6 Downcountry Bikes Tested for Efficiency | 2022 Downcountry Field Test 

and an epic evo

And the YT Izzo Uncaged 7 - Basically the same bike as a $12k spark, but for $7k. Probably the best valued down country bike out there

@@Doggepp except its a YT so it will creak like your grandparents' bed frame

@@colinsandlin8575 I have one, no creaking yet, but I guess time will tell :D Brand new bearing kit is like $50 so not a very big expensive if I have to change it once in a while. Wanted a scott originally, but couldnt stomach paying like $5k more

I rode previous Spark with 100/60 mm of travel and can say that it really depends on the remote lever position how he feels. In the Traction mode the suspension is much more tight and efficient in the pedalling perspective. Especially if you need accelerate as quickly as possible. People say, the new Spark RC inherited this behavior too. But the trail version of Spark not so much. It's more plush in the middle mode because of the higher volume shock. Sure, the new Spark should be much more capable at the descending though I didn't ride it yet. Regarding the Epic Evo, brainless one, sure it is only my subjective point of view, but I used to XC race and can't imagine how quickly climb to the stip short hill if you can't lock your suspension and stand at the pedals. Imho the speculations regarding anti-squat susp. design make sense only for the mode, while you're sitting at the saddle. If you want stand up you definitely need a stiff platform under you. Though if you don't race and don't ride in the aggressive race style you could probably never need this.

I was thinking the same thing man. I'd like to hear how these compared to the previous down country choices. I got to ride a rocky mountain element, it will be my next short travel bike for sure!

There is a difference between two efficiency interfaces here: bike - rider (outputing a standardized power value) and musclemachine - rider. As you could see, levi was outputing 300 watts, which resulted in different times, but at no point it was said, that the 300 watt felt equally hard for all bikes

@@endursa That is correct - he is doing a bit of subjective analysis about the difficulty of pushing out 300 watts, which is still valuable.

Fair point. The top 3 bikes are essentially tied based on the vagaries of the testing method. That said, the Lapierre's rough ride likely contributed to extra time in the climb.

Totally. Watts are watts and time basically is watts and weight (and some aerodynamics). Would make more sense to compare HR at the same watts

Depends on what you wan't measure exactly. 300 at the pedals, are 300 at the pedals (if we just ignore the fact that holding 300 within 10%, for +2 minutes, pedalling out in the real world, on a real bike, IMO is really really hard - if not to say borderline impossible) - so this test shows how much gets lost in the kinematics/suspension. That's by no means irrelevant. Definitely also interesting to see if 300 at the pedals comes from different strain. It is very hard to do in a controlled fashion though. You will fatigue over time, the weather changes during the day, etc. etc. - it will also change the heart rate.

@@BrianKlausen there are so many variables affecting heart rate that still won't give a truly accurate measure of effort. Having a quick time an a low perceived effort is a pretty good indicator.

Agreed. It is a good looking bike!

Gorilla gravity does use a different technique. It is heavily automated. The GG frames are also heavier across the board then most competitors, I am guessing they use cheaper carbon fiber. The allied and ibis exie are more traditional hand laid and more labor intensive. They are also lighter and thus also have to use more expensive carbon fiber to keep the strength and rigidity.

@@sgtkurry GG uses really good carbon that is specially formulated for impact resistance. They make a burly enduro bike and then change the travel, hence why their “downcountry” bike is still heavy, because the frame is still the full enduro layup. Would be interesting to see how their short travel bike compares with the Evil Following.

One letter.

Marketing. the bike for racing vs same bike but marketed for long fun riding styles is my understanding

Downcountry: More travel, possibly more slack geometry, generally speaking, in a downcountry than in an xc; Arguably more stable when going downhill than an XC; Generally heavier and possibly less efficient when climbing than an XC.

@@unknownKnownunknowns so a trail bike…

@@andrewsteavpack9079 yea pretty much a 29er trail bike

Norco optic or fluid

I used to ride the v1 following. Yeah I confirm it's grippy, poppy and supple The geometry wasn't that good for climbing but it was very fun riding that bike downhill

@Danny E no the bike is that slow on the climbs..Evil is just a tank of a bike. I sold mine to step to something lighter and more efficient..Just didn't make sense for the trails for where I live