Dude, perfect, thank you! I really have no idea what makes a good fork so other folks knowledge is great.
While this is Tarck, any one of those bikes would be fine. The Polygon has the best suspension and component spec, which will keep you running. The 0.5Ā° geometry differences wonāt make much difference.
In my opinion, itās better to have a bike to ride first. Once youāve spent a season or two on a bike, youāll start to see your likes and dislikes. Then itās just demoing until you find something you like better.
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Sir this is Tarck, if Iām not think-dithering over which bike Iāll have to walk up the parking lot hill to the trailhead Iām letting everyone down
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We have seen some first hand issues with some of the alloy Canyon Spectral bikes with regards to how the linkage is assembled. In particular the main pivot bolt has been a problem for a few riders and if the threads get damaged you are SOL.
We sell Norco and their bikes have been great. Only one warranty issue in the last 5+ years on an alloy bike and it was quickly resolved.
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How tall are you?
5ā 10"
Ok, good, I will spare you the random sick bikes in my size that I see on pinkbike then.
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are you getting a large polygon?
I assume so. Seems thatās the one they recommend
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I have no opinions on squishy bikes but discounted Rift Zones on expertvoice if youāre an aac member arenāt bad.
I am finally seeing mountain bike deals on Marketplace. Buddy picked up a 2020 Fuel Ex8 for $700. I saw a FS Norco for $900 of similar vintage. Ripley AFs under $2k.
I havenāt seen bikes on Expert Voice yet and idk why. I gotta be doing something wrong.
Carbon Rift Zone 1 is a good deal. No experience with the z2, but probably cromulent, and you still get SLX and Deore drivetrain, Maxxis tires, and dope TRP Evo brakes.
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I dont know all the deets, but I think the biggest benefitting things for you Jim will be a big stable fork (36) stanchions, and real 4 pot brakes.
Shifting honestly does not matter, you are going to climb a fire road in your lowest gear, then descend something too steep to pedal. Im rolling on 2018 NX shifted 11 speed.
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shifting is kinda important if u ride tech but i guess more engagement points is probab better
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Iād say given his level, having shifting better than sx/nx is a good thing to have, even if going up to get down. And 34 level/diameter fork is fine. I pushed a 34 harder in rocks than most of youāll be encountering, at which point you may want a new bike.
I could help get the Expert voice carbon jawn, if needed.
That said, just testing the waters enough, the polygon still solid.
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Yeah my main concerns are suspension and stable geo since this is all new territory for me, both the bike and the terrain. Shifters/derders can be swapped later on and I like doing that stuff anyway so Iām not too worried about dithering later on down the road.
Iām also 200lbs and stupid so maybe sturdier is better.
Also @Euphorbia and @frank_doktor you can both probably shed some light here but whatās with the eMTBs everywhere? I thought ebikes were banned from trails but I was at Exit 27 this past weekend for a hike and saw tons of eMTBs in the parking lot. Is the ban just for those stupid electric dirt bike contraptions? Or do people just not care anymore?
There is no way to enforce anythingā¦
Folks ride e-bikes all the time everywhereā¦ ive never seen an electric motorcycle out thereā¦ so cant say there.
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Iām 240lbs on a Fox 34, 140mm travel. Its fine. At some point a 36 might be nice if I feel the need to spend more $ on this bike, but I donāt feel like the 34 is holding me back.
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Hot take: I would rather see more eebs on the trails than shuttle rigs on the roads.
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