Pinkbike Poll: What will you be riding in the bike park this year?

May 15, 2015
by Mike Kazimer  
The trails at lift served bike parks have traditionally been filled with full blown DH sleds, and for good reason. Without the need to fight gravity on the climb, it only makes sense to have a bike that's solely focused on the descent. A dual crown fork for extra stiffness and stability, wide tires, bucketloads of suspension – together they create mountain biking's equivalent to a fat powder ski, a tool that's purpose built to excel in a specific range of conditions. Recently there's been an influx of slightly shorter travel bikes with single crown forks popping up in the lift line, and these aren't the slopestyle specialists or burly freeride bikes of the past. Instead, it's the latest batch of all-mountain and enduro race bikes that are causing riders to second guess which bike to bring to the mountain, or if it's even worth having a downhill bike at all.

Transition TR500 review
Giant Reign 27.5 1 2015
Downhill bikes are as fun as ever... but the capabilities of modern all-mountain bikes are making it harder to justify owning two bikes.

Now, I'm in no way saying that downhill bikes are going extinct, or that there's no need for them anymore – I like rallying around on a big bike as much as anyone. But at the same time, for riders that only ride the lifts a handful of times each season, and given how capable modern all-mountain bike have become, owning a separate DH bike is less of a necessity than ever before. Mountain biking's expensive, and if you can cut costs by only having one bike (and maybe an extra set of wheels for the punishments of lift-served riding), then why not? As an added bonus, when the lifts aren't spinning, there are usually excellent trails in the surrounding area that can be accessed the old fashioned way, via pedal power, and having an all-mountain bike on hand makes exploring the world away from the chairlifts that much easier.

Our recent survey of what people were riding at Whistler's opening weekend showed that downhill bikes still dominate, but I have an inkling that those numbers will be slightly different later in the season, when there are more visitors mixed in with the diehard locals who tend to have a quiver of bikes.

That brings us to the topic of this week's poll: What will you be riding in the bike park this year? In this instance the term 'bike park' refers to any lift served riding area, whether it's Whistler, British Columbia, Chatel, France, Nevados de Chillan, Chile, or any other location with a mountain, a chairlift, and trails to shred.

What will you be riding in the bike park this year?

This poll is closed

Select all that apply.





Author Info:
mikekazimer avatar

Member since Feb 1, 2009
1,719 articles

326 Comments
  • 344 24
 This poll shows that '26 aint dead!'
  • 157 8
 Wish my local bike shops would see this, most don't even stock 26inch tires anymore haha so dumb considering probably 99% of my city is still on 26inch rims. Gotta love the bike industry.
  • 41 4
 the bike shops will lose out then.. you will just go online to get your tyres like me. both of my bikes and both of my dads have 26" tyres. now that i think about it nearly everyone i know still has them. we are still out there! don't forget us!
  • 6 4
 Apparantly Canfield thinks they are...
  • 66 222
flag diego-b (May 15, 2015 at 14:18) (Below Threshold)
 Get over it, its dying...
  • 127 22
 I ride 26" because I bought a used carbon Operator. If I bought new, it would definitely be 650b, and would be just as god damn fun. This debate is so god damn old.
  • 41 6
 I think more importantly, this shows the amount of AM/ Enduro bikes are going to be nearly equal to DH sleds (according to the poll)
  • 17 1
 im not debating that they don't make 26 anymore but there are still a ton of people with the 26" wheels. they don't disappear over night. plenty of people still have them and love them.
  • 17 88
flag hi-dr-nick FL (May 15, 2015 at 14:30) (Below Threshold)
 And the cliche comment of the day goes too... Seriously, shut the fuck up. It'll never die but it is dying
  • 23 4
 Ill be surprised if enduro bikes are equal to downhill bikes in bike parks this year.....but I could be wrong
  • 7 0
 wind your neck in I'm under no illusion. doesn't mean people still don't need parts does it. just means people go online for them.
  • 10 1
 10 minutes ago, I bought new e13 rims for my 26" Canfield One to build a 2nd lite-weight AM wheelset in addition to the FR set on there now. Got a great deal, Love it!
  • 18 47
flag enduroelite (May 15, 2015 at 14:42) (Below Threshold)
 There's no breathing the blood pressure is dropping and the pulse is weak......
This pole shows that 26 has not been buried yet,
People just haven't sold their bike or people keep buying 26"ers from people that have already gone to 275 or 29ers
the question is this;
Who's going to write the obituary?
  • 7 8
 I agree, but, it could also show that it is dying. It would be interested to see model year as well.
  • 8 3
 i just wonder what other is?? 20", 36" or even 700c...??
  • 17 5
 The irony of course is that a year or two ago people were commenting with this much vigor that they will never make a big wheel that will work for downhill and subtly the argument has shifted to whether or not 26 inch wheels are dead. I ride 26 inch wheeled steed that I won't stress much about replacing with a bike with different wheel size, bar widths, geometry etc.if it works for me at the time. Biking is fun...wheel size debates are increasingly less so.
  • 15 25
flag michibretz (May 15, 2015 at 15:33) (Below Threshold)
 as sad as it is but 26 is dead, just not buried yet. I realized when i had to buy a tire at Kamikaze games in mammoth last fall and the brands at the expo area did not even bring 26er tires any more... Go and try buying a new 26 bike. you might find a few exotic leftovers or some walmart rides... oh and 700c is 29
  • 32 2
 If I was to travel to Whistler for a week I'd buy a used DH bike just to sell it afterwards
  • 4 6
 @michibretz Agreed...and it's a damn shame.
  • 46 2
 I don't think this poll is really suggesting that the number of enduro bikes will equal the number of DH bikes on any given day. It won't. There will always be many many more DH bikes. You have to keep in mind that many of the voters in this poll are likely the type of riders noted in the article, that only visit the park a few times a year and will likely just bring their all mountain rig. But the actual crowd on any given day is going to be largely made up of regular riders (who will all be on DH bikes) with the non regulars making up only a small part of the crowd each day.
  • 32 11
 26" for life Smile
  • 5 27
flag staylo85 (May 15, 2015 at 16:35) (Below Threshold)
 Just dying Frown
  • 16 1
 nothing cause i crashed into a car and broke all my bones
  • 7 13
flag freeride-forever (May 15, 2015 at 16:54) (Below Threshold)
 Yeah ain't dead 'cuz everyone hasn't destroyed their 26" wheels/tires in a market where replacements are unavailable yet. Give it a few more years & you'll probably be buyin' a new fork & new frame all because of a stupid fvcking wheel size. Meh, if this shit has to be a bane to the sport, all the more reason to go inverted on the front & run loooong stays in the rear.

@Dirtdestroyer1, 24" you fvckin' twit!!!! The best size of all! Big Grin
  • 2 2
 @sino428 Good point
  • 8 70
flag jordache-keepers (May 15, 2015 at 20:03) (Below Threshold)
 I won't be riding, I got me a new girl friend who wants me to ride her every night so all my energy will be spent on her.
  • 6 4
 Hey Waki, you know there are ton of shops at whistler where you can rent dh bikes.
  • 6 63
flag jordache-keepers (May 15, 2015 at 20:27) (Below Threshold)
 negatives from sad boys with no girl friends. Lets just see how many sad lonely boys are out there seeking sexual satisfaction via the internet based on the negatives Wink
  • 18 3
 Better snatch up all those cheap 26ers before everyone comes back to their senses after shaking their collective heads
  • 5 37
flag jordache-keepers (May 15, 2015 at 21:01) (Below Threshold)
 3 so far lol
  • 9 2
 I can no longer find a decent 26' bike/frame from my LBS. I really hope they read this
  • 57 0
 @Rocky-Urban... hey congrats on the girlfriend man...sounds like you're really stoked about that. Quick question: have you seen a Dr. though regarding your low energy? Cause most people can have happy sexual lives and maintain an active mountain biking schedule.
  • 3 1
 Yes there are lots of rentals. But if you are there for 5 days of riding. That's more then $500 in rental. U could buy a bike and sell it for the same after 5 days of use.
  • 28 2
 @Rocky-Urban...first girlfriend? You lost your virginity? Ooooo .. that's so sweet. Now you're a big boy and you are important and no one cares. Regards.
  • 1 0
 Briceps Without doubt, the most sensible comment ever written on this or any mountain bike website
  • 1 1
 Why are they cheap? Oh, yeah I remember now.
  • 3 4
 its half dead
  • 26 2
 As long as Maxxis will keep on producing Minions DHF in 26" it will stay alive. But if only tyres left will be Kendas people will burn their 26"ers themselves
  • 5 4
 hey waki dont diss the kendas man, they work better than the dhf's around here, kendas knobs dont fold up in a corner.
  • 5 2
 Yes, in dry and super hard surfaces they may do work better, but most MTBable areas of the world that is with more than 50 rainy days a year (dense : vegetation higher than 3m) they let go at least 3Gs before minions knobs squirm and fold. Foot out flat out, fast and loose. Just like Hans Dampf.
  • 10 2
 #MinionsDhf4life
  • 7 3
 26 ain't dead....yet?

Either way, shops and manufacturers don't owe us anything. Its like politics, we get who we vote for. The finger should be pointed at us, not them.
  • 7 0
 I've always said that the bike manufacturers would be smart to continue a to manufacture a 26" DH/Freeride model. I think for racing the 27.5 has some benefits but still think that most non-racing park riders (who make up a large portion of the DH bike market) would still rather a 26" model. Those riders are still going to want a burly, long travel 26" bike with dual crowns. Make the race bikes really race bikes. Bigger wheels, really slack etc. But also make a park focused "DH" bike. 26" wheels, not quite as slack for sharper handling and easier maneuverability etc. I could be wrong but there would still be a big market for these bikes. Not everyone is racing.
  • 2 1
 @sino428 Transition, Banshee, Scott have DH/FR frames that can be run with 26 or 27.5 wheels and adjustable geo sooo yeah
  • 8 1
 DirtyMartini - voting with dollars is a delusion as products are rarely introduced to the market basing on product design is extremely scarcely a reactive process. You buy what you get. The desire, the Demand must be manufactured by spy shot/ quiet word stimulated articles, press releases, videos, product reviews and finaly by people discussing on forums, where the rule is the worse crap people throw at something the more trending it gets - can you hear the wrecking ball?

The case of 650B was extreme because that was a one big push of nearly every single major player in the industry on unprecedented scale. nobody asked anybody, I doubt if any market research was made, so I am not going to point my finger back at me. After all it's just bikes, half of an inch is not going to make anyone faster nor less stylish Big Grin Enjoy modern MTBs, most of them are freaking awesome, regardless of wheel size, chainstay length, reach or bar width
  • 7 1
 I remember a few years back when the talk was 29ers are going to take over everything. Boy, were they wrong. The flex-o-matic 29er has its place, but it certainly isn't in FR,DH, SS, or DJ. Last I heard, Giant ditched its entire 9er line, wow.

Give it a few years, someone might come out with a 26" bike to fill the need (maybe Canfield?). All the SS and DJ's are still made for 26" wheels, I doubt that will change. The Canfield Balance can accept both wheel sizes, and I hope they are still making a frame like that when I'm ready to buy again. Hopefully it's a FR bike! Everybody is making 27.5 because that is what sells today.

There are 10's of millions of 26ers out there that still need tires. That's a lot of money to be made so someone will still make 'em.

FEST!!!
  • 8 11
 A good, modern 29er like Stumpy 29 or Tallboy LT is fkng sweet, one of the best things you can ride - get over it. Just like a good E-Bike. Good 26ers are great, but I would not trade any current 275 bike for a shitty 68 head angle, 590 top tube in Large 360 high BB piece of 26" crap like 90% of bikes were 4 years ago. Let's take Ibis Mojo SL, nearly all Treks, Scotts, Cubes, Canyons and many more. 26 for life? I hope you don't mean any from above, I hope you ride Nomad, Slackline, Slash, Rune or Demo when you say that
  • 2 2
 'Its like politics, we get who we vote for. The finger should be pointed at us, not them.'

@DirtyMartini.... It's a valid point. But, like politics, if the options are limited, what can you truly vote for? I don't vote for criminal politicians, so no finger can be pointed at me. Someone continuing to buy 26 may still find their options diminishing. Just as anarchists and people who would vote for minimal government have been marginalised into a position of 'not an option'.
  • 2 0
 I love my SB95, I'm really bummed they stopped making it. I like my SB66 just as much, and my 303wc. They all do different things well,. That's part of the fun of this sport- different types of riding. Today I was on my DJ for the first time in a while...
  • 2 1
 blows my mind that the whistler bike park is all worried about liability yet they have no problem promoting the use of under suspended bikes and open face helmets in the bike park. open face helmets and little to no body protection. lawsuit waiting to happen.
  • 2 0
 Promoting open face helmets?? How so? I wouldn't say they're a common occurrence in the park?
  • 1 2
 Those noting how many enduro bikes will be at the park remember that this oil doesn't ask how often you go.
  • 6 0
 Went to a demo day yesterday where after seeing my 2009 sx trail with 26 inch wheels one of the Specialized salesman reacted with 'whooa, retro...'
I don't care too much about wheel size and just ride for fun (gave up racing a couple of years ago) but did feel a bit insulted. Needless to say I won't be buying a new 27.5 Specialized any time soon.
  • 3 1
 tremeer023 - 09 SX Trail is one hell of a bike, 06 already was one. Definitely ahead of their times. You can easily ride it along latest enduro bikes as they originated from this exclusive breed. When I was buying Nomad in 2008 people were calling it a long travel XC bike. Some told me that I will break it and should keep it on XC trails. It's just cool aid drinkers who tell you that technology has moved so much since 08. Their perspective on cycling is within 3 clicks of low speed compression.
  • 2 0
 pretty simple, I dont race, just riding for fun, so I dont care about wheel size. I have 26" bike.and I have no reason to change it. maybe when it dies... but it is crmo ht...
  • 4 0
 I think though many people are headed to the bike park, those going on enduro bikes are less likely season pass holders than those on a dh bike. The results really just say a lot of 6" bikes will go to the park at least once this year. It doesn't mean dh bikes are being replaced.
  • 2 0
 People think they can buy a DH rig and sell it at the end of the season or their vacation at Whistler. The only problem with that is, there are plenty of smart guys trying to do just that, so they flood the second hand market with similarly priced DH bikes and if you are in a rush to sell you will have to dump it at a significantly lower price, taking a loss. Also, cheap deals in buy/sell section and craigslist maybe too good to be true as sometimes you run into a-holes trying to sell you their cracked frames speaking from person experience here.Therefore, its just easier to rent a DH rig for 3 days or even a week that you spend at the resort hassle free.
  • 2 4
 I think the poll shows exactly that 26" is dead. Sure, there are twice as many people on 26ers as on 27.5ers. But 27.5 is still pretty new. Initally I thought it would take five or six years for everybody to switch. As of now I think three years will do.
  • 2 2
 Off 26" is virtually dead, but not due to any choice as there is next to none. Nobody will buy some niche company bike just because they stay true to 26", just like this pointless babble on gearboxes or axle paths - Zerode is not selling out while people ride exact same stuff they btch on. People buy what comes along and 99% of it is 275, obviously many still ride their old 26" bikes.
  • 2 1
 I demoed a 27.5" Glory and preferred it over the 26", but the difference wasn't enough to stop me from saving a ton of money buying last year's 26" for a huge discount. 26" is dead for new bikes, but I suspect rims and tires will remain available for at least 5 years.
  • 2 3
 @WAKIdesigns: Oh, I think almost everbody who is already on a 27.5 had a choice at the time he or she bought it, just as @dthomp325 did, and components sure will be available for quite some time. But in the end, most people who actually bought a new bike and had to choose between the old and proven and the newest available chose the latter.

But the discussion will die along with 26", eventually. Saw it happen with rim brakes, rigid forks, quick release axles and so on. For those who still really want any of that, there will always be someone making it.
  • 6 1
 i personaly prefer a 26 so anything Waki says is bullshit to me.
  • 5 0
 It never died in the first place
  • 5 0
 it is a myth that pisses me off. The industry can say what ever they want to make $$$$$ people her fall for it
  • 3 0
 I look at it this way. The MTB industry has grown so rapidly in the last 5 years it's probably suffering from "growing pains". This is when a product needs a lot of $$ invested in people, facilities, & production to keep up with the demand, I see this all the time with other products I deal with. To sustain this, they need "new and improved" marketing to keep the cash rolling in.


DJ, Slope, and probably most Freeriders will still want a 26 no matter what. Give it a few years, it'll make a comeback and be the new flickable fun alternative. lol
As long as they keep making rad bikes and components, I don't care. I got my stable full at the moment. (5 bikes)

I remember when BMX died in the late 80's, it was horrible!!! Keep on selling MTB industry!
  • 1 0
 Agreed. What the bigger wheels do is widen the market and give people more choice, which is great. It means people can tailor their bikes to a specific niche/discipline. To say that 26" is dead is a stupid statement. What you can say is 26" will probably one day be dead to people who only ride xc/enduro/DH.
  • 6 0
 I wish people would stop comparing the wheel size switch to other advances in bike technology. 26" wheels are not the same as things like rim brakes, rigid forks, quick releases etc. Those were clear cut advances in technology that proved to be far superior to their predecessors. 650B does not represent the same type of technological advancement. Its a wheel that's slightly bigger. That's not technology. It does not represent the same advancement and performance upgrade over 26" that something like hydraulic disc brakes provided over rim brakes.
  • 1 1
 I see your point, but one thing not many people talk about is the fact that in mountain biking there are many moments when we're riding right on the edge between falling and not falling. The better your skills the further out you can push this edge between falling and not falling. Most people ride near their personal edge between falling and not falling; that's why we all fall from time to time.

The fact of physics is that a larger diameter tire will
1) roll over things better (27.5 tire gets about 75% of the rollover gains that are 29" gets compared to a 26")
and 2) provide more traction (at a constant % tire deflection)

90% of the time the larger tire size doesn't make a noticeable difference because 90% of the time we're not on the verge of going over the handlebars or sliding out. But if we only consider the moments when we ARE the verge of falling, I prefer a 27.5" over 26" given that the rest of the time the 27.5" feels about the same.

The paradox of 27.5" is that when the slightly larger diameter prevents a fall, you'll never know it...but it's still one less fall.

Increasing our skill level and then riding a little below our skill level would serve the same purpose. But what fun is that? Wink

If you're into statistics, think of it this way: 650b does help, but the help it provides exists in VERY volatile data set which makes it really hard to detect the gains with statistical confidence, but physics promises the gains are there.
  • 3 1
 @FuzzyL - Vast majority of biggest companies openly stated two years ago that they will stop making 26" bikes, no customer had anything to say about it. Jeff Steber said it is a industry induced change. Specialized reps said that despite one year delay in realtionto other companies they are forced to go for 650B because in current climate and generated hype and demand, they have to follow the trend to keep their sales going, even though they don't want to as they see no point in going there, they wanted to keep 26" and focus on developing 29ers.

@DirtyMartini, I am not criticizing you, just adding something - it's hard to argue with the trivia you pointed out of physics of a larger wheel, but use of science in relation to MTB is an extremely bold move because MTB is a very small sport with so many variables, human being the biggest of them that there is no way to measure it considering how small research funding there can be to tackle this complexity. On very local level, 99.999999% of riders are incapable of providing measurable data on whether 26er is slower than 275er, because they are unable to deliver consistent lap times. The worse the rider the bigger the spread of results will be. As much as I enjoy listening to Nico Vouilloz I just don't believe him that 650B delivers 1 second every three minutes, because I doubt if he can deliver 5 lap times on 3 minute track within 1 second. There will never be any research that will be able to tackle human factors and terrain factors, which especially in race conditions, change all the time. Then even riders of very similar physiology, within same team with same component choices will have different setups, based on personal preference. Even if you change the wheelsize, then we have to remember that everything changes with new bikes, geometries, tyres, rims, brakes. Bike like a dish or medicine is a set of ingredients, souflet does not get better by just adding sugar to it. Then there's compromise, nobody drives F1 car during the race in the same way as during qualifying, there's strategy to make.

Sorry, science is helpless when it comes to determining component superiority considering component in question alone, like wheel sizes, forks, geometries. At lest I would never mention science in 29vs 275+, Pike vs 36, saint vs code discussion.
  • 1 0
 @ jlhenterprises: "I wish people would stop comparing the wheel size switch to other advances in bike technology. 26" wheels are not the same as things like rim brakes, rigid forks, quick releases etc. Those were clear cut advances in technology that proved to be far superior to their predecessors."

Sorry, that is only partly true. Most of those things where not superior in any way in their first incarnations, and some became useful only after other aspects of the bikes had been altered as well. I once rode down a worldcup DH course with a Sachs Power Disc, experienced nothing like that to scare the shit out of me since, and would have preferred a rim brake at any point during that ride.

The first 29ers were really bad bikes also, most of them being basically 26ers with longer chainstays to make room for the bigger wheel. But a lot of people, including world cup racers, where able to see the potential. And the same goes for 27.5.

Yes, the progress is becoming more incremental, and today it needs improvement of more than one aspect, to make an overall better bike. But bigger wheels are one of those aspects. When combined with 1x drivetrains (allowing for shorter chainstays on 27.5ers than a lot of 26ers ever had) and wider hubs, to allow for more stable wheels at the same weight, etc. the mountainbike overall is still becoming better and better.

Does that mean, there will be new standards, which will make a lot of existing frames/parts obsolete? Yes, unfortunately. But that's the way it always has been, in Germany they say "the better is the enemy of the good".
  • 1 1
 @WAKIdesigns:
"Vast majority of biggest companies openly stated two years ago that they will stop making 26" bikes, no customer had anything to say about it."

That does not and will never work. You cannot force people to buy anything. Their market analysts told all the bike companies, that the market for 26" was saturated, people where longing for a reason to buy a new bike, and "the market" i.e. the customers wanted (and did buy) 27.5ers.

Of course, Specialized begs to differ. They would have preferred if everybody had just switched to 29ers, so there would have been no need to cater for a second wheel size.

That was the choice - only one wheel size i.e. 29, or a second smaller sheel size, also new and with some of the advantages of 29, and therefore able to take a bite out of the growing 29er market, since the 26er market was shrinking anyway.
  • 3 2
 FuzzyL - so do you want to tell people to stop buying bikes through the course of two years so that companies start doing 26" back again or go just make 29ers?
A - in a year of no sales companies would go down
B - how are you going to tell everyone?
C - do you realize the size of the ideology that you would have to make up and put into motion to prevent people form buying bikes and tell them that there is one good solution for everybody... I sense some link to "morality" you are making here.

26 for life, flats for life is ideology which in a way indicates that your happyness of riding a bike relies on a size of a wheel or type of a pedal, fork tyre whatever. I went to 2 demo days lately, Kona and Trek and it was one of the most fun experiences I ever had, as I rode completely different bikes, often in setup different from mine, in "wrong" frame sizes and it opened my mind completely. It's fun on two wheels, the fact alone of rolling on them, preferably with friends is 90% of the whole thing for me. I had nearly equal amount of fun on freaking amazing Kona Process 167, then Process 111 crappy Trek fatbike, or idiotically fantastic electric Powerfly.
  • 1 0
 @FuzzyL You have miss quoted me, I never said that
  • 2 0
 @WAKIdesigns you had me at "a good, modern 29er like Stumpy 29 or Tallboy LT is fang sweet", you lost me at "just like a good E-Bike".
  • 3 0
 Lol I just bought a Cotic BFe (Bike from 26 aint dead video)
  • 1 0
 @jlhenterprises : Ooops, sorry, that was a quote from sino428, I apologize!
  • 2 0
 I haven't lost my belief in you in spite of your comment Big Grin
  • 2 0
 @Jibofo: woah... nice time machine!
  • 116 10
 Dual crown hardtails for life
  • 116 9
 2002 called, they want their bike back
  • 15 4
 Respect
  • 51 3
 I used to rock the specialized P1 with a Super T....looking back now I have no idea why...
  • 21 1
 Don't doubt my street cred


m.pinkbike.com/photo/196790
  • 9 0
 Props to whoever does your ACLs mate!
  • 17 0
 mnorris122 .......do you remember 2002?
  • 13 1
 saw a dude on my local trails once riding a dual crown hardtail. He had a pair of fox 40's on a specialized stuntjumper. It cannot unsee it to this day.
  • 16 1
 My DH hardtail with a Marz Shiver. m.pinkbike.com/photo/11449672
  • 5 1
 ^your name explains it all
  • 4 1
 LOL i only took that poll so i could see if someone rides dualcrown-Hardtails...
  • 2 1
 Nice bike man! My frame is modeled after that Banshee except my frame is a lot lighter.
  • 5 0
 I like the cut of your jib son.
  • 58 3
 I'll be riding a 20"+ unicycle setup with a 154 mm wide hub
  • 13 1
 ...what, no Boost?
  • 6 1
 @kdstones nah not wide enough.
  • 5 2
 But is it enduro?
  • 10 1
 154 is BOOST+, which is a new standard coming in 2016
  • 2 1
 I suppose it's better than a scooter!
  • 1 0
 Weight?
  • 3 0
 let me guess ..electric shifting and bluetooth brakes?
  • 50 1
 It isn't always feasible for people to have multiple bikes, but as far as i'm concerned...it's great having an AM and DH. really prolongs the life of the AM when you don't beat the shit out of it in the bike park.
  • 12 1
 That's a good point. I'm slightly worried about my AM bike for this season at the park. I just can't afford a DH bike until next season. Let's hope nothing explodes
  • 5 3
 Define "beating the shit out of it."
  • 14 1
 @skelldify He probably means more stress on the frame bearings, air shock (usually), single crown fork, weaker wheels (usually), etc. than a DH rig with burly parts
  • 6 1
 @skelldify 3-4 days a trip in bike park riding aggressively all day...

Poor wheels
  • 14 1
 I agree. Had a 160mm bike....then got a dh bike. Sold my 160 for and got a 140mm for trails. Full dh bike and 140-150mm is best of both world imho
  • 43 10
 Go ahead and replace your trail bike and DH bike with one "do all" machine, but you'll find out in short order that your shiny new en*#@o bike just plain isn't as safe, durable, or as much fun at the bike park as your big bike was.
  • 8 5
 I know, right? Like the jag-bag I rode up the chair at Keystone on day last last year... Oh boy was his all mountain machine shiney and new, but admitted the next time that I saw him that the bike was 'not meant' for it.
  • 12 4
 Depends on what you're riding. I much prefer a lighter all mtn bike on flow trails than a full DH sled, they're just heavy. Now if you're planning to blast rock gardens all day then the choice is obvious
  • 6 7
 Then when he goes on a trail ride, he's clipping his 780mm bars on trees, and left for dead by everyone on 120-140 trail bikes...
  • 7 7
 That's not true, My enduro 275 rig is a good 12lbs lighter that my DH 26" rig, Much more manuverable and I feel much less tired at the end of the day..

Thats a lot of weight tho be throwing around.
  • 11 0
 Having the cash around for a separate DH bike would be nice. But if I get to the alps this year it will be with the same bike I went on last year (and the year before), my 150mm Cotic. You see the front of it's made of steel and every time I crash the ground gets a new dent, it's outlasted some very expensive very flashy downhill bikes since 2012.
  • 2 1
 Implying I don't run a yardstick on my XC bike.
  • 10 7
 Lol flow trails. If you feel less tired and battered on an enduro bike your trails are pretty lame.
  • 7 0
 @Fix-the-Spade love you Brits and your aggro hardtails! Respect!
  • 2 0
 woooooord !!!! well done
  • 2 1
 So, the weight versus strength issue of enduro vs dh bikes holds ground right? Unless enduro designers have different physics at their disposal. So does it not figure that as enduro bikes also won't deal with the same abuse in the short term, they won't be ridden in the same way and thus won't sustain the extra long term damage presumed? This will alert cries of 'not as much fun', probably based somewhat on lack of overall pace, but fun is just in the headspace. Ever had fun on the same track on two different bikes? Did you 'destroy it' on one and 'deal with it' on the other? You can go super fast down a piste on a snowboard. Fun. You can also go half as fast, if that, on a snowskate and still be on the limit. Not fun?
  • 2 1
 No... Not fun.
  • 1 3
 Two back to back days of DH, one on my M9, the next on my 275 tracer;

The M9 day was fun, but the extra weight had me braking early and leaving corners slower.
going into rock gardens were easy as I would simply have to let the bike rock through it with a little coaxing to keep/change my line

Tracer 275 day was Much more fun, such a light little machine with a shorter wheelbase, I could keep much more speed in corners as the WHEEL WEIGHT is much lower and the bike is easier to pilot.

Try it yourselves, you might end up selling your DH rig for something that is more practical.
  • 3 1
 Sorry but that is a load of shit. Why on earth would you brake earlier for anything on a dh bike and exit slower unless its uphill or flat?

Here's a tip - you're on a dh bike. Brake as late as possible. It can get you through it. Then you will exit faster.

That sounds like fun to me.

Maybe you're referring to xc or flat flow trails, nothing else makes any sense.
  • 1 0
 that lighter wheel weight won't seem so good when one is wrapped around your seat/chainstay...
  • 1 1
 Blitz66, you may want to fire your wheel builder if thats the case...
  • 1 1
 Russthedog, I'm trying to not destroy the trails we already have buddy....
  • 34 1
 what is "other"? Are there still 2005 Bighits out there?
  • 17 1
 Haha. You know there's that one guy
  • 8 1
 or 24" with 3.0 tires (brooklyn did that, i don't know who else)
  • 4 7
 @ Nickhalorider or quite possibly that 26" is just what most people own, I have two and will happily switch to whatever size the next bike I want comes with.. just let the debate die already!
  • 7 2
 @stickman5000 wrong comment
  • 23 0
 I guess im that guy! lol 2004 bighit with a 24" on back. fun as hell and manuals like a dream
  • 11 0
 Dude I had one too. Not to mention that 24" rear is bomb proof as heck
  • 2 0
 ^^ hopefully the bike park you ride at has trails made of pavers since you don't have a front brake. Your ass is gonna be slidin all over the trail
  • 4 0
 My old Rocky Mountain RM7 had a 24" rear as well...never held me back from having fun, and it never broke.
  • 6 0
 There's a guy at mammoth that still has the 24" rear big hit with ghetto tubeless setup and 90mm stem. He's super fast while getting retro.
  • 1 2
 @angrynipples I ride mostly at mt snow vt, and almost never use my front brake while actually riding anything thats not a street bike. we slide along just fine
  • 1 0
 slowchildren, i cant imagine you riding that thing down a real trail with any sort of control. mountain bike know it alls: isnt it 70% front and 30% rear for braking?
  • 1 0
 Yup (minus cornering) unless your a goon who's thinks any time they touch the front brake they get ejected over the bars
  • 1 0
 You're*
  • 6 0
 www.pinkbike.com/video/395599
www.pinkbike.com/video/368201

yes, you're right 70-30. when your trying to stop, not scrub a bit of speed. as i am tired and sore i would like all the speed i could get, and i don't like to slow down let alone stop. you'll see i have another park ride with both brakes, and i use them. its a different game, different trails. the mini bike makes the same trails I've ridden hundreds of times different and fun again, and isn't that what its all about? i don't care if you ride a boosted +27.5 moped, or a unicycle with a 154mm hub as long as its the ride you want. have a good season everyone
  • 3 1
 one day youre gonna wish you had that front brake on... it's your safety and theyre not that heavy. be safe
  • 2 0
 I saw a 24" big hit with 3" tires at Vail last summer. Also, if you want to feel like a pro go ride Vail, everyone else is a tourist and you'll feel fast as shit just getting down the mountain in one piece.
  • 1 0
 @Slowchildren2959: I can honestly say that Bullit was one hell of a bike, I had one and it was one of the most fun and most versatile bikes I've had, and I've had plenty. Either with Dorado, Boxxer WC or Totem, the bike would be fun as hell. The only thing I did that really made all the difference was setting up a DHX5 Air on the back and a solid front like those I've said. It is nimble as hell and I can see you're running a size "Small" just like I was which is even funnier, the bike just moves beneath you like nothing. Sometimes sketchy on the landings but a lot of fun on the air. (at 1,78 I should be running something between the medium and the large)

www.pinkbike.com/u/gnrendeiro/album/Bullit

Now you got me thinking on buying that one back from the guy I sold it to :p...
  • 23 0
 What happened to 'mini-DH' bikes? The Scott Voltage FR is a good example of a 170mm full-suspension/single crown bike that is certainly not Endure and 'all mountain' doesn't fit any better.
  • 9 0
 That's what I'm rockin now! Switched from a DH to Freeride since I suck at DH racing but I love jumping. I have way more fun at the bike park on a Freeride vs. DH!
  • 6 0
 I used to have a 180mm trek scratch single crown. Now riding a 160mm all mtn bike and I honestly saw no point in the scratch after switching. It was only maybe 1 pound lighter than a full DH Bike while not having really any better uphill ability. You might as well go dual crown if you're going to that route
  • 11 1
 the voltage has 180mm of travel and belongs to the 180mm single-crown Freeride-category
  • 9 1
 Its geometry! Freeride bikes are designed for fun, not racing. It's not about going up. I ride an ns soda at 180mm. It's so much snappier on tight berms than a dh bike, and way more overbuilt than anything made to climb, so it survives season after season.
  • 5 2
 Iv got a kona entourage that's 170mm where do I fit in???
  • 4 3
 I love how technical people try and get on here... It's all personal preference on what kind of bike you ride!
  • 2 1
 Because Nomad?
  • 4 0
 Kona 167!
  • 1 0
 Still rocking my 2010 Marin Quake! It is indeed a great FR/DH bike. I use it here in Tucson,Az for all the all mountain trails out here!
  • 1 0
 I was looking for such a bike, ended up buying a Banshee Darkside, put an XFusion Metric 180mm on it.
  • 2 0
 KONA STINKY
  • 1 0
 Enduro EVO, it's a pretty damn nice bike. Transition's DH bike can also be run in 180 mode.
  • 1 0
 That's what I'd be rocking(voltage FR)if anybody would have bought my M6, but nobody got time for dat... apparently.
  • 1 0
 I do have a big DH bike and I don't use almost never and what I do with it I could easily do with a short travel DH bike. The problem with the short travel DH bike is that it is too heavy to go up and limits your capability of riding outside bike parks (although a lot better then full DH anyway). And justifying having a short travel DH and an all-mountain bike is harder than justifying a full DH and an all-mountain :p.
  • 23 1
 8" suspension for when you want to ride away from a drop you landed just a bit sketchier than you'd have liked....
  • 22 0
 I like it how XC racing bikes are put in the same category with unicycles and recumbents.
  • 1 0
 My 150mm freeride bike is in that category too... =/
  • 17 3
 I thought I would never own a 29er. I have a knolly Chilcotin with carbon wheels, and it's an amazing bike. I rented a Kona process 111 which is a slack short travel 29er with chain stays as short as my 26" knolly. The Kona is hands down the most fun bike I have ever ridden!!!!! I'm going to try it out at the Mt.Bachelor bike park since I live in Bend. As they keep dialing in the geometry for the
big wheels I think 650b will become pointless. and for the naysayers I'm hitting 30 foot doubles at the jump park with no issues, in fact I like jumping better on the Kona than I do on my Knolly! Big hoops rule!
  • 6 1
 Friends getn his evil following this month. I may replace my norco range w/one.
  • 4 0
 I hear ya man, my honzo is essentially a dirt jumper with monster truck wheels. And boy is it ridden like one, wagon wheels are super fun to jump, so long as they're in the right bike.
  • 1 0
 My old transition bandit 29 was so much fun at any jumps track.
  • 1 0
 29ers can jump! The evil following is one the best 29ers out there, but im sure you already know that.
  • 3 1
 I placed an order for the Evil Following, but cancelled it after riding the Kona Process 111. The Geometry is just so dialed on the process. When I compared GEO numbers between the Process 111, Evil Following, and my Knolly Chilly, I noticed that the Evils's number's were almost spot on with my Knolly, and I like the feel of the Kona so much better, so I chose the Kona. Not as flashy as the evil, but I think the GEO is better than the Evil. So Upgrades will be avalanched tuned suspension, and Carbon wheels. New school 29ers will make 650B pointless.
  • 1 0
 @JMK92.. That paragraph makes me want a honzo. Been deliberating about having a 29er 'hardcore' hardtail. But at six foot four I wonder if getting the 'right' size might stop it being so fun, they're pretty huge. How tall are you and what size is your honzo?
  • 2 0
 Get the process 111 in an X-large. I did a 3 hour ride today with friend who was Doing a demo with Process 153, which is there 650b version of the process, he then jumped on process the 29" version, and with in two minutes said that he liked the 29er better, it's literally like a BMX bike that covers ground really fast
  • 1 0
 I wonder how the 111 would compare with the Transition Smuggler. They seem to share a lot of kit and have quite similar geometry. Also only 4mm travel difference at the rear and 10mm at the front.
  • 1 0
 @tobiusmaximum I'm 6 foot dead and i ride the 2014 medium/18". I find it perfect despite the extra size in the wheels. Its got such a low slung frame that i don't reckon you'd notice any extra girth on the bigger sized models. the bike itself is nuts. It seems to get better the harder you push it. I also have a commercial meta, which i love but theres something special about ripping past people on a daft steel hardtail that just so satisfying.

Im only tip is that I find the revelations on it to be really good, but not perfect. they actually don't flex or deflect noticeably at all, for a 29er fork. But the travel is very linear - pump them all the way up and then ride it like its a stout DJ bike Wink
  • 1 0
 Hard to say other than riding them both. I'm 6 feet even, and the large fits better than any other bike I've ridden. It just feels so perfect. Pinkbike has a review on the 111 and so does the bike bible, they all love the geometry and say it's probably the fun bike they have ridden..
  • 3 0
 I think with X1 becoming so popular that 29ers will come back as more companies ditch the front d. to get shorter stays and better Geo.
  • 1 0
 You are 100% correct. The benefit of the big wheels is just to large of a gap, as Geo's keep getting dialed in,
no one will want 650B for Enduro/All Mountain
  • 1 0
 And then where will 650b? Lol
  • 1 0
 650b will be on DH bikes, unless they figure out 29" hoops for downhill bikes. 10 years from now we will all be back on 26" wheels, lol
  • 16 0
 Yes, it's nearly 50/50 for DH vs enduro bikes, but almost guaranteed that DH bikes will still be 75% of the bikes there because their owners will ride park more often.
  • 3 1
 yea i live in whistler and its at least 75% dh bikes. you could ride the trails and have a ton of fun on an enduro bike right now but its gonna be another hot dry summer and when the trails start looking like the surface of the moon the smaller bikes just arent any fun
  • 1 0
 agreed. More riders on more diverse steeds, but more laps total on DH bikes.
  • 15 2
 Ya go ahead and ride your trail bike in the park. See how that works out in August when its clap city.
  • 4 0
 That's why I got a dh frame to build. My slope bike will be loads of fun until the bomb holes come.
  • 15 1
 Rigid SS 29er
  • 12 1
 luckily you'll be at the bike park. cuz if you ride a rigid SS alone in the forest and nobody sees you ride, are you still cool? Wink
  • 12 0
 Cant wait to take my recumbant bike to the park this summer!
  • 1 0
 i saw a husband and wife on a dh recumbant bike at wbp last summer. she was backseat driving him down easy does it
  • 8 0
 Who gives a f*ck what wheel size youre riding? I dont care if im on a 26, 27.5, 29, fat bike, or 27.5+ if im having a good time. I couldnt care less about your facts and science, pedaling efficiency or roll-over properties, I ride to put a smile on my face and forget about the workweek and problems in the world
  • 11 1
 First they got rid of 26' and now real DH bikes?
  • 6 0
 I deliberately bought a 140mm 'trail' bike instead of 160mm 'enduro' bike because I didn't want to be tempted into thrashing it in the park. Sure I could (and have done) ride a 160mm bike in the park and have no problems but everything wears out a bit faster when you're doing 10+ laps of the park in a day. That, and I'm not the best rider so the light components would be more likely to break too. So, trail bike for trails, DH bike for the park. Happy days.
  • 5 0
 This doesn't indicate that parks will be filled with Enduro bikes. IF, I ride a park this season, which I dont do often, maybe 1-2 times average / year it will be on an All Mountain bike. If I wanted to get 20 days in I'd buy a proper downhill bike. The parks will still be filled with DH bikes.
  • 7 0
 Need another poll:

Will you be riding a shiny newer DH rig (4 yrs old) or an older steed (aka not the new hotness, but is reliable as ever).
  • 3 1
 2008 Flatline for me.
  • 6 1
 2006 Stinky
  • 4 0
 2010 Driver 8...until it breaks I'm perfectly content.
  • 3 0
 2009 Stinky with 66 |,,|,
  • 2 0
 2005 Orange 223 with modern shock and fork.
  • 2 0
 2011 session 88 with 26 and I don't fall behind many 27.5, 29er, or 650b'$ on the down. Tried a 29er and not into waggon wheels but to each their own.
  • 1 0
 2013 Knolly Chilcotin but looking to make a switch to a Kona Taro 29er hard tail don't know why, don't ask me.
  • 1 0
 2002 darkcycles scarab.. off to alps again this summer for its 7th visit.. 4130 just let the stones smash...
  • 2 0
 I think that's a good point. In the past my primary bike, that go all the best parts, was my DH. Now, it's not even second in line, AM bike gets the new hotness, 29" trailbike gets the hand me downs, DH bike gets whatever parts I have left, & whatever used parts I can get a smoking deal on. They're ranked in order of how much riding they get. & budget for new DH frames is less than a G, & usually trying to keep it under 7.
  • 5 1
 As someone who's been trying to pull the trigger on a DH bike for the last 6 months....this 26 vs the world situation leaves me clueless as to what i should do. Is it a fad..is it not a fad...I have a 50/50 shot at whatever bike im buying being obsolete in the next couple years. Pretty hard to drop that kind of money with all this uncertainty. Decide already industry!
  • 4 5
 It's not 50 / 50 more like 80 / 20 in favour of 27.5 where dh bikes are concerned.
  • 4 3
 If you buy a 26er, you'll be able to get cheaper tires and rims soon.
If you buy a 275/650b, you'll be paying top dollar for tires and hoops.
All of the big guys, Specialized, Giant, Gt, Santa Cruz, Intense, Norco, Rocky Mountain, Commencal, Trek, ect
Have gone 275/650b, that means something.
The same thing was said about suspension and disc brakes as is being said about the new wheel sizes.
Are you going to buy a 1996 GT Zaskar? Nope!
  • 4 3
 I understand the bitterness that everyone has, no one likes to have the outdated model of anything, especially if they dropped nearly 10k on it. And humans as a whole are very resistant to change, so im not surprised of all the negative feedback to 27.5 even if it is better. It does make it a tougher choice from a buyers perspective. Im sure my AM 26 could handle some downhill trails just fine but i don't particularly want to drop in to trails wondering if my bike (and i) will make it through the other side. confidence is key.
  • 11 0
 Scott's got it down. The gambler can easily convert from 27.5 to 26 and visa versa. Certainly a wheelset and fork is much cheaper than an entire new bike.
  • 2 1
 Funny because the prices are raising so quickly that it may not be cheaper soon
  • 1 0
 I guess so. I just think it's nice to not have to worry about buying an entire new bike and knowing that you won't be missing out on the newest technology.
  • 4 0
 This is a question that's hard to answer with generic options... it really depends on how often you'll ride a park and what kind of trails you're riding when there. If you're sticking to smoother faster trails, then an AM bike is probably fine. If you're riding bomb holes all day long and repeatedly hitting things that will stress a bike with less suspension, then a DH rig is a better bet. I've ridden both my AM bike in the park on numerous occasions, and to me, it's just not nearly as fun as a big bike. I spend every other day I'm not in the park on my AM bike, but for those times when I'm on a lift, I'll probably always be on a DH bike.
  • 5 1
 To each his own....but as a 250# guy I rode 3-4 times at Whistler bike park on my AM 29er Norco SHinobi. It was fun, it did pretty well but it did take a beating - especially in Garbanzo zone. Im fortunate enough to have a new Aurum (which is a sweet ride if you are considering one) now and it is way better suited to the park. Just like tools, a bike is a tool and there is a right one for every job. But if I could only have 1 bike, it would be my 29er cause I can ride it everywhere. A DH sled is super fun to have, and Im sure my 29er will thank me after leaving it at home for 15-20 park days this year.
  • 4 0
 I still love to ride my '05 Devinvci Johnson in the park. Heavy bike, but indestructible. It has 26" wheels, which aren't going anywhere by the way. Think about it, is your kid going to go from his or her old 24" wheels straight to 27.5?
  • 7 0
 26" ain't dead !!! Long live 26 !!
  • 4 0
 26" will never die they have made some great mountain bikes, can still fly passed people on climbs rock gardens when they are on 27.5 and 29 then they just look at you at the trail centre
  • 6 0
 I'm driving a Dartmoor 26player 140mm hardtail in bikeparks! Die hard!
  • 2 0
 You are still young and flexible Wink
Wait till your old(er) Wink
  • 2 0
 @rockyflowtbay - I agree, but there is a little flaw with this poll. It asks to 'select all that apply'...there are a few of us lucky enough to have both a DH bike and an all mountain bike and I will ride both in the park. My DH bike 90% of the time, but will take my all mountain bike to ride Top of the World at Whistler and come down creekside at a couple of times during the season. It prob would have been better for the poll to ask what people would be riding the majority of the time in the park to get a more clear understanding of what people are purchasing if mainly looking to ride park.
  • 6 0
 Took my Chromag 150mm hard tail to Whistler last weekend. It was awesome
  • 2 0
 It's pretty simple. If the bike industry stops evolving and doesn't come out with new technology like suspension, longer travel, lighter bikes and bigger wheel sizes then sales decrease and people stop spending money. If there's nothing new then" I guess my old bike, fork, 26 inch wheel works just fine" Like many other industries, sales are driven by change and newer technology.causes people to justify buying new stuff. Let's face it, who doesn't like a brand new whip? 26 inch wheels worked just fine for years and still work great. Then came 29er's and all I heard from people were "its rolls over everything, it's so fast" Then came 27.5 for many who were not gonna subscribe to the biggest wheel size. Like many others said in earlier post, 27.5 DH bikes aren't really necessary for park riding if your just looking to rip around with your buddies and not race the clock. However the industry will do it;s best to persuade you otherwise, "You NEED a bigger wheel size, it's like night & day"

I say pick a wheel size that's best suited for your riding and roll with it. It's pretty hard to get a bad ride these days with all the new carbon, long travel, wide bars, tacky rubber, etc. There's far worse problems to have then deciding which wheel size is best.
  • 7 2
 2015 Intense M16 & 2015 Intense T275! Its gonna be a good year to ride!
  • 4 1
 Yeah buddy!!!!!
  • 2 0
 I think it has a lot to do with how trails are being built these days. Highland is the closest park to me, and there's really only 2-3 trails that warrant a full on DH bike. Most of the trails are groomed, flow trails. Fun for sure, but you don't need a DH sled for them. It seems like trails are going in that direction at a lot of places.
  • 4 0
 so for all the people saying 26 isn't dead..good news it isn't dead...but should you be in the market for a new bike...your options are just quite limited.
  • 3 0
 "Downhill bikes are as fun as ever... but the capabilities of modern all-mountain bikes are making it harder to justify owning two bikes." true, plus a proper bikes cost shitloads of money these days.
  • 2 0
 a dual crown hardtail? now that's something i would like to see...

anyway, intense m9 that is an absolute overkill for the bikepark i ride generally here in germany (beerfelden). i could do it with my enduro rig tbh. but hey, monster trucking everythings gives some kind of satisfaction, does it?
  • 4 0
 I'll be taking my 2012 Nomad on those obsolete 26" wheels and the 36 Fox fork that everyone likes to dump on. And I'll have a ball, just like the previous three years.
  • 2 0
 As much as I'd love to own several bikes, all I can really afford is my dh bike. So I use it for everything. A few weeks ago, I rode it to sandy ridge which I regret not doing sooner. For those who aren't familiar with those trails, there's a 4 mile climb to the top, then several very good single tracks down. An enduro bike would be the weapon of choice mainly for the climb. And it's just not open enough for a dh bike. Too many sharp turns that the demo doesn't like too much. But still, it's my go to local place for good ridding when the lift operated bike parks like skibowl or mt.bachelor aren't open. Or when getting a few Buddy's together for some shuttle runs isn't possible. My whole point being that I think a lot of people don't necessarily have the ideal bike for where they might be ridding that day. But can definitely have plenty of fun regardless. Everyone that wants to ride the bike park may not have a dh bike.
  • 1 0
 DH bikes can climb almost as good as any bike (since they have wheels and pedals) and they descend a lot better...wonder how I can justify to keep my enduro bike =)
  • 1 0
 Hm. Can´t say much more than the following: I ride both a DH bike (26 inch) and a Enduro bike (27,5 inch - Kona Process). The DH bike is my frist big bike and yes - its a lot of more fun, stable and forgiving than any trailbike. To me it seems like most riders that shows good skills on enduro bikes started on DH rigs and ride them for years beafore they swapt too endurobikes. I think - even at age of 46 - my skill will rise as I get more and more used to the DH rig as the season goes on. If I look at the spec of Kona Proces the hubs ( deore) are not even made for DH/FR use. Might hold up for a old guy like me but seems a bit strange to hype a bike like a do anything bike and then put XC hubs on it. By that I mean that not even Kona seems to think their enduro bike is for DH use. The poll seems like comparing oranges and appels- sort of.
  • 2 0
 @MagnePange

I'm in my early forties, I've been riding DH for 8 years now and before that I was riding my small travel bike up and down mountains
(kids call it "Enduro", I call it "Riding My Bike" ) I feel fast on both rigs but seem to enjoy my "small" bike more.

When it comes to parts, I've had formula hubs that didn't last a season before being scraped, parts are parts, there isn't much in Deore that I would be able to ride without replacing it in short order. That goes for many other riders too. Its just not built to do DH.
  • 1 0
 Riding the bike is the thing no matter what bike you are riding. Cheers
  • 1 0
 I am noticing a lot of All Mountain bikes are going to carbon frames as well. Me personally it would be nice if models were offered in both carbon and aluminum as well as 26" and 27.5. I know Carbon has come a long way but on the heavy stuff I just prefer an aluminum frame over carbon not to mention its a lot cheaper. Where I live there is maybe one trail that would warrant a full DH bike but a 160mm all mountain would still get the job done.
  • 7 6
 This topic is more relevant than ever, and I applaud Pinkbike for making this poll. I'm glad to see so many all mountain/ enduro bikes at the lifts. Most people don't realize the potential of these bikes until they take them to lift accessed trails.

And it makes me feel better about not owning a full on DH rig.... because let's be honest, nothing compares
  • 3 2
 will be funny seeing so many broken enduro bikes
  • 2 1
 I doubt it. You'd think there would be complaints going around of people who broke their enduro bikes at the park
  • 1 0
 IF you cant ride it, you'll break it. It doesn't matter what it is, your Dh bike, your enduro bike, your road bike, or your inferior sized gentiles. Go ride your freaking bikes and stop trying to put people down for having new stuff. See you in the lift line or on the uphill or on the downhill...... just stop hating!!!!
  • 5 1
 Even if i had an enduro bike i wouldn't bike park it. Your components would get destroyed.
  • 4 2
 Wishful thinking and bike-industry...Folding dh and xc in one still not working out after 20 years of trying. The idiots keep trying. Time better spent churning out two lines of great bikes. Small minds.
  • 2 0
 except it has happened to work... once: Canfield One
  • 1 0
 Compromise... however it's looked at. You can't have two extremes of performance in one bike. You can only straddle the middle ground. Sure the Canfield may be great but if you enter an xc race on a Saturday and dh race on Sunday.... You'll lose both days.
  • 4 0
 nothing does bike park like a downhill bike. Have fun trashing your $6500 boost 148 650b carbon rig.
  • 2 1
 I started mountain biking 3 years ago. I transitioned from BMX. I bought a 2011 Norco Range since I had no idea what I wanted to do and it was rated as the best do-it-all bike at the time. Been riding it hard on the north shore of BC and whistler bike park. Since I was riding mostly downhill, I figured having a downhill bike was worth it so I bought a used scott gambler custom build a few months ago. Big mistake! I have way more fun on my norco range and I didn't realize how capable it was until I bought my gambler. Gonna ride the gambler this season and if I still find I like my range more I'm going to sell it.
  • 1 0
 www.youtube.com/watch?t=100&v=xAkN6EI5cZk

Watch the video. Looks like whistler is making trails specifically designed towards AM bikes. Obviously not all trails and you'll probably still want a DH rig in the garbanzo zone.
  • 2 0
 Whistler, like any other bike park, is a business. Catering for a larger number of people, whether that be beginners or people with AM bikes, is going to increase the number of people using the park, give them a better return on their investments and promote more spending in the future. I've never been to Whistler (would like to though!) but to build and advertise some more easy runs makes complete sense to me. I do not believe for a second they will be replacing or smoothing out any of the tech stuff, and something tells me that with a bike community that big, there will be a million unofficial trails to get your hit!

And sorry if you were just being sarcastic Smile
  • 1 0
 You are exactly right. I went to whistler today, first time this season. A-Line, a black diamond, was easier than it has ever been. Anyone can ride it. Maybe not clear all the jumps but it's definitely novice friendly. There's an entry drop that's mandatory but very easy. Another obstacle is their GLC drop. It use to be fairly big, I was always too nervous to try it. Now it's basically like hopping a curb and they built a ramp up to it so beginners can roll down it. I saw a ton of AM bikes today, mostly giant reign and nomad. I'd say 60/40 downhill/AM. One of the shops is renting out giant reigns for bike park use.

But of course, like I mentioned in my original comment the garbanzo zone for the most part is not AM bike friendly. Way too technical and steep. Still a lot of runs on whistler where you would need a downhill bike.
  • 1 0
 pisses me of when I ride trails with shprt travel bikes. have e GT Zaskar and its hard to ride on rocks and roots too harsh. rode myfriends Slash on my downhill trails and its so hard tons of hits on small bumps. my 2010 Demo is everything I ever dream since my first Raleigh MTB back in 1989. endless 8 inch travel in the vivid 8 inches shock and I love my Boxxer makes me fill strong for big jumps and rock gardens. Downhill is in my blood, did som 50 more downhill races and never raced xc but I also love XC.
  • 3 2
 The reason the majority of park riders are still riding 26" gravity rigs is that in 2014 only a few 27.5 were introduced. For 2015 most of the big brands have switched. So unless you have a brand new 2015 Dh sled, you're rollin on tiny hoops and feeling all the brake bumbs on Crank It Up. No worries though your sick edit of your whip/kick out shananegins will garner likes all day long on FB no matter what size wheels you bring.
  • 2 0
 I run an rmx with 26" mtx's and a sc jackal With 26" Stypes so I wont have to worry about 27.5 ever because my rims are bombproof. I just have to keep a bunch of tyres and tubes laying around which I don't mind.
  • 1 0
 There is no option for 180 travel all-mountain/enduro. Cube Fritzz, liteville 601? That category needs to grow. The 2016 Fox 36 27.5 does not list it as available in 180 but the 170 version is easily converted to 180 according to Fox.
  • 1 0
 No option in the poll is what I mean. No reason not to have the best of both worlds.
  • 1 0
 Checkout pinkdog321, I've seen him "proofriding" the 26" 180 bike he's producing (26WURX) ..true core freeride !
  • 1 0
 Check pink dog 321 for 26" frame 180mm. Keep eye out for 26WURX.com. Under construction. 26" for the people!
  • 1 0
 26" 180mm made in USA I have put together a proto/geo test mule. They are ready for order. Manufactured for 26WURX which is my year old start up frame co. Check pink dog 321 for pics. Organizing a 25 frame order they will be manufactured by VENTANA. Please contact me for geo and plenty of pics. 26" is what we are passionate and dedicated to developing into the future. Cheers!
  • 1 0
 You can flip this argument. If you mainly ride the bike park a rig like the Pivot Phoenix Carbon can be built up light and runs a DW link so the pedalling efficiency is as good as some single pivot enduro/AM bikes. Fit a dropper, ride it to the top and smash the down slopes.
  • 1 0
 26 is dead, get your head out of the sand. Will the auto industry go back to the old style carburetor? I think some people (most people ) are resistant to change. And considering the average age of the contributors to this thread is about 25 years, its surprising that there is are so many not willing to try something new..

Just go and ride your bikes, when the parts break replace them with the like or upgrade. When it comes time to get a new bike, be willing to try something you've never tried. If your not willing to accept change, trade in your jeans and shoes for a loin cloth, whittle a stick into a spear and go back to the caves where you should be dwelling, Neanderthals....
  • 1 0
 The reason most people voted 26 is because they have not bought a new one, personally it's all about going out and riding, not wheel sizing, I went with the 2015 canfield jedi, I am happy with the 27.5 wheel's, and they have not been out for long, so it also shows that people do like it.
  • 1 0
 Jedi ........you lucky DOG !!!
  • 1 0
 The which bike your bringing depends on what park your going too aswell like by me in bike park wales its mainly am/enduro bike and a few full on rigs but other parks are a pure downhill rig is needed
  • 4 2
 I am seriously considering taking my 13 kg AM bike to the bike park instead of my 18kg DH bike, because it honestly is more fun to ride (because it´s lighter).
  • 2 1
 I know!!!!
  • 6 1
 Your Mom
  • 5 1
 more cushion for the pushin
  • 2 0
 180mm single crown for all those X-Ups I never ever do. Trek Scratch Air 9 covers all the bases though, especially if you're a skinny fuck like me
  • 4 2
 What will I be riding?
Well it won't be any of that FAT BS+ POS the industry is trying to shove down my throat,that's for sure!!
  • 4 0
 props to anyone still riding a dual crown hardtail
  • 2 0
 I'll be riding the same as last year and the year before that and the year before that. I don't need the latest trends or gimmicks to keep rolling.
  • 3 0
 26" all the way and 180mm of silky domain ;p
  • 1 0
 i wanted an option: "Whatever I happen to rent that day."
I could never justify another bike purchase for something I ride once or twice a year if I'm lucky.
  • 1 0
 how to be a joey:
build a santa cruz jackal with a marzocchi 888 at 200mm. Then where a chest protector under your white dress shirt. Saw a guy like this last year f'real
  • 2 0
 Ill be riding some ones ass all the way down the trail. cause they are so damed slow!
  • 4 1
 My amazing KONA PROCESS 153!
  • 4 0
 Probably a bike
  • 2 1
 Looking forward to seeing those enduro bikes with the single ply tires and wide carbon rims downloading the lower half of Whistler after a run in the Garbonzo zone.
  • 3 0
 this year? do you think i get a new bike each year?
  • 1 0
 A lot of people do. It's about the only way to not go broke. See when you sell a bike that's only a year old, it's actually worth something. I've had a new bike every year for the last three years and haven't spent any money purchasing the bikes except for the initial investment. Even better reason to get a job part time in a bike shop.
  • 1 0
 Proportionally I doubt you're better off. The biggest chunk of loss is made as you open the box and do the car park test. And you do that every twelve months. Yeah sure if keep a bike say five years, it won't sell for much, but would the loss be greater than five losses combined? Hard to say but I did raise an eyebrow when I read that buying brand new every year is the way to not go broke.
  • 1 0
 Oh sorry, I see now, yours is a tale of selling at the price you paid or more, right? If so, that's kinda skewed your theory.
  • 1 0
 It's how the bike industry has functioned for ages. Buy the right bike at the right price, then pass along the savings at the end of each year. It's really awesome for the seller and buyer. The only constant in life is change, so adapt or get left behind. Buying new bikes every year isn't about being rich.
  • 1 0
 Be specific. How are you not losing any money? If it's a legitate discount at point of sale then other people can get it too. If it's not, then huh? Pass on what saving? Have you sold for the price you bought?
  • 1 0
 buying new bike each year is just for style...
  • 3 4
 DH and free ride looks dead according to sales probably because the only people that can afford new mountain bikes anymore are nutless white-collar snots that would be better served on a road bike but want to have a rugged mountain bike mounted on their car to go putt around on flat singletrack.
  • 2 0
 It's a fuckin wheel size, ride what you want and don't let the industry tell you what to ride...but 27.5 is the dopest dope.
  • 1 0
 Pinarrello Dogma, the new one with the 15mm rear travel. Road it to the park, ride it up the hill and blast down with that rear soaking up the trash
  • 1 0
 My Nomad 3. One bike to rule them all. Since our local enduro series likes to put stages on some DH trails it's good training too.
  • 2 0
 None of the above, all enduro frame with lowered 40's.
  • 3 1
 Who the hell still rides a hard tail with a dual crown?
  • 2 0
 2014 26" Canfield Jedi f#&k yeah.
Can't wait.
  • 2 0
 Haha love the recumbent option
  • 3 1
 I'll ride at the bike park, but I won't be doing so via the lift.
  • 2 0
 Jeez, who rides bike parks anyway...
  • 1 0
 Bike Parks....mmm...light weights. Get your and ride up the hill and ride down.
  • 2 0
 carbon unicycle made in Vietnam by child labour. win
  • 2 0
 best answer would be... yo momma! haha get it?
  • 1 0
 What? No 29+ option?! Im taking my new stumperjumper and shredding those double black circles or whtaever you call them.
  • 3 0
 long live the 26 !
  • 2 0
 Rockin that `99 Intense M1 like a boss
  • 1 0
 yeah buddy!!
  • 10 11
 DH and Freeride are dead. So are small wheels. It's all about big wheels and carbon. Bike parks and jumps are out. Only hill climbing.
  • 3 2
 No need for lifts w/e-bike 275+, haha.
  • 3 1
 DH and FR are dead. tell your boyfriend!
  • 1 0
 DH and Freeride R ded!!
  • 1 0
 Tell ur boy friend!
  • 1 0
 C-Dale Perp is all I need.
  • 1 0
 Transition BottleRocket with some sweet BOS stuff for the WIN!
  • 2 0
 26 IT'S THE NUMBER!!!
  • 1 0
 As long as I can get a three speed internal hub I'm good
  • 1 0
 Facckkkk yeah hardtails !!!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 Dual crown hardtails!? Wtf?
  • 5 4
 I'll be ridding 27.5 - ...ahem ..
  • 4 3
 Hate 27,5, but i'll ride on them due to unavalability of 160 26' bikes
  • 3 0
 Banshee rune...
  • 3 1
 Why do you hate 27.5?
  • 9 1
 ^ cuz that's how you become a mountain biker. you choose a wheel size and be an indignant little dick about any other wheel sizes.

f*ck 29ers, f*ck 27.5" and f*ck 26" man. 26.75 is gonna be the next big thing, mark my words... and then 26.375".... what a f*ckin scam
  • 2 0
 I'm old enough to have seen all the gimmicks come an go So guess what's next... Hey kids we've discovered a new wheel size that's lighter, stronger an stiffer.it's also more agile It's called 26inch
  • 1 0
 Il being riding my unicycle down goats gully and crab apple... No big deal
  • 2 0
 Ah bike with 2 wheels
  • 1 0
 27.5 on the front & 26 on the rear ftw
  • 2 1
 I am rolling my 1992 Giant Atc full ridged!
  • 1 1
 I actually have a fully rigid 26" coaster brake single speed that I'll be riding this year. So watch out for me!
  • 2 0
 fat bike 90mm wide.
  • 1 0
 canfield one... 8'' travel am/downhill bike
  • 1 1
 26is dead?
That's why a lot of companies still market 'park' bikes
.....
Lick my b#lls you dumb f#cks
  • 1 0
 支持26
  • 1 2
 What about Cyclocross bike?
  • 1 3
 giant trance x0 for me !







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