Help me choose my next mountain bike

[InspectorGadget]

I've liquidated the mountain bikes I had and now I'm going to buy one. The list of prospects has been shortened to the following:

Cannondale Prophet 2000 (http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/06/CUSA/model-6VE2.html) - Silver, not yellow.

http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/06/CUSA/large/6ve2tng.jpg

Titus Moto Lite (http://www.titusti.com/moto_al.html) Aluminum with the All Mountain II component package - Fox Grey, not blue.

http://www.titusti.com/images/large/moto_AL.jpg

Yeti 575 (http://www.yeticycles.com/Bikes/Bikes575.cfm) with the Race Disk component package - Anodized black

http://www.yeticycles.com/Bikes/BikesMedia/BikesMedia575/575MedProfileBlk.jpg

I ruled out the Scott Ranson 20 (http://www.scottusa.com/product.php?UID=7815) after they raised the price substantially and I realized I need a 6 1/2" travel bike like I need to break some more bones.

http://www.scottusa.com/i/images/products/200039.jpg


I'm looking for a long travel XC bike. A do-all trail bike. And I'm never going to huck myself off anything bigger than a couple, three feet. At least not on purpose. I've ridden the Yeti and the Cannondale and like both; but, with the Titus, I am relying on the good press I've read. The Moto Lite is the bike I'm really leaning toward. Have you ridden or do you own one of these bikes.

[Crinkle]

sounds like you need to get out and ride the Moto Lite. The shop where I got my 575 also was a full on Titus dealer. More than one shop compared the 575 with the MotoLite. End result of both conversations was that the MotoLite is more XC oriented and would probably not hold up to my riding style. The build is probably a bit lighter than the 575 and on par with the cannondale. The titus also being the most expensive out of your 3 remaining choices (I think, too lazy to look it up) Obviously lots of 575's around here and not many complaints.

[mntlion]

loved my C'ndale, had a jekyll, after 5 years broke that, paid the cannondeale upgrade to the prophet, then worked at the store and just keep ordering them.
might want to look at the 1000 too. Doesn;t have the dual control (I didn;t like it after a full year of use) get the crossland wheels, same frame/travel, and .2 pounds more.
Love the adjustable geometry. I ride XC, but put on big tires, and unbolt and change to 67.5' and you have an OK chairlift bike

[spindrift]

Why Prophet & not Rush for XC-ish riding? A guy I know who loved his Prophet is switching to the Rush this year. (disclaimer/confession - I have ridden neither)

[powwrangler]

Go 575 or Titus

[dfinn]

I really wanted a 575 but didn't want to pay that much for one. I ended up getting an Iron Horse MKIII. So far I love it. 5 inches of plush suspension and it pedals like a hard tail.

[brettf]

575 or a Blur...

[snow_slider]

Titus, simply because I'm not a fan of single pivot setups and because it has a horst-link rear pivot so the suspension won't stiffen under brake load.

[shirk]

Get your bling on. (http://ibiscycles.com/mountain/?PHPSESSID=05e429c8263c12482edcff5518edb456)

http://ibiscycles.com/images/thumbs/mojo_1.jpg

[InspectorGadget]

Keep in mind that, while I do have the ability to purchase the bikes on my short list at very attractive prices, I don't have access to all brands. Ibis is out. A Blur LT would definitely be on the list if I had a connection, which I don't.

mtnlion - If I bought the C'Dale, the dual contol paddle shifters would be the first thing to go.

spindrift - it's the ish part of XC that would rule out the Rush.

Far and away, the best deal available to me is the Marin Attack Trail. It's also the bike I have the smallest amount of beta for. The adjustable rear suspension might be wonderful, but it seems like there are too many moving parts.

bagtagley knows someone that knows someone that says good things about the Marin . . . . for what that's worth.

[descender]

I vote for the Yeti. The others look a little steep-ish in the head angle.

[mntlion]

IG: if you are ditching the dual's then look at the P1000

FYI: prophet and rush 1000's or 2000's are less then a pound in wieght (in tires) and the P has 140mm vs 100mm.

[powwrangler]

Shaums March says he likes the attack trail and has been doing a lot of R&D for Marin, He's also spancered by them. I ride his Quake around and liked it, but that is a completely different ride. He did mention that the pivots need regular tightening every other week or so.

[brettf]

the pivots need regular tightening every other week or so.

Hrmm....

[AKWL]

My Buddy is Shaum's partner in the whole training camp thing. They are both spancered by Marin. I just spoke to him yesterday and he was raving about his new bike. He's coming off a long DH career, primarily on Norcos (Horst Links). So far hes had no trouble with the pivots. He's all psyched on long xc rides now that he's got this new bike.

The Marins are based on the Whyte bikes from the UK. I remember reading that the early versions ended up sounding like a herd of chipmunks after a season or so, but that the later versions had it sorted. More maintenance comes with the territory with linkages, but it's not exactly a big deal.

I personally am on a Devinci Remix. The Canadian versions have the Horst Link. I really like the bike, and ride the same type of thing you do.

I'd look closer at the Marin.
Then the Yeti

[InspectorGadget]

In a wierd twist of fate, I bought the Marin Attack Trail (http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2006/html/bikes/bike_specs/specs_attack_trail.html) today. The price was just too damn good to pass up. If I don't love it, I'll sell it and buy something else. Like a Titus.

[powwrangler]

My Buddy is Shaum's partner in the whole training camp thing. They are both spancered by Marin. I just spoke to him yesterday and he was raving about his new bike. He's coming off a long DH career, primarily on Norcos (Horst Links). So far hes had no trouble with the pivots. He's all psyched on long xc rides now that he's got this new bike.

The Marins are based on the Whyte bikes from the UK. I remember reading that the early versions ended up sounding like a herd of chipmunks after a season or so, but that the later versions had it sorted. More maintenance comes with the territory with linkages, but it's not exactly a big deal.

I personally am on a Devinci Remix. The Canadian versions have the Horst Link. I really like the bike, and ride the same type of thing you do.

I'd look closer at the Marin.
Then the Yeti

Mike took his linkage apart on his bike and there were like 4 different types of washers ans all sorts of bearing and he wasn't paying attention to how he took it apaert, and the guy in a shop couldn't figure it out either, So he just put it back together. It was a little creaky put togetehr wrong, but i think that was the main problem.

[Crinkle]

http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2006/graphics/page_graphics/bike_specs/pr_leftspace.gif

pimptastic, that is sweet looking bike, haven't seen one of those around before. What will she weight in at? Nice build to with RLC and RP3

[yentna]

Sweet! My first mtn bike was a Marin - though mine was a HT. Loved it and rode the shit out of it! Still have it, though don't really ride it. Anyway, that's besides the point. I like Marin and think you'll love your bike. Grin.

(Just make sure to pronounce it right.:tongue:)

[homerjay]

I've seen a few of those around and they're sweet, my LBS is a Marin dealer.

The adjustable rear travel thing is weird, though....not sure why you would want to dial down the travel, the shock/suspension should pedal the same regardless of travel.

Anywho, nice ride and nice build kit! Let me know how those WTB hubs treat you, they could be on my next wheelset.

[InspectorGadget]

Just make sure to pronounce it right.

And the correct pronunciation is:


Ma-rin

or

Mar-in

[dfinn]

Ma-rin

;lkj;lkj