"long wheelbase progressive geometry" The next marketing ploy! I agree on the tire size. I’m not sure what wheels you are running, but the cliffhanger set up tubeless with a 2.4-5 would make it quite capable. Again, this is depending on your wants. I love a stable bike that can bomb some fun stuff and climb comfortably while getting me to and from the trail. Deer and elk trail exploration, the bike shoulders surprisingly well to get through some tough hike a bike. Could be the ATB the market “must” have in a few years.
I won’t knock the sweet new bikes (or riders) that can fly through any terrain at speeds that scare me! That’s just not what you buy one of these bikes for. I love my Susie but can’t say that it would be a massive difference over the Clem L if the Clem had similar wheels and tires. It’s a 1 cm higher BB, not a huge difference. Run a shorter crank, your knees might love it! On Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 4:29:45 PM UTC-7 Mackenzy Albright wrote: > I think the tires size definitely makes a huge difference in overall feel. > Even going from 2.2 on a narrow rim to 2.5 on a wide rim. If you've got a > chance, try to fit some ~2.4 tires on there and hit the trails. I found > some inexpensive second hand downhill tires to try it out and really > enjoyed it. Downhillers love upgrading and tires can be bought cheap. The > BB height also rises to a more reasonable height for trails as well. > > I found the large clem jr pretty good on "baby head" sized rocks sticking > out of trails for the speeds I ride. It deflects and bounces a lot less > than other bikes I've noticed. Granted my reference of my previous bike was > a romanceur with 26x2.1 tires which is short and twitchy. > > I've noticed a lot of "progressive" mtb geometry is getting long and slack > (not unlike riv hillibikes). As Frahm had mentioned the huge difference is > short chainstays and steeeeeeeep seat tubes. I'm curious if longer bikes > will catch on in the next 5 years. Salsa and Specialized will release "long > wheelbase progressive geometry" mountain bikes. haha > > > On Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 4:10:28 PM UTC-7 rmro...@gmail.com > wrote: > >> Nice, thanks for that input. My Clem is a new 52 and it has felt really >> good on smooth trails. But it was pretty rough relative to the squishy >> bike) on a heavily rooted section. But the tires are pretty small as noted. >> On a more rocky trail I frequent I would be concerned (I think?) about >> pedal strikes. But I really need to ride some more trails with this Clem. >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On Oct 19, 2022, at 6:38 PM, Mackenzy Albright <mackenzy...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> I have a bullmoose bosco first gen 59cm Clementine with 2.2 tires and >> simworks flat 65 fenders with ample clearance for the type of riding I do. >> With the steeper headtube I find it a better commuter with a basket and >> light trail bike that is extremely comfortable and fun. it feels like a >> good bike with long chainstays. >> >> >> I also have a 64 Clem Smith Jr that I found I disliked as a commuter with >> a basket because of flop so have turned it into a designated hillibike. I >> was able to fit 2.5 maxxis tires with space to spare. The fit is almost >> identical to the 59cm with tosco's and a 90mm stem. It's an absolute blast >> on trails and descends and climbs like a dream. The way it floats I felt I >> could easily outpace a lot of other bikes with no squirm. I feel much more >> confident on trails than with the clementine. It marks what I enjoy about >> mountain biking/all terrain biking which is picking lines, riding light, >> pumping, and regulating speed accordingly. the long wheel base and slack HT >> really help it float. I have no intention of ever having a suspension bike. >> it's not how I want to relate or wish to engage to my environment. With the >> bike so long I feel like I have lots of room to move forward and back >> terrain pending. >> >> I think a Gus or a SUS would be even a little more awesome for trails. >> But I'm happy with my clems and they do everything i want them to do. >> >> On Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 3:06:06 PM UTC-7 Jason Fuller wrote: >> >>> I love the Susie / Gus for what they are, but I will admit I'd never >>> consider one for trail riding around here because of two deal-breakers: rim >>> brakes and 26.8 seatpost. I can happily do without suspension, but a >>> dropper seatpost provides so much more off-road capability for pretty >>> minimal complexity. At least if were 27.2 we'd have options. And disc >>> brakes not only improve performance and general enjoyment when things get >>> muddy, they also allow fatter tires and potentially fenders as well - there >>> isn't enough clearance with V-brakes to have both fat tires and fenders. >>> >>> This has everything to do with where I live though - the Gus / Susie are >>> perfect for the California hills for which they're designed, I have no >>> doubt. They just don't make as much sense here in BC. The Jones, or a >>> Stooge are the ideal rigid MTBs for me. >>> >>> On Wednesday, 19 October 2022 at 06:39:49 UTC-7 rmro...@gmail.com wrote: >>> >>>> Greetings all. First, does anyone recall reading in one of the updates >>>> about additional Susie / Gus bikes becoming available? >>>> Second, who is using their Susie / Gus as their primary mountain bike? >>>> Third, is anyone able to comments on a direct comparison between a >>>> Susie and a Clem L? >>>> My Clem never ceases to amaze me. It is, without doubt the most >>>> comfortable bike I have ever owned. I am so ingrained to my position on >>>> the >>>> bike that I am now uncomfortable on my dedicated singletrack bike - a full >>>> suspension bike with relatively strait handlebars. The Clem is really good >>>> off road and on mild singletrack, but its weight and flexibility have kept >>>> me from giving it a go on some of the rowdy, rock and root strewn tracks I >>>> like to ride on the full squish bike. >>>> Now, I have no illusions about any rigid bike being as plush and >>>> capable on these trails as the suspended bike. But I do have some >>>> experience riding a rigid bike with big tires (Jones 29") and I liked it. >>>> The notion of a bike that puts me in the exact same position as my Clem >>>> but >>>> dedicated to singletrack has me more than a little intrigued. >>>> Appreciate any comments / thoughts. >>>> >>>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >> >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/95a50db7-677e-49e2-9c79-6ab59ef2caf3n%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/95a50db7-677e-49e2-9c79-6ab59ef2caf3n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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