Or you could man up and grow some muscles.
Right that's it, I'm definitely getting one now!
Bike Forum
Do it all hardtail frame recommendations
-
Posted 7 months ago #
-
You should buy my one ride old 2011 725 version Dialled Prince Albert frame
Posted 7 months ago # -
The Bfe, Blue Pig and Prince Albert aren't heavy for what they are, but the Soul is incredibly light for a steel frame. The difference is probably a pound (and a bit) between those 3 and a Soul. All 4 frames are more than capable of being all day all rounders.
Don't forget, most forks weigh as much as/more than a frame (frame weight is generally less than 20% of the bike's total weight).
Posted 7 months ago # -
BFe is a nice frame. Found mine a bit sluggish for pedalling around but for downhill and fun stuff they're very nice
Posted 7 months ago # -
What height are you?
Charge blender is awesome but bias towards fun
4x, jump, dh, fast descending singletrackDoes everything exceptional except up.
I brought mine brand new £200. If you want to spend £400ish there is a proper pimp ti version on fleebay 2nd hand for £450!
Posted 7 months ago # -
I think Blenders would have too slack a seat angle for a do everything bike. The SA on my current bike isn't as slack as the Blenders and even that (about 68-69) is awful for riding up hill - far too easy to wheelie unless you have a long stem. I still really want a Blender though, they look so fun.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Yeah its not ideal, but who cares when its Sooo much fun.
Dirt mag best do-it-all hardtail the last 3 years running, says it all.
Posted 7 months ago # -
^^^ yeah, but Dirt is more descent orientated. doubt they're into their climbing very much.
... makes me want to get an Alpine
re. the weight... as said before: grow a pair.
i rode 13 transalp tours last year on my Alpine. somewhere in the resion of 160,000m of climbing and over 5,000km. MTFU.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Rock Lobster is an all day XC epic or possibly XC race bike ( abit heavy being steel) more than a fun bike.
Posted 7 months ago # -
No-one mentioned the Cove HJ yet? Mine should arrive tomorrow and hopefully should make a better do-it-all bike for me than the lovely Uzzi. Sure, I've seen the folded downtube pics but I'm a lightweight . . . looking forward to voiding the warranty with my Lyriks up front (wound down to 120mm of course
)
Posted 7 months ago # -
I really like my Genesis Abyss. It just does it all. They weren't sold as a frameset though.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I really like my Pha5e. It does wheelie a bit on the up hills but I just hang off the front. Stiff aluminium and really tuff. Underrated, me thinks...
Posted 7 months ago # -
get one of the chumba HX1s (or HX2s). They are absolutely brilliant. Torsionally really stiff and great steering but they are really comfy.
Scooted round cannock chase the other day and it was fantastic. At £299 i'm half tempted to buy another one.
I don't work for Si btw ;o)
Posted 7 months ago # -
Cove Stiffee. Or maybe something with big wheels!
Posted 7 months ago # -
2nd the comfy hx1, I've got one as well as an 853 scion and tbh there's no difference in terms of comfort.
Posted 7 months ago # -
im riding a kinesis maxlight xc130 at moment with a fox float 140 and its sublime, and its green
Posted 7 months ago # -
Identiti AKA?
No boutique kudos granted, but I have no complaints about the capabilities or bombproofness of my Mr Hyde and can't see that the AKA deviates too much from that template.
slainte
rob
Posted 7 months ago # -
A little over budget but the Orange P7 has been around nearly 20 years for a reason.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Get a 456.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Asked myself the same question, bought a Carbon 456. Remains to be seen how longterm durable it is but so far it's been quietly impressive. Best hardtail I've had since my Soul, for sure, and possibly better. Don't really rate the steel one myself, they always feel really inert and dead.
chestrockwell - Member
A little over budget but the Orange P7 has been around nearly 20 years for a reason.
Aye- but lately that reason is people will buy overpriced, overweight frames as long as they say Orange on the side
Heavier than a BFe, weaker than a BFe, more expensive than a BFe, hmmmmmmmmmm.
Posted 7 months ago # -
colournoise - Member
Identiti AKA?
No boutique kudos granted, but I have no complaints about the capabilities or bombproofness of my Mr Hyde and can't see that the AKA deviates too much from that template.
slainte rob
Having said that, if I don't go FS for my next frame I will probably go for a BFe.slainte
rob
Posted 7 months ago # -
I would go for an Alpine ( but then I did ) or a Bfe.
If weight is an issue a Soul or Prince AlbertPosted 7 months ago # -
Thanks all for your comments. It's hugely appreciated and I now feel like I know a lot more than I did this time yesterday.
The frame is intended for stepson 1 who's rapidly expanding and will need a large size before too long. He's a very sturdy lad so I figured that a steel framed hardtail was a prerequisite. He is quite fond of the jumps, so I'd feel happier with something burly, but at the same time it can't be so compact as to preclude all day riding.
Of course, the fact that I'm a large also is pure coincidence.
Posted 7 months ago # -
What do folks recon to Sanderson?
I've just got one of their SS frames to build into a demo bike for the winter.
It will be available in a few weeks to try at Drumlanrig if anyones interested..
Posted 7 months ago # -
Again, not one of Si's employees
I have the Chumba HX2, for the cash the build quality is just unreal and its not far off my old 456C for comfort.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I like the Chumba, but the tapered headtube faff puts me off.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I know its wrong to like an aluminium frame but I really like my Mmmbop.
I would not buy anything that would not fit a Reverb, so 27.2 frames are out.Posted 7 months ago # -
@Si.
Damn you sir, that's one nice frame.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Cove Stiffee - Handjob may be a bit too 'lightweight' for dirt jumping.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Here's a vote for Mythic Viento - poss a bit over budget, but I love mine, a proper looning bike, tough as nails, not too heavy, and loves a big fork...
Posted 7 months ago # -
Cove Stiffee with 140mm fork. Its not new, it's hard work on the body and uncompromising but I love mine and wouldn't swap it for any others hardtail. It constantly makes you push harder and I've never felt the bike get out of its depth or reach its limits. Its always me that's the weak link.
You should be able to get one for about £400 if you look around. Having said that if you want something comfy and bendy you can potter around on don't bother with the Cove, you'll hate it.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Another vote for the BFe (is it winning vote wise?!) Was going to get rid of mine due to other circumstances and go to one bike, I just cant bring myself to get rid of it.
Had a 456, a Ragley Mmmbop and now the BFe, it IMO blows the other two out of the water(same components only frame changed), can't say whether its the build quality/material, the angles or some magic that Cy knows but it just rides so well, and as a consequence I'm riding the same lines faster and harder than on the other two. Rides best at 120mm as well IMO, but that's horses for courses as someone else will say 140-150-160 whatever!RE. People saying it's slacker than a Soul, iirc they are the same for a given fork length just the BFe will take a longer overall fork and the Soul is lighter (open to correction though)
Posted 7 months ago # -
I've had 4 from dialled now, a Mk1 PA in 17, then an 853 PA in 17, then a 15.5 Alpine, and now this one, a later 520 PA in 15.5. I kept selling them to buy FS bikes, then changing my mind a few months later. The latest one is definitely the best compromise - it seems ludicrous that the 15.5 is the 'right' size but it really is (I'm 5'10").
Souls are, admittedly, lovely, but I love my PA to bits.
I recently DID buy another FS frame, but this time I was savvy enough to try it before selling the PA on, so its been hanging in the garage.
I'm off to build it back up this afternoon
Edit for pic -
Posted 7 months ago # -
Devs, curious to know specifically why you'd say no way to riding those on the Rock Lobster? Is it a geometry thing on the steep stuff? Or the build? Or think it's too fragile?
A combination really. The steeper angles and shorter forks mean on rough stuff your arms get more beat up. It is quite skittery over rock gardens with the back end getting flexed and chucked all ways. You don't feel as in control. Steep rocky stuff like Nessie, Blue Crane or Laggan black are possible, just much harder work. Actually I'd never take it down Laggan black, it would be just to prove a point and in no way enjoyable. I'm sure there's people that can, and I'm also sure the same people would be much faster on other bikes. Don't get me wrong, it's a great bike, it just doesn't cover everything like the 456 does. It's fast though!
Posted 7 months ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.
