29er Questions from Readers #3 Suspension on a Budget.

In our last 29er Questions from Readers, we saw how far a $3,000 budget went towards a hard tail with an emphasis on light weight. The answer was; pretty far, with several good options in carbon fiber or steel. In this installment, the challenge is much greater – full suspension on a tighter budget.

Meet Tom. He is an experienced rider – he tackled Moab – and he has been on a 2009 Santa Cruz Blur LT that he build up himself. He recently tried out a 29er and is hooked – welcome to the club! He rides because he loves to ride, likes being in nature, challenging his skills, and exploring new trails. He knows his $2,000 budget is tight but he wants something he can ride now and build up over time into a great machine.

Basically, Tom’s riding style is that of most enthusiast bikers and fits our philosophy here at 29eronline. He is passionate about it, and challenges himself, but he does not feel the need to beat or compare to others, like a racer. It is a much more personal experience. When folks like us ride a technical section of trail the reward is the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from cleaning it. However, we are not willing to risk serious injury for that thrill – no wanna be Redbull videos from the folks at 29online.

Tom has been looking at the Trek HiFi Plus which lists for $2,309 and the Niner Jet9. The Jet9 is admittedly way over his budget at $3,000 plus, but he heard the Niner handles better than the HiFi, so we will include it in the discussion.

29eronline has very limited time on the Trek HiFi Plus, but the time we do have was pleasant. It handles quickly and the ABP was a nice feature. Local riders have complained that the handling was too fast at times.

We would put Tom on a Specialized Camber at $2,050. Tom is who the Camber was designed for and the price is spot on for his budget. It is a XC bike tuned to be plush and have reliable handling. Call it an XC bike with a playful side. For $2,050 he is out the door, and living his 29er dreams. Given his experience and willingness to be his own mechanic, he will definitely want to upgrade over time. This is a frame that will justify the investment. The wheels would be the first recommended upgrade. The bike is noticeably faster and smoother with a high-end wheel set. That being said, there is nothing wrong with the stock wheels and they will serve him well while he saves for new ones. Our initial review of the Camber includes more thoughts on potential upgrades.

What about the idea the Niner Jet9 handles “better” than the Camber? We would argue (nicely of course – see our review of the Jet9) that it does not handle better. Rather, it handles completely differently. These bikes, despite having similar suspension travel, are completely different bikes. The JET9 feels faster, has tons of traction for an 80mm bike, and is plush enough to save you from getting too beat up. It needs to be steered from the center of the bike and it responds to fairly subtle weight changes. It is a very fast handling bike; it feels like an XC race bike. The Jet9 requires you to trust the bike and not panic by over-steering or exaggerating body positioning. If the downhill is steep, you still need to stay fairly centered. Leaning too far back makes the front end light. The JET9 is great for covering lots of ground fast and taking the edge off the hits. It is definitely trail-worthy but it does not hide its race heritage. The Jet9 is probably better compared to the Specialized Epic than a Specialized Camber.

The Camber is looser as far as geometry than the Jet9. It’s feel is a little softer than the JET9, but, surprisingly, not a ton. The Camber’s handling is much more forgiving. It does not feel as fast, but has excellent downhill manners. It really likes to play. From a handling perspective, we have an easier time comparing it to the 110mm rear travel, 120mm front travel bikes then the 4″ (100mm) bikes we have ridden. Imagine a trail bike with a bit less travel; that’s the Camber. On the Camber, your weight feels closer to the back of the bike and your torso sits a bit more upright. The front wheel is a little more in front of you than on the JET9, which, in contrast to the Camber, sets the front wheel slightly more under you. If you ride the bike on the trail you will immediately know the difference.

We prefer the Camber in the more technical trails and the JET9 on the the more buffed out trails to moderately rooty, rocky trails. Here are some comparisons that might help:
Moab Utah = Camber, High altitude Colorado = JET9
Arkansas Womble trail = JET9, Ouachita Mountains = Camber,
Edge Loop Epic, Fruita = JET9, Mary’s Horsethief = Camber.

Finally, we should say that to compare a Camber at $2,050 to a JET9 at a minimum buy-in of about $3,000 is a little unfair. So, the above comments are really about geometry alone. I have had the privilege of switching almost every part of the Camber and switching out and riding Jet9 bikes with everything from a $6,000 race set up to a $3,099 SRAM X-7 kit. Long story short, Camber = playtime in an upgrade worthy package and Jet9 = efficiency and relative comfort over long distances with fast handling and a more pure XC feel.

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