I went big travel rig a few years back even though mostly on blues and climbing trails. It's because I'm relatively broke and wanted a bike to take to chairlift access, so one bike to rule them all. I now years later have got a hardtail to add to the collection, which was relatively cheap in comparison and much more fun on those blues and climbing. So I reckon hardtail + enduro rig is the way to go if you can afford and have space!
This is my combo, big bike for jumps and dh sessions then the enduro hardtail for everything else. Especially since you can have a ht with 160mm fork and big brakes plus relatively slack headtube. Just makes for such a rippa combo
Why settle for less capable. Short travel is a joke. I have a 180 forked Hardtail and 190/190 Freeride. I can ride any trail on them. Sure they are heavy but it just makes you stronger.
Now I’ve got the 153 Process in 27.5, but also a Banshee Phantom 29er, which is a 120 rear fs bike. I used the Banshee as my go to trail bike, and the Kona only came out at the park. Now I’m having a new love affair with the Kona after putting a 1 degree change headset in making it a little steeper, and some carbon hoops. It handles our tech better and the steering isn’t as slow. Both are great bikes! Great videos Jeff!
Thanks Tim! It was fun... a lot of work, too! Takes SO LONG to do this sort of thing! It's cool though, as you learn a lot when you try this sort of experiment.
The comment in chapter 3 about geo corresponding to travel is what makes the Occam LT kinda unique in that it retains neutral-to-forward weight bias in a longer travel bike. It actually has an even shorter front-center than the Process 134 despite its 150 travel. I have not seen any other bikes that retain a conservative trail geo with that much travel. This may be why, as Jeff says, it excels in tight yet rough trails, which is what we have a ton of in New England :)
Been on a Process 153 for a few years now and it is a blast to take to really any ride. Sure, it’s a little on the big side as far as travel and weight for some of the more “flat” trails and big climbs but it smashes everything! Great handling and traction, super responsive to inputs and jumps and takes big drops like nothing. I’m looking to do a suspension overhaul and throw on a cascade link, can’t wait to see how much better it can get from stock form!
Great video and really informative. I ride a Kona Process 134 CR/DL. It's great and I have raced it in an Enduro with a beefier fork (150mm Lyrik 44mm offset). I prefer the stock fork (140mm Pike 51mm offset) for trail riding. I have been riding a Trek Slash too and prefer the big bike for steep and fast trails. The Kona is very fun on flow trails and S-turns and just about as fast. It's also a ton of fun!
It's like comparing the Ripley to the Ripmo! 😂 I went from the RIpley to the Ripmo although I really loved and miss the Ripley. Just the descending prowess of the RIpmo is too good to pass up and you get the performance of the Ripley too! Sometimes I do feel a tad overbiked with the Ripmo and most of the time the Ripley is more than enough, but am more confident descending on the Ripmo. I'll look into these Konas! Great video!!
My riding buddy has a Ripmo AF, I’m on a Ripley, AF. We talk about it all the time, would love to see a comparison! This video convinced me fully to the travel on my Ripley fork to 140. Thanks Jeff!
I’ve got a 170/150 29er and it’s a blast on everything. I set it up a little bit stiffer and slower than recommended, and while a decent amount of my local trails are blues it’s a blast. I’ve taken it to Asheville where it really shined and will be doing a few park days this summer on it as well. As long as I keep it pinned and ride with plenty of body language it’s one of, if not the most fun bikes I’ve ever ridden.
I legit did the same exact thing. The slower rebound is super key. Makes a 165 rear travel bike feel a little more like a 140. But can crank it up for park days
What do yall have? I always did wonder if the racier enduros like yeti and pivot would still be fun on easier trails being more stiff, I wonder what the more affordable bikes are that are best at this
@@LastAphelion I have a 2020/2021 GT Force 29 Alloy. It’s pretty heavy, weighing in at 38 pounds but once you get moving it carries speed pretty well. Despite the weight it’s pretty playful at speed, and it corners on rails. I got the expert build which was on sale for $3500 USD. I’d say it is still fun on easier trails but seeing as it’s my only bike right now I don’t have any other options that would be more suited for that style of riding. I plan on getting an aggressive hardtail (140-150mm 27.5) to take on more mellow rides or when I don’t want to pedal a heavy enduro bike uphill.
I thought your review was spot on as a 64 year old intermediate rider i picked up the 153 during pandemic was the only full suspension bike my size. I do some bike park but mostly my home trails and this bike is perfect
Jeff, I would love to see a review of the new Canyon Strive with shapeshifter, making the 160 travel bike, into a 140 travel, on the fly, but also as slack as the Transition Spire in the shred mode at 63 degrees, and 64.5 in the pedal mode. Great videos. Thanks for great content.
Perfect video and the perfect time. Really interesting and the explanations of WHY something is good and the part of the trail that mashes out so. Really eye opening.
Great vid as always. I made a similar bump in travel old bike to new and the difference was substantial. Losing on the climbs but way more confident, composed on the downs. Better all rounder in my opinion. Wish I could have one of each though!
My local trails do not have very long downhills. I don't think you would even call them downhills being from Washington. I found that my Evil Calling is perfect for my riding style and trails. The 140mm of front and 130mm of rear is just enough where I can do the jumps and drops but also not feel sluggish on the climbs/technical moves. Also, I found that the 27.5 wheels are better than the 29ers in my local area because I have more tire clearance to make the trials-like moves up rocks.
Energy levels is a big part of it too I think. I takes a lot more energy to throw a big slack enduro bike around. So if your cardio’s not that great and you’ve spent most your energy crawling to the top your descents might not be that fun if you like to play around on the trails. That’s why I take my Ibis Ripley over my Transition Sentinel. I love popping off every little stump and rock on the trail and pre hopping into rollers. The bigger bike just sucks up so much more energy for me. The only downside is I may loose a little speed in the jank.
Yeah I’m quite tall so I ride xl bikes and I think that little bit extra wheelbase helps with the stability of the trail bike. My local trail is Woodlot in Maple Ridge so it’s pretty aggressive. But my skill levels not quite up to yours. I find new enduro bikes so long in xl sizes with wheelbases going over 1300mm. Makes it pretty tug for north shore tech.
i love my hightower 2 with a cascade link but its not very stiff at all. generally speaking i find enduro bikes better not for the travel but for how they're built. and then if you reduce their travel its not much lighter and doesnt feel much different. the bikes that really blend all this effectively seem rare.
This video also illustrates how crucial it is to compare stack heights when considering different bikes or choosing between sizes. Reach is such a vague gauge of bike fit and I find in recent years I have much more like comparing stack height and front/rear center measurements to gain some understanding of how a bike will handle based off numbers in a geo chart. Logan looked more at ease and seemed to flow better on the 134 with the lower stack, even in the steep stuff, whereas that bike looks small under Jeff although likely in a fun way that would allow him to move the bike around more easily.
I'm about 1.5" taller than Logan, so there's that... Interesting point about stack! I do notice the reach directly affects how easy it is to pull and pop on a bike. Like you're writing, at the end of the day, it's not just one SINGLE number- it's the balance of many!
I should have said that looking at stack in addition to reach is important, and I guess publishing the measurement from BB to top of top tube would be massively helpful as Chris Porter has been requesting for years. I know you mentioned something to that effect in your recent Yeti review, saying that moving the stem up the steerer helped the handling of that bike by shortening the reach and also increasing the stack height. I have owned and ridden many Konas often from the same model years and although they often have similar reach numbers the stack heights vary greatly between models. My large Honzo from 2015 with a 2* angleset and longer fork has the same reach as their newer medium frames but the roughly 30mm higher stack means the fit is very different and the bike feels “big” and remains current. I find higher stack to be beneficial on a hardtail with the fork compressing but it still feels quite different compared to the longer and lower large full suspension bikes they now make.
Big travel vs small travel. In my experience small travel bikes are more fun on a wider variety of trails but the bigger travel bikes will help your progression on bigger features.
Awesome video! Reminds me of your Ripley/Ripmo comparison awhile back with similar results. I ended up with a Ripmo because, as you say in that video, it felt "safer". I imagine the same applies here for the 153. I like a high margin of error!
Depends on what you’re riding though. Safer is relative and most people aren’t riding short travel rigs on black/double black trails that would make it feel sketchy.
I just found your channel because I wanted to see people’s thoughts on the 134, as it’s the first full sus bike I’ve ever got, I would love to see you put an angle set and longer travel and take it for a rip
@@JeffKendallWeed I haven’t seen this video, I’m sure the standard wheels make this bike harder to wheelie 🙂 love your videos makes my long nights with my newborn so much easier
I like shorter travel bikes . When i had a dh bike i found it would just rob me of my energy when things got flat, even on steep rocky stuff i prefer the shorter travel bike . I have a hardtail and a fat bike and im leaning more towards the fat bike at the moment, i think im gonna switch the rigid forks for suspension and make it my trail bike .
Thanks. Had a quick spin today and loving it straight away. Was torn between Medium and Large at 5'11 but went Large and it feels just right. Enjoying the content 🙌
Very entertaining video AND instructive as well. My local definitely dictate a short travel trail bike, so the 134 if I had to chose. For now I'm even riding only on a hardtail (Orbea Laufey, I would love to see you reviewing it Jeff, in addition to the review from Hardtail guru Steve from 1 or 2 years ago). On another topic I'm kind of torn between a Ripley and a Ripmo, so doing the same comparison with Ibis's rigs would be awesome!!
Thanks for the note! I have really wanted to try a Laufey, but have not been able to get one in. Hardtails always get TONS of clicks on my channel, too, but they are the hardest bikes to convince companies to loan me! Steve is a great dude, missed him last weekend at the Otter.
i ride my xc hardtail with a 100mm fork and 2.2 inch tires on easier blacks in colorado and it’s still a ton of fun. gets a little sketchy on the harder blacks, could definitely see a use for a 130 ish bike but 150+ seems insane unless you are doing park laps or racing enduro. My friend has a ripmo AF and that thing is a pain to climb on. i am an efficiency and weight snob though.
I hate that I need and love lightness and speed but that I'm also obsessed with watching downhill/enduro/freeride and rad big bikes I know I don't need around here lol One day I'm thinking about rocketship XCs that accelerate up a hill under one foot stab but then the next I'm drooling at giga trail sleds... I give up at what to buy 🥲
10:17, I guarantee you would love the new transy smuggler. I have no doubt it’s on your radar, but it checks all the boxes man. Would love to see a review!
134mm is hardly "short" travel, and is much more of a mid-travel bike. Green trails vs DH trails leaves out quite a bit too, ignoring the trail types that most riders comparing these two bike that would be riding.
Ive typically heard 150/160mm bikes called "mid travel".... 134mm is def on the short side of the travel spectrum. I think the examples between green vs DH trails was to more easily demonstrate contrast instead of just blurring the lines between two bikes on blue level trails
I have anAlchemy Arktos that I’ve played with in 120/140 and 140/160 modes. Like them both, but leaving it for a while in the longer travel mode. Do I need it? No. But it sure helps on the confidence on new features without giving up too much on the playful side.
@@JeffKendallWeedim buying my first bike. and i saw you both review ibis ripmo af and kona process dl .. which one is a good bike overall. im also open to other brands but the same budget. looking to a good climber and a ok descending. i dont see my self doing huge jumps. appreciate you. safe ridinh.
I have a Giant Trance and Reign. Both 27.5, but the Trance is built lighter, taller/shorter, I sized down to medium, less slack, etc. Basically a more lively package! But I don’t want to do the big hits or gnar until I’m on the Reign
@@JeffKendallWeed No way! Is that the one you caught on that little stump? I have had the same alloys since 2019 and they are still holding my big butt!
I saw a part of whidbey Island at the beginning of the video. Did you end up at Hurricane Ridge on the Olympic peninsula?I own a 2019 153cr/dl. It puts a smile on your face! purchase from Jenson USA
Kona dealer in the lower Caribbean 🇹🇹 ride my customed built Process 134 CR/DL frame for about 2 years.. was blown away. Going to spec a 150mm travel fork on the next 134 i build. Amazing bikes! #xterracyclestrinidadtoabgo #konakrew #konafamily
@@JeffKendallWeed building up an Allied bc40 .. 130 F 120R .. Looking for that down country line to be blurred with xc ..I'd say slots between an Exie and rocky mountain Element.. Cheers dude
Is that the new Fox Dropframe I spy? Excited to hear more about it! I'm in the market for a new helmet. Great Video! I'm going for a shorter travel to longer travel bike here next week and looking forward to seeing the differences myself. (Turbo Levo) Still keeping my Norco Bigfoot VLT for some fun fat tire hardtail action.
Is travel adjustable suspension the answer? How close to the shorter travel bike could suspension settings and tuning get the bigger travel bike? Enjoyed this comparison because of the back to back on the same section of trail format.
Travel isn't the whole story, but I'd rather be overbiked (as I often am) than underbiked (never am!). I can always work a bit harder but I can't out-effort the tech/gnar/hits. If you can only have one bike go bigger IMO, and add a hardtail later lol
Im travelling to squamish in September for week of ridjng and these 2 bikes are my choices for rentals. Which would you suggest for a 225 lbs dude with 3 out of 10 for both skill and fitness by squamish standards. I prefer techy chucky stuff rather than air time
"shorter travel with aggressive geometry" - Canyon Spectral 125 is that to a tee. Privateer 141 is a bit less extreme (travel and geo more in line with each other) but would also fit that description. Definitely an appealing combo.
Yeah that Canyon looks interesting. I hear so much bad stuff about their warranties though, and if a bike can break, I will break it, so I'm very gun shy about anything from Canyon.
Great idea! It’s actually my camera bag and camera and stuff. This way Logan’s personal gear doesn’t get hammered, worked out to be a better deal for both of us in the end. I use an A7siii with a 24-105 F4 (rode video mic pro) for most stuff, and we carry a 16-35 F4 wide as well. Sometimes we’ll grab the 70-200 F4. Ironically, this 134 vs 153 vid was all iPhone and GoPro on trail, as we forgot the Sony batteries 😂 the intro is the only thing from the Sony! 😂
Hy, Not much of a test as other brand I think. No a lot of critics. Just my point of view on your video. What do you think about the lose bikes… that s the question. But big fan otherwise.
Wouldn't kinematics play a role too? I have a Canyon Spectral 29 which is 160/150 but it's marketed and setup as a trail bike. That said I'm sure it'll handle the rough stuff better than a Neuron!
Sure, kinematics matter, which is why I was stoked to have such similar bikes to compare. I could have used different forks/shocks on the same chassis, but this is more realistic.
@@JeffKendallWeed Ah ok that makes sense! I assumed the 153 was more enduro focussed and therefore the kinematics would be different to a trail bike.
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I realy love riding, but i'm very bad at it, i'm slow af and i'm ok with it. I ride enduro and some DH local tracks. For someone like me, long or short travel? I ride a hardtail with a 150mm fork.
Definitely longer travel AM or enduro bike with good brakes, I'm the same way. Since I have the Process 153 I jump and fly a lot more... I can even go down steep sections more confidently and much faster. I started cycling at the age of 38 and I have no special athletic talent :-D
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@@peniakfoto im 40 now, i was a pro motocross rider for many years. Now its just for fun. Maybe i will look for a used long travel bike that fits my budget. Here in brazil, full suspention bikes are not cheap at all. We dont have a brazilian bike brand, so, thay are all imported with 100% tax
Sort of... they can be changed to work a bit better, but still, the amount of travel doesn't really change. There are advantages and disadvantages to long and short travel each.
Thats actually my pack that either Logan or Reilly wears depending on who is filming. It's a Shimoda Action X30, a good size, and fits my 15" MBP laptop.
Nice comparison! IMHO the hardtail is the most fun on the trails. But not as safety as ma Kona Process 153. More travel also means more safety for begginers, because the bike forgives more mistakes and the biker does not fall as much. Advanced bikers often buy a hardtail for blue and flow trails, or for bike touring. I would also like to mention that xc full suspension bikes are not completely comfortable and not so safe for beginners on steep passages, the suspension is often hard-tuned there and 100-120mm travel has its limits. I have such an experience with an XC full suspension bike...
Jeff how much of your negative handling experience on the 153 is due to the overforking? That would slacken the angles and put more weight on the rear than the original engineering / design intended I would guess
@@joshuaallswang8016 interesting. Where do you see it as stock with 170? The link to Jenson and the Kona site both spec with 160. So yeah it seems overforked based on that
I much prefer the 153 with the 170 zeb over the 160 lyric. It's not massively bigger, but just enough to give the bike that Enduro feel that I want it to have. It's MUCH more comfy in the gnar now, and overall I certainly prefer it this way.
lmao, definitely a function over fashion thing. But I have always thought that outfit looks so goofy, with the bright colors and the tucked in shirt, he looks a little silly.
Then there's me with 120 mm budget polygon siskiu taking on standard new england chunk Basically getting CTE from mtb, I genuinely don't understand how the short travel bike in this video is even considered short travel lol
21:52 I'm sorry Jeff, but all I heard was this when you made your lamentation. 🤣🤣ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Hqfsukw9S6Y.html Sick vid Bubba, I envy your prowess, you make MTB riding look how I wish I could ride, but it's inspiring nonetheless. 🤘
My HT is running a Pike ultimate 130 51degree offset, icwas wanting to put that on my Jeffsy and bump it to 160mm but its 42 offset. Can i get my trail back some how?
