Found part 2. Awesome trails man, you are so blessed to live in such a trail rich area! Although, I shouldn't complain, my home of Colorado has a few good ones too. On the Santa Cruz MegaT. I've done videos on my channel of all of their new Lower Link 29er bikes. I have found they seem to be over building their carbon frames. They are all over beefy with more weight on them than their competitors in the same category. Which I think, gives them all a harder to maneuver feeling than other bikes in the same category. However, they are super stiff and bombproof for sure: Tallboy, Hightower, and MegaT. I loved the MegaT, its a great bike but for serious climbing, it can really ruin your day. It's just too heavy to be climbing with. I'm not sure with an XX1 or AXS build you could hit 30lbs flat. Hightower is noticeably lighter and much better for climbing but could also lose at least a 1/4 pound. I keep going back to your Ripmo time. I need to get on the Ripmo AF. I've had opportunity to get on it and have been putting it off. Now were under snow here so it off the table for now. I think the carbon Ripmo update will have the same geo as the Ripmo AF. I think the current RIpmo and great as it is could benefit from the AF's geometry. That's why many guys are putting an angleset on the Ripmo to slacken it out. I didn't hear you mention this but any pedal strikes on the Ripmo? I had a ton of them on it in my video. Check me out on my channel, good content man, just subbed. Ride on...
We're under snow here too but I'm eager to try out the Ripmo AF. I agree on the updated carbon - probably the same Geo as the AF. I did get a couple of pedal strikes. More than I was used to. Thanks again for the comments. Watched a few of you videos and subbed. Really great quality content!
I have a 2019 RM Instinct BC, bought as a leftover in 01/2020. Its an amazing bike and more than i need but i got such a fantastic price i couldnt resist, got some carbon wheels and bars and thinking of the XX-1/AXS with 10-52
@@WilltoRide I will be 65 in December but in great shape however i limit myself to Blue trails, not looking for injuries, still i am out there having fun and meeting some challenges. I prefer to feel confident before i try anything too difficult, i have seen some XX diamond and they would be too much for me, at least now
That's exactly right.... The majority of the test is mainly how I perceived the bike to ride (this is why I called it the 'totally subjective long travel 29er shootout'). I attempted to keep the timing as accurate as possible (eg. using the gopro frames, as I don't trust Strava), but there were still variables that led to inaccuracies in that as well (flat tires, stopping to help someone). If I had more time with each bike, I would have like to have taken 3 laps on each trail with every bike. I will try this in the future once I can borrow the bikes for a longer time.
nice video! I definitely can concur with your observations on the Instinct BC. Super playful, but I think the DPX2 lets it down. That linkage is pretty active and quick, and puts a lot of stress on the dpx2 - it heats up pretty quick and then starts to translate a lot of harshness into the rider. I have an MRP hazard coil on mine and its pretty much a different bike, still climbs like a goat but completely erased that harshness and the square edge hang ups - helps it track and rail turns much nicer too.
How do they compare when you’re not going downhill? (Edit: just heard the end of the video where you say that to compare this many bikes you needed to shuttle, thus had no time to compare climbing)
Yeah, in my next review video I will be spending a bit more time on climbing ability. From what I could tell, the two dw-link bikes (ibis and pivot) climbed great. I subsequently bought a FB29 and have been climbing up stuff I'd never been able to do before. The ripmo is probaby the better climber as it is lighter and has a slightly steeper STA and HTA.
Santa Cruz seems to be quite easy to get in Norway second hand, the most popular carbon bike to buy & sell I guess. but I am more interested in trying bikes I can't try in Norway. But I guess I should try to get to some demos and try time bikes and see what I like, but I suspect I will like a bike more of the Pole, Nicolai and such style, slack front, long front, long in both ends, steep seat tube height, combined with short stem, my bike has way too twitchy steering, also to short for me, but at least it's not as bad as on my old xc bike. Cable routing alone eliminates most bikes from the list. I need easy to service bike, also I want to get some better components, not decided on fork yet, but Fox Elite or Factory 36 seems to be safe bet, as long as it's not with Grip damper cus that shifts and locks the fork on bunny hops, roots on downhills, dangerous, so won't get budget option. but a lot of options that are not reviewed, or are not as popular or known. but have interesting tech and sound promising, but not sure about service ability in Norway, so far : Rock Shox, Fox, MRP, DVO, but rest I am not sure about.
Santa Cruz bikes are quite common in my area of Canada as well. What kind of trail riding do you mainly do? I think that might play a role in bike selection. Pole and Nicolai appear to be on the more extreme ends of long and slack. Ryan (loam ranger) seems to get by fine on his pole though. A lot of good suspension options these days. I've noticed a bit more mid stroke support on my '19 36 than on my' 17 lyrik. Eric (bcpov) has been with happy his suntour...
@@WilltoRide i heard some about rear wards axle path, which sounds great tin theory atleast, like stanton bikes has, interesting, also interesting what kavens bikes are developing, I pretty much know most brands, and have a really short list of bikes I am interested in. But I need to get something soon.
@@WilltoRide i ride evrything apart from suicidal trails, and huge jumps, and drops, cliffs. I baci ally do regular trail riding, mix of easy bike path to Gnarly singletrack and evrything in between, usually a mix of it all. I ride to my riding spots too.
I have a SC Bronson. I am 178 cm tall and I ride an XL comfortably. With low standover and low seat posts, you can ride the new model SCs based on reach and top tube and wheelbase lengths you like and size up easily. The interesting thing is that if you compare the Pole Evolink that Pole says I should ride, the Medium, the front numbers are actually longer on my Bronson. Although The Pole has a longer overall wheelbase due to a longer chainstay. While I have not ridden a Pole, in theory this should make it more stable at high speed but less poppy and not as easy to get the front wheel up. For my riding which involves popping off of everything I can find along the way, I like a shorter rear end, which is why I love the Bronson- never lacks for stability at speed over gnar yet is still playful. I’m not knocking the Pole, just pointing out that if long fronts is something you like the SCs have it, just size up, and they just have shorter rears. Not sure if sizing up on the Evolink to a large, which would have longer front numbers than the Bronson, would be an option as the Seat Tube Length is 480 mm vs 440 mm on the medium and 460 mm on the Bronson. That extra 2 cms might make the seat too high in its lowest position. As it is I feel like the Bronson’s lowest seat position is as high as I would ever want to go with the seat down. Bronson XL. Evolink M Reach. 485. 480 Top Tube. 656. 614 Wheelbase. 1252. 1274 Chainstay. 430. 455
@@dadventuretv2538 what saddle position do you use? which foot position do you use? I use mid foot position, with Pedaling innovations Catalyst pedals, the saddle tip is over the BB. I do this for efficient pedalling. my current bike got 450mm chainstay 430mm reach which is too short. I am 181cm.
I've talked to the local rep here and he's going to try to arrange a demo for me, but it might not be until spring (we're only a few weeks away from winter here). Can't wait to try it!
Will to Ride nice! I’m waiting for my local bike shop to get them in which should be in 2 weeks. I’m pumped! Probably gonna demo it and then start financing it right away. I live in Texas so the riding season never stops. Over the summer I visited family in Northern California and got to demo the Carbon ripmo xo1 spec and I fell in love
@@stevenowen7752 Sweet! I wish I lived somewhere with longer summers 😅 . The ripmo AF should be amazing with the slacker hta. Let me know what you think!
@@WilltoRide So after all your riding, timing, comparing and analyzing, which one won? I don't mean in a race or for bang for the buck but which would you grab on your way out the door to Santa Cruz, Downieville, Ashland or anywhere in the Pacific Northwest? Which won the run for *FUN* exemplification?
@@vultussursum165 it was a near tie between the ripmo and fb29. Eventually settled on the fb29. I ride around British Columbia a lot, with about 40% at bike parks or shuttling, so the slacker hta and extra bit of travel of the FB won me over. It's a big bike but it's shortish chainstay and fork offset keeps it nimble. Climbs great too. That said, I'd have a tougher time choosing now that the ripmo AF is out 😉
Of the megatower, instinct bc, and offering, I'd be inclined to say the offering. Out of the entire shootout, it was a near tie between the ripmo, sentinel and firebird. All great bikes. I ended up with a firebird :)
Each bike that I tested had the sag properly set, and the rebound accordingly, by each bike company rep. Of course, it isn't perfect and there will always be some changes to be made after a few rides, but at least there was some consistency - It's not like I was riding a bike that was setup for someone 50lbs heavier.
...after seeing the finish times and like my Gramps used to say, "Just because evil exists doesn't mean you have to choose it" Too bad it was the Megatower and not the new Hightower or earlier Hightower *LT* You made a mistake regarding the time for the Sentinel on Reclaimer 7:30 - in Part 1 you did a 4min 30.11sec th-cam.com/video/ayd9HjezLfg/w-d-xo.html&t=929 .
I'd like to ride the same two trails on the HTLT, to compare to these bikes. Then share another video on it. Thanks for catching that error! I'll make a note in the description.
I have been on the HTLT and the MegaT and the new Hightower lower link. ON my channel I have videos of the Mega and new Hightower but no the HTLT. Honestly, my 2 cents, I think the Hightower LT is such a great bike still because of its playful poppy feeling and its much lighter than the current new Hightower. The new Hightower pedals better but the offset fork and added weight can make it feel sort of dead and blah feeling. The Hightower Lt is livelier and had the 51mm offset fork so its very jazzy, poppy and lively. If you have the HTLT, I wouldn't upgrade. The Megatower is much heavier than the HTLt and its longer reach as well. Compared to the HTLT its definitely not as lively at all! But the HTLT is not capable and will not eat the dowhill chunk as well either. THe Mega was built to be a brute force plower and shredder and it does this super well, super stable. So with that, it wants to be going at mach downhill speed to really get it going. The HTLT was not made for that but it can handle some of that. I would class the HTLT with the Ibis Ripmo and not with the Megatower. The Pivot firebird, the evil wreckoning and such belong in the category with the Megatower.
Yeah I'm sure that is ultimate set up for the Wrecker, as they call it on the trail. You own this rig or you demoed this with a coil on it? Seems like a tight fit in the Delta area but nice thing is you never have to add air to them. They are consistent everytime.
The local rep had to leave the event early. I had to convince him I'd be back by a certain time just to demo it, and I was still a bit late. Are you saying the recorded time is bullshit, or the whole review of the MT?
Found part 2. Awesome trails man, you are so blessed to live in such a trail rich area! Although, I shouldn't complain, my home of Colorado has a few good ones too. On the Santa Cruz MegaT. I've done videos on my channel of all of their new Lower Link 29er bikes. I have found they seem to be over building their carbon frames. They are all over beefy with more weight on them than their competitors in the same category. Which I think, gives them all a harder to maneuver feeling than other bikes in the same category. However, they are super stiff and bombproof for sure: Tallboy, Hightower, and MegaT.
I loved the MegaT, its a great bike but for serious climbing, it can really ruin your day. It's just too heavy to be climbing with. I'm not sure with an XX1 or AXS build you could hit 30lbs flat. Hightower is noticeably lighter and much better for climbing but could also lose at least a 1/4 pound.
I keep going back to your Ripmo time. I need to get on the Ripmo AF. I've had opportunity to get on it and have been putting it off. Now were under snow here so it off the table for now. I think the carbon Ripmo update will have the same geo as the Ripmo AF. I think the current RIpmo and great as it is could benefit from the AF's geometry. That's why many guys are putting an angleset on the Ripmo to slacken it out.
I didn't hear you mention this but any pedal strikes on the Ripmo? I had a ton of them on it in my video. Check me out on my channel, good content man, just subbed. Ride on...
We're under snow here too but I'm eager to try out the Ripmo AF. I agree on the updated carbon - probably the same Geo as the AF.
I did get a couple of pedal strikes. More than I was used to.
Thanks again for the comments. Watched a few of you videos and subbed. Really great quality content!
I have a 2019 RM Instinct BC, bought as a leftover in 01/2020. Its an amazing bike and more than i need but i got such a fantastic price i couldnt resist, got some carbon wheels and bars and thinking of the XX-1/AXS with 10-52
Sweet! They're solid bikes - I've met some very fast ppl who ride them. Sounds like an awesome build too.
@@WilltoRide I will be 65 in December but in great shape however i limit myself to Blue trails, not looking for injuries, still i am out there having fun and meeting some challenges. I prefer to feel confident before i try anything too difficult, i have seen some XX diamond and they would be too much for me, at least now
Wow, that's very impressive to me. I'm sitting here nursing another shoulder dislocation rather than riding, so I think your strategy is a smart one!
@@WilltoRide Thanks for the compliment, get well ASAP and with a 100% recovery
The BC is the beast for ever...!!!
Crazy test when you stop with Mega and everything. Some times our perseption is wrong and only clock will tell. Correct clock.
That's exactly right.... The majority of the test is mainly how I perceived the bike to ride (this is why I called it the 'totally subjective long travel 29er shootout'). I attempted to keep the timing as accurate as possible (eg. using the gopro frames, as I don't trust Strava), but there were still variables that led to inaccuracies in that as well (flat tires, stopping to help someone). If I had more time with each bike, I would have like to have taken 3 laps on each trail with every bike. I will try this in the future once I can borrow the bikes for a longer time.
@@WilltoRide cool. My own experience is that bike feeling fast is not always fast and vice versa.
nice video! I definitely can concur with your observations on the Instinct BC. Super playful, but I think the DPX2 lets it down. That linkage is pretty active and quick, and puts a lot of stress on the dpx2 - it heats up pretty quick and then starts to translate a lot of harshness into the rider. I have an MRP hazard coil on mine and its pretty much a different bike, still climbs like a goat but completely erased that harshness and the square edge hang ups - helps it track and rail turns much nicer too.
Thanks! I wish I could try the instinct bc with a coil now. It makes a lot of sense for that bike. I believe Jesse Melamed runs a coil too.
At your height, would a Lg be a better fit? Instinct
How do they compare when you’re not going downhill? (Edit: just heard the end of the video where you say that to compare this many bikes you needed to shuttle, thus had no time to compare climbing)
Yeah, in my next review video I will be spending a bit more time on climbing ability. From what I could tell, the two dw-link bikes (ibis and pivot) climbed great. I subsequently bought a FB29 and have been climbing up stuff I'd never been able to do before. The ripmo is probaby the better climber as it is lighter and has a slightly steeper STA and HTA.
Canmore!!
Santa Cruz seems to be quite easy to get in Norway second hand, the most popular carbon bike to buy & sell I guess. but I am more interested in trying bikes I can't try in Norway. But I guess I should try to get to some demos and try time bikes and see what I like, but I suspect I will like a bike more of the Pole, Nicolai and such style, slack front, long front, long in both ends, steep seat tube height, combined with short stem, my bike has way too twitchy steering, also to short for me, but at least it's not as bad as on my old xc bike.
Cable routing alone eliminates most bikes from the list.
I need easy to service bike, also I want to get some better components, not decided on fork yet, but Fox Elite or Factory 36 seems to be safe bet, as long as it's not with Grip damper cus that shifts and locks the fork on bunny hops, roots on downhills, dangerous, so won't get budget option.
but a lot of options that are not reviewed, or are not as popular or known. but have interesting tech and sound promising, but not sure about service ability in Norway, so far : Rock Shox, Fox, MRP, DVO, but rest I am not sure about.
Santa Cruz bikes are quite common in my area of Canada as well.
What kind of trail riding do you mainly do? I think that might play a role in bike selection. Pole and Nicolai appear to be on the more extreme ends of long and slack. Ryan (loam ranger) seems to get by fine on his pole though.
A lot of good suspension options these days. I've noticed a bit more mid stroke support on my '19 36 than on my' 17 lyrik. Eric (bcpov) has been with happy his suntour...
@@WilltoRide i heard some about rear wards axle path, which sounds great tin theory atleast, like stanton bikes has, interesting, also interesting what kavens bikes are developing, I pretty much know most brands, and have a really short list of bikes I am interested in. But I need to get something soon.
@@WilltoRide i ride evrything apart from suicidal trails, and huge jumps, and drops, cliffs. I baci ally do regular trail riding, mix of easy bike path to Gnarly singletrack and evrything in between, usually a mix of it all. I ride to my riding spots too.
I have a SC Bronson. I am 178 cm tall and I ride an XL comfortably. With low standover and low seat posts, you can ride the new model SCs based on reach and top tube and wheelbase lengths you like and size up easily. The interesting thing is that if you compare the Pole Evolink that Pole says I should ride, the Medium, the front numbers are actually longer on my Bronson. Although The Pole has a longer overall wheelbase due to a longer chainstay. While I have not ridden a Pole, in theory this should make it more stable at high speed but less poppy and not as easy to get the front wheel up. For my riding which involves popping off of everything I can find along the way, I like a shorter rear end, which is why I love the Bronson- never lacks for stability at speed over gnar yet is still playful. I’m not knocking the Pole, just pointing out that if long fronts is something you like the SCs have it, just size up, and they just have shorter rears. Not sure if sizing up on the Evolink to a large, which would have longer front numbers than the Bronson, would be an option as the Seat Tube Length is 480 mm vs 440 mm on the medium and 460 mm on the Bronson. That extra 2 cms might make the seat too high in its lowest position. As it is I feel like the Bronson’s lowest seat position is as high as I would ever want to go with the seat down.
Bronson XL. Evolink M
Reach. 485. 480
Top Tube. 656. 614
Wheelbase. 1252. 1274
Chainstay. 430. 455
@@dadventuretv2538 what saddle position do you use? which foot position do you use? I use mid foot position, with Pedaling innovations Catalyst pedals, the saddle tip is over the BB.
I do this for efficient pedalling. my current bike got 450mm chainstay 430mm reach which is too short. I am 181cm.
Are you gonna try out the new Ibis Ripmo AF? Would love to see a review of that from you
I've talked to the local rep here and he's going to try to arrange a demo for me, but it might not be until spring (we're only a few weeks away from winter here). Can't wait to try it!
Will to Ride nice! I’m waiting for my local bike shop to get them in which should be in 2 weeks. I’m pumped! Probably gonna demo it and then start financing it right away. I live in Texas so the riding season never stops. Over the summer I visited family in Northern California and got to demo the Carbon ripmo xo1 spec and I fell in love
@@stevenowen7752 Sweet! I wish I lived somewhere with longer summers 😅 . The ripmo AF should be amazing with the slacker hta. Let me know what you think!
@@WilltoRide So after all your riding, timing, comparing and analyzing, which one won? I don't mean in a race or for bang for the buck but which would you grab on your way out the door to Santa Cruz, Downieville, Ashland or anywhere in the Pacific Northwest?
Which won the run for *FUN* exemplification?
@@vultussursum165 it was a near tie between the ripmo and fb29. Eventually settled on the fb29. I ride around British Columbia a lot, with about 40% at bike parks or shuttling, so the slacker hta and extra bit of travel of the FB won me over. It's a big bike but it's shortish chainstay and fork offset keeps it nimble. Climbs great too. That said, I'd have a tougher time choosing now that the ripmo AF is out 😉
rocky instincs use a ride 9 system, maybe if you set it to your preferred setting you would like it better
Yeah, I might have! Only got a chance to ride it in its slackest setting. Maybe next time
The BC Edition doesn't have a ride 9 system. I've been riding it since the start of 2018. It's the only Rocky model that doesn't have it 😉.
which was your fav?
Of the megatower, instinct bc, and offering, I'd be inclined to say the offering. Out of the entire shootout, it was a near tie between the ripmo, sentinel and firebird. All great bikes. I ended up with a firebird :)
what trails were ridden at the end of the video?
Hey David. It's an old and unsanctioned trail, so I can't share it publicly. I'd be happy to show you sometime if you want to meet up for a ride.
3:42 what did you say? sounds like Norwegian: stikk I veien? which means sting on the road. which makes no sense.
Lol. I said, 'into some tight stuff' :)
Unfortunately if you didn’t setup the suspension properly before your testing, then all opinions are moot
Each bike that I tested had the sag properly set, and the rebound accordingly, by each bike company rep. Of course, it isn't perfect and there will always be some changes to be made after a few rides, but at least there was some consistency - It's not like I was riding a bike that was setup for someone 50lbs heavier.
...after seeing the finish times and like my Gramps used to say, "Just because evil exists doesn't mean you have to choose it"
Too bad it was the Megatower and not the new Hightower or earlier Hightower *LT*
You made a mistake regarding the time for the Sentinel on Reclaimer 7:30 - in Part 1 you did a 4min 30.11sec th-cam.com/video/ayd9HjezLfg/w-d-xo.html&t=929
.
I'll be taking a HTLT out for a demo ride soon!
@@WilltoRide OK but it would be cool to see it run against the Ripmo or Pivot
...and I removed my 👎 - I was just PO'd.
I'd like to ride the same two trails on the HTLT, to compare to these bikes. Then share another video on it.
Thanks for catching that error! I'll make a note in the description.
I have been on the HTLT and the MegaT and the new Hightower lower link. ON my channel I have videos of the Mega and new Hightower but no the HTLT. Honestly, my 2 cents, I think the Hightower LT is such a great bike still because of its playful poppy feeling and its much lighter than the current new Hightower.
The new Hightower pedals better but the offset fork and added weight can make it feel sort of dead and blah feeling. The Hightower Lt is livelier and had the 51mm offset fork so its very jazzy, poppy and lively. If you have the HTLT, I wouldn't upgrade. The Megatower is much heavier than the HTLt and its longer reach as well.
Compared to the HTLT its definitely not as lively at all! But the HTLT is not capable and will not eat the dowhill chunk as well either. THe Mega was built to be a brute force plower and shredder and it does this super well, super stable. So with that, it wants to be going at mach downhill speed to really get it going.
The HTLT was not made for that but it can handle some of that. I would class the HTLT with the Ibis Ripmo and not with the Megatower. The Pivot firebird, the evil wreckoning and such belong in the category with the Megatower.
The wreckoning with a coil is an absolute monster that eats chunk but can still get around corners
Nice! I'll definitely try to get some riding time on a wreckoning with a coil then
Yeah I'm sure that is ultimate set up for the Wrecker, as they call it on the trail. You own this rig or you demoed this with a coil on it? Seems like a tight fit in the Delta area but nice thing is you never have to add air to them. They are consistent everytime.
Nice videos 👌
thanks!
Megatower got a bullshit review Was there not enough time in the day to take one more run
The local rep had to leave the event early. I had to convince him I'd be back by a certain time just to demo it, and I was still a bit late. Are you saying the recorded time is bullshit, or the whole review of the MT?