WELCOME TO THE 2020
PINKBIKE FIELD TEST
Brand new bikes. Real riders. Proper terrain.
Words by Brian Park, photography by Trevor Lyden & Brian Park
Every year for as long as most of us can remember, the Pinkbike family has made the pilgrimage to Las Vegas (or its sadder little cousin Reno—sorry Zink) for the annual bike industry trade show and bro-fest called Interbike. This year the event was cancelled, so our crew got together near Whistler, BC, and did something better with our time: rode the hell out of a bunch of brand new, high end mountain bikes.
For science.
We had to make some hard choices on which bikes to include in this test. In order to give ourselves enough time for a proper verdict on each bike we had to draw the line somewhere, so we only brought bikes that are brand new for next year.
We broke the bikes up into 3 loose categories, because arguing about arbitrary comparisons is one of our favourite things to do. In addition to the stand-alone videos about each bike, we compared and contrasted the bikes in our Editors' Choice round-tables. We also checked out several less expensive value bikes in a separate feature, so if these bikes are too rich for your blood, just stay tuned!
We'll be kicking things off tomorrow with the Norco Optic, and we'll be releasing the rest of the Field Tests in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
My thoughts exactly. It should just be a review of the pole range. The rest is a waste of time
Well, you're not a dickhead or anything...
ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb12300831/p4pb12300831.jpg
I'd guess he's hoping we'd all forgotten by now.
counteracted by TWO waterbottle holders, with space for a third and probably some potatoes too
Levy's dream bike
HINT: fessing up, apologizing, and making things right will almost always serve your bottom line better than excuses. So surprised how many people in senior leadership/marketing/QC/etc positions still don't grasp this and just try to cover their asses.
There's that well known one where the guy posted a video of him missing a landing and frame breaking. He made is seem like it was one time, then someone who was there called him out because he had been casing the jump over and over.
Excelent
You can put big tires on a 100mm travel bike if you want but it's still a 100mm travel bike
I mean just look at any bike review on PB and at least two people will complain about how they dont review Evil, a company that has screwed people over and over again. Same with Cannondale anyone who posts about getting screwed on warranty and broken frames gets downvoted here.
Pole are saying it was a prototype chainstay that broke.
For example - in your trail bike category, how about pitting everything against a Smuggler or Process 134? Lots of folks know what those bikes can do, and it would be neat to see how the Optic (which is pretty similar in intention) stacks up against that, and whether the Stamina is a niche bike for a very narrow user group in that market, or whether it's something that'll show the way for the rest of the category or create a whole new category (the way, say, the Process 111 did back in the day).
Just checked the video - I believe he's on the 180, based on the Lyrik/Super Deluxe build kit.
EDIT: gdamn pinkbike censoring. The internet is for cursing
Anyhoo, just record yourself saying it 100 times and play it backwards. You will hear the devil speak!
Have I missed offending anyone?
You should stick to ballet
www.pinkbike.com/news/review-guerrilla-gravity-smash.html
I run a 150mm Fox 36 on mine, it doesn't suck.
2018 GG Smash:
"Cons
- Happy on rowdy terrain, but not quite as surefooted as a slacker, more forgiving bike
- Ummmm....
- Nope, that's all."
TWO POTATO!!!!
Downvote away. Not a hater; just seeking some balance for my needs.
Low bb and low stack leaves me sitting way down into the bike. It reacts predictably and is stable allowing me confidence to try things I might not otherwise.
So just go faster to make it more interesting.
Yeah, but no alloy option. The fluid is less travel and pretty low end builds and the optic is carbon only. It's a sweet bang for buck as far as a carbon bike goes, but I'd lean towards an A1 build if it existed.
Did I guess right @mikelevy ?
So, as it happens, that's a real thing, but luckily doesn't happen much anymore. A Latvian company, Dartz, makes all-the-way-ridiculous armoured custom SUVs, basically a nice big, diamond encrusted steamer on wheels. In 2009 or so they made a red one, fully bulletproffed thing with real whale penis leather interior for $1.5 mil. Pamela Anderson got on their case, and to this day you can get synthetic whale penis leather (thanks Pam!)
jalopnik.com/1-5m-russian-suv-features-diamonds-whale-penis-leathe-5380680
Their newest monstrosity can actually come with bullet proof child seats, let that sink in.
As a BMW/mini afficianado I look forward to this
Part of me was hoping you built it
So I guess it depends for who, eh?
The 29 is faster more stable and just as fun to ride. Also I'm more apt to be playful because I know how my bike has my back.
Will it be an annual event like a legit bible of bike tests ?
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5tAcmhSk5vbUohyBR1_2CdRVtiaibzTr
Otherwise: Byers remorse even before the first ride. The trail to the classifieds is the only way we gonna ride then.
The difference in these bikes is minutiae, with opinions from people who are not you, and as we all know, skill matters so much more than spec.
Ride the wheels off your nice new bike and love it.
What you should be asking yourself is why in the world woudl PB test a bunch of XC bikes, I mean, come one PB, none of use ride those kinds of bikes; well, none of us will admit to riding those bikes
Downcountry…
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/mondraker-f-podium-dc-r-2020
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/pivot-mach-4-sl-2020
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/trek-top-fuel-2020
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/santa-cruz-tallboy-2020-1
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/guerrilla-gravity-trail-pistol-2019
Trail…
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/norco-optic-2020
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/orbea-occam-2020
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/intense-primer-s-2020
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/pole-stamina-140-2019
Enduro…
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/ibis-hd5-2020
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/gt-force-29-2020
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/specialized-enduro-2020
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/rocky-mountain-slayer-2020
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/yeti-sb165-2020
"Pinkbike says that they loved the bike, and it looks like it is one of the fastest bikes on the test. Nevertheless, as the engineer of the bike, I would have wanted to have the actual bike on the test. We have known about the case since last month, and we tried to send a replacement swingarm to Pinkbike. Even from several attempts, Pinkbike didn’t let us send them the correct swingarm that they could test the actual frame. We are disappointed that we didn’t get the chance to send the actual rear triangle so they could have done the “huck to flat test” again. We thought it would be good that way as well because Pinkbike advertises the field test so that the bikes are “same as customers.” On other tests, the XC rear triangle does not perform as good as the Trail because it is lighter and, therefore, more flexy."
"We have communicated our concerns to Pinkbike, and we understand that views pay their bills." Ouch...
Why don’t we simplify the segmentation like:
CrossCountry for light machines to go fast up and down on moderate technical trails.
AllMountain for riding any kind of trails whatever the relief.
Enduro for going up peacefully and going down fast.
DH for going down, only down.
It s great that new kind of bikes appears but I don’t think we need to create a new
(I've had four and not broken one yet)
That $3,000 RipmoAF will out climb the other 29er enduros in the mix and will also beat them on the downhill.
That’s why they separated Ibis to the 27.5 category with Yeti which can actually can give them a run for their money, if their frames don’t crack. Now Yeti’s are not designed to be ridden when is muddy, that was revealed this last Outerbike at Bentonville.
The manifold should be on the rear !!
Serious question.
I built a custom show winner in the UK 20+ years ago that's now in LA.
That's a lot of power !
Must be frightening when gunned.
Well done on keeping it alive.
As a Mondraker fan, I do wish the Super Foxy was available/ included for your testing.
That is, as far as the fork goes of course. You're always going to need tires, wheels (and possibly tire inserts) to deal with the terrain and style you're riding.
I somewhat disagree with the DC category choices in this test. The bikes spec'd with a 130mm fork should fall in the Trail category IMO. i.e. limit travel to 115r/120f for DC.
RC: XCO Nino type bike, 100mm travel
Reg Spark is now considered trail, 120mm and slacker HTA.
Genius is still in the line, more travel and more trail.
Obligatory existential Session comment.
Hung like a field mouse
I was commenting that Dutchman was triggered, not you!
2 - wtf is slug porn?
But eventually they might crack, and they aren’t designed for muddy conditions.
JP
"Downcountry" (capable 100-120mm rear suspension 29ers) bikes are really what 80% of mountain bikers should be riding. Most don't have the terrain or the skills to push or justify 140mm+ bikes.
How about "AC", AGGROCOUNTRY??? BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU'RE MAKING ME FEEL PINKBIKE!!!