CouchingTiger
October 23rd, 2002, 08:21 AM
I have this love hate thing going with freeride hardtails. I keep building them and riding them for a little while in bliss only to find that it turns to hate. I think I've had 2 or 3 different attempts.
The first was a Surley Instigator. It was wicked heavy and a real dead fish. It lasted maybe a month. The next was a Specialized Enduro. Actually a nice rig, pretty light (for an FR type rig) but didn't have enough clearance for bigger meat in the rear. It made it maybe a month and a half.
For my most recent foray, I went with that which I knew, a Santa Cruz Chameleon. I've had one as a SS for a few years now. I'm running a 5" fork on both so the feel is similar. The big diff is a short stem and man, what a diff.
Here's the pix. So far, fun bike. Excellent jumper, wheelies like mad and was able to hang on a semi-fast XC ride. The things corners like a banshee too. It may be a keeper!
-Couch
The first was a Surley Instigator. It was wicked heavy and a real dead fish. It lasted maybe a month. The next was a Specialized Enduro. Actually a nice rig, pretty light (for an FR type rig) but didn't have enough clearance for bigger meat in the rear. It made it maybe a month and a half.
For my most recent foray, I went with that which I knew, a Santa Cruz Chameleon. I've had one as a SS for a few years now. I'm running a 5" fork on both so the feel is similar. The big diff is a short stem and man, what a diff.
Here's the pix. So far, fun bike. Excellent jumper, wheelies like mad and was able to hang on a semi-fast XC ride. The things corners like a banshee too. It may be a keeper!
-Couch