Hi, I am planning to get back into trails and will probably be limited to beginner to intermediate trails in and around PA/NJ/MD/VA areas. I am 250 Lbs. I don’t think will need the full suspension yet, but if I feel that I need, I will get it within couple of years. Having an extra hardtail along with FS is not going to be a good idea anyway.
Here is the shortlist:
1. 2024 Orbea Laufey H30 – $1900 from LBS – [https://www.orbea.com/us-en/bicycles/mountain/laufey/cat/laufey-h30-2024](https://www.orbea.com/us-en/bicycles/mountain/laufey/cat/laufey-h30-2024)
2. 2023 Orbea Laufey H10 – $1900 from Online Store – [https://www.orbea.com/us-en/bicycles/mountain/laufey/cat/laufey-h10-2023](https://www.orbea.com/us-en/bicycles/mountain/laufey/cat/laufey-h10-2023)
3. 2024 Transition TransAm – $2400 from LBS – [https://transitionbikes.com/Bikes\_TransAM.cfm](https://transitionbikes.com/Bikes_TransAM.cfm)
Please tell me why you will pick one over another. Thanks!
by col_sam_flagg
5 Comments
The TransAM isn’t the best value but god do I love that bike.
I have one of the original ones and would love to pick up the new one. I used that bike for everything.
I don’t even need to look, Transition
Transition all day
Transition by a margin. That’s a sick bike.
The H30 is a more comparable geometry to the Trans Am (64.5° head tube angle vs. 64°, similar reach numbers) while the H10 has shorter reach and a steeper HTA. The longer bikes are more forgiving for soaking up rocks and other chunk on the trail at a slight expense of less efficiency on climbs. I personally like the slacker bikes. Both Orbeas have better drivetrains vs. the SRAM NX on the Transition.
I was briefly looking at the Trans Am before deciding I simply don’t need another bike, but it checks all the boxes as a hardcore hardtail. But I will say it’s not quite as good a value as that H30 for $500 less. That $500 can go towards upgrades or saved toward a FS if you ever go down that road