Pitch Pro v. Reign 1

**Dantheman** · 05-15-2011, 08:39 PM

Anyone have any head-to-head experience with these two? I'm going to be picking up one of these two shortly and am bit on the fence. I have never heard a bad thing about either bike but a few things right now have me leaning slightly towards the Pitch:

-A tad slacker
-Couple hundred cheaper
-Stock build seems a little better. Budget for upgrades is pretty much nonexistent so this is a big one.
-9 spd drivetrain vs 10 spd on the Reign.
-20mm front hub vs 15mm on the Reign. If I ever want to pick up a lyric or 36 for it all I need is the fork and not a new front wheel.
-I like the 24/36/bash and tensioner setup

On the other hand, the Reign has maestro and I would buy it at Go-Ride so I know I would be taken care of maintenance wise. I'm not sure how the weight compares, this page has the Pitch on a scale at 30lbs-2oz, which is 6 oz lighter than my former XC bike. I haven't been able to find anything similar for the Reign so I'll just have to get one on a scale in the shop. Anything below the 30.5 lbs of my old bike is acceptable.

**Crampedon** · 05-16-2011, 01:39 AM

Need a large? I have a black white 2010 pitch no bash-guard but new and packed for shipping. Sick of looking at it in the shop window and local buyers are on a road bike/city bike craze. PM if interested.

**cpj.slc** · 05-16-2011, 08:13 AM

I think I would rather ride a bike with maestro or another mini link design over a horst link bike, but all the benefits you listed on the Pitch are pretty nice. Although, I think the 2 X 10 on the Reign would be a plus not a minus, but that is just me. Either would probably be a great bike.

**Dantheman** · 05-16-2011, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by Crampedon

Need a large?

I wish! Need a small.

Originally Posted by cpj.slc

I think I would rather ride a bike with maestro or another mini link design over a horst link bike, but all the benefits you listed on the Pitch are pretty nice. Although, I think the 2 X 10 on the Reign would be a plus not a minus, but that is just me. Either would probably be a great bike.

I go back and forth on the drivetrain. SRAM's 9 spd stuff is just a really well proven system.

I really can't go wrong with either bike. If the same shop carried both brands I would just demo both, but no one does and I don't want to eat the demo cost on the loser.

**marshalolson** · 05-16-2011, 08:57 AM

both are really sick bikes. there would not be a lemon in eithe direction.

FWIW i am convinced the reign x and new 2011 reign are the best trail bikes on the planet. they pedal really well and decend like mini-dh bikes. they simply just work better than FSR. if .1
and .5deg in geo will make or break the deal for you, so it goes, but that shit really does not matter like people thinks. the giants prefer WAY more sag that the fsr, which really gets it feeling like a dh bike on trail, and effectively lowers/slackens the bike with a rider (when it actually matters), so please do not get hung up on static geo too much.

FWIW my 2010 reign x is slacker and lower than its geo on the webpage, and acutally lower than the new enduro (66.5, 13.6 bb).

it also weighs 31.0 lbs with dh strength wheels, tubes, lyric, DH stem/bars, dh brakes, etc.

**kidwoo** · 05-16-2011, 09:01 AM

I don't think you can really go wrong either way. Both are sick bikes.

Not all FSR bikes are equal......not by a long shot. Not even all FSR designs by specialized.

Want a small enduro SL? (older style)

**Conundrum** · 05-16-2011, 09:02 AM

x2 on what Marshal said. I had a Demo 7 and an Enduro SL. Now I have a Reign X I built up on the heavier side. Other than the Lyric I put on it, I would ride it anywhere I rode my Demo. I think the suspension feels more plush than the Enduro but I do have a coil shock on the Reign and I had an air on the Enduro.

I did ride my buddy's Pitch and I liked it. I've never ridden a Reign 1.

**Particle** · 05-16-2011, 09:34 AM

Both are going to rip. IMO the biggest difference you'll notice is pedaling feel between the two suspensions. DW-link feels a bit more solid, like you have something to press against on the climbs. FSR is more plush. Both rip. Both feel equally plush on the DH. I smoked the Dry Creek climb the one day I rode it on the Pitch Pro I shortly owned. But now that I have a DW-link bike of the same weight, I'm just as fast if not faster. Doesn't the Pitch come with a chainguide too? Might be nice for the set it and forget it build.

**Dantheman** · 05-16-2011, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by marshalolson

if .1
and .5deg in geo will make or break the deal for you, so it goes

Definitely not, I threw the list in the OP together in no particular order. If I were to reorder things in order of importance the little extra slackness would be at the bottom of the list.

Originally Posted by marshalolson

it also weighs 31.0 lbs with dh strength wheels, tubes, lyric, DH stem/bars, dh brakes, etc.

Damn, I really need to go to Go Ride and get one on a scale.

Originally Posted by kidwoo

Want a small enduro SL? (older style)

Maybe, PM with specs and stuff if you want.

**marshalolson** · 05-16-2011, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Dantheman

Damn, I really need to go to Go Ride and get one on a scale.

for sure. i have an xt/saint build, reverb, etc. for sure a nice, but not especially light build kit.

**Bobcat Sig** · 05-16-2011, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Dantheman

I wish! Need a small.

I go back and forth on the drivetrain. SRAM's 9 spd stuff is just a really well proven system.

I really can't go wrong with either bike. If the same shop carried both brands I would just demo both, but no one does and I don't want to eat the demo cost on the loser.

Really? Interesting. I pedaled both the Reign 1, a 2010 Reign X and a Rocky Mountain Slayer 50 and 70. The 50 got the nod due to price point. The Giants just felt too stiff and far more cramped - all things being equal (suspension set properly) outside of tires.

**300hp** · 05-16-2011, 12:55 PM

hmmm. I like the short cs on the pitch, but those reigns ride so so much better than FSR imho. Not to throw a wrench in the gears, but went through a similar thing buying wise and ended up with a 2008 remedy. Awesome suspension, no bob under pedaling, likes to be ridden with 35% sag, and 16.5 cs, which is the range I prefer. I know your terrain is much different though. Out of your options, reign. Plus, the pike that comes on the spec is a fake pike and doesn't have compression/moco, which I think is necessary to make that fork ride well. Figure another $50 on top of the bike for a moco cart.
H

**Dantheman** · 05-16-2011, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by 300hp

Not to throw a wrench in the gears, but went through a similar thing buying wise and ended up with a 2008 remedy.
H

I actually have looked at the Remedy a bit. Sweet looking bikes with great reviews but probably out of the budget. One of the shops I was going to check out a Pitch at sells Trek though so I will at least look at Remedy while I'm there. Honestly, if Go Ride didn't have such a screaming deal going on their Reigns I would probably just be going with the Pitch based on price alone.

Originally Posted by 300hp

Plus, the pike that comes on the spec is a fake pike and doesn't have compression/moco, which I think is necessary to make that fork ride well. Figure another $50 on top of the bike for a moco cart.
H

Huh? Not sure what you mean by "fake" Pike. The Sektor on the 2011s has replaced the Pike completely in Rock Shox's line up. The specs on Specialized website list it as having Motion Control:

FORK Custom RockShox Sektor RL, Motion Control damper, Solo Air, alloy steerer, reb adj., 20mm Maxle Lite axle, 150mm travel

**smmokan** · 05-17-2011, 07:26 AM

Crampedon- I'm looking for an AM bike too, I PM'ed you about that Pitch. If anyone else has something similar in a M or L, shoot me a message.

**flowtron's ghost** · 05-17-2011, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by marshalolson

if .1
and .5deg in geo will make or break the deal for you, so it goes, but that shit really does not matter like people thinks. the giants prefer WAY more sag that the fsr, which really gets it feeling like a dh bike on trail, and effectively lowers/slackens the bike with a rider (when it actually matters), so please do not get hung up on static geo too much.
.

Shhhhh Marshall. You're going to break the bike section of the interweb with talk like that. Crazy talk....all that jabber about real world conditions like sag and suspension setup....the numbers man, think of the NUMBERZZZ! How am I supposed to justify my $200 headset to adjust my HTA .5*? Clearly I would be shredding LOTB waay harder if I had slightly different geo.

DTM, I reco the Giant...mostly because I like Giant, and Specialized can suck it. Seriously, the Reign is hawt and Go Ride is $$$.

**Crinkle** · 05-17-2011, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by flowtron's ghost

DTM, I reco the Giant...mostly because I like Giant, and Specialized can suck it. Seriously, the Reign is hawt and Go Ride is $$$.

Not that my opinion means anything, but I second this.

While not specifically labeled "dw link", there are enough conjecture to say its "dw link"-ish, which is my favorite flavor of suspension as of late.

I was pretty set on a Giant prior to finding the deal on my Firebird.

Meanwhile I am almost done saving for my adjustable headset so I'll have the capability to keep up with the likes of "middle age rippers" like marshal and flow.

**robbo** · 05-17-2011, 09:23 AM

I test rode both bikes and bought the 2011 Reign. Love it. It feels tighter, stiffer and IMO pedals a bit better. Pricewise the Reign was a lot cheaper too.

**shredgnar** · 05-17-2011, 09:26 AM

I like my Pitch Pro a lot. Never been on the Reign. That's all I got, sorry

**Dromond** · 05-17-2011, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by marshalolson

both are really sick bikes. there would not be a lemon in eithe direction.

FWIW i am convinced the reign x and new 2011 reign are the best trail bikes on the planet. they pedal really well and decend like mini-dh bikes. they simply just work better than FSR. if .1
and .5deg in geo will make or break the deal for you, so it goes, but that shit really does not matter like people thinks. the giants prefer WAY more sag that the fsr, which really gets it feeling like a dh bike on trail, and effectively lowers/slackens the bike with a rider (when it actually matters), so please do not get hung up on static geo too much.

FWIW my 2010 reign x is slacker and lower than its geo on the webpage, and acutally lower than the new enduro (66.5, 13.6 bb).

it also weighs 31.0 lbs with dh strength wheels, tubes, lyric, DH stem/bars, dh brakes, etc.

The new Reign looks sweet. Good to see that they slacked the head tube a bit. Is the Reign non-X the listed 67.5 HA or slacker?

**300hp** · 05-17-2011, 10:08 AM

heh sorry, I was referring to how spec does the "custom for specialized" fork, which means the internals are basic and cheap. I meant that the pike, or now sektor that comes on the pitch does not have motion control. It is a really easy upgrade, but necessary in my opinion to shred on that bike. That's why I said factor in a few extra $$ to order the cart up if you get the pitch.

**monkeywrenchMoose** · 05-17-2011, 11:44 AM

I have a Pitch with some orange wheels. I like it lots.

I have been lusting after the new reigns lately though. From the spec list, they look like they are a much better buy. I had to upgrade a few things before I got my pitch where I want it, specifically the wheels (stock ones sucked, broke 5 spokes and they never stayed true) and the brakes (Hayes just felt dead to me). People have mentioned that the pike is an el cheapo version, but to be honest, I haven't really noticed it. It does fine. Maybe if I rode some blingier forks, I would notice the cheapness of it.

All speculation and adding to the fray, cause I've never ridden the Reign extensively.

**marshalolson** · 05-17-2011, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Crinkle

Meanwhile I am almost done saving for my adjustable headset so I'll have the capability to keep up with the likes of "middle age rippers" like marshal and flow.

my receding, balding, and greying head would like you ride with your beer gut.

gunit130 · 05-17-2011, 11:57 AM

3 of my friends have the Pitch 2009 and 2010. All of them have had nothing but good things to say and they beat the bikes to death.

Seems like they are pretty similar bike, like everyone has said.

**Crinkle** · 05-17-2011, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by marshalolson

my receding, balding, and greying head would like you ride with your beer gut.

I'll bring my grey hair as well. I prefer to call the gut a "downhiller's center of gravity accessory"

glad to see you got a trail bike again. I'll hit you up soon, i start freeing up next week when the wife goes back to work

**Bobcat Sig** · 05-17-2011, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by monkeywrenchMoose

I have a Pitch with some orange wheels. I like it lots.

I have been lusting after the new reigns lately though. From the spec list, they look like they are a much better buy. I had to upgrade a few things before I got my pitch where I want it, specifically the wheels (stock ones sucked, broke 5 spokes and they never stayed true) and the brakes (Hayes just felt dead to me). People have mentioned that the pike is an el cheapo version, but to be honest, I haven't really noticed it. It does fine. Maybe if I rode some blingier forks, I would notice the cheapness of it.

All speculation and adding to the fray, cause I've never ridden the Reign extensively.

That thurr is a purrtttyy bike.

The Reign is definitely a great value. I alluded to it earlier; but I spent a few hours on both a 2011 Reign 1 and a RM Slayer 50. Both are exceptional bikes. For my frame, the RM fit best. I also far preferred the SRAM component group to that of the Shimano on the Reign 1. The RM also felt plusher. As such, I've become a total RM Slayer and whoring it every chance I get. Regardless, the Reign is a fantastic buy.

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