Ok..last time...which one would you pick?....

[Motozulu]

Down to a choice of two for my company's C2C scheme in Feb - which one would you good people go for and why? I know Cubes are 'racy' but I reckon I'm competent enough to get em round Cannock now. Weights (though not shown here) are'nt an issue - think the SL is around 12kg and the reaction 11.3 - either is good. What i don't get is the difference in price - to me on the face of it the cheaper option (SL) has a better groupset - I've heard of a few quibbles on the Sun ringle hubs on the reaction? Plus the SL has full XT, the reaction has the formula RX brakes.

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks - indecisive of Staffs

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/6335/cube-ltd-sl-hardtail-bike-2012-sale

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/6802/cube-reaction-pro-hardtail-xc-mountain-bike-2012-sale

 

[lulubel]

If I'd been faced with that choice before I bought mine, I would have chosen the SL because it has the Reba forks, and I knew they were what I wanted.

That's all I can say really - what I would have done. They both have things (different things) going for them, and you have to decide what's more important to you

 

[Motozulu]

Thanks Lulu - I posted the same question on single track forum and they all leant towards the frame of the Reaction. I thought the forks were paramount but some clever fellas pointed out that it's all about the frame - and the Reaction is the better one. Plus I AM obsessed with the bike's weight - again the Reaction Pro.

I know I've been a boring git over this but I am going for the Reaction Pro - thanks for all the input this and last time.

 

[lulubel]

I thought that was the way you'd probably go, and they're absolutely right about the importance of the frame.

The reason I made my decision based on components - I just made sure the frame would fit me - is because I thought I'd probably change the frame for a steel one eventually, so the components were more important for me. When I found my Cube, I was still pretty much looking for a donor bike, and I still haven't ruled out a change of frame in the future.

But I totally think the Reaction Pro is the better choice for you.

 

[02GF74]

definitely the Pro, better forks, better brakes and tyres. bigger discount too so you get more bike for your money.

 

[Cubist]

The Reaction has a better frame, and better drivetrain. The biggest difference for me is the XT chainset over the Deore version on the Ltd. That's a travesty on a £1k hardtail in my opinion. Wheels? I'm not a fan of XT hubs anyway, and Sun Ringle are a quality item.

The Formula brakes are very, very good. OK, they may not review as well as XT, but trust me, very few folk can tell the difference. A mate of mine absolutely swears by his.

The Reaction therefore has a better frame, and the weight difference is all in the chainset. The wheels are great and if you really don't like them they are so easy and cheap to upgrade in today's market.

As Lu says, the Float is a bit plain compared with a Reba, but it's still a very capable fork, just not as inifinitely adjustable as a Reba.
As long as you can accept you have bought an out and out race bike, the Reaction is a great deal indeed.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

As long as you can accept you have bought an out and out race bike, the Reaction is a great deal indeed.

That is what would swing it for me, does one want/need a balls out XC race bike or something less, well, err, racy?

 

[lulubel]

Moto says he wants a bike that's good for climbing. To get that, you have to make sacrifices elsewhere.

 

[Cubist]

Moto says he wants a bike that's good for climbing. To get that, you have to make sacrifices elsewhere.

That is what would swing it for me, does one want/need a balls out XC race bike or something less, well, err, racy?

Yep, you're both right. To be fair both are very similar in terms of geometry, and for me the wheels and the cranks are the deciding factor. I guess if Moto can ride Cannock happily on what he's got, then as long as he can tame the Reaction, it'll do him great service. I think I said in my Cotic thread that I've had enough of nervous XC thrashers, but I rode a LTD for long enough to know they can be arsed downhill, you just have to know what you're doing.

And wear kneepads.

 

[lulubel]

I think I said in my Cotic thread that I've had enough of nervous XC thrashers, but I rode a LTD for long enough to know they can be arsed downhill, you just have to know what you're doing.

Yes. I still love everything I've read about the Soul, especially everything you've said about it. Being realistic, I think the reach would be too long for me, though. I already have a 70mm stem on my tiny bike, so I haven't got room to go much longer in the top tube.

 

[VamP]

... does one want/need a balls out XC race bike ...

Of course one does.

 

[Cubist]

Yes. I still love everything I've read about the Soul, especially everything you've said about it. Being realistic, I think the reach would be too long for me, though. I already have a 70mm stem on my tiny bike, so I haven't got room to go much longer in the top tube.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=67683&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom

 

[lulubel]

40mm would be short enough, I guess.

Still, I'm very happy with my Cube at the moment, and I also don't have any money left!

 

[Motozulu]

I do realise I am heading into uncharted territory (for me anyway) with the Cube. My Merida is a big lump of a plodder with a clunky front fork but with the appropriate effort in the saddle - gets me round the Dog with minimum fuss.

But I want to go quicker - I want to fly up the climbs. It may well be I'll have to learn to ride this bike all over again, but I've got the knee pads and tbh - I've sort of given up looking for a bike that is'nt XC. The Boardman would have been perfect (my company is'nt and won't sign up to Halfords C2W scheme). Evans do a 120mm travel reba equipped Pinnacle badged own brand but does'nt look anywhere near the bike the Cube does. All the new Treks are 100mm travels and look more xc than trail, To get anywhere near the Reaction Pro I'd be looking at the Pinnacle Iroko 2 at £1200.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/iroko-2-2013-mountain-bike-ec044225#features

A great looking and pretty well equipped 'proper' trail bike but is it really worth £200 more than the reaction Pro? will the Reaction Pro really be that bad on the red runs to make me need to pay the extra?

 

[Cubist]

No, it'll be great. It won't nurse you down, nor give you that sitting in the bike planted feeling, but it will go like the proverbial. You'll have to pick your lines instead of rumbling over them or smashing though stuff, and you'll have to use and hone all your skills to get the best from it. It will reward you many times over for your effort and you'll be a much better rider for it. All that would have come with the Ltd as well, so it isn't about choosing between these two anymore, that's a bit of a no-brainer to be fair, it'll be getting your mind ready to really learn from and with a new bike.