@@michaellee8226 ha yeah definitely Suntour pogo stick! for real tho 2k trail bike is what I ride now and I'm an advanced rider but it took a long time save for since I'm 14 and before I rode a REAL entry-level bike with all the stuff everyone dispises and it really got me hooked on the sport
It could shred like heck dude I got mine just a month ago pretty much the same time as you. it’s an animal on descents, it doesn’t feel like a hardtail.
I love my Fuze 29er, it's been the perfect first mountain bike, I don't feel over biked on XC trails and I cna keep traction and stability when things get a little more sketchy, it's perfect 👌
Hardtails for the win! I ride my NS Eccentric Cromo far more than my full suspension. It's a great aggressive steel hardtail right around 2 grand. Have ran both 29 and 27 plus on it and it's a blast. I much prefer the 27 plus setup though. Hope to see more hardtails in the field test!
A for AWESOME The San Quentin seems very similar to the Commencal, but I would argue that the Fuse isn't quite as aggressive as the Commencal. I really enjoy my Meta HT, it's a ripping bike
It's ok. I had the Nukeproof scout 275 comp, but man! Fork took a dump after about a month and the frame started cracking after riding it 5 times only. Heavily disappointed, but even worse, it was a nightmare dealing with their "warranty", especially since they're located in Ireland 🤦🏾♂️. Finally sent me a new frame after almost 4 months of back and forth between them and Chain Reaction and the paint had scuffs 🙄. I will never deal with Chain reaction bikes or bike companies from outside the US. Not worth the headaches. Sold the Nukeproof and got me a Marin San Quentin 2 and wow! Feels so much better and stouter while riding it. Also was more affordable with great components. Will upgrade the fork when this one wears out, upgraded the tires and went tubeless, but after 4 months, this bike is the best bike I've ever owned, can't imagine how good the San Quentin 3 is. Either way, enjoy whatever you get, happy trails yo!
Sold my Rocky Altitude this month and bought the Fuse and customized it with upgrades. It's a fun ride and love being back on a hardtail after 15 years!
@@matthew5172 because Its more fun riding a hard tail and it actually not a downgrade if you look at the specs on the bike. Just because the Altitude is full suspension doesn't mean its better , its just a choice and style. Ive been riding along time and wanted to go back to riding a hard til. Simple. Enjoy the ride and don't get stuck in the details of upgrade downgrade in your head.
Just curious, what do you like about it? Compared to other hardtails in this mid 1000 to 2000 price range. I'm torn between brands as each choose different grupos and forks?
@@xavier8351 it's been 3 months you find a bike yet? Looking for a first bike under $2k, so far 2021 Specialized FUSE is the one to beat, I think it's $1300..
@@phabeondominguez5971 I did. I found a Jamis Dragonslayer S1. Super sick bike. Steel is real. I was thinking about the Fuse, but really liked the steel frame and components on the Jamis plus the price was right for a used bike that was bought as a gift but too big for them. My gain.
@@phabeondominguez5971 I found it on Facebook marketplace. I was ready to pull the trigger on Surly and some other custom one offs but was beaten out by other buyers. The timing was right on this one. Then, a week later saw another one pop up for $100 less. Haven't seen anything pop up for a while. This market is tough right now.
Even though Marin doesn't list it, the San Quentin can fit a 27.5x3.0 with room to spare. I found the stack to feel absurdly low on the San Quentin. I felt very hunched over on it. In fact, it was enough that I didn't buy one even at 50% off when Performance was blowing them out. I'd need to run 30-40mm riser bars at least. It looked great on paper but rode a little awkward for me. And I sized up to a size L. I'm 5'6".
Having worked in a bike shop and been on hard tails for the past four years a "budget" bike should be considered no more than $500-1500 USD. It's quite absurd to consider a budget bike to be equivalent to that of a reliable used automobile or two mortgage payments.
I got a Marin Hawk Hill 3 and it came with those tires (Vee FlowSnaps). They gripped pretty well, but they were soooooo slow rolling and pretty heavy. I replaced them as soon as I could.
Another budget bike to consider is the Ragley MMMBOP. I got one for $1500 NEW and it pretty much rips. Lots of local trail riding and tons of laps at the bike park on it with no problems
To me any drivetrain below GX Eagle or Shimano Deore XT is budget grade. The main thing is get a very good frame. And you can always upgrade from that point on.
$2k is not budget. nope Start with a budget bike around $500 and then as you progress move up. Even after 20 years of riding, I think $2k is more than I want to spend on a bike.
I love my Fuse. I did change to non-plus 29 wheels because the plus tires were so crappy (although the ones in this video are better then what I had). But the geometry of the bike and the feel is complete magic. It acts almost like a short travel full sus! I'll ride it forever!
I just trialed my 29er Fuse with 27.5+ wheels and 2.8 tyres. I love how the 2.8's roll but the 27.5 wheels lowered the BB height too much. I'll stick to the 29 now.
Love my Fuse! I’ve got a garage full of expensive bikes(S Enduro, YT Jeffsey, Stumpy Carbon, Trek Farley Fatty, S Turbo Levo) the bike that gets more mileage by far is my Fuse. So playful, takes a beating and so much fun to ride. I’ve kept it 27.5+, enjoy the traction, climbs great and despite the heavier wheels and tires, quite snappy and dynamic on the descents. I always recommend the Fuse to friends and clients who are looking to get into the sport.
Did it come with stock 27.5 wheels or the 29 wheels . I'm a bit confused coz i want the same fuse which is shown in the review but with 27.5 wheels , but when i check specialized web page it shows its a 29 er ( the one dats in the review ) plz help .😅😅
Yep. Ibis mojo. With a handjob. When v bakes took over, guys would still order the frame with a handjob... just because. Ibis Ripley was an aluminum 1.5" travel softtail. I have brand new, never built, red 2001 Ripley frame hanging in my buddies garage.
Why not review the Trek Roscoe 7 or 8? For 2021 the Roscoe 7 is one of the best value for money hardtails out there. Not as aggressive as the Meta, San Quinton or Norco Torrent but it climbs well, still enough travels for some hard core trails and is very well priced
Will be more agressive with a bigger fork... so pissed but at least I got a 140 fork and do 50 and 60 ft jumps on it if u got a roscoe I recommend upgrading it
@@thetoyota86perspective54 yah that sounds sick really would be an upgrade slacker and more agressive but if u wanted you could sell that for 3k rn on pinkbiks
I just picked up a Cube Reaction Carbon hardtail from chain reaction for ~$1400. Has a mix of SLX and XT components and a Judy fork. Not as slack as these bikes, but I like the more upright position (more of a comfort bike shape) so that suits me fine. Looking at what these bikes have to offer for this price range I think I made out pretty good.
the comp is the mid spec layout. the base comes with 27.5 x 2.8" tires and tectro brakes. i have the 2019 27.5+ with the 3" tires. this year comes with the rockshox judy, internal cable and adjustable chainstay, cool. i would have liked these options, but still love mine. and i got upgraded to the raidon fork, so i can't complain😎🏔👍
@@ShoneDaddy I've ordered the sx eagle Recon version and I got a dropper post for Christmas. I didn't change the tyres...yet;) Wich tyres did you choose(what is the dirt like where you live?)?
Just a suggestion I’d ask that whatever parts or points you talk about on one bike, talk about on the other. Like he mentioned the bar width and the dropper on the Marin but not the Fuze
Such a hard choice, include the nukeproof scout 275 in that list too ! Right now I'm torn between the SQ3, commencal and scout ... all in large size, frame only though
I have a San Quentin 3 and ride the sh*t out of it. I have a top 10% time on strava for a very technical downhill decent here in Marin County where there are serious bikers showing up on the trail with crazy expensive full squish bikes and pros frequently training. I'm not a great rider, just making the point that it is a bike that can hang with full squish stuff pretty well. My wife also has the new fuse and its rad, too.
I love hardtails. I have a jamis trailx I built it up little by little. Titanium handlebar. Mostly titanium bolts. 2x 10 speed xtr never ever had a drivetrain shift so fast. Xtr brakes. Nukeproof grips fsa afterburner wheelset
Kinda sucks it's not availble in Europe, it looks amazing , its the bike EEu specialized region is missing, we jump from rockhoppers straight to full stumpjumpers...
@@markbuttery2790 I love it. It's pretty heavy honestly but I'm probably going to upgrade the drivetrain for something a bit lighter. It decends just as good as other FS bikes I've had! Norcos gravity tune geometry is spot on.
@@jessedrury8861 Thanks for the advice Jesse, in retrospect would you have gone with the HT S1 build ? i am thinking of the Torrent or the nuke proof cant decide .
@@markbuttery2790 honestly the S1 would have been a good investment with that lyrik ultimate and nice drivetrain. The g-spec brakes seem to work great though and the wheel set is no different.
I'd go fuse. But if it's in your budget I'd think about the Norco torrent. Another good option is the kona Honzo/big Honzo but the spec for the price is a bit disappointing. I've got a kona big Honzo set up mullet with the new 2021 pike ultimate 140mm and I went for the short offset version of the fork to stabilise the steering. It's a very versatile bike and can be setup as a downcoutry machine or a super fun mini downhill/enduro rig which is what I've done.
Hello Alicia, my name is Brandon McCarthy. I am also a hardcore bike rider that tends to like the nasty stuff! I am writing a diamondback recoil 29er and it's pretty good. The frame is a small though, and I am 6 foot 1, I had a lot that happened to me in the past decade. I haven't quite been myself and been reaching out. But I do find that you are quite beautiful and I would love to ride with you and the homies! I am living in Canon City Colorado is the only real issue. I would absolutely love if you made a road trip to Colorado to see some of these trails around here in Canon City! I do assure you there quite awesome and go up 2 the Royal Gorge! And that would be quite the ride, I bet coming back as mostly downhill, and the trails are quite extensive hit me back just to chat, just hopefully I'll hear back, although my Ventures have not been successful...
Okay here's a question for you guys I understand why you're doing the certain brands that you do but why don't you guys include like the Trek Roscoe 8 which is 27. 5 +. But I also just included a set of maple carbon rims in the Twenty Ninth Configuration and this thing works freaking flawless. I'm also looking at upgrading the fork
If you were going to swap out the fork which offset would you go for? I was thinking of going to a Pike, but I've been warned by a couple of shops that the Pike only comes in 42mm offset and the Fuse comes with a unique 46mm rockshox offset. I've been told this change will drastically change the handling and have been advised against it.
when did aluminum hardtail for 2k started to pass as a budjet friendly....more expensive above this price tag are only World Cup XC carbon "wallet-rapers"
...or steel hardtail thrashers like literally any Chromag, all-rounders like the Santa Cruz Chameleon, backcountry rigs like a Surly Krampus? all reasonably above 2k. "budget friendly" is two words for a reason. you have to have a bike that checks the boxes for brakes, gearing, suspension, and dropper post, otherwise you've just bought a stopgap until you can sell it for a loss and buy something nicer. be kind to yourself. buy a decent bike
You can get a cheaper San Quentin for around $750 and you get cheaper but reliable parts for it, but the frame doesn't run internal cabling unlike the top spec San Quentin, which is pretty much fine. You can just replace the stock Suntour XCM forks for Epixon and you've got a great aggressive hardtail for less than a grand.
I love my San Quentin 2. I picked it up used for $750, and have since put a 150mm Pike fork, GX Eagle Drivetrain, OneUp dropper post, Code RSC brakes, Nox Kitsuma 27.5 I9 wheelset, with 2.8 Butcher front and 2.8 Slaughter on the rear. Bike is a beast!!
I have a question. I've got a budget of $2500. I currently have a Trek Marlin 7 and while I've ridden the tires down to the nub and I love the bike, I'm feeling like I want something else. I'm also feeling a lot more adventurous and planning to exploit that feeling. I'm torn between getting a full suspension Trail or upgrade to a better hardtail (I don't even have a dropper post) I'm not a bike park person or a jump person. My favorite thing to do is climb all day then rip on the way down. I'm solidly in the blue trail category. My current bike handles things well, but I feel like I might want more. So my question is, should I go for an upgraded hardtail or full suspension? Any thoughts on that?
Well you can get quite a lot with 2500 when it comes to hardtails. Rocky mountain growler is great along with the honzo esd. Full suspension bikes for 2500 are good if you are willing to upgrade but can't get quite as good components as a hardtail. Really depends on what you ride. I have a 2021 fuse comp and its great. Paid 1850 for it and has great value. I love the frame and since your budget is 2500 I would suggest the fuse expert. Although with COVID and the bike shortage, it may be harder to find these bikes. I also recommend trying the bike before you buy it. Thats the downside of the online bikes like Canyon and YT is you can't try them. So although they have great components for price, you can't justify how it rides or quality of frames. Hope this helps.
It is a bit cheap tbh but they come with great components lets just say if you want a good bike for a budget buy used my dad just bought a garneau rytm full carbon bike that new is worth $3500 (it is a hardtail) for only $950 also about 4 years ago I bought a norco ccr full carbon race bike (road bike) that is worth $7000 new for only $765
why is there no nukeproof scout? its one of the best hardtails and it starts at 1k $ so what’s going on?i mean, it’s probably better than these bikes especially the 2019 model
Good luck finding a scout. Or any of the aggressive hard tails. If they are sold out, there is a reason. Try to find a San Quentin, Nukeproof, Ragley. Good luck. If you find one, buy it.
2000usd "not bad". hm. considering the components. dunno. my full sus was around that price. full slx. rs / sr auron. 150dropper shimano. 27mm tubeless. three fully custom paints used on the frame which is hand welded in europe not in asia. hm.
Had a fuse and it was just constant problems with bearings going in the matter of weeks and the forks were dreadful. And this was from new. Now ordered a san Quentin
same here. i have a 2019 fuse 27.5 sage and the bb fell apart within 20 miles and cranks almost fell off. head set loose after 40 miles and more than half was on tarmac getting to the trail so not all abrasive riding
Entry level is suntour coil fork 2.1 tires shimano tourney 3x 7 shifting and mechanical brakes.
🤣🤣🤣
@@memphis_sean8169 right though?!
something like a carerra then
more like trash level
@@michaellee8226 ha yeah definitely Suntour pogo stick! for real tho 2k trail bike is what I ride now and I'm an advanced rider but it took a long time save for since I'm 14 and before I rode a REAL entry-level bike with all the stuff everyone dispises and it really got me hooked on the sport
I wish these companies brought their hardtails to demo events. I attended outerbike a few months ago and neither of these bikes were at their booths.
hardtail party its a Hardtail party
@@ShoneDaddy it wasn't a hardtail party at Outerbike. ;)
Yeah super hard to try these bikes out.
Thanks for riding... there's a party in my pants, and you're invited.
@@PewterC5FRC Wow, that went to 100 real quick.
that fuse seems like a perfect little rig for pretty much any category in my book
I picked up a Fuse last month and love it. It's very comfortable and versatile. And for the money, it is hard to beat.
Me too!
It could shred like heck dude I got mine just a month ago pretty much the same time as you. it’s an animal on descents, it doesn’t feel like a hardtail.
Maybe I'm just having a bad day, but I feel like this video is really vague, low effort and just not up to the usual Pinkbike standard...
Unicorn Bikes its this new guy
Your having a bad day
Agreed, he literally just listed over the components and Geo. No emphasis whatsoever on ride quality, speed, feel.
First time seeing this channel and meh. Agree. I could read what he said anywhere.
I feel exactly the same
Buying the 2020 Fuse Expert tomorrow. Got a demo lined up for $1300.
I love my Fuze 29er, it's been the perfect first mountain bike, I don't feel over biked on XC trails and I cna keep traction and stability when things get a little more sketchy, it's perfect 👌
Love the Marin San Quentin 3' beast of a bike🔥🔥🔥
Hardtails finally!
Hardtails for the win! I ride my NS Eccentric Cromo far more than my full suspension. It's a great aggressive steel hardtail right around 2 grand. Have ran both 29 and 27 plus on it and it's a blast. I much prefer the 27 plus setup though. Hope to see more hardtails in the field test!
I didn't know people still ride those. I thought I was the only one. ;)
Love my 2019 Stache! Hardtails rock!
userbosco Yeah maaan🔥🔥🔥
Stache for life!
I'm on my 2nd one. I love them!
Best all around bike
Me too
Been looking at hardtails. Stache is on my short list fersure.
Tin Man I’d highly recommend it with tubeless tires and the grips wear out pretty fast
The 2020 Commencal Meta HT AM really should have been in this!
TRUE
Upvoting you a million times for that Ivan. Really limited. The Spesh just got its ass kicked in the MBUK hardtail test.
Nah it’s a really good bike but these ones are a liiitle bit more aggressive, also more expensive
A for AWESOME The San Quentin seems very similar to the Commencal, but I would argue that the Fuse isn't quite as aggressive as the Commencal. I really enjoy my Meta HT, it's a ripping bike
It sure is!
Should have included the Nukeproof scout siiick bike!!!!
It’s a shame it’s sold out everywhere, and I’ve been waiting for months for restocks but nothing 😭
@@JJH-jc1fg thats literally every bike lol. 2021's should be coming out in a couple months
@@JJH-jc1fg same bruh
It's ok. I had the Nukeproof scout 275 comp, but man! Fork took a dump after about a month and the frame started cracking after riding it 5 times only. Heavily disappointed, but even worse, it was a nightmare dealing with their "warranty", especially since they're located in Ireland 🤦🏾♂️. Finally sent me a new frame after almost 4 months of back and forth between them and Chain Reaction and the paint had scuffs 🙄. I will never deal with Chain reaction bikes or bike companies from outside the US. Not worth the headaches. Sold the Nukeproof and got me a Marin San Quentin 2 and wow! Feels so much better and stouter while riding it. Also was more affordable with great components. Will upgrade the fork when this one wears out, upgraded the tires and went tubeless, but after 4 months, this bike is the best bike I've ever owned, can't imagine how good the San Quentin 3 is. Either way, enjoy whatever you get, happy trails yo!
Sold my Rocky Altitude this month and bought the Fuse and customized it with upgrades. It's a fun ride and love being back on a hardtail after 15 years!
Bro what. Why would you sell the rocky altitude and downgrade lol
@@matthew5172 because Its more fun riding a hard tail and it actually not a downgrade if you look at the specs on the bike. Just because the Altitude is full suspension doesn't mean its better , its just a choice and style. Ive been riding along time and wanted to go back to riding a hard til. Simple. Enjoy the ride and don't get stuck in the details of upgrade downgrade in your head.
I love the San Quentin, sick hardtail 🤘🏻
Just curious, what do you like about it? Compared to other hardtails in this mid 1000 to 2000 price range. I'm torn between brands as each choose different grupos and forks?
@@xavier8351 it's been 3 months you find a bike yet? Looking for a first bike under $2k, so far 2021 Specialized FUSE is the one to beat, I think it's $1300..
@@phabeondominguez5971 I did. I found a Jamis Dragonslayer S1. Super sick bike. Steel is real. I was thinking about the Fuse, but really liked the steel frame and components on the Jamis plus the price was right for a used bike that was bought as a gift but too big for them. My gain.
@@xavier8351 NOICE, never heard of that one, but sounds like ya got a deal, where ya find, Craigslist or...?
@@phabeondominguez5971 I found it on Facebook marketplace. I was ready to pull the trigger on Surly and some other custom one offs but was beaten out by other buyers. The timing was right on this one. Then, a week later saw another one pop up for $100 less. Haven't seen anything pop up for a while. This market is tough right now.
I currently ride a 2016 rockhopper comp rn and I'd love to upgrade to the fuse.
Even though Marin doesn't list it, the San Quentin can fit a 27.5x3.0 with room to spare. I found the stack to feel absurdly low on the San Quentin. I felt very hunched over on it. In fact, it was enough that I didn't buy one even at 50% off when Performance was blowing them out. I'd need to run 30-40mm riser bars at least. It looked great on paper but rode a little awkward for me. And I sized up to a size L. I'm 5'6".
What width you riding?
I've got and XL at 6'3" and put on 40mm chromag riser on it and it feels good
@@selder03 I ride a few different wheelsets on my hardtail. 27.5x2.8, 27.5x3.0, and 29x2.4.
What size would you suggest I'm 5'9 for San Quentin. Without the riser n with it
@@shaileshbodh8253 the medium would fit you nicely
Having worked in a bike shop and been on hard tails for the past four years a "budget" bike should be considered no more than $500-1500 USD. It's quite absurd to consider a budget bike to be equivalent to that of a reliable used automobile or two mortgage payments.
$1500 isn’t that different from his “under $2k”
This comment didnt age well....
2K for a reliable used car???
What about my $3.52 budget?
for you good sir we can offer you a fresh tech deck bmx
I love RUclips recommending me this video after I searched a couple times for "Fuse 2020"
Best review I've seen on the Fuse. Pink Bike never disappoints me.
I got a Marin Hawk Hill 3 and it came with those tires (Vee FlowSnaps). They gripped pretty well, but they were soooooo slow rolling and pretty heavy. I replaced them as soon as I could.
Another budget bike to consider is the Ragley MMMBOP. I got one for $1500 NEW and it pretty much rips. Lots of local trail riding and tons of laps at the bike park on it with no problems
RAGLEY's are AWESOME!
Nice vid! Please make a video for the Orbea Laufey H-LTD too...it combines elements from both of these bikes
2 Hardtails Under $2K Tested: Specialized Fuse vs. Marin San Quentin | Pinkbike Field Test
Sponsored by: Specialized
Where is the Nukeproof scout?
Blake Watson yeah they are amazing
Really?.?
To me any drivetrain below GX Eagle or Shimano Deore XT is budget grade.
The main thing is get a very good frame. And you can always upgrade from that point on.
Specialized fuse look so cool
$2000 "budget"
DGSX $2000 “not bad”
This is due to the extreme sudden income disparity, sudden inflation bump, or other subtle reason.
It's cringy when they say that. As if anything less than those $6000 downhill rigs is "budget".
$2k is not budget. nope
Start with a budget bike around $500 and then as you progress move up.
Even after 20 years of riding, I think $2k is more than I want to spend on a bike.
@@StrayPoet Depends on what riding you want to do and how hard you ride
Kona Big Honzo is an awesome bike too
Jeff Barnard wouldn’t have these bikes without the honzo🤟
San Quentin is 2000 aud in Australia so we finally get a better deal on something
bikes online pushed it up to 2200 over Christmas i think. :(
Go for it, it's a rad bike!
The fuse is 1800 tho
You guys should try out the Whyte 905, incredible hardtail
alfyboy01 how does it ride? 27.5 only right? All the Whyte bikes look rad
The Fuse is at the top of my list thanks for the review....a Norco Fluid HT would be a good one to review as well!
Check out the Kona Honzo.. It's a great bike
@@thebikehippie6562 will do thanis!
@@rjahn3000 Your welcome🖒
@@rjahn3000 Click my thumbnail.. I did a review on mine
I love my Fuse. I did change to non-plus 29 wheels because the plus tires were so crappy (although the ones in this video are better then what I had). But the geometry of the bike and the feel is complete magic. It acts almost like a short travel full sus! I'll ride it forever!
Im glad to read that! I am also looking forward to buy the Fuse Comp as my first MTB :)
@@MrNat916777 it's a good investment! Let me know how you like it!
I just trialed my 29er Fuse with 27.5+ wheels and 2.8 tyres. I love how the 2.8's roll but the 27.5 wheels lowered the BB height too much. I'll stick to the 29 now.
I'm waiting for Fuse comp 2021 with new SLX.
Love my Fuse! I’ve got a garage full of expensive bikes(S Enduro, YT Jeffsey, Stumpy Carbon, Trek Farley Fatty, S Turbo Levo) the bike that gets more mileage by far is my Fuse. So playful, takes a beating and so much fun to ride. I’ve kept it 27.5+, enjoy the traction, climbs great and despite the heavier wheels and tires, quite snappy and dynamic on the descents.
I always recommend the Fuse to friends and clients who are looking to get into the sport.
Do you have the fuse comp 29 ???
Shailesh Bodh no, 27.5+
The same one in the review but with 27.5+ wheels ? @Rob Mullins
Shailesh Bodh yes
Did it come with stock 27.5 wheels or the 29 wheels . I'm a bit confused coz i want the same fuse which is shown in the review but with 27.5 wheels , but when i check specialized web page it shows its a 29 er ( the one dats in the review ) plz help .😅😅
specialized fuse is the best bike i have ever owned ! Highly recommended
it is one of the best mtbs that specialized manufactured after along time of the bike failing before 2019
My question is this, Is the Fuse ok for all day riding as well....?! i ask because it's about 10 miles to the trails....??
Yeah bro you'll be fine. Those 29'ers roll.
Some people buy them for bikepacking
Nah more of a thrill rig than an adventure or bike pack.
@@mtblunatic8829 but it is a good bike for bikepacking although the roscoe is better for bikepacking
Anyone else remember when the Ibis mojo was a hardtail.
With the handjob cable stops?
Yep. Ibis mojo. With a handjob.
When v bakes took over, guys would still order the frame with a handjob... just because.
Ibis Ripley was an aluminum 1.5" travel softtail. I have brand new, never built, red 2001 Ripley frame hanging in my buddies garage.
Why not review the Trek Roscoe 7 or 8? For 2021 the Roscoe 7 is one of the best value for money hardtails out there. Not as aggressive as the Meta, San Quinton or Norco Torrent but it climbs well, still enough travels for some hard core trails and is very well priced
Will be more agressive with a bigger fork... so pissed but at least I got a 140 fork and do 50 and 60 ft jumps on it if u got a roscoe I recommend upgrading it
@@RyanDavid-gu8et I ended up doing just that. Put a 140mm 2021 Pike Ultimate on it. Completely changed the bike
@@thetoyota86perspective54 yah that sounds sick really would be an upgrade slacker and more agressive but if u wanted you could sell that for 3k rn on pinkbiks
I just picked up a Cube Reaction Carbon hardtail from chain reaction for ~$1400. Has a mix of SLX and XT components and a Judy fork. Not as slack as these bikes, but I like the more upright position (more of a comfort bike shape) so that suits me fine. Looking at what these bikes have to offer for this price range I think I made out pretty good.
It makes up with the frame quality and being able to ride it before buying.
Can you test the specialized chisle vs the chisle comp
Please test the Nukeproof scout 290 expert, I would love to hear your opinion on this beast
They much better than both of them but also all sold out so you won't find any around
I hope you guys do more affordable bike reviews
You should also try out the commencal meta ht because it is the best hard tail I have ever ridden
Cool review bro. Dig me some Specialized rides!
the comp is the mid spec layout. the base comes with 27.5 x 2.8" tires and tectro brakes. i have the 2019 27.5+ with the 3" tires. this year comes with the rockshox judy, internal cable and adjustable chainstay, cool. i would have liked these options, but still love mine. and i got upgraded to the raidon fork, so i can't complain😎🏔👍
Suggest fuse for bigger riders. 34.9 seatpost diamater. Minimal flex and creak
Love my Sonder Transmitter, I was looking at the fuse originally but it’s just generic and bland.
I've got the same bike! It's awesome!
Freefall _44_ did you get it with the revelation fork? I put a dropper on mine and swapped the tires to Maxxis 2.6s and it’s honestly been incredible.
@@ShoneDaddy I've ordered the sx eagle Recon version and I got a dropper post for Christmas. I didn't change the tyres...yet;)
Wich tyres did you choose(what is the dirt like where you live?)?
Just a suggestion I’d ask that whatever parts or points you talk about on one bike, talk about on the other. Like he mentioned the bar width and the dropper on the Marin but not the Fuze
Great review gets right to the point and this video helped me make my final decision.
Rocky Mountain Growler or Commencal META HT would be better comparison to the Marin.
Such a hard choice, include the nukeproof scout 275 in that list too ! Right now I'm torn between the SQ3, commencal and scout ... all in large size, frame only though
I have a San Quentin 3 and ride the sh*t out of it. I have a top 10% time on strava for a very technical downhill decent here in Marin County where there are serious bikers showing up on the trail with crazy expensive full squish bikes and pros frequently training. I'm not a great rider, just making the point that it is a bike that can hang with full squish stuff pretty well. My wife also has the new fuse and its rad, too.
I wish you would test the Kona Honzo ESD
Vitus Sentier?
Can y’all do another review between fuse and trek Roscoe. Those are the bikes I’m thinking of getting that I only have in our bike shops
More review and analysis, less just listing off the spec.
I love hardtails. I have a jamis trailx I built it up little by little. Titanium handlebar. Mostly titanium bolts. 2x 10 speed xtr never ever had a drivetrain shift so fast. Xtr brakes. Nukeproof grips fsa afterburner wheelset
Kinda sucks it's not availble in Europe, it looks amazing , its the bike EEu specialized region is missing, we jump from rockhoppers straight to full stumpjumpers...
What about nukeproof scout expert 275 ?
More videos on hardtails please
I'm riding a 2020 Norco torrent 2. Not as cheap as these but the steel frame and the more progressive geo was hard to pass up for me
How do you like the bike i am thinking of the same bike?
@@markbuttery2790 I love it. It's pretty heavy honestly but I'm probably going to upgrade the drivetrain for something a bit lighter. It decends just as good as other FS bikes I've had! Norcos gravity tune geometry is spot on.
@@jessedrury8861 Thanks for the advice Jesse, in retrospect would you have gone with the HT S1 build ? i am thinking of the Torrent or the nuke proof cant decide .
@@markbuttery2790 honestly the S1 would have been a good investment with that lyrik ultimate and nice drivetrain. The g-spec brakes seem to work great though and the wheel set is no different.
But I would rather upgrade as I go, I rode it stock for about 2 months quite hard and it worked awesome.
I, personally would like to see a review on the Santa Cruz Megatower.
HAWKHILL NEXT! It's such an under rated bike. The 1 and 3 at least
San Quentin, Orbea Laufey, Fuse Comp or Nukeproof scout?
I'd go fuse. But if it's in your budget I'd think about the Norco torrent. Another good option is the kona Honzo/big Honzo but the spec for the price is a bit disappointing. I've got a kona big Honzo set up mullet with the new 2021 pike ultimate 140mm and I went for the short offset version of the fork to stabilise the steering. It's a very versatile bike and can be setup as a downcoutry machine or a super fun mini downhill/enduro rig which is what I've done.
Hardtail is the move. And gotta love budget
Can you please review the marin san Quentin 3 plsss
Hello Alicia, my name is Brandon McCarthy. I am also a hardcore bike rider that tends to like the nasty stuff! I am writing a diamondback recoil 29er and it's pretty good. The frame is a small though, and I am 6 foot 1, I had a lot that happened to me in the past decade. I haven't quite been myself and been reaching out. But I do find that you are quite beautiful and I would love to ride with you and the homies! I am living in Canon City Colorado is the only real issue. I would absolutely love if you made a road trip to Colorado to see some of these trails around here in Canon City! I do assure you there quite awesome and go up 2 the Royal Gorge! And that would be quite the ride, I bet coming back as mostly downhill, and the trails are quite extensive hit me back just to chat, just hopefully I'll hear back, although my Ventures have not been successful...
I got mine specialized amazing
great vid. what year are the bikes?
Okay here's a question for you guys I understand why you're doing the certain brands that you do but why don't you guys include like the Trek Roscoe 8 which is 27. 5 +. But I also just included a set of maple carbon rims in the Twenty Ninth Configuration and this thing works freaking flawless. I'm also looking at upgrading the fork
Is it me or is the camera way to close throughout the video?
If you were going to swap out the fork which offset would you go for? I was thinking of going to a Pike, but I've been warned by a couple of shops that the Pike only comes in 42mm offset and the Fuse comes with a unique 46mm rockshox offset. I've been told this change will drastically change the handling and have been advised against it.
Name the entry level component on bike shop bikes that “ just fell apart” 10 years ago.
Will this marin size fits a 5'6" guy without having issues on toptube vs inseam, tia!
What do you guys think about the Chromag Rootdown?
Thats. great bike Ive heard but gets out of stock quick . Frame price around $900
So the Marin has Shimano breaks. That’s it. Which Shimano breaks?
Shimano BL-MT400
@@baddriversofcolga Acera. So that's why they said just Shimano.
The dude didn’t even talk about ride feel, geo, frame compliance or even what each bike is suited for. This “review” had little to say.
Specialized fuse for da win
Are Marin bikes any good? I was thinking of getting the San Quentin 2
skatecm1 they’ve had their ups and downs. Overall, they make some really nice bikes. I have one of their 2011 Attack Trails 6.9 and I love it.
San Quentin 2 is a blast, I've people done backflips, running 150mm forks,....
when did aluminum hardtail for 2k started to pass as a budjet friendly....more expensive above this price tag are only World Cup XC carbon "wallet-rapers"
...or steel hardtail thrashers like literally any Chromag, all-rounders like the Santa Cruz Chameleon, backcountry rigs like a Surly Krampus? all reasonably above 2k. "budget friendly" is two words for a reason. you have to have a bike that checks the boxes for brakes, gearing, suspension, and dropper post, otherwise you've just bought a stopgap until you can sell it for a loss and buy something nicer. be kind to yourself. buy a decent bike
You can get a cheaper San Quentin for around $750 and you get cheaper but reliable parts for it, but the frame doesn't run internal cabling unlike the top spec San Quentin, which is pretty much fine. You can just replace the stock Suntour XCM forks for Epixon and you've got a great aggressive hardtail for less than a grand.
Transition throttle is the holy Grail of slack hardtail
I'd love to get one to compliment my Patrol but that Marin in a frame only would be a cheap build, 140mm would work well on it too I'd imagine.
Overpriced.
I love my San Quentin 2. I picked it up used for $750, and have since put a 150mm Pike fork, GX Eagle Drivetrain, OneUp dropper post, Code RSC brakes, Nox Kitsuma 27.5 I9 wheelset, with 2.8 Butcher front and 2.8 Slaughter on the rear. Bike is a beast!!
That's a killer ride.
I have a question. I've got a budget of $2500. I currently have a Trek Marlin 7 and while I've ridden the tires down to the nub and I love the bike, I'm feeling like I want something else. I'm also feeling a lot more adventurous and planning to exploit that feeling. I'm torn between getting a full suspension Trail or upgrade to a better hardtail (I don't even have a dropper post) I'm not a bike park person or a jump person. My favorite thing to do is climb all day then rip on the way down. I'm solidly in the blue trail category. My current bike handles things well, but I feel like I might want more. So my question is, should I go for an upgraded hardtail or full suspension? Any thoughts on that?
Well you can get quite a lot with 2500 when it comes to hardtails. Rocky mountain growler is great along with the honzo esd. Full suspension bikes for 2500 are good if you are willing to upgrade but can't get quite as good components as a hardtail. Really depends on what you ride. I have a 2021 fuse comp and its great. Paid 1850 for it and has great value. I love the frame and since your budget is 2500 I would suggest the fuse expert. Although with COVID and the bike shortage, it may be harder to find these bikes. I also recommend trying the bike before you buy it. Thats the downside of the online bikes like Canyon and YT is you can't try them. So although they have great components for price, you can't justify how it rides or quality of frames. Hope this helps.
It is a bit cheap tbh but they come with great components lets just say if you want a good bike for a budget buy used my dad just bought a garneau rytm full carbon bike that new is worth $3500 (it is a hardtail) for only $950 also about 4 years ago I bought a norco ccr full carbon race bike (road bike) that is worth $7000 new for only $765
why is there no nukeproof scout? its one of the best hardtails and it starts at 1k $ so what’s going on?i mean, it’s probably better than these bikes especially the 2019 model
Good luck finding a scout. Or any of the aggressive hard tails. If they are sold out, there is a reason. Try to find a San Quentin, Nukeproof, Ragley. Good luck. If you find one, buy it.
2000usd "not bad". hm. considering the components. dunno. my full sus was around that price. full slx. rs / sr auron. 150dropper shimano. 27mm tubeless. three fully custom paints used on the frame which is hand welded in europe not in asia. hm.
I see the wheels are 24", what size is the frame 13", 14", or 15"
I’m looking to get the specialized fuse comp 6fattie I’m not a beginner but I’m not a pro or anything like that I’m curious how long it should last
Depends on what terrain you ride.
Does the Felt dispatch 7/60 count?
Go with a commencal meta ht. More aggressive and has higher travel.
That doesn’t mean better for everyone
Just some advice. Not everyone has to take it. All I’m saying is it has longer travel, more aggressive geometry and is specd nicer
Had a fuse and it was just constant problems with bearings going in the matter of weeks and the forks were dreadful. And this was from new. Now ordered a san Quentin
same here. i have a 2019 fuse 27.5 sage and the bb fell apart within 20 miles and cranks almost fell off. head set loose after 40 miles and more than half was on tarmac getting to the trail so not all abrasive riding
@@chriscallas139 Sounds like poor assembly
Are you happy with it ? Trying to order a sq3 frame to build
Erik's Dodges loving every bit of it. And that’s coming off a scott genius onto a Hardtail but would take the Hardtail any day
@@pinchemain00 that's great, thanks ! What size frame are you on ? Does the bar height bother you ?
Hey you didn't test the commencal meta ht
You know, I genuinely prefer the older videos.
I'd love me a San Quentin in 29er guise
You probably stated already and I just didn’t catch it but I’m assuming both bikes are tubeless ready?
i know the fuse is not sure about sq
Thumbs up for the classic mini 0:12 !!!
i wish i could afford the marin san quentin 3, but i would definetly change the chainring to maybe 38t.
Most 1x bikes with boost rear spacing can't fit a chainring that big due to space being used up for tire clearance. If you are lucky you can fit a 34t
if you have 2000 usd, just buy a vitus sentier vrx 2021
it only costs a hundred bucks more and is well worth the price, the value is insane