After a year on my 2018 Scott Spark, I've realized for the trails I ride 98 percent of the time, the bike is too big, long, and slack... for me. That 2009 Niner SIR 9 I have, I love ripping around on it, but man, as I've gotten older with it, the trails I ride really beat me up on it.
Is the state of affairs with bike manufacturers such that you can only get close to the headtube angles, suspension travel, and wheelbase I'm thinking I'd enjoy more by buying a "race" hardtail, or does anybody make a full suspension with what most would consider inferior spec and geometry compared to what most bikes have become?
The Spark's wheelbase is nearly 4 inches longer than the Niner, the headtube angle is around 5 degrees slacker, and it's got more suspension travel than I really need, but it seems like most modern full suspension "XC" bikes are equally long and slack with sometimes even more suspension travel?
For the right trails, those things make sense, but for the XC trails that have been around for decades, are most people over biked with average modern bikes? Do I have to try and find a 10 year old full suspension bike to get what I want?
Is the state of affairs with bike manufacturers such that you can only get close to the headtube angles, suspension travel, and wheelbase I'm thinking I'd enjoy more by buying a "race" hardtail, or does anybody make a full suspension with what most would consider inferior spec and geometry compared to what most bikes have become?
The Spark's wheelbase is nearly 4 inches longer than the Niner, the headtube angle is around 5 degrees slacker, and it's got more suspension travel than I really need, but it seems like most modern full suspension "XC" bikes are equally long and slack with sometimes even more suspension travel?
For the right trails, those things make sense, but for the XC trails that have been around for decades, are most people over biked with average modern bikes? Do I have to try and find a 10 year old full suspension bike to get what I want?