If I wasn’t racing frequently, that bike wouldn’t be on my list personally. I’d sooner look at a short travel trail bike like the Ripley SL, Fitz or Trailcat SL
The Allied Fitz has me 
Last year on black friday I bought the Aenomaly Construct Switchgrade 2.0 for my Epic 8. I use it on my Bike Yoke Revive 2.0 and I can’t get it level, no matter what I try. I followed the instructions on their website. They suggest using the 12x4mm shim for this dropper post. I tried with both the 4 and the 5mm shim but can’t get enough of a gap for the front screw to pull the saddle down. I have one ride under my belt with the saddle nose up but my jewels aren’t coping and support hasn’t replied to my multiple messages… It’s great to throw the nose down for steep climbs. I don’t use the “downhill mode” and disabled it using the supplied screw.
To get the saddle level I was thinking about stacking the 3 and 4mm shims to be able to screw the front screw down further into the threads. Might try this if support doesn’t reply within this week. Looks like they don’t make taller shims than 5mm. It’s a great product that needs a bit of refining. Anyone else using one on their XC Bike?
How do you like the Enve M5’s vs the Roval controls? And why do you have 2 pairs? I have the Rovals but I’m interested in the Enve’s.
I’d love to say that I noticed a major difference, but I didn’t. The ENVEs are a bit lighter but no major difference in feel which I guess maybe is a good thing because I like the Rovals. I ordered the ENVEs two weeks before the Roval World Cups were announced. If I knew about the WCs I probably would have bought those. I have two sets because I keep the ENVEs mounted with Specialized Fast Trak tires and the Rovals with 2.4" Rekon Race. The ENVE/Fast Trak combo is quite a bit lighter and spins up faster. I use them for short track and some XCO courses. I use the Roval/Rekon combo for day to day and endurance racing. I also like the bigger volume and contact patch of the Rekons when I ride in Moab.
Ibis is building me a new front triangle of my Exie. Pretty pumped to keep my bike. Great customer support.
Sweet! Thanks for the .02!
I picked one of these up to compliment my Epic Evo 7 here in Colorado. Loving it so far. Custom build with the heavier standard Fox 36 and running heavier duty enve730 wheels (already had these) and the new maxxis Dissector and Forekaster on the rear. Highly recommended for an all around trail bike. I previously had a stumpjumper EVO but since I have a different 170 f/r enduro bike, the stupy was just too heavy and burly for most of the trails I was riding it on.
seriously considering one to replace my over 30lbs Hightower 3! Would probably build with a Pike and Superdeluxe, my Hightower has Lyrik and Reserve HD wheels with burly tires, could probably try to shave ~5lbs
Had our first local race last week and it was a hoot. Finally felt like my old pre pandemic self in terms of going all out for 60-ish minutes! Probably would have been closer to podium if I had moved up to the singletrack a hair sooner at the start, but alas, I’m happy with the effort.
My epic evo 7, bless her heart, is in dire need of some love going into Breck Epic. I also want to shave a bit of weight too. Probably sits around 24 pounds. The only thing still stock on it are the bars/stem and rear shock. That shock is clapped out beyond hope and sadly, I lost my Fox hookup before I could buy a replacement. But am on the hunt. For bars/stem, I might snag the RSL or roval combo.
The other thing is the wheels. I’m not sure how much longer I have with these Stans Valor. They have been through the ringer and just when I thought they were done, my mechanic friend brought the rear wheel back to life. I don’t trust them so I’m on the hunt for a race day set and keep the Stans as my daily and backup set. Are the Control SLs still the tried and true set out there? Anyone on the Hunt Proven XC wheels? They’re on sale and can snag them for about $1,000.
I’d try to find a Epic 8 takeoff with the Magic Middle setting. It’s a fantastic tune and should be fine even running at 190x45.
If the fit is right, I’d have a hard to overlooking the Allied Duet as well. Weight is insane.
Hunt proven are decent. There’s always a bit of QC hanging around online with Hunt that makes me a bit weary. Also they’re kinda heavy around 1500g. I’d personally look at reputable Chinese carbon (Light Bicycle and Nextie) would be my picks. You’re going to get a ton of value for the money.
I wouldn’t recommend the Control SL wheels. They’re kinda heavy and definitely flexy. They’re the only wheels I have that I can’t run a 180 rotor in the back (I run 4 piston brakes and a 180 rear on my Epic) because the wheel flexes so much the rotor squeals in turns. I’ve had the shop check the spoke tension several times and it’s fine, just a flexy wheel. My best set is Bontrager RSLs, 1200g and stiff, but whenever I’m buying wheels again I will probably go the Chinese route. Too much quality and value to ignore.
Good intel, @jlynnstone @cassinonorth, appreciate it. I’m certainly leaning towards Nextie or Light Bicycle now. Good value for the $.
I have two sets of Hunts as well. Both are road wheelsets: sprint 50s that I moved from my road/race bike to my gravel. I have aerodynamic 62-somethings on my road bike now. Have been solid.
Wheel flex really shouldn’t impact that. Maybe the hub flexing, but the spokes and the rim are outboard of the rotor mounting points so them flexing won’t impact the rotor.
I rode the proven xc wheels with carbon spokes at Breck epic last year at 190#. I don’t hit stuff super hard but they are my daily wheels and have been fine.
Joe
Same weight, same wheels and so far (knock on wood) they’ve been great and similarly on mountain descents.
I also have Control SL wheels and my rotor/brakes ping in turns and on heavy hits. And I’m 130 lbs. I’ve tried re-aligning the brakes a few times and it only helped a small amount. Drives me nuts.
I’ve ridden Hunt road and gravel wheels, but not their MTB wheels. They’re ok, but I won’t be buying more. In fact I just sold the road wheels and will probably sell the gravel ones as well. They have pawl style hubs, are slightly chunky and are (at least the generation I had) narrow for what they are. I think currently you can get better wheels elsewhere and like others mentioned Light Bicycle would be one place to look. Personally I’d be looking at internal width, DT style hub and weight. YMMV
FWIW: I currently have 3 wheels with DT ratchet hubs. I’ve ridden for many many years previously with pawl based hubs and never had an issue. Working as a mechanic in a bike shop I saw many damaged pawl type freehubs. My belief is that was mainly due to pawls not fully engaging when power was applied because the freehub had contamination and bad lube slowing pawl engagement. Adding more or thicker lube to quiet a freehub is generally not a good idea either, IMO.