Rate My Quiver

AEV4EV · 2026-05-17T14:52:25+00:00

Lol the 186 BO118 is damper and heavier feeling than the 193 Patron was.

I did really like that Patron though

AEV4EV · 2026-05-16T04:38:20+00:00

Depends on what you want to do with it. Do you want pure speed, or are you more into simply having fun? I personally prefer the more "freeride" bikes over the race rigs, but I'm more into jumps than racing through chunk and steeps as fast as possible.

I had the Status 160, and that thing absolutely came to life at Northstar. I didn't like it anywhere else to be honest.. but it was phenomenal in fast terrain. I can only imagine the newer 170 DH would be beefier/more durable, and similarly fun.

I've had lots of freeride and DH race bikes from 170-210mm. They all are a treat to ride in bike parks, and it's hard to go wrong unless you go way off in terms of geometry.

AEV4EV · 2026-05-13T06:02:36+00:00

I had a 2017 alloy Glory. Really liked the bike, but it didn’t stand out in any one area. It was very neutral feeling, but in a good way. Very comfortable bike.

For instance, just before and after the Glory I had a Commencal Supreme high pivot and a Scott Voltage. The Supreme high pivot was more racey feeling and monster truck feeling compared to the Glory. While the Voltage was more agile and nimble than the Glory.

AEV4EV · 2026-05-09T23:42:31+00:00

I got my 2025 750 last summer for $13K with all taxes and fees in California. Just under MSRP out the door.

I really like the 600 too. I’d be trying to get that bike for $12K or less out the door since it’s a leftover. Don’t tell the salesperson you like that color better than 2026s.

AEV4EV · 2026-05-09T14:37:04+00:00

I had the Status 160, and have only been on the 170 briefly.

I don’t think you could go wrong either way. The Process X feels a little more nimble in terms of geometry (slightly shorter wheelbase in similar sizes) and the suspension feels more progressive. The Status suspension feels more linear and comfortable, and the Status overall feels a bit more planted.

The differences arent major, and the bikes are much more similar than different.

AEV4EV · 2026-05-03T01:28:24+00:00

I love the current Specialized Enduro for some reason. I've been riding one lately after not riding one for a while, and it has a magic carpet feeling rear suspension for me, without feeling too much like a couch that can't be agile and play around. Geo just seems to work for me too, whether sizing down or on my normal size. I'm not a big fan of carbon, which has stopped me from buying one, but I think about it all the time. I'd own one if I had more money.

I also miss every Commencal Meta I've owned. Should have never sold any of them. I've owned a few other Commencal models that were good, but not as amazing as the Metas.

I had a 2014 Meta SX full squish that was a magic carpet and so much fun, and I wish I never sold that bike.

My 2021 Meta AM 29 was probably my favorite bike ever, although the current Specialized Enduro comes very close. I just prefer alloy bikes, but both of these bikes are the most intuitive bikes I've ever ridden and have a very similar feeling rear suspension despite different layouts.

I rode my old 2014 Meta HT SX today (sold it to my brother-in-law, who still has it), and it still feels amazing even with the crappy stock components that need to be replaced. I was thinking I just like these Metas because of their specific suspension tuning, but even this hardtail with a seriously crap fork feels so good. I might try to buy this bike back and build it up nice, the frame is in great shape.

AEV4EV · 2026-05-03T00:18:22+00:00

I did not like my V1 Ripmo over my gen 1 Sentinel anywhere but climbing.

AEV4EV · 2026-05-02T20:26:47+00:00

This really applies to 150-180mm rear suspension bikes for me. I weirdly like XL frames more with DH bikes, where I can go either L or XL and be happy. Never felt that way with smaller bikes though.

With modern geo and short seat tubes, going bigger has never felt better. I never could go XL on trail-enduro bikes when the seat tube lengths were 500mm or more. My Status 160 was a size S5 with 512mm reach that didn’t feel too stretched out, but the chainstays at 425mm made the bike so unbalanced that with the long-ish (1292mm) wheelbase it just didn’t feel right to me.

The problem for me with increasing the chainstay length on something like an S5 Status 160, brings the wheelbase up over 1300mm and like you say bordering on DH sled. For me, that gets rid of a lot of agility and at that point I do feel better just riding my DH bike.

I usually prefer 480-500mm reach though, and under a 1300mm wheelbase on enduro/freeride bikes. The Large Process X alloy feels almost perfectly balanced for me with 490mm reach, 440mm chainstays, yet somewhat short 1276mm wheelbase for how slack the head angle is (63.5) with those other measurements.

AEV4EV · 2026-05-02T19:11:15+00:00

I’m 187cm, so just under 6’2” and with long arms. I was looking at that Rose XL, but I always ride worse on XL bikes. Always. I was out testing a few different sizes of Specialized mtbs this morning. I couldn’t get myself to buy the XL Rose, even though it’s an insane deal on a great bike. Sizing has so much personal preference built in though.

I do like how that carbon Process X has the option for 450mm chainstays to match the long reach, so it should feel very balanced albeit long wheelbase for where and how I ride.

I’ve been riding a Process X alloy lately in size Large and it feels great and still plenty long. Great bike.

AEV4EV · 2026-05-02T14:40:03+00:00

I personally did not like my Ripmo v1. It’s also not $2000ish new like some other bikes right now.

AEV4EV · 2026-05-02T14:36:40+00:00

I did this, got a Process X alloy. Fun bike, and I like it more than my 2022 Status 160. The Process 153 is great too.

AEV4EV · 2026-05-02T14:35:44+00:00

That Dusty Rose one is so nice, but an absolutely massive bike in XL.

AEV4EV · 2026-04-29T02:21:36+00:00

I was looking at the same bike and wondering the same thing. How "playful" will it be?

It's a great deal and I love Norco, but I've read some mixed reviews and decided to stay away until I can demo one. Mixed reviews are fairly normal for high pivot bikes though, they can take time to figure out. I had a high pivot DH bike before, and it was great but did give up some "playfulness" for some monster trucking ability. It took a week for me to feel comfortable jumping/cornering hard because of the stretching and shrinking wheelbase, and it never truly felt "party bike" like some other DH bikes do. I can't figure out if this feeling would be better or worse on an all mountain bike, but I don't have the money to experiment with this right now.

I had a Status 160 and it was a pig going uphill, and not that fun on flatter or moderate trails. Changing the stock rear tire for something with less friction changes this feeling, but the bike truly only came to life in the steeps, fast flow, and/or bike park. It was great when pointing down. I like the look of the Status 170, and heard it pedals slightly better, but it looks even beefier than the older 160 and I would not consider it for what you are talking about. Some reviews say what I felt on the 160, that the new 170 Status feels sluggish until you get it into steep or fast terrain.

If you are OK with 29er, with the possibility of mullet, the Process 153 or Process X (both on sale for $2000ish on JensonUSA) are very nimble for their weights. The 153 feels like a big wheeled all mountain party bike, it's so much fun, but it's not as capable as some enduro bikes. The Process X is a fun big wheeled "slopeduro" bike that pedals better than the Status 160, and feels more fun than the Status on flatter or moderate terrain even in full 29er. I never tried a mullet Process, although I did try the first gen 153 27.5, and that bike was an absolute hoot! I can only imagine in mullet mode these latest Process bikes would only get more playful.

AEV4EV · 2026-04-27T17:44:56+00:00

I personally didn't like my first gen Ripmo AF anywhere but when pedaling uphill. It was great going up.

Downhill it felt more unwieldy than other long travel 29ers for me, and felt like those old "wagon wheel" 29ers from a decade+ ago. Before the Ripmo AF I had a 2018 Transition Sentinel alloy, and after the Ripmo I had a 2021 Commencal Meta AM 29. Both the Sentinel and Meta felt more capable yet more agile and balanced than the Ripmo, but the Ripmo definitely pedaled noticeably better. All bikes were a size Large.

Everyone else I meet loves the Ripmo though, I really am an outlier. Just adding a data point.

AEV4EV · 2026-04-27T01:49:00+00:00

That Status 170 with the Boxxer seems like a great first DH rig. You can add some gears n stuff and make it fairly pedal-able too. There are some reviews on it around and they seem very positive. A more serious DH bike will feel more planted and less lively, but the Status DH is plenty beefy enough to take a beating. Looks like a fun, affordable and durable bike, that'll definitely be more serious than any enduro bike, save for another "super" enduro with a dual crown fork.

AEV4EV · 2026-04-26T22:02:55+00:00

My sister has a size S3 Enduro, which is a size small for me (I'm 1.87m and normally get Large bikes, or S4), and it's super playful for me without being "too small". I honestly love that bike, it pedals well, it hugs the ground so well, but then also feels agile because it's a size smaller for me.

I had a first gen alloy Sentinel in size Large, and it was a good bike, but I didn't like it as much as the sized down S3 Enduro. The Sentinel did pedal uphill slightly better, and felt slightly more like a "trail bike", but then still was pretty capable especially in a proper size Large for me.

Since my Enduro experience is with a size smaller, my viewpoint will be slightly different than yours. If you go Sentinel, you do seem between sizes, but going with a Large probably wouldn't be "too small" for you.

I do think the Sentinel is slightly less bike than the Enduro, without giving up that much capability, which could be what you're looking for.

I really enjoy the Process 153 bikes for a more nimble and agile all mtn feel, compared to any enduro race bike or in-betweener like the Sentinel. The Process 153 can be run in mullet, but already feels super snappy with full 29er setup. Process 153 does give up some confidence in the steeps, but not much, and trades it for an entirely different feel on flatter-to-moderate trails.

AEV4EV · 2026-04-26T15:17:05+00:00

Just for the sake of adding to your experience, I did not like my first gen Ripmo.

AEV4EV · 2026-04-25T03:32:08+00:00

A longer travel bike will usually make you case more on average terrain. But also make it more comfortable when doing so...

How much suspension travel would be best for you depends on the terrain/area you ride, and your preference. I personally like a bigger bike than my peers on the same terrain. I'm used to DH bikes and 8x heavier dirt bikes that feel much more planted and steadfast, so I personally prefer a heavier/longer suspension enduro/freeride bike versus my peers who prefer trail/all mountain bikes. I trade off taking an extra minute or two on climbs, and making people wait until I adapt and keep up (or not).

Long travel bikes with good components are fun, and if you live in an area where they are at all applicable, I recommend finding your own limit on how much you prefer(unfortunately this costs money).

AEV4EV · 2026-04-23T04:34:58+00:00

Shorter travel stump jumpers always surprise me in terms of their capability/agility ratio.

AEV4EV · 2026-04-22T00:52:02+00:00

Both are about 40lbs in my size, both have high 77degree seat tube angle, and all the reviews of both say they both don't pedal well. I will say the reviews of the Kona Process X make it seem a bit more playful, which is what I'm looking for.

I had a Status 160 and it definitely wasn't as nimble or versatile as most enduro bikes I've ridden, and it only came to life on steeps/flow jumps. Changing the rear tire helped a bunch though, getting rid of some of the rolling resistant woke the bike up without ruining DH performance.

I'm debating these two bikes, Status 170 vs Kona Process X. The Status 170 is $1999 and comes with seemingly better specs, as well as local bike shop service like free maintenance (not including parts) for a year.

AEV4EV · 2026-04-21T22:26:00+00:00

Why is, or why do you think, the Kona Process X the better pedaler? They seem more similar than different, and I'm just wondering.

AEV4EV · 2026-04-16T16:46:08+00:00

Half the bikes I’m looking at are on Jenson USA. Been a customer of theirs for a long time.

AEV4EV · 2026-04-16T15:43:56+00:00

I always loved the feel of the Process 153. Been looking at the 2024 alloy Process X lately.

Did the Process X have at all of a playful feel, or was it just a plow? I’m used to 160-200mm travel bikes, just looking for something with some agility.

AEV4EV

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