I owned a wildcat v2 and absolutely loved it, aside from the seat tube not fitting longer droppers. I'm thrilled with these updates and I can't wait to get a wildcat v3. Great review team!
Steve l'm shocked! Does your hardtail know you used to run around with a full suspension? 😆 Just was watching your some of your hardtail reviews (Roscoe and Meta HT) today. I just bought my daughter who is nearly full grown a Vitus Sentier 27 VR last month. The size M geo isn't too far off the S Trek and M Commencal. I love that you're watching other bike reviews just like so many of us.
I don't understand the idea that because it's 4k, you can't have well designed cable routing. That's free, doesn't cost extra. Good design is good design. Also, 4k is a lot of money, it should be a great bike, especially being aluminum.
True 4K is a crazy amount for this kind of spec. I built up a bike for 3K which is pretty much all from second hand sites and would equate to a 10k current price rig. The market is hyperinflated
I have a commencal meta SX for CAD 4K. The commencal meta TR and AM comes in at less than 4K with one of the best looking frames and finishes in my opinion.
Here is an idea for a test. Six bikes all with in $500 us dollars of each other, two 120-130mm, two 140-150mm and two 160-170mm travel. Just to see how they all just compare to each other with no reference to any type of riding type. With so many well climbing long travel bikes and so many well descending short travel bikes let's see them head-to-head.
I am really interested in this bike and I think the 27.5+ compatibility and adjustable dropouts are the main reasons why. Too bad pink bike has two specific prejudices against plus tires and short chainstays. I agree this bike could be way cooler if it happened to weigh under 30 lbs but to save some dime I have, and will again, go for a 34lb bike.
As a Wildcat owner, it's a mini Enduro bike. Mine is 150/120 travel but rides like 140 rear, and takes on all of Sedona's double blacks just fine. The thing is built like a tank, but is also very fun and lively with the short chain stay. Which makes it plenty fun in Prescott's cross country. 2 yrs ago this same bike was 3k.
I built one up since they had that recall on the Middlechild back in 2020 and offered a deal on the Wildcat. I only took it out for a dozen or so rides, but it definitely felt stable and was a solid climber despite its weight. I actually preferred it to my 2019 Spectral, but it was slated to get sold to a buddy :( I was tempted to get another one to build up.
Not sure what Sara meant about "East Cost Riding despite what people think". It's rooty, rocky, technical with steep punchy climbs, it's kind of a pain in the a$$ riding out east.
That's pretty much what she described. From what I glean, West is seen as more steep and gnarly that East; more enduro style vs trail style riding. We're talking Canada, of course.
I’ve ridden out east once before and that description of the riding there is spot on. Personally I don’t find it nearly as fun as riding out west, if I grew up in the east I have a feeling that I wouldn’t be a mountain biker…
Compromises at 4k? In europe you can get Radon Skeen trail 10.0 HD for 4k€. Full fox kashima, GX and X01 compononets with carbon frame. Cube Stereo 120 HPC EX 29 is even cheaper but a little bit outdated geometry now.
@@ricodvorsky3844 i know but Canyon doesnt have anything in this class. I hope that updated neuron will be more like this then just low travel spectral.
@@Flexo_l Neuron is more like a long travel lux, very old school geometry. Spectral is pretty good value imo, 3700€ for carbon frame and some entry level parts. Meanwhile you can't even get a decent carbon frame for that money from most big brands. Radon is good too. Or just go for used bikes
What a dam shame. I bike for decent value that is all-around capable. This shouldn't exist, RSD needs to build overpriced and overspced bikes at 8 grand US or higher, like the rest of the big boys. We all know MTB is starting to cater to the elitists and not the average Joe and Jill's of this world. I have been looking at an RSD WildCat as a replacement to my 2015 Giant trance 2. Now that they are coming out with a 160 front 150 rear all mountain travel spec. I am most definitely going to take a real serious look.
We have the same bike and I love it. Outside of the extra travel I don't feel like I would trade my 2015 giant trance 2 for this. Especially for this price
just to hate again, 4k shouldnt be an outlaw 🤦♂️make it normal to test the bikes between 3-5k because its what most people buy also test smaller brands, that dont charge an arm and a leg on their top tier bike (radon charges like 5k gor theri top end enduro bike and its still wicked good)
@@simonarends7802 maybe an Ibis Ripley AF I guess. But downcountry is spun off from XC and I don't think many or any Alu bikes can really fit the downcountry label.
I owned a wildcat v2 and absolutely loved it, aside from the seat tube not fitting longer droppers. I'm thrilled with these updates and I can't wait to get a wildcat v3. Great review team!
Steve l'm shocked! Does your hardtail know you used to run around with a full suspension? 😆
Just was watching your some of your hardtail reviews (Roscoe and Meta HT) today. I just bought my daughter who is nearly full grown a Vitus Sentier 27 VR last month. The size M geo isn't too far off the S Trek and M Commencal. I love that you're watching other bike reviews just like so many of us.
@@jasonsheridan6222 I ride FS quote a bit, I talk about it on the channel. Despite it's heavier weight, the v2 has been one of my favorite FS bikes.
The audio in this video is much better, thanks PB team!
This bike sounds great!
Appreciate the real world input on some real world bikes. Not many of us out here dropping 10-14k on a bike!
Not many of us are dropping even these prices. I had to buy used for 1.5k and that almost broke me
@@jdhawkins09 It is absurd that $4K has become normalized as a reasonable price. I guess that 65 degree HT angle comes at a cost. LOL
More like 4-10k
@@MaQuGo119 USD CAD whatever. Stupid money.
I don't understand the idea that because it's 4k, you can't have well designed cable routing. That's free, doesn't cost extra. Good design is good design. Also, 4k is a lot of money, it should be a great bike, especially being aluminum.
True 4K is a crazy amount for this kind of spec. I built up a bike for 3K which is pretty much all from second hand sites and would equate to a 10k current price rig. The market is hyperinflated
External cable routing is not expensive
4k alu,? For what market, at mars?
I agree, just look at the ibis bikes lol
I have a commencal meta SX for CAD 4K. The commencal meta TR and AM comes in at less than 4K with one of the best looking frames and finishes in my opinion.
Here is an idea for a test. Six bikes all with in $500 us dollars of each other, two 120-130mm, two 140-150mm and two 160-170mm travel. Just to see how they all just compare to each other with no reference to any type of riding type. With so many well climbing long travel bikes and so many well descending short travel bikes let's see them head-to-head.
I miss Alicia from these reviews, hope her recovery's going well. I also miss the timestamps/sections on the video, where'd those go???
She get fucked up did she? I was wondering
A super burly bike that’s still playfull and climbs well. Sounds like a great bike to me and adjustable chainstay s are awesome.
I am going to have to check out those trails next Summer. Only 6 hrs from me.
I am really interested in this bike and I think the 27.5+ compatibility and adjustable dropouts are the main reasons why. Too bad pink bike has two specific prejudices against plus tires and short chainstays. I agree this bike could be way cooler if it happened to weigh under 30 lbs but to save some dime I have, and will again, go for a 34lb bike.
As a Wildcat owner, it's a mini Enduro bike. Mine is 150/120 travel but rides like 140 rear, and takes on all of Sedona's double blacks just fine. The thing is built like a tank, but is also very fun and lively with the short chain stay. Which makes it plenty fun in Prescott's cross country. 2 yrs ago this same bike was 3k.
Deal of the century if you got this thing for 3k in 2020. Definitely a smart buy. Glad you are enjoying the bike!
I built one up since they had that recall on the Middlechild back in 2020 and offered a deal on the Wildcat. I only took it out for a dozen or so rides, but it definitely felt stable and was a solid climber despite its weight. I actually preferred it to my 2019 Spectral, but it was slated to get sold to a buddy :( I was tempted to get another one to build up.
sounds like you should have added some negative spacers to the rear shock tbh.
Yep, DVO 101 there! The spacer or two and the negative chamber makes all the world of difference.
Price point & specs, man, I'd definitely look to the Ripley AF. This is going to be going up against the Exie, but I don't see any comparisons.
I’m really digging the music in these videos. What is the song?
Not sure what Sara meant about "East Cost Riding despite what people think". It's rooty, rocky, technical with steep punchy climbs, it's kind of a pain in the a$$ riding out east.
That's pretty much what she described. From what I glean, West is seen as more steep and gnarly that East; more enduro style vs trail style riding. We're talking Canada, of course.
I’ve ridden out east once before and that description of the riding there is spot on. Personally I don’t find it nearly as fun as riding out west, if I grew up in the east I have a feeling that I wouldn’t be a mountain biker…
Compromises at 4k? In europe you can get Radon Skeen trail 10.0 HD for 4k€. Full fox kashima, GX and X01 compononets with carbon frame. Cube Stereo 120 HPC EX 29 is even cheaper but a little bit outdated geometry now.
don't forget canyon, also pretty amazing value
@@ricodvorsky3844 i know but Canyon doesnt have anything in this class. I hope that updated neuron will be more like this then just low travel spectral.
@@Flexo_l Neuron is more like a long travel lux, very old school geometry. Spectral is pretty good value imo, 3700€ for carbon frame and some entry level parts. Meanwhile you can't even get a decent carbon frame for that money from most big brands. Radon is good too. Or just go for used bikes
What a dam shame. I bike for decent value that is all-around capable. This shouldn't exist, RSD needs to build overpriced and overspced bikes at 8 grand US or higher, like the rest of the big boys. We all know MTB is starting to cater to the elitists and not the average Joe and Jill's of this world.
I have been looking at an RSD WildCat as a replacement to my 2015 Giant trance 2. Now that they are coming out with a 160 front 150 rear all mountain travel spec. I am most definitely going to take a real serious look.
We have the same bike and I love it. Outside of the extra travel I don't feel like I would trade my 2015 giant trance 2 for this. Especially for this price
looks like a trail bike
just to hate again, 4k shouldnt be an outlaw 🤦♂️make it normal to test the bikes between 3-5k because its what most people buy
also test smaller brands, that dont charge an arm and a leg on their top tier bike (radon charges like 5k gor theri top end enduro bike and its still wicked good)
Ah yes, 140mm is definitely not a trail bike...
It's 125mm
@@NoBrakes23125 rear
That is trail, not DC bike.
Well downcountry isn't a thing so...
@@ericcartmansstrengthandpow5960 someone had to say it
@@ericcartmansstrengthandpow5960 why not
Short travel trail and DC are so similar it makes sense to just have a spectrum for them since they can all have the same travel, but diff geo.
Actually it’s a mountain bike
The only bike in the test I would even consider.......the rest are just small thingie compensators.
4 grand gives you a nice Rocky Mountain Element with alloy frame the bike in the video is not worth 4 grand for me..
You think the spec on a 4k element is better than this?
@@garradmiller5025 Of course not but the base is better
The Ainu’s Ripley AF is a wayyyyy better bike for aluminum bikes, especially if you DVO
😍😍😍👍👍👍👍
No kitty that's a bad kitty!!!!
This doesn't make sense. This thing has like identical geo/travel to a Stumpjumper and weight of an Enduro bike. Not downcountry at all.
What value (aluminium) bikes do you consider to be doen country?
@@simonarends7802 maybe an Ibis Ripley AF I guess. But downcountry is spun off from XC and I don't think many or any Alu bikes can really fit the downcountry label.
Enough of the erroneous use of 'like'. Argh!
4 k 😂😂😂😂 what a scam for this aluminum bike