2020 bikes that make your shorts tight

[toast2266]

I think some would consider the stays on the Trail Pistol to be super short, relatively. All of GG's bikes are on the shorter end of the spectrum, and are in the range of what I prefer. I wouldn't want to go much shorter unless it was on something goofy like a Stache.

Yeah - I'm one of those that consider the stays on the TP to be super short. I think they'd be better if they were a good bit longer.

The bike I actually had in mind when I wrote that was the Yeti 5.5. That bike had plenty of other issues, but in terms of fore-aft balance, I found it to be really good.

[MarcusBrody]

For whatever it's worth, I'm pretty sure BTR makes those pole branded hardtails.

The pinkbike thing is funny. The pole breaks, they offer an explanation, everyone hates them now. The rocky mountain also breaks (and causes an injury), rocky doesn't really offer much of an explanation, and everyone is completely willing to overlook it. The same thing as the pole happened with yetis a few years back ("prototype" test bike broke during test). Everyone seems to have gotten over that by now.

Not defending pole or rocky (or yeti) since I think all of those failures are kinda bullshit. And I think it's safe to say that pole will be a hassle to deal with, mostly because they're a tiny company in Finland. But buying a hardtail from them doesn't make me anymore nervous than buying a hardtail from any other small foreign company.

I think it was just driven by the attitude of the owner and a store of built up frustration about the constant "prototype" excuse from a lot of companies. Pole's owner basically went into attack mode before the review was even released accusing Pinkbike of drumming up controversy for clicks and angrily demanding that they retest (despite the huck to flat being done pretty much at the end). Plus people report a lot of issues dealing with issues with Pole in the past, so that adds up.

I don't totally think that people are overlooking the Slayer breakage. It's mentioned a lot. But compared to Pole, anything short of accusing the magazine of sabotage seems like a step up. I think people are also more likely to trust a brand like Rocky Mountain as there are a lot more Slayers out there and their fabrication methods aren't always changing, so it's a bit easier to judge whether it's a bit of one off bad luck or a systemic problem.

[toast2266]

I think it was just driven by the attitude of the owner and a store of built up frustration about the constant "prototype" excuse from a lot of companies. Pole's owner basically went into attack mode before the review was even released accusing Pinkbike of drumming up controversy for clicks and angrily demanding that they retest (despite the huck to flat being done pretty much at the end). Plus people report a lot of issues dealing with issues with Pole in the past, so that adds up.

I don't totally think that people are overlooking the Slayer breakage. It's mentioned a lot. But compared to Pole, anything short of accusing the magazine of sabotage seems like a step up. I think people are also more likely to trust a brand like Rocky Mountain as there are a lot more Slayers out there and their fabrication methods aren't always changing, so it's a bit easier to judge whether it's a bit of one off bad luck or a systemic problem.

For sure. Leo at Pole is an engineer who is now operating as a public relations manager, and he is unquestionably bad at it. Which doesn't excuse the bike breaking, but it does explain why the response has been kinda terrible. Rocky, of course, has an actual PR department to handle those sort of things.

That said, I've seen more than one Rocky with chainstay shittiness that either failed or was primed to fail. Yeah, they're a bigger brand that'll back up their bikes. But maybe they would actually benefit from a bit of a change in their fabrication methods.

[bagtagley]

Apparently he's softening a little. I see that, despite his Engineer's Take, he's decided to publish the geo numbers for the Stamina 180.

[toast2266]

Apparently he's softening a little. I see that, despite his Engineer's Take, he's decided to publish the geo numbers for the Stamina 180.

He's gotta learn to do it like half the other companies out there and just kinda make up geometry numbers based on what he thinks people want to see, regardless of what the actual numbers on the bike are.

[evasive_MT]

Yeah - I'm one of those that consider the stays on the TP to be super short. I think they'd be better if they were a good bit longer.

The bike I actually had in mind when I wrote that was the Yeti 5.5. That bike had plenty of other issues, but in terms of fore-aft balance, I found it to be really good.

The longer stays are the reason I chose the 5.5 over a Riot in 2016. But I’ve never been in love with it.

[bagtagley]

You could always go custom with your LLS hardtail. Starting at $250!

https://www.marinobike.com/producto/...ail-mtb-frame/

[rideit]

Any of you own/owned bikes with adjustable stays?
I never did.
Curious how they worked out.
The closest I ever had was an adjustable rake GT rigid fork...

[bagtagley]

My trail bike has adjustable stays. Gotta crank 'em good and tight (Ti bolts help a lot), but they've been fine.

Actually, the rockers have been fine. The nds stay has broken...twice...but, that doesn't have anything to do with the rockers.

[Dantheman]

You could always go custom with your LLS hardtail. Starting at $250!

https://www.marinobike.com/producto/...ail-mtb-frame/

Wow. How is that price possible?

[rideit]

Can you tell a big difference between lengths?

[bagtagley]

It's definitely more playful in short mode, and more stable/planted in long, but it's not a massive difference. It's a short bike by design, with a slack STA by current standards, so I notice the biggest difference when climbing.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Can you tell a big difference between lengths?

That's what she said!


Yes, I'm aware I'm talking about like half an inch in most cases so I'm probably talking out of my ass again.
OTOH, if you wanna go ski analogy again, I think most of us can feel a half inch change in one or another dimension (that's also what she said).

[smartyiak]

Can you tell a big difference between lengths?

The thing is: most people pick one setting and never move it again. Kinda like bikes with 29 and 27.5 compatibility. 99.62% of the people picked one wheel size...and then were a dick about it.

[robnow]

I've ridden the Megatower in both short and long position...but I'm 6'2" and ride XL so yes, I preferred the longer position, both going down and up. It just felt more natural for lack of a better term in that position and climbing just had less of a loop out effect and better traction. The SA on the Megatower is not that steep so I think it benefits from the longer chain stay.

I made the comment on PB about the Rocky Mountain chain stays breaking at the pivot and it had no traction. I thought it was a common occurrence since they switched to the new aesthetic design as the pivot is much thinner and has less thread purchase. That's the reputation around here anyway that the new chain stay design has been breaking frequently.

[jm2e]

You could always go custom with your LLS hardtail. Starting at $250!

https://www.marinobike.com/producto/...ail-mtb-frame/

FKNA Awesome!
I would contribute to a full TR of someone building one of these up! We should start a TGR GoFundMe!

[stuckathuntermtn]

FKNA Awesome!
I would contribute to a full TR of someone building one of these up! We should start a TGR GoFundMe!

Holt shit!
I'd do it, but I already have a steel hardtail.
I'd donate though. If not parts, then a few bucks.

[BlueBison]

Holt shit!
I'd do it, but I already have a steel hardtail.
I'd donate though. If not parts, then a few bucks.

This is a hell of a deal. I wasn’t planning on building a hardtail...

[GeorgiaSnow]

I love Peru, been there a bunch. Not sure how I’m feeling about a mountain bike frame from there. Even with the cheap frame, not sure I can spec out a complete build vs getting that full kit discount. But if it’s legit that price is incredible.


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[rideit]

I've ridden the Megatower in both short and long position...but I'm 6'2" and ride XL so yes, I preferred the longer position, both going down and up. It just felt more natural for lack of a better term in that position and climbing just had less of a loop out effect and better traction. The SA on the Megatower is not that steep so I think it benefits from the longer chain stay.

I made the comment on PB about the Rocky Mountain chain stays breaking at the pivot and it had no traction. I thought it was a common occurrence since they switched to the new aesthetic design as the pivot is much thinner and has less thread purchase. That's the reputation around here anyway that the new chain stay design has been breaking frequently.

I haven’t heard of any that have broken there.
If it was common, there would be pictures everywhere, and multiple threads on MTBR.

[goldenboy]

This thread scares me, I'm not looking forward to bike shopping anytime soon. Not sure responsive bikes exist anymore, it's all about stability.

[slowroastin]

I love Peru, been there a bunch. Not sure how I’m feeling about a mountain bike frame from there. Even with the cheap frame, not sure I can spec out a complete build vs getting that full kit discount. But if it’s legit that price is incredible.


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Nice looking frames. The $110 shipping international shipping makes it $360 minimum.


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[jono]

...unless you buy 2 at a time.

[rideit]

Or even better, go down and pick it up!

[toast2266]

This thread scares me, I'm not looking forward to bike shopping anytime soon. Not sure responsive bikes exist anymore, it's all about stability.

Just buy an extra small.