Looking for a 29er frame, not too slack, not too racey, something that will be fun on singletrack but also comfortable enough for multi day bike packing trips.

Currently the front runner is the Salsa El-Mariachi, have also looked at the Cotic and Genesis options.

Anything else I should be considering? £500-ish, needs to come in small sizes, not fussed about what the frame is made of. I am pretty ignorant of more niche brands so would appreciate any suggestions.

Ta.

Surly Karate Monkey…..love mine…

Krampus

Santa Cruz highball alu? My mate Rickie Cotter uses one for trail and bikepacking, small size. If you can find a cheap steel Niner, very much fits your requirements. I’ve got a mcr and it’s brilliant, just over priced in the UK!

Another vote for Karate Monkey. Very versatile frame and they ride just “right” IMO.

El mariachi here. Enough of this Karate Monkey nonsense. 🙂

El Mariachi the bike I don’t think I can part with.

On one scandal. £150 quid last time I looked.

Scandal?
Cheap and light – love mine!

DrP

FF29?

Kinesis FF29 for sure.

Or Cotic Solaris if it’s got to be steel.

Scandals are a brilliant bike for the money.

I had to spend quite a lot to get an only slightly better (but shinier 🙂 ) frame.

Scandals are a brilliant bike for the money.

…not least because you can only buy them second hand.

I’m going for an El Mar, when I get a change to go to the LBS and order the bloody thing.

Scandal,again..Got one of the last new ones too 😉

Have Scandals been discontinued then?

Have Scandals been discontinued then?

No longer listed on On-One’s website and there was a rumour (that I’ve not seen Brant confirm, tbf) that the Scandal was indeed no more.

Thanks guys, lots of stuff I had not thought of, would love to know if there will be more Scandals, Brant?

Karate Monkey-until you ride a 29+ 🙂 lack of choice on 29+ tyres though, just Knard 3″ this now which rules out winter slop! 🙂

El Mariachis half price on a PSA here a while ago

I bought one of the original slot dropout on-one 29ers, replaced it with a second hand Scandal. Much prefer the Scandal.

Small El Mariachi frame (£225) – be quick

Yokaiser has a mint condition raw scandal that he wants to sell. Klaus to the forum!.

Ff29 for me too, had one, rode all sorts on it. Great bike

If you can’t get a Scandal, my next choice would be a secondhand Singular Swift/Gryphon.

New Swift s look lovely
http://instagram.com/p/jkRLNyrGPb/

Edit: u said small 😕

How tall are you?

Like the swift. didn’t like the proposed “cream” colour, that green is better.

El Mar!

5’10 but short legs, 28in inside leg. My other bikes have 16-17inch frames.

Karate monkey ……I’m 5’10 ..with short legs …and had a small …it was perfect

Santa Cruz Highball Aluminium. Run it with 120mm forks. Great frame, solid and versatile with clever swappable dropouts for running singlespeed!

Scandal – 18″,in racing green

You know, two years ago I was in the same position.
El -Mar
Swift
Pace RC129

Oh, the sleepless nights. 🙂

Then, that bikemonger bloke goes & sticks a gorgeous kermit SIR.9 in his email…

So, knock off the costcutter / sell a kidney, & buy a SIR.9

My el mar is a keeper.
It’s great for most things

Had drop bars on it for a while , had it with and with out a sus fork
Geared ss and currently with a rohloff for the winter

It’s comfy and just munches the miles.
My only issue it’s just a little less fun in the twisty single track if I’m really pushing flat out compared to my 26 ht
But for every day use is not be without it

The Highball gets my vote. I’ve been running 100mm and done most Scottish trail centres, the Welsh ones and done some XC racing etc. Currently running It singlespeed and awaiting a second one to run geared such is my enthusiasm for it.

FF29. I am 5’8. They recommend sizing down on a 29er if you on the cusp of small/medium. Have the small frame. Cracking Bike.Great value when you buy the frame and the fork. Very fast can handle trail very well and with a bit of gentle bodging even fits in BiKnd bike bag for trips to dry sunny Greece. Sigh ….

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151886182218582&l=3df63c89f9

Here is a pic. Don’t buy the black. For some reason no matter how hard you try they just look naff. My mate went with the black and regretted it.

Brant?

Say his name three times in a thread, and he shall appear…

I haven’t ridden one but isn’t the ff29 quite a stiff frame and therefore maybe not ideal for long bike packing days?

I’m another fan of the swift, great frame and love mine, think the new one comes with a fork that can take a knard too.

Brendan actually! Yes it is fairly stiff bit in a good way. I agree you cant beat carbon for all day comfort, not to mention light. I crash a lot so steer clear of carbon at the moment. That is a beautiful frame (Swift)! Where do you buy it? I googled in vain, albeit not to hard!

A brand new on-one model coming in the spring, called Parkwood. 29er hardtail, huge clearances, fun geometry, frames and full bikes.