OK, I know you'l all say I should have got a full-susser in the first place, but the time has come to treat myself to one... So, now I
have to decide which one.
Currently like the look of the Lapierre Zesty, but it isn't cheap. Other options include the Santa Cruz Blur LT, an Orange 5 Pro or a
Commencal Meta 5.5.
Anyone got any opinions on any of these... Has anyone tried a Zesty as that does look nice!
Al.
dont know which model it was but my brother in law had loads of problems with a santa cruz, it was a hand finnished job pick your own
componants, he went real top end and had nothing but trouble.
On the other hand my sisters been riding in france for a year and thinks the orange 5 is the dogs.
vaguely remember her trying the santa cruz and orange back to back and said the orange out climbed the cruz.
Hey Al...
YOU SHOULDD HAVE BOUGHT A FULL SUSSER IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!
Met a guy in France who rode a Commencal 5.5 and quite an elegant piece of kit it was too. Not sure how you'd be for dealers /spares in
the UK?
And for the same kinda money you could get a Specialised Stumpy.....
YOU SHOULDD HAVE BOUGHT A FULL SUSSER IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!
specialized enduro any time
[Edited on 4/2/09 by mNeil]
Spooks... Commencal are pretty common in the UK... Merlin do them as do quite a few other shops so that shouldn't be a problem.
I know I can get an Spesh Enduro / Stumpjumper for half the price, but they are a bit common and it would be nice to have something a
little different... I don't like to follow the crowd, I am a windsurfer afterall!! 
Still like the look of the Lapierre Zesty, and the write ups about it sound good.
Al.
I see that capn Bluebeard is his usual eloquent self...
in fact he summed the situation up AND offered advice with the most efficient use of the written word...
SO efficient in fact - he used none at all!
Giant Al, parts last longer than specialized! 
Loads of deals on them as
well. Mymate has just had a trek and that a sweete bit of kit mind, frame looks great with the magnesium alloy as well. Oh......and u
shud ave got a full in the first place, lol
Yeah yeah... But buying a Giant or Specialized or Trek is like buying a Ford... Why get what everyone else has got when you can get an
Aston Martin!!
Al.
Spooks cant remember if it is mad cow or alzhiemers and cant remember how to spell it either!
oh i remember: dont get one of these Al
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JpkuduhnMs&feature=PlayList&p=75FB9E5871A1A9F8&playnext=1&index=77
Currently being swayed by the Commencal Meta 5.5... Esepcially as Merlin have quite a deal on them at the mo:
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=1104&categoryId=129
Looks good to me... Will see if I can get someone to let me have a go on one tonight! (Although the lapierre still LOOKS nicer')
Al.
Looks like quite a sturdy frame too, and nearly the full 6" of travel, wheelset and gearset pretty high spec for a £1700 bike, not
too heavy...
I think your earlier comment about an Aston Martin was a bit wide of the mark tho - think of something quirky and French instead...
2CV?
Hahaha!!
At least it'll have character. For some reason the two bikes I like at the mo (The Lapierre and the Commencal) are French.
I still prefer the look of the Lapierre and it is a little lighter, but the Commencal is currently around £700 cheaper!
Decisions, decisions!
Al.
just buy one al, or youll be waiting for 2010 bikees to come out, he he
I did think that could be a plan Shem.... Spend all year having fun testing bikes and making a decision on a nice shiny 2009 bike and
then buy it early next year when the 2010 bikes come out and I can find a deal on a 2009 bike.....
Wonder how long this thread will be by then!
Al.
Finally plumped for a Commencal Meta 5.5.1 as I couldn't resist the deal that Merlin had on them... £1750 rather than £2500 for
the 09 version.
Still like the look of the Lapierre, but the sums just didn't add up.
It arrived yesterday an all I can say so far is that it is VERY green. So bright in fact that I may not need lights for the night ride
tonight!!
Al.
should have brought a hard tail!!
ha ha
Did you get your bike sorted Shem?
Had a bit of a problem getting my Conti Mountain King to seal on my rim using the
Ghetto Tubeless System.. My fault really as it was a brand new
tyre and had been folded in the box for months. I should have put it on with a tube first and rode it for a while so that it moulded to
the shape of the rim.
Took it to the garage in the end and used the air compressor to get some air in to seal it... Now just waiting for it to seal up
properly, and will do the front tyre sometime soon as well.
Al.
al
when are you going to do a full test report on the new bike as there are millions of people around the world waiting with baited
breath(well me anyway)be interesting to see which you prefer full or hardtail.
I'll write something soon... Just waiting to give it a few more goes really as it does feel quite different, but only when you thnk
about it. if you just ride you don't notice too much difference. But then when you think back about certain sections you do realise
that you didn;t have to worry quite so much about your line when on a full-sus.
Still getting it dialled in properly and set up the way I want it though and will no doubt end up riding it more than the hard-tail,
which at the moment seem like a bit of a shame as my hardtail has been riding pretty well lately... But then there's nothing wrong with
too many toys.
I shall use the new full-sus for a while and then go back to the hardtial and see how it feels once I'm used to the full-sus. No doubt
it will feel horrible after the comfort of suspension.
Al.
quote:
Originally posted by sarge
al
when are you going to do a full test report on the new bike as there are millions of people around the world waiting with baited breath(well me anyway)be interesting to see which you prefer full or hardtail.
thanks al
very interesting to see that you are a convert to full suss as many people just dont like them
ps your right it is bright.......
Well Al you were right to fancy the Lapierre Zesty - in MBRs recent test of all-mountain bikes it came out top.
(Mind you the test didn't include the Specialized Enduro)
Was that the Zesty or the Spicy?... I saw an All Mountain test recently with the Lapierre Spicy that came out on top.
I'm sure the Zesty will rank just as highly... Saying that though, the Commencal Meta 5.5 that I got won MBR's Trail bike of the year
award, so they obviously rate that pretty highly too.
Al.
Mind you, I have just read that Commencal will have a full carbon version and a half carbon (carbon swingarm) next year, which would
stiffen up the back end and reduce the weight... Nice!!!
Al.
keeping up with the joneses, or is that the spooks Al.
question; what happens when you hit a rock with a carbon frame? is that more money for a new frame i wonder? does that make
economical sense for a few less of the grams?
oooooooooo Mr Grumpy is back! 
you stick with your Aldi special Neil, I'll stick with my carbon fibre artwork 
How was Norway - windy and snowy??
You tell him Spooks.... Although I guess we'll all get grumpier with age so maybe he can't help it!
Al.
you should have brought a hard tail