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GF Hi-Fi Plus 29er (x-post)

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PizzaMan

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi,
I'm thinking about getting this bike. It's got the G2 frame, but not the G2 fork (standard offset and not the new 52 mm offset).
How will this affect the ride compared to the Hi-Fi delux which spots the G2 fork ? Will the bike steer like a truck ?
Thanks
PM
 
#2 ·
PizzaMan said:
Hi,
I'm thinking about getting this bike. It's got the G2 frame, but not the G2 fork (standard offset and not the new 52 mm offset).
How will this affect the ride compared to the Hi-Fi delux which spots the G2 fork ? Will the bike steer like a truck ?
Thanks
PM
Click to expand...
"Steering like a truck" is all relative, I suppose... what can't you can adapt to?

But comparing the old (Genesis) and new (G2) Fisher geometry numbers, it seems as though they've slackened the head tube angle about one-tenth degree for every millimeter of forward offset added to the newer forks.

That would suggest a fork with a 38mm offset on a G2 frame would feel about 1.4° slacker than you would expect, and I think just about every rider would notice that difference.

I haven't ridden my wife's HiFi, but by her description, it's a pretty neutral handling bike (in other words, she doesn't have much to say one way or the other about the steering, which means she's not complaining that it feels twitchy nor slow). That might indicate you've got a little room to play with a shorter offset fork, though I'm skeptical a 38mm offset would ever feel "right" on this bike.
 
#4 ·
PizzaMan said:
That sounds really good, actually....
Click to expand...
Really good compared to... (?) -- I'm just curious what you're considering.

On the one hand, some reviewers (if I'm not mistaken, Guitar Ted is one) have implied the G2 steering is too fast, so perhaps following that line of thought, a "virtual slackening" of the head tube angle might be a good thing.

On the other hand, if you're comparing it to a 69.5° G2 head angle on a 26" bike, you might be in for a surprise.

Keep in mind that Fisher is using 72.5° HTA on their non-Genesis 29" hardtail, and Niner -- who generally receives accolades for their bikes' handling -- uses 72° on their RIP9.

But Ventana, who also gets great marks, uses 71.3° to 71.5° on their El Rey & El Capitan -- not so far off of the HiFi's 71° head tube.
 
#5 ·
PizzaMan said:
Hi,
I'm thinking about getting this bike. It's got the G2 frame, but not the G2 fork (standard offset and not the new 52 mm offset).
How will this affect the ride compared to the Hi-Fi delux which spots the G2 fork ? Will the bike steer like a truck ?
Thanks
PM
Click to expand...
Where are you getting this bike? Is it used?

All of the Hi-Fi's have the G2 offset as a factory spec. The Fox isn't the only fork with G2 offset...the Reba used on the Plus is G2 also. Did someone buy the bike, take the fork and out a non-G2 fork back on it to sell?
 
#7 ·
Yeah, I'm not surprised about that, Nate.

I'm, also wondering if there is some confusion about the fork that is speced on the Plus since it isn't clearly defined on the website that the Reba is a 51mm G2 offset. It clearly states that the Fox is in the description of the Deluxe and Pro models, but not in the description of the Plus. The Reba speced with the Plus is a G2 51mm offset fork though. They talk about G2 Foxes and Rock Shox a little bit here...

http://www.fisherbikes.com/bike/model/hifi-plus-29/tech
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Nater said:
Where are you getting this bike? Is it used?

All of the Hi-Fi's have the G2 offset as a factory spec. The Fox isn't the only fork with G2 offset...the Reba used on the Plus is G2 also. Did someone buy the bike, take the fork and out a non-G2 fork back on it to sell?
Click to expand...
No.... I'm looking at a new bike. On fishers website it's clearly mentioned that the Fox has G2 offset, they don't mention that about the Reba, so I assumed it's an older non G2 type fork. You are saying I have assumed wrong ? I guess I'll e-mail fisher about this one unless any one already did this and can post a clear answer ?
 
#9 ·
PizzaMan said:
No.... I'm looking at a new bike. On fishers website it's clearly mentioned that the Fox has G2 offset, they don't mention that about the Reba, so I assumed it's an older non G2 type fork. You are saying I have assumed wrong ? I guess I'll e-mail fisher about this one unless any one already did this and can post a clear answer ?
Click to expand...
The Rebas on the G2 bikes definitely have the G2 offset, same as the Fox.
 
#12 ·
They've had problems in the past with the content on the website...oversites, ommisions, etc. If I were going to buy a Hi Fi...that's the one I'd buy. Save some money overall compared to the Deluxe and Pro and switch out some parts wtih what I've already got. I think you'll be happy with the bike. I got about 600 miles in on the prototype I was riding last season and it was sweet. Nice, neutral handling ride. I'd say buy without reservation...
 
#13 ·
I currently ride my Hi-Fi with a non G2 fork, 100mm, just to try things out. The difference is a tad slower steering, and a tad more wheel flop, though nothing about either is a problem. The bike does feel a slight bit more stable. I'll keep it this way, as the G2 will stay at 80mm for my HT.
 
#14 ·
Other considerations are the type of riding you do, your height and weight, and how you like to have the suspension set up and react. A lighter, smaller, more conservative rider will get a different response out of a bike then a large agressive rider.
 
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