I think it might be time to upgrade my frame I've been riding one of these coyote for over 3 years now, i've found it to be a great frame overall, I mainly use it for single track riding & i like the way it rides. Only problem i find is if i do any rides over a few hours i can't get the seat up high enough due to the small frame size of 15.5" (I'm just over 6ft tall). I generally stand up to ride up hills so this isn't too much of a problem.
Recently i read a review in dirt magazine about the blur 4X & its use as a xc bike & liked what they were saying about it not having too much travel on the rear & the feel of it in general. ( another review here Blur 4X review )Got me to thinking about replacing my coyote with the blur 4X, as with simular angles on the frame it'd feel like my bike but have a bit of suspention as I could do with a more comfy ride now i'm nearly 30 years old.
Does anyone here ride one of these bikes mostly for singletrack & how do you get on with it? Any feedback or opinions would be appreciated.
The Blur looks nice, another one on my long list of bikes I'd like to own.
I can't remember where I read it but the Santa Cruz workers were interviewed about what bikes they ride and one of them chose the Blur as their XC bike for all the reasons you list above. It would suit the kinda rider that doesn't really worry about how well it climbs as long as it's not too much of a chore. Any 4X bike is gonna be a blast on the way back down.
Seems to be very little info about them available online and not many on demo in the U.K esp here in dorset!
Would be very nervous about buying one online as I wouldn't be sure of what size to get without test riding one. that said i guess a medium would still be a few inches bigger than what i ride at the mo.
Yeah, I'd imagine a medium would be about right, unless you're 6 foot plus. Just get a full length Thomson post. Tho' I'd want to try one first too. You could get in touch with the importers to find out who has demos. It's a lot of cash to take a chance on...
Are there any geometry details for the 4X? You could compare them to the regular Blur which would see you on a Large IMO, unless you have short legs for a 6 footer.
I think I'd go for a full length post like Jimmy suggested as i prefer the maneuverability of a smaller frame. i think the Large in the normal Blur would be a bit big at 19.5" seat tube not that my legs are stumpy for a six footer just I'd find the frame a bit clumsy on the downhills i think, still hard to say whether it'd be a Medium or large in the 4x tho. Although i rode a mates Large heckler andit didn't seem all that big really,quite small for a large frame.
here's the frame geometry if anyone is interested:
Blur 4X
Medium Large Top Tube 22.3" - 56.6cm 23.5" - 59.7cm Head Tube 4.3" 4.3" Head Tube Angle 68.5° 68.5° Seat Tube 16.7" 17.2" Seat Tube Angle 73.5° 73.5° WheelBase 43.0" 44.1" Chainstay 17.2" 17.2" BB Height 12.6" - 32cm 12.6" - 32cm Standover 29.3" 29.8" Headset 1.125" 1.125" Seat Post (diameter) 30.9mm 30.9mm BB Width 68mm 68mm Front Mech (tp/ts) 34.9mm 34.9mm Rider Size Guide 5'4" to 5'11" 5'11" to 6'4"
Blur xc
X-Small Small Medium Large Top Tube 20.5" 21.8" 23.0" 24.0" Head Tube 3.5" 3.5" 3.9" 4.3" Head Tube Angle 70.5° 71° 71° 71° Seat Tube 15.0" 16.3" 17.5" 19.5" Seat Tube Angle 74° 74° 73.5° 73.5° WheelBase 40.2" 41.2" 42.4" 43.4" Chainstay 16.8" 16.8" 16.9" 16.9" BB Height 12.6" 12.6" 12.8" 12.8" Standover 26.7" 26.7" 29.4" 29.6" Headset 1.125" 1.125" 1.125" 1.125" Seat Post (diameter) 30.9mm 30.9mm 30.9mm 30.9mm Front Mech (tp/ts) 34.9mm 34.9mm 34.9mm 34.9mm
Rider Size Guide 4'10" to 5'2" 5'2" to 5'6" 5'6" to 5'11" 5'11" to 6'4"
I saw in Dirt a while back that the guys at JJungle ride a 4X blur for XC and everyday trail stuff becasue they reckon its more suited to UK trail riding . But I dont know anything about them because the price scares me!
Yeah thats the review i read in dirt Paul. I've since lost that magazine, & can't seem to find it online.
I think it'd be ideal for me as i ride local single track with little short natural DH bits but mostly single track. once every two months i'd ride some jumps or drops in a forest about 30 miles away & Once or twice a year i ride places like afan forest. I really like my hardtail ,but i like the idea of a bit of rear suspention too. I also have a set of pike forks so they'd swap over just fine i think.
They are very pricey but to be honest my £100 frame has lasted me 3or 4 years now and if i spent a grand on a new frame that lasted as long as my £100 frame has(I'd like to think that It would) I think it'd be well worth it (£250 a year).
I ride 2 or 3 times a week so i think it'd pay for itself in fun value
I recently rode a friends Stumpjumper FSR Elite 2007 and was wondering how much travel on the rear they have? Didn't seem like a great deal, but seemed to soak up the bumps quite well.
