All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

Close-- JZX90 Mark II. Same underneath and inside but different doors, headlights, taillights. Thing's an absolute blast to drive. Everybody knows the chaser but not very many know the Mark II or Cresta, I get chaser a lot haha

 

I am contemplating a RHD car. I imagine there are challenges getting parts for those jdm cars that don't necessarily have a US counterpart?

 

But....






This last route allows a detour to Moab for some slick rock...

 

From the Website:

Santa Cruz Bicycles will repair or replace at its option any frame or rigid fork made by Santa Cruz Bicycles it determines to be defective in materials or workmanship. The warranty will be in effect for the lifetime of the frame or fork and is available only to the original owner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, frames purchased prior to May 1, 2015 are covered under the previously-existing warranty for five years from the original date of purchase.
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But.... you could always milk this angle:

No-Fault Replacement
In the event of a non-warranty situation, Santa Cruz Bicycles will make replacement parts available to the original owner at a reduced charge for the applicable warranty period described above.
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They have been known to find a way to get you a new-frame equivalent of your old rig if there is a defect and you're the original owner... swap parts over, newish bike day!!!***

Compatibility depending .... I'm too lazy to look that deep. My old 5010 (now the wife's bike) to my new Hightower, I think the only standard (aside from wheel size) was the shift to 110mm boost spacing on the newer fork.

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but....

 

Touche

 

Even though my 2019 isn't part of the original "dust up" with Lucas Films and Santa Cruz MTB, I refer to my 5010 as "SOLO"...

Edit: Link

 

I live a mile from SC Bikes and even know some people who work there (it’s a major local employer), and my bike was purchased in Jul 2015 so it has the lifetime frame warranty, but it doesn’t seem worth it. Mine is non-boost rear, so a new rear wheel; I’d hate to just get a Boost hub and relace my skinny old i19 rim onto that. So a new wider rim, but then I’d want to match the wheels, which means a Boost fork … etc etc. and then bigger tires for my new rims; I’m currently 2.2 front and 2.0 rear, Ikons. Then I might need a new crank, to get the right chainline, and a new chainring since I’m still running the old 2x crank as a 1x with a 30T chainring on a 104 BCD spider. Etc etc …

 

Wife’s NBD

 

Dissector finally went on after I strung the old tire along longer than was warranted.... will i hate it as much as @abacall thinks I will?

 

Bike recommendations?!

I've decided its time to put my trusty '09 Trek Fuel ex8 out to pasture (or rather sell it to someone looking to get on a FS for cheap). Obviously A LOT has changed since '09. I'm mostly a flowly/techy trail rider but realistically 15-20% of my riding will be on trails that have moderate length dh sections and want to be able to enjoy those as well. I am a mule & usually have an overloaded camelbak so while I don't want a 45lb bike a couple pounds isn't a concern.

Obviously actually getting a new bike isn't easily done as a prepandemic so availability is also a factor. My budget is ~$3500-4000.

For those that are riding in bikes in that range: what are you riding? What do you like? What don't you like?

TIA!


*edit:
*I've been looking at a YT Jeffsy (will ship in ~3wks)
*Ex wife & father-in-law both have Stumpjumpers and enjoy them.

 

Sweet

If you're anywhere near the Danbury area let me know I'll send you some great spots to ride!

 

My aunt is in Morris. I need to get down there this summer!

 

Dissector is a good rear tire. It doesn't brake or corner quite as good as a DHR2 or DHF but it rolls a little bit better.

 

Sounds like the 120-150ish range bike would be best. Stay on the shorter end if you value efficiency and like a little trail feedback, upper range if you put a higher value on that 15-20% of extended DH.

Most all bikes with modern geo/kinematics have become fairly pedal/travel efficient as a whole, so I wouldn’t get too hung up on lower travel ranges being XC only and upper being only ‘Enduro Bro.’

Personally I’m not too up to date on new pricing/builds in that range. Lots of used options in that price/travel range as your in the same category as ~60-70% of MTB consumers. That’s just my hillybilly math/guess, no data to back it up.

Main rides that come to mind that meet your criteria:
Ibis Ripley AF
Ibis Ripmo AF
Trek Fuel EX
Spesh Stumpy (and EVO)
Giant Trance
Norco Optic

I don’t know YT or Canyon models but they are likely worth a look.

 

Garbage, unusable! You've just ruined your bike and made it unrideable.

Nah, they're going to be fine. Just like most things nowadays, if it's a quality offering (which the Dissector is) you'll learn to ride a bit differently and adjust. It's just preferences, and I prefer something with more meat.
Enjoy and doing forget to

 

Yeah, living here doesn't suck. I'm preparing to flag in a trail through my back yard to the HandCut Hollow loop (gas company left me some flags, lol). There's a sidewalk across the street that goes down there, but it goes STRAIGHT down there and it is hard enough to walk it. I need switchbacks.

 

There's still a DHRII on the front (interesting spc from SC, but I've been plenty happy with it) so we'll see!

Honestly, the Dissector seems to have just about as much meat as the old tire had left, the side knobs arent falling off though.

 

Leaning towards the YT Jeffsy (core 2 is only one in my budget that is available) and a buddy has one and likes it. Or the Stumpy EVO or Evo Comp. Supposedly, a shop a couple hours from me has several different sizes in both Evo & Evo Comp so will head down Monday to get a feel for sizing and geometry.

 

Bikes and Tacos
What happens when an out-of-shape older fart goes mountain biking on a “hard” trail? …they get passed and winded.