Learning how to do basic maintenance… super underrated I’m blown away by how many people bring their bikes to the shop for basic things like changing brake pads, changing tires, adding sealant, etc
Went on a ride with a fellow who had a horribly squeaking chain. I offered up my tiny bottle of "emergency" lube, and he didn't want it. He was planning to take it to the shop soon, so he was going to have them do that. WTF?! It sounds like he just takes his bike in for a basic tuneup every couple hundred miles. If he was some rich SOB it would be one thing, but he was blue collar working in a flour mill.
I'm so glad you mentioned carbon vs aluminum. I had aluminum, then carbon, then went back to aluminum. Not because I cracked a frame, but because I actually just like riding aluminum bikes.
I have zero complaints about aluminum rims and frames... except I break them. I'm over 200 lbs, raced DH and Enduro at the expert level and in my experience carbon is just much stronger and more durable. Honestly I don't care much about the weight or flex (aluminum has alot more) but I need wheels and frames that last.
I think carbon frames are properly rated - mostly because I race XC. I remember the time I raced on my friend’s borrowed carbon hardtail I was just blown away at the difference it made. I was finally able to really compete in highschool. Carbon weight saving helped me do that
I think everything can have a reason to be either underrated or overrated. Just an individual point of view. I've been mountain biking since the late 80's, so I was on a full rigid bike. Suspension forks came out and I thought they were overrated, expensive and uneeded. Years went by and I discovered they actually helped. Fast forward a couple of decades and now I have rheumatoid arthritis. Riding was hurting a lot. I was on a hardtail and it just wasn't working anymore, due to the pain. I always told myself I would never need a full suspension bike. I finally tried a full Suspension bike and it felt so much better! So, I got an aluminum full squish. Joints get worse and now a full suspension isn't helping as much. Do I need to stop mountain biking? I do some bike demos and decide to try an enduro bike. Wow, what a difference! The trails felt so smooth. Wait! Was it the geometry, suspension travel, frame material, or a combination? I discovered carbon frames feel much better on my joints with the more plush suspension. So, been riding a carbon enduro bike for a few years now and the bike still feels great. To help with the RA in my fingers, I got the AXS derailleur and dropper. Easier to push a button thana lever. What is the point of all this? Point of view changes how one feels about mountain bike products.
@@ameraldas3641 Sucks being that "older" rider. At least people tell me I look younger than I am. Guess that's something. One's thinking changes as you age. See things differently.
I think the point of the video isn't to say that there aren't uses for the particular components, but that the marketing shouldn't push the "cutting edge" technology as the "most premium" (hence being overrated). AKA, just because it is marketed as a more expensive product doesn't necessarily mean it is a better product for the general bike rider.
@mydearriley I can see your point. I guess I don't notice the marketing. Everything I have is based on finding those things on my own and then researching it. The wireless mtb components, as an example, I've never seen a commercial/advertisement or product placement for them. I only saw/read reviews on them till I went out and looked for them.
Totally agree on the electronics. I ditched AXS after about a year because I really prefer wire drive. Your thumb sort of works like a pressure clutch for smoother shifting in my experience!
I went from X01 to GX AXS and now I'm back on X01 ... I didn't like the loud noise and chain flopping around, which I'm guessing it's due to the clutch. I'd get the AXS Reverb dropper if it was *A LOT* cheaper cause I'd like being to take it on and off without having to reconnect the cable.
I guess I agree with you on several of these items, but have had the opposite experience on others. I'm 6'5' and over 200 pounds and used to break aluminum frames regularly,. But, after moving to carbon fiber bikes, have never broken a frame. I've got a couple bikes with AXS and love how smooth and precise the shifting is. I still have cable actuated shifting on other bikes, and although they shift well, it just doesn't feel as responsive to me as the AXS. Like you said, in the end it all comes down to personal experience and preference.
At 180lbs, the 38 is amazing. It's definitely all of the things you've said, but the second I demo'd a bike with the 38 I fell in love with it and bought one immediately. I'm not the most aggressive rider but all I feel are benefits, definitely a 10/10 from me.
I have a hard tail that was made onto a mullet just out of curiosity (front change). Rode the same trail before and after the change. Definitely a Jeckel and Hyde ride for the better. Trail riding in Colorado.
I'm 100% with you on the electronics. For most use cases, the main benefit of an electronic "upgrade" is that the manufacturer's marketing department gets to feel successful.
As someone who has used both cable derailleurs and electronic, today's electronic groupsets are phenomenal and most definitely an upgrade. Have you seen Srams new eagle transmission? C'mon
Personally the AXS dropper was a revelation for me. I can use the dropper on my full suspension bike during summer and then used it to my fat bike during winter. It takes like 5 minute (not even) to swap. The dropper works flawlessly in -20celcius weather.
Love the shit out of mine. Never fussing with cable tension or worn out cables. And I like to kind of micro adjust where I’m at a lot and I never got that from my cabled dropper. Not nearly as well anyway. Not to mention it’s suuuuper fast
Really great stuff Nic, I think all your points are spot on. I just switched from a carbon SJ Evo to an alloy SJ Evo and I'm surprised at how much better I like the ride feel. Regarding forks, I'm a 155 lbs rider and would agree that at my weight there is technically no need for 38mm stanchions, but I love the stiffer feel. Something about it just gives me more confidence to let go of the brakes on the downs.
along the lines of jumping: coming into a berm high and fast, worrying you are on the edge of traction, fighting the compression and then shooting out of the exit is oh so satisfying. And plus that on many lines you need to nail berms to get enough speed for the next jump. so yeah, cornering is underrated
I think the reason behind all that is the availability of tracks though- not whether or not people like it more or less. There simply are no berms or jumps in my area. Coming from motocross that really annoys me... and in some of my local woods you even get fined with a bike.. I am pretty sure that 95% of all sold MTBs here have not been jumped a single time.
you know.. when anyone says they want something but understand 99% of other people might not and then proceeds to give tips about it, they immediately earn my respect and in this case also a subscription.. you're awesome man
Hardtails are most definitely underrated. They sure don't ride the same as a fully, but that doesn't mean it's a worse experience. In fact, since they're a bit less forgiving than fullies, the ride is more challenging and feels more satisfying in the end... To me, at least. I'm not a fan of battery powered electronics on bikes though. On an E-MTB, with everything connected to the same battery, I can see a benefit. But that's about it. I struggle with keeping my front and rear light charged at all times already, so keeping track of even more batteries is an absolute nightmare to me.
I kind of agree with you on the hard tail thing. Modern mountain biking does not appeal to me because the bikes are so capable that you basically have to risk your life to get the same feel you used to get w/ rigids and hard tails on normal trails lol.
For us who grew up on hardtails, they are not underrated since well. We know very well how they ride. Heck, my only mountainbike is still one and I miss my old full suspension bike every time I ride it. ;)
Upgraded my 2022 Trek Roscoe 7 from Shimano MT-200 to Magura HS Trail Sport (4 pistons front, 2 pistons rear, 1 finger brake lever). Fantastic upgrade - I get so much more confidence with them. Also the ergonomics of the brake lever are above and beyond the MT-200. Before my hands kinda cramped up a lot no matter how I adjusted them and now my fingers just rest naturally on the grips and brake levers. With the 1 finger levers braking is really powerful and effortless and that is with the dirt cheap ~8€ 180mm shimano rotors which came on the bike.
Quite a thought provoking video: I've not ridden with electronic components but having built up a new bike in the past year the shifting is SO good that I struggle to imagine how much better electronic shifting can be... so that's a cross in the overrated column from me. Hardtails.... whilst I do have a 'bouncer', most of my bikes are hardtails and it'll be great to see just how differently you ride the trails we see in your videos. I watch your channel with amazement at what you are able to do, so the sooner we see you on a hardtail the better. As for rating a hardtail I sense that most observers look at hardtail riders as a bit strange and probably dont 'get it' so put a cross in the 'underrated' columns just because people dont know what they're missing. Weight... I ride a hardtail, so almost everything else is heavy. Not so long ago a 30lb bike was a heavy one. It feels like that threshold is nearer 40lbs. Whilst spending cash to chase a minor weight saving is a fools errand I do think we've lost sight of the experience of riding a 25-27lb bike so I think bike weight is underrated. Brakes... is our riding style shaped by the type of brakes we use? I'd take a modulated brake and a bigger diameter disc any day over a fierce brake that stopped on a penny but if I'd only ever ridden that type of brake then perhaps my style would be different. Jumping... the ONLY time I'm in the air is a split second before a big crash, so in my world air time is vastly overrated!
What I have found with electronics is that the shift quality isn’t as much of an impact as shift effort and shift reliability, as well as lack of maintenance. The bike shifts the same as it does the day I set it up with electronic. The same can’t be said for cable.
Everything you mentioned is spot on, especially bike weight and carbon frames. My Spire XL aluminum is 37 lbs, and I love riding that bike. The carbon frame bikes I have had I am constantly worried about everything.👍
Why? Carbon is incomparably stronger usually than alu, and much longer lasting too, it isn't prone to metal fatigue. Every test I have ever seen in my life has shown carbon is incomparably more durable and stronger. Also, all bike manufacturers actually do break tests, and impact resistance too, and even some third party companies do that, like german EFBE. Don't believe clueless uneducated myths that alu is stronger in any imaginable way - even impact resistance literally.
Im looking to get a fs in the future, right now im on a 160mm ht, slackish. gotta say i feel like it really is getting me back into riding proper after a decade not riding mtb! Its amazing on how you realize improvement on local/known trails! Personally i feel like tires are underrated.. I consider them a 10/10 factor, cause its such an easy way to change the behavior mig your bike etc
I asked the manager at my LBS today if the GX AXS he had on a particular bike was worth it (because I had read a lot of comments from people saying the price doesn't justify it). He said, "The AXS is the best product SRAM has ever put out. It's (AXS) simply the best derailleur. Wires are too finicky. AXS is smooth." It pisses me off when my LBS bullshits me because he wants to sell an expensive bike. That's why I read online reviews... I can't trust my LBS.
*carbon vs alloy:* agreed *axs:* agreed *weight:* agreed, but all things being equal I'll go lighter *38/Zeb:* I'm 155 lbs and 36 is plenty of travel *hardtail:* amen *brakes:* disagree, love the modulation of RSC *jumping:* it's why I started riding, continue riding mostly bike parks and watch your channel Great video Nick!
It's such a more intimate ride when you're on a hardtail. Makes you really think about your line and forces you to dampen your appendages so you maintain good wheel contact. sweet vid!
Totally, I've been riding for 2 years now and just bought a HT. Found myself losing my feet on a few trails where that's never been an issue with the full suspension, and it's mainly down to line choice and being "lazy" with my legs/feet.
I'm in my mid 50s and brought my nice new hard tail out on my good old trails in the rocky mtns. I returned battered and in some actual pain and realized that I have different bikes for different purposes for real reasons.
I love my alloy hardtail. It's an absolute workhorse that I didn't have to spend a small fortune on. €2500 with all necessary accessories and I've got a bike that can carry me on my 300km+ XC ultramarathons or longer bikepacking tours. On such long rides you often have to jerry-rig some repairs until you get to the nearest bike shop. Aluminium deals with that just fine, carbon might get pissed off if you stare at it wrong. Carbon full-suspension bikes are where bike manufacturers find a lot of room for margins. I, for one, am perfectly happy with that being the case - they effectively subsidize the less popular setups, softening the blow of all the price hikes.
I think these are all fair-didn't even call anything out as bad besides the electronic shifting (which will surely improve). It's always good to step back and think about what we really need to have a good time on a bike.
I got so used to the modulation on my code r. And when I got on a set of SLX brakes on a rental bike I was like a teen learning to drive for the first time.
I completely agree with your take on electronics being overrated. Part of what I like about riding a bike is disconnecting from computers and electronics, and I have enough crap to charge already.
Great choice! I totally agree, my 6yr old got a new bike with better breaks and she instantly said that the better breaks were boosting their confidence. My personal favourite are the formula cura4 breaks. If you like biting breaks try them, they are special. What’s totally underrated for me are small wheels. They give more benefits than advertised like more pump. 29er are good, but not fir everyone or every riding. I want to build a 26 steel ht, so I can do easy trail laps pumptrack laps and dirt jumping and be as playful as in a dj bike.
Before watching: For me personally, I would say underrated are bash guards, and overrated are high engagement hubs haha After watching: I also agree 100% on your alloy vs carbon take. It would be nice to see a lot of brands adopt what Transition has done tbh where they have carbon and alloy versions, and they don't save the carbon bikes for their premium builds...you can get any build in either material
I agree on hubs as far as performance. There's a point of diminishing returns, which is after about 50 points of engagement. If you're going from 36t to 72t, then I do think there's a performance increase, albeit a small one. The reason I have high engagement hubs is cause I like the sound.
If I had a carbon frame it would have been cracked multiple times by now. My stumpy evo alloy is beat to hell but still rides amazing, aluminum all the way! She's 37 or 38 pounds with my magnetic pedals but still makes it up the hills fine and the downhills are what I'm riding for. I've also heard from others that the AXS derailleur jumps around more in the chunk causing noise at the back end. Derailleur with a cable keeps tension and doesn't bounce around as much in chunk.
@@69peterpumpkineater I'm saying my aluminum frame has plenty of battle wounds where a carbon frame would have cracked. Don't think I mentioned anything about being good or Aaron Gwin. Woosh!💨
I agree 100% . I bought an aluminum Enduro fully , spent extra money on the brakes, no electronics. One thing should be mentioned is that carbon is nearly non recyclable. The biggest reason not to buy it. Apparently very few people I have met really care about that.
You should try a vorsprung smash pot coil kit on that zeb you’d be surprised how much more plus, mid stroke support and small bump compliance it adds it’s really amazing system benefits the heavy riders
I ride an aluminum bike, no dropper post, routinely ride 25-30 mile cross country single tracks and I have a blast. Those accessories you mentioned are nice, but for me, not needed.
5'8 175lbs. Absolutely love my Fox 38. I live and ride in the North East in the US. Pretty much all of our trails are covered in big chunky rocks. The extra stiffness of the 38 feels so good plowing through them all. I can definitely see it being overkill if you live in an area with mostly smooth trails though.
I agree with everything you mentioned but with one big big exception. My old dropper wore out so was all set to buy a Fox Transfer or better. I read a review out of the blue that mentioned the PNW Loam dropper. No one talks about it. It was half the price of the Transfer and it’s been absolutely flawless. I ride 5 days a week on average from April thru September. Much less before and after that window. Maybe I got lucky but am so surprised. Additionally you can adjust its “slide out” speed to your liking. Lastly my original dropper that came with the bike was 150mm. The max that fits the frame. The PNW is 170mm and has the exact same outer form factor but because of compact internal design bought me 20mm more. I’m 180 and ride hard. The exception is my Eagle GX AXS derailleur. I’m hard on my bikes. No matter what previous derailleur I had it would be clicking and annoying me every couple weeks. It always happened during a ride from small impacts. I HATE a derailleur that isn’t perfect. I’m normally an anti-electronics guy when it comes to riding, fishing, hunting. Anything outdoors. I was dubious when buying the AXS. Got it after 6 months of first introduction. Very expensive for me. But it too has been flawless. Absolutely precise shifting EVERY time. Under load going uphill MUCH BETTER. I had to adjust it once - due to a grazing rock impact. Forgot how to do it. Got the instructions from my phone. Micro-adjusted it from the lever. Whole thing took 2 minutes. No riding with a clicking derailleur for the next 3 hours. Only adjustment I ever made in 2 years. Battery easily lasts 3 weeks on a charge riding 5 days a week (Temps never near freezing. No idea how it works in brutally cold weather). Again more than impressed. My guess is you somehow got a defective AXS derailleur. I’ll never go back to a cable.
I used to think that about 38mm forks.... until I got one and the difference is HUGE! my riding got way better because I can trust more on the front end of my bike, but I think is needed mostly with 170-180 travel forks, maybe for 160 or less can be overrated.
For me jumping on a bike is super fun! And i think jumping skills are also make you more confident on every trail. When you can pump and jump over some of the features.
235lb of steel worker meat here - It definitely feels like we're playing a different game here. Zeb up front and a DH shock out back for every damn bike
Having worked as a mechanic at a shop, I could not agree more with this video. The industry pushes so many unnecessary things that don't have a lot of benefit, especially people just getting started riding any kind of bike. Clipless pedals, overrated. Internal cable routing? Electronics? Really? Some things like tubeless are great, but it has tradeoffs of course like anything else. There is so much push to "be like the pros". The pros don't pay for their equipment! It's a completely different ball game than somebody buying their own bike to have fun.
Another great video! For me jumping is underrated for sure! I turn 44 this week and my goal for the upcoming season is to put time into learning to jump... better / with more confidence. I'm not talking levelling up to the moon booter but being able to do a top to bottom on runs Ridden Art, Garbage / Rip n' Dip / KK, Giant Killer, Hoots without being sketched out. I think the jumping skills would also help on the technical trails like Deliverance. I love the trail but there are still 1/2 spots where I walk around because the drop has me feeling uncomfortable. I think I am also going to up my Warden to the 175mm coil with Zebb fork. I'm also a heavyweight rider ;)
My Fox 34 ran out of life and I put a 2023 Pike w a 150 air spring on my bike... 35 mm stanchions. It is perfect for my Stumpjumper. Gained 10 mm travel wo changing the head angle much and the fork is a super light and stiff. I am really impressed. Have been on Fox for 20 years, But SRAM taking control of Rock Shox has leveled the playing field. Great advice in this vid about starting on a hardtail or mixing in hardtail riding if possible. Jumping is fun but dangerous. That is why many avoid it unless the trail demands it. Injuries keep you off the bike, and you will have injuries while learning to jump. All it takes is a wind gust, mechanical, or just getting sketched out... hospital. All that being said, I send the jump line every time at my local trail. Lol.
I agree on so many points... Hardtail (lover my Canfield Nimble 9 and so different riding than my Ripmo), weight, bigger forks, electronics... Excellent video!
As for the ZEB and the 38 I am a lighter rider at 150lbs and I still find great improvements over their 35mm or 36mm counterparts. That being said I am a very competitive enduro and DH racer and I’m going to compete in the DH World Cup Level. I find that when the speed gets higher especially when cornering through a rut or rough things it is much easier to trust the predictability. I also feel at the have less friction making the compression adjust much more noticeable as the flex and friction is lower. When things get chunky I find that the lyric for example can feel like the stanchions flex and crest unnecessary friction causing me to use much less compression damping. Overall I love the 38 mm stanchions and believe they are a great upgrade for any aggressive rider.
I have two Easton aluminum hockey shafts from the 90s that a still play pond with, dents, ding and all. On the flip side I usually go through 2 to 3 composite sticks in a season. That said I'll never use carbon bars or cranks, nor will I purchase a bike with a carbon frame.
I feel like electronic shifting could be super rad, something like auto trim and changing derailleur design to be more robust while taking advantage of the electronics, or adding a magnetic clutch that disengages for shifting with adjustable stiffness. Alas that has not happened. Maybe also getting a little energy from the wheels so batteries last longer
I've ridden supper snappy On/Off feeling saint breaks before. My new bike has Codes on it but I've noticed that on codes you can make them feel more like shimano by adjusting the bite point and by putting the lever further from the bar
I broke my left hand a number of years ago; I find the axs seatpost controller on my xc bike a lot easier to use, especially after several hours or in the cold. I feel the same about electronic shifting for the front derailleur, grx di2, on my gravel bike. Again reducing left hand fatigue over a 2-6+ hour event. However, not a fan of AXS 1x12 on the big bike. Cable X01, or even better XT, you can feel what is happening with the shift from the handlebar. Cable is lighter and more bikes are fully guided internal shift housing now. Also BC eats bikes, not trying to replace an AXS derailleur every six months.
I have to agree with you on underrating brake preference. I use to do the same and ride what ever brake my bike came with. Them I got some TRP and cant ride with anything else. It makes me nervous and twitchy when I don't know exactly how my bike will react.
I like feeling the end of my cassette range when I’m shifting at the mechanical lever. I find on the electronic crap I keep clicking when I’m suffering in a climb and hoping I have another gear 😂
I’m 160ibs with a Zeb. When I’m riding dh (shout out windrock) with very harsh breaking bumps and square edge rocks at high speeds the Zeb feels great. In my general trail riding on the same bike I don’t notice the benefits but I don’t feel drawbacks either so I would still say it is worth running the big fork
The advantage AXS has for the derailer is not having a wire that stretches over time, and a housing that gets gunked up causing more friction over time. Having a non-stretched wire and a clean housing is key for good shifting. With AXS you can dial in each gear and get it shifting perfect. The draw back is the battery. I currently have a wired X01 and I'm always having to adjust the barrel for specific gears to get rid of clicking or to get it to shift up and down better. AXS doesn't need the constant adjustment. The AXS dropper is 100% overrated, as long as the post goes up/down it doesnt matter what you run. If you aren't gonna race a bike, weight doesn't matter, and neither does frame material. Aluminum is cheaper and you can get 99% of the same geo as carbon and not affect performance.
Well, I'd say it's an advantage in name mostly, you could argue that while wires stretch and housing can gunk batteries also die and electronics can get fried, the price of replacing those being way higher. Although I'm an old fart who likes friction shifters so take it with a grain of salt.
Looking forward to the hardtail content! I like my axs derailleur, but I equally like the cable shifters as well. BUT, I would LOVE if the wireless droppers came down in price. I’ve had a few irritating times running cable or getting the feel of the lever just right, grease all over my hands. I would absolutely love to ditch the cable for a dropper
Nobody ever talks about wheels. Wheels are a mystery to me. I recently put a super old 26 wtb from an old bike of mine on my kids bike and made him a mullet. He crushes on a 13 yo wheel. I cannot explain why it works so well.
Jumping bikes about took me out but now it's when I feel the most alive!! Can agree with you on pretty much all of this except for those Shimano stoppers lol. Fun Video!!
I have gx axs. I'm running it with an x01 cassette and xx1 chain. It shifts flawlessly even under load. I love having no cable and I like the feel of the shifter. I haven't charged the battery in a month and it' still at 50%. It adds weight compared to the cable actuated derailleur but I have it on an aluminum hardtail so weight really was never a concern. I would buy the axs dropper in a heartbeat if it was on sale. I love wireless stuff on bikes.
Same here, got the gx axs and it shift flawlessly. Batteries last a long time plus I always carry a spare, but never had to use it. There's no way I ever go back to cable.
Me too. I have GX AXS and really like it. Wife has DI2 and that's great too. I've run all kinds of groupsets and I'm not looking to go back to wired xtr or xo.
Totally agree on the electronics. I also swapped - from XX1 AXS to M9100 and in never regret that move! On the other hand, on a roadbike i am totally sold to AXS. Having Red AXS on a fully integrated handlebar/stem combo is so pleasing. The shifting without big dirt and moist is so nice... But on an enduro or trailbike is so much needed especially when you are on weektrips in the Alps! With the Brakes. I would suggest TRICKSTUFF Brakes. Those Diretissima are so nuts. The anker is a joy, also for us over 200 pounds ;-)
I bought an on one hello dave hardtail after i kept breaking my orbea occam frame and its honestly been amazing. I like to ride a lot of tech and jump lines here in the UK and my technique has improved so much. After I got used to the lack of suspension the geometry makes it so much better than the orbea so would definitely recommend. Also would definitely avoid buying an alloy occam if youre looking at one, the frame is super flexy and i snapped the shock mounting bolt 3 times which eventually bent the frame.
the carbon one has the same problem with the shock bolts, better to use the occam for light trail riding and xc because that thing ain't holding up to any abuse😂
At 6'1 and 220 lb rider weight, I immediately could feel a difference in out of the saddle pedaling. You want some flex in a fork, but the 34 mm forks just felt flimsy. The new lyrik is fantastic, stiffer than a Fox 36 for sure.
I ride a stumpjumper alloy and agree with you on weight for enduro bikes. A slightly heavier bike makes it a bit more stable on uneven terrain. Like using a sledgehammer vs a machinists hammer
Personally I really found that you're totally right about the fact that you don't need a 38 but that if you are riding really aggressive north shore terrain the idea of extra stiffness and heavier more durable bikes makes sense
I like using AXS on road bikes because the perfect shifting is really useful during races and when you really want your shifting to work under load and smoothly without problem, but for mountain bikes cable is fine, AXS isn't really a priority.
The RUclips algorithm suggested this, so even though I don't ride mountain bikes, here I am. I'm answering with regard to road bikes, but the points are mostly still relevant: Carbon frames, electronics, lightness for lightness' sake, and disc brakes are all overrated. To your list I'll add aerodynamic efficiency and integrated cabling. All of these have their place, but they are not the end all and be all of cycling they are often touted to be.
The Hardtail part kind of hit close to home, since riding them too hard destroyed my ankles and I'll probably never be able to ride a HT or DJ again ever. But yeah - extremely underrated, just try not to case any jumps lol.
Nailed it! Especially super light bikes. Even "pro" reviewers, the first info they give when they review a bike is the weight 🤦♂ Hence why many enduro bikes come with light tires, which many times become waste.
I think there is something about the bigger stanchions that just helps mentally. I am on a Trek Slash with a Lyric, and it just doesn’t feel as beefy as even a 36.
I’m a light rider (70kg) and the change to zebs from lyrics is huge .. either in my head or not. (Both running smashpot coils both rc2 2.1 charger) The zebs were on sale and in the right offset which was a large part of me getting them (my son stole my lyriks) I’ve had older 36’s as well and the 38mm forks are in a different league
if you want a wireless dropper because of doing tricks or just be able to change your seatpost to a no dropper quick when you want to go to a bikepark then use a magura mds v3
I agree especially with the frame material and stanchion diameters, fork manufacturers are just trying to get them stiffer and stiffer all the time but I think smaller stanchion diameter is better with bit of flex and less vibrations coming thru handlebars🤔
Brakes. Brakes are one of the most underrated part to upgrade. Everyone just rides what came on their bike and brake feel makes such a difference. I’m like you I ride the codes but don’t like them. I like the more bite feel but my best riding buddy loves the codes and thinks Shimanos throw you over the bars. That’s why they make different stuff. Don’t be afraid to try new things just cause someone else likes something different. Even try some odd brands like magura, trp, or hope. You never know what you are gonna like and what you do like might surprise you. Brakes you like are a game changer!
yea i am 140 and i feel that i have to run lower pressures on big station forks. I run 87-90psi on a 120mm 30mm manitou marchor and 70 for a 180mm 38mm zeb. it can also be the different travel sizes as well.
For me there's reliability in simplicity. A bike is a very mechanical object, and over complicating components can make things difficult when going to service them and or replace them if they become damaged. I also agree on the point of being too light. In my opinion that doesn't matter. I've seen so many people in videos talking about super small components like pedals and derailleurs that don't weigh much at all, but they NEED the lightest ones to help reduce weight. Like if your pedals are stopping you from hitting your bike weight goals there's a problem haha
Learning how to do basic maintenance… super underrated
I’m blown away by how many people bring their bikes to the shop for basic things like changing brake pads, changing tires, adding sealant, etc
This!
And even simple things like fasten screws
good for the bike shops because they make easy money and they can pay their staff
Sometimes we just want to go to the bike shop to have a chat about bikes or check out new things and use that as an excuse
Went on a ride with a fellow who had a horribly squeaking chain. I offered up my tiny bottle of "emergency" lube, and he didn't want it. He was planning to take it to the shop soon, so he was going to have them do that. WTF?! It sounds like he just takes his bike in for a basic tuneup every couple hundred miles. If he was some rich SOB it would be one thing, but he was blue collar working in a flour mill.
I love hardtails. The good looks, the simplicity…and the direct surge forward when you stand up and apply power is exhilarating and addicting
100% agree. I converted both of mine to single speed and it’s even more fun.
I agree, but I may be biased 😜
me too, but even more i like to ride the hardtail one day and the enduro the other day. same trail, different styles.
hardtails are for poor people.
@@michaelxcx idiot, what happened to common sense and being respectful
I'm so glad you mentioned carbon vs aluminum. I had aluminum, then carbon, then went back to aluminum. Not because I cracked a frame, but because I actually just like riding aluminum bikes.
Just twice as heavy😊
@@mountaincruiser817 bruh is like 3-5 pounds heavier not twice.
I have zero complaints about aluminum rims and frames... except I break them. I'm over 200 lbs, raced DH and Enduro at the expert level and in my experience carbon is just much stronger and more durable. Honestly I don't care much about the weight or flex (aluminum has alot more) but I need wheels and frames that last.
@@paulwintermute1495 Carbon is more durable?
@@paulwintermute1495 more flexible yes, but we can debate the durable part.
Agreed Hardtails are definitely underrated. Carbon bikes overrated.
I think carbon frames are properly rated - mostly because I race XC. I remember the time I raced on my friend’s borrowed carbon hardtail I was just blown away at the difference it made. I was finally able to really compete in highschool. Carbon weight saving helped me do that
Agree, even besides raw performance light weight bikes are inspiring.
I think everything can have a reason to be either underrated or overrated. Just an individual point of view. I've been mountain biking since the late 80's, so I was on a full rigid bike. Suspension forks came out and I thought they were overrated, expensive and uneeded. Years went by and I discovered they actually helped. Fast forward a couple of decades and now I have rheumatoid arthritis. Riding was hurting a lot. I was on a hardtail and it just wasn't working anymore, due to the pain. I always told myself I would never need a full suspension bike. I finally tried a full Suspension bike and it felt so much better! So, I got an aluminum full squish. Joints get worse and now a full suspension isn't helping as much. Do I need to stop mountain biking? I do some bike demos and decide to try an enduro bike. Wow, what a difference! The trails felt so smooth. Wait! Was it the geometry, suspension travel, frame material, or a combination? I discovered carbon frames feel much better on my joints with the more plush suspension. So, been riding a carbon enduro bike for a few years now and the bike still feels great. To help with the RA in my fingers, I got the AXS derailleur and dropper. Easier to push a button thana lever. What is the point of all this? Point of view changes how one feels about mountain bike products.
I know some older riders who have gotten axs for the same reasons as you. like you say its a matter of perspective.
@@ameraldas3641 Sucks being that "older" rider. At least people tell me I look younger than I am. Guess that's something. One's thinking changes as you age. See things differently.
I think the point of the video isn't to say that there aren't uses for the particular components, but that the marketing shouldn't push the "cutting edge" technology as the "most premium" (hence being overrated).
AKA, just because it is marketed as a more expensive product doesn't necessarily mean it is a better product for the general bike rider.
@mydearriley I can see your point. I guess I don't notice the marketing. Everything I have is based on finding those things on my own and then researching it. The wireless mtb components, as an example, I've never seen a commercial/advertisement or product placement for them. I only saw/read reviews on them till I went out and looked for them.
Braking bumps on a hardnose hardtail 80’s mtb days….I never want to go back there!
Totally agree on the electronics. I ditched AXS after about a year because I really prefer wire drive. Your thumb sort of works like a pressure clutch for smoother shifting in my experience!
I went from X01 to GX AXS and now I'm back on X01 ... I didn't like the loud noise and chain flopping around, which I'm guessing it's due to the clutch. I'd get the AXS Reverb dropper if it was *A LOT* cheaper cause I'd like being to take it on and off without having to reconnect the cable.
@@topspot4834 definitely the noise on axis, my buddy rides it and it just sounds like squirrels humping or something 😂
100% 👍Analogue FTW. I also studied electronics engineering and know how temperamental they can be.
E-MTB are underrated
I guess I agree with you on several of these items, but have had the opposite experience on others. I'm 6'5' and over 200 pounds and used to break aluminum frames regularly,. But, after moving to carbon fiber bikes, have never broken a frame.
I've got a couple bikes with AXS and love how smooth and precise the shifting is. I still have cable actuated shifting on other bikes, and although they shift well, it just doesn't feel as responsive to me as the AXS.
Like you said, in the end it all comes down to personal experience and preference.
At 180lbs, the 38 is amazing. It's definitely all of the things you've said, but the second I demo'd a bike with the 38 I fell in love with it and bought one immediately. I'm not the most aggressive rider but all I feel are benefits, definitely a 10/10 from me.
Way less arm pump with 36. Never Zeb again Even in 60 lb ebike
Hardtails- underrated! Excited to hear that you’re getting a hardtail. Love to see more hardtail riding on the shore.
Ride with me! 😜
@@HardtailLife I wish I could but I live in NYC. Someday when I visit the Shore we can ride together. However, I do watch your videos.
@@scoutingwithanthony One day!
I have a hard tail that was made onto a mullet just out of curiosity (front change). Rode the same trail before and after the change. Definitely a Jeckel and Hyde ride for the better. Trail riding in Colorado.
I'm 100% with you on the electronics. For most use cases, the main benefit of an electronic "upgrade" is that the manufacturer's marketing department gets to feel successful.
As someone who has used both cable derailleurs and electronic, today's electronic groupsets are phenomenal and most definitely an upgrade. Have you seen Srams new eagle transmission? C'mon
@@michaelstape5437 Seen it, definitely don't need it. C'mon.
Personally the AXS dropper was a revelation for me. I can use the dropper on my full suspension bike during summer and then used it to my fat bike during winter. It takes like 5 minute (not even) to swap. The dropper works flawlessly in -20celcius weather.
Love the shit out of mine. Never fussing with cable tension or worn out cables. And I like to kind of micro adjust where I’m at a lot and I never got that from my cabled dropper. Not nearly as well anyway. Not to mention it’s suuuuper fast
but you could by probably 4 descent droppers for a price of one AXS. or only 2 but great and definitely lighter and have some spare cash..😄
Really great stuff Nic, I think all your points are spot on. I just switched from a carbon SJ Evo to an alloy SJ Evo and I'm surprised at how much better I like the ride feel. Regarding forks, I'm a 155 lbs rider and would agree that at my weight there is technically no need for 38mm stanchions, but I love the stiffer feel. Something about it just gives me more confidence to let go of the brakes on the downs.
along the lines of jumping: coming into a berm high and fast, worrying you are on the edge of traction, fighting the compression and then shooting out of the exit is oh so satisfying. And plus that on many lines you need to nail berms to get enough speed for the next jump. so yeah, cornering is underrated
I think the reason behind all that is the availability of tracks though- not whether or not people like it more or less. There simply are no berms or jumps in my area. Coming from motocross that really annoys me... and in some of my local woods you even get fined with a bike.. I am pretty sure that 95% of all sold MTBs here have not been jumped a single time.
you know.. when anyone says they want something but understand 99% of other people might not and then proceeds to give tips about it, they immediately earn my respect and in this case also a subscription.. you're awesome man
Hardtails are most definitely underrated. They sure don't ride the same as a fully, but that doesn't mean it's a worse experience. In fact, since they're a bit less forgiving than fullies, the ride is more challenging and feels more satisfying in the end... To me, at least.
I'm not a fan of battery powered electronics on bikes though. On an E-MTB, with everything connected to the same battery, I can see a benefit. But that's about it. I struggle with keeping my front and rear light charged at all times already, so keeping track of even more batteries is an absolute nightmare to me.
I kind of agree with you on the hard tail thing. Modern mountain biking does not appeal to me because the bikes are so capable that you basically have to risk your life to get the same feel you used to get w/ rigids and hard tails on normal trails lol.
For us who grew up on hardtails, they are not underrated since well. We know very well how they ride. Heck, my only mountainbike is still one and I miss my old full suspension bike every time I ride it. ;)
@@ostankovalex1176 Why do you not like trail bikes? Just curious.
Upgraded my 2022 Trek Roscoe 7 from Shimano MT-200 to Magura HS Trail Sport (4 pistons front, 2 pistons rear, 1 finger brake lever). Fantastic upgrade - I get so much more confidence with them. Also the ergonomics of the brake lever are above and beyond the MT-200. Before my hands kinda cramped up a lot no matter how I adjusted them and now my fingers just rest naturally on the grips and brake levers. With the 1 finger levers braking is really powerful and effortless and that is with the dirt cheap ~8€ 180mm shimano rotors which came on the bike.
Quite a thought provoking video: I've not ridden with electronic components but having built up a new bike in the past year the shifting is SO good that I struggle to imagine how much better electronic shifting can be... so that's a cross in the overrated column from me. Hardtails.... whilst I do have a 'bouncer', most of my bikes are hardtails and it'll be great to see just how differently you ride the trails we see in your videos. I watch your channel with amazement at what you are able to do, so the sooner we see you on a hardtail the better. As for rating a hardtail I sense that most observers look at hardtail riders as a bit strange and probably dont 'get it' so put a cross in the 'underrated' columns just because people dont know what they're missing. Weight... I ride a hardtail, so almost everything else is heavy. Not so long ago a 30lb bike was a heavy one. It feels like that threshold is nearer 40lbs. Whilst spending cash to chase a minor weight saving is a fools errand I do think we've lost sight of the experience of riding a 25-27lb bike so I think bike weight is underrated. Brakes... is our riding style shaped by the type of brakes we use? I'd take a modulated brake and a bigger diameter disc any day over a fierce brake that stopped on a penny but if I'd only ever ridden that type of brake then perhaps my style would be different. Jumping... the ONLY time I'm in the air is a split second before a big crash, so in my world air time is vastly overrated!
What I have found with electronics is that the shift quality isn’t as much of an impact as shift effort and shift reliability, as well as lack of maintenance. The bike shifts the same as it does the day I set it up with electronic. The same can’t be said for cable.
Everything you mentioned is spot on, especially bike weight and carbon frames. My Spire XL aluminum is 37 lbs, and I love riding that bike. The carbon frame bikes I have had I am constantly worried about everything.👍
Why? Carbon is incomparably stronger usually than alu, and much longer lasting too, it isn't prone to metal fatigue. Every test I have ever seen in my life has shown carbon is incomparably more durable and stronger. Also, all bike manufacturers actually do break tests, and impact resistance too, and even some third party companies do that, like german EFBE. Don't believe clueless uneducated myths that alu is stronger in any imaginable way - even impact resistance literally.
Im looking to get a fs in the future, right now im on a 160mm ht, slackish. gotta say i feel like it really is getting me back into riding proper after a decade not riding mtb! Its amazing on how you realize improvement on local/known trails!
Personally i feel like tires are underrated.. I consider them a 10/10 factor, cause its such an easy way to change the behavior mig your bike etc
I asked the manager at my LBS today if the GX AXS he had on a particular bike was worth it (because I had read a lot of comments from people saying the price doesn't justify it). He said, "The AXS is the best product SRAM has ever put out. It's (AXS) simply the best derailleur. Wires are too finicky. AXS is smooth."
It pisses me off when my LBS bullshits me because he wants to sell an expensive bike. That's why I read online reviews... I can't trust my LBS.
*carbon vs alloy:* agreed
*axs:* agreed
*weight:* agreed, but all things being equal I'll go lighter
*38/Zeb:* I'm 155 lbs and 36 is plenty of travel
*hardtail:* amen
*brakes:* disagree, love the modulation of RSC
*jumping:* it's why I started riding, continue riding mostly bike parks and watch your channel
Great video Nick!
It's such a more intimate ride when you're on a hardtail. Makes you really think about your line and forces you to dampen your appendages so you maintain good wheel contact. sweet vid!
Totally, I've been riding for 2 years now and just bought a HT. Found myself losing my feet on a few trails where that's never been an issue with the full suspension, and it's mainly down to line choice and being "lazy" with my legs/feet.
Try riding a rigid SS hard tail…awesome
I'm in my mid 50s and brought my nice new hard tail out on my good old trails in the rocky mtns. I returned battered and in some actual pain and realized that I have different bikes for different purposes for real reasons.
And shreds your asshole.
I love my alloy hardtail. It's an absolute workhorse that I didn't have to spend a small fortune on. €2500 with all necessary accessories and I've got a bike that can carry me on my 300km+ XC ultramarathons or longer bikepacking tours. On such long rides you often have to jerry-rig some repairs until you get to the nearest bike shop. Aluminium deals with that just fine, carbon might get pissed off if you stare at it wrong.
Carbon full-suspension bikes are where bike manufacturers find a lot of room for margins. I, for one, am perfectly happy with that being the case - they effectively subsidize the less popular setups, softening the blow of all the price hikes.
I think these are all fair-didn't even call anything out as bad besides the electronic shifting (which will surely improve). It's always good to step back and think about what we really need to have a good time on a bike.
The piece of gear that made the BIGGEST difference in my riding is the squat rack and barbell in my basement. 😄
I got so used to the modulation on my code r. And when I got on a set of SLX brakes on a rental bike I was like a teen learning to drive for the first time.
I completely agree with your take on electronics being overrated. Part of what I like about riding a bike is disconnecting from computers and electronics, and I have enough crap to charge already.
Great choice! I totally agree, my 6yr old got a new bike with better breaks and she instantly said that the better breaks were boosting their confidence. My personal favourite are the formula cura4 breaks. If you like biting breaks try them, they are special.
What’s totally underrated for me are small wheels. They give more benefits than advertised like more pump. 29er are good, but not fir everyone or every riding. I want to build a 26 steel ht, so I can do easy trail laps pumptrack laps and dirt jumping and be as playful as in a dj bike.
Before watching: For me personally, I would say underrated are bash guards, and overrated are high engagement hubs haha
After watching: I also agree 100% on your alloy vs carbon take. It would be nice to see a lot of brands adopt what Transition has done tbh where they have carbon and alloy versions, and they don't save the carbon bikes for their premium builds...you can get any build in either material
I agree on hubs as far as performance. There's a point of diminishing returns, which is after about 50 points of engagement. If you're going from 36t to 72t, then I do think there's a performance increase, albeit a small one.
The reason I have high engagement hubs is cause I like the sound.
I'd say bash guards are underrated but at the same time overpriced.
@@topspot4834 Yep, I'm the same way (re-sound)
I’d disagree about quick engagement hubs. Wheelies are so much easier to initiate with quick engagement hubs….
When i first got a dropper i found it the most useful thing ever
If I had a carbon frame it would have been cracked multiple times by now. My stumpy evo alloy is beat to hell but still rides amazing, aluminum all the way! She's 37 or 38 pounds with my magnetic pedals but still makes it up the hills fine and the downhills are what I'm riding for. I've also heard from others that the AXS derailleur jumps around more in the chunk causing noise at the back end. Derailleur with a cable keeps tension and doesn't bounce around as much in chunk.
@@69peterpumpkineater I'm saying my aluminum frame has plenty of battle wounds where a carbon frame would have cracked. Don't think I mentioned anything about being good or Aaron Gwin. Woosh!💨
I agree 100% . I bought an aluminum Enduro fully , spent extra money on the brakes, no electronics. One thing should be mentioned is that carbon is nearly non recyclable. The biggest reason not to buy it. Apparently very few people I have met really care about that.
Hardtails are underrated. I've got 4 and love em. I probably don't need four, but I sold my fs to explore hardtails further.
You should try a vorsprung smash pot coil kit on that zeb you’d be surprised how much more plus, mid stroke support and small bump compliance it adds it’s really amazing system benefits the heavy riders
I ride an aluminum bike, no dropper post, routinely ride 25-30 mile cross country single tracks and I have a blast. Those accessories you mentioned are nice, but for me, not needed.
5'8 175lbs. Absolutely love my Fox 38. I live and ride in the North East in the US. Pretty much all of our trails are covered in big chunky rocks. The extra stiffness of the 38 feels so good plowing through them all. I can definitely see it being overkill if you live in an area with mostly smooth trails though.
I agree with everything you mentioned but with one big big exception. My old dropper wore out so was all set to buy a Fox Transfer or better. I read a review out of the blue that mentioned the PNW Loam dropper. No one talks about it. It was half the price of the Transfer and it’s been absolutely flawless. I ride 5 days a week on average from April thru September. Much less before and after that window. Maybe I got lucky but am so surprised. Additionally you can adjust its “slide out” speed to your liking. Lastly my original dropper that came with the bike was 150mm. The max that fits the frame. The PNW is 170mm and has the exact same outer form factor but because of compact internal design bought me 20mm more. I’m 180 and ride hard. The exception is my Eagle GX AXS derailleur. I’m hard on my bikes. No matter what previous derailleur I had it would be clicking and annoying me every couple weeks. It always happened during a ride from small impacts. I HATE a derailleur that isn’t perfect. I’m normally an anti-electronics guy when it comes to riding, fishing, hunting. Anything outdoors. I was dubious when buying the AXS. Got it after 6 months of first introduction. Very expensive for me. But it too has been flawless. Absolutely precise shifting EVERY time. Under load going uphill MUCH BETTER. I had to adjust it once - due to a grazing rock impact. Forgot how to do it. Got the instructions from my phone. Micro-adjusted it from the lever. Whole thing took 2 minutes. No riding with a clicking derailleur for the next 3 hours. Only adjustment I ever made in 2 years. Battery easily lasts 3 weeks on a charge riding 5 days a week (Temps never near freezing. No idea how it works in brutally cold weather). Again more than impressed. My guess is you somehow got a defective AXS derailleur. I’ll never go back to a cable.
I used to think that about 38mm forks.... until I got one and the difference is HUGE! my riding got way better because I can trust more on the front end of my bike, but I think is needed mostly with 170-180 travel forks, maybe for 160 or less can be overrated.
For me jumping on a bike is super fun! And i think jumping skills are also make you more confident on every trail. When you can pump and jump over some of the features.
235lb of steel worker meat here - It definitely feels like we're playing a different game here. Zeb up front and a DH shock out back for every damn bike
Having worked as a mechanic at a shop, I could not agree more with this video. The industry pushes so many unnecessary things that don't have a lot of benefit, especially people just getting started riding any kind of bike. Clipless pedals, overrated. Internal cable routing? Electronics? Really? Some things like tubeless are great, but it has tradeoffs of course like anything else. There is so much push to "be like the pros". The pros don't pay for their equipment! It's a completely different ball game than somebody buying their own bike to have fun.
I would love to see more hardtail bike content. Jumping the hardtail too would be a plus in my book.
Another great video! For me jumping is underrated for sure!
I turn 44 this week and my goal for the upcoming season is to put time into learning to jump... better / with more confidence. I'm not talking levelling up to the moon booter but being able to do a top to bottom on runs Ridden Art, Garbage / Rip n' Dip / KK, Giant Killer, Hoots without being sketched out.
I think the jumping skills would also help on the technical trails like Deliverance. I love the trail but there are still 1/2 spots where I walk around because the drop has me feeling uncomfortable.
I think I am also going to up my Warden to the 175mm coil with Zebb fork. I'm also a heavyweight rider ;)
Bought a Norco Torrent hardtail after riding a carbon Optic for a few years. Its so much dang fun that I sold the optic.
My Fox 34 ran out of life and I put a 2023 Pike w a 150 air spring on my bike... 35 mm stanchions. It is perfect for my Stumpjumper. Gained 10 mm travel wo changing the head angle much and the fork is a super light and stiff. I am really impressed. Have been on Fox for 20 years, But SRAM taking control of Rock Shox has leveled the playing field. Great advice in this vid about starting on a hardtail or mixing in hardtail riding if possible.
Jumping is fun but dangerous. That is why many avoid it unless the trail demands it. Injuries keep you off the bike, and you will have injuries while learning to jump. All it takes is a wind gust, mechanical, or just getting sketched out... hospital. All that being said, I send the jump line every time at my local trail. Lol.
I agree on so many points... Hardtail (lover my Canfield Nimble 9 and so different riding than my Ripmo), weight, bigger forks, electronics... Excellent video!
As for the ZEB and the 38 I am a lighter rider at 150lbs and I still find great improvements over their 35mm or 36mm counterparts. That being said I am a very competitive enduro and DH racer and I’m going to compete in the DH World Cup Level. I find that when the speed gets higher especially when cornering through a rut or rough things it is much easier to trust the predictability. I also feel at the have less friction making the compression adjust much more noticeable as the flex and friction is lower. When things get chunky I find that the lyric for example can feel like the stanchions flex and crest unnecessary friction causing me to use much less compression damping. Overall I love the 38 mm stanchions and believe they are a great upgrade for any aggressive rider.
I have two Easton aluminum hockey shafts from the 90s that a still play pond with, dents, ding and all. On the flip side I usually go through 2 to 3 composite sticks in a season. That said I'll never use carbon bars or cranks, nor will I purchase a bike with a carbon frame.
I feel like electronic shifting could be super rad, something like auto trim and changing derailleur design to be more robust while taking advantage of the electronics, or adding a magnetic clutch that disengages for shifting with adjustable stiffness. Alas that has not happened. Maybe also getting a little energy from the wheels so batteries last longer
I've ridden supper snappy On/Off feeling saint breaks before. My new bike has Codes on it but I've noticed that on codes you can make them feel more like shimano by adjusting the bite point and by putting the lever further from the bar
Ive got my self a custom enduro hardtail with a 180 zeb ultimate and i love it
I broke my left hand a number of years ago; I find the axs seatpost controller on my xc bike a lot easier to use, especially after several hours or in the cold. I feel the same about electronic shifting for the front derailleur, grx di2, on my gravel bike. Again reducing left hand fatigue over a 2-6+ hour event.
However, not a fan of AXS 1x12 on the big bike. Cable X01, or even better XT, you can feel what is happening with the shift from the handlebar. Cable is lighter and more bikes are fully guided internal shift housing now. Also BC eats bikes, not trying to replace an AXS derailleur every six months.
I have to agree with you on underrating brake preference. I use to do the same and ride what ever brake my bike came with. Them I got some TRP and cant ride with anything else. It makes me nervous and twitchy when I don't know exactly how my bike will react.
I like feeling the end of my cassette range when I’m shifting at the mechanical lever. I find on the electronic crap I keep clicking when I’m suffering in a climb and hoping I have another gear 😂
I’m 160ibs with a Zeb. When I’m riding dh (shout out windrock) with very harsh breaking bumps and square edge rocks at high speeds the Zeb feels great. In my general trail riding on the same bike I don’t notice the benefits but I don’t feel drawbacks either so I would still say it is worth running the big fork
I love jumping my Commencal with Shimano brakes and no electronics, so this video jives with me and puts me in a happy place.
The advantage AXS has for the derailer is not having a wire that stretches over time, and a housing that gets gunked up causing more friction over time. Having a non-stretched wire and a clean housing is key for good shifting. With AXS you can dial in each gear and get it shifting perfect. The draw back is the battery. I currently have a wired X01 and I'm always having to adjust the barrel for specific gears to get rid of clicking or to get it to shift up and down better. AXS doesn't need the constant adjustment. The AXS dropper is 100% overrated, as long as the post goes up/down it doesnt matter what you run. If you aren't gonna race a bike, weight doesn't matter, and neither does frame material. Aluminum is cheaper and you can get 99% of the same geo as carbon and not affect performance.
Keep a second battery in your bag.
Well, I'd say it's an advantage in name mostly, you could argue that while wires stretch and housing can gunk batteries also die and electronics can get fried, the price of replacing those being way higher.
Although I'm an old fart who likes friction shifters so take it with a grain of salt.
Looking forward to the hardtail content! I like my axs derailleur, but I equally like the cable shifters as well. BUT, I would LOVE if the wireless droppers came down in price. I’ve had a few irritating times running cable or getting the feel of the lever just right, grease all over my hands. I would absolutely love to ditch the cable for a dropper
Nobody ever talks about wheels. Wheels are a mystery to me. I recently put a super old 26 wtb from an old bike of mine on my kids bike and made him a mullet. He crushes on a 13 yo wheel. I cannot explain why it works so well.
Jumping bikes about took me out but now it's when I feel the most alive!! Can agree with you on pretty much all of this except for those Shimano stoppers lol. Fun Video!!
I have gx axs. I'm running it with an x01 cassette and xx1 chain. It shifts flawlessly even under load. I love having no cable and I like the feel of the shifter. I haven't charged the battery in a month and it' still at 50%. It adds weight compared to the cable actuated derailleur but I have it on an aluminum hardtail so weight really was never a concern. I would buy the axs dropper in a heartbeat if it was on sale. I love wireless stuff on bikes.
Same here, got the gx axs and it shift flawlessly. Batteries last a long time plus I always carry a spare, but never had to use it. There's no way I ever go back to cable.
Me too. I have GX AXS and really like it. Wife has DI2 and that's great too. I've run all kinds of groupsets and I'm not looking to go back to wired xtr or xo.
Just discovered this channel. Great content!
"Chonky bikes". Somewhere, Mike Levy is shuddering. 😆
My buddy LOVES GX Axs. I run shimano but it’s wild to see how much he likes it.
Was nice to meet you on the North Rd trail today! Hardtails rule! Agree with everyone on hardtail content for sure.
Would love to get comfortable jumping, clearing tables and working my way up to gap jumps. It’s such a mental blocker for me
Speaking of hardtails I'd like to see you shred a fatbike Van. Thanks for sharing all the awesome content. Keep kicking ass!
Totally agree on the electronics. I also swapped - from XX1 AXS to M9100 and in never regret that move! On the other hand, on a roadbike i am totally sold to AXS. Having Red AXS on a fully integrated handlebar/stem combo is so pleasing. The shifting without big dirt and moist is so nice... But on an enduro or trailbike is so much needed especially when you are on weektrips in the Alps!
With the Brakes. I would suggest TRICKSTUFF Brakes. Those Diretissima are so nuts. The anker is a joy, also for us over 200 pounds ;-)
I get the critic on axs. But for me, with thumb base arthritis, axs buttons are a godsend instead of cable actuated stuff
100% agree on jumping and jump trails. Jumpline laps on laps!
I bought an on one hello dave hardtail after i kept breaking my orbea occam frame and its honestly been amazing. I like to ride a lot of tech and jump lines here in the UK and my technique has improved so much. After I got used to the lack of suspension the geometry makes it so much better than the orbea so would definitely recommend. Also would definitely avoid buying an alloy occam if youre looking at one, the frame is super flexy and i snapped the shock mounting bolt 3 times which eventually bent the frame.
the carbon one has the same problem with the shock bolts, better to use the occam for light trail riding and xc because that thing ain't holding up to any abuse😂
At 6'1 and 220 lb rider weight, I immediately could feel a difference in out of the saddle pedaling. You want some flex in a fork, but the 34 mm forks just felt flimsy. The new lyrik is fantastic, stiffer than a Fox 36 for sure.
I ride a stumpjumper alloy and agree with you on weight for enduro bikes. A slightly heavier bike makes it a bit more stable on uneven terrain. Like using a sledgehammer vs a machinists hammer
Personally I really found that you're totally right about the fact that you don't need a 38 but that if you are riding really aggressive north shore terrain the idea of extra stiffness and heavier more durable bikes makes sense
Jumping is the absolute greatest part of riding I work on my jumps every week and ride the hell out of um nothing brings me more joy
Underrated - Picking the right size bike. I see 5'6 or 167cm riders jumping on larges.
I like using AXS on road bikes because the perfect shifting is really useful during races and when you really want your shifting to work under load and smoothly without problem, but for mountain bikes cable is fine, AXS isn't really a priority.
The RUclips algorithm suggested this, so even though I don't ride mountain bikes, here I am. I'm answering with regard to road bikes, but the points are mostly still relevant: Carbon frames, electronics, lightness for lightness' sake, and disc brakes are all overrated. To your list I'll add aerodynamic efficiency and integrated cabling. All of these have their place, but they are not the end all and be all of cycling they are often touted to be.
I’m about 155 and I love the feel of the 38mm forks I like having a supportive feel especially when I go off line
Always looking for more high quality hardtail content!!
Yes to all. Deciding this spring if i'll replace most of the stuff on my hard tail or get a budget full suss.
As a 170 pound rider, zeb over the 38 all day. Had a zeb went to a 38 factory on new bike and would love to go back to the zeb ultimate
The Hardtail part kind of hit close to home, since riding them too hard destroyed my ankles and I'll probably never be able to ride a HT or DJ again ever. But yeah - extremely underrated, just try not to case any jumps lol.
Nailed it! Especially super light bikes. Even "pro" reviewers, the first info they give when they review a bike is the weight 🤦♂ Hence why many enduro bikes come with light tires, which many times become waste.
I think there is something about the bigger stanchions that just helps mentally. I am on a Trek Slash with a Lyric, and it just doesn’t feel as beefy as even a 36.
I’m a light rider (70kg) and the change to zebs from lyrics is huge .. either in my head or not. (Both running smashpot coils both rc2 2.1 charger)
The zebs were on sale and in the right offset which was a large part of me getting them (my son stole my lyriks)
I’ve had older 36’s as well and the 38mm forks are in a different league
I wish I could get comfy with jumps. But I just seem to resist the air time or I brake check before the jump. Jumping is hard.
if you want a wireless dropper because of doing tricks or just be able to change your seatpost to a no dropper quick when you want to go to a bikepark then use a magura mds v3
The carbon frame has a much softer feel. I love both my carbon and my aluminum frames.I have a complete love of carbon wheels.
That bike of yours is like one of the best looking machines out there. What a killer bike dude! Love it 😍
On point. Fantastic video.
I agree especially with the frame material and stanchion diameters, fork manufacturers are just trying to get them stiffer and stiffer all the time but I think smaller stanchion diameter is better with bit of flex and less vibrations coming thru handlebars🤔
Brakes. Brakes are one of the most underrated part to upgrade. Everyone just rides what came on their bike and brake feel makes such a difference. I’m like you I ride the codes but don’t like them. I like the more bite feel but my best riding buddy loves the codes and thinks Shimanos throw you over the bars. That’s why they make different stuff. Don’t be afraid to try new things just cause someone else likes something different. Even try some odd brands like magura, trp, or hope. You never know what you are gonna like and what you do like might surprise you. Brakes you like are a game changer!
Hardtails are underrated, let's do a hardtail ride together!
It’s a date
yea i am 140 and i feel that i have to run lower pressures on big station forks. I run 87-90psi on a 120mm 30mm manitou marchor and 70 for a 180mm 38mm zeb. it can also be the different travel sizes as well.
I think you are spot on. I love that my bicycles don't need any batteries.
Most of the points i agree i only would call different is the point jumping the most important and most fun about biking is getting out in the Natur
For me there's reliability in simplicity. A bike is a very mechanical object, and over complicating components can make things difficult when going to service them and or replace them if they become damaged. I also agree on the point of being too light. In my opinion that doesn't matter. I've seen so many people in videos talking about super small components like pedals and derailleurs that don't weigh much at all, but they NEED the lightest ones to help reduce weight. Like if your pedals are stopping you from hitting your bike weight goals there's a problem haha
Knolly makes imo the best real deal mtbs on the planet right now. Simply fantastic designs and easy to work on with no proprietary shocks etc.