Modern FS advice

[Crell]

I'm thinking about taking the plunge and buying a modern FS bike. However I didn't ride a 30 lbs bike BITD and I'm not starting now.

I'm not a weight weenie but I want something light. I've thought about the Whyte E5 / E120, and the IBIS (can't see that getting on too well with English mud).
I'm not going to be taking 6 ft drop ins (at least intentionally) - so something more akin to a XC / marathon bike is what I think I need.

What else should I be looking at?

Cheers.

 

[Pickle]

You'll have to spend a fair amount to get a light FS.

Go retro, spend less and be happy

Or, give me a half decent amount for my RTS, you'll get a 26lb FS and I can then buy a nice GT hardtail (mmmm, Zaskar)

 

[Archangel]

Horst Link and VPP are great designs, so I'd check out Santa Cruz Blur LT, Intense 5.5, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, etc.


Important: Make sure that the pivots run on sealed ball bearings instead of bushings.

 

[Hilts]

so something more akin to a XC / marathon bike is what I think I need.

How much of a brand snob are you ?? If you aren't then you could do alot worse than a Giant Anthem, my mates got one and it is quick as f*ck and light..

 

[gump]

Yeti ASR-sl
Light, fast, right amount of travel for most UK stuff, still feels like a bike not a barge
Though if your into bigger stuff more, there are more stable and confidence inspiring things around.

 

[kingroon]

There's a good Sub £2K FS Trail Bike shoot out in this months MBR..

 

[scant]

basically go to a demo day & test ride as many new designs as possible. they differ so much I cant recommend a single pivot design (which I prefer) as you may love multi linkage etc. make sure the shock & fork is set up for YOU before you ride as the vast majority of poor reports of modern XC FS are from poor set-up alone. modern shocks pedal as well as hardtails when set up correctly.
the view of modern XC FS as being overweight is soooo outdated. i've got a 4in rig that weighs sub24lb with no stupid light or heavy maintenance parts (& I'm a bit of a wrecker

SSMM normally has a big demo fleet if u can wait that long.

 

[OrangeRetro]

I can personally reccommend the current Orange 5, its eye wateringly fast downhill and climbs nicely as well. Not to heavy either, about 27lb's for the higher spec.

 

[scant]

I can personally reccommend the current Orange 5, its eye wateringly fast downhill and climbs nicely as well. Not to heavy either, about 27lb's for the higher spec.

my friends at mojo race orange5s. ant oboyles bike is 25lb, which is pretty good for a 5in travel rig
for reasons i cant figure out as they're solid feeling reliable bikes, capable of much abuse. orange5s sell pretty cheap 2nd hand

 

[OrangeRetro]

You could even push the boundaries of retro, the sub5 is getting on a bit now and they are very cheap to pick up. Not as much fun though!