Thread: Longer-travel 29ers: WWMD?

I'm shopping for a replacement for my Salsa Big Mama (4"/100mm travel) 29er with something that has more travel. It will be built with a 140mm Marzocchi 44 air fork (tapered steerer), that I already picked up. This bike may end up being the main XC/trail bike, so I may also get rid of my Intense 5.5 (5.5"/ 140mm travel).

The Ibis Ripley (vaporware so far) is of interest, mainly because I loved riding the Mojo and Mojo HD on demo days. But it doesn't exist, and when it does, it'll be $$$$.

Other options I am looking at:
Intense Tracer 29
Niner RIP 9 (built quality? seen several broken Niners)
Turner Sultan

Anything else I should consider? The Tracer 29 is available now for around $1450, which seems like a great deal. The Turner is the most $, around $2200. Other bikes like the SC Tallboy and Giant Anthem 29 are 100mm travel, and probably not really what I am looking for.

My local shop has a 2011 Niner rip 9, if you want me to check the price, let me know.

I used to rep for Intense and put a decent amount of miles on a T29. It's a super fun bike. Corners on rails and I'm personally a huge fan of the VPP (haven't had a ton of time on DW linkage). The sizing is a bit weird, I'm a little over 6'1 and had a medium with a longer stem. I would have liked to ride a large with a shorter stem but never got a chance. They revised the rear triangle and put a new brace between the seat-stays that really stiffened it up (make sure the brace is on the frame your lusting over). Overall, I'd consider it for my everyday trail bike but was never that comfortable jumping it vs my Tracer2. That Marz fork is a perfect match for the T29 for sure. Slack it out a bit more with an angleset maybe?

I'm about to buy a Squishy 29er as well but mine will be more of a dedicated XC rig since I have my Tracer2. Such fun bikes and IMO there is no reason to ride a 26 for XC these days.

I saw this review this morning right after seeing your thread. Sounds like the SC tallboy is getting some more travel (140mm)
so you might check it out.

http://www.dirtragmag.com/webrag/san...num-and-carbon

I don't know anything else about it but the review makes it sound like a decent option.

Bandit 29? I have a yelli screamy but around here, the trails are dirt sidewalks so a hardtail is fine. If I were to look at a fs 29er, the Bandit 29 would definitely be on my short list.

Yeti SB95 appears to be hitting stores as well...

http://konaworld.com/29er_dual_suspe...content=satori

end of tr.

sick bike, short 17.3" chainstays. climbs superb, descends even better. lotta bike for the $$$$. no need for upgrades till shit breaks.

i been riding this bike, but with full xtr and easton ec 90 wheels. a bit less travel at 115mm rear and 120mm front, but it'll handle pretty much anything and climbs like a friggin billygoat.

http://www.diamondback.com/29er_2012-sortie-3-29

kona better with shorter stays and stiffer rear end.

rog

norco shinobi?
rocky altutude?

Lots of good input, thanks. I'll do some more research on these other options.

Originally Posted by ridevt

They revised the rear triangle and put a new brace between the seat-stays that really stiffened it up (make sure the brace is on the frame your lusting over).

I assume that a 2012 frame would have that brace... right?
http://www.jensonusa.com/Mountain-Bi...er-29-Frame-12

damn, looking at this thread makes me realize just how many really good longer travel 29ers are out there now...

I've been on a Ventana El Rey since 2008. At the time it was one of the longer travel 29ers out there (100x100).

If I were looking at the current crop of long travel 29ers I'd be looking at the Lenz Lunchox ( as a well as a few that others have mentioned on here - Shinobi, Bandit.). The Niner WFO is an interesting one too...

But since I'm not looking for a new bike this year I'm thinking of getting a 120mm fork and getting the 5" rockers from Sherwood to make my old El Rey current again at 5" and 5".

Cheers,

How about the new salsa horse thief

I have not ridden it but it looks sweet.

Lenzsport

Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

Lots of good input, thanks. I'll do some more research on these other options.



I assume that a 2012 frame would have that brace... right?
http://www.jensonusa.com/Mountain-Bi...er-29-Frame-12

It should. That pic is an older version as it doesn't have the brace. I'd ask Jenson CS just to be sure though...

A buddy has a Rumblefish, he likes it a lot.

Santa Cruz just announced longer travel versions of the Tallboy in both carbon AND aluminuminuminum

Originally Posted by Tyrone Shoelaces

Santa Cruz just announced longer travel versions of the Tallboy in both carbon AND aluminuminuminum

I sorta thought the VW Transporter Truck overshadowed the announcement. That thing is pretty sweet, even without the doors.

Hmm, apparently it's a chopped window van. That's terribly sad and amazingly rad at the same time. So torn.

Niner WFO?

Seeing as Niners are probably built in the same factory as every other Taiwanese bike, I don't see why their build quality would be any different. Tracer looks like a heavy frame, but burly if you need it. RIP 9 always seems to have the shortest wheelbase than any other, and could easily be built up light. I would love a RIP 9 with a 140mm fork. You can probably go down a size too. There is also a special right now on Works Raw frames. They're marked down a bit, and I think they are still of the year that a headset is included. schwing.
EDIT: otoh, I see that a Tracer 29 is now about the same price. boioioioioing.
EDIT again: http://www.jensonusa.com/Frames/Nine...WRP23-Frame-11 thing is about 2lbs lighter and it really hasn't changed at all in a few years. Hope you're a medium.

Originally Posted by stuckathuntermtn

EDIT: otoh, I see that a Tracer 29 is now about the same price. boioioioioing.
EDIT again: http://www.jensonusa.com/Frames/Nine...WRP23-Frame-11 thing is about 2lbs lighter and it really hasn't changed at all in a few years. Hope you're a medium.

I do ride a medium frame in 29ers.

Rip 9 is quoted at 7.5lbs for a medium frame + shock:
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/fr...p-9-10691.html

Jenson lists the Tracer 29 at a hair under 8lbs for a medium frame + shock.

Tracer has 5.5" travel; Rip 9 has 4.5". Unless Intense has changed this, all their frames are built in So Cal -- not that a Taiwanese built frame is a bad thing at all, though.

I'm leaning toward the Tracer at this point...

I was completely wrong on the weight and the headset thing.

Originally Posted by Conundrum

Bandit 29? I have a yelli screamy but around here, the trails are dirt sidewalks so a hardtail is fine. If I were to look at a fs 29er, the Bandit 29 would definitely be on my short list.

How you liking that yelli screamy? I just found out my work for the next while is putting me in some smoother trail sections. My HD is going to be overkill and I want a 29er for ripping flowy singletrack. The yelli is high on my list.

Actually, that Bandit 29 looks pretty amazing....and it comes in lime green!!!
What length travel fork is that geo being measured with? I hope it's a 140.
Also, I would somehow fit a large in that with such a short top tube. amazing.

Bandit 29 is measured with the 140 fork

Yes, I see that now. Just noticed the wheelbase is really long in the Large and the Medium is not recommended for anyone over 5' 10", and the reach looks really short.
Then again. I'm poor and my 08 Dawgma is running just fine. Or will be, once the shock bushings have been replaced.