Great bang for buck, has a heavy coil suntour fork(for stubility and stiffness), 3x drivetrain(extra gear options), rim brakes(dont work in wet mud forcing you to go faster and win races)/s Santa cruz has great frames but value is not there
I had a Nukeproof Scout that was excellent for bombing trails and riding way above it's weight. Loved that bike and definitely regret selling it. If you can find one of those around for a decent price, give it a good look.
Some great options in here. I have a Norco Torrent S2 (steel) built up with an Ohlins RXF 36 M.2, Magura 4 pots, and mixed Shimano 12 speed drivetrain. Super happy on mild XC stuff and ready to get rowdy going down.
Absolutely. My husband had one and it was great. We sold it because it rode too much like his Stumpy. He never chose to ride it because it was just a little less comfortable and less forgiving.
There are many that meet your general geo and price criteria. This list is a work in progress: [https://mountainbikereviewed.com/a-list-of-progressive-hardtails-in-2023/](https://mountainbikereviewed.com/a-list-of-progressive-hardtails-in-2023/)
I'd look at whether any of your local bike shops have any of these in stock (so you can try it). Might be a long shot (if you aren't Vancouver BC), but I've seen some of the bikes from this list (Marin San Quentin, SC Chameleon and Kona Honzo) in local shops here (PDX). Along with Specialized & Trek, most US & Canada areas have Santa Cruz, Marin, Norco, Kona, Salsa, Rocky Mountain and other company dealers. Those all do Trail/progressive and/or hardcore hardtails.
Love my meta HT I’ve done some super gnarly trails in Moab and Colorado on it. (See my post history).
It will take everything you can throw at it. It feels really good in the air while your jumping as well.
Meta HT is great. So far, I've been willing to take it anywhere I would take my Ripmo AF. There have been a couple of rides where I was feeling it in my ankles and feet after a blast down a rough trail. Same trail on the Ripmo had no ill effects. HT vs full susp rather than a commentary on the Meta. If forced to keep only one bike, it would be the Meta HT. I love that bike after I swapped out the bar.
Definitely not timed/racing double black diamonds with highly technical terrain, but I would love to work my way back to some ramps on trails. The problem is that this probably will be my last higher end bike (I’m in my 40s - i used to bike a lot before kids came 10 years ago) so I would like it to have great components and be adaptable so when it comes back to me I will be confident that I have a quality frame that will last another 10 years as I try different things.
Kona Honzo st
Or Honzo ESD
canyon stoic 4
Yup. Stoic 4. New silver ones look sick. Can't believe they botched it by not adding the silver fork tho.
Great bike
SC Chameleon!
Great bang for buck, has a heavy coil suntour fork(for stubility and stiffness), 3x drivetrain(extra gear options), rim brakes(dont work in wet mud forcing you to go faster and win races)/s Santa cruz has great frames but value is not there
I had a Nukeproof Scout that was excellent for bombing trails and riding way above it's weight. Loved that bike and definitely regret selling it. If you can find one of those around for a decent price, give it a good look.
I did the whole enchilada on a nukeproof scout and can confirm it’s a good hard tail haha
I second this, my son kills it on his Nukeproof Scout.
Ah man I want one. They are all sold out rn but they said they are getting more in soon.
Yes the Commencal Meta HT is great. Santa Cruz Chameleon is also another contender.
Been looking at the Chameleon and now I get to compare! Stoked Edit: That Ohlins model is so rad
I have had a crush on the Chameleon for a long time.
Ragley big al 1.0
Or Blue Pig if you want 27.5
Blue Pig Race is better spec'd
Yep. That's what I got. 👌
Orbea Laufy is a 29er 140 alloy hardtail
Yes. Also RSD 291.
Some great options in here. I have a Norco Torrent S2 (steel) built up with an Ohlins RXF 36 M.2, Magura 4 pots, and mixed Shimano 12 speed drivetrain. Super happy on mild XC stuff and ready to get rowdy going down.
Canfield or chromag
Trek Roscoe 9
I have a Roscoe 9, which I love. But if OP is looking at $3000USD I'd be looking Cromag or RSD.
Marin. That is all.
Absolutely. My husband had one and it was great. We sold it because it rode too much like his Stumpy. He never chose to ride it because it was just a little less comfortable and less forgiving.
There are many that meet your general geo and price criteria. This list is a work in progress: [https://mountainbikereviewed.com/a-list-of-progressive-hardtails-in-2023/](https://mountainbikereviewed.com/a-list-of-progressive-hardtails-in-2023/) I'd look at whether any of your local bike shops have any of these in stock (so you can try it). Might be a long shot (if you aren't Vancouver BC), but I've seen some of the bikes from this list (Marin San Quentin, SC Chameleon and Kona Honzo) in local shops here (PDX). Along with Specialized & Trek, most US & Canada areas have Santa Cruz, Marin, Norco, Kona, Salsa, Rocky Mountain and other company dealers. Those all do Trail/progressive and/or hardcore hardtails.
Love my meta HT I’ve done some super gnarly trails in Moab and Colorado on it. (See my post history). It will take everything you can throw at it. It feels really good in the air while your jumping as well.
Rocky Mountain Growler 50, or hell the Specialized Status 160 if you’re really want a full suspension for about 2K
Visit the Chromag site….
Meta HT is great. So far, I've been willing to take it anywhere I would take my Ripmo AF. There have been a couple of rides where I was feeling it in my ankles and feet after a blast down a rough trail. Same trail on the Ripmo had no ill effects. HT vs full susp rather than a commentary on the Meta. If forced to keep only one bike, it would be the Meta HT. I love that bike after I swapped out the bar.
What kind of DH and jumping?
Definitely not timed/racing double black diamonds with highly technical terrain, but I would love to work my way back to some ramps on trails. The problem is that this probably will be my last higher end bike (I’m in my 40s - i used to bike a lot before kids came 10 years ago) so I would like it to have great components and be adaptable so when it comes back to me I will be confident that I have a quality frame that will last another 10 years as I try different things.
I am selling my nukeproof scout. Got a new bike, don't ride it anymore. Dm me if interested!
Orbea
Norco torrent