Thread: Best bike for Whole Enchilada

Heading to Moab and this trail is at the top of my to-do list.
Wondering if it'd be more fun on my couch or AM bike.

Couch is a 7" travel, weight in high 30s, Opus Nelson. It's got a Hammerschmidt so it does pedal uphill but it definitely lives for descending, especially on techy downhills.

AM bike is a 30 lb air sprung Uzzi with 5-6" travel. Does everything pretty well but can't compare to the Opus when things start moving fast.

Which bike would be more fun on that trail?

Take the big bike. It'll be slightly miserable in a few spots, but worth it for the other 85% of the trail. Last time I did it, I slapped a 32T ring and a dropper post on the downhill sled and was happy with my decision.

Originally Posted by toast2266

Take the big bike. It'll be slightly miserable in a few spots, but worth it for the other 85% of the trail. Last time I did it, I slapped a 32T ring and a dropper post on the downhill sled and was happy with my decision.

I'm leaning that way. Another reason is simply that, living in the flatlands, I don't get to ride that bike much.

I've ridden it several times on my Demo 7 (well, Hazard down), and I have one ride on it on my Reign which I sold the D7 to get. The trail is pedally enough that the vast majority of the time I had more fun on the Reign and only felt undergunned for about 5 minutes total (with a 32mm fork).

That said, knowing the trail probably contributed a lot to the fun factor on the smaller bike. Since it's your first time and you're itching to ride your big bike I'd bring that. You'll probably push most of the way up Burro, but that's right at the start and it's the only really significant climb. After that you'll suffer a bit more on the climbs but with the HS you'll be fine (dropper would help a lot too if you have one). Hell, my D7 weighed 39 lbs and was set up with a single 36T ring and no dropper. Shortyadam rode it once on a Demo 9 that must have weighed almost 50 lbs

I prefer Moab on a trail bike.

There's definitely some pedally bits, but there's also a bunch of high speed chunder that's considerably more fun on a big bike. There's random hits off the side of the trail as well that are generally more fun on bigger bikes. But yeah, you're not going to really regret bringing either bike.

I've only ridden it once, on a 575. But if I were doing it again, and if I owned a bigger bike, I'd take the bigger bike.

I've never actually linked Burro into the rest of Porcupine out of laziness, group choices, and the pure fun of starting at Hazard, but I lost count of the number of laps I've done on these trails years ago. My favorite bike I've ever ridden down there was a Reign X with Bash/36/24, coil shock, Totem, and gravity dropper(<35lbs). That said, the Totem is now on my specially built Glory (180F/190R) with a Hammerschmidt, Air Shock, lighter wheels, and Gravity Dropper (<36lbs). Last time in Moab I used my Mojo HD and was missing the Totem. My fastest times on all the sections that are most fun have all been done on my Glory. Back in the day I used my old 46lb Bighit with a 888 and 24" rear wheel. That was overkill, but it was still fun and helped cover up my lack of skill. These days I just don't run a full face or body armor beyond shins and elbows anymore cause heat, and the poor riding that it brings at the worst times, is more dangerous than rocks I think.

Most important thing is ride proper tires. I can not stress this enough. At <160lbs I can get away with 750g tires, run tubeless and with a bit of extra pressure, but most people I know run tires closer to 1000g if they are going to charge. If you want to run tubes, run heavier ones and double ply tires. No matter what, carry a bunch of spare tubes. If not, you'll wish you had.

I remember spending two hours on a ride there replacing tubes and then patching the replacements. I will never ride unburley tires there again but I'm heavy and tankish.

I think either of your bikes would be fun. Saying that you're a flatlander might mean take the lighter bike if you don't like heavy bikes at 11k feet. Being tired on this ride really isn't ideal because it's super fun and you'll want to be 100% for the whole ride.

As for bikes, I've ridden it on a 303, D7, and an Enduro. It was all fun. When I built my current ride, I had this trail in mind. Reign X, 823s w/DH tires, coil rear, air Lyric, 36/22, Codes and a dropper. For me, I think this would be the ultimate ride there but haven't had a chance to get back. I think phat's Glory sounds really cool for it too.

Trail bike fo sho! Lots of pedally bits, plus they're much more lively in the twisty turny sections.

I took my Highline (probably around 37#) from Burro Pass down. It was super fun on the really rocky parts, but it was such a pig to get up to the top of Burro Pass I was pretty tired for the rest of the ride. I agree with everyone that said a trail bike is going to be a better bet. When you are on a big bike you really notice how very pedally that trail is.

I burlier trail bike with DH tires really is the way to go. I ride it now on my Rune with coil fork and shock and have a ton of fun.

I've only ridden it with my Nomad. Last 2 times I bolted up my Totem, and it definitely made me faster. Next time I go though, I'm taking my Driver8, which now has the Totem on it. I've actually been surprised how well the D8 pedals, but it does weigh about 9lbs more than my Nomad. We'll see!

I tend to agree with the long legged trail bike option. If it's going to be hot then definetly bring the lighter bike. If it were in the fall with cooler temps I could see rocking the bigger bike, but if it's going to be hot it will sap your energy and you will start riding tired and not exploiting the trail to it's full potential.

Originally Posted by Conundrum

Being tired on this ride really isn't ideal because it's super fun and you'll want to be 100% for the whole ride.

This is an excellent point. The big bike won't be an advantage if you are too tired to ride it like it needs to be ridden.

I've ridden it on my old 5Spot and my old VPFree with a 888. The VPFree was fun, but was total overkill and a bit of a pig. The Spot was a touch undergunned in sections, but much easier to pedal the whole way down. Something in between would be perfect, or one of the newer trail bikes with a slacker head angle. A nice, slack, lightish 6" bike with burly tires would be the bees knees.

Originally Posted by phatfreeheeler

No matter what, carry a bunch of spare tubes. If not, you'll wish you had.

this is truth.

I did UPS down this spring on a Covert and loved it....

650b is the perfect call.

Originally Posted by marshalolson

650b is the perfect call.

Not if it isn't carbon

is this just abusive on a hardtail XC bike?

I would prefer to not ride in on a hardtail but if that was my only option, I'd go to the bar.

Originally Posted by mntlion

is this just abusive on a hardtail XC bike?

As long as you are wearing jean shorts, a foam mushroom helmet from the 80's with a neon spandex cover and Oakley blade sunglasses I think the hardtail should be just fine.

I think the Uzzi would be the better bike for about 90% of the trail. It's pretty long, and generally really hot with no shelter from the sun.

Originally Posted by cpj.slc

As long as you are wearing jean shorts, a foam mushroom helmet from the 80's with a neon spandex cover and Oakley blade sunglasses I think the hardtail should be just fine.

That describes mntlion very well except you're missing the beer cozy

Originally Posted by Conundrum

When I built my current ride, I had this trail in mind. Reign X, 823s w/DH tires, coil rear, air Lyric, 36/22, Codes and a dropper. For me, I think this would be the ultimate ride there but haven't had a chance to get back.

I can't really think of a better bike for that place.