Thread: Looking for 26" full-suspension XC bike... which ones?

I want a 26" full-suspension XC bike for longer rides in Colorado and Utah... thinking something along the lines of a SC Superlight or Giant Anthem. I'd like to keep it under $2,000 (used or new), and it must have front fork lock-out and rear shock lock-out or something similar. Which other bikes should I be looking at?

I've got a 09 Anthem X2 and it is a great bike. It is just so efficient, climbs really well, and still has great traction and is even fun to ride on descents. I love it to death but think I may swap it for slacker and slightly longer trail bike. A lot of the great rides around here are technical xc with really long, fast and sometimes steep descents and the 71 degree head angle is what it is. For non-gnarly stuff, shorter descents/more rolling terrain and just trying to go as far and fast as possible it is a dream.

Giant TranceX, Yeti ASR-5... I have the latter and I can't believe how fun it is. There's lots of TranceX love around here.

Aren't you required to consider a Yeti if you live in CO?

Originally Posted by Daywalker

Aren't you required to consider a Yeti if you live in CO?

That's one of the reasons I'm not really considering a Yeti. The ASR-5 seems to be out of my price range anyway.

Are you giving up on 29ers?

Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

Are you giving up on 29ers?

Yeah, I think so. I have too much fun on my 26" bikes and I want the maneuverability (?) of the "smaller" bike.

Originally Posted by Daywalker

Giant TranceX, Yeti ASR-5... I have the latter and I can't believe how fun it is. There's lots of TranceX love around here.

Aren't you required to consider a Yeti if you live in CO?

Dude, tell me about this bike. It looks sweet, but is the frame stiff/strong? More of a long-legged xc bike or does it ride well enough is rough terrain? I like the looks of the low bb and I bet it would take a 140mm fork well.

The three most important things about choosing a bike?

1. Test ride
2. test ride
3. test ride.

when you feel it you will l know and most likely be ready to slap your credit card down 'cuz you're sick of test riding.

Unless you have mad wrenching skillz, also remember you're testing the shop a bit. Do you "click" there? Do you trust the guy telling you about the bike? Do they offer free minor tune-ups for a year? If the hub breaks can they lend you something while the manufacturer sends a replacement part? (My local shop lent me whole rear wheelset the night before I left for a week long road trip last fall, that was major!).

I think the Spec Epic deserves mention. The Brain does well at staying firm for pedaling but still being plush for hits. Lots of racers in my area swear by this.

Lots of people were diggin the Salsa Spearfish at last weekend's demo too, but it's a 29er. However it is lower and slacker than your typical 29er so maybe it's better than the lot, but I also don't like the general 29er ride with the high BB and XC angles.

Scott Spark line is worth a look. 26 and 29 in options, many with front and back remote lockout.

I just started a thread for a large Asr5. I am asking a little more then You were looking for but it is an amazing bike. Just selling because we got my wife a 2012 Asr5 I am between sizes so I can ride her bike for longer rides or if she isn't riding that day. I don't see a reason to have 2 of the same bike so I am going to try something with a little more travel. I have been on a limited number of bikes but it pedals and climbs amazingly well while descending as good as my old reign and the 575 in my opinion. It has propedal and lockout fork but I have never used either while riding.

I've been real happy with my Trance X2. Upgraded a few things like brakes and wheelset, but it's been a great bike to suit my needs for our single track up here. I've been tempted a few times to move over to a Reign, but I think the 5" of travel is plenty for me. Plus my shop has been awesome to work with on a few rider related equipment issues.

I'm a big fan of the Trek Top Fuel for XC, the bike climbs like a goat. I liked the bike with a 100mm fork but I found it a bit twitchy on the downs so I ended up swapping for a Pushed Talas RLC. It is really nice to be able to knock the travel down to 100mm for climbing and bump it up to 140mm for descending. If I were to do it again I would likely just go midway with a 120mm Float and be done with it. The small amount of extra travel and slightly slacker head angle make for a very versatile bike.

I also have a Trek Top Fuel Ex 9.9 that I picked up hoping it would be similar to the ASR5 but maybe a little more suited for a couple races. I like the way it pedals but was not a big fan of how it descended. It has a 120mm fork maybe swapping out a 140mm would help. I have not made my verdict on it yet but think I will probably try to sell it since I like my wifes ASR5 better and I can use it to race. I have been drooling over a Santa Crux Blur LT lately but have to sell something first.

Look at the pre-DW-Link Turner Flux. They're cheap, ride great, and are relatively tough. They seem to be all over craigslist. They're definitely out of fashion, but in my opinion, they kill the Superlight.

If finesse isn't super important to you, the Turner 5 Spot is a burlier, slacker Flux.

Let me preface this by saying I'm not a racer, but I do ride a lot of cross country style trails in the mountains with a wide variety of flats, to climbs, to what I think most people would consider some pretty fun downhill and back up and around the mt and down and across again. I just bought a new Trek Remedy 7 and I love it.

Is is it cross country if you're riding up over mountains and down the other side or is that just non lift service downhill?

How about this?
http://www.jensonusa.com/All-Mountai...Blend-Fox-Bike

I'm considering one; might mix-and-match the best of the parts off my Intense 5.5 and this bike, and use the rest of the parts to build a bike for mini-Chup.

How about a pimped out Trance X, medium, with Fox 140, XT/race Face drivetrain, hugi 240 wheels (handbuilt by me, new rims/spokes), super killer, $1800?

I ALSO have a medium carbon Giant NRS frame that could be built up with similar componentry for ~ $1100. Definitely a race oriented bike, extremely efficient. Could get down to 24 #'s easily.

Ditto on the Turner Flux or Five Spot. Or look at a Titus X (Horst/Mac Strut), Specialized. Santa Cruz Superlight (orig design) was flexier than these bikes.

I have a 2003 Titus Racer X - great XC bike. Even took it to Downieville for a few summers and had a great time on XC and shuttle rides.

FWIW, the original Titus was bought in 2010. I guess bikes are made in USA (again) http://www.titusti.com/bikes/cross-country/x/

Originally Posted by rideit

How about a pimped out Trance X, medium, with Fox 140, XT/race Face drivetrain, hugi 240 wheels (handbuilt by me, new rims/spokes), super killer, $1800?

THIS^^^^^if it's your size.

Why did you give up on 29er?

I still don't know what's the deal with those bikes.

Get a used Enduro or Stumpjumper. Their frames are timeless.

Hbd, you ever ride a Maestro giant? Worlds 'better' than any older spec, IMO.

Originally Posted by rideit

Hbd, you ever ride a Maestro giant? Worlds 'better' than any older spec, IMO.

Sounds like a nice rig. Do you not find the Trance still too steep and/or high BB with the longer fork? I realize that a number of people run it this way, but I've never ridden a Trance X more than around a parking lot.

Originally Posted by Dromond

Sounds like a nice rig. Do you not find the Trance still too steep and/or high BB with the longer fork? I realize that a number of people run it this way, but I've never ridden a Trance X more than around a parking lot.

i rode a trance x with a 150mm revelation fork.

it measured 67deg HA and 13.4" bb