- He's working his way up to the stage.
He's just getting to the top of the stage there,
did you guys see that drawing
Aidan what's the top of the stage, is that it?
(upbeat music)
- Hi everybody, I'm Mike Kazimer, tearing me taking a look
at some of the better values that you can find
in the five bikes that were featured
in our Enduro Free Ride Field Test.
Now, the bikes that we had in
we didn't put a cap on the price.
So we had some bikes that were over $8,000.
The Rocky Mountain Altitude took the win
as the most expensive bike contest at reached $9,099.
So I know some of you are probably disappointed
we didn't have any bikes that went over that $10,000 mark
but there's also a lot of you that would never
consider spending that much money on a bike.
So that's why for this video we're gonna dig
a little bit deeper into the different versions
that are available and kind of find out the highlights.
Not everybody needs a carbon frame with carbon wheels,
actually no one needs a carbon frame with carbon wheels.
We go a little bit deeper.
You can find some some decently priced options
that'll still do a great job out on the trail.
Now let's start digging into those product spec sheets.
We start with the Santa Cruz Nomad.
It's worth noting that the Nomad
is only available with a carbon frame.
So the base price for that bike it's a little bit higher
than the other four options gonna be talking about.
The least expensive Nomad is $4,499
and it gets you a ceram annex eagle,
12 speed drive train, some guide ari brakes,
RockSho Zev fork and a super deluxe select shock.
The version I tested, it comes very well specked at $6,199.
Like it your full XT drive train,
performance elite 38 fork, but it also came
with some reserved carbon wheels
which are nice and fancy performed well
but they also drove the price up to $7,399.
No matter how you slice it, no ad doesn't offer
the best value but I will say that going
with this C frame route is a good way to save money
without a noticeable performance difference.
C frames are a little bit heavier than the CC frames
but you're saving a good chunk of change
and I'd say that's a worthy route to go.
Also carbon wheels aren't a necessary upgrade
especially if you're not someone
who goes through tons of aluminum rims every year.
So if you have rooms that are lasting multiple seasons
probably don't need carbon save that thousand dollars.
Let's move on to the Northwest Shore.
So compared to the Nomad
which is only available with a carbon frame
the Shore is only available with an aluminum frame.
The A2 is the one that stands out
as a Shimano Dior 12 speed drive train
and empty five 24 piston brakes.
Suspension is a rock stock, super deluxe coil ultimate
and then you've got to zip our fork upfront,
that fork has a charger damper.
So it's not the latest and greatest version
but it still works quite well.
And then also the price that bike at $3,699.
It's a bike that should be able to take a good biding,
the rounds is maybe a little bit soft, but other than that,
it doesn't require any upgrades right away.
And I can see that as being a worthy option
for someone that's kind of me doing a bunch of shuttle laps,
a bunch of park laps, and doesn't to have to spend
a ton of money to have a good time.
Next up is the Trek Slash, Slash lineup runs deep
with both carbon and aluminum opt-ins
and all kinds of billet kits.
I would skip the very cheapest model
unless that's all that your budget will allow.
It's got an annex drive train and guide tea breaks.
So you'll probably find yourself wanting
upgrade parts sooner than later.
But if you can scrounge up $4,000
the Slash eight comes with a GX drive train,
lyric RC fork and Codar brakes.
Moving up in the lineup, we've got $4,800,
you can get a carbon Slash, but I don't think that spending
$800 more than the eight worth just for carbon frame.
Plus the carbon Slash you end up with an annex cassette
which means you need to upgrade the driver body
to get something lighter on there.
So if you're dead set on carbon, that's the entry point,
but I think you'd be better suited
by going with the savings of money,
going with the aluminum.
Out of all the carbon models,
I say the 9.8 GX or XT offer the best value.
However, remember that value is subjective.
We're still talking about $6,000 here
and there's an awful lot of house
brand components for that price.
You can choose either a GX or XT drive train
and code or SLX breaks to go with it.
And then suspension is a Zev select plus fork
which gets the charge of 2.1 damper.
So the top line damper at super deluxe ultimate shock
compared to the Nomad C XT which sits at $6,199.
I'd say that the Nomad has a better parts package
at least in my opinion, fewer house brand components,
take the time between those two bikes compare
and contrast and see what fits your needs.
Now let's head back across the border to Canada
take a look at the Rocky Mountain Altitude.
Once again, they're aluminum
and carbon models to choose from.
It's pretty extensive lineup.
This time, the base model is worth considering
$3,500 gets you a Dior drive train, Marzocchi Z one fork
and a Fox DPX two performance shock.
Is the brakes they'll probably
need upgrading their step below Dior.
And the brake lever ergonomics
are lacking a little bit at that level.
They just don't feel quite as nice
as the higher end options.
Other than those brakes
My Rizzo, it's a great built kit to start from plenty
of room to upgrade parts as time goes on.
For $5,249, you can get the top of the line suspension
on that aluminum frame in the form of a fox 38
and a float X two shock plus an XT drive train.
It does have a Shimano SLX cassette and then XC brakes.
I don't want to second guess the product manager
but I'm going to in this case
because it makes the video more fun.
But I think I'm this model Rocky could have saved money
by specking performance elite suspension
which functions exactly the same as Kashima coded stuff.
And then they could put those savings
towards the Hubdoc is that.
Going up to that carbon 70, the carbon 70 has a 36
which not quite sure why the highest
and models are the only ones that get
toxic 38 four but the carbon 70
also has a Shimano XT drive train and breaks.
Although honestly the carbon altitudes
don't really offer a great value at all.
If you're on a budget or trying to get the most bang
for your buck, I'd skip right over them.
Since you can save nearly $2,000
for going with an alloy altitude 70.
Okay, well now let's take a look
at the Propain Spindrift.
Things are a little bit complicated
when it comes to the spenders pricing.
Companies based in Germany and in Europe
the brand offers more value because they're direct
to consumer and the prices are quite competitive.
However, here in North America
there aren't quite as many options as available.
And the fact that that distributor has been added in
that erases what could potentially be a 20% cost savings
from the VAT that customers pay in Europe.
However, we can compare the 8,599 model
I tested to the $9,099 Rocky Mountain Altitude.
You can still talk about value when you're talking
about really expensive bikes and components,
you can just see which one offers the most
even if you're already spending a bunch of money.
So in this case, the Propain offers the better value,
carbon wheels which are crank brothers
sent to this carbon wheels versus
the aluminum race-based ones found on the altitude.
Plus you get surrounds wireless
electronic access drive train.
Maybe if you're gonna roll around on an extra fancy bike
you might as well let everybody know it
by having little robot noises come out of it.
Whenever you shift for riders that have access
to propain's full lineup there are deals to be had.
It's possible to customize the bike exactly
how you want component by component.
I do wish there are some Shimano drive train options
on that menu, but otherwise I'd say
that propain's overall value is certainly higher
than the non direct to consumer brands.
I was dead set on picking a bike out of this batch of five,
I'd probably go with the base model Altitude
and maybe upgrade a few key parts
or I would try to figure out a way to get
that Propain Spindrift configured exactly
the way I want it here in the States,
might not be possible but I would look into that.
In all instances I would definitely
go with aluminum frame over carbon simply
because the weight savings that comes from carbon
isn't quite worth the cost that it incurs,
especially if you're on a budget.
We're talking about a 1000 or $2,000 more
for maybe a half pound, a pound savings.
So my mind at that weight
to price ratio just doesn't quite add up.
Hopefully you found this helpful,
we'll be doing more value comparisons in the future
and don't forget to stay tuned
for more content from the Pinbike Fields Test.
Thanks for watching.
(upbeat music)