Great review Steve! I love the Paradox you recommended for me. Custom built myself. It’s the only way to go for me now. Can’t imagine I would buy anything off the shelf anymore. Built a Ragley Marley for my 13 yo, and a Nukeproof Scout 29er for my wife. I’m addicted to hardtails and building bikes!! This channel is dangerous! Lol
love that. just bought a Marley 1.0 for myself... and a 24"+ commencal for my 7yo son but i can see myself looking into building my own for all of us in the next few years.
Thanks. I always try to add a few educational pieces to each video so everyone gets something out of it, even if the bike I'm reviewing isn't for them.
Banshee knocked it out of the 27.5 park with this bike; but you Steve knocked it out of the Earth with this video. Great explanation, in-depth analysis of the what, why & how. Even though people might be not in the market for this specific bike, many will learn a whole lot from watching this video. Greetings & gratitude from far away tiny Malta!
I feel you on the good wheelset part. I just got myself some nukeproof horizon V2 with some onza porcupines and set everything up tubeless for the first time. The high engagement and the lighter wheelset thanks to tubeless basically transformed how the ride of my Ragley Big Al feels to me now. It feels so much more zippy and wants to be charged more when going up or straight. It really made the bike feel more alive and I love this feeling.
Totally agree with you on taller riders tending to prefer longer chainstays. As someone over 6', when I slid the dropouts on my Chameleon all the way out the bike was WAY more stable and I actually felt like I was more centered on the bike. As someone who isn't ripping manuals everywhere it was a welcome change.
I did the same on my chameleon. But I’m 5’4". Plus with a 150 mm 36, the seat tube angle is slacker than many people like. Works well for me in Whistler. We have crazy steep stuff where stability is desirable.
Just recently found this channel. I grew up riding hardtails. Bought my first full suspension five years ago which I have enjoyed but now I’m seriously considering selling it and going back to a hardtail.
Excellent review- one of your best! You do a great job providing not just an opinion- but context (component selection, geography, riding style, etc). All reviews are subjective but you did a great job communicating the WHY behind your opinion. Also, I am glad I’m not the only one who feels the Paradox has a somewhat serious (or fast, or sendy, or rowdy, or whatever) personality….and also stoked that Banshee came out with a playful sibling, as there is definitely a market there. I love my Paradox for my riding, but the Enigma looks rad too!
Another prototype, another fantastic review!! Great job distinguishing 27.5 and 29 inch bikes and how the bikes handle and differ!!! Great job Steve!!! 👍👍👍
The way you describe the ride is how I feel on my 2019 Sentier VRX 27.5. I wish the geo was slightly more modern but it’s super fun. I was faster on almost every trail on my old 2019 trek fuel ex 9.7 but the Sentier is more fun. Every time I think I’ve set a PR I didn’t lol. When you push a HT it just feels crazy.
That bike sounds special! I have a feeling they're going sell super quick (similar to the Big Al when you reviewed it). Special hardtails are fun, and fun sells!
Thanks for the video! I've followed your vids for a while, and bought one of these based on this. I swapped over pretty much all the components from my Ragley Blue Pig, and after a couple rides I can feel the lighter weight, and also that it's smoother than the steel Blue Pig. I feel less of the roots and rocks on the back end for sure. Sweet! I also feel like it climbs better, with less of the front coming up on steep stuff.
@@hardtailparty I swapped out the fork for a 29er Pike Select 130mm and I like it even better as a mullet. At least for the trails here in Bend, OR it suits it really well. Super fun. Something about the geometry makes it corner and handle better than the Blue Pig did, at least for me.
I had almost as much fun watching this review as it sounds like you had making it! I'm going to check this bike out at my local shop in the next couple weeks.
Went in today, hoping to look at a frame... They had JUST finished building one up... I got to ride in the parking lot and drool on it. It's way sexier than I expected (and I had very high expectations). I couldn't buy today, but that bike will be mine. Oh, yes. It will be mine.
Another great review, Steve! Looks like Banshee has another winner with the Enigma. You hit the nail on the head about riding for enjoyment. If you're not having fun, it's time to think about why you aren't!!
Rode the BP V3 today thinking how much better it is 29er.. I recently switched the V3 to a 29er 2.5 no insert yet. The Enigma is more suited to my town trails, twisty tight piedmont trails, however. They just opened a jump park last month too. Still, the Paradox does just fine in tight trees and chunk. I just start my turns wide and early and stomp the outside foot. I can also roll many more root sections 29er. The 'dox is a beast at 29x2.5. Looks that is the max size too. I'm very happy with the Paradox and the more straight line 29er riding style it provides.
It would be sweet to ride the enigma and paradox back to back. I own the paradox and I am small short guy at 5’5”. The paradox is a tad long and not as playful for me as my older bikes are.
I love my Banshee Prime, it's such a fun bike....have thought about selling my Chromag Rootdown and getting a Paradox...so many good bikes so little time...lol.
I've been thinking that a 76* STA and 64* HTA is about ideal for a Hardtail. Essentially, about a 1235mm wheelbase in a size large frame. The Enigma geo does almost exactly that.
Yeah... this goes on the short list. It is a shame they sell frame only, but by the time I am ready to make that purchase, parts might actually be available.
if you're fixed on one specific fork or derailleur, then it's tough, But if you're open to a copule different options, there's no problem finding enough parts to build a bike up.
When doing a review on a bike while riding are you talking while riding or editing later. Love your videos keep going strong. Moving to Prescott soon looking forward to riding around out there.
hey steve @hardtailparty , first of all thank you for doing all this and giving really relatable impressions of how these bikes ride. my physiology and riding style are kind of similar to yours, only that i'm 6'2" with really short legs and i love to pop off or gap every little thing i can find on a trail. this bike sounds exactly like the update that i'd like on my NS bikes surge. unfortunately, i'm not going to get me an enigma, as my custom steel frame is already in the making and it has a rather similar geo to the enigma, just for a 120mm 27.5 fork with a little less bb drop. really looking forward to it and to more of your videos, keep up the great work! by the way, do you offer custom frame advice (as in geo and tubeset selection) through your patreon?
I have a Paradox V3 and tried to build it with a short fork. Didn't turn out well, had to rebuild it. Stick with the recommendations from Banshee on the Enigma: Fork Travel range: 140-160mm 27.5” / 100-130mm 29”
2 года назад
@@anitatombreach7801 hmm, that's interesting. In one of the videos here he built one with a 120mm fork, and he was praising it as it became a fun and capable XC-style bike
@ The Enigma only has a 42mm BB drop vs. the ParadoxV3 60mm. There is more room to experiment on the Enigma with both BB drop and head tube angle. Likely the Enigma would be fine with a 120mm 29er fork. The head angle would be steepened, but there is space to do that since it's slack at 63.5 degrees.
Great review, as always! What you said about the importance of good wheels on a hardtail got me thinking about getting new ones for my Ragley Mmmbop 2019 with WTB STp i29 TCS Rims. What is a good 27.5“ (aluminium) wheel you would recommend for riding in central european subalpine terrain?
Between the Banshee v3 with 27.5 vs the Enigma would you say you can have as much fun on either? I purchased the v3 from your original review and have loved it, but currently on 29's and miss the playfulness of a 27.5. Thanks as always for your amazing reviews
It's just just wheelsize that makes a bike fun, it's geo too. This has shorter stays and is more fun than a paradox on 27.5s. plus the bb won't be scraping the ground. I compare the two in this video.
You mentioned this is a good option for someone with a dirt jumper background.... My guestion is, do you think the cut outs in the "stays" compromise the strength of the frame if your riding style is to jump everything you see? Thanks in advance for your insight and great reviews. Keep the great content coming.
@@hardtailparty oh totally fair. This is close to being my next bike. 2.8 would have sealed it even more. Then again I could run it as 2.8 or even 3.0 front with a 2.6 back. Thank you. I think I have my answer. Will have to see what the wife thinks about this bike.
What size did you test? I notice they don't do a Paradox in a small, but they do the Enigma in a small. I'm 170cm (5'7") so sort of between sizes in most frames. Using RAD based on my height, the reach should be 425mm (exactly what the small Enigma is).
Do you feel like the front end dives to much with a 150mm travel front end? If not, how do you think a 130mm 29er for would feel with the same wheel/tire setup...it would give the same axle to crown measurement.
Great review Steve! Could you please review Canyon Stoic 4 since it's one of the most sought after hardtails and also since it shares the frame with Stoic 2, which is one of the most popular budget hardtails out there?
@@hardtailparty I thought so too! Keep doing the great work Steve! Since I've just started mountain biking, I can't stress enough on how knowledgeable your videos are! Thank you very much!
What’s that bar?! The carbon layup looks awesome in the light! On a separate note, do you consult on full suspension bikes? I’m looking to pick one up to go with my hardtail, but I’m having a hell of a time finding the right bike
How big of a deal is it to have 27.5+ back and 2.6 29 in front? Mentioned slide @12:04. I really want todo this for my new RSD Middle Child (you recommended thx). Mainly so it's nicer riding road to get to the trails.
Have you tried Stanton Slackline 27.5? If you have, what do you think about the two frames? I am just wandering that Banshee Enigma might be a little too quick and and easy to lift the front wheel on climbs because of short chainstay.
Steve, i'm thinking of ordering this Enigma and building it. i'd prefer a small frame tho, even tho i think you love a longer bike (we're about the same size) do you have a hookup/discount code for Banshees?
@@hardtailparty spartan is taking care of me. it'll be here next week! so far, you have influenced me to buy a Spot Ryve, 3 sets of 5DEV, and now this. i gotta stop watching this channel LOL $$
6 month update: i have a xc/dc (spot ryve) a trail rig (propain hugene) and 2 enduros (propain Tyee, GG Megatrail) - yet i find time to ride this HT and it rips! i'm running it w/ a DVO diamond 150, 5 dev 160's and xo1 comps. i tried conti kryptotals but pulled them to get a zippier combo - up front a vittoria martello and out back a kenda nevegal pro. the enigma is just like a dirt jumper who grew up! and it handles trails at Hawes fairly well, loves chunk and loves to zip around the berms. thanks for the recommendation, this really is a great rig.
@@hardtailparty Yeah, I've been thinking about this bike since I've watched your video and I think the S might be just a little too small for me and I'll probably just run a short stem. The Enigma sounds like it would be a great replacement for my 2018 Chameleon I regretfully sold. Hopefully even better!
I have plans to test it in this config in the future. I'm not always convinced that mullet is more fun than 27.5/27.5, but it depends on the terrain and goals. More to come on this hopefully...
Nice bike. Too bad they didn't route the cables under the top tube and seat stays. I love external routing, but not on top - or especially the bottom of the down tube.
Nah top of the downtube is the best possible spot, when you're hike a biking and carrying it on your shoulder or in your hand the cables get in the way if they're under the top tube, and bottom of the downtube means they get smashed if you put the bikes on certain racks like pickup truck beds, or miss a trials hop or punch.
@@hardtailparty I was kind if thinking 26/27.5 for down hill park days with a 180mm fork So with 3 combos and forks you can have short travel, mid and long travel with one frame to better cater to the trails/region I plan to do.