I have a Chamelion I use for single speed duties at present, but I now have the 'feel for steel' so I am looking for a worthy alternative.
I would welcome your suggestions.
Cheers
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140mm ish, tough, light ish, Steel Singlespeed
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Posted 7 months ago #
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The only things I can think of that would readily run singlespeed that are made of steel and will take a 140mm fork are not very light. Evil Sovereign and Transition TransAm being the 2 candidates.
Why do you want/need 140mm of travel on a singlespeed anyhow?
Posted 7 months ago # -
Cotic Simple. We have the last Medium at the mo, in lovely lovely Orange!
Posted 7 months ago # -
Currently running my P7 as a SS with 140 mm Fox Vanillas.
Rides really well and really enjoying it, but not sure it fits your light requirement.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I did say 140 ish to try and broaden out the options. I would like to use it for as much riding as possible across the spectrum, so I figured tough and 140 ish mm would fit that specification.
Thanks for the input so far. I need to part with some of my existing 'stock' before I get to buy something else, so the Simple, although very tempting is not doable at present.
Posted 7 months ago # -
im running a P7 singlespeed also, reasonable components, nothing flash, 130mm toras, deore brakes, weighs in at 26.2lbs, not sure if you would call that light or not.
sweet ride tho . . . .Posted 7 months ago # -
Anything with a iscg mount and a stinger type chain device works well. I run my Alpine with 140mm pikes and SS and its such a fun bike.
Posted 7 months ago # -
pipedream sirius would fit the bill.
Posted 7 months ago # -
why wouldnt you want to run 140mm on a ss,
Posted 7 months ago # -
Evil Sovereign for maximum radness.
Although I found that a Sov isn't that great as a singlespeed - it is the sort of bike that demands to be ragged senseless and you can't really make the most of a descent with only the one gear. Only really comes alive with gears and a dropped seat.I suppose the same will be true of most 140mm bikes though...
Posted 7 months ago # -
you can't really make the most of a descent with only the one gear. Only really comes alive with gears and a dropped seat.
I suppose the same will be true of most 140mm bikes though...
Nonsense.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I think it's been suggested already, but Cotic are superb.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I sometimes ride my Trailstar as a singlespeed. It's currently 34-16 as I'm only really riding roads on it, but it does 32-16 without needing a tensioner. Use it with u-turn Pikes (110-140mm travel) which seem to suit it quite well. Surprisingly light at the minute as well, I think it's about 25lb with a rigid steel fork.
Could also look at the NS Surge. It has adjustable vertical dropouts to alter the chainstay length, which would be handy for singlespeed - easier to get the wheel in/out than horizontal dropouts and you won't need to bother with a tensioner
Posted 7 months ago # -
I have an Alpine 'spare' as it happens and that one looks ace. Cheers for the idea!!
I am interested in the opinions about fork travel, is 140mm SO inappropriate for a single speed?
Posted 7 months ago # -
If light-ish is close enough, is steel-ish close enough? Carbon 456 has a lot in common ride-wise with a quality steel frame (and closer to classic "steel feel" than many hefty steel frames). Could get one fitted with the singlespeed swapout dropouts.
Did the simple get uprated for 140mm of fork at the same time as the Soul?
Posted 7 months ago # -
Posted 7 months ago # -
or titanium, 456Ti?
Posted 7 months ago # -
I am interested in the opinions about fork travel, is 140mm SO inappropriate for a single speed?
Might just be my experience with the Sovereign, but I ran mine as a singlespeed for quite a while - it was ok, but not brilliant. Now it's 1x10 and so much better - you can really give it the beans on descents, which is the whole point of that bike, and 140mm hardtails in general.
So I'd argue that you'd be much better off running gears on a bike like that.Nonsense.
Definitely not in my experience.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Nonsense.
Definitely not in my experience
Guess it depends on the trails you ride, flatter trails I would agree with you but the sov/alpine is designed for the steep stuff and on that your either not pedaling or only putting the occasional turn in.
Posted 7 months ago #
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