Right. I've decided that the time has come to update my well loved Evo2 with a new set of wheels. She'll become my hack but what do I get next ?
I'm down to two. Stumpjumper FSR COMP Marin Wolf Ridge.
FSR comes in at 1500 whilst the Marin sits at 1750. I have to say I like the Marin but I'm not to sure about the propedal adjustment ( for some reason I'd got 'lock out' in mind ) The M4's look spot on. FSR, Avid Juicy 5, any good ? The bike just doesn't look as nice. The guy in the bike shop recommended a protective cover around the linkage above the rear wheel. Why ? Problems with pivet bearings ?
Rides around Dales and lakes, cross country with the occasional trip to Glentress or Wales.
The Wolf Ridge is awesome. I wanted one but my budget didnt make it. Never liked FSRs myself. Avids are great, not as powerful as the M4s outright, but probably more control and less weight.
Most FSR riders fit the FSR shock mudguard thing, coz the back wheel shoots mud at the shock and linkage. My Reign suffers from the same.
The Marin is more designed for our UK conditions and will survive the mud better, and with the tweaked geometry its no longer so XC biased.
Although after living with the reign for a while now i can honestly say the new 06 Reign 2 may be a better buy than both.
If you really like the look of the Mairn take a test ride and decide for yourself. Th epropedal wokrs great on them, the suspension design is so good that i don't think you'd need a lockout (even when i have one i never use it).
I ride an Attack Trail (v similar to wolf ridge). Its a competent one bike does all, happy in Welsh mountains or pootling about on the chilterns. I used to be a specialized freak but am now fully converted and would buy another Marin or White.
i did buy another Marin ! A Mount vision Pro (2007) only ridden it once (keeping it nice and riding my hardtail in winter) amazing. In my opinon and my FSR riding mates the new speshs have lost it with their own brand suspension, Trek like geometry and well how can I put it, eccentric colour schemes. Haven't ridden one though they may ride like the dogs wotsits though I find it hard to believe anything rides better than the MVP.
I wanted the Rocky Ridge ( I think right name @£1350 FSer ) as it made sense in the UK and the price was good, had the cash ready and everything, also rode a mates 4" Attack Trail is it ?? couldn't stick the rear suspension action ( over active under pedalling, didn't feel at all great ) / lack of stiffness, I'd guess the new design sorts out the rear wheel steer hopefully, but get a demo of it first.
Mates got the 07 FSR Expert, with the brain got to say not a FSR fan, but I really liked that bike was tempted by it myself.
While looking for my mates bike we looked at the Marin's the Spesh's looked alot better VFM.
Whilst no one realy makes a bad bike in the Marin/Kona/Specialized et all group and especially at £1800, a friend who is a V good MTBer changed from Marin to spesh and he rides faster and with more confidence on his new 120.
