Battle of the $1500 27.5 Plus Hardtails - What's your Pick?

[centershot]

So I'm changing my thinking a bit and starting to feel the Plus size tires. Doing a google search for 27.5plus hardtails brings up a bunch of options....but most are so new they have very few reviews. On my short list are the Salsa Timberjack, Oreba Loki, Marin Pine Mountain 1, Jamis Dragonslayer and Felt Surplus 70. Anyone have one, intel on these or others that I should be looking at? Still have a foot of snow around here but it should be gone by the end of the month and I need a new bike!

[Snopro440]

I was at my bike shop and really liked the Cannondale Cujo 1. Great looking spec to me.

[jeffj]

There may still be a limited number of 2016 Specialized Fuse Expert 6Fattie's left (in limited sizes) for around $1,500 to $1600 (normally $2,100).

[newking]

re: Salsa Timberjack, Oreba Loki, Marin Pine Mountain 1, Jamis Dragonslayer and Felt Surplus 70.

they all look like good bikes. The Salsa, Orbea and Marin give you the same fork but a step up over the Felt Suntour.. Real tires come on the Salsa and Marin. Brakes / drivetrain seem all the same. I like the Salsa because of the dropouts and you can run it singlespeed. You're getting a lot of bike for the money with any of them.

[SteveF]

Might get more feedback in the plus forum...

[nauc]

id stick with a reg 27.5 and get this

https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/clockwork-120-s

solid fork, shimano brakes, 1x11, threaded bottom bracket, tough frame, good geo.. done

[MitchFromOregon]

My two cents...or really 3 if I were going with a plus bike.
Salsa Timberjack
Kona Big Honzo
Jamis Dragonslayer

[BCsaltchucker]

check your preferred geometry against the specs. I ended up choosing the Fuse Comp cause it had the most reach of any 27.5+ trail hardtail, while retaining nice short chainstays. Got the 2016 reduced to 1200 - but it could really use an upgrade to XT brakes, for another 200 or so.

Like the short chainstays for climbing. Suffered too long in the 00s with long chain stay bikes!

Fuse chainstays: 430
Orange Clockwork: 440
Timberjack - 420-437 (cool!)
PIne Mountain: 437
Devinci Kobain: 430

[RAKC Ind]

Loving my Cannondale Beast of the East!

435mm CS

XL has a nice, long ETT

Except for stock tires being heavy as hell it's a fun ass bike!

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk