Yes, one hundred percent agree that the new Top Fuel is not as good, on paper, an XC bike as the previous model. But, as far as very fast trail bikes it’s amongst the very top. One thing I do like about the Trek’s is it is possible to get a high spec aluminium build. Not the lightest in the world, but very sustainable in an environmentalist type of way. Plus on my first carbon mountain bike I still get very nervous in situations that I never did with an aluminium bike.
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Yep, thanks for sharing that chart too! The TB is a relatively heavy bike too, I’d place it in the short travel enduro/trail category for sure, while the Ripley is more of a DC/trail category. Hair splitting to be sure.
I’m still using the (thank you Trek/Fisher) 51mm offset on my forks, ( I run a 120 for racing and 140 for fun) which gives the Ripley a bit more precision in steering.
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+1 for Cannondale’s XC bikes! I love my f-si hardtail
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Just need to find one to see what I feel. Demo days are one of the best ways a company can bring bike awareness to the masses.
That’s how I’ve bought my Pivots. Did a demo day and figured out which one I wanted.
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Out riding recently and come to realize that if the Mach4SL and Trail429 had a baby, I’d buy one. 
120 front, maybe 120 back. trail 429 geo, maybe with a bit steeper head angle. Carbon wheels, and maybe Live Valve, if not just a lockout.
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I love my Trail 429 (2020), but even with carbon wheels (NOBL TR32) and carbon bars, I’m still at ~29.5 lbs and presumably some loss of climbing efficiency. If I stick with XC racing for another year or two, pondering a Mach 4SL…
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The Mach4SL is a great race machine that punches well above it’s weight.
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To give a slightly different spin on this topic, spurred by the official release of the new Canyon Lux World Cup:
What bike / model updates are you most excited about for the 2023/2024 seasons?
Obviously no hard rules on how often manufacturers release updated versions, but always rumours out there.
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It seems like we’re between model cycles in almost all the brand’s XC/DC bikes, but I thought it was interesting that James Huang indicated a new Lux Trail was imminent too.
It makes sense as the original lux Trail was a bit of a rush job, but it also surprised me since that was a new model recently.
I can’t think of anything else coming out. I’m certainly interested in how the Lux Trail updates improve things.
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So you’re expecting most of them not to get a real refresh until 2025 season (so late 2024 release)?
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Seems that most major brands run on a minimum of 2 years per model, and more often 3 years from what I have seen. Consider when the current models were released and you can estimate from there. We say LOTS of new XC & DC release the last year or so, which could mean we are likely to see new stuff no sooner than another year (depending on each brand and model in question).
All this is up in the air with the current world though, so it’s hard to say with anything more than a wild guess from the outside.
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For the Paris Olympics would be my expectation.
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Yeah, that was my approach as well - so looking through the main candidates:
- Specialized Epic / Epic Evo- last frame update for 2021 season (seems to have been released summer 2020 epic and epic evo)
- Santa Cruz Blur / Blur TR - last frame update for 2022 season (didn’t realize they updated it last year - released summer 2021)
- Orbea Oiz / Oiz TR - last geometry update was for the 2020 season, but they updated frame materials etc. for the 2021 season (released summer 2020)
That little research project was actually more fun than I expected and quite easy with 99spokes - so at least for the Epic and Oiz I’m hoping for an updated version next summer (which would be for the 2024 Olympic season, although they obviously also could only released it after the pros rode theirs at the games).
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I’d like to see an updated Pivot Mach4SL
They’ve learned some things from the Trail429, and the current changes to the LES look promising.
Is also like to ride the new Canyon
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