The Pinkbike Podcast: Episode 36 - Grilling Kazimer About Field Test Enduro Bikes

 What???!!! I want more RC car chases

 Damn what is this almost back to back podcasts??

 What would you rather have as a do it all bike - a burly trail bike like the P train or a more well rounded enduro bike like the Rocky Mountain?

 I'd wager kazimer would eat Levy alive in a proper Enduro racer. Mike vs Mike!!!! Let's get ready tooooo ruuuuumble !

 Is there going to be a final round table video for the enduro bike's? That's always my favorite if the video segments in the field test for how comparative and openly subjective it is.

 I’ve rented DH bikes 2 times (mammoth & Whistler) and both times I quickly started hitting much bigger features than I felt comfortable riding my 135r/160f bike... I rented a nomad last summer and it did not increase my confidence at all. I’d love to get a longer travel bike to feel more comfortable on riding bigger features (e.g. flying monkey trail) but I’m worried that anything short of a 200mm DH won’t help as much as I’d like...I have been scoping the Commencal Clash...what’s your advice?

 I can't help but think that after listening to how much Kazimer LOVES hardtails on many of the podcasts, many pinkers were hoping Brian had slipped in a "rowdy hardtail" for the fifth bike!

Maybe that's what the Mike Enduro shootout should be on...

 Aw man, you guys make great podcasts on everything bike and Pinkbike related (this one is my fav so far). I like listening to them on my commute to work, thanks!

 2 podcasts in one week? Must be Christmas already

 Pinkbike editors: What are all the free riders doing during this global pandemic, why haven't they bought out loads of epic videos yet?

Also Pinkbike editors: Damn this grim Donut video is taking ages to make during this global pandemic.

Also also Pinkbike editors: Damn there are so many epic videos getting released right now, where they all coming from?

 It's funny how exotic the Magura brakes seem to be in the PNW. Here in germany they are super popular. The german forums are overflowing with explanations of how to combine a Magura saddle with Shimano levers to get an even better performing "Shigura" brake. That's not a thing in the US and Canada?

 I like Kamizer. He's just the right amount of crazy.

 @mikekazimer

How does the Spindrift compare to a more typical “all mountain/enduro” bike like say, the sentinel, Sight, or even the Titan?

I see you saying it pedals super well. But is it the same or better than most bikes with 20-30mm less travel?

You also say it’s pretty poppy, so you don’t wallow around. But does it really ride like some of those bikes I mentioned, especially on stuff that isn’t super gnarly?

It “seems” like it could be a great bike for the PNW. Enough travel for the bigger stuff at tiger and Galbraith. And not out of its depth at stevens pass. But also not too boring for local trail systems.

I’m curious if I can have my cake, and eat it too in this instance.

 It’s nice to see Magura brakes getting some notice. They are quite good. @mikekazimer

I’ve been riding the MT7 and MT Trail brakes on my two bikes for the past 2-3 years and several thousand miles.

Here’s a mini review:

Power, modulation, and consistency are great. They’ve been super reliable* (I bleed them once a year**) The pads are excellent, and pad life is good. The HC Lever shape is very similar to new shimano levers- its great.

If I was buying a set of new brakes today, I’d get the *new* MT5 with HC lever blade. (Or the Wibmer edition if you like gold)

There is a reason Fabio Wibmer rides the cheaper MT5 with an HC lever. It’s actually slightly better than the MT7*


*my one gripe with the MT7 is the lever. The tool-free adjust lever has a plastic knob ‘bonded’ to metal threads. I’ve been through two sets of levers, and the plastic always ends up just spinning on the metal without turning the treads. This turns a supposed convenience into a real pain.
Second, the levers tend to rattle when your fingers aren’t on them through chunky terrain due to a spring that’s too weak.

These issues are isolated to the MT7 lever. The simpler MT5 lever is perfect.

**these are German brakes. Follow torque specs carefully, especially for the lever bleed port. It has plastic threads and a very low torque spec. The lever clamps should also not be overly tight. They should be able to rotate in a crash.
The bleed procedure is a bit old school. Watch Magura’s video twice, and don’t take short cuts. It’s super easy to do quick a lever-only bleed in between full bleeds.
—

I ran XT8000 and Guide RSC brakes for over 1yr each before switching to Magura. The shimano brakes suffered wandering bite point and needed to be bled several times per year. The guides had less power than the Magura MT Trail, and my two sets both developed the swelling piston issue that caused the levers to seize up. SRAM replaced them on warranty.

 @mikekazimer Hearing ya'll talk about that one song you sing got me thinking. I was riding Bromont last year and happened to take my first chair up with Tristan Lemire of COMMENCAL / MUC-OFF. He started playing "I Just Want You" by Ozzy Osbourne. Timed it so perfect that it finished before we hopped off the lift. Since then it has been my first chair of park days song, and my when the going gets tough tune.

 I have got a few tire related questions:
1. what would your tire-setup be if you only were allowed to use one set for the entire year?
2. Can you go with a lighter casing when you do not weigh that much yourself?
3. Is it an idea to do a podcast on tires .. I am sure there is enough to talk about :-)

 @mikekazimer @mikelevy do mind blowing bikes exist anymore? It seems as if bikes have become so good in the past couple of years that when first impressions / reviews come out, nothing is too surprising anymore. I might be wrong and bikes such as those that are nominated for bike of the year are pushing boundaries but I feel like I haven't read reviews lately where you guys were blown away. Reviews such as Levy going nuts over the SB100 or Kaz calling the 3rd generation nomad a bike from the future come to mind where the language used indicated a large amount of excitement on your end. Have bikes become boring because they are so good?

 @mikekazimer just curious as to whether you tried a lighter coil spring on the Shore? Sounds like maybe it was a little stiff/oversprung?

 @mikekazimer how do you think the stumpy evo would have done if included with this group?

 @mikelevy , what's your bike plan for BC bike race? Revel Ranger, Mondraker F Podium DC, Stumpy,...? And, AXS or analog?

 Hard on bikes and likes to smash things?
Boy, is the shore ever the bike for me!

 The Stamina 180 has been raced in the EWS. The extra travel and Leo’s bs were not to deliver results, however

 Kaz, please, which of Remy's videos you meant.

 "Blow up and a shoe comes off" - hahaha

 EnDHuro

 This is easy , any of this year's enduro/fr are(felt) faster than the 2020 enduro?

 "Crossduro"?