27 replies to this topic Post Order

[Don1]

Just want to get some opinion on the build I am about to start.
I have narrowed my choice of Frameset down to the two great bikes mentioned above. (I currently have a 2010 epic comp carbon 26")
I want to build a sub 10kg FS 29er.

I am leaning toward the Tallboy. Some of the deciding factors thus far....
Please note that both prices excluded shipping and duties. (frames only)
Tallboy price, without Fork - USD 2500 approx. (can spend alot more on top end components)
S-Works with front Fork - USD 4000 approx.
Besides the price differrence, Specialized have no stock (both locally and abroad) - most are saying end of Feb. Tallboy can be shipped on Monday. (I hate waiting...)
Even though I am a current Spez client, I am totally unimpressed with thier service in SA (but no more of that, this is not a rant).
Specialized is also like BMW, just about everyone one, Santa Cruz on the other hand are less common.

Id like to hear the opinions of the experienced out there, which one would you consider the better option?
Thanks in advance.

[' Dale]

[I focus on road racing. Limited MTB knowledge. But very interested in this thread.]

For that moola, you are not considering Cannondale Scalpel too?

Waiting sucks. And orders seldom arrive on time.

All the best with your decision, man.

SOME INPUT FOR YOU:
Two people in my circle (not connected to each other) who are very choosy and informed, own TallBoys - not the bright colours, but the charcoal variety.

Edited by AirBender, 27 November 2010 - 01:06 .

[DJR]

Santa Cruz, just for the (slightly) bad boy image alone!

[SkinnySweatyMan]

Tallboy all the way, Ive ridden my boses a few times and that bike is truly amazing   , I cant say anything for the Spez though.

[rock]

I think going under 10kg will be tough considering dangles's niner carbon with XX and am clasic wheels is 10.5kg......

but thats not important - santa cruz all the way and thats based on nothing scientific at all......

olympic cycles have tallboys in stock.....

[jayz]

Don1, on 27 November 2010 - 12:11 , said:

Just want to get some opinion on the build I am about to start.
I have narrowed my choice of Frameset down to the two great bikes mentioned above. (I currently have a 2010 epic comp carbon 26")
I want to build a sub 10kg FS 29er.

I am leaning toward the Tallboy. Some of the deciding factors thus far....
Please note that both prices excluded shipping and duties. (frames only)
Tallboy price, without Fork - USD 2500 approx. (can spend alot more on top end components)
S-Works with front Fork - USD 4000 approx.
Besides the price differrence, Specialized have no stock (both locally and abroad) - most are saying end of Feb. Tallboy can be shipped on Monday. (I hate waiting...)
Even though I am a current Spez client, I am totally unimpressed with thier service in SA (but no more of that, this is not a rant).
Specialized is also like BMW, just about everyone one, Santa Cruz on the other hand are less common.

Id like to hear the opinions of the experienced out there, which one would you consider the better option?
Thanks in advance.

[jayz]

Don1, on 27 November 2010 - 12:11 , said:

Just want to get some opinion on the build I am about to start.
I have narrowed my choice of Frameset down to the two great bikes mentioned above. (I currently have a 2010 epic comp carbon 26")
I want to build a sub 10kg FS 29er.

I am leaning toward the Tallboy. Some of the deciding factors thus far....
Please note that both prices excluded shipping and duties. (frames only)
Tallboy price, without Fork - USD 2500 approx. (can spend alot more on top end components)
S-Works with front Fork - USD 4000 approx.
Besides the price differrence, Specialized have no stock (both locally and abroad) - most are saying end of Feb. Tallboy can be shipped on Monday. (I hate waiting...)
Even though I am a current Spez client, I am totally unimpressed with thier service in SA (but no more of that, this is not a rant).
Specialized is also like BMW, just about everyone one, Santa Cruz on the other hand are less common.

Id like to hear the opinions of the experienced out there, which one would you consider the better option?
Thanks in advance.

You cannot compare. The new 29er spez (top end) is 9.4kg.Where have u heard a 29er being so lite. Spez is a pure race machine with all the pedigree. Santa CRUZ sais it in its name Cruz. The only hassle is u have to wait. I dont own a spez but a merida but you have to respect what a quality brand it is. Their bikes always look hot.
Let us know your descision.
Cheers

[DJR]

Santa Cruz is a place in Northern California, near San Francisco and it means "saint of the cross". Although they don't claim to, they specialize in making real classic mountain bikes that get emulated by other manufacturers.  

Specialized, on the other hand, claims to be specialists in leisure road bikes, racing road bikes, time trial bikes, dirt jump bikes, hard tail mountain bikes, race dual sussers, trail bikes, downhill bikes and a few more that I forget.

[mtbvip]

I don't see the sense in a dual sus 29er. In my opinion if you want to 29inch go hardtail. I own a C'dale 29er - more than plush enough, even for ultra marathons....then again I have never ridden a dual susser. Dual sus 29er will be difficult (i.e EXPENSIVE) to get under 10kg. If you are set on dual sus - get a 26inch. As far as the Spez and Santa goes - not a fan of either - better value can be had elsewhere.

[MH for short]

jayz, on 27 November 2010 - 01:43 , said:

Spez is a pure race machine with all the pedigree. Santa CRUZ sais it in its name Cruz.

I'm sure the Syndicate boys might have a slightly different take on this statement...

[vanniri]

Purely from a brand perspective - Santa Cruz (I have owned top-end bikes from both)

SA service - Santa Cruz (I had a very bad experience with Spes SA, only excellent from SC SA)

Bike maintenance - I have not owned one of the new grease port fitted bikes from SC, but guess it will solve the issues I had (dismantling and greasing regularly). Epic´s are more fragile (more XC orientated)

The carbon blur is very well built - could be the best I have seen.

It should be obvious from the above which brand I will choose.

Sub 10kg? Try the Spes, the SC will be more costly and you run the risk of loosing the essence of the blur

[Don1]

Thanks for the comments guys. It affirms my choice. Tallboy it is.
I will take pics and notes of the build and post in time. 10 kg is looking very tough, but what the hell thats not all its about...
One dissapointment is no 10x twist grips..so it seems it will have to be the classical 9x3.

[splat]

Don1, on 29 November 2010 - 07:17 , said:

Thanks for the comments guys. It affirms my choice. Tallboy it is.
I will take pics and notes of the build and post in time. 10 kg is looking very tough, but what the hell thats not all its about...
One dissapointment is no 10x twist grips..so it seems it will have to be the classical 9x3.

Its a no brainer for me - the price difference and the lead time ?!

The way I understand your opening post, you had made up your mind already.

[kennyg]

I have done my homework too.

There is almost no way a Tall boy will go under 10 Kg, especially, in a condition suitable to ride our SA conditions. Even if the lightest XX and XTR are used. So don't get your hopes but its an awesome

Most hardtail 29 er, SWorks, Cdale Hi-mods are claimed to be 8 to 9 kgs. But in reality only 9.5 kgs, look at Burry's new bike, extreme XC, only just 9 kg. A 26 er would be 7.8kg, with similar setup.

The spec, is going to come in at 9.4 kg according to their numbers, the real world number will probably be 9.9 Kg. There are no better parts for the job on the spec, you will probably wait till April, for it at the earliset, as the first production bikes are due in Spring. Here we at least a month or two later.

C dale will have a 29er Scalpel coming at the end of 2011, that will probably be the best bet at under 10 kg.

But it comes to preference at 9.5 kg bike or a 10.5 Kg no real difference in weight, the 10% will come from the rider.

[Brett MTBer]

Can't believe how weight obsessed guys are, we ride big mountains and when I'm blasting on a 10km downhill I want a bike thats reasonably light but stiff and solid, whether its got 26 or 29 inch wheels. I've been on Santa Cruz since 1997 and owned pretty much every model they make, they only make changes if its an absolute improvement and I cannot remember them having to recall bikes, unlike pretty much every other manufacturer. One other thing, if fashion is your bag then look forward to lining up at a race in Nov 2011 and the guy next to you is on his 2012 Specialized/Giant/Cannondale when you just shelled out R50k what seems like only yesterday!  A 2 year old Santa Cruz is still a Santa Cruz, and It'll allways be cool!  And while I'm at it I smashed the seatstay on my Carbon Blur XC and Santa Cruz replaced it with their 'no fault warranty' even though it was my own stupid fault!

[crasher]

Brett MTBer, on 29 November 2010 - 09:57 , said:

Can't believe how weight obsessed guys are, we ride big mountains and when I'm blasting on a 10km downhill I want a bike thats reasonably light but stiff and solid, whether its got 26 or 29 inch wheels. I've been on Santa Cruz since 1997 and owned pretty much every model they make, they only make changes if its an absolute improvement and I cannot remember them having to recall bikes, unlike pretty much every other manufacturer. One other thing, if fashion is your bag then look forward to lining up at a race in Nov 2011 and the guy next to you is on his 2012 Specialized/Giant/Cannondale when you just shelled out R50k what seems like only yesterday!  A 2 year old Santa Cruz is still a Santa Cruz, and It'll allways be cool!  And while I'm at it I smashed the seatstay on my Carbon Blur XC and Santa Cruz replaced it with their 'no fault warranty' even though it was my own stupid fault!

Spot On