Gage, I think you hit on something big here. In the past, when we talked "race bikes", it was either a DH sled or XC whippet. Last couple years have seen A LOT of enduro race bikes which are basically trail/AM bikes aimed for speed over plain "fun". Yes, speed is often subjectively quite fun, but as you noted, sometimes trade-offs made purely for more speed can make other objectively fun stuff, like lippy/shaped jumps and weird/absurd (but interesting) jibs or skinnies, take way more effort.
I love going fast, but I don't really need/want to go much faster than my 160mm/140mm 32lbs (with tools and water) 27.5 trail bike can do, unless I armored up more than just head and knees. I also appreciate that even though I've left speed on the table (more suspension, more wheelbase, more wheelsize, high-pivot, etc), I'm also not making the fun stuff that I'm not as good at even harder to do. I can pull a decent 10m manual, I can bunny hop or punch over all manner of windfall logs (more common lately it seems), maybe even get a little nose bonk or rear wheel slide, I can get a little whip happening on a decent jump. Would I sacrifice any of that for more _potential_ top speed? I'm not racing for dough, so nope.
I am I bit of an advocate for being a bit overbiked (outgunned in your parlance?) but in ways make it forgiving, as opposed to untapped potential for pure speed. I don't always use 160mm of front travel, but the 15mm I usually leave on the table sure is nice when I short a gap into a rock garden. I could probably get away with lighter wheels and tires, but I haven't had to walk out of the trails with a catastrophic flat or lumpy wheel in like 7 years. I could (and have) ride the same things with 3 inches less front-center/wheel-base, but it sure is nice to not have to hang all the way off the back for every single chute.
This bike is awesome, but I personally wouldn't cross-shop it because I'm not looking to light up the time-sheets on race day, rather I'd like something that doesn't make the silly fun stuff that I'm not so good at too much harder, but won't instantly punish me for every mistake.
(Note: I kind of consider big wheels as a type of overbiking. I like my local trails because they're chunky and weird: I wouldn't ride a DH bike just to smooth them out, so why would I pick big wheels just to smooth them out?)
June 23, 2021, 11:37 a.m. - Justin White
Gage, I think you hit on something big here. In the past, when we talked "race bikes", it was either a DH sled or XC whippet. Last couple years have seen A LOT of enduro race bikes which are basically trail/AM bikes aimed for speed over plain "fun". Yes, speed is often subjectively quite fun, but as you noted, sometimes trade-offs made purely for more speed can make other objectively fun stuff, like lippy/shaped jumps and weird/absurd (but interesting) jibs or skinnies, take way more effort. I love going fast, but I don't really need/want to go much faster than my 160mm/140mm 32lbs (with tools and water) 27.5 trail bike can do, unless I armored up more than just head and knees. I also appreciate that even though I've left speed on the table (more suspension, more wheelbase, more wheelsize, high-pivot, etc), I'm also not making the fun stuff that I'm not as good at even harder to do. I can pull a decent 10m manual, I can bunny hop or punch over all manner of windfall logs (more common lately it seems), maybe even get a little nose bonk or rear wheel slide, I can get a little whip happening on a decent jump. Would I sacrifice any of that for more _potential_ top speed? I'm not racing for dough, so nope. I am I bit of an advocate for being a bit overbiked (outgunned in your parlance?) but in ways make it forgiving, as opposed to untapped potential for pure speed. I don't always use 160mm of front travel, but the 15mm I usually leave on the table sure is nice when I short a gap into a rock garden. I could probably get away with lighter wheels and tires, but I haven't had to walk out of the trails with a catastrophic flat or lumpy wheel in like 7 years. I could (and have) ride the same things with 3 inches less front-center/wheel-base, but it sure is nice to not have to hang all the way off the back for every single chute. This bike is awesome, but I personally wouldn't cross-shop it because I'm not looking to light up the time-sheets on race day, rather I'd like something that doesn't make the silly fun stuff that I'm not so good at too much harder, but won't instantly punish me for every mistake. (Note: I kind of consider big wheels as a type of overbiking. I like my local trails because they're chunky and weird: I wouldn't ride a DH bike just to smooth them out, so why would I pick big wheels just to smooth them out?)