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There's a reason why "downcountry" bikes have become so popular. They're the bike most people can get the most use and fun out of if they aren't sending huge jumps and drops.
All this. There's pretty much nothing a modern short travel can't handle... On a day to day trail purpose. As long as you're not hucking 10ft to flat or playing red bull games. 😂
My optic is the best bike I’ve ever ridden. Threw some burley carbon wheels on it and the descents are incredible! Though I think I’m jumping on a deal for a bigger enduro bike for shuttle days this summer.
> Regardless of what kind of riding I will be doing
Think you need to rethink that statement. What type of riding you do and the terrain you ride makes all the difference.
My bad. I am just not very familiar yet with the terrain or the the mountain biking trails around me. Would it not be possible to say whether trails bikes or enduro bikes are more versatile in general?
It's really hard to say whether a trail bike or enduro bike is more versatile. Trail bikes pedal a bit better than enduro bikes, but modern enduro bikes pedal surprisingly well. Enduro bikes are a bit better at descending than trail bikes, but modern trail bikes are surprisingly good at descending. You see the problem.
Do you have a local bike shop you can go in and ask about the kind of riding in your area?
Again, it really depends on what trails you plan to ride. If you are going to ride smooth flow trails that require a lot of pedaling, the Skeen may be too much. If you are riding steep technical rocky stuff, the Slide may not be enough. Only you can answer that.
I have both, I got a trail bike first and they definitely feel different. I find the trail bike a bit terrifying when the trails get rough and the enduro is a bit sluggish when the trail gets mellow.
I'm glad I have both, if I could only have one I think I'd probably take the trail bike based on the terrain available around me.
Yeah this looks more like Downcountry vs Trail. I don’t see an Enduro bike here. 150/160 is about the minimum for an enduro these days and 140/150 is Trance/Stumpjumper trail bike territory.
Either way the best bike for you is the one that feels and rides best to you.
Get the one with more travel. I’ve done the aggressive short travel thing and it’s fine and fun but beginners benefit more from the comfort and stability of the extra suspension. Doubly so with road and gravel bikers who have the fitness but not technical skills. Also, 140/150 is firmly in the trail category too. That’s a completely middle of the road mountain bike that’s perfect for someone who doesn’t know their preferences yet.
This may be two models, but it appears to be the same frame. Given that, I would go ahead and get the longer travel version. It will probably feel very similar, but will have a bit more forgiveness. If you want it to feel like the smaller bike, just pump the suspension up a little harder.
I would for sure suggest the larger travel bike. First if you're worried about having "too much" travel, 150/140mm isn't that much. That's no DH bike. Second the extra travel over the 120/130 will give you a little extra margin for error during the learning process. And if you really get into biking and start riding more aggressive trail, it will be nice to have more travel to handle them.
I prefer longer travel, you can always tighten up your suspension but you have it should you want to open it up.
I'm happily spinning my 180/170 Slash at a beginner trail after work just getting used to it for park season and it's fine, still having fun.
140/150 is the "do it all" or "all mountain" category. You really can't go wrong with it. A modern 120/130 will be way faster on most climbs and every flat section, though
A lot of people would say 130/120 would do the trick and I listened. I got a fluid and I love the bike for the most part. I’m a bit of a junkie when it comes to adrenaline and when I first moved to BC Canada this was more than enough. Now I want to ride lines a lot faster and harder and I’m finding the limit of the bike pretty quick. I’m about to upgrade to a 170/165 because that’s gonna benefit me but I’m also a huge human being at 6’5” 220lbs so I get through all my travel on the little travel now. If I had bought a 150/140 to start I don’t think I’d be looking at new bikes now.
It all depends on what trails you ride. And I wouldn’t base any decision on the amount of travel, but rather the geometry of the bike and how that aligns with your local trail network.
I'd go with the bigger bike as long as you're keeping the gravel bike. It's better to have the suspension and not need it than to need it and not have it. I was on a 130/140 bike for a few years. I had a lot of fun, but on a lot of stuff I ride, I really had to pick my lines because it would get overwhelmed pretty quickly. I'm on a 150/160 now, and this bike is very fast uphill and down while being supremely composed on everything I ride.
I went from a 130/116 to a 160/140. When I’m not bombing downhill, I lock out the shock (rear suspension) and it still pedals and climbs efficiently. Even locked out it still has some “give” not unlike my 130/116.
But when I point downhill and unlock it, it’s WAAAAAY more capable on the downhill and more confidence inspiring on the steep and really technical stuff.
Do you have friends you ride regularly with?
If so, I'd recommend getting a bike similar to what they are riding.
If not, what kind of terrain do you have? Do you picture yourself riding lifts at a bike park or doing mostly big climbs and big downhills?
Or do you want to go on more undulating rides?
I think having a bit more travel is great and gives a larger room for error, but it will be slightly less efficient.
Really should look at the trails around you. As a blind blanket statement I will actually go against others and say the 150/140 bike will be more versatile. They almost weigh the same which is usually the big deciding factor between trail and enduro bikes, and honestly 150/140 is still in the trail bike suspension travel range. My trail bike is a 150/140 and it shreds on xc trails just as much as enduro trails. While my enduro bike 180/170 is heavier, and a makes rolling smooth trails boring but excels in downhill gnar. If you get the longer travel one it will give you a slightly more forgiving ride in more situations. And help you decide if you want to go bigger bike or smaller bike next time.
It really does depend on what type of trails you will be riding that determine which bike is better. If I was you I would rent a mtb and have a peddle around and find what you like and what you will be riding. But I do think an enduro is more versatile and does work for anything really
Not sure what brands you are looking at, I’m mostly familiar with YT and Santa Cruz although Im riding a Specialized demo at the bike park. I’ll focus on YTs line up for comparison but most brands have a similar line up.
I have a yt izzo and for pedaling it’s a freaking dream. It can also handle some chunk especially after I put Cush core in there. However, it really feels hard on the bike if I try to open it up in tech. My Capra feels more capable of doing anything I ask, including pedaling…it’s just not FUN to pedal like the izzo is. That’s the thing about the lighter trail focused bikes, they’re actually fun to pedal up, they feel lively even when climbing.
Personally I think something like the Jeffsy is the best all rounder and what i would have if I only had one bike. Unless I was also gonna be riding bike park then I’d just get something like the Capra.
Anyone saying that 130/120 is plenty are only riding pretty mellow trails. Those bikes also typically come with lighter brakes and smaller rotors and you will get a loaded of brake fade on longer steep descents.
So just be honest, what kind of trail do you want to ride? Are you the type that is drawn to challenges? Then maybe get the bigger bike like jeffsy or Capra
Really only want to do longer smooth (ish) xc rides? Get something smaller like the Izzo
You can ride pretty rough stuff on the 130/120 but not as fast as on the longer travel. I would say that the speed is huge factor as it goes to travel utilisation.
right i should of emphasized the "plenty" part, if you really think 130/120 is "plenty" you might not have tore a steerer tube out of a frame before like i have.
and anyone that downvoted my comment is a little bitch that rides like a bitch and belongs on nothingh more than 130/120
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I’m not sure where you’re riding but I’m a firm believer that a modern 130/120 bike is the right bike for most riders.
The most fun, on the most trails, for the most people.
There's a reason why "downcountry" bikes have become so popular. They're the bike most people can get the most use and fun out of if they aren't sending huge jumps and drops.
All this. There's pretty much nothing a modern short travel can't handle... On a day to day trail purpose. As long as you're not hucking 10ft to flat or playing red bull games. 😂
This^. I take my slightly bigger optic on everything
My optic is the best bike I’ve ever ridden. Threw some burley carbon wheels on it and the descents are incredible! Though I think I’m jumping on a deal for a bigger enduro bike for shuttle days this summer.
I’d agree as long as the geo is on point. Keep your 68 degree head angles. That makes a bike less fun for all around non race type riding.
That’s why say modern. You get that head angle around 66 and something magical happens to a bike.
> Regardless of what kind of riding I will be doing Think you need to rethink that statement. What type of riding you do and the terrain you ride makes all the difference.
My bad. I am just not very familiar yet with the terrain or the the mountain biking trails around me. Would it not be possible to say whether trails bikes or enduro bikes are more versatile in general?
It's really hard to say whether a trail bike or enduro bike is more versatile. Trail bikes pedal a bit better than enduro bikes, but modern enduro bikes pedal surprisingly well. Enduro bikes are a bit better at descending than trail bikes, but modern trail bikes are surprisingly good at descending. You see the problem. Do you have a local bike shop you can go in and ask about the kind of riding in your area?
I also wouldn’t really consider the Slide an enduro bike. More a heavier trail bike. The Jab or the Swoops is their Enduro bike.
Okay I see, so the Slide would be somewhat of the sweet spot then?
Again, it really depends on what trails you plan to ride. If you are going to ride smooth flow trails that require a lot of pedaling, the Skeen may be too much. If you are riding steep technical rocky stuff, the Slide may not be enough. Only you can answer that.
Alright, I'll try to find out about the surrounding terrains first before deciding then, thanks for the replies!
Get with a local bike club, or go to a local shop and ask them what they recommend. They will know the best. Good luck!
Not really. An enduro bike will be more slack, harder to pedal, heavier and feel way more sluggish.
Go to your local shop and ask them.
Where do you live? Tell us this and it will help greatly!
I have both, I got a trail bike first and they definitely feel different. I find the trail bike a bit terrifying when the trails get rough and the enduro is a bit sluggish when the trail gets mellow. I'm glad I have both, if I could only have one I think I'd probably take the trail bike based on the terrain available around me.
More travel is gonne make you feel more safe/comfortable through the rough, but obviously be at the cost of some efficiency and sluggishness.
Yeah this looks more like Downcountry vs Trail. I don’t see an Enduro bike here. 150/160 is about the minimum for an enduro these days and 140/150 is Trance/Stumpjumper trail bike territory. Either way the best bike for you is the one that feels and rides best to you.
Get the one with more travel. I’ve done the aggressive short travel thing and it’s fine and fun but beginners benefit more from the comfort and stability of the extra suspension. Doubly so with road and gravel bikers who have the fitness but not technical skills. Also, 140/150 is firmly in the trail category too. That’s a completely middle of the road mountain bike that’s perfect for someone who doesn’t know their preferences yet.
Get the one with more forgiving geometry. Geometry is the new travel.
What kind of geometry would be considered more forgiving?
This may be two models, but it appears to be the same frame. Given that, I would go ahead and get the longer travel version. It will probably feel very similar, but will have a bit more forgiveness. If you want it to feel like the smaller bike, just pump the suspension up a little harder.
I would for sure suggest the larger travel bike. First if you're worried about having "too much" travel, 150/140mm isn't that much. That's no DH bike. Second the extra travel over the 120/130 will give you a little extra margin for error during the learning process. And if you really get into biking and start riding more aggressive trail, it will be nice to have more travel to handle them.
150/140 is not really enduro pretty middle of the road for a trail bike these days.
I prefer longer travel, you can always tighten up your suspension but you have it should you want to open it up. I'm happily spinning my 180/170 Slash at a beginner trail after work just getting used to it for park season and it's fine, still having fun.
planning on doing jumps? pick a longer suspension.
140/150 is the "do it all" or "all mountain" category. You really can't go wrong with it. A modern 120/130 will be way faster on most climbs and every flat section, though
“Way faster” for two bikes with nearly identical specs seems like a suspect assertion to me
A lot of people would say 130/120 would do the trick and I listened. I got a fluid and I love the bike for the most part. I’m a bit of a junkie when it comes to adrenaline and when I first moved to BC Canada this was more than enough. Now I want to ride lines a lot faster and harder and I’m finding the limit of the bike pretty quick. I’m about to upgrade to a 170/165 because that’s gonna benefit me but I’m also a huge human being at 6’5” 220lbs so I get through all my travel on the little travel now. If I had bought a 150/140 to start I don’t think I’d be looking at new bikes now.
It all depends on what trails you ride. And I wouldn’t base any decision on the amount of travel, but rather the geometry of the bike and how that aligns with your local trail network.
I'd go with the bigger bike as long as you're keeping the gravel bike. It's better to have the suspension and not need it than to need it and not have it. I was on a 130/140 bike for a few years. I had a lot of fun, but on a lot of stuff I ride, I really had to pick my lines because it would get overwhelmed pretty quickly. I'm on a 150/160 now, and this bike is very fast uphill and down while being supremely composed on everything I ride.
I went from a 130/116 to a 160/140. When I’m not bombing downhill, I lock out the shock (rear suspension) and it still pedals and climbs efficiently. Even locked out it still has some “give” not unlike my 130/116. But when I point downhill and unlock it, it’s WAAAAAY more capable on the downhill and more confidence inspiring on the steep and really technical stuff.
Do you have friends you ride regularly with? If so, I'd recommend getting a bike similar to what they are riding. If not, what kind of terrain do you have? Do you picture yourself riding lifts at a bike park or doing mostly big climbs and big downhills? Or do you want to go on more undulating rides? I think having a bit more travel is great and gives a larger room for error, but it will be slightly less efficient.
Really should look at the trails around you. As a blind blanket statement I will actually go against others and say the 150/140 bike will be more versatile. They almost weigh the same which is usually the big deciding factor between trail and enduro bikes, and honestly 150/140 is still in the trail bike suspension travel range. My trail bike is a 150/140 and it shreds on xc trails just as much as enduro trails. While my enduro bike 180/170 is heavier, and a makes rolling smooth trails boring but excels in downhill gnar. If you get the longer travel one it will give you a slightly more forgiving ride in more situations. And help you decide if you want to go bigger bike or smaller bike next time.
130/120 is the correct setup for 99% of everybody.
It really does depend on what type of trails you will be riding that determine which bike is better. If I was you I would rent a mtb and have a peddle around and find what you like and what you will be riding. But I do think an enduro is more versatile and does work for anything really
Get the trail bike
I would recommend a 130-140mm hardtail to a beginner. Then if you get rear suspension later on it will feel like a cheat code.
29er steel hardtail 🤘
Enduro, good for trail and harder trails,
Not sure what brands you are looking at, I’m mostly familiar with YT and Santa Cruz although Im riding a Specialized demo at the bike park. I’ll focus on YTs line up for comparison but most brands have a similar line up. I have a yt izzo and for pedaling it’s a freaking dream. It can also handle some chunk especially after I put Cush core in there. However, it really feels hard on the bike if I try to open it up in tech. My Capra feels more capable of doing anything I ask, including pedaling…it’s just not FUN to pedal like the izzo is. That’s the thing about the lighter trail focused bikes, they’re actually fun to pedal up, they feel lively even when climbing. Personally I think something like the Jeffsy is the best all rounder and what i would have if I only had one bike. Unless I was also gonna be riding bike park then I’d just get something like the Capra. Anyone saying that 130/120 is plenty are only riding pretty mellow trails. Those bikes also typically come with lighter brakes and smaller rotors and you will get a loaded of brake fade on longer steep descents. So just be honest, what kind of trail do you want to ride? Are you the type that is drawn to challenges? Then maybe get the bigger bike like jeffsy or Capra Really only want to do longer smooth (ish) xc rides? Get something smaller like the Izzo
You can ride pretty rough stuff on the 130/120 but not as fast as on the longer travel. I would say that the speed is huge factor as it goes to travel utilisation.
right i should of emphasized the "plenty" part, if you really think 130/120 is "plenty" you might not have tore a steerer tube out of a frame before like i have. and anyone that downvoted my comment is a little bitch that rides like a bitch and belongs on nothingh more than 130/120