stiingya

cool looking bike. But what is it the Swarf does that someone didn't already do? Genuinely asking, though I admit I didn't spend too long looking...

See, if they would have made any of those enduro bikes with seats a little steeper and head tubes a little slacker they might have won instead... :)

Bbbbbbbuuuuuuuuttttttttt it's not a 29er

@freestyIAM: or maybe it's your phone? Pics look great for me?

Dam that's nice.... Would be terrified to ride it though.... Scratching that gold leaf would be sad

...was not in the test. There, I finished that statement for your. :)

@yzedf: Random guy who wants to spend a grand on a new bike isn't what keeps the lights on at BP. The majority of the content they provide needs to be relevant to their "core" viewers/PB accounts/people who are likely to be spending money with BP's advertisers. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with having budget hardtail shootouts. They are great! And as you say a gateway drug and SEO to get new clicks to BP. All good things! But I am saying, and I think the guy who started this comment thread who you replied to was also getting at is that while looking at nine thousand dollar bikes is fun. It's not as relevant to what the majority of the people reading these field tests are likely to spend on a new bike. (neither is a grand) I guess it makes sense for bike manufacturers to mostly send high end builds for tests. They want to get the best review possible so you have the best impression of their product when you walk into a bike shop looking to buy... Flip side is that it would be nice to get more relevant info on the bikes we'd actually spend our money on!

@yzedf: #1 from other comments they have been riding a Pole Machine. So likely all of their field test feedback is "tainted" by a bike that was not included in the field tests that has some pretty extreme geo??? #2 if your tall but have short legs than it makes sense that a slack STA isn't as big a deal to you. Most tall people also have long legs which mean were sticking the seat WAY up in the air. the farther UP it goes also the farther BACK it goes due to the angle and you end up further over the rear wheel and then on steep terrain your bike sits further into the rear travel throwing your weight even further to the back. A steep STA fights against that. A steep STA and extending reach so that your cockpit length stays the same is essentially optimizing your bike for the two extremes of steep UP and steep DOWN. (which for most is where you want your bike to excel?) Fortunately if you find them too steep it's easy to use a layback post and if needed also size down to get to "old school" geo feel. But, I kinda don't get your logic when your on a bike with a really long reach and an old school slack seat tube angle and you have to size down to a large because of it. They extended reach without steepening their seat tubes and it just makes them feel really long and stretched out, you have to be flat back like a roady for seated climbs on those things!!! :) Also, your downhill bike must be a pretty decent climber? OR your Sentinel shock/set up was really clusterflucked...? It sounds like we at least both can agree on taller head tubes? :) (of which Giant has usually been really good about) On the climb switch thing. I have never rode a switch infinity. So maybe it is really the holy grail of plush but also a supportive climbing platform? But so far every bike I've spent time on that had some kind of mechanical system/leverage curve to create a climbing platform was never as plush. I mean it's not that it's detrimental, various DW, VPP, Maestro, etc. You get them feeling good and it seems like they are totally plush and all. But then you go back to a Horst link in Open and it just feels like it's so much smoother... It's like when you ride a new fork VS one with the seals broke in and the stiction worked out? I mean honestly I'm good with most modern suspension designs. And for sure there are tons of bikes I've never rode on, or rode enough to know. Just think that there is still merit in a climb switch. Heck, when my legs get tired it doesn't matter how good the suspension is. I'm still flipping that switch! :) Anyway, Santa Claus is coming to town...

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