PINKBIKE FIELD TRIP
Four $3,000 (and under) bikes put to the test on Sedona's unforgiving trails
Words by Mike Kazimer, Photography by Anthony Smith4 Trail Bikes Under $3,000* USD
Kazimer's Pick
It's Commencal's Meta TR that takes the top spot on my list. It has a great blend of quickness and stability, which means that climbing isn't a chore, and it punches well above its weight (and amount of rear travel) on the descents. It'd be an ideal bike for the rider that's a little more focused on the downhill portion of the equation, but still wants something that's entertaining on all the parts of the ride that happen before gravity takes over.
The parts spec is excellent for the price, all the way down to the little details like the comfortable lock-on grips. Yes, I would have preferred 4-piston brakes over the 2-piston SRAM Level T's, but at least there's a 200mm rotor up front, and it's not something that would need to be swapped out right away.
Mike Levy and I don't agree on much, but in this case we both reached the same conclusion – if we had to choose a daily driver out of these four bikes, it'd be the Meta TR Ride.
Levy's Pick
When talking and comparing bikes, something Kazimer and I do every now and then, I'm usually the one leaning towards whichever machine is more "nimbly bimbly.'' Kazimer's words, not mine, and his sorta mean way of describing bikes that lean towards the quicker handling, firmer-feeling end of the spectrum. But not this time. This time, it was the gray Meta TR, a 130mm-travel trail bike that nails that balance between all-day-ability and send-all-the-things.
While the YT would usually be more my thing - it's a better climber than the Meta in my books, and more playful on the way back down to boot - Sedona's rough terrain saw me reaching for the Meta TR when I had the choice. The Commencal seemed the least fussed of the group in those settings, and it's simply the bike that I had the most confidence and fun on. I mean, that's all the reasons I need, right?
Photos: Anthony Smith
Additional footage: Lear Miller
Who crashes more because their brakes are bottom end 4 piston vs top end 2 piston? If you ride your bike a reasonable amount, you know how the brakes work. You brake incorrectly, you crash. It doesn't matter which brakes you are running.
If you think better suspension is really going to fix your f*ck up on the trail which leads to a crash, you probably need to stick to commenting on the internet rather than pushing your skills to the point where they aren't enough and you crash.
Maybe I don't ride expensive enough bikes to understand your comment. Maybe us plebs need to try top of the line carbon wheels, or forks filled with unobtanium, or exxxtra virgin oil filled shocks so we know the difference, but to me, I can't recall a crash that was due to my bike not being high enough spec...
For me an interesting test would be to set some budgets say $3k, 5k, 7k and see what you would buy / build / upgrade within that budget - kinda like what most people do.
When is the last time you avoided a crash because you were riding a Lyrik Ultimate rather than a Revelation RC? If you think any decent racer couldn't smash a track on basic suspension at far higher speeds than any weekend warrior on top end parts, you are dreaming.
I don't doubt in top level racing there is a speed benefit to be had from better suspension, but if you don't ride your bike enough to know how your fork reacts, then you're going to be crashing no matter what you are running.
Safety is more about understanding your equipment, not, as the H&S gang at work would have you believe, spending as much as possible...
As for having a more pleasurable ride on more expensive equipment - 100% agree. I would still be very interested to see a double blind test on a variety of suspension products, not sure it would be as clear cut as the fork colours might have us believe I can't see manufacturers lining up for it though!
You might just crash marginally faster because tires and suspension allowed you to go slightly faster comfortably on the high end bike but that's about it and it is a very small difference anyway compared to skills and fitness.
Additionally since 99% of people (including me) riding mtbs have little clues how to set up suspension it doesn't really matter if they are riding an high or mid end one.
In the uphill though, you will really feel those 2 to 3 kg of difference. A 16kg trail bike in 2020 ? At this point just put a dual crown DH fork and take the lift.
However, you can't overlook the energy cost of riding lower-end bikes - you probably are more likely to crash (and no a top-tier fork, etc. won't prevent a costly error leading to crash) if you're fatigued from any extra effort put out. The margins might be thin, but top-shelf parts will be lighter and require less effort on the rider's part.
2 seconds difference over a 3 minute track could easily be hashed up to luck - but if nearly everybody comes in 2 seconds faster on the higher end bike then that shows something.
Maybe for lower and mid level riders it makes nearly no difference, where as for higher level it makes more difference?
Does it make more or less difference for people who are fit? Like if you're a regular cyclist and in shape does it matter more than it does for a weekend warrior?
More times is more good imo.
(If you do shuttling or especially bikeparks you can prefer Clash.)
AM vs TR can be variable and its up to everyone. With AM you will be faster on harder tracks. With TR you will enjoy Flow trails and smaller jumps more. Lot of +- but you won't do big mistake if you have doubts either with AM or TR.
They have been content to figure out ways to milk more money out of their wealthy core customers rather than do anything truly innovative. This group has
shown an incredible willingness to pony up ten grand every year for the latest CC AXS build and new colors. Everything they do is about not annoying this group of dentists, doctors, lawyers and c-suiters who buy their bikes.
Compare the Megatower to the new Enduro and their totally mailed in effort of an ebike to the Levo and Santa Cruz’ problems are obvious.
Also, class leading can be a bit of a trap. The Bronson isn't the longest, or slackest, or flashiest (gray), but it is a very well balanced, trail eating, climb smashing bruiser. Do yourself a favour and maybe not drink the collective PB kool-aid dentist only blah blah blah. You keep calling me a dentist...I'll keep enjoying my SC. Cheers and have a good one!
In 2018 I decided it was time for another upgrade so I spent a couple of weeks at Whistler and demoed a Bronson, Spartan, Enduro, SB6, Range and a Slayer. They were all decent (although I never really got the feel for the Slayer). They were so close in fact that it really did just come down to price/parts. I will never say Santa Cruz makes a bad bike because they don't. They make bikes just as good as everyone else, but like Yeti they cost more for any given level of component spec and in my opinion that's just a no-go for me. Like you. I would have bought the Range there and then if they had one for sale in my size but ended up with the Spartan as it was ever-so-slightly better equipped than the Enduro for the same price and I found water bottle access was better for me.
As much as I loved riding the SC, there is no doubt in my mind that anyone riding one bought one because of the name and not because of any inherent performance advantage. Not to say that's an invalid reason for buying a bike, but when it boils right down to it that's the only reason I can think of for somoene buying a Yeti or Santa Cruz. Truth be told it's partly the reason I bought my wife a GLC AMG rather than spending half the money on a more practical and reliable Ford (though the AMG does have a significant performance advantage).
I was at a test event where you could ride all the highend rigs of lots of brands in park.
Before that event I was wondering how much difference I would feel from all those bikes.
All of the highend bikes had pretty much the same components
with Fox Factory suspension , Sram Eagle drivetrain and Sram brakes.
Well I couldn't feel much difference between the bikes.
In fact the choice of tires and the geomtery made by far the biggest difference.
There are really not much bad bikes around anymore. But I thinks that's good so we have more options to spend our money reasonable.
You... you... you... Dentist!
With your skill to do what only a handful of people can do, which has only been nothing but a boon to mankind’s health and longevity! You and your stable job for which you receive a higher than average salary!
Haha!
Ibis, etc.
Pivot,
(Also have good words to say about YT)
Regardless, the content here was definitely good quality - Keep it coming PB.
One could argue the Kona Honzo ST is in the same category as the Norco, at a price point that's $900 less (Minus the slack HT angle that you'll find on the Norco).
Rootdown has a Lyrik Select vs Torrent Lyrik Ultimate
Rootdown has Sram G2 RS brakes vs Torrent Code R
Rootdown has GX crankset vs Torrent NX crankset (100grams, woopity doo)
***Rootdown doesn't include a dropper post*** Extra $260usd, making it more expensive than the Torrent.
They even have the same 64 degree head angle and 76 degree seat tube and their Size larges are almost identical in geometry.
Just buy a 50km ridden Stumpjumper for 40% off because the dude bought an Levo.
Lot of people do it and you get absolute steals- most often with upgraded parts
I know 2 of them where I used to live until 1y ago, too bad they both use one size shorter than I do, I saw some smoking deals being done on really pristine bikes.
For instance, for almost the same price, you can get a complete bike at Stanton with a RS Pike, Stan`s Arch1 wheels, Guide RS brakes... and a Reynolds 631 frame with beautiful colors, 100% handcrafted in UK.
www.stantonbikes.com/product/switchback-631-next-gen-uk-complete-build
So yeah, once again wants your money but won`t give you what you would deserve for such a price.
Only the Switch9er UK and the Switchback FS are truly made in the UK.
And Made in Asia is a plus when talking about bikes- as they have way better technologies than us
Also any of you had the balls (and lack of common sense) it takes to ride the white line??
Spoiler alert Mike!
youtu.be/ji2Gf_WPKYo
I agree that Chromag is the leader in steel hardtails though.