Editors' Choice: Our Favorite Parts From the Value Bike Field Test
VALUE BIKE FIELD TEST
Editors' Choice
Editors' Choice
After putting lots of hard desert miles in on the four hardtails and five full-suspension bikes we had on hand for this year's Value Field Test it was time to pick some favorites. We decided to highlight the components that impressed us the most, the ones that we'd happily run on our own bikes, and that perform well above their 'budget designation.
Fork: Fox 34 & 36 / Grip damper
Fox's Grip damper equipped forks are simple and effective – a dial is used to adjust the amount of low-speed compression, and there's a very useable range of settings. It doesn't have the high-speed rebound and compression adjustments found on the higher end Grip2 damper, but honestly, for most riders this fork is going to be perfectly fine. We were all able to find settings that worked well for us, and didn't have any issues with 34 or the 36 on the unforgiving Tucson trails.
It's worth mentioning that there's a sizable price difference between the RockShox 35 forks that we weren't as impressed with – the 35 retails for around $500, while a 34 Performance is $800, so pitting those two against each other isn't exactly an apples to apples comparison. Still, the Grip damper forks deserve the recognition, and would be a great upgrade for riders who are on more entry-level suspension.
Honorable Mention: DVO Diamond D1
Somehow Fezzari managed to spec a DVO Diamond on a bike that retails for less than $3,000, an impressive feat in itself. The Diamond has all of the features you'd expect from a high end fork, including DVO's OTT feature that makes it easy to adjust how sensitive the fork feels during the beginning of its travel. The Diamond retails for $1,000, which means it's not going to be the way to go for riders on a budget, but its performance and adjustability earn it an honorable mention.
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore & SLX
Shimano's Deore and SLX drivetrains continue to impress, delivering quick, consistent shifting time after time. The fact that all of Shimano's 12-speed drivetrains, from Deore up to XTR, all use the same freehub body is added bonus plus. That means that riders who want to upgrade to a lighter cassette in the future won't need to buy a different freehub body at the same time.
Brakes: Shimano MT500
For less than $100 per wheel, Shimano's MT500 brakes offer a very good price to performance ratio. There's plenty of power for general trail riding, and we didn't experience any consistency issues with the sets that we had in for review. The MT500s typically show up on bikes spec'd with resin pads and less expensive resin-only rotors, but if you're buying them aftermarket making the upgrade to metallic pads will improve their wet weather performance (something we didn't need to deal with at all in the Arizona desert).
SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger
There's nothing worse than shopping for a derailleur hanger only to find out that it's going to cost $60 to replace it. SRAM's been working on changing that for the last few years with their Universal Derailleur Hanger, and it's great to see them showing up on less expensive bikes. A replacement hanger is only $16, and they're readily available from brick-and-mortar and online stores.
Tires: Specialized Butcher / Purgatory
Specialized revamped their tire compounds, and the new rubber is better than ever in the wet and the dry. The higher the number the stickier the rubber, so rainforest dwellers will be best suited by the T9 compound, and the desert denizens will likely prefer the T7 option, as least as a rear tire for more longevity on harder packed trails. Either way, at around $60 - $70 each, Specialized's tires are less expensive than many of the options from the likes of Schwalbe and Maxxis, and are a solid option for any bike build, budget or not.
Grips: ODI Motion Lock-On
It's not uncommon for value priced bikes to end up with grips that look similar to the more popular option on the market, except that they use an extra-hard rubber, or the dimensions are just different enough to cause discomfort. Luckily, two of the bikes we had in for testing arrived with ODI's Motion Lock-On grips already installed. They use a simple one-bolt design, with a relatively thin profile and a knurled pattern in the rubber for extra traction. That rubber is soft and very comfortable, a welcome feature when you're pinballing down a rocky trail on a hardtail.
It's not uncommon for value priced bikes to end up with grips that look similar to the more popular option on the market, except that they use an extra-hard rubber, or the dimensions are just different enough to cause discomfort. Luckily, two of the bikes we had in for testing arrived with ODI's Motion Lock-On grips already installed. They use a simple one-bolt design, with a relatively thin profile and a knurled pattern in the rubber for extra traction. That rubber is soft and very comfortable, a welcome feature when you're pinballing down a rocky trail on a hardtail.
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These tests take a lot of time and money to make happen, and we genuinely try to give riders useful, honest feedback about the bikes we review. We appreciate everyone's support!
These tests take a lot of time and money to make happen, and we genuinely try to give riders useful, honest feedback about the bikes we review. We appreciate everyone's support!
Saddle: Specialized Bridge
Saddles are obviously a matter of personal preference, but the Bridge's shape ended up working well for all of the testers. The rounded edges keep it from leaving bruises on the descents, and the depression in the middle helps keep blood flowing where it's supposed to. The Bridge is available in 143 and 155mm widths, and in a $60 Sport model with steel rails, or a $140 version with hollow Cr-Mo rails and Specialized's Mimic foam for even more comfort.
Trans-X Dropper Post
Dropper posts are no longer an optional accessory – they're a necessity, at least if you're planning on doing any proper mountain biking. That's why it's great to see simple, effective posts from Trans-X showing up as standard equipment. The travel-adjust feature on their +RAD post also deserves kudos – it allows the post's travel to be changed a few minutes, no tools required.
Trans-X doesn't have their full line for sale aftermarket, but if you're shopping for a new bike and it's spec'd with a Trans-X post there's a very good chance it's going to work exactly like it's supposed to right out of the box, and there won't really be any need to upgrade it in the future.
Frame: Commencal Meta HT AM
In many cases, companies only offer their lower priced models as complete bikes, rather than offering a frame only. Building a bike from the frame up can be a time consuming, tedious affair, and many riders just want to walk into a shop, pick something that fits their needs, and roll out onto the trails. However, for those who want to start from scratch the $650 Commencal Meta HT AM frame is a great starting point. The aluminum frame is very nicely finished, with internal cable routing, plenty of chainslap protection, and geometry that makes it extremely versatile.
The 2022 Value Bike Field Test was made possible thanks to Visit Tucson and Norrona clothing.
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But compared to the entry level, 2-pot Shimano or Tektro that come on other economy models, they function just fine. Would 4-pots be nicer on this build? Yes. Kona would agree too. But they sourced a plan B and it's fine. Want to upgrade? We'd do it for $100 a corner on the new build and then the rider gets nice, 4p brakes.
I'm starting to feel like @mikelevy can't dial down his bike-part-snob settings below 9 anymore to give things an honest go.
We review what we’re given, and these sucked. I’ve talked a lot about how inconsistent MTB brakes are these days, and it often seems like a bit of crap shoot as to what will work well. This doesn’t only apply to value minded bikes stuck with brakes that suck due to Roni supply issues, but also high-end bikes with high-end brakes.
down a steep hill?
Yeah you definitely have more of an insight than people who spent a whole heap of time riding, testing, reviewing, on actual rough dusty mountain bike trails.
It's a shame you can't dial down your review-reader-snob settings below 9 anymore to give things an honest go.
I won't vouch for Alhooonga's quality, and I'm not that serious about your (good or bad) judgement - that's your job! JUDGE IT ALL MIKE!!! haha. My shot at your bike snobbery is partly a shot at my own. It's easy to forget the privilege that comes with a steady diet of XT and AXS
I just felt compelled to offer some counter narrative as since your review was published, the "crap brakes" are all I heard about from the boyfriend that was playing bike expert for his girlfriend that wanted a nice, entry-level whip. She's on the bike, she loves it, he's like "nope, don't buy it - brakes are horrible"... argh...
I'm sure you know this, but your words have great power, and as they say - with great power comes great responsibility. ha. Keep up the good work.
I personally really liked the efficiency test and was genuinely surprised at how much the results varied between bikes. Those tests have made me think much more carefully about tire and tire pressure choice.
I've liked a lot of the ET videos we've done, especially the one from the XC/DC Field Test with the dust and logging trucks, but I also think viewers might get more out of the above video than me chugging up a gravel road a few dozen times.
DT Swiss 350, either as a complete DT Swiss wheelset, or laced to Spank rims (I'm heavy, so beefy wheels and rear hubs that can handle the torque are key)
4 piston SLX brakes (I've been running Zees for a very long time, but if I had to replace them, my wife's SLX seem to work really well and it's basically the same caliper)
12sp Deore or SLX (maybe splurge for an XT cassette)
36 Rhythm or Bomber Z1
Not sure about shock...
None of that stuff is light or flashy, but all of it's proven, works, and is sort of in the sweet spot of value for money (i.e., not cheap, but solid performance for a reasonable price).
youtu.be/LlDVpl6m7Hk
There’s another video where he films both going through the gears in slow motion which is well worth a watch also.
It's not in my opinion a very easy thing to explain, but it just seems to smooth out so much small chatter/bumps/square edges.
You still feel stuff, but it is so much less pronounced, it simply feels like the fork is just flowing around in the top 10 or 20 mills without trying.
I admittedly have not ridden a current top of the line 36/38/Zeb/Lyrik. The fork that got replaced by my 160mm Diamond D1 was a 160mm Fox 36 Rhythm with the grip sweep style damper. I never had one single complaint with that fork, honestly felt like it was pretty great. Looking back on it however it just sends much more feedback and chatter into your hands. Not to the point where I'd call it shitty, but in comparison, the DVO is just very very good. I would assume a Fox Factory or Rockshox Ultimate fork would be closer if not equal to the DVO.
I am worried maybe I'm a little biased and I don't want to dickride DVO too hard, but at this point I feel comfortable that my assessment is pretty good. I paid 800 bucks for the fork new 2 years ago and it sat in a box for a future build I never did. So at that point I was just bored and installed it on a rainy weekend a couple months ago, I wasn't super exited over shiny new stuff, honestly figured the fox would be better. Now I don't think I'll run another fork lol.
Got a set of the new Eliminators and they’re very good. Ran 16 in the front for a ride and had no problems.
If I had $650 to spend on a HT frame, I'd be saving up a little extra for a Kona Honzo ESD frame ($700). It has more aggro geo, sliding drop-outs, and is chromoly.
But yeah, I'd rather have an ESD, mostly down to my tendency towards singlespeeds.
The Fit4 on my 34 though was awesome and fiddle free once the sag was set.
What you’re missing is a front end that can seem to plow through terrain without swapping at the bars, and using a lot less travel than your recon. You’d really feel this in a rock garden.
That being said, I’m an ex MX racer, and having bars swap in your hands is what we call racing..
Personally if not buying oem on the front of a bike, I would be looking at Manitou Mezzer and Mattoc, as well as SR Suntour Durolux. They’re very affordable and provide exceptional performance.
- Stiffness / quality of components.
- Adjustment. You might only get air pressure and rebound adjustment on something like a Recon. But once you get into more $ you start to get compression and rebound adjustment or even a lock out. Then even further up the chain is dividing those into low speed and high speed versions of each of those. Manitou even lets you fiddle with air chamber deltas. It all allows you to better set the bike up to your preferences, and terrain you're on.
But last summer I was on a loaner Recon Silver waiting for a fork to come in and I was pretty impressed with it's performance considering the cost of it. And at the time the other forks I rode were; Fox 36 Factory, Fox 40 RC2, and Lyrik RCT3
A fork with a grip or charger handles all different sizes and speeds of impacts well when setup probably.
I've also had good experiences with Suntour. Pretty much the same performance as the big 2 for about 70/80 percent of the price. Just make sure you buy the mid to upper range suspension products. And I've had great customer service from Suntour as well but I also leave 2 hours away from a service center.
The faster you go, the more you appreciate a higher-end fork that stays composed, because it allows you to concentrate on the trails rather than having to put active effort into keeping the bike composed.
However, the thing that bugs me with SRAM/GX is how mediocre the cassette is and how fast it wears. I literally have only one bad gear that skips, but I have to replace the entire $230 cassette. If I want a longer-lasting cassette like the X01, I'm looking at roughly double that. Meanwhile, Shimano's M7100 and M8100 cassettes are both priced cheaper than a GX.
At this point I'm very much on the fence if I'm going to swap over to an SLX/XT setup or just suck it up and drop the money on an X01
Deore = SX
SLX = NX
XT = GX
XTR = X01
XX1 no shimano equivalent.
When there's a damn coarse thread wood screw for b-tension adjustment you're on sub-Tourney territory.
XT is better than GX, GX vs SLX and NX is destroyed by Deore. SX is plain disrespectfull.
youtu.be/LlDVpl6m7Hk
I have had really good performance with the shifting and brakes- 4 piston w/204 discs seem to stop well, but wear quick. Brakes are relatively easy to service though. My experience with the Shifting action is that it stays light, quick, and has had above average reliability.
Maybe I've been spending too much time in the Church of Manitou, but for context, the Charger 2.0 in my Pike feels great.
So, they already HAVE a better low end damper. They don’t need to replace the Charger 2.1 to kill Motion Control, even from a marketing perspective.
That said, after a year on a Performance 34 I completely agree with the review opinion that very few people need the adjustability of the Grip2. Fork before was a Pike RCT3 and after was a DVO Onyx and I’d say the Grip damper held its own against both.
@office: I have also noticed that the rubber seems quite good with my ODIs - not hard, but still durable. And it's cool that they manufacture domestically. Maybe I'll try one of their models with a larger OD.
Shimano Brakes
Fox (or DVO) Suspension
Specialized Tires
In other words: If you're on a budget and/or want good value...stay away from anything SRAM.
To be fair this DVO fork is a glitch in the Matrix, no one has and never will spec such a good fork on anything below $4k, this had to be a one time deal.