Let's offroad / mountain bike / mtb / ride dirt

Identiti Dr Jekyll or Surly Lowside? YT Jeffsy 26?

Anyone want to borrow my ShockWiz?
Would be nice to see it being used tbh.

Sam

What is your current 26” hardtail and what is the 27.5” full suspension? What sort of riding are you doing?

Modern geometry is wonderful (in my view) so trying to find 26” old school stuff doesn’t make much sense? Though I guess it depends on the riding you are doing. Worth keeping an eye out for an old Cotic Rocket?

an old Cotic Rocket

this would be my vote. either that or get an older generation 27.5 rocket and just bang some 26" wheels on it: https://www.cotic.co.uk/news/2016/26aintquitedead

(I mean, my actual vote would be get a bang up to date 29er, but each to their own)

I stand corrected - I saw DMR still had frames for sale on their website, however clicking on the 'shop now' option shows all options out of stock. Thinking about it, I do recollect reading somewhere that they may have stopped producing the frames now. Huge shame!

MTB geometry peaked circa 2005-2015

Lies!

From the riding you describe, a gravel bike sounds like the best bet… but that’s not what you want.

Just pick something from this supposed golden era of bike geometry. Not really sure what you mean about it feeling small, but if you want it to feel more chuckable, slacker angles will help but nothing from that era is going to feel ‘modern’.

There’s an endless number of 26” full sus bikes out there. The early Santa Cruz vpp bikes come up cheap on eBay, something like a Blur or Heckler from around 2007/8 or one of the trek ex bikes that you linked to.
But I don’t know if you can really have your cake and eat it.

Sounds like if you want full suspension you want a modern xc bike for the riding you are doing.

Just pick something from this supposed golden era of bike geometry.

I'd agree with this. There's no point looking at modern stuff if you think a bike from 2010 is the most fun ever. Just get one of them.

But I can assure you, however, that they were all pretty shit and modern everything works a lot better

Why full suspension then?
How about something like a trendy bikepacking bike that takes 26xloads of air?

I don't really know what to recommend other than any full sus bike from 15 years ago?

I don't think what you want really exists.

"my commencal furious is the very definition of chuckable. Short wheel base, short back end, low top tube" That is what I want and what I mean by chuckable.

No bikes from 15 years ago are going to feel chuckable in the way a Commencal Furious does. It feels that way because of its modern geometry.

It's hard to give specific recommendations on bikes from 15 years ago because no one rides them for good reason - they are shite.

Old Santa Cruz vpp bikes, Norco full sus bikes from around 2007-2012, Orange Patriot or Sub 5 from late 2000's

Take your pick!

You do you. Assuming you can still get all the bits you need for forks and shocks. Dare I ask…still a fan of the triple?

If I was looking to ride light trails that aren't too technical but quite muddy, I would get the most modern and expensive bike I could that was design to ride light trails that aren't too technical but quite muddy

Fixed that for you!

I think virtually everyones opinion on this will contradict your own. So if you don't want a modern short travel full sus xc bike then a 15 year old bike is the answer.

But I'm not sure how a bike like that will feel any better than whatever 27.5" bike you have right now.

What about the Canyon slope style bike?

My point is that there are modern bikes that suit the type of riding you describe way better than the 15 year old 26" bike that you want.

Best of luck on the search.

I've got a brand new Rockshox Pike Ultimate, it feels harsh as fuck with damping full open.
I mind hearing reports that folk were finding brand new RS forks dry inside from the factory, is this still a thing?

Old skool slope style Kona Bass?
2012 Sumpjumper Fsr Or a Trek Remedy?
All of those as a full bike come up regularly for around £600 some would question why they're so cheap and maybe there's a reason no one wants them.
Although that new Canyon does look chuckable
https://youtube.com/shorts/NQWHkO3ULeo?si=iHS7tvZ9pncyq4OJ

i feel like, probably to your annoyance, this will become ‘what 2000s era full sus’, my vote is for a cove hustler

Good shout
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285489739106

yes!

Top trolling.

Also @TotalShanner I and an issue and hand one rebuilt with new damper, but can't say you've same issue.
If they're brand new id just complain and warrenty them.
I hated them, then sram rebuilt them and sent them back and they were a nice fork.

Aye, I’ve thought about it since posting and that’s the conclusion I’ve came to.
I can drop the lowers and ensure everything is greased properly and the correct amount of oil is there but it’s a pain in the hole to be doing that on brand new forks.
But it feels more like there’s something not right with the damper, they feel really harsh beyond just needing broken in a bit.

Just annoying to have finally got the bike built and now have to send them back.

XC bikes can be ridden slowly and it is also possible for them to go down stairs.

If you really want a 26” bike then why not a kids bike? Modern kids XC bikes are pretty good.

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/390247/

There you go. Sorted. No need to thank me.