salespunk profile

FYI the link provided to send content just goes back to the main page.  Might want to share an actual email.  Killer build BTW.

I have mine setup with a 160 36 and a single offset bushing.  65.5* HA FTW!

The X2 makes the bike significantly more supple off the top while ramping up well.  Love my X2 setup.

Take the Trek price and multiply it by .64 and you get the dealer buy price. This means that Trek is selling to their dealer for about $5100 vs the $5600 that the top of the line Capra sells for direct. Some dealers might get as much as a 40% discount instead of 36%. Not quite the price difference you talk about.

A Hightower with a 160 fork has virtually identical geometry to the SB55c. 66.3 HA, 345 BB, and shorter CS. Can't go wrong with either one, but most people have not made this comparison.

I have both and you will get exactly what you are looking for. More pop and agility with the Bronson vs a DH bike that can climb anything with the Nomad.

They both solve the same problem but from two different angles. Each can be ridden over the same terrain, but will feel completely different. You can't attack the rougher DH sections with the Bronson like you can with the Nomad. The Bronson has more snap and pop in the corners and off of the side hits. One thing I have found with the Bronson is that you have to weight the front wheel. It does not like to be ridden from the back wheel BMX style.

So all of this change for 4 extra mm of rim width compared to a set of Derby wheels? I would really like to see a comparison of the current crop of wide rims with plus bikes to see what the real difference is.

BTW Nathan Riddle tried racing a plus bike at one of the Oregon Enduro Series races and got spanked. Came back at the next race on a standard bike and won. Moral to me is that plus is fun, but not necessarily faster, but maybe he was just having a bad day.

I agree that I would love to see a test of frame only options with identical build kits to eliminate variability.

For everyone complaining about price, it is time to move on. I understand that you may want to read about less expensive bikes, but go to the forums for it. People don't come to these sites to read about $2500 bikes and a LOT of people buy bikes in the $5-9K price range. As for carbon wheels, if you don't like the price of Enve's there are PLENTY of other affordable carbon options out there that give similar benefits, specifically stiffness. I would be bummed to see a high end bike NOT tested with carbon wheels these days since they change the ride so much.

As for the review, it is intended as a first look, not a comprehensive overview. The bike simply has not been out long enough (it's only been a few weeks!) for those to be done and posted. I also want to hear about how it pedals uphill and what it is like to live with day to day, but it will take a little while to get over the honeymoon phase that everyone gets when riding a new bike.