Who owns the most working bikes? Answer Fire Lord Jim 27
- Thread starter A Potted Plant
- Start date
GreenMachine
Well-Known Member
so you wound up buying the HT recently over the Tallboy was it ?
Victor I
aka Ridgehog
Good memory. One of my favorite demos in the past year was the Tallboy V3. While very competent for 110mm rear, is just not enough bike for the chunk that I typically ride. The Tallboy V4 and 2020 Hightower are both a little too slack for my needs. Coming from a bike with a 69.5 degree head angle, just couldn’t get used to the current ultra slack trend. Settled on a leftover 2019 Hightower as the head angle at 67 degrees is slack enough to help with trail features but steep enough for the Northeast switchbacks. Is it me, or are most mountain bikes designed for out west?
With names like Rocky Mountain, Santa Cruz....you get the idea. ?
I was listening to the Path podcast. They said every few years ( for decades) the manufacturers would say “yeah, like a 71 degree head angle is the steepest we could EVER go and still make it turn”. Then it was 69, 67, 65 etc. I don’t think we’ve reached the end of this curve yet.
Victor I
aka Ridgehog
OK, let’s make a chopper with a 35 degree head angle and it will be the ultimate enduro rig.?
carvegybe
Well-Known Member
I think the manufacturers are saying that slacker HTAs are possible with longer wheelbase, steeper seat tube angle, and slightly shorter chainstays. The result is apparently that downhill performance is improved without sacrificing climbing performance.
I remove myself from the next best thing craze maybe 10 years ago. I think Maybe 10 years is the span when jumping up is worth the cost.
Victor I
aka Ridgehog
I thought the same thing until I tried a modern bike. New bikes climb great and feel more secure under many conditions. Going back a few years you had long chain stay with a short front end so that also has its drawbacks.
Victor I
aka Ridgehog
I prefer V3 but I ride up north so needed a little more than 110mm rear suspension. Such a fun bike. If I lived down your way would have bought the Tallboy V3.
yup 😉
the new hightower climbs better than my tallboy - maybe it was the eagle vs X01 11sp? i don't think i used the dinner plate cog at deer park tho.
Victor I
aka Ridgehog
Not sure about that. I think we will have to do a scientific experiment one day to compare/contrast your bike vs mine. I forgot is yours the cc? I don’t get why the 2019 Hightower weighs less than a v3 Tallboy comparably equipped(maybe frame weight). I couldn’t find the frame weight online for a non cc 2019 Hightower. Not that weight matters all that much. Learned by doing a ton of demos the past year how much an efficient suspension design helps.
carvegybe
Well-Known Member
I have a 2-by drivetrain and rims with 21mm inner width/2.3 inch tires. These "outdated" features make sense to me. I am a low cadence rider and the 2-by helps me change gearing quickly when there is a surprise climb (derailleur also smaller and less likely to be bent). The rims/tires are all about minimising rotational mass which make me accelerate faster than a comparable bike with heavier wheels - this is to compensate for being crap at retaining momentum on turns so always need to punch it coming out of a turn to keep up with the better rider up front.
carvegybe
Well-Known Member