2 Hardtails Under $2K Tested: Specialized Fuse vs. Marin San Quentin | Pinkbike Field Test 

hardtail party its a Hardtail party

@@ShoneDaddy it wasn't a hardtail party at Outerbike. ;)

Yeah super hard to try these bikes out.

Thanks for riding... there's a party in my pants, and you're invited.

@@PewterC5FRC Wow, that went to 100 real quick.

🤣🤣🤣

@@memphis_sean8169 right though?!

something like a carerra then

more like trash level

@@michaellee8226 ha yeah definitely Suntour pogo stick! for real tho 2k trail bike is what I ride now and I'm an advanced rider but it took a long time save for since I'm 14 and before I rode a REAL entry-level bike with all the stuff everyone dispises and it really got me hooked on the sport

Me too!

It could shred like heck dude I got mine just a month ago pretty much the same time as you. it’s an animal on descents, it doesn’t feel like a hardtail.

userbosco Yeah maaan🔥🔥🔥

Stache for life! I'm on my 2nd one. I love them! Best all around bike

Me too

Been looking at hardtails. Stache is on my short list fersure.

Tin Man I’d highly recommend it with tubeless tires and the grips wear out pretty fast

Unicorn Bikes its this new guy

Your having a bad day

Agreed, he literally just listed over the components and Geo. No emphasis whatsoever on ride quality, speed, feel.

First time seeing this channel and meh. Agree. I could read what he said anywhere.

I feel exactly the same

I didn't know people still ride those. I thought I was the only one. ;)

TRUE

Upvoting you a million times for that Ivan. Really limited. The Spesh just got its ass kicked in the MBUK hardtail test.

Nah it’s a really good bike but these ones are a liiitle bit more aggressive, also more expensive

A for AWESOME The San Quentin seems very similar to the Commencal, but I would argue that the Fuse isn't quite as aggressive as the Commencal. I really enjoy my Meta HT, it's a ripping bike

It sure is!

Just curious, what do you like about it? Compared to other hardtails in this mid 1000 to 2000 price range. I'm torn between brands as each choose different grupos and forks?

@@xavier8351 it's been 3 months you find a bike yet? Looking for a first bike under $2k, so far 2021 Specialized FUSE is the one to beat, I think it's $1300..

@@phabeondominguez5971 I did. I found a Jamis Dragonslayer S1. Super sick bike. Steel is real. I was thinking about the Fuse, but really liked the steel frame and components on the Jamis plus the price was right for a used bike that was bought as a gift but too big for them. My gain.

@@xavier8351 NOICE, never heard of that one, but sounds like ya got a deal, where ya find, Craigslist or...?

@@phabeondominguez5971 I found it on Facebook marketplace. I was ready to pull the trigger on Surly and some other custom one offs but was beaten out by other buyers. The timing was right on this one. Then, a week later saw another one pop up for $100 less. Haven't seen anything pop up for a while. This market is tough right now.

It’s a shame it’s sold out everywhere, and I’ve been waiting for months for restocks but nothing 😭

@@JJH-jc1fg thats literally every bike lol. 2021's should be coming out in a couple months

@@JJH-jc1fg same bruh

It's ok. I had the Nukeproof scout 275 comp, but man! Fork took a dump after about a month and the frame started cracking after riding it 5 times only. Heavily disappointed, but even worse, it was a nightmare dealing with their "warranty", especially since they're located in Ireland 🤦🏾‍♂️. Finally sent me a new frame after almost 4 months of back and forth between them and Chain Reaction and the paint had scuffs 🙄. I will never deal with Chain reaction bikes or bike companies from outside the US. Not worth the headaches. Sold the Nukeproof and got me a Marin San Quentin 2 and wow! Feels so much better and stouter while riding it. Also was more affordable with great components. Will upgrade the fork when this one wears out, upgraded the tires and went tubeless, but after 4 months, this bike is the best bike I've ever owned, can't imagine how good the San Quentin 3 is. Either way, enjoy whatever you get, happy trails yo!

Bro what. Why would you sell the rocky altitude and downgrade lol

@@matthew5172 because Its more fun riding a hard tail and it actually not a downgrade if you look at the specs on the bike. Just because the Altitude is full suspension doesn't mean its better , its just a choice and style. Ive been riding along time and wanted to go back to riding a hard til. Simple. Enjoy the ride and don't get stuck in the details of upgrade downgrade in your head.

$1500 isn’t that different from his “under $2k”

This comment didnt age well....

2K for a reliable used car???

Blake Watson yeah they are amazing

Really?.?

What width you riding?

I've got and XL at 6'3" and put on 40mm chromag riser on it and it feels good

@@selder03 I ride a few different wheelsets on my hardtail. 27.5x2.8, 27.5x3.0, and 29x2.4.

What size would you suggest I'm 5'9 for San Quentin. Without the riser n with it

@@shaileshbodh8253 the medium would fit you nicely

for you good sir we can offer you a fresh tech deck bmx

Jeff Barnard wouldn’t have these bikes without the honzo🤟

RAGLEY's are AWESOME!

DGSX $2000 “not bad”

This is due to the extreme sudden income disparity, sudden inflation bump, or other subtle reason.

It's cringy when they say that. As if anything less than those $6000 downhill rigs is "budget".

$2k is not budget. nope Start with a budget bike around $500 and then as you progress move up. Even after 20 years of riding, I think $2k is more than I want to spend on a bike.

@@StrayPoet Depends on what riding you want to do and how hard you ride

Im glad to read that! I am also looking forward to buy the Fuse Comp as my first MTB :)

@@MrNat916777 it's a good investment! Let me know how you like it!

With the handjob cable stops?

Yep. Ibis mojo. With a handjob. When v bakes took over, guys would still order the frame with a handjob... just because. Ibis Ripley was an aluminum 1.5" travel softtail. I have brand new, never built, red 2001 Ripley frame hanging in my buddies garage.

bikes online pushed it up to 2200 over Christmas i think. :(

Go for it, it's a rad bike!

The fuse is 1800 tho

it is one of the best mtbs that specialized manufactured after along time of the bike failing before 2019

alfyboy01 how does it ride? 27.5 only right? All the Whyte bikes look rad

Check out the Kona Honzo.. It's a great bike

@@thebikehippie6562 will do thanis!

@@rjahn3000 Your welcome🖒

@@rjahn3000 Click my thumbnail.. I did a review on mine

Will be more agressive with a bigger fork... so pissed but at least I got a 140 fork and do 50 and 60 ft jumps on it if u got a roscoe I recommend upgrading it

@@RyanDavid-gu8et I ended up doing just that. Put a 140mm 2021 Pike Ultimate on it. Completely changed the bike

@@thetoyota86perspective54 yah that sounds sick really would be an upgrade slacker and more agressive but if u wanted you could sell that for 3k rn on pinkbiks

Do you have the fuse comp 29 ???

Shailesh Bodh no, 27.5+

The same one in the review but with 27.5+ wheels ? @Rob Mullins

Shailesh Bodh yes

Did it come with stock 27.5 wheels or the 29 wheels . I'm a bit confused coz i want the same fuse which is shown in the review but with 27.5 wheels , but when i check specialized web page it shows its a 29 er ( the one dats in the review ) plz help .😅😅

Yeah bro you'll be fine. Those 29'ers roll.

Some people buy them for bikepacking

Nah more of a thrill rig than an adventure or bike pack.

@@mtblunatic8829 but it is a good bike for bikepacking although the roscoe is better for bikepacking

It makes up with the frame quality and being able to ride it before buying.

What car u got

@@austinharnish7807 I got car with 4 tire

They much better than both of them but also all sold out so you won't find any around

Such a hard choice, include the nukeproof scout 275 in that list too ! Right now I'm torn between the SQ3, commencal and scout ... all in large size, frame only though

Cube are always awesome value for money

I'd love to get one to compliment my Patrol but that Marin in a frame only would be a cheap build, 140mm would work well on it too I'd imagine.

Overpriced.

How do you like the bike i am thinking of the same bike?

@@markbuttery2790 I love it. It's pretty heavy honestly but I'm probably going to upgrade the drivetrain for something a bit lighter. It decends just as good as other FS bikes I've had! Norcos gravity tune geometry is spot on.

@@jessedrury8861 Thanks for the advice Jesse, in retrospect would you have gone with the HT S1 build ? i am thinking of the Torrent or the nuke proof cant decide .

@@markbuttery2790 honestly the S1 would have been a good investment with that lyrik ultimate and nice drivetrain. The g-spec brakes seem to work great though and the wheel set is no different.

But I would rather upgrade as I go, I rode it stock for about 2 months quite hard and it worked awesome.

I've got the same bike! It's awesome!

Freefall _44_ did you get it with the revelation fork? I put a dropper on mine and swapped the tires to Maxxis 2.6s and it’s honestly been incredible.

@@ShoneDaddy I've ordered the sx eagle Recon version and I got a dropper post for Christmas. I didn't change the tyres...yet;) Wich tyres did you choose(what is the dirt like where you live?)?

SJ Weedstar that’s what I’m saying too !

You are wrong 😉

That's a killer ride.

Thats. great bike Ive heard but gets out of stock quick . Frame price around $900

I'd go fuse. But if it's in your budget I'd think about the Norco torrent. Another good option is the kona Honzo/big Honzo but the spec for the price is a bit disappointing. I've got a kona big Honzo set up mullet with the new 2021 pike ultimate 140mm and I went for the short offset version of the fork to stabilise the steering. It's a very versatile bike and can be setup as a downcoutry machine or a super fun mini downhill/enduro rig which is what I've done.

Shimano BL-MT400

@@baddriversofcolga Acera. So that's why they said just Shimano.

it only got the tapered headtube in 2020 I believe.

Well you can get quite a lot with 2500 when it comes to hardtails. Rocky mountain growler is great along with the honzo esd. Full suspension bikes for 2500 are good if you are willing to upgrade but can't get quite as good components as a hardtail. Really depends on what you ride. I have a 2021 fuse comp and its great. Paid 1850 for it and has great value. I love the frame and since your budget is 2500 I would suggest the fuse expert. Although with COVID and the bike shortage, it may be harder to find these bikes. I also recommend trying the bike before you buy it. Thats the downside of the online bikes like Canyon and YT is you can't try them. So although they have great components for price, you can't justify how it rides or quality of frames. Hope this helps.

skatecm1 they’ve had their ups and downs. Overall, they make some really nice bikes. I have one of their 2011 Attack Trails 6.9 and I love it.

San Quentin 2 is a blast, I've people done backflips, running 150mm forks,....

...or steel hardtail thrashers like literally any Chromag, all-rounders like the Santa Cruz Chameleon, backcountry rigs like a Surly Krampus? all reasonably above 2k. "budget friendly" is two words for a reason. you have to have a bike that checks the boxes for brakes, gearing, suspension, and dropper post, otherwise you've just bought a stopgap until you can sell it for a loss and buy something nicer. be kind to yourself. buy a decent bike

You can get a cheaper San Quentin for around $750 and you get cheaper but reliable parts for it, but the frame doesn't run internal cabling unlike the top spec San Quentin, which is pretty much fine. You can just replace the stock Suntour XCM forks for Epixon and you've got a great aggressive hardtail for less than a grand.