I have a Pivot Mach 5, 8 years old and are considering replacing it. I need a bike that can do xc, climb properly (my pivot is bad at this) and handle moderate trails ( no real jumping). Where do I start finding the right frame?
My suggestion is look at what the pros are racing . Go to your local shop and test ride a few. Not all body types mesh with certain frames. Find something that works really well. Buy it. Or find a Chinese knock off frame and build the bike with the components that you like and can afford.
Welp, a traditional method would be to go to a few good bike shops and start by telling them you’re shopping for a new bike. They should start asking a bunch of open-ended questions which you answer as best as you can. The questions they ask and your answers will help inform you as much as them as to what you’re looking for. For example:
Who: Who will be riding the bike (only you?). Who are you riding with and who will you be riding with (alone, friends, group rides, races…)? What: What’s your reason for looking for a new bike? What is your present bike? What are things about it you’d want to change? What are the characteristics you’re looking for in a new bike?. Where: Where will be you riding and what’s the terrain and conditions like; local trails, bike parks, traveling to other places? When: …
Anyway. You get the idea. At the end, they’ll have some suggestions from the brands they sell as to what they think will best fit your criteria, and why. Listen to what they say and even take notes if you’d like.
Armed with what you’ve learned after visiting a few shops, you can start researching and refining exactly what characteristics you’re looking for and then evaluating options against that.
I’d say that most of the modern 120/120 xc bikes fit that profile. Beyond that, I think it comes down to features/function/support vs. price. You might make a list of features you like/dislike to help pare down the list a bit (mechanical vs. electronic, downtube storage, cable routing, etc.). Hard to go wrong with something like an Epic 8 or BC40 IMO.
I’ll add maybe the new canyon lux World Cup to the list
Joe
Does it have to be new? Personally, I’d look at the used market and see if you can get any deals on a bike like the Blur TR, Epic 8 or similar. If someone’s upgrading you can often get one at a decent price.
I agree that a 120mm bike is a good route to go. Picking one of those that fits your needs will likely accomplish what you’re looking to achieve.
I’ve found that second-hand is a good way to go right now with the prices of new bikes, and some models demand much higher prices simply because of brand name, reputation, etc., when there are other bikes that have almost identical geometry and build quality and can be had for much less money.
One good example is the Gen 3 Trek Top Fuel. It has very, very similar geometry to the Specialized Epic 8, but is much easier to find and is much more affordable.
The main differences there are that the Epic is usually a bit lighter, can hold two bottles, and has the option to run lockouts on (some) shocks. It’s probably a better option for those who are planning to competitively race, but the Trek is more practical in some situations IMO.