Yesterday I bought a specialized Rock hopper comp for 950. The girl at the shop was kinda weird though. She asked what I was gonna use it for so I told her juts riding around the city and maybe some light trails eventually and she goes “yeah hardtails aren’t made for riding on trails, they’re really good for like riding bike paths and stuff” the shows me an 8,000 dollar full suspension 😂 I’m thinking to myself ok lady, that’s a weird way to get a sale especially when I watch people ride hardtails all the time on trails. I’m a beginner and I’m not planning on sending it down whistler or some gnarly mt trail 😂
More love for the Roscoe, I ride mine everywhere over everything even though it's only the 7, the frame is really what it's about....anything that breaks or wears out will be replaced with better gear but it is a truly do it all bike, I used to ride dual sus a few years ago but was really missing that connected/direct hardtail feeling.
That’s where I’m at, I have a polygon Siskui full sus, but I miss my hard tail, it unfortunately was in our rv that burned down, sooo my good ol diamond back hard tail is a puddle of aluminum.
I think the Salsa Timberjack XT is worth a mention. Super versatile and well spec'd with geometry probably most comparable to the Trek Roscoe and usually at $2,000 if not on sale for less.
I bought a San Quentin frameset for my wife and am waiting for it to come back from getting powdercoated in a GLORIOUS cherry red. Totally psyched to build it up for her as a lightweight mullet beastie.
@@99spokes dang, when did that happen? I was just looking up a Texas dealer via their website not that long ago. It's my next dream hardtail. My 2016 Jamis Dakota Sport has done me well but would love a bit more of an aggressive HT and the Scouts are specced pretty great at the Comp level.
It happened months ago when the parent company went into administration (basically bankruptcy). That doesn’t mean unsold new bikes might not still be around in the US but as of now existing stock appears to be the end of the road for Nukeproof.
Got an older Jamis Komodo for a steal 150 bucks and its the best hard tail ive ridden. Feels so light and strong and the forks feel like riding on a cloud. I know the new ones are just under 2000 but one hell of a bike for what you get.
I just picked up a GT Avalanche expert 2022 secondhand and I love it maybe even more than my Orange P7 (although they are built for different things tbf) the GT is the first 29er I’ve ridden and I’m instantly converted, I know it’s perhaps not a “top of the range” hardtail but I think it might be the nicest frame geometry (for me) that I’ve ever ridden.
Great overview video! In that Cannondale Habbit you said you’d love to see them find a way to fit an air fork. They are really teasing with the XCR, because you can affordably swap the coil spring for an air spring on that fork.
Just got a killer deal on a Giant XTC SLR 2 - on Giant's website. Shipped to my local bike shop for setup. It was only $1100 and included a Saris hitch rack which is normally $580. It's got XC race geo, only 27lbs and spec'd really well.
I’d love to add a contender, the Poseidon Norton! Just finished building mine with a Fox34 Factory, Magura trail Sl, BOOST M1900 DT Swiss wheels + 54t upgrade and 11 speed diore drivetrain for about the same price as the Meta.
Loving my Ragley BluePigRace,Bought end of March this year for £1500, and what a spec for the price,Lyric select 160mm,SLX Drivetrain and 4 pot brakes with 'finned' pads,XT shifter and rear mech,Horizon V2 wheels with Maxxis rubber,175mm dropper..and a quality paint job..63.5 head angle .Ha!
I’m got a trek marlin 5 I’m new to mountain biking but I got really into and since the fork is not the best but good for price I got a Marzouki bomber Z2 it’s pretty cheap for such a good fork
Love my 23’ Ragley Big Wig. I’ve specked it myself, with 34 Fox Factory at 140mm, Magura MT5 brakes, CB 170mm dropper and SRAM GX drivetrain. Spank 359/350 with Spank hubs, covered in Maxxis Agassi/ DHR2. The geo works great for aggressive riding and the 4130 frame soaks up a lot of chatter. Weights just at 31.5 lbs for a large. Swapping to a lighter tire, I could easily dip below 30 lbs.
I owned a Roscoe 8 and then upgraded to a carbon chameleon by Santa Cruz I love the option that you can change the wheels size from 27.5 to 29er on the Santa Cruz the down fall is that it’s retired
Roscoe 8 is more than capable on Northern Wisconsin trails such as Mt. Ashwabay and Winman Trails. Recommend test riding the bike your interested in before buying.
I’ve had the privilege of riding some trails in your area and the UP and I agree, the Roscoe is a great bike for that kind of undulating, technical terrain!
I recommend the British brand Whyte 900 and 800 series bikes , iv rode hardtails from entry level to high end and for the money they are well specked and as much fun and capable as anything iv ever ridden inc full sus. Around £1000 to £2000 sterling depending on model and well worth it
You’re right, Whyte makes some pretty awesome bikes! Sadly they’re a bit hard to get your hands on in the states, but I’d love to get one in to review!
I think the high engagement hub on the Roscoe knocks it back up to a five based on the criteria presented. With as good as forks have gotten nowadays you’re going to spend quite a bit more before you actually feel a worthy difference there. And Quite frankly, the stock fork suits the bike. The Roscoe 8 is suuuuuuch a good deal it’s almost ridiculous.
What about the Roscoe 7? I wanted the Roscoe 6 since I'm a beginner, but that was sold out. So now I'm between the 7 and the 8. My initial budget was literally at 1.2 before
@@Javier-b8b sorry didn’t see this, Maybe the post below solves your issue. My budget was 1600. The Roscoe 7 had that standard base level meh’ness that is good enough but will leave you wondering if you made the right decision later on. I think I was preferring a Nukeproof Vs that guy if I remember right, But the 8 was so good the extra cash was a no brainer. If anyone was gonna buy the 7 with options I had at the time, I’d have told them to save their cash and get the 8.
My Roscoe 8 has been such an awesome bike, so light it's great for XC trails, but such a solid slackened brute it handles DH mountain runs, so well built, such great geo, such great components, and because of the reasonable cost upgrades are feasible
I went for a Ragley Big Wig and replaced an Orbea Laufey frame with it. I lost some climbing capability but I working on my stamina to make up for that. Well I got a lot more special sauce for going downhill ❤ Where did you find the San Quentin in full 29? I had it on my short list, but I was dropped, because of the 27,5 wheels only and already had two 29 wheelsets ... Some moments later ... Dang it. It is brand new in 29"... Too bad 😅
I’d take a BMC Twostroke 01 five, over the Canyon Exceed-which is $300 more than the Canyon but it has much better and versatile geometry than the Canyon- I think BMC has nailed the sweet spot for modern XC geometry…..
Today I finally decided to buy the Cannondale Habit HT1, I know it wasn’t really mentioned in the vid… Do you think it is a good bike for its price? (Btw my reseller sold it to me at 1200€ and not at 1700€)
Just purchased the Nukeproof scout 290 Elite, it’s not arrived yet but I cannot wait to get on them trails and burn 🔥 happy riding guys ! Everyone has a personal preference my mates got a Saracen that we had in high school and it looks brand new with the upgrades he’s done, nothing special but it gets him out having a laugh and some fun to escape life a little 😎👍🏻🔥
I have Roscoe 7 .... brakes SLX 4 PISTON DISC BRAKES BRM7120 BLM7100 LX dual caliper and MT 8100 203 and 180 disc's excellent braking pover and rekon race 29 x 2.4 tires...SRAM handles Giant Flipside Commuter Pedal. Really good bike for XC and trail run.
I got the 2023 Trek Roscoe 7. I know it isn't the 8, but she's done well for me on the trails and I can always upgrade components on it as it has the same frame as the 8 and 9, and I suppose the 6 now. lol
Hey. I love your video! At the end you said "bikes are for everyone". Well, I'm a big guy. a few years back I bought my first mountain bike to ride on paved trails cause I wanted to try and lose some weight. At that time I was around 365-370. I rode it , not everyday but maybe a couple days a week and then covid hit. I stopped riding. I gained more weight. Now over 400. I have Bad knees. I'm starting to go back to gym doing cardio but because of my knees I'm limited. Doc said, find a bike that will hold you and ride. The pounds will melt off. Okay. So I have this bike. Can you please tell me...the bike that I bought has a weight limit. It is a 2019 specialized comp 29er hardtail Rockhopper. It held my weight before I'm wondering if you had any big riders like me ride a hardtail like mine? And will it hold me at 400? I'm only riding flat paved trails. If you or any of your subs can help me out with any info or suggestions, it would greatly be appreciated. Thanks guys.
Glad you enjoyed the video! I sadly don't have much knowledge on that, but I'd imagine if you stick to riding paved or gravel paths until you get closer to the bike's weight limit you'd be fine. Bast of luck, stoked you're getting back into it!
I’ve been looking a lot at hardtails and I keep hearing the Rockhopper is the best. Surprised it wasn’t on the list. I’ve heard Specialized bikes are built better than Trek.
Hmm, can’t say I’d agree there. The Rockhopper has some pretty outdated geometry (68.5 degree HTA, short reach, etc.) I think something like the 3rd gen Trek Marlin would be a much better option if you’re looking for something under $1,000
I am in the market for a new bike as I crashed mine hard and bent my crank, cracked the rear hub, bent the front axle, broke a couple spokes and my derailleur bent 45°. It is cheaper to buy a new bike than fix my 2019 Specialized rockhopper comp. It is a shame because I like that frame, but upgrading everything that is broken will cost $1600+. Not even crazy upgrades, like slightly better than stock. The mtb industry is out to lunch with their pricing.
Any thoughts on frame only offerings? I was out of mountain biking for a bit, so bought a mid-level aluminum framed bike, but missed the chromoly twang of my old GT. Bought a Sonder Signal ST because it was available as a full build. I loved how it rode, it but it lit up bright gold in the sun. Didn't think I had the skills or conditioning to warrant so much attention grabbing flash. So I bought the Pipedream ST5 frame I originally wanted, in classic green, and switched over all the parts. After some upgrades I could rebuild the Sonder. Now I have two cool bikes and two broken credit cards. Another example of trying to save money but ending up spending more?
Great dirt jumper! But the lack of rear derailleur/dropper post compatibility doesn’t make it a great option as a trail bike. The Specialized Fuse would be the better option from the big S
I have now the Cube attention slx 2022 but i want something lighter and better for the hills in the woods. Trek procaliber 8 2024 or Trek roscoe 8? Good comfort and agility is a must.
Nice! The Roscoe will lean a bit. Ore towards comfort, whereas the Procaliber will be more agile. I’d say the Roscoe would be the better option for all-around trail riding
I dont have a mountain anywhere around, and I dont ride for speed/time, so what's that? Trail? Definitely not XC or AM, and probably not enduro. Are there any hardtails dialed for just normal trail riding? Pedal up some, go down some. Rock beds. Small drops. etc. Seems like all bikes are either XC with super steep geo, or AM/DH/Enduro with super slack gro and 780mm of travel. I want a hardtail for somewhere between XC and Enduro, thats still easy to manual and ride uphill.
Test ride some bikes at your local bike shops. I’d totally go with an XC based off your comment, but bikes are totally a personal thing where everyone is different
Here are the two bikes side by side on our website: 99spokes.com/compare?bikes=trek-marlinplus-6-2024%2Ccube-reaction-hybrid-performance-625-2023 I'd go with the Trek if you plan to do mostly trail riding, it's lighter and has a bit more trail-focused geometry. But if you plan to mostly commute or ride forest roads, then that shouldn't be an issue, and the cube has a bigger battery so you should be able to fit in longer rides
I got the Roscoe 7, not as loaded in componants as the 8. The 7 $1800 out the door. The 8 $2200 out the door. The 7 fork is just as good as the 8 fork, trust me. The shimano on the 7 is better than the nx on the 8. The 7 xl has mid tier hubs, the 8 has better hubs. The tires, rims are the same. The brakes on the 8 are better but you can upgrade the 7 brakes. The 7 colors are way better. A little bit more for your money in the 8 but the 7 is close and & $400 less. The 7 is a good platform to start. Tires are different for everybody but tires on all these Roscoe’s are slow rolling and draggy. I mead some Maxxis dissectors! 8 is done and just live with the fork for a year, the 7 just needs better brakes and live with the fork
@@romamoranto5348 I was in the market to get a new hardtail. A 29er. I have a couple mullet hardtails. To get the new roscoe frame and get quality parts and fork and build it from scratch it would cost me about $2700, good parts and wheels. I studied the parts of the 6,7 and 8 extensivly. The 7 cost me $1800 out the door. The 8 $2250 out the door. Theirs a lot to cover here so let me try and make it simple. Both forks are about the same, other reviews say the same. They say the 7 shimano drivetrain is better then the 8 sram nx, I have both, I agree. 7 brakes are not as good as 8 but they are good for now and you can up grade next year. You can change just the brake caliper part and transform them. The tires and rims are the same on the 7 and 8 and are top notch. Although I would go Maxxis dissectors in the future, faster rolling but still grippy. The 8 has top notch hubs and the 7 has pretty good hubs for the price. The colors of the 7 are the best. Almost forgot the 7 wheel hubs are shimano microspline meaning the drivetrain is 10 to 51 tooth and you can upgrade to the whole shimano line. The 8 is sram 11-51 tooth. You can go without the 10 tooth but, when you only have the 11 you really notice it. I would build one myself or buy the roscoe 7.
@@romamoranto5348 I just checked the new roscoe 6. It would be $1320 out the door. So $480 more for the roscoe 7. Better fork, hubs, brakes, drivetrain, tires, about a pound lighter. You could do the 6 and have to upgrade a lot, depending how hard you ride. But I think the roscoe 7 gives you a lot for the $1650 plus tax. The shimano brakes have interchangable, you can change certain parts and live with others.
Great bike, and back in the day it didn’t have a ton of competition, but with the increased popularity in hardtails many other brands have started releasing modern takes on these value priced bikes. We’re excited to see when Giant release an updated Fathom!
Hi, What about Specialized Fuse?? I own one during thise 2023 and it's pretty similar to the Cannondale Habit... But it brings better specs like wheels, drive train and fork and price it might be the same
Just got a 22 Specialized Chisel frame and looking to build it out on a budget. any suggestions on a good balance of a decent group set, wheels, and shocks with low cost & weight. Thanks in advance.
Nice, that’s awesome! I think a 12 speed deore drivetrain is by far the best budget groupset, and then I’d explore PinkBike classifieds for a lightly used wheeler and suspension. Lots of time you can find parts that are essentially brand new, just taken off and replaced with higher quality parts when the bike was originally purchased
