456 refers to the fact you can use 4 inch 5 inch or 6 inch forks on it

I have the Carbon version and it would be fine for the duties you describe as would many other frames

If you’re on a tight budget then i don’t think you can beat them. I had one a few years back and loved it. i ran mine with vanilla 130 forks and it was great on all day rides around wales and the surrey hills. They are not the best finished frames in the world (paint jobs) so don’t go expecting a lush powder job, look for accessive chainsuck marks…..other than that you can’t go wrong for about £80-£100. liked my old steel one so much i went for a carbon one and love that even more.

I ran my old steel one with 100mm rigid forks for a while while i used it to ride to work but found the front a little low for me, so if you plan on using 100mm forks i’d go for a normal inbred.

Are the chainsuck marks a problem to the integrity of the frame ?

No purely cosmetic. I have a steel 456 that I leave in the UK for messing around at the trail centres. Compared to my other bikes (including a regular Inbred SS) it feels like riding a tank when the trails are petty tame; just feels not very responsive or flickable. As soon as things get lairy it seems to come alive. Mine is fitted with a 130mm Recon dual air fork which works a treat.

Just go for the 456. You genuinely won’t be sorry about it. I’ve run them with 100 and 130mm forks. They’re actually fine with 100mm as an all day XC bike. They ride far better than the price would suggest and I’ve said it a number of times on here; the day I sold mine and bought an 853 frame from another brand was the day I realised I was a right muppet!

I’ve got an On One Scandal at the moment, and that’s nice – lighter, similar geometry to the Inbred and fun to ride and if you’re lucky, you’ll pick one of those up for a song too.

No, you’re not being thick as It’s not obviously linked. The Summer Season is a 456 frame with a slack head angle. ie otherwise same geometry, but a few degrees slacker in the head angle.
The Summer Season is not really a ‘long xc rides’ frame IMO. It’s a heavy gauge, heavy duty, play bike frame.
You can ride it whenever you want and for XC, but there is better out there for pure XC rides IMO.

Why not spend alittle more and then youll enjoy every single ride more

I think for longer day rides you would be as well off with the inbred which is slightly less over built.

Jay

I had a (ti)456 for a while. It was definitely better on xc riding with the fork set shorter- too ponderous on the flat twisty stuff with a big fork up front. Downhill it was more fun and forgiving with the fork longer. A 456 with a u-turn fork is a good “economy” bike if you want a single bike that can do a little of everything. If it’s just the long xc rides that interest you it won’t be as good as a normal inbred/scandal/sanderson and a straight 100mm fork as you are paying a weight penalty for the extra gnarness (especially if you build it up with tougher heavier wheels etc to cope with the extra speed and confidence downhill).

The rear of the 456 compared to the Sanderson are like night and day. However they are different travel frames…….The Sanderson would be the long XC rides though wouldn’t it?

You could buy a 456 but you might end up holding onto it and not enjoying your precious riding time as much as if you’d bought something abit more special.

Rather than ‘my budget is £200’. Really- how precious are you rides? Can you put a price on a good ride/happy/being out there? Its not ATGNI – we spend fuel getting to rides etc and our weekends are precious. Why not avoid the clunker and buy something better.

I’ve had the inbred and the 456 personally for all day xc I’d prefer the inbred for trail centres I’d go for 456 , as a bit of both 456 with travel adjust forks

Mine’s been with me for 5+ years & I can’t see it going any time soon. RS Rev U-turns so travel can change from 130 to 90mm so it’s useable in all sorts of ways.

Flats & 130 for playing/riding with Jr or SPD’s & 100mm for XC days – for the money I can’t fault it.

That said, my next HT will be a Sanderson.

Not sure this is 100% but:

Inbred is the older 456 and is more of an all round frame.

Scandal was a race frame so a bit lighter although the geometry would be a bit harder to get along with (a more committed / head down riding position).

Based on that I would go Inbred or newer 456. The newer model will give you more options on forks.

In a weird twist I would say that the scandal frame is as compliant as the inbred (if not more so) and 1 1/2lbs lighter. I believe Brant designed the scandal frame to feel as steel-like as possible (though I could be wrong so await him to correct me!)

If I had the choice of those 3 frames the scandal is the way I would go for long XC rides.

Jay

You’ll be fine on a 456, Inbred or Scandal. However, for what you want, I’d go for a Scandal first, then an Inbred, then a 456. You’re on a tight budget so bear in mind that you may well need a new stem. On-Ones are long frames, designed to be used with a short stem (80mm max, I think). I’m guessing you’re aware you may also need new seatpost, front mech, BB, etc

Definitely worth checking one for size before you decide to buy:
I’m just over 5’6″ and find 16″ On One’s right on the upper limit for size.

Shame really, I’d have had a 456 years ago otherwise – everyone I know who’s had one really rates them.

It’s a very personal thing, obviously, and I know a few people about the same size who don’t have a problem, but might be worth thinking about.

For comparison, small Cotic Souls and 15″ Rock Lobsters fit me fine.

Echoing what a lot of others have already said. I have a ti456 and thought it was a superb all rounder. Rode a fair few enduros on it. Not a full blown race bike but really good trail bike.

IF you are wanting to run one for XC duties you would probably get away with a slightly longer top tube.