REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Cake 3 or Sugar 4+? Help!!

950 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by WickedPaul, Jul 20, 2004

geddy2112

Discussion Starter · Jul 18, 2004

Hey guys. I really want to know what bike I should get?? They both look awesome and I want to know what you guys think of them if you have ridden them. I am new at mountain biking and these two are what I am looking for. I live in Utah so I will ride everything from slick rock to the mountains in PC. I also want to know if I should get one of these bikes or maybe get an HKEK and upgrade w/ the extra money. Any help would be awesome.
But my main two are the Sugar 4+ and the Cake 3? Any expieriences you've had on them would be great. HELP!!
Just a little info, and some expert advice.
Thanks all!

2112

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LititzDude

· #2 · Jul 18, 2004

Sugar vs. Cake

My background.
I have a med. 2002 Sugar3 + and have upgraded to Avid disks and a Black Elite 100-120 fork among other numerous upgrades to get it to more of a trailbike. The reason I say this is that I bought the Sugar because I thought I wanted a XC FS bike. After three years of riding I would consider my riding in the "all mountain" area. I am also looking at a new ride this fall after the 2005 lines come out.

Back to your question. I started researching new rides in April and was very excited about the Cake coming out. My LBS had a med. demo Cake and asked if I wanted to take it for the wekend. I was really up for this as I had set up to ride a friends' Specialized Enduro, FSR comp and the cake all on the same trail I normally ride my Sugar on. When I got the Cake down and put a leg over it I didn't even take it out of the shop. The stand over is high compared to what I was willing to accept. I had no standover on the Cake. Well I rode the Enduro, FSR Comp and my Sugar. I really liked the Enduro. If you can bring yourself to test the Enduro or find someone to let you ride one you would get an idea of what the difference between XC and an all mountain bike is like.

If you are looking at a 2004 Sugar 4+ the component list is really not that great compared to previous years (Rear shock). Anyway I don't know if this helps, but good luck.

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WickedPaul

· #3 · Jul 18, 2004

Get the Cake if you want to do more bumpy trails and mountains. Get the sugar if you are interested in going faster on more flat terrain. I ride a Cake 2 DLX, it absorbs bumps like most trails where paved, but it is not a really quick bike because even with the stable platform it still bobs quite a bit when you stand up to pedal hard. The cake is probably more versatile, and more comfortable in my opinion, but the Sugar will get you there quicker.

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geddy2112

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 18, 2004

To LilitzDude... what about an Spec. FSR Pro Comp? Any thoughts on that one??

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LititzDude

· #5 · Jul 18, 2004

It has to fit you...cockpit....style(XC,FR,DH)

geddy2112 said:
To LilitzDude... what about an Spec. FSR Pro Comp? Any thoughts on that one??

Is this your first mountain bike? if so, go to wrenchscience and do all the measurements they ask. This will give you an idea of what should fit you. Then take the specs of the bikes you are looking at and compare them. I did it after I test rode some bikes and it explained why I didn't like some of them.

If this is not your first bike. Find a local ride and get friendly with some of the guys and most of the people will let you ride their bike around a parking lot if you tell them you are thinking of buying one just like theirs.

Back to the Q. The FSR is a great bike, but when I test rode one, the stem seemed wrong for me, but every body is different. I have short legs and long upperbody and short arms. The fisher felt great, because I felt like I wasn't over the bars when standing. I really like the enduro, because when I set the seat correctly the bars are still 2" higher then the seat vs. others that are at the same level or below. Hop around to the different manufactures post here and look at the bike pictures. Check out the seat vs. bar height I hope that helps my 2c.

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OnTheFly

· #6 · Jul 19, 2004

Go for Cake

WickedPaul said:
Get the Cake if you want to do more bumpy trails and mountains. Get the sugar if you are interested in going faster on more flat terrain. I ride a Cake 2 DLX, it absorbs bumps like most trails where paved, but it is not a really quick bike because even with the stable platform it still bobs quite a bit when you stand up to pedal hard. The cake is probably more versatile, and more comfortable in my opinion, but the Sugar will get you there quicker.

I ride a Cake 2 DLX as well, and the experience that i made is that almost all the bobbing comes from the fork and not really from the rear shock. GF doesnt deliver the Cakes with Lock-outs for the Forks. A good setup of the shock and a Lock-Out kit on your Manitou forks makes a huge difference and your cake rides like a racing bike.

Comparing the Cake and Sugar 4, i would really recommend the Cake as it has much better mix of components and the axel fork on Sugar isnt really a good choice. Eventually your LBS is willing to add a Lock-Out for your Fork at a same price!

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WickedPaul

· #7 · Jul 20, 2004

Hey, I have ordered the stiffer springs for the manitou black shock that comes stock on the bike, but I can't find a lock out kit available for it. My LBS can't seem to find it either.
Anyway you can post a link to where you bought your kit from?

Paul

OnTheFly said:
I ride a Cake 2 DLX as well, and the experience that i made is that almost all the bobbing comes from the fork and not really from the rear shock. GF doesnt deliver the Cakes with Lock-outs for the Forks. A good setup of the shock and a Lock-Out kit on your Manitou forks makes a huge difference and your cake rides like a racing bike.

Comparing the Cake and Sugar 4, i would really recommend the Cake as it has much better mix of components and the axel fork on Sugar isnt really a good choice. Eventually your LBS is willing to add a Lock-Out for your Fork at a same price!

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OnTheFly

· #8 · Jul 20, 2004

WickedPaul said:
Hey, I have ordered the stiffer springs for the manitou black shock that comes stock on the bike, but I can't find a lock out kit available for it. My LBS can't seem to find it either.
Anyway you can post a link to where you bought your kit from?

Paul

Paul,
try this Manitou Code: Lock Out #85-5868
Lock-Out Kit for all Black Forks, Modell 2004

It wouldnt help you to give you the link where i have ordered my Kit as it is in Germany

When will you install your new ride Kit on your Fork? Let us please know if you see any improvement.

Cheers,
OTF

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WickedPaul

· #9 · Jul 20, 2004

Cool, thanks, with the part number I am sure I will be able to get it ordered.
I should recieve the springs in the next week, and I will get them into the fork within a day of recieving. So I will put up a post about it when its done. I really think the lock out kit is a good idea though, so I am going to really try and get that.

Paul

OnTheFly said:
Paul,
try this Manitou Code: Lock Out #85-5868
Lock-Out Kit for all Black Forks, Modell 2004

It wouldnt help you to give you the link where i have ordered my Kit as it is in Germany

When will you install your new ride Kit on your Fork? Let us please know if you see any improvement.

Cheers,
OTF

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