[Closed] Lightweight XC full sussers.

Canyon for value, spesh epic maybe? Giant do a nice one too.

Does this help at all?

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/top-3-best-100mm-fs-xc-carbon-framesets

also we have just reviewed the Lapierre:

http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/gear/bikes/mountain/lapierre-x-control-510.htm

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have a look here http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/lightweight-all-day-racy-full-suspension-pics

The new 2012 Scott Spark looks awesome - Scott have apparently put loads of development behind it.

Loved my Anthem X but would try the 2012 Spark first on the list now.

My criticism of the Spark has always been the need to use the Tracloc lever constantly to get the most out of it. All the reviews I've read of the new Spark suggest that's not changed. Also... the Tracloc now stiffens the fork too, which I personally hate. I rode a Genius with the same system and really didn't get on with that aspect. I'd not connect the cable to the fork personally. It really depends if you're one for fiddling with levers and what not, or if you just like to pedal.

Personally, I'm the former, and love my Top Fuel. Not particularly cheap though!

The anthem-x is good, demo'd one of those and a trek top-fuel, of the two the giant felt faster without being uncomfortable, the trek was very nose down/arse up and pedal. Didn't have a stopwatch to hand though.

And Trek's sizing is odd, at 6ft I demo'd a medium/large based on the website geometry, which turned out to be tiny, the Giant in medium felt ideal.

Mmm, the sizing is a little strange. At 5'10" I ride an 18.5", which is about the same size as a medium Spesh, the 17.5" felt much too short. A friend who's about 6'3" still only rides a 19.5".

happy with my Top Fuel, 6' and ride a 19.5", the standover is fine as is length.

SC Superlight - also perfect for the maintenance shy.

Cheers guys, some food for thought.
I'd like a closer look at one of these as I tried the aluminium version when they first came out, didn't like it and bought the Alma, which I love, instead. The only negative I can see is the weight as it would appear to come in at about 11,5kg.
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looks like it would collapse if you sat on it!

not saying as a good or bad thing,

but very similar to the first gen Specialized fsr.

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Doesn't get used as much since moving down south ;-/ but still good weight for F/S 🙂

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happy with my Top Fuel, 6' and ride a 19.5", the standover is fine as is length

Yea, I sat on a 19.5 in the shop later and it still felt short, and hunched up, I think it was the seat angle so probably shouldn't judge as I could just move the saddle back.

Just felt like an 80mm bike with really short forks and narrow bars, whereas the anthem felt like it was properly proportioned. They seem popular though so must just be me!

but very similar to the first gen Specialized fsr.

+1 Santa Cruz Superlight.... just got one and love it!

Pronghorn PR6 Carbon?

I've not ridden mine in yonks cos I'm waiting on new forks and wheels, but if light and fast is your thing then you could do a lot worse. Love mine. Stupidly quick pretty much everywhere, which leads to some interesting descents. Think [b]andrewh[/b] on here has one too, and he seems the type of bloke who takes his biking a bit more serious than me so maybe one to ask for a more rounded opinion.

Marmite looks though.

He's sponsored by them though, may not get a totally unbiased opinion 😉

Blur XC?

+1 Blur XC. Ive used mine from BC Bike Race & Trans Rockies to Gorrick/Brass Monkeys. Excellent bike, super stiff. I think mine comes in somewhere around 24.5lbs.

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Amazingly fast

He's sponsored by them though, may not get a totally unbiased opinion

[url= http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/series/lux-mr.html ]Canyon Lux MR[/url]

So not too worried about the price then?

Ah. Yes. I got mine at bargain basement price, so I forgot that they're not the cheapest out there.

so I forgot that they're not the cheapest out there.

That weight difference might be with/without shock?

Triton cycles have anthem x frames at 799

I'd get one if I had any money 🙁

That weight difference might be with/without shock?

If you like something differnt from the run of the mill Spark / Anthem then look at a Norco Phaser.
Never seen one but they seem to tick all the boxes. Can be built up to 21lb , and 23 1/2lb out the box isnt exactly heavy. 100mm f and r so enough travel to cope with general xc duties.

Having owned several Scalpels I can highly recommend them - I regret getting rid of the last one.

I now have a Scott Spark, which is also excellent and you don't need to use the Tracloc at all - I just leave mine in mid travel and ride it.

With regard to those Pronghorns... Know a couple of sponsored riders that won't even ride theirs any more! VERY poor quality design, everything fits very poorly, they rattle and are just a poor design. The quality of the carbon fibre is very good, which leads me to think their HT frames might be much better, but the full sus frames are best avoided.

Giant Anthem X would be the best bet IMO, despite the weight. Spec Epic or Trek Top Fuel also worth considering too.

Anyway, I'm more concerned of these massive braking bumps at llandegla you talk about... Seriously? Rode the black yesterday, not one braking bump worthy of consideration IMO. Certainly not compared to many trails I've ridden. Was on my HT and enjoyed it a lot more than last time when I took my full sus bike.

Anyway, I'm more concerned of these massive braking bumps at llandegla you talk about... Seriously?

Try an epic, great bike, anthem is also worth a look.

Titus FTM, 135R 140F Just under 25lb, with the Talas can co 100mm up hill too!!

You can't really go wrong with any of the race bikes from the top manufacturers.

For me though the main companies didn't really represent good value for money. I was set on a Canyon but when they sold out had a rethink.

I went for a Santacruz Superlight in the end on the basis that it was light, reliable and beautifully balanced both up and down. It also feels much more solid than an out and out race bike which suits me much better. Here's a little pic of my SC Superlight at 22lbs with no crazy light or expensive parts:

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PS road pedals are there to get a comfortable fit for my knees and are not all that bad/ impractical

Another vote here for the SC Superlight, does most things very well and suits the UK's often foul conditions better than most - changed the bearings on mine last month after 4 years or so of frequent use, because I felt I ought to really, but they didn't need to be.

@ rob2 - step AWAY from the Anthem X frame...

Also got a superlight - shockingly capable bike. Love it.

Superlight looks good, but giving about a kilo or so away to what I'm looking for.

Superlight looks good, but giving about a kilo or so away to what I'm looking for.

The only frames a Superlight would be giving a kilo or so away to would be carbon hardtails!

I think you're a little confused here as to what you want...

With regard to those Pronghorns... Know a couple of sponsored riders that won't even ride theirs any more! VERY poor quality design, everything fits very poorly, they rattle and are just a poor design. The quality of the carbon fibre is very good, which leads me to think their HT frames might be much better, but the full sus frames are best avoided.

Hmmmm. Mine is toight loike a toiger. Yes, it creaks, but it's carbon. No rattles though. Everything fits, and I have utmost confidence in it. Only issue I ever had was the bolt that holds the shock to the linkages came loose on a ride, but that was just my own fault for not giving the bike a once-over after stripping and greasing stuff. Tightened it up and not had a problem since. Hard to believe that QC varies so greatly that one bike comes out the factory fine and another one comes out ready to disintegrate at the first pedal stroke.

Maybe something to do with mine being Pronghorn mk1 when they sold full bikes rather than just frames.

I discounted a superlight based on the weight/price, even buying the mid build package it weighed a lot more than an Anthem, I can't see how you could get one down to 22lbs without spending more than 3k!

Besides I actually preffered the ride of the Anthem which gives all the power of a hardtail and rides better than most FS I've ridden. Ok not nearly niche enough for some but if you want to waste money then fair enough. 🙂

Agree that Superlights aren't, so to speak! When they redesigned it we had a couple in stock, SIDs, X.9, WTB wheels etc and they were 27lbs without pedals. Nice bikes I'm sure, but they're not the lightest.

Maybe SC are big boxing fans, where superlightweight is heavier than lightweight.

A friend in my club has a Canyon Lux MR with XX and SID's, it somes in very light and rides extremely well. I'd think with a slightly lesser groupset that'll cover most bases for XC riding/racing.