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"Best" Modern Hardtail for XC

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#21 ·
....but you should know that I'm an unreliable source of information. I'm new to the 29er gig, and I'm also new to 'new' geometry. I've been romping around on a 2015 Scott Spark 650b for the last three years. So who knows if it's this frame in particular that's pulling my levers. It could be the 29" wheels. It could be the geo. It could be a mixture of everything.
 
#25 ·
winters.benjamin said:
....but you should know that I'm an unreliable source of information. I'm new to the 29er gig, and I'm also new to 'new' geometry. I've been romping around on a 2015 Scott Spark 650b for the last three years. So who knows if it's this frame in particular that's pulling my levers. It could be the 29" wheels. It could be the geo. It could be a mixture of everything.
Click to expand...
Have never owned or ridden a 29er. I have 27.5 plus hardtail now which I really like, but want to pick up something I can ride longer on and a little faster. Would still keep the plus bike and basically ride the same trail system. Mixture of flowy trails with quite a bit of rock beds and roots.
 
#26 ·
SpartyinWI said:
Have never owned or ridden a 29er. I have 27.5 plus hardtail now which I really like, but want to pick up something I can ride longer on and a little faster. Would still keep the plus bike and basically ride the same trail system. Mixture of flowy trails with quite a bit of rock beds and roots.
Click to expand...
I ride rocky, desert stuff: mix of hardpack, loose-over-hard, big rocks, small rocks, just about everything except tacky, loamy trails-y stuff. I have to punch through 1m or so drop-offs, navigate steep, rocky descents, etc. Nothing that would rival the EWS circuit, but technical by my definitions.
 
#27 ·
I think imma check out the Highball. I currently ride a stumpjumper 29er HT, which is similar geometry to the Epic but with a shorter-travel fork. I wanted to upgrade the bike, but decided i'd be better off saving my money and just getting a new rig completely, since it's 5 years old and bikes have advanced even since then (!)

I like the bike a lot, but figured given the situation, why not maybe try to get one i like even more??

So i will definitely be looking into the opinions on this thread. I ride decently hard in the northeast (so plenty of roots, rock gardens and other rocks) so i think what, for me, would be "fastest" would be:

- kinda light but not toooo light
- 100mm to 120mm travel fork
- manners that are a bit more trail like than traditional XC rocket but but not quite into Diamondback Mason territory
- good brakes :)
- Doesn't need to come stock with a dropper post but i will add one
- doesn't need ot come stock with fattish tires but I will add them

Do any do any of the 2019 XC-rocket crop seem to come close to the above? I liked the geometry of the Epic but am afraid it might be too willowy. So, what to do? Buy a Jamis Dragon and put on narrower tires? Or is this a situation where it's best to just call up chris chance and get something custom?
 
#30 ·
devo83 said:
I think imma check out the Highball. I currently ride a stumpjumper 29er HT, which is similar geometry to the Epic but with a shorter-travel fork. I wanted to upgrade the bike, but decided i'd be better off saving my money and just getting a new rig completely, since it's 5 years old and bikes have advanced even since then (!)

I like the bike a lot, but figured given the situation, why not maybe try to get one i like even more??

So i will definitely be looking into the opinions on this thread. I ride decently hard in the northeast (so plenty of roots, rock gardens and other rocks) so i think what, for me, would be "fastest" would be:

- kinda light but not toooo light
- 100mm to 120mm travel fork
- manners that are a bit more trail like than traditional XC rocket but but not quite into Diamondback Mason territory
- good brakes :)
- Doesn't need to come stock with a dropper post but i will add one
- doesn't need ot come stock with fattish tires but I will add them

Do any do any of the 2019 XC-rocket crop seem to come close to the above? I liked the geometry of the Epic but am afraid it might be too willowy. So, what to do? Buy a Jamis Dragon and put on narrower tires? Or is this a situation where it's best to just call up chris chance and get something custom?
Click to expand...
I also have a Stumpjumper 29er TH and purchased a Specialized Fuze Comp Carbon several months ago. Slacker than the Stumpjumper, 120ml fork, dropper, boost spacing, etc. The bike comes as a 27.5+, which is not ideal if you are looking to race XC, but awesome in other conditions. I just picked up a 29" wheel set for the Fuse, which should be a nice compliment to the plus tires.
 
#31 ·
That Ibis is a sweet bike. Frankly, a better spec than my Fuse for the price (looking at the GX build), but no dropper.
 
#32 ·
yeah definitely would add a dropper. I used to think they were not that useful but a weekend in Moab changed my mind and i am a full-on convert now.

I like the option to go slacker even than the Kona or just a little bit slacker than the Epic depending on which fork you use.

But i'll check out the fuse as well. Thanks!
 
#33 ·
PS yeah though maybe not hte best for XC racing but 27.5+ tires on a light hardtail are really, really fun. I've heard some people complain that they make it too easy but I think that's BS, otherwise you could say the same thing about literally any development in mountain bike tech. Like those guys ride long-travel trail bikes and then make YouTube videos complaining about 27.5+ "dumbing down" trail riding as if the long-travel developments haven't done exactly the same thing in their own way.
 
#34 ·
I did the last 12hr of temecula on a santa Cruz chameleon 275+, not the best race bike out there but the fat tires had grip for days and comfy compared to my cannondale F29 lefty with 2.20s

Outside of racing, it's a well rounded/ez to ride bike. Not the best at one thing but darn good at alot. I have run a 30t or a 34t front ring pending on course/amount of steep climbing. 34t gives about 6mph more top end speed.

Image
 
#35 ·
:thumbsup:
devo83 said:
PS yeah though maybe not hte best for XC racing but 27.5+ tires on a light hardtail are really, really fun. I've heard some people complain that they make it too easy but I think that's BS, otherwise you could say the same thing about literally any development in mountain bike tech. Like those guys ride long-travel trail bikes and then make YouTube videos complaining about 27.5+ "dumbing down" trail riding as if the long-travel developments haven't done exactly the same thing in their own way.
Click to expand...
Good points. I don't think there is any dumbing down, instead, the new tech opens up options that did not exist before.:thumbsup:
 
#36 ·
Nice pic! I agree........darn good at a lot of things, not great at any one thing in particular. It is funny to read the articles about the 'end of plus wheels'

I have been riding MTB since 1989, and I have never had more fun on a bike until I got the Fuse. I feel like a kid on my BMX bike, and find myself hitting every little roller or rock drop I can get air on. I never felt like it was going to end will doing that on my 'old xc geo' bikes.
 
#39 ·
pOrk said:
Would you say its a comfortable bike, or just comfortable compared to the f29? I've been interested in the chameleon for a while, but that DV9 looks amazing.
Click to expand...
Over the course of the long races, the chameleon w/ 3" tires is def more comfortable as the body wears down, I sit a bit more upright so less stress on lower back and shoulders. The lower pressure tires gives a bit extra plush over the small rocks n stuff that the 29er with 2.2 has. I don't want to go and say it's like a full suspension but you're on a air carpet over the rough stuff. ie rocks and roots.

The F29 is flat out built for speed, I have the older version 2014 with 135mm rear end and 2x10 setup. Not sure if the newer one are for forgivable in the air, but the f29 doesn't seem comfy in the air due to the amount of weight over the stem/bars (old school race geo). Where The Chameleon loves jumps and drops at speed were I might pucker a bit if on the cannondale. The dropper seat post is likely the biggest diff of the two. Not many options in 27.2dia seatpost. But would still be allot of forward weight on the f29 cuz the stem is double the length.

I've been on 29ers since 2008ish. I got the 275+ chameleon with the thought that IF i didn't like the fat tires, I can always get a boost sized 29er for kinda cheap. But I'm really digging the plus tires, grip and comfort. The geo is fun and like @tjkm I'm trying to hit every rock/roller/jump at decent speed and get some air. The tires and 120mm fork are great!! In the future I may get a 29er wheelset and sell the F29. Oh and I can sell my singlespeed since this frame can do that too.

29er 2.2 schwalbe racing ralphs is 22 psi front/25 rear
275+ 3.0 WTB ranger is 13psi front/15 rear

Weight diff
cdale F29 is mostly stock w/ enve carbon bars 25#s
chameleon mostly stock w/ purple bit and enve carbon bars 27-28#s

Ride wise you can feel the tire weight difference between the two on corner exits and accelerations or longer climbs. Once up to speed, it's all the same except I can plow more, have more grip and hold that speed higher on the Chameleon than other racers on 29ers. Cornering speed goes to grip so 3.0 tires.

@maximo great looking bike!!
 
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