2019 Pinkbike Awards: Value Mountain Bike of the Year Winner
Tag on "value" to "Mountain Bike of the Year" and it conjures up images of less-than-desirable components and second-tier frame construction. This year's winner, however alters that perception in every respect. It's not perfect, but it makes a good case for it.
Before we break the news, this is a good time to point out that this year was the first since we began our year-end awards that the landscape of value priced, high-performance mountain bikes was well represented. So much so that selecting our four nominees; the Vitus Escarpe, 29 VR, Marin's Alpine Trail 7, Ibis' Ripmo AF, and Guerrilla Gravity's Trail Pistol, was more of a celebration of a new and welcome era than a heated debate here at PB. So congratulations to all the nominees, including our surprising winner:
VALUE MOUNTAIN BIKE OF THE YEAR
Guerrilla Gravity Trail Pistol
Carbon front triangle, made in Colorado, competitively priced, and you can customize its spec and ride dynamics.
Guerrilla Gravity Trail Pistol
Carbon front triangle, made in Colorado, competitively priced, and you can customize its spec and ride dynamics.
Guerrilla Gravity’s 29-inch-wheel Trail Pistol emerged from our most recent Field Tests as a surprising favorite. Labeled in the downcountry category, it proved itself worthy on the climbs, and wowed us with a mixture of capable handling at speed and downright enjoyable manners everywhere else. Standard builds feature impressive component selections, beginning at $3,695 and topping out at $5,895 for the Race model featured in the Field Test review. The frame only is priced at $2,195, which isn't far off from the price of an aluminum frame from many other companies.
Keep in mind that we're talking about a made-in-Colorado frame and that price becomes all the more impressive. It's also worth noting that there's a difference between a good value and something being 'cheap." Even the entry-level Guerrilla Gravity will still cost you a decent chunk of change, but when it's compared it to other carbon bikes, the value becomes evident.
New for 2020, the carbon version of the Trail Pistol features a flip chip on the upper link that alters the suspension feel from firm to supple. Up front, a similar flip chip arrangement at the headset lengthens or shortens the reach by ten millimeters. Add that adjustability to its modern numbers and already dialed-in handling and you get a machine that can make almost any trail rider happy.
Guerilla Gravity goes one step further by offering customers the option to tailor their component selections and even offers custom colors and the ability to purchase a different swingarm to convert a bike from one model to another. Oh, and there's a 'secret menu' version of the Trail Pistol called the Pistola that has 130mm of rear travel (up from 120mm) thanks to a longer stroke shock. That's a lot of options for a bike that claims to be a cross-country oriented trail machine, but that's how Guerrilla Gravity rolls.
The Trail Pistol's rival nominees also scored high marks for handling, component selection and value. The Ibis Ripmo AF earned our respect for the most bang for for the least amount of bucks, followed closely by the long-legged Marin Alpine Trail 7 and downcountry Vitus Escarpe 29 VR.
Guerrilla Gravity's Trail Pistol, however, takes the win for Value Mountain Bike of the Year because it offers a customizable, elite-level chassis and (thanks to its direct-sales model), builds priced almost a thousand dollars below the most well respected brands. Plus, it's an opportunity to own a truly customized, made-in-USA boutique bike with a distinctive profile.
Congratulations to Guerilla Gravity's Trail Pistol: 2019 Pinkbike Value Mountain Bike of the Year.
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Value doesn't necessarily mean cheapest. Reasonably priced top quality carbon that could change the industry vs the best bike that costs the least and they picked the former. Plus who cares, these awards don't mean anything.
Couldnt agree more. Who cares. Im not going to buy a bike based purely on BS award.
This is just a guess but my thought is that for those of us on a budget we are going to use a "hook up" if its available or get last seasons at a discount.
That being said, I read almost every bike review and enjoy the varying perspectives.
Great work!
P.S. i think i bought my slash after it won bike of the year. Cant really remember though, ive been kinda drunk lately
"I'm sorry, the answer is Moops."
Like other people have said, I voted with my wallet. Whatever floats yer boat. The industry needs volunteers to buy carbon bikes for inflated prices and flip them a year later for half what they paid in order to buy the next year's latest inflated carbon. When that cycle gets old, bikes like the AF start to make a lot of sense.... But that never gets or for bike websites so their perception is skewed from normal people.
Dont you know anything?
Also I fail to see how „made in Colorado“ adds anything to the value of the bike.
Value and budget are not the same thing.
A true nihilistic German you are.
Also "value" itself is highly subjective, which is why this comment section is such a dumpster fire.
Yes I would support a small company from my Country but not because of the labour conditions (that means that I shouldnt buy anything made in China- good luck with that).
Way to excuse yourself from any conscious buying decisions.
A true nihilistic German you are.
To say nothing of the laughable environmental "restrictions" for Taiwan or any other Asian country. As someone who works in the industrial waste treatment world, they don't do phuck all.
From the Trail Pistol page on the GG website: "Frame material: Revved Carbon Technology with 6061 aluminum rear triangle". Sounds like half carbon to me.
Literally, the frame only, is priced at $2,195. The shock is an additional $300-1100. Again - cool that you can choose from 6 shocks to purchase with your frame. But the way that PinkBike words it is quite misleading.
Looking at it objectively, they offer a half carbon bike that weights the same as aluminium and costs a bit more than a carbon YT or Canyon.
Which is not bad, but nothing mind-blowing either.
You can read more about our new carbon fiber process below:
www.RideGG.com/Revved
I have tried many times to check out your "revved carbon". But each time I only find marketing bs that tells me nothing about the actual material. I'm certainly not saying your tech is not legit, it just seems to me that you have some smart folks working with an interesting material but are hiding all the actual info to protect trade secrets. I guess that's fine, but it really sucks to get stoked on something just to get a steaming heap of marketing. Those graphs are truly woeful.
I'm guessing that you are using some fancy thermoplastic composite, that would be pretty neat.
Also, can we just stop saying that things are "carbon". They are carbon FIBRE reinforced composites (or polymers if you prefer). It's painful enough seeing and hearing "alloy" used for aluminium alloys.
beer tastes good
www.vitalmtb.com/features/Revolutionizing-Carbon-Bikes-with-Guerrilla-Gravity-The-Inside-Line-Podcast,2613
Stepping up the game of Future proofing your next new bike. 2020 vision.
And let's be honest, it does seem like a great buy...
GG IS a Great Value, you get an awesome bike at very competitive pricing, with lots of customization and best of all you don't end up with cheap looking and sometimes low performing "in house" parts that you turn around and pay more money to replace after you just paid for a new bike...
GG bikes are made to order individually to meet a specific customers needs, so there is not a great opportunity to sell something at 3000 VS Ibis can buy in bulk based on prior years sales, dealer orders and has a higher sales volume to work with to get down to a lower price point.
ALSO, aesthetically I think the GG frames are way nicer than Ibis of late. The HD5 is pretty nice, but the curves and decending tapers and overly swooped tubes of most of thier new frames just doesn't do it for me, especially the smaller frames. ( One of the few times XL frames are better looking!) The AF is a little better than the Carbon Ripmo, and the new Ripley a little better than that. And I'm not saying I wouldn't ride or buy one because if looks. I really liked the demos I did on the Ripmo, nearly bought one a couple times. Great bike! Just that i've heard several comments about the GG looks and I don't agree...
www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/radon-swoop-al-10.0-913003
The geometry, sizing and alloy construction meant the bike fitted me at 6'5" and 240ibs, alhtough a bit more reach would've made the bike perfect. I would have considered buying another, in the 130 Pistola setup, but the move to carbon has dissuaded me, as it's not a material suited to big riders. All the same, good to see the chaps and chapesses at GG continuing to be a success.
Or was there also a category for budget bikes?
YT Jeffsy: starts at $2699
Santa Cruz Hightower (aluminum): starts at $2899
Ripmo AF: starts at $2999
Fezzari Cascade Peak: starts at $2999
GT Sensor (carbon): starts at $3250
Fezzari La Sal Peak: starts at $3599
Youll need to add aprox. 10% for shipping and on top of that 20% because of VAT- and about 3% import tax.
The price will be the same as an Santa Cruz CC frame (on sale)- but youll get the alu chainstains and not full carbon.
And if something goes wrong you wont have a near shop to fix it or send replacement parts sadly.
pedalsbikecare.co.uk
Pretty nice value even after the import duties and they look great! Will post some links after I get into the shop. ????
They are 'fine' but lack availability of key service parts, like any RS product. And we hate that. The shorter travel GG frames like the Trail Pistol we are doing with Cane Creek IL Air or Coil, est RRP is £2550. With a shock that's fully adjustable and really good.
You are actually pretty bang on with the calcs except currently our shipping is a bit higher (then we have to ship it to you!) and there are pretty drastic fluctuations in our currency at the moment. A frame Inc RS Delux would indeed be about £2500, but we decided not to get any. Instead we are making people fork out an extra £50 for a fully six way adjustable CC IL ???? Much better shocks, and a great fit for these frames.
I have a size 3 "revved" Trail Pistola (set up with a 130mm rear shock and 140mm MRP Ribbon Air) and it weighs 29 lbs. Sure, it's a pound heavier than my previously-owned Ibis Ripley V4, but it's also more capable and it's right in line with the weight of any comparable bike on the market.