Official mountain biking thread

14619048:muffMan. said:
Clash is about the same price, would most likely do better downhill too. Definitely want to try them both. Pretty sure commencal lets you put the cost of a demo towards a bike if you purchase

Seems like SX if you plan on riding a good mix of trails and lift service stuff vs Clash if you mainly will do lift service with some trail riding.
Click to expand...

I rode park on a Clash (both versions) for 3 years, and still have my Clash V2 as a backup rig. The Clash is more playful (mainly from the steep headtube and short chainstays), but suffers in technical and fast terrain from that jibby geometry and 27.5 front wheel.

You can mullet it, (I did), but it really messes with the geometry unless you underfork it to 160mm and/or use an offset bushing. The 29" front wheel up front feels like a cheat code in comparison to the stock 27.5". The SX does this out of the box.

The Meta SX is way more capable, balanced, and confident, especially when trails get spicy. The Clash is a little more beginner friendly (easier to hop around at lower speeds) but really hits a speed limit in anything rough.

If your bike park trips are 100% jumps and flow, the Clash will work. But the Meta is way more well-rounded, balanced, modern, and capable. If I had to buy my Commencal again, I'd pick the Meta SX instead. Especially in bigger sizes, when that reach is 500+mm, but the chainstays are still 435mm. It's extremely unbalanced. In a small or medium, it's less of an issue.
 
Strongly recommend anyone riding L-XL bikes to try proportional chainstays if you can. Ideally, demo a druid/dreadnought and try railing the shit out of some corners. Really eye-opening handling. Weighting the bike entirely through your feet is a game changer. Forbidden is definitely onto something here.

Consistent weight distribution across sizes should really be the next widespread innovation we see in enduro bike design.

A 1-2mm change in chainstay length per size isn't enough.

Just my 2c.
 
14619059:jimbobs said:
I rode park on a Clash (both versions) for 3 years, and still have my Clash V2 as a backup rig. The Clash is more playful (mainly from the steep headtube and short chainstays), but suffers in technical and fast terrain from that jibby geometry and 27.5 front wheel.

You can mullet it, (I did), but it really messes with the geometry unless you underfork it to 160mm and/or use an offset bushing. The 29" front wheel up front feels like a cheat code in comparison to the stock 27.5". The SX does this out of the box.

The Meta SX is way more capable, balanced, and confident, especially when trails get spicy. The Clash is a little more beginner friendly (easier to hop around at lower speeds) but really hits a speed limit in anything rough.

If your bike park trips are 100% jumps and flow, the Clash will work. But the Meta is way more well-rounded, balanced, modern, and capable. If I had to buy my Commencal again, I'd pick the Meta SX instead. Especially in bigger sizes, when that reach is 500+mm, but the chainstays are still 435mm. It's extremely unbalanced. In a small or medium, it's less of an issue.
Click to expand...

Solid write up, definitely know your bikes. The SX is on my list of next bikes. Shame the V5 is pretty bad but I’ve seen a few v4s on marketplace.

On a meta HT atm, but will decide once I go for a full suspension.

What other rec’s you got for tall guys? Saw the druid/dreadnaught you mentioned.
 
14619064:jimbobs said:
Strongly recommend anyone riding L-XL bikes to try proportional chainstays if you can. Ideally, demo a druid/dreadnought and try railing the shit out of some corners. Really eye-opening handling. Weighting the bike entirely through your feet is a game changer. Forbidden is definitely onto something here.

Consistent weight distribution across sizes should really be the next widespread innovation we see in enduro bike design.

A 1-2mm change in chainstay length per size isn't enough.

Just my 2c.
Click to expand...

But 430 chain stays on all sizes is fun. On the xl there is lots of potential for exiting maneuvers. I ride an xl wreckoning. Just got hired as a bike builder at a trek store. Kind of want to try the slash or fuel ex but don't want to sell mine. It's too damn fun.
 
14619068:muffMan. said:
Solid write up, definitely know your bikes. The SX is on my list of next bikes. Shame the V5 is pretty bad but I’ve seen a few v4s on marketplace.

On a meta HT atm, but will decide once I go for a full suspension.

What other rec’s you got for tall guys? Saw the druid/dreadnaught you mentioned.
Click to expand...

Trying to be as unbiased as possible here, look for brands that tailor their frames to every size. Brands that just change reach numbers and nothing else usually optimize the bike around medium and large, not for us outliers.

Do the chainstays get longer in the big sizes?

Is the seat tube steeper in the bigger sizes?

Does the stack increase proportionally to the reach?

Are they recycling parts from other sizes to keep costs down at the expense of ride quality?

Small details like that are more expensive to manufacture, but show that the brand is paying attention to keeping consistent ride characteristics in the less popular sizes.

I'm 6'6, I like a slightly shorter reach (500-510mm) and higher stack than people my height. Dak Norton style.

For bikepark riding, my top recommendation is the Dreadnought V1 (with a cascade link and any coil shock).

I also got a few laps on a Meta SX V4 XL and Nukeproof Giga 29 XL, both are great options.

I rode a Scott Gambler carbon mullet XL briefly and it was okay, but I wouldn't pick it over other DH bikes.

2019 YT Capra XL carbon was decent but a bit small for me, so I can't really judge it.

Rode 3 seasons on Clash XL and they're decent for jumps and flow but lack balance and capability.

Will add more if I remember any others lol
 
14617950:SendyMcSendyface said:
Got out to a bike park today, first time in a while. Riding bikes is fun no matter what, but I have fucking missed park laps with the boys.
Click to expand...

Miss park laps with the boys so much since I haven’t been able to ride this summer
 
14618121:jimbobs said:
I have officially ruined my enduro bike lmao. Dreadnought feels incredible at the bike park with DH casing maxgrip, cushcore, EX3 wheels, a coil shock, and cascade like, but now I need a daily for my daily to pedal well and make shitty local blue trails more interesting.

Really keen on the Banshee short travel models. Chainstay adjustment and 29/27 compatibility are big selling points. Liking the geometry of the Prime better, but the Phantom has the travel numbers I'm looking for. Could go Prime and short-shock it and add a headset spacer to underfork it.

Any other recommendations in the short travel trail bike category? Ironically the Druid ticks most of my boxes, but that's still overkill. Long chainstays in XL and mullet compatibility are big plusses. The simple answer is hardtail, but that would be too easy ofc.

TLDR: 120ish travel, good climbing, long chainstays, 500ish reach, mullet fun/party bike for making blue trails interesting. Does this exist? And has anyone ridden a Banshee Phantom and/or Prime? Am I stupid for ignoring the hardtail option?
Click to expand...

commencal tempo, druid, stumpy, raaw jibb all great bikes
 
What should I do with my chameleon besides sell it, I haven't ridden trail on it since moving to Seattle area because my enduro is better suited for what I've been riding

I don't mean to say the chameleon can't handle trails, it's just not as fun
 
14620190:maaattt said:
What should I do with my chameleon besides sell it, I haven't ridden trail on it since moving to Seattle area because my enduro is better suited for what I've been riding

I don't mean to say the chameleon can't handle trails, it's just not as fun
Click to expand...

Sell it and get a DJ
 
14620190:maaattt said:
What should I do with my chameleon besides sell it, I haven't ridden trail on it since moving to Seattle area because my enduro is better suited for what I've been riding

I don't mean to say the chameleon can't handle trails, it's just not as fun
Click to expand...

Singlespeed. Or give it to me for free.
 
Got this sucker from my boss. Any tips on how to make this last longer? Idk if west systems g-flex could work. [tag=288934]@PartyBullshiit[/tag] enlighten me plz.

1095106.jpeg
 
Trashed a second set of Dominion levers... got a warranty claim out so hopefully they'll get replaced. Amazing brakes, but the metal they use for the lever body is totally cheese. My last set snapped just below the pivot bolt on the lever, this one was much more catastrophic lol
 
14621401:treebeard said:
Trashed a second set of Dominion levers... got a warranty claim out so hopefully they'll get replaced. Amazing brakes, but the metal they use for the lever body is totally cheese. My last set snapped just below the pivot bolt on the lever, this one was much more catastrophic lol
Click to expand...

Is that the common failure point?
 
14621403:PartyBullshiit said:
Is that the common failure point?
Click to expand...

I guess so? The lever itself didn't even take the impact. I tagged a tree with the middle of my handlebars, reefing hard on the brakes was enough to shear it off like that. Idk feels like a manufacturer defect to me
 
14621414:treebeard said:
I guess so? The lever itself didn't even take the impact. I tagged a tree with the middle of my handlebars, reefing hard on the brakes was enough to shear it off like that. Idk feels like a manufacturer defect to me
Click to expand...

Does anyone offer break away handles? They’re super popular on motorcycles. They have cuts in the lever itself so if you go down the lever snaps off and doesn’t break the whole mount itself so you can just replace the lever itself.
 
14621416:PartyBullshiit said:
Does anyone offer break away handles? They’re super popular on motorcycles. They have cuts in the lever itself so if you go down the lever snaps off and doesn’t break the whole mount itself so you can just replace the lever itself.
Click to expand...

As far as I'm aware Hayes is the only brand where this kind of shearing is an issue. Others just explode levers. For example: shimanos are really easy to break but they always fail in the same spot. Where the lever gets narrow and then fat close to the master cylinder.
 
14621419:BallClapper said:
As far as I'm aware Hayes is the only brand where this kind of shearing is an issue. Others just explode levers. For example: shimanos are really easy to break but they always fail in the same spot. Where the lever gets narrow and then fat close to the master cylinder.
Click to expand...

Ya that’s exactly what I’m talking about. Most aftermarket levers for motorcycles are designed that way so they sheer off at that point so you can just swap in a new lever for a lot cheaper
 
14621414:treebeard said:
I guess so? The lever itself didn't even take the impact. I tagged a tree with the middle of my handlebars, reefing hard on the brakes was enough to shear it off like that. Idk feels like a manufacturer defect to me
Click to expand...

Yeah bro, smashing your shit into a tree and breaking it is definitely a manufacturer defect. LOL fucking clowns can never own up to anything
 
14621435:skierman said:
Yeah bro, smashing your shit into a tree and breaking it is definitely a manufacturer defect. LOL fucking clowns can never own up to anything
Click to expand...

It must be exhausting to be so angry and so chronically online for so many years. The persona was funny 14 years ago, it almost felt like an act/novelty account back then. A rite of passage to get flamed by skierman, regardless of what your post was about. Now it's just unbelievably sad, you're almost 40 and still doing the same shit lol enjoy your life, it's gonna be a short one with such high blood pressure
 
14621448:treebeard said:
It must be exhausting to be so angry and so chronically online for so many years. The persona was funny 14 years ago, it almost felt like an act/novelty account back then. A rite of passage to get flamed by skierman, regardless of what your post was about. Now it's just unbelievably sad, you're almost 40 and still doing the same shit lol enjoy your life, it's gonna be a short one with such high blood pressure
Click to expand...

i mean hes got a pretty good point here lol. you fucked up and hit a tree which caused the break to happen. why the fuck should the manufacturer assume any responsibility in that? maybe they’ll

hook it up on replacement pricing which is good to retain a customer base. i bought a used bike with a soft spot in the frame likely from an unlucky rock bounce getting stuck in the frame and was fortunate enough to get a $600 frame replacement from the manufacturer and even that was generous
 
14621461:partyandBS said:
i mean hes got a pretty good point here lol. you fucked up and hit a tree which caused the break to happen. why the fuck should the manufacturer assume any responsibility in that? maybe they’ll

hook it up on replacement pricing which is good to retain a customer base. i bought a used bike with a soft spot in the frame likely from an unlucky rock bounce getting stuck in the frame and was fortunate enough to get a $600 frame replacement from the manufacturer and even that was generous
Click to expand...

That's fair, the shop's sending it to Hayes as a crash replacement. Still I don't believe metal should be snapping by the force of someone's hand pulling on it
 
14621448:treebeard said:
It must be exhausting to be so angry and so chronically online for so many years. The persona was funny 14 years ago, it almost felt like an act/novelty account back then. A rite of passage to get flamed by skierman, regardless of what your post was about. Now it's just unbelievably sad, you're almost 40 and still doing the same shit lol enjoy your life, it's gonna be a short one with such high blood pressure
Click to expand...

It must be exhausting always blaming manufacturers when you break shit riding like a fucking idiot.
 
14621464:treebeard said:
That's fair, the shop's sending it to Hayes as a crash replacement. Still I don't believe metal should be snapping by the force of someone's hand pulling on it
Click to expand...

Oh really? Didn't you just say you crashed into a tree? So now all of a sudden it broke from you pulling on it? I don't know what's more banged up, your shitty excuses or your gear from crashing into a fucking tree. People like you are the fucking worst.
 
ive been wearing my five tens as everyday shoes and i need to stop so i went to ross and was gonna get a cheap pair to thrash. come to find out they got these bad boys for $30 and they fit like a glove! so hyped on ross right now lol

1095426.jpeg
 
how often are you getting your fork and shock serviced?? factory recommended or when it feels right? or never lol? currently im on never but that might be a bad call lol
 
14622160:partyandBS said:
how often are you getting your fork and shock serviced?? factory recommended or when it feels right? or never lol? currently im on never but that might be a bad call lol
Click to expand...

Don't get my shit serviced until it's clapped and costs $300.
 
14622160:partyandBS said:
how often are you getting your fork and shock serviced?? factory recommended or when it feels right? or never lol? currently im on never but that might be a bad call lol
Click to expand...

At recommended usually. Suspension wears out slowly, so unless something internally gets really fucked up you won't notice that it's starting to feel janky. Have plenty of guys coming into our shop to get suspension stuff done, they always say something like "It feels fine to me but I've had it for a few years so it's probably a good idea to get it serviced". When they get it back, their minds are always blown about how good it feels. Have had several dudes go from wanting a new bike to being stoked to ride what they've got just cause their suspension got a little love.
 
1095775.jpeg

my best friend got a yeti, we broke it in by riding 23 miles of single track plus a lil bike park at the start and beginning. No lifts btw, then climbing fire roads to get back. Man this evening was one for the books. So glad I’ve been getting out on the bike this week before leaving it for school! Gonna take a pair out tmr and then maybe ride in the evening
 
Heading to whistler in a couple weeks, what are the steepest tracks?

**This post was edited on Aug 12th 2024 at 3:38:10pm
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top