MOUNTAIN BIKE Group REVIEW - Five Slack, Short-Travel 29ers - Vital MTB Test Sessions

Hello and welcome to another

vital

MTB

test

ing

sessions

. We're here in Phoenix, Arizona to try out

five

exciting new twenty-nine school mistakes that I think you'll understand. I'm Brandon Thurmond next to Steve once and Courtney Steen stays while we rest. Let's analyze these

five

new vehicles and at the end we will tell you which

bike

each of us enjoys riding the most, so what is this type of

bike

all about and how did they end up in our garage? little more festive than cross country, they are made to have more fun on the descents and take some influence from the world of enduro.

The bikes in this

test

had to meet five requirements, they needed to have between 115 and 125 millimeters of rear and front

travel

that we wanted. 130 to 140 millimeters of

travel

to absorb some bumps, needed to be nice and relaxed at that sub-66 degree head tube angle. We give them an advantage for having a

short

offset fork, they also had to have a long reach and they had to There are 29 errors After a fairly exhaustive search, a surprisingly small number of bikes met this exact criteria, which makes sense because these Bicycles are pushing things in a new direction. Remember just because they all look similar and have similar numbers doesn't mean they all ride the same, we try to keep the builds around $5,000 and to level the playing field we swap out all the tires for a Maxis asagai front, an aggressive combination of rear tires, oh yeah, we wanted a nice deep seat angle, these five bikes claim. have an effective seat tube angle of 76 degrees or steeper, what does that mean?

And if you have long legs. Brook my chips, that's funny Steve, let's dig into some angles and see what's really going on. Well, this angle is equal to this angle if the center. of the seatpost falls along this line at the height of the saddle, then the effective angle of the seatpost which is this here is significant for you. Traditionally companies do this for an average height rider for that frame size, we set up the five bikes with Steve's actual twenty. seat height eight point five inches, it's five foot eight inches and these are medium sized bikes, then we lowered it to the Courtenay seat height, finally here it is for those with long legs, if the center of the post is at the left of the red line, it is Looser than the affective mark of 76 degrees, if it is to the right, it is steeper in this real seat angle of 71 1/2 degrees Marin sixty-eight and a half degrees real c68 a real seat half degree van T seventy three and a half and three really see Santa Cruz 69 degree real safety bank of all, as you can see for a tall writer, there can be a big variation with the bikes, they have a real CT Bingle more Lazy, recognizing this fantasy, publishes his effective trim angle for several satellites, something we wish more companies would do. first, Banshee phantoms, although the Phantom has the least amount of travel in the test, offered an impressively capable stable descent thanks in part to the frame geometry, the 115 millimeter rear actually absorbs small vibrations surprisingly well out of the box, It felt super peppy and perfectly balanced, it performs quick maneuvers and jumps with ease, it transmits momentum well, and when you pump it, it really gets up and moves.

The combination of less travel in the rear, a super ramp and an air spring plus carbon wheels results in an ultra-precise mini-rocket feel. The bike has a good upright pedal position and is very efficient uphill, hands down the Phantom also took the best parts award with things like Kodar brakes, 1ups handlebars and a carbon wheelset with a More affordable aluminum offering the ability to get better parts at a similar $50/$100 price point, this bike is lightweight at 31.9 pounds, right in line with the Norco Santa Cruz and Marin, although it may not be the most easy for a beginner, the 130 millimeter MRP fork is also a great highlight, you can control the negative. pressure, there are bleeders on the back and you can quickly adjust the bottom fill with Mr.

P's ramp control. Look at the craftsmanship of the frame and the quality of the welding is really good and they don't skimp on the material we dig into the close net for jeans around the impact ks2 linkage and the ability to adjust the geometry with modular dropouts, even if they are a little clunky, the bike also has a taller head tube than most and high rise bars for a great look completely cleaner, so I've been playing around with some different things on the suspension, although there's not much to work with as far as displacement, but I turned everything up and it's amazing, it's a bike on test with a comfortable speed, but it's a little firmer, it's not really hard, but it's firmer on the bumps, so I kind of plowed through them and tried to get as much as possible for the downsides, that precise feel I mentioned can push you and some really tough terrain. crashed, no matter how well it runs and how controlled it is, there's still only 115 millimeters of rearward travel. there and from time to time you will get serious comments about the trail due to the location of the pivot, it also has a fairly limited C-post insertion.

Our test bike showed up with a long travel dropper post. This combination initially presented a problem for us. For riders 5 feet 8 inches tall, although the top dropper can be adjusted to a

short

er stroke, the taller the Sandover is, it could also pose a problem for shorter riders. Measuring the sag was a bit tricky. The mud removal is a little tight and lacks a bit of frame. protection, ultimately the Banshee did almost everything right, climbing was efficient and descending was fun, cornering was also intuitive for many, this bike will embody everything that genre should be, show some tough love when you do something wrong and it gives you all the reward when you do it.

True, there's still a healthy dose of cross country in the third-generation Phantom that would make it ideal for pedaling for miles and miles, but it's been positively influenced by bigger, rougher rides and now, for everyone else, it's proof of bike events the $4,500 Norco optic c2. not long ago a 65 degree angle was downhill bike territory it has the only best bike a slightly longer travel fork of 140 millimeters plus its 125 millimeter rear end the optics look ready for business sports a front triangle of aluminum rear carbon and waiting with 30 1.5 pounds, knowing the influence that good suspension can have on a bike, the optic comes equipped with a custom Super Deluxe shock with a special shock adjusted in size.

Norco also has a detailed interactive suspension setup guide to line up the ride right away, you can tell. The optics are incredibly fun underfoot with enough progression to avoid hitting what little suspension it actually has. Firstly, there is a good amount of oomph in the optics, resulting in predictable response with a stable and controlled ride feel. It has greater firmness. high speed compression to really rest on the corners and jump lips, this adds to a feeling of being on top, not in a precarious way, but you don't feel at the bottom of the bike like you are doing others, still, We had a lot of confidence in this bike, making it one of the first we took out of my lineup for more challenging trails.

The optics do a great job of disguising its travel numbers and feel like it's more capable and fun than any short travel bike should be. The progressively longer chainstays in each size ensured it had a consistent feel for all riders and a low standoff height. The heights and see the Teebs allow for shorter riders and a longer travel dropper post, while you get that carbon front end, some of the parts were a disappointment, the brakes. and the rotors left a lot to be desired, Narcho also chose to put carbon cranks on the bike and we would gladly swap them for a pair of upgraded stoppers.

The shifting was also poor and some of those parts made the optic look cheaper than it was. Although performance was excellent, the dampers' rebound adjustment range left a lot to be desired, leaving two of our testers between clicks due to the tight suspension. Lighter riders may also feel a little heavier on the rocks, the bike may feel a little heavier when pedaling and this could be due to the lower anti-squat values, which can be very good for technical climbing, but it does fall behind other terrain, it just doesn't have that featherweight feel of the Ibis or the precision of the banshee in general, we thought the optics handling was incredible. really benefits from having good suspension, it offers a lively ride that can highlight everything with a little more travel for a controlled feel on rougher rides due to the spec, although we recommend opting for a better spec in an aluminum version with the same geometry or save up for the high-end model with better components, moving up to the Ibis rip levy for this all-carbon frame.

C's 120 millimeter DW link rear suspension with a 130 millimeter fork Due to availability we had to go large on this one and a slightly more expensive $5,500 DX build component, highlights include the bike yoke dropper with a reset valve and super wide dollar way club Ibis tires, so what a zuzana min 30 pounds 2 ounces 30 pounds 31 to twenty-nine point seven pounds this was the lightest bike in the test by a wide margin of one point eight pounds is a lot and that translates to the trail, in fact we rate him as the best climber of the

group

, this is helped by above average squat values ​​and the low rear sag value of 25%.

What I would suggest is that Ibis seems to have approached the suspension damping and spring curves with different intentions and it feels that way while riding, it's light, nimble, you feel on top of the bike and there's great efficiency when you're putting power on. . Ripley is stable. at speed and the rear wheel can be lifted up and out of the way quite easily through rougher, bumpier terrain. Due to these features we think it would be one of the least fatiguing in the range on longer rides, the cushioned ride feels light and soft. Lots of give when you push it but it's a bit old school feeling, it's firm on top and goes through the course quite easily which didn't help when jumping or especially during turns.

We are the first firm part of the suspension could make it feel like we were riding on eggshells despite using a shorter offset fork, we also felt like it was a knife in some corners which was a bit strange, so the Ibis feels amazing going up hills, it sits high on the ride, you are above the bike and it feels really efficient. One of the downsides to this feel is that when you're loose in rough times, it's still a little firmer when you're sunk in and when you start to initiate corners, so it feels like it wants to. to slide, think more than other bikes, the similar shock is also on the Santa Cruz, but that one feels really different, it feels heavier, it has a little more traction, this one feels lighter, it feels like it has a little less traction, so a couple of different things you can ride, this bike is pretty linear, which is about 4% progression, so you get to the end of your ride without too much hug.

Fortunately, it does it in a gentle way and not too harsh when you bought them. Ripley is balanced, light and agile with precise steering, good feel, rolling efficiency and power transfer; Those features make it feel fast and capable and would be a great choice for people who value climbing as much or more than descending, however, going faster or putting a lot of information on the bike can feel like it's fighting what you're doing. more than being one with you. It's really a bike that you get on instead of wanting to be part of the next Marin Rift carbon 2 zone at $4,400, this was the most affordable bike in our range, the aluminum rear and carbon front triangular frame comes with a 130-millimeter Fox fork up front that's combined with 125 millimeters of rear travel via the single-pivot suspension design driven by multi-way linkage.

This is also quite progressive on the Rift Zone trails. It felt like the hardest bike ontest, it was stable on many different terrains, never felt cheap like it was going to break, and gave our testers a lot of confidence in more difficult areas like the North Co optics. The Rift zone is so predictable and composed that you get the feel That you're on a mid-travel bike somewhere in the 130 to 140 millimeter range, the added bonus, though it still felt efficient uphill and the bike made pedaling hard thanks to its reasonably priced, comfortable feel. bomb proof and Nice details like the diet bars, a lomé pnw lever and a large 200 millimeter front rotor.

We believe that the Rift zone has great value. It also has good things for smaller riders with a low standover height on a short seat tube, while it doesn't. I feel like he's going to do something bad or surprise you; some may argue that it lacks some personality for the same reason that the stable and planted feel takes away from the playful nature of this bike a bit, it lacks a bit of pop and is just a bit If you're looking for constant action, this could be down to part to the less flexible nature of the bushings and not the bearings in the upper shock mount.

At 32.4 pounds, it was also the heaviest bike in the test, and despite feeling efficient, half of it could. it will definitely feel uphill, it was also equipped with a too squeaky FSA crankset, you can feel that sound, best five dollar earplugs. In short, apart from the cranks it's hard to find a real weakness in the breakout zone, this is a bike that many riders can enjoy for a long time offering the ability and confidence to point and shoot, point the bike and keep going. It's a capable center climber that feels controlled both on roll and for those who enjoy popping and pumping the trail, although it can feel a little dull. hum, what's up with the tall guy from santa cruz?

This bike has a 120 millimeter slot at the rear, 130 millimeters at the front and we tested the $5000 build with an all carbon CSeries frame for those looking for a women's version, know that it shares the same frame as the Giuliana. Joplin, this bike was recently updated with Santa Cruz's easy-to-grease bottom link VPP suspension design, the rear shock mount offers adjustability with a high-low twist chip and there is a full centimeter of chainstay adjustment by swapping the toe caps. The tallboy's strengths include excellent cornering manners with the lowest bottom bracket height of the

group

. It also has a very progressive suspension field that has hints of fun possibilities with many reserves for bigger things.

Once the front and rear were better matched in terms of suspension pressure and support, the tall boy had confidence to send it offering the greatest traction of the group both up and down, except in our tolerance tests, or felt very on the bike on the table, which gave them a great We were confident that things would not go out of control at any moment, while the rear pieces They saw themselves. The frame is a highlight of the bike. Geometry was good for both men and women. The suspension works well and the finish. The details are impeccable on the weakness front.

We wish measuring sag was a little easier during setup. It's just hard to go in there and see the impact. The suspension also needed a little adjustment to get the bikes balanced front to back where they needed to be next. When starting and compressing the fork and adding a little more pressure than recommended, the front could barely keep up with the rear, the santa cruz feels quite progressive and at first, who feels like an itch in the front , softens the rear end, the hard stiffness of the pediment is now a lot of fun The bike was also heavier than expected at 30 1.7 pounds, which hindered some of that agility and ability to move found in bikes like the North or banjee, the santa cruz sometimes felt glued to the ground and while that helped with traction, it could be a detriment when you want to play with it at 5 by 10.

Our tallest tester felt the bike was too small, so Consider going up a size if you're on the borderline between sizes, if you're looking for traction. You are always searching and want to clear every big climb as much as the descents. The Tallboy could be the bike for you. The progressive suspension provides a reliable connection to the ground while descending and cornering. There is a confidence gained that the bike will work. Stick is also among the best values ​​with sharp frame details and a solid build kit. So what's up with these short, relaxed tours? 29 mistakes Overall, this type of bike is something that people wanted considering a wider field of terrain, the ability to maintain speed well, and fun.

What follows are some great highlights: These bikes climb and pedal efficiently while still offering enough travel to have fun on gentler descents. The newer geometry also makes them better suited to tackling challenging sections of trail, but they'll never measure up to a bike with more. Traveling, on the other hand, these bikes shouldn't take any beating or handle any trails. We see them as a nice addition to the quiver for those who ride the full spectrum of trails for those who primarily ride fast, flowy trails with a little bit of tech. be the ones who rule if you ride in areas with a lot of high speed trails where it's not that difficult bikes like these can make you wonder if you've been cycling too much all these years, the combination of monster-truck and the poppy play bike will also give you will make you reconsider what is possible with five inches of travel or less, just keep in mind that while they are capable of doing so, the geometry of the parts can dwarf what a small rear shock can handle, they are also sometimes difficult to balance and they can be pushed further than they should.

My favorite bike for this test was the Banshee phantom. If you're going to forgo all the traveling and really do short, snappy trips, this is a really fun bike that jumps well, handles well, and is still pretty stable. Out of all the bikes we rode, the one I liked the most was the Santa Cruz as the progressive bike that I really liked to play on the trail and then when I ride it it doesn't feel heavy and it's really efficient. I know what I really struggled with with this decision because they are all amazing bikes. If I bought a second bike I would be all over that banjee, it was my only bike, even though it would be up to the Marin.

I think this bike is amazing. reliable and also offers a little more than the other bikes when it comes to the tough stuff. Thank you all for joining us for this in-depth look at five radical new bikes. Be sure to visit mtv.com where we are. We have an in-depth suspension analysis on all bikes, spec comparison and relative performance ratings from all testers. If you enjoyed this video, be sure to hit the like button, comment, subscribe and we'll see you on the trails you ride.