[Jacques12345]

Hey! I'm buying a new bike soon and I need help picking a bike. I will be using it for mostly trails and aggressive xc with some uphills, downhill and 2-3 foot jumps and will sometimes be riding it on the road.

I am looking at the turner 5-spot, ventana x-5, yeti 575 and santacruz heckler and blur.

With the blur I am afraid of breaking it for how bout the new blur LT coming out soon?

I am worried that the heckler may be harder to pedal and too heavy but I've been leaning more towards this one lately because I live in canada and the only company out of all these that a local bike shop sells in my city is santa cruz and also it is the least expensive frame out of all of these. Also I will be speccing the bike with lighter components and want to get it around the 29 pound range. With all the por pedal shocks these days I don't think an extra half pound more then the other frames will do much of a differente and the heckler will be much stronger so I won't be afraid of beaking it all the time and all be less afraid of being more agressive with it.

The other ones, the 5-spot, x-5 and yeti 575 are more in the middle of the heckler and blur. Their stronger and heavier then the blur but not as strong and lighter then the heckler.

Which bike do you guys think I should choose out of these?

Thanks!

Jack

 

[mtbykr]

well

everyone and their mother are going to weigh in on this one---------but i say go for the ventana x-5, mabey even take a look at the el salt. The titus moto-lite is also a good option. the ventana forum will have more info from people that know more than i do so go check over there

good luck in your search

 

[bigdrunk]

As a Blur convert, I say go for a true horst link bike. I have a Spot that built up at about 27lbs(w/o pedals). You can't go wrong with a 5Spot, I love mine. I would also check out the Titus Motolite due to its lower price.

 

[tscheezy]

I've tried the X5, 5-Spot, and 575. I'd get the Spot if the have the $$, the 575 if you are trying to economize. A search of this board will get you PILES of comparisons between these exact models.

 

[dbabuser]

also

Hey! I'm buying a new bike soon and I need help picking a bike. I will be using it for mostly trails and aggressive xc with some uphills, downhill and 2-3 foot jumps and will sometimes be riding it on the road.

I am looking at the turner 5-spot, ventana x-5, yeti 575 and santacruz heckler and blur.

With the blur I am afraid of breaking it for how bout the new blur LT coming out soon?

I am worried that the heckler may be harder to pedal and too heavy but I've been leaning more towards this one lately because I live in canada and the only company out of all these that a local bike shop sells in my city is santa cruz and also it is the least expensive frame out of all of these. Also I will be speccing the bike with lighter components and want to get it around the 29 pound range. With all the por pedal shocks these days I don't think an extra half pound more then the other frames will do much of a differente and the heckler will be much stronger so I won't be afraid of beaking it all the time and all be less afraid of being more agressive with it.

The other ones, the 5-spot, x-5 and yeti 575 are more in the middle of the heckler and blur. Their stronger and heavier then the blur but not as strong and lighter then the heckler.

Which bike do you guys think I should choose out of these?

Thanks!

Jack

On the more price conscious side, also look at Giant Reign, Ironhorse MKIII, Specialized Enduro, all good performing trail bikes. The Enduro rides pretty similarly to the Titus Switchblade I had which was all I could ask for in a trailbike.

 

[uktrailmonster]

I think the X5 is the most versatile of this bunch (air/coil, 5/6" travel). I have one myself and it makes a great hardcore XC/trail bike. It loses nothing to the Horst Link brigade, making up for any theoretical loss of pedalling efficiency with its super stiff frame and rear triangle. Light enough to keep pace on the climbs and definitely a very capable descender. The build quality is also exceptional.

I borrowed a Yeti 575 for a couple of days and was impressed by this too. Again, no Horst Link, but again it doesn't seem to suffer for it either. Great climber and surprisingly stable downhill. Overall not as solid and dependable as the X5 though. The build quality wasn't in the same class either (that's not to say it was bad)

 

[slowrider]

tralbike

I had a Blur (didn't like it) and changed to a 5 Spot (best bike I've owned and highly reccomended). I have freinds with I'ds, Jokers and an El Salt ( the Ventana's my second favorite) Two others I'd consider are the Foes FXR (a bit burlier and my favorite single pivot, a little cheaper than most) and the Titus Motolite ( FSR link and very nice price) All are nice rides but my favorite is the 5Spot for all around use.

 

[UpgradeItis]

All of them....

would make a good bike for what you want to do....except maybe the Blur IMO. If you're looking at something similar to the Blur, definitely look at the LT or you might want to consider an Intense 5.5 also. You have a great list to pick from there. If I were you, I'd see If I could line up some test rides, but I don't think you'd be disappointed with any of them.

 

[FoShizzle]

I think the X5 is the most versatile of this bunch (air/coil, 5/6" travel). I have one myself and it makes a great hardcore XC/trail bike. It loses nothing to the Horst Link brigade, making up for any theoretical loss of pedalling efficiency with its super stiff frame and rear triangle. Light enough to keep pace on the climbs and definitely a very capable descender. The build quality is also exceptional.

I borrowed a Yeti 575 for a couple of days and was impressed by this too. Again, no Horst Link, but again it doesn't seem to suffer for it either. Great climber and surprisingly stable downhill. Overall not as solid and dependable as the X5 though. The build quality wasn't in the same class either (that's not to say it was bad)

well said.....I love my X-5 and I looked at all bikes out there, period. I have zero regrets.

 

[Jacques12345]

Hey! All great advice guys, how come noone is choosing the heckler thought? Thats the one I was looking it, I might have to end up looking at the 5 spot or something. What you guys think of the heckler?

 

[slowrider]

I'm picky

Hey! All great advice guys, how come noone is choosing the heckler thought? Thats the one I was looking it, I might have to end up looking at the 5 spot or something. What you guys think of the heckler?

I wouldn't choose the Heckler myself primarily because I've found the high forward single pivot to be the worst type of bike for brake jack and peddle feedback. That doesn't mean it's not a fun bike but these traits bother me after riding my Turner and dampen my enthusiasm for the Hecklers ride. For $500 more than the Heckler the Titus Motolite would get you a ride close to that of my beloved 5 Spot that is made in North America by a company with a great Customer Service rep., both FSR's with similar geometry and known to be free of feedback and brake jack.

 

[m-dub]

Heckler= fun fun fun. I ride some road with 100 psi slicks, race xc. dirt jump at the local bmx trails and trail ride all day epics. Love it. Unless your a hammer head thrasher jumping alot the blur will take it. I have seen a 200lb rider beat his day in and day out with no problems. but the new lt may be sweet? They will all do what yo want and so buy the one in the color you like

 

[ronny]

Heckler does it all.

Hey! All great advice guys, how come noone is choosing the heckler thought? Thats the one I was looking it, I might have to end up looking at the 5 spot or something. What you guys think of the heckler?

Someone mentioned versatility in this thread and the Heckler is one of the most versatile bikes period. You can easily get the Heckler under 30lbs with the right components or turn it into a freeride bike weighing close to 40lbs. Air or coil shocks with 5.6" of travel and a 6" fork up front or 5" or whatever.

The Heckler frame is not too heavy with a coil shock at around 7.6lbs and with an air shock the weight is not bad at all. Yeah the Heckler does have a high pivot but it is efficient with no bobbing and the bike is a good climber. The brake jack is not serious and peeps keep bringing this up. I have owned a Heckler and I rode it over every type of terrain imaginable and the only time you really notice the brake jack is on dh course type of stutter bumps and VERY rocky and rooty terrain. Even then, it is minor. All of the bikes mentioned and even the horsty ones are prone to some brake jack on super rocky, rooty, and stutter bump terrain. Remember, we are talking about 5-6" bikes not 8" dh monsters where brake jack is more pronounced without a FSR type suspension.

For the price, the Heckler is tough to beat. For the type of riding you describe, all of the bikes listed will work well. If money was not an object, the Turner would be my first choice for a all mountain bike. If you were thinking of pulling double duty ie: freeride one weekend and xc the next then I would easily pick the Heckler out of the bikes listed.

 

[icegeek]

Hey! All great advice guys, how come noone is choosing the heckler thought? Thats the one I was looking it, I might have to end up looking at the 5 spot or something. What you guys think of the heckler?

They're all great bikes. If you can't ride and compare, then emotion is all you have to go on. Sounds like it's the one you want.

 

[FoShizzle]

They're all great bikes. If you can't ride and compare, then emotion is all you have to go on. Sounds like it's the one you want.

agreed. Heckler is a fine bike, so are the others. It is not like you are comparing a WalMart bike against a real bike......most of the top offerings are very good bikes, period.

 

[Davide]

Costum or yeti/titus/blur lt

Hey! All great advice guys, how come noone is choosing the heckler thought? Thats the one I was looking it, I might have to end up looking at the 5 spot or something. What you guys think of the heckler?

I personally like the heckler a lot, and of all the bikes you mention I would go

Heckler if you want to save money

575 or Motolite if you want to spend a bit more and get more travel or a horst link, respectively, add the blur lt to this price level

The ventana would be great built custom, you can have a bike made to your specs for some more money. It has the best construction of the bunch we are looking at.

The 5-spot rides like the Motolite, costs $500 more and it is not built better than any of the other bikes ...

PS jut so you know, the tcheesy guy that is posting above has been around for a couple of years being a Turner-fanatic. He went from a hard-tail to an XCE and decided that Turner was his messia and nobody could build a bike like his XCE. He continued buying 2 more turners. Maybe he hopes ti be invited for dinner at the factory, it is a bit sad at the end.

 

[m-dub]

I wouldn't choose the Heckler myself primarily because I've found the high forward single pivot to be the worst type of bike for brake jack and peddle feedback. That doesn't mean it's not a fun bike but these traits bother me after riding my Turner and dampen my enthusiasm for the Hecklers ride. For $500 more than the Heckler the Titus Motolite would get you a ride close to that of my beloved 5 Spot that is made in North America by a company with a great Customer Service rep., both FSR's with similar geometry and known to be free of feedback and brake jack.

I had bad brake jack on my heckler with a air shock. went to a 5th El coil and it was a new bike, zero brake jack and bottomless feel. tryed to make the rear bottom out and all I do is hurt my wrists from my fork and rear still feels good.

 

[stephanmol]

go for the santa cruz blur lt

I have a sc blur and its an asome bike it climbs like a goat and descends great best bike i have tried.

 

[zenorb]

I love my blur. Having said that I would also look at a MKIII and the 4-bar bikes. I think that with those bikes it eventually comes down to fit and geometry preferences.