Gravel/adventure bike or MTB?

[bisikletci]

Well, you already have a hybrid bike. Have you tried putting wider tires on it? I can't imagine a gravel bike would be any better than your hybrid on dirt trails. Get a mountain bike with front suspension.

I can get slightly wider tires on my hybrid than the ones I currently use but not as wide as I could get on a gravel bike.

An MTB would be ideal for my forest riding but as I say I'm also looking for something well suited to long day rides, and can only really get one more bike - hence the search for an option that could do both.

[elPedro666]

For the kind of forest riding I think you're describing, an mtb would be overkill - just weight, drag and complication for no advantage.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.

[bisikletci]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the actual bike I'm looking at, the Mango Point AR (https://www.mangobikes.com/bikes/point-ar/)?

I'd never heard of them until you provided the link.
The geometry is bonkers,steep head and seat tube angles for the type of terrain you're going to use it on.Stem slammed down on a low front end with a short headtube(low stack height).The frame is more like a CX bike than a well behaved machine.
They claim 'all day comfort',well for a chimp or racing cyclist may be,but not many human beings will appreciate that riding position after a couple of hours.
].

Thanks for the info. To what extent (if any) could the geometry be made more suitable through adjustments to the bike (eg raising the handlebars with spacers, changing the stem etc)?

[reohn2]

Thanks for the info. To what extent (if any) could the geometry be made more suitable through adjustments to the bike (eg raising the handlebars with spacers, changing the stem etc)?

With a seatube angle of 73.5degrees for all sizes you'll most likely need a seatpost with a loonngg layback otherwise you'll be over the pedals which will put your weight forward onto the hands.
The steering will be quickish with 72 head angle and 45mm fork offset,so to raise the h/bars you'd need a stem extender and or an acute angled stem.
All of which means you'll have a bike which isn't designed for the purposes you require,it won't be comfy on long rides,it won't handle the off road types of tracks you ride though it would work for about town everyday riding,I can think of better options.

[bisikletci]

Thanks for the info. To what extent (if any) could the geometry be made more suitable through adjustments to the bike (eg raising the handlebars with spacers, changing the stem etc)?

With a seatube angle of 73.5degrees for all sizes you'll most likely need a seatpost with a loonngg layback otherwise you'll be over the pedals which will put your weight forward onto the hands.
The steering will be quickish with 72 head angle and 45mm fork offset,so to raise the h/bars you'd need a stem extender and or an acute angled stem.
All of which means you'll have a bike which isn't designed for the purposes you require,it won't be comfy on long rides,it won't handle the off road types of tracks you ride though it would work for about town everyday riding,I can think of better options.

Thanks. That's a shame. I'll have a look for something else. (I like the look of the Salsa Vaya that you have, but it's a bit out of my price range sadly).

[bisikletci]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the 2016 Kona Sutra as a do-it-all machine that might suit my needs (day-trips and forest path rides - plus I'm increasingly hoping to be able to do a bit of touring)?

http://www.konaworld.com/sutra.cfm

It's marketed as a touring bike, but then so (more or less) is the Salsa Vaya, which people seem to reckon does well off road within reason, and it seems to have fairly similar geometry to the Vaya as far as I can tell (though I don't really understand bike geometry). It's also both a fair bit cheaper and more easily available where I live than the Vaya. It seems a bit heavy compared to the current iteration of the Vaya, but I think that may be partly because it comes with mudguards and a rack pre-installed whereas the Vaya doesn't (I could lose those, or equally I might end up adding them to the Vaya), and it also has a triple chainset (compared to the current Vaya's double), which adds weight but which I'd favour.

[Bonefishblues]

I have an earlier MY version. It'll do that without an issue, yes. The rest you've picked up on already in that it's a specialist touring bike built to carry loads over extended distances so is not the liveliest ride.

[elPedro666]

I looked at the Kona before buying my Whyte, steady and dependable are the adjectives which seemed most appropriate. If you're happy plodding around enjoying the view, it's probably superb value, if you want to press on and throw it around a bit I think the weight & lack of sparkle may make it unrewarding

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.

[PH]

It's marketed as a touring bike, but then so (more or less) is the Salsa Vaya, which people seem to reckon does well off road within reason,

I think really most touring bikes do OK off road within reason. Before all this bike specialisation, I knew people who rode cyclo cross at a pretty decent level of touring bikes with the guards and racks removed and some chunky tyres.
elPedro666's point about lively is probably right, though for two out of the three types of ride you originally list, steady and dependable are probably advantages. It's always a compromise if you're looking for one bike to do several things, but IMO that's the way I'd go. One of my three bikes has more of that sparkle than the other two, yet my riding dictates it's the least used.

[reohn2]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the 2016 Kona Sutra as a do-it-all machine that might suit my needs (day-trips and forest path rides - plus I'm increasingly hoping to be able to do a bit of touring)?

http://www.konaworld.com/sutra.cfm

It's marketed as a touring bike, but then so (more or less) is the Salsa Vaya, which people seem to reckon does well off road within reason, and it seems to have fairly similar geometry to the Vaya as far as I can tell (though I don't really understand bike geometry). It's also both a fair bit cheaper and more easily available where I live than the Vaya. It seems a bit heavy compared to the current iteration of the Vaya, but I think that may be partly because it comes with mudguards and a rack pre-installed whereas the Vaya doesn't (I could lose those, or equally I might end up adding them to the Vaya), and it also has a triple chainset (compared to the current Vaya's double), which adds weight but which I'd favour.

In a few words,good bike,good,geometry,will handle off road tracks and trails,and yes it's similar to the the Vaya.
As a touring bike it's definitely a do-it-all machine and similar to the Vaya.
IMHO the Vaya is overpriced,FWIW,I bought both mine as frame sets and did custom builds on both,which came out cheaper than the standard Salsa bike with a far better spec.

NOTE:- I have only one reservation about the Sutra,check the clearance on the front P2 fork,the earlier ones were limited to a 32mm(actual size) tyre with room for a mudguard.
TBF I heard there's more clearance on the later ones but haven't checked them out personally.

elPedro666's point about lively is probably right, though for two out of the three types of ride you originally list, steady and dependable are probably advantages. It's always a compromise if you're looking for one bike to do several things, but IMO that's the way I'd go.

I agree,but that's no bad thing.If you want one bike that does several jobs there has to be compromises,minimising those compromises is the key issue and IMO a bike like the Sutra is a good choice in that respect.

[elPedro666]

As much as I do agree with what's being said, personally the bike with sparkle is always the one that gets ridden - I can live with pretty much anything else if that magic is there! The beauty of the Whyte - and I'm sure plenty of others of its ilk - is that I really don't feel like there's any compromise at all, anywhere. Quite a trick to pull off!

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.

[PH]

As much as I do agree with what's being said, personally the bike with sparkle is always the one that gets ridden - I can live with pretty much anything else if that magic is there! The beauty of the Whyte - and I'm sure plenty of others of its ilk - is that I really don't feel like there's any compromise at all, anywhere. Quite a trick to pull off!
I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.

Horses for courses, eye of the beholder and all that, but for me your Whyte as shown in your photos is already compromised by the tyre choice and lack of rack and guards.

[elPedro666]

Ha, I seem to have posted the only pic(s) of it without the guards fitted! Generally they're on there 90% of the time. Similarly, tyres are usually Voyager Hypers but I am lucky enough to have a second set of wheels, so switching to more treaded rubber is quick and painless.

Yet to need a full rack, but the mounts are there, so no problem. Tyres, racks, mudguards etc are just accessories though, they don't change the character of the beast. Do long as there are mounts and clearance of course.

I know I sound exactly like the typical 'this one's the best because I have to justify my expenditure' pillock, but it really doesn't lack for anything.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.

[MikeDee]

You might have a look at a Cannondale Slate. If I had only one bike, that might be the one I would choose.

[elPedro666]

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... cx1-50005/

Not completely won over by the concept, but I absolutely love Cannondale for making something like this. The price probably kills it in this instance though, sadly.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.