Should I look into those Spesh Pitches? Isn't it just like a rockhopper but on 27.5s? spec wise I mean
I am perfectly happy with my pitch, but I went into it knowing I would be replacing my fork before too long, so I didnt worry too much about the fork that came with it. For me, its easier to pay $625 now, and then $200 later for a decent fork (through suntour upgrade program).
One other caveat I had is the bike had to be green.... so bikes that didn't come in green were not even considered. Yea, I know, but whatever...
Yes, the pitch is almost exactly a rockhopper on 27.5" wheels. The geometry is not exactly the same, with the pitch being a bit slacker (a plus imo), and the other difference with the pitch vs rockhopper, is the pitch gets major upgrades one trim level later than the rockhopper, but is $60-185 per trim level cheaper. Both base bikes (pitch, $500, rockhopper $560) have mechanical brakes. The rockhopper sport ($710) is hydraulic. where the pitch sport ($625) stays mechanical, then goes hydraulic at the next level (comp, $725). The next major upgrade is going from a 3x8 to a 2x9 drivetrain, which the rockhopper does at comp ($810) and the pitch does at expert ($825). Various components get upgraded though the line, and the pitch actually gets the better components when comparing similar price points. Basically the way I ended up thinking about it is the pitch has has an extra level below the rockhopper, so the pitch sport should be compared to the base rockhopper, and so on, so thinking about it that way, the pitch is actually the more expensive bike, but with significantly better components, But I digress...
In the end, long story short, knowing what I know today, if I could get the diamondback line for $740, I would seriously consider getting it over my pitch, despite not being green. At $799 for the line though, I would stick with the pitch without question. The line is better, but not as much as it first seems, and with downsides....
The upside of the line is the 1x drivetrain and thicker fork stanchions.
The downside is, from everything I have read, the line has issues with dropping the chain like, literally multiple times every ride. Thats a problem that you can throw $50 at to make it go away permanently, so that has to figure into the price imo, so at $740, that will still leave it within your $800 budget.
As for the fork, its still a coil fork, so even though its a little better than the one I have on my pitch as far as being stiffer, which is a good thing (stiffer laterally and stiffer against twisting), is still a fork you will want to upgrade to an air fork if you do anything more off road than dirt roads, and its still heavy. When I upgrade mine to an air fork with 32mm stanchions, I will likely drop 1-2 lbs, depending on which model air fork I choose. The fork on the line is basically the same as the one on my pitch, except its beefier, so will weigh more. Upside is you shave off more weight when you upgrade, downside is you have more weight to deal with on the front end till then. The line is still lighter than my pitch, despite a heavier fork, because you save over a pound going from 3x to 1x, as you are deleting two chainrings, and the front derailer and shifter....
In the end, it depends on what you want and where you ride. For me, I actually prefer 27.5 wheels. When I test drove the rockhopper, the wheels just seems ridiculously, almost comically large. (and I am 6'1") When I relayed that to the salesperson, he advised me the pitch is almost the same bike but on 27.5" wheels, but they dont carry them, so I had to go home and look them up. (lucky for me, he actually wasn't a salesperson, he was a mechanic, but they were shorthanded that day, he wouldn't get commission from a sale, so though it more important I be happy with my bike, I think a salesperson would have tried, and likely succeeded in talking me into 29" wheels....)
Haha, super helpfull, right?
So to sum up, and remember this is just my personal opinion, the only real advantage the line has over the pitch is the 1x drivetrain and hydraulic brakes, as for any serious trail riding, you are going to be upgrading the fork to an air fork ($200 through suntour upgrade program)
One other note on that 1x drivetrain, with the lowest gear being 30 front 36 rear, it doesn't have as low a granny gear, basically when you are going up a tough hill and shift to the lowest gear, the lower the front ring and higher the rear ring the easier it is to pedal. The pitch's lowest front gear is 24t, and 34t in the rear. (smallest front, largest rear)
24/34 is 0.73:1
30/36 is 0.86:1
Lower numbers mean easier pedaling, so you wont be as tired when you hit the top of the hill.
on the pitch, the second to biggest gear in the back is 28t, which equals out to 0.89:1.
