Trek Remedy Vs. Niner W.F.O.

nitropiro · 11-25-2009

The title says pretty much all of it except that I'm 6'1 and I'm going to max out at 6' 3 soon. I ride rocky, rooty off camber trails that cause the words "Rock garden" and "steep descent" to always go hand in hand. I consistently do drops that are about 3-5 ft every time I go ride. With all the steep rocky descents in my area relatively harsh, low traction climbs are frequent. My inseam is roughly 34 in. and I want a bike that will continue to deliver for quite a long time. Lets see what yall can do for me

Edit: I would get the Remedy 7 due to budget, but with some hard work and some determination I could maybe afford to build up a W.F.O. or a R.I.P. over time If I were to take the 29er path.

Vertr · 11-26-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitropiro

The title says pretty much all of it except that I'm 6'1 and I'm going to max out at 6' 3 soon. I ride rocky, rooty off camber trails that cause the words "Rock garden" and "steep descent" to always go hand in hand. I consistently do drops that are about 3-5 ft every time I go ride. With all the steep rocky descents in my area relatively harsh, low traction climbs are frequent. My inseam is roughly 34 in. and I want a bike that will continue to deliver for quite a long time. Lets see what yall can do for me

Those two seem like fairly different bikes. Do you want a 29er or a 26er? I've ridden a Remedy, and I like them. Haven't ridden the Niner. Personally for the drops I would stick with 26. Also what is your budget? Are you looking for more options? Which Remedy are you considering, and what component spec for the Niner?

cruzean · 11-26-2009

Both are excellent bikes but fundamentally quite different. I went from a 26" FXR to a 69er FXR (with a DUC, awesome set up, much better than I expected) and now to a WFO. With each step towards the full 29er I have been able to increase my comfort level and ride more and bigger drops . Currently (until the end of the month) they have an excellent deal on the WFO (the "Party pack": basically include the fork and two Kodiak tires for the price of the frame). Go to a local dealer or contact Larry at www.mtnhighcyclery.com. IF you do not like it you could most likely sell it for the same price. I am just over 6' and the 29 inch wheels feel way more natural to me. It makes sense that everything is proportional. I rode a RIP 9, Remedy and Blur LT back to back and liked the RIP the best, but all are really great bikes. The RIP felt like it had nearly as much suspension as the other two and was the most bob free. The WFO will feel like a bit more suspension than the Remedy and pedal just as well. I was not able to make a direct comparison (same day) of the Remedy and WFO but after being on a 29 inch front wheel for nearly a year it felt too twitchy going back to a 26 when I rode the Remedy (a beautiful bike). It will always be 29er or 69er for me.

nitropiro · 11-26-2009

specifically what are the drawbacks of the 29er Vs. 26er
I already know that a 29er will roll over obstacles much easier than a 26er but what else do the big wheels have to offer,

cruzean · 11-26-2009

There are lots of discussions about this on the 29er forum. The biggest advantage for me is I do not feel like I am going over the bars, I am between the wheels instead of up on top of them. The 9er is more stable at high speeds and keeps it's momentum better but is a bit cumbersome in certain types of slow techy trails. Some of the 9ers are harder to manual and feel very front heavy (longer chainstays, and top tubes with low BB's). I do not like all the 9ers I have riden but felt the RIP to be the best all around bike I have ever riden. I immediately liked the 9er but some people need a few weeks to warm up to it. People Less then 5' 8" may not like it. If I were to get a HT I see no advantage to getting a 26inch HT, except for trials riding. For freeride and larger drops I feel the 69er and possibly the 26er the best because having more travel is often better for that type of riding. That said, I have never not been able to do something on the 9er that I have done on my26er. The RIP has 4.5 inches of travel and feels like it has as much as my 5.75" travel Foes and pedals better. My wife is 5' 8" and I put a 650b on the front of her FS XC race bike and she likes it a lot and is riding down things she used to walk and in general is riding faster. At 6'3" I really think you will like the 9er and should go ride a few. I noticed that getting the cockpit set up properly was more crucial than on my 26er. The 9ers are so popular that the 29er forum is now at the top of the list on MTBR. Good luck

bigewheels · 12-03-2009

I've had my long travel all mountain set ups but have ridden various 29ers for the past couple of years due to how well they roll over obstacles. I recently picked up a remedy and I must say it is money in the bank. If you are going to be taking drops prepare to destroy your 29er wheels. Maybe try 69er option with a remedy?