Truth is a good XC Racer. But then again, I'm not an XC rider so I dont know much about it.

I think I'd look at a custom build Titus RacerX 100

For a XC racer this is one of my top picks YBBair. You can build it up like in the pic or how ever you wish.

:beer:

Titus Exogrid titanium Racer-x 100. (period)

~Stv

One of the local shops had a Seven Duo hanging up inside that caught my eye the other day. Titanium frame, "Mono-link" suspension, the lightest of basically everything. I don't know much about it, but it definitely looked fast. I would love to demo it, but it was hanging about $7000 beyond my reach.

For something that won't make you cry if it get's dented, perhaps the previously mentioned Intense Spider or Santa Cruz Blur. Some of the harder riders had complained about wearing out the pivots on the Intense, but it's a bit lighter than the S.C.

try a Cannondale out, thats what i ride... a Scalpel, i think you would like the Scalpel if you like the option of locking out the rear shock. and the rear shock lock out is controled by your thumb on the handlebars