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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
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    I love my Tracer, but I need a new bike to slay them all... which?

    I have only one bike, a 2017 Intense Tracer 275 with a Diamond D1 170mm on the front and DPX2 on the rear, well outfitted for weight with OneUp dropper, Sramano drivetrain, Magura brakes, and Nobl wheels with Huck Norris.

    Riding:
    1/3 park (Keystone, Whistler, Trestle, and Angelfire are the top 4 parks I ride)
    2/3 trail with a bias towards up-then-down climb to techy descents and partial shuttles (think Lenawee, Lunch Loops, Vitamin B, Monarch Crest, Moab stuff)

    The bike needs to be playful on flow trails and big Whistler jump lines while also eating up the double black drops and steepest tight tech so well I won't miss a DH sled, and still fun and efficient to climb. That means I don't really want any less than 165mm of the back, 170mm sounds nicer still as long as it doesn't get too heavy and tough to climb. So an all around enduro machine is what I need... I've ridden Tracers since 2014 and sold my DH bike (M9) because the Tracer is so sick on the down. I did briefly do a GG and a Banshee Rune several years ago and went back to the Tracer. I think my only real complaint is that Tracer doesn't have bolts for a water bottle mount. I'm on a Large frame though I'm only 70in tall.

    Short List:
    Squeeze another season out of the current frame (I did just get some nice new rims)
    Tracer 279 or Tracer 29 (supposedly these are coming out, anyone got dets?)
    Megatower
    Enduro
    Other?

    I'm not a racer, except with myself, but I'm still breaking my PRs up and down, so I'm not old enough for a battery yet, as tempting as the self-shuttle feature is (air transport is important, even a tricked out Levo SL is >50lbs once in a bike bag).
    Quote Originally Posted by blurred
    skiing is hiking all day so that you can ski on shitty gear for 5 minutes.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
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    Your Mom's House
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    8,302
    Just ideas to throw on the list, off the top of my head:

    Patrol
    Spire
    Firebird
    SB165

    I like my Patrol a lot but have never ridden a Tracer. And I guess the Patrol is only 160mm in the back so slightly less than you want, but I've done some pretty dumb stuff on mine and haven't run out yet. The Cascade link would bump it to 168mm.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Hell Track
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    13,845
    I'm kind of, maybe, sort of, in the market for something similar. Stuff I've been looking at (29ers only. I'm not all that excited about 27.5's these days):

    Propain spindrift

    GT force (160mm, but high pivot so probably comparable)

    Devinci spartan (similar considerations as the GT)

    Norco range

    YT capra


    Other options that I'm not really considering, for one reason or another:

    Transition spire

    Evil wreckoning

    Rocky mountain Slayer

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    NorCal coast
    Posts
    1,950
    I'd scratch the Megatower off since it's got somewhat dated geometry and is almost certainly going to be updated (65 HT is more trail bike now than enduro plow, even the Bronson is slacker).

    Take a look at the Propain Spindrift. 180mm (either 29, 27.5, or MX) without crazy slack geo, supposedly pedals well.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    6,643
    I also ride a Tracer 275 and my idea is for you to stay with the Tracer. Freakin love that bike.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Carbondale
    Posts
    12,479
    Quote Originally Posted by Summit View Post
    I have only one bike, a 2017 Intense Tracer 275 with a Diamond D1 170mm on the front and DPX2 on the rear, well outfitted for weight with OneUp dropper, Sramano drivetrain, Magura brakes, and Nobl wheels with Huck Norris.

    Riding:
    1/3 park (Keystone, Whistler, Trestle, and Angelfire are the top 4 parks I ride)
    2/3 trail with a bias towards up-then-down climb to techy descents and partial shuttles (think Lenawee, Lunch Loops, Vitamin B, Monarch Crest, Moab stuff)

    The bike needs to be playful on flow trails and big Whistler jump lines while also eating up the double black drops and steepest tight tech so well I won't miss a DH sled, and still fun and efficient to climb. That means I don't really want any less than 165mm of the back, 170mm sounds nicer still as long as it doesn't get too heavy and tough to climb. So an all around enduro machine is what I need... I've ridden Tracers since 2014 and sold my DH bike (M9) because the Tracer is so sick on the down. I did briefly do a GG and a Banshee Rune several years ago and went back to the Tracer. I think my only real complaint is that Tracer doesn't have bolts for a water bottle mount. I'm on a Large frame though I'm only 70in tall.

    Short List:
    Squeeze another season out of the current frame (I did just get some nice new rims)
    Tracer 279 or Tracer 29 (supposedly these are coming out, anyone got dets?)
    Megatower
    Enduro
    Other?

    I'm not a racer, except with myself, but I'm still breaking my PRs up and down, so I'm not old enough for a battery yet, as tempting as the self-shuttle feature is (air transport is important, even a tricked out Levo SL is >50lbs once in a bike bag).
    Come grab my megatower and go out and ride GJ or Fruita area. You like, you buy.
    www.dpsskis.com
    www.point6.com
    formerly an ambassador for a few others, but the ski industry is... interesting.
    Fukt: a very small amount of snow.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Front Range, CO
    Posts
    482
    Interesting. I had a 2015 t275c which I absolutely loved - amazing climber, better descender. Got a 2017 tracer as a crash replacement, but it was a dog climbing and I sold it quickly. Got to think any modern enduro frames will be a better climber. Our riding styles are different (i'm not into park riding), but I like the chunky stuff and digging my Ripmo v1.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Three-O-Three
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    15,418
    Quote Originally Posted by Andeh View Post
    I'd scratch the Megatower off since it's got somewhat dated geometry and is almost certainly going to be updated (65 HT is more trail bike now than enduro plow, even the Bronson is slacker).

    Take a look at the Propain Spindrift. 180mm (either 29, 27.5, or MX) without crazy slack geo, supposedly pedals well.
    I've got a Tyee that I built up, and I think for most trail riding (that Summit describes, anyways) the Spindrift would be overkill. A Tyee with a coil in the back would be perfect.

    I can confirm that it pedals quite well. Super plush and playful on the downs, too.

  9. #9
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    Oct 2003
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    Quote Originally Posted by slcdawg View Post
    Interesting. I had a 2015 t275c which I absolutely loved - amazing climber, better descender. Got a 2017 tracer as a crash replacement, but it was a dog climbing and I sold it quickly. Got to think any modern enduro frames will be a better climber. Our riding styles are different (i'm not into park riding), but I like the chunky stuff and digging my Ripmo v1.
    I thought the 2017 Tracer was an amazing climber... because I came to it from a short stint on a Banshee Rune.
    Quote Originally Posted by blurred
    skiing is hiking all day so that you can ski on shitty gear for 5 minutes.

  10. #10
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    Oct 2003
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    That Spindrift looks like it would be so amazing for ripping double black tech at Keystone or Whistler. And there is this one gap at Angelfire that you can use all the squishy forgiveness that you can get.
    Quote Originally Posted by blurred
    skiing is hiking all day so that you can ski on shitty gear for 5 minutes.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
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    Hell Track
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    Quote Originally Posted by smmokan View Post
    I've got a Tyee that I built up, and I think for most trail riding (that Summit describes, anyways) the Spindrift would be overkill. A Tyee with a coil in the back would be perfect.

    I can confirm that it pedals quite well. Super plush and playful on the downs, too.
    This kinda makes me want a spindrift more. I'm looking for overkill.

    I kinda miss having a proper downhill bike. The enduro bikes are great and they're super capable, but they're not dh bikes. But not being to pedal back to the top really cuts down on the utility of a dh bike. So I want to get as close as possible to a dh bike, but pedal-able.

  12. #12
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    Apr 2004
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    Three-O-Three
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    Makes total sense... the Spindrift seems like it’s the most “pedalable” near-DH bike out there. And the price is crazy good.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Idaho
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    Put a coil on your Tracer and make it even better on the down and ride a little dehydrated?

    I have been looking at Wreckonings but I really still dig every ride on my 275.
    Attached Images Attached Images  

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Conundrum View Post
    Put a coil on your Tracer and make it even better on the down and ride a little dehydrated?

    I have been looking at Wreckonings but I really still dig every ride on my 275.
    Nice ride!

    I ran a CC DB Inline Coil for the first two years until it broke. I actually have the new warranty db inline coil sitting in my garage... I never put it on after rocking the DPX2. With the leverage curve on the Tracer, and it being used as a DH role by a rider who can land tail heavy, a progressive air shock is just great. I figured I'd swap back and forth, air and coil, since it is so super easy on the Tracer, but I've never felt the desire.

    I also have a CC Helm on right now while my Diamond D1 gets the factory loving. I prefer the air and the DVO OTT makes it coil plush. Especially since I am between coils on the Helm.
    Quote Originally Posted by blurred
    skiing is hiking all day so that you can ski on shitty gear for 5 minutes.

  15. #15
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    Jun 2020
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    Quote Originally Posted by toast2266 View Post
    So I want to get as close as possible to a dh bike, but pedal-able.
    From what I’ve read about it, that sure sounds like a Norco Range. And I believe their WC DH team were actually riding the Range front triangle with a prototype rear this past season.

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by J. Barron DeJong View Post
    From what I’ve read about it, that sure sounds like a Norco Range. And I believe their WC DH team were actually riding the Range front triangle with a prototype rear this past season.
    Yeah, I think that one might be the ticket. I was emailing with HAB last night and he said the same thing - closest thing you can get to a dh bike that'll still pedal. My wallet is getting very nervous.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by toast2266 View Post
    <snip> My wallet is getting very nervous.
    Kids are all like, "Daddy... we're hungry!"

    "Sorry, kids - the old man had to do what he had to do."


  18. #18
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    Jan 2006
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    Carbondale
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    Quote Originally Posted by Andeh View Post
    I'd scratch the Megatower off since it's got somewhat dated geometry and is almost certainly going to be updated (65 HT is more trail bike now than enduro plow, even the Bronson is slacker).

    Take a look at the Propain Spindrift. 180mm (either 29, 27.5, or MX) without crazy slack geo, supposedly pedals well.
    Or, just put the 170mm spring in the front...

    Either way, there are a ton of great whips out there now.
    www.dpsskis.com
    www.point6.com
    formerly an ambassador for a few others, but the ski industry is... interesting.
    Fukt: a very small amount of snow.

  19. #19
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    I don't want to give up much pedalbility vs my Tracer...

    I have ridden a Bronson and an Arktos and boy do they climb nicer than the Tracer (the Arktos in particular).
    Quote Originally Posted by blurred
    skiing is hiking all day so that you can ski on shitty gear for 5 minutes.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Summit View Post
    I don't want to give up much pedalbility vs my Tracer...

    I have ridden a Bronson and an Arktos and boy do they climb nicer than the Tracer (the Arktos in particular).
    The Arktos only has 140mm travel. So yeah, it's safe to say it climbs better than pretty much every 160+mm bike out there.

    But there are a lot 160-170mm bikes that'll pedal at least as well as your Tracer, if not better. And descend better too. The easy answer is in your original post - Enduro. Specialized is the evil empire, but they do make some really nice bikes.

  21. #21
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    Jun 2020
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    I think you guys are talking about different things when you say pedalabilty.

    I took Toast to mean, is it actually possible to pedal this bike up a hill. DH bike, no, Norco Range, yes.

    I think Summit is thinking of pedaling efficiency, in which case, yes a Range can climb a hill, but almost every other bike out there is going to do it faster/more efficiently.

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by J. Barron DeJong View Post
    I think you guys are talking about different things when you say pedalabilty.

    I took Toast to mean, is it actually possible to pedal this bike up a hill. DH bike, no, Norco Range, yes.

    I think Summit is thinking of pedaling efficiency, in which case, yes a Range can climb a hill, but almost every other bike out there is going to do it faster/more efficiently.
    For sure - we're definitely talking about different things. I kind of hijacked Summit's thread because I'm looking for something vaguely similar, but we definitely have different priorities.

    I own an Enduro. It's a great bike, and it pedals really well (as far as 170mm bikes go). For what I'm looking for, it actually pedals a little too well - I want something that's even more DH focused. I actually just pulled the trigger on a Range frame (meaning, I threw money into the void on the vague promise that frames will be available sometime mid-winter).

    But for what (I think) Summit is looking for, the Enduro would be an awesome option. And if anyone's interested in an S3 S-works Enduro frame that will be for sale if / when the Range shows up, shoot me a PM.

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by toast2266 View Post
    I actually just pulled the trigger on a Range frame (meaning, I threw money into the void on the vague promise that frames will be available sometime mid-winter).
    Awesome. That's going to work great for what you're looking for.

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by HAB View Post
    Awesome. That's going to work great for what you're looking for.
    Yeah, pretty psyched about it. Looking forward to having something that's effectively a DH sled again.

  25. #25
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    Jun 2020
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    Quote Originally Posted by toast2266 View Post
    Yeah, pretty psyched about it. Looking forward to having something that's effectively a DH sled again.
    Nice! Hope it comes thru for you. The Optic I ordered last fall ended up getting delivered mid summer, but that was two months after the shop had been told it wasn’t going to come at all and refunded my deposit, and a month after I’d bought a used Optic instead….

    Very different bike than the Range, but I love my Optic.

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