At minimum, you should have an XC bike, a trail bike, and an enduro bike. If you want to really enjoy the sport, you should add a downcountry bike and a trailduro bike as well. - the bike industry
@@leeretaschen231 😂 yeah for sure the Bike industry man I mean, if we’re all sponsored riders or if we work at a bike shop and get the bikes for dirt cheap then sure let’s try and have every bike because we’re gonna be able to get stoked and go ride all the trailsbut for the majority of us that happy medium like is truly all we need in my humble opinion, of course
Having 2 bikes for me is to be able to ride when one of them is broken. But definitely agree with nobody really needs an Enduro unless your fly high and dropping huge!
Have a really well set up yt izzo (130/130mm) with really good suspension nut even better drivetrain got a second front wheel so I have a downcountry setup and I swap the front wheel and I have a more trail/downhill setup. Just picked up a 2018 giant reign for $800 with way more budget parts for the few times a month I need a 170/160 travel bike.
My Stumpy Evo probably gives me juuust the right amount of suspension travel at 160/150mm, but the weight and tires slow me down big time on the climb compared to when I had a regular Stumpjumper. I'll take my Evo!
Lots of folks are going with a short travel trail bike 120/130 and when they want to go XC switch out the wheels and tires to lighter wheels and XC tires for a one bike solution
So many people "over" bike. I have always thought this. I love my down country bike. Not that I am fast but I am often beating people down the descents on my 120/120 bike. Bigger travel is often more comfortable but is only faster on the truly extreme trails.
@@scottbriggs884 I just took this T9 “Trail” bike to the Downhill bike park. Riding with guys on DH bikes. Handled everything great 👍 video coming soon on that one…
It's funny how the industry moves the goal post. Now 140 - 150mm of travel is called "trail". The Yeti sb150 used to be called enduro. We just threw out the term all mountain, when a 140-145 bike used to be considered all mountain. Now the SB160 is called Enduro. Now enduro bikes go up to 180mm, which used to be downhill bikes. Now downhill bikes are anything over 200mm of travel. Cross country used to be 100mm - 120mm but now 120-130mm is called "down country". I have found that 140-160 is a good place to have an all day one bike for anything. The limit is 160 as they can either get too heavy and really long and the limit is 140 as it can be thrown off lines easily and get out of control. You want faster climbing, go below 140mm of travel. You want more ability to smash rocks and huck to flat, then stay at 160 or higher. But what do you find yourself riding all the time? Then buy for that. Or as some do, get two bikes N+1bikes...
@@travelthenarrowtrail8660 for sure! A lot of valid points. If I could only choose one it would be a 140 travel bike with a 150 or 160mm fork and adjustable geo designed to let me mullet it if I wanted to.
@@JaredHoff Sounds like you would love the new Ibis Ripley. It has a flip chip for mullet and has 130mm rear travel and can run a 150mm fork. I thought of the Yeti SB140 but you can't mullet that bike. It's still a super amazing bike though. If I was to rate the top 3, I would put the Pivot switchblade at 1, best in climbing, sporty and nimble, 2 Yeti SB140, amazing climber with Switch Infinity, race designed geo, bike carries speed like no other, also sporty; and 3 the new Ibis Ripley - great climber, DW link suspension, easy to lift off the ground, playful, poppy, sporty feeling. If you are going to do park riding, chances are you will be doing lift service so climbing isn't an issue and a 170-180mm enduro bike is the choice.
Good comment. I ride enduro in locals trails and have a downhill for mountain and parks. But i really good like to have just one bike for all. Maybe your suggestion 140-160 is a good option
I've got a Pivot Switchblade coming. Kind of combination Trail/Enduro. I've got a couple blown out discs in my back and a torn shoulder, so I need the little extra cush in the suspension. Otherwise I'm not going. That rocky descent would kill me. No thanks to that. Give me smooth packed clay, please. Still fun to ride on some trails, through the woods though.
My wife and I have settled on both an XC and a trail bike. The XC bikes are full suspension “race XC” bikes so they are light and very fast. The trail bikes are lighter weight, mid-powered e-bikes (Fuel EXe, which many people run with a 160mm fork), which makes them even more different from the XC bikes. They really open up a bunch of trails for us, as we’re not as winded going uphill and the extra weight adds to the stability downhill.
I have trail hardtail bikes that really handle my local trails well. The only times I feel underbiked are the longer sections of chucks and braking bump sections. I have been considering a full suspension trail bike but honestly I would probably build it up with a light parts spec, 150/140 and wider Stan’s Baron CB7 i35 carbon rims or We are One i33 carbon rims and 2.5/2.6 tire combo. I really think people undervalue the stability advantages of wider rims and tires.
I have a 150mm trail hardtail with a fox 36 (Trek Roscoe 7 23') for my local trails and a 170mm-160mm enduro bike with a zeb fork (23' rocky mountain altitude) for the mountain trails here in Alberta, Canada and I think this is the best combination for the places where I ride and my riding style. I guess it depends where and how you ride your bike or bikes.
I live in SoCal so it’s some of the steepest riding around and for what I ride you need a minimum of 150mm in the rear to be comfortable so enduro bike it is for me
Reason I got rid of my enduro bike a few years ago. I got a trail bike instead.recently got an ebike for big day climbing. No shuttles for me as I ride alone quite a bit. I think it’s down to the individual, where you live and what access to trails you have. Most my local trails aren’t blue or black but mostly green/blue.i tend to travel with the bikes at times why the Ebike was the best option for me.also ride a gravel bike for when the trails have been hit with to much rain.
You genuinely hit the nail on the head.. The reality of it is, 95% of the bikes actually sold, will never see enough hard abuse to actually justify there lineage... If you watch certain channels, I wont mention names... They will make videos like, why you need a downhill bike, or why you need this or that, and these tyres,and this suspension... 6 years ago I wanted a freeride bike.. Hell yeah, I can do drops and be a blatant hooligan.. So I sold my perfectly capable and franky the only bike I needed Orange 5 all mountain or [trail bike] in todays market.. Now I go on leisurly bike rides and im sweating, Ive never used the freeride capabiities of the bike, I dont even live in a country with a mountain over 3,000 feet elevation... No hardcore courses, all just leisurly trail rides and a couple of bike parks that my orange 5 could have easily handled.. I got suckered by the marketing and bike forums...
Great video I have an “all mountain” 150/160 e-bike, just got in to MTB, but have been thinking of picking up an analogue bike as well that is lighter. After watching this I’m leaning towards the trail bike.
Its nice to hear someone admit the heavy bias involved in judging bikes! Its ok as long as were honest about it mostly with ourselves! This applies to all facets of life! Thanks for the video! Polygon do seem to be a good mid budget option!
Thanks for the video, here on a YT Izzo (130/130) on XC tires. Super bike on mellow trails but once I get up in the Alps, on S2-S3 trails it gets dangerous at speed, gets the job done but sketchy at times. Thinking about complementing it with an enduro bike like the Capra.
Firstly try your izzo with a 150mm fork and some chunkier tyres such as a minion front and dissector rear. Might change your mind to how good the izzo can be.
Hello Jared, thankyou very much for this comparison. Iam from Germany and started with this sport just last year. I also decided to go with a trail bike with the same travel as yours and it was the best choice. It is actually trail e-bike. It is more than enough and nice to climb for daily riding and local trails. Once a month we go to bikeparks and for that purpose I have a dh bike. So well equipped. Some of my friends have enduro bikes for local trails and their forks almost never get more used than my 150mm. Thankyou again for this great comparison.
I like a tight trail bike with the potential to modify the geo. I rode the gnarliest trails in Squamish and my current trail bike rips with more koms in a trial then enduro
@@jasonw820 I am looking at a bike now with adjustable geometry. One of the unfortunate parts about me testing these bikes is that they want them back eventually. I’m currently looking for a bike I can keep. Something with 130-150 suspension travel and adjustable geometry so I can throw a bigger fork upfront or go mullet when I want to.
I ride bike parks in NZ all the time, I used to have a 150 rear 160 front trek slash enduro bike a few years ago, recently I switched to a 120 rear 130 front, 67.3 head angle merida one twenty trail bike and find it much more fun to ride, its so much fun to corner on, its agile and poppy, plus stable at speed, the shorter travel means you can feel more small trail features that you wouldn't feel on a bigger travel bike, and the funny thing is I can still ride steep double blacks on it, and I can still keep up with my brother on his 160 rear 170 front trek slash, and we're pretty much the same skill level, but you do have to get your suspension spot on due to the fact that you haven't got much of it to play with.
Great topic, I’m researching if replace my trail bike with Enduro. But after boosting and adding a 29”in front it does incredible. If trail is chunky the larger suspension will soak it up and save your body on fatigue and make a safer more planted grip and safer fun ride over te trail bike. For more in-depth comparison of time/speed climbing, I suggest that you watch/include your heart rate . I am in the same boat, I started with 2018 Hightower 27+ tire trail bike , 135rear/150front but I boosted it to 150/160front and added a 29front wheel , and I ride as fast as a guy on enduro bike with same travel but just finished 1:20 faster on our last stage5 Enduro race. If you just riding easy green/blue trails , a trail bike is enough and lighter. Though keep in mind that Geo’s have improved greatly year to now 2023-24 . Now go do that again with trail bike first😅.
Awesome vid! It was surprising to see such similar times on the downhill! I'm convinced trail bikes are the perfect bike for most trails with the ability to climb efficiently and descend fast and with good control
Pretty spot on. I've got a 5010 and Nomad and they overlap on the majority of trails. They really show their utility on the outliers, like long xc rides with tech (5010 provides for less exertion) or gnarly steep tech with short punchy climbs (Nomad preferred). For me, this is a perfect combo. Now i just need an ebike so i can ride with my friends lol
Thank you for the video really enjoyed watching it. Please repeat the test using the lock out for the climb, I think that has the potential to change the outcomes, cheers!
One approach I've seen is also having different tires and pedals to ride accordingly, even different shocks (some people have coil and air). Have a trail bike and adapt it to the ride you're gonna do that day :)
I jist did a custom progressive geo frame and bike build Soft tail instead of hardtail or full suspension 170mm 27.5/26 mullet 61° HTA with 80° STA Climbs and descends better than any bike I've owned weather XC, trail or Enduro. I can also swap in a 140mm 29er fork(with same 27.5 wheel) and keep my geo virtually the same( same A2CL but 46mm fork offset vs unknown, probably 51mm) May experiment with a 29er front wheel and perhaps like a 120 mm fork later down the road.
@@chrisarksey I didn’t make a video specifically on that but it’s pretty straight forward. The wheels come taped and tubeless ready. All you have to do is order tubeless valve stems and get some tubeless tire sealant, a good set of tire levers, a shop rag to clean up the sealant, a floor pump. 1.) remove half of the tire with the tire levers. 2.)Take out the tubes. You only have to remove once side of the tire to do this so the other half of the tire with remain one the rim and ready for tubeless setup. 3.) put in the tubeless valve stems. 4.) add tubeless sealant into the open end of the tire. 5.) use the tire levers to pop the open half of the tire back onto the rim. You might spill a little sealant. This just takes practice. Use the shop rag to clean up the mess. 6.) use the floor pump and pump it up to 35 PSI or so as fast as you can. You’ll hear the second side pop onto the rim. I can make a video if it helps. Let me know.
nice test. Here's my experience so far. Rode a Giant Trance 150/140 for a few years, does basically 85% of everything except a little lacking for jumping/drops etc. I'm now on 170/170 Enduro bike and I LOVE it. Will do basically 95% of everything, maybe a tad less efficient on the climbs but worth it on the downs. If I were to re-do things, I would probably go with a 160/160 or 160/150, 2.5/2.4 tire setup and that bike would do 98% of everything very well (climbing/downhill, jibby, playful etc.) and for lift assist days, 170+/200 DH-duro build :) so only those two bikes.
Well I have both. My trail bike is 130 front and rear for my local trails. My enduro is 170 front and 160 rear for my bike park and gnarly trails. I like the fact that I have access to both bikes and dont beat my trail bike up so much.
@@tstoresbaby Sounds like you’ve got two awesome bikes that you use for the right scenarios 👍 I rarely ride bike parks, but I bring my enduro bike when I do.
I agree we all should just get a trail bike instead of an enduro. I ride a regular Stumpy forked up to 150mm up front and 130mm out back which is a perfect trail bike in my opinion. If I need a bit more travel out back, I just throw on my 27.5 rear link and wheel to give me 135mm-ish rear travel with playfulness to pair.
Great Vid! I have a Salsa Blackthorn which is 140/160. I guess kinda right in the middle of trail and enduro. If I ever get a second bike, it will probably be a hard tail.
Sick video🔥 Crazy that my size large commencal Meta Am is longer then your XL polygon! 63.6 HTA , 78.5 STA , 495 reach and 1295 wheelbase! And I’m only 5’10” on a good day with (long ass arms) bike feels perfect👌 crazy how sizes varies from brand to brand.
Great vid my dude! One solid trail bike from a reputable company should be good for everyone. Jump into buying a full-on Enduro bike if you want to ride more gnar, bike park or get into racing.
I think that on the climb I’m usually exhausted on my first run. The second time up it’s easier and that could be down to many things, warming up, electrolytes, etc.
Fortunate to have too many bikes but not a ton of overlap. I just rode my 150 / 125 trail bike on a shuttle zone where folks bring out big bikes. I built that bike burly and its very heavy and stable. I've sold some other bikes because they sucked climbing and i enjoy climbing. My downcountry rig and hardtails get grabbed a lot for simplicity. They also can outclimb me. Regularly in group rides i have the shortest travel and take lines i feel confident in. I have a blast and my bikes wont make up for bad techniques. They feel more engaging, thats all that matters i think.
Totaly agree. I got an enduro bike because of all the Hype on TH-cam and damn im so overbiked that I am bored most of the time. Looking for a nice trail bike atm. Cheers
@@alfredodahik5639 135mm of rear travel, but I get what you’re saying. Definitely feels like an “All Mountain”. I’m working on a video now taking the T9 to a BIG mountain lift access bike park. Spoiler Alert 🚨 It handled everything amazingly 🤯
My only bike is a Polygon Vander T7 upgraded with fox dpx2 and 160mm fox 36, along with other upgrades. It handles everything for me at my local trails (fort ord/sea otter classic) but I can still send it down the gnarly black diamond stuff. I really don’t need any other bike.
Had the T8 (loved it) before and currently own the N9, so far I can agree that the that trail bike climbs better but in the over all I rather pick the colossus because if you fuck up in a jump you have that extra travel to save you, and after all, is way more capable in a bike park or in a downhill session, and still pretty decent for climbing, also, it's such a good value for the money
Awesome video. I think if you can afford both and have opportunities for both….. gettem. But if you can only afford the trail bike it can do both and is the way to go.
I understand what Knighthawk is like. My preference was the trail to the right of KH. North Ridge might be a bit more towards the enduro over the trail bike. I love showing off what Spence has to offer! BTW I should be down there in a couple of weeks for roughly 4 months. Lastly, yes do the 140 side with some South Ridge climbing and SK dh.
Great video man Ive gone trek remedy and then treated myself to a set of hunt enduro wheels with maxxgrip tyres for down hill and wetter more aggressive days out. on the factory fitment wheels i put some fast rolling light tyres on there for my everyday rides and then i put the xr4s back on for the stuff in between. Makes a huge difference and feels like 3 different bikes just changing tyres alone. The maxxgrip tyres are very fit for purpose especially in a DD casing not for normal trail riding haha. Likewise the xc tyres wouldn't last long on heavier riding trails. Minor suspension tweeks are also an option to really hone the bike into different riding categories. Trail bike for the 🏆
@JaredHoff that is exactly what I have on my hunt enduro rims. A truly great set up for the gravity assisted riding. I took them to bike park wales and they are noticeably slower on the flow trails but worth their weight in gold on the gnarly natural steep stuff.
My goals are to have a road bike, gravel bike (my race xc hardtail fits here), my xc race bike, a trail bike (again, my xc hardtail is more than capable), an enduro bike (I race enduro on, you guessed it! My xc race bike) and never anything more than that because I live in the land of cheese (WI) and we have like half a "mountain" here. If you push your budget to get ONE really solid bike for the type of terrain you ride 95% of the time youll be better off than trying to get 5 budget bikes to "suit all your needs".
I thought I needed an Enduro first then realized that Trail is more than enough for me so I got them both so I will never have to think or crave for the one I don’t have 🤣. Great video keep em coming 💪
I absolutely love it so far. I have some revgrips pro coming for it, but I'm thinking about going tubeless before I take it out for a good spin in the mountains
I have both Polygon N9 for when I travel somewhere big and Norco Fluid for the everyday trails here. Looking at an E-bike just because that looks fun too!
Great comparison-I need one or the other. I’m leaning for trail. I’m more of climber but it’s a tough decision because I have downhill minutes away. Thanks and I would of liked to see the second half but those climbs and then the advanced downhill is no joke.
@@chrisledbetter3475 Thanks for the feedback man. I am in the same boat as you. I’ve always chose an enduro bike to make sure I have enough travel for any trail, but I’ve just realized that these modern Trail bikes can handle so much.
@@JaredHoff I'm a bikesonline fan. I have an XTrada 5 hardtail with a new front fork. Love it but it's just not enough sometimes. I'm really interested in the Superior XF 939. That looks really nice.
I agree, you definitely don't need both... However, instead of XC and Trail, those are right next to each other too, I'd say XC and Enduro (that's my planned route). I own a Polygon T7, and gotta say, they knocked it outta the park! Great bikes for the money, and with some Facebook marketplace upgrades and some time in the saddle, they perform so well! Yeah, they're a little on the heavier side, but part of that is the double walled enduro rims, heavier beefcake Schwalbe Hans Dampf (or Vee Snap) tires, and the steel RockShox Recon fork. Some guys have gotten them as low as 30lbs, which is a lb less than my Santa Cruz Chameleon. That being said, I also own a Polygon D7 SE, 120/120, and that does all the local stuff great too. Better climber, another 1-2lbs lighter, tho definitely a little taller and more XC focused. I find I use the D7 on local group rides more (or the Chameleon), while I use the T7 for bike park, jumps, and bigger adventures (tho I take my Chameleon there too)... And also the T7 on local stuff.... So I definitely favor the T7. Just a better all arounder ... Now, I DO want to get a bike even more focused in the jumps and chunk ... So I'm going to keep my D7 for the tamer stuff, and use the Pivot Mach 6 coil build (sell my T7) for the bigger stuff... Spread the bikes' talents a little further apart, and then my upgraded Chameleon will fill the gap in between for an all-rounder. 👌🏻
I’m between the SC Chameleon or the Polygon T8. Currently ride Trek Xcal 9. I like the nimbleness of the HT. I don’t do any jump and ride in FL. I’m thinking I can’t go wrong with either one and should probably test ride both to make my decision. What do u think?
Great video. I’ve questioned this many times as I’ve repaired and upgraded my trail bike. Looks like I need to swap off this fox 34 on the T8 though. Thanks for putting this together!
160/150 is sweetspot. I have 170/160 these days and its safer in bikeparks and if you overshoot jumps, but ist not as nimble. I went the way to enjoy summer trips and struggle little bit at home trails. Oh yes, one thing i forgot, i bought lighter 1780g wheelset. Its killer
@@filipvaclavovsky7405 lighter wheels for the win! I’ve been super happy with my Hunt wheels. Lighter and stronger than stock, but still a good affordable price 👍
My Specialized Status is a 140 by 140 and does just fine on all my local trails. I could have gotten the 160 by 160 but did not see the sense in getting it as this is plenty of travel.
I think you absolutely need both bikes. If I ride to the top then banshee Prime trail bike. If I get shuttled to the top then it's the banshee Titan. You only live once, so you can never have to many bikes in your corral😮🫡🤔
If your intention it's to ride really fast at rough trails, the enduro bike WILL shine over the Trail Bike. But if your just casually riding, of course you'll not see that many of difference except while climbing.... In these days I got a Transition Patrol 2016, 150 mm travel in the rear,, and 160mm in the front, both 27.5 wheels. The bike feels amazing, but I can tell you that I wish to have a bigger travel both rear and front. Bike feels a little harsh sometimes, and the sag it's like 20% front, and something like 30% rear.
Order a rockshox super deluxe ultimate rear shock for trek top ex5, factory fusion X no good for jump lines in big bear mtb park. Planning on keep up grading. Got xt 202 mm? With magura 4 piston setup. I need a bigger fork. Can I throw a 160mm lirik fork? Max 150mm
i gonna get the Get Stoked, Go Ride t-shirt , then cross away the K :D cheers ! nice one ! i am 1 meter 92 and slim, what size you recommend? and do you ship to The Netherlands ?
@@dichotomousblue I’ve never seen long term reliability tested that way but it makes sense. Beefier suspension definitely makes a difference which is why you see e-bikes specs that way.
Why not have 170mm of travel? Pedal strikes? I rode full squish in the 90's. Those bikes were pretty terrible, so I went hardtail from 2003 - 2023 and then went back to 160mm of full squish. I'm still relearning how to ride to avoid pedal strikes. I'd assume a shorter travel bike would be less prone to pedal strikes though judging by the scratches I see on rocks, perhaps not.
@@zimmejoc kind of depends on the BB height and crank length. My enduro bike has a higher BB and shorter cranks. Yes, it squishes down more due to the 170mm rear travel, but I rarely have pedal strikes on either bike. Although, my terrain is really rocky so most riders where I live get good at avoiding strikes as well.
@@JaredHoff That's great. I flipped my chip to the high position and actively work to avoid pedaling when I think I might strike. Once I actually get decent, I'll go back to the slacker low setting on my flip chip and possibly shorten my cranks from their current 170mm.
@@joshking3267 when you’re recording all day you have to worry about a lot of things. Battery time is one, having hours of GoPro footage to sort through when editing each video is another, and the amount of memory 4k footage takes up. I’ve learned to be very picky about what and when I choose to hit the record button. Hope you can understand that. So much goes into making these vids. Cheers!
Between these 2, one quiver trail bike should suffice for most riders needs and save $$$$! What you save you could spend on better components on your trail bike. IMO.
@@natepereira6106 I’ve gone back and forth between Trail and enduro bikes. Lately I’ve been riding my trail bike more. Even at the bike park. Check out this video if you want to see that: Do you need a DH Bike at the Bike Park? th-cam.com/video/Lo7UL5afD58/w-d-xo.html
@@JaredHoff I saw that one too, but I am still a beginner, and I don’t think that I am very good at my line choices, so I feel that the more travel compared to the trail bike could be more forgiving to bad line choices
Now that there're bikes that can be easily converted between 29er and mullet, (I.e, new Ibis Ripley and Ripmo), as riders we can customize more to our needs without investing in several bikes
@@felipevega for sure! I’m currently looking into the Privateer 141 which is a “do it all” shredder with adjustable geo for mullet capability and you can even throw a 160 fork on it for those lift access bike park days.
My 170/170 Capra MX feels good enough on the climbs (which I don't care that much) and great downhill, no meter if it's gnarly or flowy. It's safe, controlable then funny and poppy at the same time, so why should I need a shorter travel bike? I use almost all the travel even on my local trails or jumping stairs while lapping around the city, so I see no point in having a less burly, shorter travel rig, which would hit its limit much easier.
@@davinci69 I don’t have it recording the whole time. So much work goes into to filming and editing these videos. It takes forever to edit a video when you have hours of video. A 15min video often takes days to create between creating the idea, researching, setting up cameras, riding, and editing (the longest part).
I ride the 150/160mm travel Stumpy Evo with fast-rolling trail tires (2.6 Rekon front, 2.4 Rekon rear). I think of it as my long-travel Downcountry bike. I ride green to black trails. I don't ride double black trails, bike parks, or ski resorts, but if did ride those trails, I would just put on more aggressive tires. It pedals well enough that even easy trails are fun but when it gets steep, fast, or rough, it has enough travel to handle all but the most extreme conditions. Honestly, I think nearly all of us should be riding either a Downcountry bike with a 120mm fork or an All-Mountain bike with a 160mm fork. Avoid Trail bikes with 130, 140, 150mm forks. With the Downcountry bike, you give up descending capability for faster speeds on easier trails. With the All-Mountain bike, you give up faster speeds on easier trails for descending capability. However, the in-between Trail bike robs you of both. As to Enduro bikes, maybe they are for Enduro racers and for riders that frequently ride the most extreme conditions.
Just bought and modded a 2024 alloy stumpjumper with 160 Lyric ultimate andnsuper deluxe in the rear. I hit all the same lines and things that i would on my long travel bike without any issue (as long as I'm not hucking to flat) plus it pedals up hill WAY easier, and its WAY more nimble on tight single track. An aggressive trail bike is more than most people honestly need. Especially if you ride / jump / drop smooth
Yeah I think even trail bikes are getting too big. I got a Gen 6 Trek Fuel EX and it's so heavy and cumbersome compared to my Gen 4 that I don't like it as much.
I ride the big double blacks in Squamish and a trail bike with modified geo and a bit more travel is the way to go. I like the steep and technical tight stuff and an enduro is too long and not maneuverable enough for me . I like nimble . I also rode a chromag hardtail on the same double blacks . I’m also on the shorter side at 5 9 so enduro is too long for me
I Started back into the Sport with a Trailbike Modded it to a 150/140 Suspension . I live and Ride Vancouver /Whistler and After 1 Month Riding on the Shore I Bought a CF Warden Its Now Fully Coiled 170/160 Did 5000km on It last year Riding Local Vancouver . Did 6 days at Whistler With It in Sept . Which was AMAZING. In Oct I Bought a CF Demo8 Modded That and Haven't Rode My Warden All Year .... lol lol Tomorrow will be My 11th day at Whistler This Year SO I Love DH Enduro Not So Much .... Id Rather Take The Uplift .... im Older So Not Really Intrested in Climbing .... There you Have It . Just Sold the trailbike at a Loss ... but thats ok it's a good Bike But Not for my type of Riding ... I like 200mm each End 😎
@@EPYCMX I wanted to feel how the bike’s suspension platforms compared to each other. I usually don’t lock out my shock when climbing because I hate having to remember to open it every time I go downhill
@@jasonpatrickdeleon4701 I’m always looking for more brands and bikes to review. Unfortunately, it gets difficult being a small TH-cam channel and doing everything solo. Thanks for the idea though, I’ll try to get my hands on more bikes to test.
Meh. My SC Chameleon hardtail is all I need. No need to be the first to the top or bottom. It climbs like a billy goat and decends with confidence with skill level. I ride to enjoy and another tool in the tool box for cardio. Mix in hiking with a pack or trail running. I’ll live through all the YT “professional” MTB that strap a camera on. 😮…….good video especially the climb x2.
you could take it a step farther and compare an Enduro bike to a FS XC bike. For me personally, the amount of time lost by the XC in descent is far less than the amount of time lost trying to make an Enduro climb. Maybe that’s where e-bikes come in…
At minimum, you should have an XC bike, a trail bike, and an enduro bike. If you want to really enjoy the sport, you should add a downcountry bike and a trailduro bike as well.
- the bike industry
@@leeretaschen231 😂 yeah for sure the Bike industry man I mean, if we’re all sponsored riders or if we work at a bike shop and get the bikes for dirt cheap then sure let’s try and have every bike because we’re gonna be able to get stoked and go ride all the trailsbut for the majority of us that happy medium like is truly all we need in my humble opinion, of course
there's nothing wrong with having 5 bikes, if your budget allows.
@@mikestivers8302 You forgot to close with…
- the bike industry
you forgot the e-bike ;)
Totally agree 💯 @@JaredHoff
Having 2 bikes for me is to be able to ride when one of them is broken. But definitely agree with nobody really needs an Enduro unless your fly high and dropping huge!
@@stephenscering1776 that’s a great reason to keep both, and there are definitely times that it’s nice to have the enduro 170mm suspension
Yeah totally! Plus it gives you something to ride for other categories of riding too. Good comment!
Have a really well set up yt izzo (130/130mm) with really good suspension nut even better drivetrain got a second front wheel so I have a downcountry setup and I swap the front wheel and I have a more trail/downhill setup. Just picked up a 2018 giant reign for $800 with way more budget parts for the few times a month I need a 170/160 travel bike.
I agree , have a back up bike.
My Stumpy Evo probably gives me juuust the right amount of suspension travel at 160/150mm, but the weight and tires slow me down big time on the climb compared to when I had a regular Stumpjumper. I'll take my Evo!
@@averagebikeski 👍
Stumpy evo is all the arrows and the quiver. Bike parks ✅ gnarly chunk✅ flow trails✅ long climbs✅ versatility in one bike✅
@@RJSOBO88 nice 👍
Lots of folks are going with a short travel trail bike 120/130 and when they want to go XC switch out the wheels and tires to lighter wheels and XC tires for a one bike solution
@@JohnPatton-ki8wg that’s a great option! Wheels make such a big difference.
Not everyone wants a Short Travel Bike on rough steep trails. Get a Grip dude.
@@deanemberley2333thing is, lots of people do not live up mountains. Hence not needing more than 140mm...
So many people "over" bike. I have always thought this. I love my down country bike. Not that I am fast but I am often beating people down the descents on my 120/120 bike. Bigger travel is often more comfortable but is only faster on the truly extreme trails.
@@scottbriggs884 I just took this T9 “Trail” bike to the Downhill bike park. Riding with guys on DH bikes. Handled everything great 👍 video coming soon on that one…
I have a rockhopper for my first bike. I just ordered a Stumpjumper and I am excited to ride it
@@SwaggyCheeseDog nice 👍
It's funny how the industry moves the goal post. Now 140 - 150mm of travel is called "trail". The Yeti sb150 used to be called enduro. We just threw out the term all mountain, when a 140-145 bike used to be considered all mountain. Now the SB160 is called Enduro. Now enduro bikes go up to 180mm, which used to be downhill bikes. Now downhill bikes are anything over 200mm of travel. Cross country used to be 100mm - 120mm but now 120-130mm is called "down country". I have found that 140-160 is a good place to have an all day one bike for anything. The limit is 160 as they can either get too heavy and really long and the limit is 140 as it can be thrown off lines easily and get out of control. You want faster climbing, go below 140mm of travel. You want more ability to smash rocks and huck to flat, then stay at 160 or higher. But what do you find yourself riding all the time? Then buy for that. Or as some do, get two bikes N+1bikes...
@@travelthenarrowtrail8660 for sure! A lot of valid points. If I could only choose one it would be a 140 travel bike with a 150 or 160mm fork and adjustable geo designed to let me mullet it if I wanted to.
@@JaredHoff Sounds like you would love the new Ibis Ripley. It has a flip chip for mullet and has 130mm rear travel and can run a 150mm fork. I thought of the Yeti SB140 but you can't mullet that bike. It's still a super amazing bike though. If I was to rate the top 3, I would put the Pivot switchblade at 1, best in climbing, sporty and nimble, 2 Yeti SB140, amazing climber with Switch Infinity, race designed geo, bike carries speed like no other, also sporty; and 3 the new Ibis Ripley - great climber, DW link suspension, easy to lift off the ground, playful, poppy, sporty feeling. If you are going to do park riding, chances are you will be doing lift service so climbing isn't an issue and a 170-180mm enduro bike is the choice.
Good comment. I ride enduro in locals trails and have a downhill for mountain and parks. But i really good like to have just one bike for all. Maybe your suggestion 140-160 is a good option
@@GustavoAcuñaVielma for sure 👍 I’m currently looking for that type of bike as well.
I've got a Pivot Switchblade coming. Kind of combination Trail/Enduro. I've got a couple blown out discs in my back and a torn shoulder, so I need the little extra cush in the suspension. Otherwise I'm not going. That rocky descent would kill me. No thanks to that. Give me smooth packed clay, please. Still fun to ride on some trails, through the woods though.
@@Clint_the_Audio-Photo_Guy heck yeah 👍 I’m currently looking at a bike with 141mm rear travel and a 150 or 160mm fork. True all mountain do it all 🤘
My wife and I have settled on both an XC and a trail bike.
The XC bikes are full suspension “race XC” bikes so they are light and very fast. The trail bikes are lighter weight, mid-powered e-bikes (Fuel EXe, which many people run with a 160mm fork), which makes them even more different from the XC bikes. They really open up a bunch of trails for us, as we’re not as winded going uphill and the extra weight adds to the stability downhill.
@@Chan1881 sounds like a good set of bikes to own 👍
I have trail hardtail bikes that really handle my local trails well. The only times I feel underbiked are the longer sections of chucks and braking bump sections. I have been considering a full suspension trail bike but honestly I would probably build it up with a light parts spec, 150/140 and wider Stan’s Baron CB7 i35 carbon rims or We are One i33 carbon rims and 2.5/2.6 tire combo.
I really think people undervalue the stability advantages of wider rims and tires.
I have a 150mm trail hardtail with a fox 36 (Trek Roscoe 7 23') for my local trails and a 170mm-160mm enduro bike with a zeb fork (23' rocky mountain altitude) for the mountain trails here in Alberta, Canada and I think this is the best combination for the places where I ride and my riding style. I guess it depends where and how you ride your bike or bikes.
@@luisromero9507 location and riding style definitely matters 👍🤘
I live in SoCal so it’s some of the steepest riding around and for what I ride you need a minimum of 150mm in the rear to be comfortable so enduro bike it is for me
@@rykerthestryker777 got to do what’s right for you
Honestly you are bang on I have been sizing down on my suspension . Awesome vid
@@jimmykatsaounis3476 thanks 🙏🏻
Thank you for making this informative video. It has helped me in my search for the best off road bike for me.
@@sunshowerpainting1 so glad to have helped. Thank you for letting me know. That’s what it’s all about 👍
Best combo is: trail bike, enduro fork(like a 36), xc wheelset, xc rear tire, trail front tire
@@usernamefromhell nice 👍
Exactly my setup😂
best combo is a normal dutch city bike, and a mountainbike converted to diy e-bike :D what i did (last one)
a diy e-bike would probably fall apart going down my local trails 😂
Reason I got rid of my enduro bike a few years ago. I got a trail bike instead.recently got an ebike for big day climbing. No shuttles for me as I ride alone quite a bit. I think it’s down to the individual, where you live and what access to trails you have. Most my local trails aren’t blue or black but mostly green/blue.i tend to travel with the bikes at times why the Ebike was the best option for me.also ride a gravel bike for when the trails have been hit with to much rain.
You genuinely hit the nail on the head.. The reality of it is, 95% of the bikes actually sold, will never see enough hard abuse to actually justify there lineage... If you watch certain channels, I wont mention names... They will make videos like, why you need a downhill bike, or why you need this or that, and these tyres,and this suspension...
6 years ago I wanted a freeride bike.. Hell yeah, I can do drops and be a blatant hooligan.. So I sold my perfectly capable and franky the only bike I needed Orange 5 all mountain or [trail bike] in todays market..
Now I go on leisurly bike rides and im sweating, Ive never used the freeride capabiities of the bike, I dont even live in a country with a mountain over 3,000 feet elevation... No hardcore courses, all just leisurly trail rides and a couple of bike parks that my orange 5 could have easily handled..
I got suckered by the marketing and bike forums...
@@petrokemikal for sure 👍 you said it right
I'm ripping a 150mm f/r with lockouts and 27.5.
Totally rips chunk and climbs good enough to keep up with xc guys
@@simon_says_shhh heck yeah 👍
Cool idea, appreciate the effort with your content!
@@FreshYoungDude thank you
Great video I have an “all mountain” 150/160 e-bike, just got in to MTB, but have been thinking of picking up an analogue bike as well that is lighter. After watching this I’m leaning towards the trail bike.
@@thebdceigal I think a trail bike and that e-bike would make for a good set of MTBs 🤘👍
Its nice to hear someone admit the heavy bias involved in judging bikes! Its ok as long as were honest about it mostly with ourselves! This applies to all facets of life! Thanks for the video! Polygon do seem to be a good mid budget option!
@@Whoadayson thanks for the feedback! Appreciate it 👍
Thanks for the video, here on a YT Izzo (130/130) on XC tires. Super bike on mellow trails but once I get up in the Alps, on S2-S3 trails it gets dangerous at speed, gets the job done but sketchy at times. Thinking about complementing it with an enduro bike like the Capra.
@@hectorlmges Capra is an amazing bike. I would try to find one on sale. They have some amazing deals.
Firstly try your izzo with a 150mm fork and some chunkier tyres such as a minion front and dissector rear. Might change your mind to how good the izzo can be.
@@thedustybin Upping the fork travel and new tires would be a great. I have my Polygon T9 with 135 rear and a 150 fork. It’s amazing!!!
Hello Jared,
thankyou very much for this comparison. Iam from Germany and started with this sport just last year. I also decided to go with a trail bike with the same travel as yours and it was the best choice. It is actually trail e-bike. It is more than enough and nice to climb for daily riding and local trails. Once a month we go to bikeparks and for that purpose I have a dh bike. So well equipped. Some of my friends have enduro bikes for local trails and their forks almost never get more used than my 150mm. Thankyou again for this great comparison.
@@mathan3 thanks for leaving a comment. I agree that 150mm fork handles 90% of the riding we do.
I like a tight trail bike with the potential to modify the geo. I rode the gnarliest trails in Squamish and my current trail bike rips with more koms in a trial then enduro
@@jasonw820 I am looking at a bike now with adjustable geometry. One of the unfortunate parts about me testing these bikes is that they want them back eventually. I’m currently looking for a bike I can keep. Something with 130-150 suspension travel and adjustable geometry so I can throw a bigger fork upfront or go mullet when I want to.
Thanks for the practical video. Reasonable and wise info is much appreciated
@@PrisonerNChristJesus thank you for the kind words 👍 truly appreciate it!
I ride bike parks in NZ all the time, I used to have a 150 rear 160 front trek slash enduro bike a few years ago, recently I switched to a 120 rear 130 front, 67.3 head angle merida one twenty trail bike and find it much more fun to ride, its so much fun to corner on, its agile and poppy, plus stable at speed, the shorter travel means you can feel more small trail features that you wouldn't feel on a bigger travel bike, and the funny thing is I can still ride steep double blacks on it, and I can still keep up with my brother on his 160 rear 170 front trek slash, and we're pretty much the same skill level, but you do have to get your suspension spot on due to the fact that you haven't got much of it to play with.
@@benjy288 nice 👍
Great topic, I’m researching if replace my trail bike with Enduro. But after boosting and adding a 29”in front it does incredible.
If trail is chunky the larger suspension will soak it up and save your body on fatigue and make a safer more planted grip and safer fun ride over te trail bike. For more in-depth comparison of time/speed climbing, I suggest that you watch/include your heart rate .
I am in the same boat, I started with 2018 Hightower 27+ tire trail bike , 135rear/150front but I boosted it to 150/160front and added a 29front wheel , and I ride as fast as a guy on enduro bike with same travel but just finished 1:20 faster on our last stage5 Enduro race. If you just riding easy green/blue trails , a trail bike is enough and lighter. Though keep in mind that Geo’s have improved greatly year to now 2023-24 .
Now go do that again with trail bike first😅.
@@4Rracing nice 👍 thanks for the feedback and details in that comment.
Awesome vid! It was surprising to see such similar times on the downhill! I'm convinced trail bikes are the perfect bike for most trails with the ability to climb efficiently and descend fast and with good control
@@deanmcphee6663 for sure 👍 trail bikes for the win. I still love my enduro, but if I could only choose one it would be a trail bike like the T9
Pretty spot on. I've got a 5010 and Nomad and they overlap on the majority of trails. They really show their utility on the outliers, like long xc rides with tech (5010 provides for less exertion) or gnarly steep tech with short punchy climbs (Nomad preferred). For me, this is a perfect combo. Now i just need an ebike so i can ride with my friends lol
@@janmaly1591 e-bike group rides are so much fun!
Thank you for the video really enjoyed watching it. Please repeat the test using the lock out for the climb, I think that has the potential to change the outcomes, cheers!
@@klassyken I will do that next time I compare bike types.
@JaredHoff and that would still be within the realms of comparing bike types, thanks again appreciate your work.
One approach I've seen is also having different tires and pedals to ride accordingly, even different shocks (some people have coil and air). Have a trail bike and adapt it to the ride you're gonna do that day :)
@@felipevega that’s a great video idea. Like trail bike setup versus “Trail/Duro” setup. Can one bike do it all?
I jist did a custom progressive geo frame and bike build
Soft tail instead of hardtail or full suspension
170mm 27.5/26 mullet
61° HTA with 80° STA
Climbs and descends better than any bike I've owned weather XC, trail or Enduro.
I can also swap in a 140mm 29er fork(with same 27.5 wheel) and keep my geo virtually the same( same A2CL but 46mm fork offset vs unknown, probably 51mm)
May experiment with a 29er front wheel and perhaps like a 120 mm fork later down the road.
Great video..and riding! I just picked up the T8. Do you have a video for converting it to tubeless?
@@chrisarksey I didn’t make a video specifically on that but it’s pretty straight forward.
The wheels come taped and tubeless ready. All you have to do is order tubeless valve stems and get some tubeless tire sealant, a good set of tire levers, a shop rag to clean up the sealant, a floor pump.
1.) remove half of the tire with the tire levers.
2.)Take out the tubes. You only have to remove once side of the tire to do this so the other half of the tire with remain one the rim and ready for tubeless setup.
3.) put in the tubeless valve stems.
4.) add tubeless sealant into the open end of the tire.
5.) use the tire levers to pop the open half of the tire back onto the rim. You might spill a little sealant. This just takes practice. Use the shop rag to clean up the mess.
6.) use the floor pump and pump it up to 35 PSI or so as fast as you can. You’ll hear the second side pop onto the rim.
I can make a video if it helps. Let me know.
nice test. Here's my experience so far. Rode a Giant Trance 150/140 for a few years, does basically 85% of everything except a little lacking for jumping/drops etc. I'm now on 170/170 Enduro bike and I LOVE it. Will do basically 95% of everything, maybe a tad less efficient on the climbs but worth it on the downs. If I were to re-do things, I would probably go with a 160/160 or 160/150, 2.5/2.4 tire setup and that bike would do 98% of everything very well (climbing/downhill, jibby, playful etc.) and for lift assist days, 170+/200 DH-duro build :) so only those two bikes.
@@bikeninja956 heck yeah 👍 got to do what’s right for you 🤘
Well I have both. My trail bike is 130 front and rear for my local trails. My enduro is 170 front and 160 rear for my bike park and gnarly trails. I like the fact that I have access to both bikes and dont beat my trail bike up so much.
@@tstoresbaby Sounds like you’ve got two awesome bikes that you use for the right scenarios 👍 I rarely ride bike parks, but I bring my enduro bike when I do.
I agree we all should just get a trail bike instead of an enduro. I ride a regular Stumpy forked up to 150mm up front and 130mm out back which is a perfect trail bike in my opinion. If I need a bit more travel out back, I just throw on my 27.5 rear link and wheel to give me 135mm-ish rear travel with playfulness to pair.
@@dntfakethefunk that’s the perfect setup. I’m currently looking for a bike with adjustable geo so I can Mullet when I want to.
Great Vid! I have a Salsa Blackthorn which is 140/160. I guess kinda right in the middle of trail and enduro. If I ever get a second bike, it will probably be a hard tail.
@@uncle_bones nice 👍
That first trail looks fun.
@@Quinti11ion- so much fun
Sick video🔥 Crazy that my size large commencal Meta Am is longer then your XL polygon! 63.6 HTA , 78.5 STA , 495 reach and 1295 wheelbase! And I’m only 5’10” on a good day with (long ass arms) bike feels perfect👌 crazy how sizes varies from brand to brand.
@@joshuaallswang8016 Thanks man 🤘getting the right bike size is everything! I’m 6’2” but short arms and legs for my height 🦖 😂
@@JaredHoff😂😂🤙
Great vid my dude! One solid trail bike from a reputable company should be good for everyone. Jump into buying a full-on Enduro bike if you want to ride more gnar, bike park or get into racing.
@@mittenmod for sure 👍
I think that on the climb I’m usually exhausted on my first run. The second time up it’s easier and that could be down to many things, warming up, electrolytes, etc.
@@kaneda4102 that makes sense.
Fortunate to have too many bikes but not a ton of overlap. I just rode my 150 / 125 trail bike on a shuttle zone where folks bring out big bikes. I built that bike burly and its very heavy and stable. I've sold some other bikes because they sucked climbing and i enjoy climbing. My downcountry rig and hardtails get grabbed a lot for simplicity. They also can outclimb me. Regularly in group rides i have the shortest travel and take lines i feel confident in. I have a blast and my bikes wont make up for bad techniques. They feel more engaging, thats all that matters i think.
@@aaronblonden6774 heck yeah 👍
Awesome content!
@@dexterespelita8447 thank you 🙏🏻
Totaly agree. I got an enduro bike because of all the Hype on TH-cam and damn im so overbiked that I am bored most of the time. Looking for a nice trail bike atm. Cheers
@@crudolol cheers 🍻
Hi, with 150mm front and 140mm I would think that this all-mountain bike is more than enough for going up and down.
@@alfredodahik5639 135mm of rear travel, but I get what you’re saying. Definitely feels like an “All Mountain”.
I’m working on a video now taking the T9 to a BIG mountain lift access bike park. Spoiler Alert 🚨 It handled everything amazingly 🤯
My only bike is a Polygon Vander T7 upgraded with fox dpx2 and 160mm fox 36, along with other upgrades. It handles everything for me at my local trails (fort ord/sea otter classic) but I can still send it down the gnarly black diamond stuff. I really don’t need any other bike.
Had the T8 (loved it) before and currently own the N9, so far I can agree that the that trail bike climbs better but in the over all I rather pick the colossus because if you fuck up in a jump you have that extra travel to save you, and after all, is way more capable in a bike park or in a downhill session, and still pretty decent for climbing, also, it's such a good value for the money
@@TheTote92 for sure! The Collosus really does climb great for a 170mm bike.
Awesome video. I think if you can afford both and have opportunities for both….. gettem. But if you can only afford the trail bike it can do both and is the way to go.
@@allenperry9151 for sure 👍
Hi! Love your videos! On you Gen 6 Fuel EX did you use it with the mino link in the high or low position? I’m stuck between the two. Thanks!
@@adamsanchez1410 low always. I would only use the high if I wanted to switch to a mullet setup.
I understand what Knighthawk is like. My preference was the trail to the right of KH. North Ridge might be a bit more towards the enduro over the trail bike. I love showing off what Spence has to offer! BTW I should be down there in a couple of weeks for roughly 4 months. Lastly, yes do the 140 side with some South Ridge climbing and SK dh.
@@992F nice 👍 hopefully I’ll see you out on the trails.
Great video man
Ive gone trek remedy and then treated myself to a set of hunt enduro wheels with maxxgrip tyres for down hill and wetter more aggressive days out. on the factory fitment wheels i put some fast rolling light tyres on there for my everyday rides and then i put the xr4s back on for the stuff in between. Makes a huge difference and feels like 3 different bikes just changing tyres alone. The maxxgrip tyres are very fit for purpose especially in a DD casing not for normal trail riding haha. Likewise the xc tyres wouldn't last long on heavier riding trails. Minor suspension tweeks are also an option to really hone the bike into different riding categories.
Trail bike for the 🏆
@@JP1THUG heck yeah! I’m planning a video now with Hunt Enduro V2 mullet setup with MaxxGrip Assegai upfront and DHR II Max Terra rear setup.
@JaredHoff that is exactly what I have on my hunt enduro rims. A truly great set up for the gravity assisted riding. I took them to bike park wales and they are noticeably slower on the flow trails but worth their weight in gold on the gnarly natural steep stuff.
My goals are to have a road bike, gravel bike (my race xc hardtail fits here), my xc race bike, a trail bike (again, my xc hardtail is more than capable), an enduro bike (I race enduro on, you guessed it! My xc race bike) and never anything more than that because I live in the land of cheese (WI) and we have like half a "mountain" here.
If you push your budget to get ONE really solid bike for the type of terrain you ride 95% of the time youll be better off than trying to get 5 budget bikes to "suit all your needs".
@@MTB_CRZY for sure 👍 💯
The Best combo is a normal Dutch city bike, and a mountainbike converted to diy e-bike :D what i did (last one)
Nice 👍
I thought I needed an Enduro first then realized that Trail is more than enough for me so I got them both so I will never have to think or crave for the one I don’t have 🤣. Great video keep em coming 💪
@@LevsRagasa I hear ya. I did the same exact thing. I still struggle choosing between the two sometimes.
Got the specialized turbo levo which is a trail bike and it's got 160mm on the front and 150mm on the back and eventually wanting to take it offroad
@@SubaruWRC1996 you’re going to love that bike on the trails! Stoked for you man 👍🤘
I absolutely love it so far. I have some revgrips pro coming for it, but I'm thinking about going tubeless before I take it out for a good spin in the mountains
good video, thx for putting that energy in.
Thank you for appreciating it 👍
Good video comparison 👍
@@rottieshepcalibre9156 thanks 🙏🏻
I have both Polygon N9 for when I travel somewhere big and Norco Fluid for the everyday trails here. Looking at an E-bike just because that looks fun too!
@@safetyjerry e-bikes are so much fun!
Great comparison-I need one or the other. I’m leaning for trail. I’m more of climber but it’s a tough decision because I have downhill minutes away. Thanks and I would of liked to see the second half but those climbs and then the advanced downhill is no joke.
@@chrisledbetter3475 Thanks for the feedback man. I am in the same boat as you. I’ve always chose an enduro bike to make sure I have enough travel for any trail, but I’ve just realized that these modern Trail bikes can handle so much.
@@JaredHoff I'm a bikesonline fan. I have an XTrada 5 hardtail with a new front fork. Love it but it's just not enough sometimes. I'm really interested in the Superior XF 939. That looks really nice.
I agree, you definitely don't need both... However, instead of XC and Trail, those are right next to each other too, I'd say XC and Enduro (that's my planned route).
I own a Polygon T7, and gotta say, they knocked it outta the park! Great bikes for the money, and with some Facebook marketplace upgrades and some time in the saddle, they perform so well! Yeah, they're a little on the heavier side, but part of that is the double walled enduro rims, heavier beefcake Schwalbe Hans Dampf (or Vee Snap) tires, and the steel RockShox Recon fork. Some guys have gotten them as low as 30lbs, which is a lb less than my Santa Cruz Chameleon.
That being said, I also own a Polygon D7 SE, 120/120, and that does all the local stuff great too. Better climber, another 1-2lbs lighter, tho definitely a little taller and more XC focused. I find I use the D7 on local group rides more (or the Chameleon), while I use the T7 for bike park, jumps, and bigger adventures (tho I take my Chameleon there too)... And also the T7 on local stuff.... So I definitely favor the T7. Just a better all arounder ... Now, I DO want to get a bike even more focused in the jumps and chunk ... So I'm going to keep my D7 for the tamer stuff, and use the Pivot Mach 6 coil build (sell my T7) for the bigger stuff... Spread the bikes' talents a little further apart, and then my upgraded Chameleon will fill the gap in between for an all-rounder. 👌🏻
@@JoeIsCrazyWillman heck yeah man 👍 Agree with what you’re saying. I’m loving my T9 though
I’m between the SC Chameleon or the Polygon T8. Currently ride Trek Xcal 9. I like the nimbleness of the HT. I don’t do any jump and ride in FL. I’m thinking I can’t go wrong with either one and should probably test ride both to make my decision. What do u think?
@@jio512 I prefer full suspension. T8 would be my choice but not sure if you need a full suspension in Florida.
Great video. I’ve questioned this many times as I’ve repaired and upgraded my trail bike. Looks like I need to swap off this fox 34 on the T8 though. Thanks for putting this together!
@@SlowpokeShred yes, I think a 150mm 36 fork is the perfect fit for a Siskiu
160/150 is sweetspot. I have 170/160 these days and its safer in bikeparks and if you overshoot jumps, but ist not as nimble. I went the way to enjoy summer trips and struggle little bit at home trails. Oh yes, one thing i forgot, i bought lighter 1780g wheelset. Its killer
@@filipvaclavovsky7405 lighter wheels for the win! I’ve been super happy with my Hunt wheels. Lighter and stronger than stock, but still a good affordable price 👍
My Specialized Status is a 140 by 140 and does just fine on all my local trails. I could have gotten the 160 by 160 but did not see the sense in getting it as this is plenty of travel.
@@MTBrusty6467 I’ve always wanted to try the status.
Amazing video, why are you so underrated lol
@@Droomy thanks 👍 all in good time I guess
I think you absolutely need both bikes. If I ride to the top then banshee Prime trail bike. If I get shuttled to the top then it's the banshee Titan. You only live once, so you can never have to many bikes in your corral😮🫡🤔
@@lilblaster22 heck yeah 👍 got to get what makes you stoked to go ride
Wish we had trail like that in my area. Neb is xc/ gravel land
@@thevapingpolisher9717 I’m very lucky to have an amazing set of local trails.
Good video. Seems like not locking out the suspension on the Enduro climb would put the bike at a huge disadvantage
@@christopherwiebke3578 You’re probably right. The Polygon Collosus climbs really good for a 170mm enduro so I don’t usually flip the firm switch.
The two bikes everyone should have is a trail ebike and downhill 😅
@@MikeMunguia-e1o 👍
If your intention it's to ride really fast at rough trails, the enduro bike WILL shine over the Trail Bike. But if your just casually riding, of course you'll not see that many of difference except while climbing.... In these days I got a Transition Patrol 2016, 150 mm travel in the rear,, and 160mm in the front, both 27.5 wheels. The bike feels amazing, but I can tell you that I wish to have a bigger travel both rear and front. Bike feels a little harsh sometimes, and the sag it's like 20% front, and something like 30% rear.
@@WinterGameplays It’s all about what you need to get stoked, go ride, and have fun!
Order a rockshox super deluxe ultimate rear shock for trek top ex5, factory fusion X no good for jump lines in big bear mtb park. Planning on keep up grading. Got xt 202 mm? With magura 4 piston setup. I need a bigger fork. Can I throw a 160mm lirik fork? Max 150mm
@@eymardbarron748 I like the 150 fork. It keeps the geo just right and gives you enough cushion for most trails
@@JaredHoff Right on, thank you sir
@JaredHoff any pointers, Zebb ve lyric. Want, don't need a 36 on either or lol. Love your channel
i gonna get the Get Stoked, Go Ride t-shirt , then cross away the K :D cheers ! nice one ! i am 1 meter 92 and slim, what size you recommend? and do you ship to The Netherlands ?
I have the shirts available on www.jaredhoff.bike/
I think they’ll ship there.
That fire road is better than the main avenues where I live
@@EPYCMX make the most of the trails you got and have fun I guess 👍
How does this change if you are heavy? I'm 250lbs, so the extra build strength of the heavier duty bike will help it last longer,
@@dichotomousblue I’ve never seen long term reliability tested that way but it makes sense. Beefier suspension definitely makes a difference which is why you see e-bikes specs that way.
I have 2 trail bikes..1 analog / 1 emtb. It's all I really need
@@rmoore4yris sounds like a great pair of bikes to have 👍
Why not have 170mm of travel? Pedal strikes? I rode full squish in the 90's. Those bikes were pretty terrible, so I went hardtail from 2003 - 2023 and then went back to 160mm of full squish. I'm still relearning how to ride to avoid pedal strikes. I'd assume a shorter travel bike would be less prone to pedal strikes though judging by the scratches I see on rocks, perhaps not.
@@zimmejoc kind of depends on the BB height and crank length. My enduro bike has a higher BB and shorter cranks. Yes, it squishes down more due to the 170mm rear travel, but I rarely have pedal strikes on either bike.
Although, my terrain is really rocky so most riders where I live get good at avoiding strikes as well.
@@JaredHoff That's great. I flipped my chip to the high position and actively work to avoid pedaling when I think I might strike. Once I actually get decent, I'll go back to the slacker low setting on my flip chip and possibly shorten my cranks from their current 170mm.
Why not use the video footage for timing? My gopro gives me a timed video and i can see where i start and stop on the video timer
@@joshking3267 when you’re recording all day you have to worry about a lot of things. Battery time is one, having hours of GoPro footage to sort through when editing each video is another, and the amount of memory 4k footage takes up.
I’ve learned to be very picky about what and when I choose to hit the record button. Hope you can understand that. So much goes into making these vids.
Cheers!
Between these 2, one quiver trail bike should suffice for most riders needs and save $$$$! What you save you could spend on better components on your trail bike. IMO.
@@geneh2972 definitely 👍
I have a Norco Sight A2 coming soon. The fox 160-150 in the front and rear. Do you think that it’s good enough for some uphills and bike park laps?
@@natepereira6106 definitely 👍 that’s an all mountain shredder.
@@JaredHoff thanks for the info man. I’m just getting into the sport and wanted to see if it was a good fit for me
@@natepereira6106 I’ve gone back and forth between Trail and enduro bikes. Lately I’ve been riding my trail bike more. Even at the bike park.
Check out this video if you want to see that:
Do you need a DH Bike at the Bike Park?
th-cam.com/video/Lo7UL5afD58/w-d-xo.html
@@JaredHoff I saw that one too, but I am still a beginner, and I don’t think that I am very good at my line choices, so I feel that the more travel compared to the trail bike could be more forgiving to bad line choices
@@natepereira6106 150-160 is a great option 👍
Great video!
@@seawalkarrg thank you 🙏🏻
Now that there're bikes that can be easily converted between 29er and mullet, (I.e, new Ibis Ripley and Ripmo), as riders we can customize more to our needs without investing in several bikes
@@felipevega for sure! I’m currently looking into the Privateer 141 which is a “do it all” shredder with adjustable geo for mullet capability and you can even throw a 160 fork on it for those lift access bike park days.
My 170/170 Capra MX feels good enough on the climbs (which I don't care that much) and great downhill, no meter if it's gnarly or flowy. It's safe, controlable then funny and poppy at the same time, so why should I need a shorter travel bike? I use almost all the travel even on my local trails or jumping stairs while lapping around the city, so I see no point in having a less burly, shorter travel rig, which would hit its limit much easier.
@@jaad7562 Capra is a great bike 👍
15:30 why dont you use the gopro for timing? Unless you dont have it recording the whole time
@@davinci69 I don’t have it recording the whole time. So much work goes into to filming and editing these videos. It takes forever to edit a video when you have hours of video. A 15min video often takes days to create between creating the idea, researching, setting up cameras, riding, and editing (the longest part).
I ride the 150/160mm travel Stumpy Evo with fast-rolling trail tires (2.6 Rekon front, 2.4 Rekon rear). I think of it as my long-travel Downcountry bike. I ride green to black trails. I don't ride double black trails, bike parks, or ski resorts, but if did ride those trails, I would just put on more aggressive tires. It pedals well enough that even easy trails are fun but when it gets steep, fast, or rough, it has enough travel to handle all but the most extreme conditions. Honestly, I think nearly all of us should be riding either a Downcountry bike with a 120mm fork or an All-Mountain bike with a 160mm fork. Avoid Trail bikes with 130, 140, 150mm forks. With the Downcountry bike, you give up descending capability for faster speeds on easier trails. With the All-Mountain bike, you give up faster speeds on easier trails for descending capability. However, the in-between Trail bike robs you of both. As to Enduro bikes, maybe they are for Enduro racers and for riders that frequently ride the most extreme conditions.
@@marksandoval5361 I hear ya 👍 Maybe I need to go back and do this same test with a XC bike versus my Trail Bike
@@JaredHoff I would be into it. But it would have to be a fairly modern XC bike with a 120mm fork and a 66.5* or slacker HTA.
I have a stumpy EVO with beefy tires and a transition spur with light xc style tires. Perfect quiver for me.
And I'm just living that hardtail life with a 140 up front and happy.
@@walkershot92 heck yeah 👍
Just bought and modded a 2024 alloy stumpjumper with 160 Lyric ultimate andnsuper deluxe in the rear.
I hit all the same lines and things that i would on my long travel bike without any issue (as long as I'm not hucking to flat) plus it pedals up hill WAY easier, and its WAY more nimble on tight single track.
An aggressive trail bike is more than most people honestly need. Especially if you ride / jump / drop smooth
@@monstermini225 for sure 👍
Yeah I think even trail bikes are getting too big. I got a Gen 6 Trek Fuel EX and it's so heavy and cumbersome compared to my Gen 4 that I don't like it as much.
@@plmn93 someone local said that same thing a week ago, he felt the new trek was less nimble as well.
@@plmn93 they definitely changed the Fuel EX a lot. Kind of made me wonder if you need a slash when the new fuel EX is like a baby enduro bike.
I ride the big double blacks in Squamish and a trail bike with modified geo and a bit more travel is the way to go. I like the steep and technical tight stuff and an enduro is too long and not maneuverable enough for me . I like nimble .
I also rode a chromag hardtail on the same double blacks .
I’m also on the shorter side at 5 9 so enduro is too long for me
@@jasonw820 heck yeah 👍 thanks for sharing. It’s always good to hear stuff like that. Makes me realize what I actually need.
am 49 years old and been riding cheap hardtails my whole life so either would be perfect.
@@viperdemonz-jenkins get a Polygon full suspension ASAP.
I Started back into the Sport with a Trailbike Modded it to a 150/140 Suspension . I live and Ride Vancouver /Whistler and After 1 Month Riding on the Shore I Bought a CF Warden Its Now Fully Coiled 170/160 Did 5000km on It last year Riding Local Vancouver . Did 6 days at Whistler With It in Sept . Which was AMAZING. In Oct I Bought a CF Demo8 Modded That and Haven't Rode My Warden All Year .... lol lol Tomorrow will be My 11th day at Whistler This Year SO I Love DH Enduro Not So Much .... Id Rather Take The Uplift .... im Older So Not Really Intrested in Climbing .... There you Have It . Just Sold the trailbike at a Loss ... but thats ok it's a good Bike But Not for my type of Riding ... I like 200mm each End 😎
@@darrinkulyk9560 Whistler is on my bucket list
Great vid🎉
@@jpfbmxme thank you 🙏🏻 Positive feedback really helps. So much goes into making these videos as a solo creator. I really appreciate the feedback
You should go check out mount shasta l. The SCT trail is a great time
@@ark530abe I’ve been to the lift access bike park at Shasta. I think I made a video on the road gap there
And what about a lighter trail bike, like something with a 130-140mm front ?
@@xenio8736 I feel like 140mm fork just isn’t enough for the riding I do. 150mm is the minimum for me personally
why test with both suspension open? why not lock them when needed?
@@EPYCMX I wanted to feel how the bike’s suspension platforms compared to each other. I usually don’t lock out my shock when climbing because I hate having to remember to open it every time I go downhill
Can yoi review dartmoor rocbird enduro frame thanks 😊
Greetings from PH
@@jasonpatrickdeleon4701 I’m always looking for more brands and bikes to review. Unfortunately, it gets difficult being a small TH-cam channel and doing everything solo. Thanks for the idea though, I’ll try to get my hands on more bikes to test.
@@JaredHoff thanks for the response 😊 appreciate, on your video i like enduro for all around
@@JaredHoff here in the Philippines price of polygon n9 frame around $1600
Good stuff!
@@ThunderStruckMTB thank you 👍
I will take e-mtb. Like 20 mins uphill, 10 mins down, and a lot of boring time for waiting friend on enduro doing the same :D
@@TG-tf8cr I hear ya. In my humble experience,,, eMTBs just aren’t as fun to ride back downhill
Downhill optimized trail bike for the win!
@@blakekennard7700 for sure
thank you!
@@lakestephens8545 👍
Commenting below. Great video.
@@JAM76ER thanks 🙏🏻
Meh. My SC Chameleon hardtail is all I need. No need to be the first to the top or bottom. It climbs like a billy goat and decends with confidence with skill level. I ride to enjoy and another tool in the tool box for cardio. Mix in hiking with a pack or trail running. I’ll live through all the YT “professional” MTB that strap a camera on. 😮…….good video especially the climb x2.
@@Mill72 thanks man 👍 Like all the stuff you said. Cheers!
you could take it a step farther and compare an Enduro bike to a FS XC bike. For me personally, the amount of time lost by the XC in descent is far less than the amount of time lost trying to make an Enduro climb. Maybe that’s where e-bikes come in…
@@freestyle88 you make a good point 👍
At the end you said a longer travel bike for the trail bike??? No. How about a hard tail????
@@Hotitalianman I don’t ride hardtails but I know a lot of people that love them.