UFO profile

With the slack for today seat angle, the reach is probably on the shorter side of ok.

I recently started riding a Specialized Fuse which is fundamentally very similar to this, with a 420mm reach. It did not feel out of place even though I had been riding bikes with a 435mm reach the last couple of years.

As an added bonus IMO the 10 speed XTR/XT shifters feel way smoother and better than the more positive and clicky 11 speed equivalents. Too bad when I upgraded to an 11-46 the 10spd Sunrace option wasn't yet available.

When you drop $10k+ at the shop for one if these, I'd be surprised if they aren't more than happy to swap tires to your liking and maybe even a matchy matchy chain just for you. Maybe...

I get at this price point you would expect everything to be spot on, but you're basically asking for a location specific build kit. Most LBS in my experience are happy to help you adjust the build to suit, maybe even at no additional cost.

I find with bikes where there's a will there's usually a way. Most of my bike dollars are spent in the secondary/used market to extract maximum value, so for me I rely on gear being readily available on the used market at what I deem to be a value worthy price.

With the immense depreciation of a used mtb's value, it's very difficult for me to justify forking out MSRP on a larger special order part to keep this old bike going. Case in point in the original thread I discovered the latest top end Fox 36 can be ordered with a straight 1 1/8" steertube -- I can almost guarantee you the fork will out value the rest of the bike it is to go on. So at some point it just makes sense to dive into the new standards. Until the next set of Standards rolls out... Thankfully things to seem to be slowing, for now

Good to know. I thought it was a situation like the original Pike/Lyrik where they were both 35mm but the ID of the stanchion being thicker on the Lyrik made parts not compatible with each other. Or maybe I was on crack back then too

I was under the impression that this fork is built around the Fox 36 Rhythm using the lower end crown AND stanchions. I haven't done much research into this, but initially understood that the Fox Rhythm stanchions are thicker internally resulting in a smaller ID, so upgrading to the Fit or Grip2 dampers wasn't possible.

See the thing I feel is, those dropping $8k+ on a bike don't typically believe it will last twice as long as a $4k bike. Back onto incrementalism, there's also no way an 8k bike returns double the quality of experience that a 4k bike delivers.

I believe the answer to your problem is the concept of value. And value is determined by a series of personal factors as mentioned previously. If I could possess 1 8k wonder bike or 2 4k awesome bikes, my answer is the latter everytime. 

Personally, the value for performance ratio is the best its been since forever--in certain segments, if you deal hunt. I bought my first new complete bike off a shop floor in over 20 years a few weeks ago, a Norco Range 29 with a very competent parts package for less than 3500 out the door. But once again that's value based on my preconceived notions

I totally feel you about 1 1/8" forks though. I'm always on the lookout to stash and hoard these, but even then the Sakura that needs this size doesn't get ridden hard enough that its really an issue

So disgusted that you feel the need to protect said company. 

No dig to you, but if one isn't in a process to amicably resolve a problem, 100% the socially responsible thing to do in 2018 is to make everyone else aware (aware =/= unfounded slander). Maybe the social pressure may eventually move towards a resolution of your own problem, but at the very least will make others aware of this very obvious short coming.

Even without the exchange rate discount for our Ameri-friends, it's very hard to ignore the value of the WAO rims and everything they bring to the table.

As I recall Tim Coleman has been testing the NSMB WAO rims, and last I recall he really enjoyed them. I'd be VERY curious to see what Tim's feedback on the Crank Brothers wheels would be based on how discerning I know he is with his gear

Some more Chromag love, having this Sakura as my forever bike (unless they release a Sakura v2 with modern geometry but this same HT badge) made it easier to let the Primer go. This is a purely XC bike now, I'm redoing the build this off season so stay posted.

Posted by: nouseforaname

If there ends up being a Taiwanese version and I'm still dumb enough to think I can ride hardtails I'd buy one.

After much time on my Primer, I learnt enough about hardtail geometry, where and how I ride, to find out that it wasn't ideal for me. I really like the Cotic Solaris Max ideology and geometry, just couldn't justify dropping the coin to bring one over from the UK.  But if one were to pop out gently loved, I'd be all over it.

Posted by: syncro

That's a good point - thanks.  I'm probably going to nix that Satori as like you say there's too much overlap with my Warden and I want to push a bit more to the lighter/xc end of the spectrum. That Rootdown is a possibility. The advantage of getting just a frame/fork/wheels for what I'm after is finishing the bike off with parts I have which puts the build under the $1000CDN mark which is ideally where I'd like to be.

One bike that marked a lot of my check boxes was the Commencal Meta AM HT. $530 brand new, threaded bb, lightweight, 29/27.5+ compatible, slackish geo with 150mm fork, or quicker xc geo with a 130mm fork.

Posted by: syncro

thanks but I'm after a large

Keep in mind you've got a mix of bikes on your list with older and newer geometry. I had a 2014 M/L Satori (same geo as your 2012) to get a modernish reach in most 2016/17+ mediums. The Satori is quite a bit of bike, it handled Whistler Park duties for me with 27.5x2.8 tires. I'd suggest there could be a lot of overlap with your Warden.

A 2019 Chromag Rootdown m/l popped up on pb today for $650, that's a great starting point for what you want

If you're interested in a pretty mint 2017 Devinci Django in medium with most parts new from my Specialized Fuse, feel free to PM me for details

So I swapped out the Primer I've been on the last 2 seasons, for this Specialized Fuse (with most parts repatriated from the Primer). I felt a bit dirty initially, but she fits my needs for a lighter duty and nimbler trail bike better. Just waiting on my 27.5+ rear wheel to go back to my ideal setup.

Posted by: pedalhound

Here's my Chromag Rootdown. Every ride I am amazed at the capabilities of this bike....so much fun!

The Primer/Rootdown are so capable. It's actually why I sold mine and moving to something lighter duty this season after getting a Range 29... The Primer overlapped a lot of what I'd use the Range for.

Commencal CS has been good to my inquiries the past couple of months. Most of the feedback I'd heard about Commencal's support has been quite positive.

I have been a huge fan of DT Swiss star ratchet over the years, the 350 is best bang for the buck. They have been the epitome of reliable and value, above average bearing life too. As mentioned the 36t stars are the sweetspot, nice enough upgrade over the stock 18t without the durability concerns or cost of the 54t.

The only beef I've heard of the rear hubs is difficulty removing the drive ring to get at the bearing for replacement, but this is a job I would leave at the shop anyways. Everything else is super easy to service at home without any specialty tools.

I also have a P321 quiet rear wheel and that thing is a real treat, not as much time on it thus far though but from what I've read the current ones seem quite reliable.

Posted by: Ddean

To that I ask “so what?”

None of us get the max from our bikes. It doesn’t mean that we should not be riding them. You deserve that Evo. Go get one right away and report back on the size of your smile. Don’t delay! You’ve earned this!!!

Oh don't worry I'm not ever adverse to treating myself. 

My comment was more about the compromises in the SJ Evo that make it what it is. For my intents and purposes, I'm looking less for a downhiller's trail bike but more for a hack's do everything bike -- I ultimately ended up on a Range 29 with more conventional geometry to create more separation from my Chromag.