Bike for friend with lots of money
11-21-08, 12:29 PM
#1
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Bike for friend with lots of money
Against my better judgement, I'm starting a thread.
My buddy is 6'4", 210 #, and currently rides a 2004 Superlight with XT and XTR. The frame/fork are beat, and he's moving towards more AM/FR riding, so he wants a replacement. He's not a shuttler [not that there's anything wrong with that], so the new bike has to climb well. Our trails are not buff - there is crap everywhere. He rides our local stuff, plus Fernie, Kicking Horse, Panorama and the occasional trip to Whistler. 6" front/rear travel should work. He is looking to improve his ability to do drops/jumps and built stunts [ladders, skinnies, etc.]. On his behalf, I'd like to explore some options for him, since he's mostly a roadie and doesn't know as much about the tech on the dirt side. He does want something somewhat unique, and is trying to stay away from the big brands [i.e. Trek, Spec., Giant, etc.].
He is currently looking at two frames in particular: Santa Cruz Nomad and Knolly Delerium. What else should he be looking at? Anything to avoid?
He's set on the Lyrik for a fork. Looking at the reviews, it's pretty solid. Would something like a Fox Van be a worthy alternative?
The brakes will probably be Hope Mono.
Wheels - Easton Havoc AM [I think he should go for a custom build]
What else, what else, what else...
My buddy is 6'4", 210 #, and currently rides a 2004 Superlight with XT and XTR. The frame/fork are beat, and he's moving towards more AM/FR riding, so he wants a replacement. He's not a shuttler [not that there's anything wrong with that], so the new bike has to climb well. Our trails are not buff - there is crap everywhere. He rides our local stuff, plus Fernie, Kicking Horse, Panorama and the occasional trip to Whistler. 6" front/rear travel should work. He is looking to improve his ability to do drops/jumps and built stunts [ladders, skinnies, etc.]. On his behalf, I'd like to explore some options for him, since he's mostly a roadie and doesn't know as much about the tech on the dirt side. He does want something somewhat unique, and is trying to stay away from the big brands [i.e. Trek, Spec., Giant, etc.].
He is currently looking at two frames in particular: Santa Cruz Nomad and Knolly Delerium. What else should he be looking at? Anything to avoid?
He's set on the Lyrik for a fork. Looking at the reviews, it's pretty solid. Would something like a Fox Van be a worthy alternative?
The brakes will probably be Hope Mono.
Wheels - Easton Havoc AM [I think he should go for a custom build]
What else, what else, what else...
11-21-08, 01:15 PM
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11-21-08, 01:21 PM
#8
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11-21-08, 01:22 PM
#9
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11-21-08, 01:27 PM
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GT Sanction. The 1.0 comes with a TALAS, but it is available as a frameset. The 08 had a Lyrik, but I doubt you'll be able to find one, and the 09 is slightly slacker anyways, which he may appreciate at the resorts.
I'm a bit biased because I can get it on prodeal, but it's a solid bike. I demoed one for a day and it was certainly much more capable than the silly 4 foot drops I was doing on it.
It does climb...like a 6 inch travel bike. The slackness doesn't help on the ultra-steeps, but with tavel adjust it does alright, and there isn't much bob from the suspension, though I still made use of the propedal, especially on fireroads.
It's a bike that wants to get in the air, I guess do to a relatively short wheelbase, though my experience with longer travel rigs is limited. It's at least worth a look, I think.
I'm pretty sure the Banshee rune would fit the niche similarly, though a bit more expensive (possibly higher quality frame?).
I'd be wary of an enduro, I've heard of a fair share of breakages, but then again there are a lot of 'em out there, so maybe they're no worse than anything else.
I'm a bit biased because I can get it on prodeal, but it's a solid bike. I demoed one for a day and it was certainly much more capable than the silly 4 foot drops I was doing on it.
It does climb...like a 6 inch travel bike. The slackness doesn't help on the ultra-steeps, but with tavel adjust it does alright, and there isn't much bob from the suspension, though I still made use of the propedal, especially on fireroads.
It's a bike that wants to get in the air, I guess do to a relatively short wheelbase, though my experience with longer travel rigs is limited. It's at least worth a look, I think.
I'm pretty sure the Banshee rune would fit the niche similarly, though a bit more expensive (possibly higher quality frame?).
I'd be wary of an enduro, I've heard of a fair share of breakages, but then again there are a lot of 'em out there, so maybe they're no worse than anything else.
11-21-08, 01:56 PM
#11
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GT Sanction. The 1.0 comes with a TALAS, but it is available as a frameset. The 08 had a Lyrik, but I doubt you'll be able to find one, and the 09 is slightly slacker anyways, which he may appreciate at the resorts.
I'm a bit biased because I can get it on prodeal, but it's a solid bike. I demoed one for a day and it was certainly much more capable than the silly 4 foot drops I was doing on it.
It does climb...like a 6 inch travel bike. The slackness doesn't help on the ultra-steeps, but with tavel adjust it does alright, and there isn't much bob from the suspension, though I still made use of the propedal, especially on fireroads.
It's a bike that wants to get in the air, I guess do to a relatively short wheelbase, though my experience with longer travel rigs is limited. It's at least worth a look, I think.
I'm pretty sure the Banshee rune would fit the niche similarly, though a bit more expensive (possibly higher quality frame?).
I'd be wary of an enduro, I've heard of a fair share of breakages, but then again there are a lot of 'em out there, so maybe they're no worse than anything else.
I'm a bit biased because I can get it on prodeal, but it's a solid bike. I demoed one for a day and it was certainly much more capable than the silly 4 foot drops I was doing on it.
It does climb...like a 6 inch travel bike. The slackness doesn't help on the ultra-steeps, but with tavel adjust it does alright, and there isn't much bob from the suspension, though I still made use of the propedal, especially on fireroads.
It's a bike that wants to get in the air, I guess do to a relatively short wheelbase, though my experience with longer travel rigs is limited. It's at least worth a look, I think.
I'm pretty sure the Banshee rune would fit the niche similarly, though a bit more expensive (possibly higher quality frame?).
I'd be wary of an enduro, I've heard of a fair share of breakages, but then again there are a lot of 'em out there, so maybe they're no worse than anything else.
11-21-08, 02:18 PM
#12
one less horse
If I didn't already have the SX Trail, I would be on the Rune. The Rune descends as well as the SXT but climbs better. Geometry is responsive. Tubeset and build quality is upper echelon. Definitely worthy of consideration in this class.
11-21-08, 02:26 PM
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I hear Target has entered the high end bike market.
11-21-08, 04:44 PM
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11-21-08, 04:57 PM
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Working in a shop that sells them...trust me, it is 
But I haven't read a bad review of the sanction, so I feel good reccomending it. The Force, which is the more trail oriented AM rig they're putting out, has a little more of an identity crisis. The HT angle is just a bit too steep with a 140mm fork, so it feels like a long travel XC bike. I've heard it does well with a longer fork, but then it's really similar to the sanction. And if the dude's going to resorts like Fernie, or especially whistler, he'll want burly.
Looked into Ventana? The terremoto 6.0 seems pretty sweet.
But I haven't read a bad review of the sanction, so I feel good reccomending it. The Force, which is the more trail oriented AM rig they're putting out, has a little more of an identity crisis. The HT angle is just a bit too steep with a 140mm fork, so it feels like a long travel XC bike. I've heard it does well with a longer fork, but then it's really similar to the sanction. And if the dude's going to resorts like Fernie, or especially whistler, he'll want burly.
Looked into Ventana? The terremoto 6.0 seems pretty sweet.
11-21-08, 05:26 PM
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Get an Ellsworth case closed
11-21-08, 06:13 PM
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11-21-08, 06:26 PM
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11-21-08, 07:24 PM
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I was going to mention a certain member who shall not be named, but figured I would just ask why some people feel Ellsworths are so great.
11-21-08, 08:15 PM
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I've been riding a Nomad for a couple of years and love it, although in my area Santa Cruz bikes aren't exactly unique. I'd particularly like to try the latest revision of the Nomad, as it sounds even sweeter. I know you said no big boys but the new Trek Remedy is pretty sweet, too.
11-21-08, 10:09 PM
#25
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If not a Cannondale Moto, maybe an Intense 6.6, and if neither of those suit his needs then a Specialized S-Works Enduro (no link cause their servers are down right now but you get the picture). Any of those bikes would let him get up the hill and back down again in style.