I am after some advice, I am help my bother-in-law in getting a bike. The only problem is that he is 6ft 4 and 26stones so it is going to need something up to the strain…

Any suggestions, would be welcome. Thanks

steel frame and u will be fine. im 6 3″ 23 stone and have had no probs with either of my aluminium frames 2010 gt avalanche hardtail (that takes a beating)or my 2012 caad 8 road bike. my usaul riding buddies are around the same weight martymac has a orange p7 currently a ss setup,a cube ams 130 fs and a charge cyclocross. none of which he has had any frame issues with.the other has a 2012 giant cyclocross and no probs with frame.

really depends what he plans on doing with it and what he really wants to spend.

Easy. Dh wheels and just avoid any noodly xc frame. Think cotic bfe etc.
Stick a pair of burly all mountain forks on and good to go.

Air forks (pikes) and strong rims (mavic 325 / 729) are up to the job

Thanks for heads up. I have just been corrected he is 6 6″, with the likes of giant concerned about frame size. Can you get bigger than 21″?

I had been looking at salsa? Budget was around a grand, but thinking it will grow now. Good suggestion about DH wheels.