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here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 7:09 pm
by Docca
hello again
No longer going down the ebike route, so what would you recommend for a clockwork MTB?
Riding : mostly xc. I'm not interested in down hill focused because 90% of my riding is down lanes through woods etc
29er preferred
Would prefer it if the bike was light
Be great if it came with a dropper post or at least the capability of fitting one.
Thanks!
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 7:14 pm
by formula400
I am in the same boat and do the same sort of riding, I want the canyon AL 6 but no stock until November apparently, currently looking at the whyte t 130 S for 2.5 on my works cycle 2 work scheme, so will make a decent savings
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 7:22 pm
by Beancounter
Docca - would you prefer a hardtail or full sus? HT obviously lighter and generally better for XC use. I would point you in the direction of Whyte Bikes. I have no experience of Ragley bikes but they look pretty tidy, they're possibly not XC enough for your riding, but very different from the usual suspects.
Ragley Bigwig - £1,799 - 29er and has a dropper. Frame is made of steel so, in theory, would be comfier than aluminium but probably a wee bit heavier:
http://ragleybikes.com/products/big-wig-complete-bike/
Ragley Marley 1.0 - £1,299 - 27.5 and has a dropper. Frame is aluminium but no weight listed on the website as far as I can see:
http://ragleybikes.com/products/marley- ... ke-2020-2/
formula400 - I've got a Whyte T-130, it's a cracking bike.
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 7:58 pm
by formula400
Sweet, they have really good reviews as well. I've been looking at the SR for 2.3 and the S for 2.5, I know some components are different but still working out what ones for me
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 8:12 pm
by Docca
Definitely full sus. My back can't take hardtail.
I quite like the look of the Antidote carbonjack
https://antidotebikes.com/product/carbo ... cba1185463
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 8:20 pm
by weeksy
Yes but that's £6000+ by the time you put bits on it.
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 8:25 pm
by Docca
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:06 pm
by weeksy
I think that may be too extreme for you.
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:15 pm
by Beancounter
That looks like it’d be hard work on any terrain that’s not going down the way.
What about a Whyte T-130?
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:16 pm
by Docca
You're not going to be happy until I suggest a whyte t150 are you?
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:16 pm
by Docca
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:22 pm
by weeksy
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:26 pm
by Beancounter
I like them (not that that matters). You can get an SLX build for circa £2,700. The Pike fork is a bit overkill for XC but wouldn’t hold you back.
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:57 pm
by Docca
What's an SLX build?
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:00 pm
by weeksy
Docca wrote: Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:57 pm
What's an SLX build?
Shimano SLX, mid range gear components. Decent enough for you and not stupid money if it breaks
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:22 pm
by flicker
For xc use you're looking for a shortish travel bike, giant anthem, scott spark, specialized epic, whyte t 129, Bird Aeris one20, to name a few
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 9:51 am
by Mr Moofo
They have great reputation, Ben seems to offer fantastic service - and I guess they are local to you.
Mate has a AM9 and loves it - but I don't think he has ever really used it in anger.
That said - and it's irrational - I just don'r like the way the look. And I have no idea why!
But an Aether would be a great choice ...
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:24 pm
by weeksy
A big part of the reason we like both Bird and Whyte is "external bottom brackets" along with lifetime frame/bearing warranty, it also helps that both sets of bikes ride brilliantly.
If i'm being completely honest here, something like a Whyte T130 is and should be right at the top of your list.... It's just a fantastic machine that would properly suit your riding. Then as you potentially progress and start hitting bigger things with jumps, drops etc, then maybe think of something more 160 travel. The short travel Bird is again, right along the same lines.
This new model looks totally perfect for you
https://www.infinitycycles.co.uk/35246/ ... cgrey.aspx
Depends of course if you want 29 or 27.5, i'm very much a 27.5 guy for trails.
Either way, i think you'll need to wait for the 2021 models to hit the shops.
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:28 pm
by weeksy
IMO, something like this will do you brilliantly....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Whyte-T130-S ... Swghpe72qM
Cheap, easy, bearings etc... sorted.
Re: here we go: recommend me a non-eBike. Budget £3k
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 1:22 pm
by Beancounter
The stem on that looks like a tiller. I know it’s not because it’s the original stem and is the same on mine, just the angle of the photo.