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

Great write ups! I've thought of the trance and like the idea of more versatility just still not sure about trance and idk why. I almost feel like for 1100 more I can get the mojo 3 and be much happier. But I need to test all of these out. I'm not making my decision until then. I have sat in a reign back in 2015 and it felt right for me, but wasn't able to ride it much. One more month and I can go test them all out! I'm excited.

 

Yea, just go ride as many as you can. Look for free demos with vendors and local bike shops. The best thing you can do is find a bike festival where you pay a small fee (usually the cost of demoing one bike in a shop) and try all of them at once to get direct comparisons.

 

I found the evergreen mountain bike festival early June. Anyone going to this?
http://www.evergreenmtbfestival.com

 

I used to live there, that’s a great one to go to.

 

I have a first world problem. Been comparing the Pivot Mach 4 and the Santa Cruz 5010. I live in the fly over zone but I travel and take my bikes with me, do a lot of riding in Va and will eventually venture to SC and CO. Any of you guys have and experiences with either of these bikes?

 

I am a fan of the Rocky Mounts tandem rack. It worked great with both our Burley Rock'n'Roll and Ibis Uncle Fester

 

I cannot speak for the Pivot. I do have the 2018 SC 5010 c s build and do all of my riding between NC, WV and Ohio. Also, got to ride it once in Florida. It has been everything I could have asked for in a bike and more everywhere I ride. Climbs great, descends greater and is very snappy/playful. Test ride one before you buy and you'll be sold. Here's mine...

 

I have the ibis Mojo HD3 with the boost rear end. It’s my 2nd HD (and the only bike I’ve paid retail on in 8 years, had 11+ bikes in that time). If you plan on getting rowdy on the decents and want a bike that can climb I say look at the HD4. The HD3 handles the steep tech and chunk really well while peddling super well. I do 20-30 mile rides fairly regularly. On the steep climbs the front end will get light and wander more than a trail bike but it handles everything else well. If your looking for a bike that’s super fun the HD rules. I also own a specialized epic but the ibis is so fun I ride it on all but the super long rides. The Mojo 3 is extremely capable as well. For some back ground I live in Flagstaff, AZ (grew up in northern Utah) and ride Sedona, and southern Utah on the reg, been riding for 25 years.

 

Shred o'clock.

 

If the Nishiki really has steel hubs, or even crank, it’s not a usable mountain bike IMO. The GT looks much better. Tektro cable brakes are pretty good if you don’t go hydraulic. However ... don’t buy a bike at Dick’s or Wally’s, ever, or even REI unless you have no other local shop. Go to a local bike shop, get good advice, free demo (or demo credit if you buy the bike), then free fitting and setup, free tuneups for at least a year, and a parts and accessory discount. In return, you’ll support a local business, get the bike that works for you in local conditions, and with a good shop, a place that will help you out if you need a quick repair on a Friday night before a big ride.

 

I really like the 5010, but out of Santa Cruz bikes I think it’s the Hightower that’s on my shortlist.

 

I'm thinking I'll like the mojo 3 the most when I test ride. It's just hard to choose when base price is only $100 difference. But if I want to throw in kashima coated shocks the lead jumps a few hundred more.

 

I have kashima but I don’t think it’s worth the money. The mojo 3 is a killer bike. From a tire stand point I think the 2.8” and up are overkill. I have wide rims (ibis 742) and I’ve tried minion 2.3s, 2.5s, 2.6s and 2.8s all 27.5” of course. In my opinion anything above 2.5” will just slow you down. I like 29er’s for XC and trail use.

 

Following! Love this thread

 

I'll likely be here... And my son works at local shop, so hell be working it.

 

Awesome. I'm bringing the wife. Which shop does your son work at?

 

Element.

Kids a beast in the air.

 

I have the 5010 and I love it. I bought and rode it mostly in the the Laguna Beach area of Southern California and have ridden some nearby now that I live in the Pacific Northwest. I even took it with me to Iceland. It's served me well and I recommend it. I'm 5'11", 180 lbs, with short legs and longer back.

I'd recommend getting a remote rear shock lock out though. I found that in Iceland I had to reach down and lock it out frequently in the big ruts.

 

Would you say NW is more trail-y or enduro-y? I'm trying to gauge how much suspension I might require when I look into purchasing.

 

My experience up here is still more limited, so locals feel free to correct me, but compared to Southern California its more enduro-y. I'm more of a trail rider so I look for that.