Don’t Buy A Downhill Bike, Here’s Why

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  • Опубликовано: 26 янв 2025

Комментарии • 67

  • @bikeradar
    @bikeradar  Год назад +5

    Enduro vs downhill bike - which one would you choose for your riding?

    • @Mo.Jo.MTB_101
      @Mo.Jo.MTB_101 Год назад +1

      Well this might become a long answer...🙈 Firstly I love DH bikes they look cool and they make me feel like I'm a fast and confident rider, which in reality I'm not (and don't really care anymore). Secondly Enduro (Allmountain Bikes) used to be the go to bikes for me (like my 2014 Canyon Strive). But I think that Enduro bikes suffer from, let's coll it "racergitis"... ;-) They have become more capable, heavier and more robust in order to cope with modern enduro racing. But also heavier and less enjoyalbe on climbs and flatter meandering terrain (and my riding is more across with some techy climbs and decents). It reminds me of XC bikes... For some time XC have become synonymous with XC racing where in my mind and XC bike should be good everywhere with a focus on long days epic rides and Efficiency, handing the "need" for "down country". Which, and I'm sure Mike Leavy would agree ;-), isn't really a category in itself but more an XC bike that isn't that focused on racing...
      To sum it up (and this might be controversial) I think by build bikes for EWS racing they might be on the way to becoming all most as niche DH bikes... Don't get me wrong they are cool and that is as good a reason to buy a bike as any but I don't think that a modern enduro bike is really the best fit for majority of riders these days...
      Cool video and enjoy the ride everyone!!! 🚵💕

    • @kuma_score7536
      @kuma_score7536 Год назад +1

      an older style of enduro bike which would basically be a trail bike today

  • @SpencerBaum
    @SpencerBaum Год назад +49

    90% of riders don't need a dh bike, but 100% of riders want one

    • @joshuaallswang8016
      @joshuaallswang8016 Год назад +9

      lol Speak for yourself, I don’t want a downhill bike😂
      Not everyone wants to “SEND IT” I’m 35 with a wife and kids bro, I can’t afford to get injured. I ride for fitness, adventure and fun.

    • @lossantoscity3249
      @lossantoscity3249 Год назад +1

      ​@@joshuaallswang8016 Slap a 180 or even a 190 to it. It'll feel the same as a DH bike. Bike's now are super capable even with less travel

    • @natepittenger7084
      @natepittenger7084 Год назад

      @@joshuaallswang8016I’m 44 with a wife and kids and a full time job, but I have a downhill bike and I love it. I’m far from a badass sender, in fact I still feel like blue trails are my jam, but I feel so much more confident and secure riding semi-fast, and the margin for error is just so much better. I can have more fun at my pace when I feel confident. I certainly didn’t “need” a DH bike, but I’m glad I have one now.

    • @joshuaallswang8016
      @joshuaallswang8016 Год назад +3

      @@lossantoscity3249 I don’t want a downhill bike, not even an enduro bike. The perfect bike for my terrain is a short travel trail bike and a XC bike. I have 140F/120R trail bike and a XC hardtail with a 120 fork. The perfect combo for me. I ride mostly blue/green trails bro. But I do like to ride fast and hard. Just not trying to leave the ground higher then a few feet!💯

    • @tonywilson5468
      @tonywilson5468 Год назад +3

      I have zero interest in a DH bike because not all of us are hard-core DH riders wanting to get lary on the trails! My 2022 Transition Scout has 150mm up front and 140mm at the rear, and it's a blast to ride!! Super playful, but also very capable, and it looks after me when I make mistakes 😂

  • @DoesItTrack
    @DoesItTrack Год назад +18

    A DH is proper and just made to full smash. More rugged, and waaaaay more forgivable. Miss hit or case a jump on both and see which one your knees and ankles prefer.

    • @bikeradar
      @bikeradar  Год назад +1

      Totally agree with this! There's nothing like the stability and travel of a DH bike to encourage you to push your riding! I love DH bikes.
      ~ Will

  • @timtherascal
    @timtherascal Год назад +3

    A bike that does everything okay. Isn’t the same as a bike that does one thing very well.
    that’s like saying don’t get into BMX as you can’t ride it up hill.

  • @mike-b4h4d
    @mike-b4h4d Год назад +10

    If you ride lift access bike parks a DH bike is a good choice. Especially when it comes to durability.

  • @MrDefiant17
    @MrDefiant17 Год назад +3

    i have both Enduro (29er) and DH (27.5) , and i love them both, but ive noticed that im more progressed on the DH bike

  • @mrisaax1747
    @mrisaax1747 Год назад +7

    I got a Santa Cruz Hightower about a year and a half ago and I’ve absolutely loved it for every mountain biking aspect. The high speed downhill trails, long steep climbs, jumps and pretty much every terrain. I’ve considered getting a downhill bike(tbh who doesn’t want one)but I think my Hightower is really all I need, especially with the crazy prices these days lol

  • @Alyn321
    @Alyn321 Год назад +1

    I was in the camp of "you don't need a DH bike anymore" for a while. Like most people I've got a 170mm enduro bike and it feels way better than a 2014 dh bike (the last dh bike I rode a few years ago).
    However, after coming back from whistler and riding a V10.8 and a 2022 trek session, modern DH bikes are miles above enduro bikes for smashing downhill.
    If your a confident descender, there's nothing like a DH bike and it's a nice treat to do an uplift of a DH bike rather than the enduro bike you ride 3 times a week

  • @ThunderStruckMTB
    @ThunderStruckMTB Год назад +4

    Man, you need to put a graphic content warning on the screen before showing us the Pole DH bike..... Now I'll have nightmares for a week.

  • @mtbboy1993
    @mtbboy1993 Год назад +2

    I love my Geometron G1, easy to ride, stable. Some complain about flop on slack head angle but proper tyres help. I us Michelin Wild Enduro, they don't have the twisty feel on the side knobs. But all bikes have flop. 170mm travel is enough for me, I live in Norway I use the 170mm travel on the gbarliest stuff, but 150 on most stuff.
    A common misconception is that a bike like this is hard to wheelie and manual. It's not. Super easy to wheelie, just have to get weight to the front to initiate but during the wheelie is a dream.
    I felt at home the first time I rode it, cornering was great, and upgrading the tyres made it feel perfect.
    My bike is 18.14 kg according to my scale, so not super light. Not as playful in the air as a lighter trail or xc bike, but I got used to it and can do everything on it.
    Of course on a pump track both a 29er dh bike and enduro bike won't be as fast. But on the trails I ride it's fast.

  • @Alex-md6bu
    @Alex-md6bu Год назад +10

    Dh bikes are actually making a small comeback, most enthusiastic riders will have two (or more) bikes, with the rise of the “do it all” 160mm e-bike lots of riders are returning to dh bikes as their second bike as a bike to use for lift assisted riding then using the e-bike for everything else….

    • @natepittenger7084
      @natepittenger7084 Год назад +3

      That’s exactly my thinking too. The perfect 2-bike stable for someone who has lift-served bike parks nearby. If you’re doing a fair amount of park riding, you can’t replace the feeling of security and durability of a proper downhill bike.

    • @bikeradar
      @bikeradar  Год назад

      @@natepittenger7084 Great comments, I hope you're both right! We're so lucky to have so many great uplift-accessed trails across the globe, and wow are DH bikes fun!
      ~ Will

  • @TE_53349
    @TE_53349 Год назад

    dont need a downhill bike but ive recent bought an old nukeproof scalp in size large (small reach bikes). upgraded both suspension and groupset to a more enduro type. hard to keep speed due to soft downhill tyres but its heaps of fun

  • @westensanchez9483
    @westensanchez9483 9 месяцев назад +1

    You just can't beat the plushness and forgiveness you get on a dh rig for those gnarlier trails. They swallow up bumps so much better and that makes it so much more fun. Also, those 160m to 180m bikes pedal like crap. A 130m travel bike and a dh bike is a much better combo to enjoy all mt biking has to offer.

    • @bikeradar
      @bikeradar  9 месяцев назад

      Thanks for commenting! Totally agree that they're very different bikes which excel in different areas! Happy riding.
      ~ Will

  • @michaelcuddihee6754
    @michaelcuddihee6754 Год назад +5

    no substitute for the traction and durability of triple clamp DH bike.

  • @martinhayes5087
    @martinhayes5087 Год назад

    Bike park Wales isn't the place for a DH bike though, it's mostly flat. Take them to dyfi, and ride some proper DH tracks, and the downhill bike really comes into its own. I've got the privilege of having both, and there's simply no comparison when you're on a tear!

  • @Tsuchinokoed
    @Tsuchinokoed Год назад

    Have a proper DH bike for uplift days exclusively so it takes the abuse better over long term. riding an enduro in park will be fine but will get battered quicker in comparison and need more work to keep running nice. personally id go DH bike for bikepark/uplift, ebike for trail/pedal making enduro/trail obsolete and a binhead roadie for leaving chained outside the shops.

  • @tyrellcobb4665
    @tyrellcobb4665 Год назад +1

    Can I ride my XC hardtail on hardline?

  • @N1ALL85
    @N1ALL85 Год назад +1

    I think you’ve got mixed up between a trail centre and a downhill track mate.

  • @thescerigai
    @thescerigai Год назад +2

    put a dropper and a wide range drivetrain on a dh bike and you have a downhill focused mtb that can ride anything comfortably and is durable.

    • @impaledface7694
      @impaledface7694 Год назад +2

      Surprisingly decent at climbing, and I weigh over 100kg. Of course I have an older 26in bike, but as long as I sit and spin with the 32-42 it's really not bad. Then run a faster rolling rear tire or stiffer springs and it's even better. All for the cost of 1/4 of a cheap enduro bike.
      I used a wolf tooth road link and a newer sram gx rear derailleur.

    • @bikeradar
      @bikeradar  Год назад +1

      Sounds like a great idea for a challenge! Thanks for the comment!
      ~ Will

  • @andrea07pr
    @andrea07pr Год назад

    Will are you still running the intense in low? I’ve tried but I smash pedals just about everywhere

  • @gernottoventile_mtb
    @gernottoventile_mtb Год назад

    I hereby request putting a windscreen on the camera for the pov shots...

  • @alexisonbike3652
    @alexisonbike3652 Год назад +1

    I wish I had one when I ride Mont St-Anne tough

  • @Bonky-wonky
    @Bonky-wonky Год назад +1

    If the dh bike isn’t entertaining you’re riding the wrong trails.. nothing beats a dh bike on a proper dh track.

  • @LEL7567-ABCDEF
    @LEL7567-ABCDEF Год назад +8

    but DH bikes are so cool...

    • @bikeradar
      @bikeradar  Год назад

      You're SO right! I can't get enough of riding a DH bike 🤘
      ~ Will

  • @rip.tear.
    @rip.tear. Год назад

    This is a bit of a meh topic, you can get short travel enduro bikes like a Stumpjumper EVO and full-on gravity sleds like a Giga. I wouldn't like to take a Stumpjumper EVO down some of the stuff designed for a proper spec DH bike.

    • @kingflynxi9420
      @kingflynxi9420 Год назад +1

      The stumpy can have full on gravity sled geo though which is cool

    • @rip.tear.
      @rip.tear. Год назад +1

      @@kingflynxi9420 yeah its a great bike, but its not designed to so the same stuff that a Demo would be fine with

  • @darkness789
    @darkness789 Год назад +1

    Of course you don’t need a DH bike but if you can afford one why not. Something interesting about mounting biking there’s always suggestion of don’t get this bike get this bike, honestly it’s kinda annoying

  • @tobiasdonner6268
    @tobiasdonner6268 Год назад

    I don‘t want a DH bike I want a Freerider with a triple clamp fork. Not 29“ not Mullet, no carbon, no batteries.
    And no it’s not the extra travel of 1…2cm, it‘s the space inside the stanchions that allow better air spring and damper design plus the structural advantage of clamping the stanchions above and below the steerer tube.
    Has anyone ever seen a single crown motorcycle fork?
    How many enduro forks have problems with creaking CSU‘s?

  • @ashwilkinson4451
    @ashwilkinson4451 Год назад

    Gimme a shout when you want to do that article on my 2004 Bighit 😜

  • @darrinkulyk9560
    @darrinkulyk9560 Год назад

    My CF Warden Is A 70 Kmh Bike and My CF Demo8 Is A 100Kmh Bike . Period

  • @Kevin-iq1xc
    @Kevin-iq1xc Год назад +1

    Mate, thats not even close to a proper downhill track…
    Id like to see you ride an enduro bike at a Swiss ixs downhill race and report back ;)

  • @gophop
    @gophop Месяц назад

    Enduro has a greater advantage at climbing than DH at descending.

  • @IIISentorIII
    @IIISentorIII Год назад +3

    In Switzerland's Mountain region we would consider this (Enter the Dragon) to be a normal Trail-bike "Trail" and many would probably use a Scott Spark or Transition Spur or maybe a Stumpy with 140mm x 130mm ✌😁

    • @ciprianciprian3252
      @ciprianciprian3252 Год назад +1

      The video doesn't do it justice

    • @IIISentorIII
      @IIISentorIII Год назад +1

      @@ciprianciprian3252 Absolutely, just like it's often the case on video. :)

  • @benjy288
    @benjy288 Год назад

    The thumbnail says which is faster, but you didn't even time the runs.

  • @vrwgq3q
    @vrwgq3q Год назад +3

    "Modern" Enduro -> a DH bike with a single crown fork, with progressive tunes, a dropper and stupid steep seat tube angle.
    With these 'modern' enduros, as they are even longer, steeper, slacker... just like a DH bike, you need to ride them on steeper terrain and at full wack to be able to weight the front end and not feel like a wet noodle.
    IF you ride nothing but bike park, and live in the pacific north west, and only ever climb fire roads up, then yes a "modern" 180/A180 enduro is for you. If you ride Park lifts and shuttle... then get a DH bike.
    If you plan on being able to ride up anything other than a fireroad, e.g. singletrack, while having very competent descending capability, then the 150-160 side of enduro is for you.
    this is why the Notvo Sight is still more popular than the Range, Nukeproof Mega over Giga, Rocky Altitude over the Slayer and on and on.
    Also, why racers aren't always riding those big coil'd monsters? The 'more' plush the suspension, the more the forgiveness but not always necessarily more speed. As long as the course doesn't overwhelm the suspension, the more firm the platform to pump (just like pedaling) the more energy is transferred to speed than into the suspension.

  • @dontcallmejerry
    @dontcallmejerry Год назад

    Wenn du nur Wald Autobahn fahrst , reicht auch ein gravel bike 🚴

  • @TeilzeitSender
    @TeilzeitSender Год назад

    buy as many bikes as you can!

  • @joshuaallswang8016
    @joshuaallswang8016 Год назад +1

    I choose Trail bike every time!🔥

  • @mustclime5311
    @mustclime5311 Год назад

    DH bikes need to step it up to 300mm travel cuz everyone want to huck off their roof.

  • @savagepro9060
    @savagepro9060 Год назад

    BikeRadar: "Don’t Buy A Downhill Bike | Here’s Why… everything in the industry is already going . . . downhill!

  • @ceogeo6106
    @ceogeo6106 Год назад

    Look at you

  • @yungQi
    @yungQi Год назад

    buy a downhill bike, ride it fast af

  • @topchoice1621
    @topchoice1621 Год назад

    DH bikes are a joke enduro bikes are the best for everything