Just wanted to take the pulse of the forum on this - I just got a new 2017 Scalpel SI 4, and having some trouble getting used to the handling of it.
I'm coming off of ( still own) a 2012 Gary Fisher Superfly hardtail. Both bikes are similar in wheelbase, same head angle; the GF has a 51mm offset, and the Scalpel 55.
The Scalpel just feels so twitchy, to the point of feeling nervous. It reminds me of my old 26" Giant Anthem that had a 72 degree head angle. It feels like it constantly wants to turn at the slightest movement of the handlebar; it cant just 'chill' and go in a straight line. I feel like I'm missing the lines I want. I'm finding technical sections of trail that I used to consistently clear on the Fisher to be a real challenge now, and having to dab way more often. I thought this bike would blow the older tech of the Gary Fisher out of the water, surprised to see myself setting way faster Strava times on the old bike. Additionally, all the reviews I've read of the bike have been positive and mentioned how the slacker geo makes the bike almost a trail bike, and is no longer like the race-only twitchy Scalpels of old.
What am I missing? Is there something I could do to slacken the handling? The handlebar on the Superfly has a big sweep, 15 deg, compared to 5 for the Cannnodale. Would that account for a big handling difference? Thinking of giving swapping the bars a shot.
Anyway, your thoughts are appreciated. I couldn't find a single person online calling the redesigned 2017 Scalpel twitchy, so I'm wondering what I'm missing here...
I'm coming off of ( still own) a 2012 Gary Fisher Superfly hardtail. Both bikes are similar in wheelbase, same head angle; the GF has a 51mm offset, and the Scalpel 55.
The Scalpel just feels so twitchy, to the point of feeling nervous. It reminds me of my old 26" Giant Anthem that had a 72 degree head angle. It feels like it constantly wants to turn at the slightest movement of the handlebar; it cant just 'chill' and go in a straight line. I feel like I'm missing the lines I want. I'm finding technical sections of trail that I used to consistently clear on the Fisher to be a real challenge now, and having to dab way more often. I thought this bike would blow the older tech of the Gary Fisher out of the water, surprised to see myself setting way faster Strava times on the old bike. Additionally, all the reviews I've read of the bike have been positive and mentioned how the slacker geo makes the bike almost a trail bike, and is no longer like the race-only twitchy Scalpels of old.
What am I missing? Is there something I could do to slacken the handling? The handlebar on the Superfly has a big sweep, 15 deg, compared to 5 for the Cannnodale. Would that account for a big handling difference? Thinking of giving swapping the bars a shot.
Anyway, your thoughts are appreciated. I couldn't find a single person online calling the redesigned 2017 Scalpel twitchy, so I'm wondering what I'm missing here...