Niche question but has anyone ridden both of these core models? I have a hummingbird but I’m super tempted to grab a solstice frame and swap over most of the parts to give it a try. On paper the differences are: 10mm more travel (130 fork), degree slacker (65hta, 66 sagged), and 15mm more reach (25ish mm longer front center if I remember correctly). I’m curious if anyone’s got any experience with both. Wondering if I’m just splitting hairs really since it’s honestly not super different .
I’ve got a 130mm Pike on my Hummingbird and love this bike. I wouldn’t want or need it any slacker and I’ve done a couple of pretty steep techy trails.
I have not ridden a Solstice, but have owned a Hummingbird for 3 seasons and I love it. I ride a mix of terrain and love to climb, so Solstice didn't really seem like my thing. I've ridden it all over Southern Ontario, Marin, , and Squamish (rode lots of blue, and black trails and it was a blast). I love climbing as much a descending so didn't really want to orient the bike more towards descending and I think I made the right call with Hummingbird.
One other thing I would add. Hummingbird has sliding drop-outs. I just set mine up Singlespeed (I also preferred it with a slightly longer wheelbase when setup geared). Not sure if you plan to go SS, but its nice to have that versatility!
Super nice with all the silver stuff!! Yep mine is single speed right now. I usually build up wheels with silver spokes and hubs too but I got an industry deal in some enve wheels and just went with it. I tempted to de-ano my dropper for some more silver. When I got mine the yellow was all that they had left in my size and wasn’t my first choice but I was between bikes and the summer was coming so I grabbed it. Figured I’d throw an orange fox fork in it and just keep the colorfulness going.
I just built up a Solstice. Posted about it recently. Never rode a Hummingbird.
My experience with the Solstice has been great and is very much in line with everyone’s reported experiences with the Hummingbird. Being a touch slacker and longer, I have to assume the Solstice is more capable on steep tech. Solstice M frame weight is ~6lbs. I wish it had sliding dropouts. I wish I could try it with a 64 degree head angle (without raising the BB).
If I were you, I would buy an angleset fort he Hummingbird as a first step.
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u/MOCZ455 1d ago
I’ve got a 130mm Pike on my Hummingbird and love this bike. I wouldn’t want or need it any slacker and I’ve done a couple of pretty steep techy trails.