Hi,

I’m thinking about changing my full suspension frame, and am after some advice/opinions. I’m off riding at the moment due to recovery from carpal tunnel release surgery, so a spare time to be pondering these things!

Currently I am running a 2004 Stumpjumper (100mm rear travel) which I purchased as a used frame (sold to me as a 2006 120mm travel one, but that is another story!).
This was bought as an experiment moving from hard-tail into full suspension to help with some neck damage and remove some of the bumps when sat.
Whilst I have got on well with it, I find the frame a touch short for my body, the bottom bracket height too low (so lots of pedal strikes), and the clearance between the rear tyre and frame (even with a 2.1 tyre) too small for muddy UK conditions.

I have a good set of components such as Reba Team 120mm forks, Hope Hoops, Formula Oro Brakes, good seat, bars, mechs etc which I would want to run on the “new” bike, so was thinking about a frame only. It has already been pointed out to me it might be more cost effective to buy a whole bike and strip and sell the bits. To get the better rear shock though I’d have to go for a top spec bike which would mean a lot of outlay initially, tricky to persuade the missus on that!! 🙄

I’m thinking of around 120mm travel, my riding is a mix of mid-week runs on the local bridleways and towpaths, some rougher stuff on the local hills and trails centres too. Not into big drop-offs and jumps, due to age, skill and previously mentioned neck issues. I guess there are some 100mm rear travel frames that would suit a 120mm fork, but will 100mm be enough far an all rounder?

Currently considerations are:
Giant Trance X – some good deals around for 2011 bikes and also frame only options
Specialised Camber – bike only, deals not that good
Orange ST4 (OK 110mm not 120!) – a few reduced 2011 frames around, bikes not so much in good deals.
Trek Fuel – No frames around, but some 2011 bike deals to be had.
GT sensor – Some good bike deals around. Seems to be some disagreement over the suspension system, some claim they bob like crazy, dunno.

Some of the other frame only options look to be very pricey (over £1500) or simply not available.

If it makes any difference I am a bit on the lardy side at the moment (106Kg), but under doctor’s orders to lose weight. I don’t think I will ever be a lightweight though, should be around 80-85Kg

Any comments suggestions advice appreciated.

Biased know but 2nd hand value is hard to beat.
See http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-nicolai-helius-cc-2009-medium-frame-1
Regards
Richard

How tall are you, if you’re 6’+ I’m selling a giant trance (100mm one), works great with reba teams as that’s what’s on it! Would sell the frame only though.

How tall are you, if you’re 6’+ I’m selling a giant trance (100mm one), works great with reba teams as that’s what’s on it! Would sell the frame only though.

6ft, but short legs. The Giant frame calculator has me firmly in the medium (18″) category.

Biased know but 2nd hand value is hard to beat.
See http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-nicolai-helius-cc-2009-medium-frame-1
Regards
Richard

Intersting frame, not sure about the paint job… Price?
So, why are you shifting it?

Simon,

From what you describe it may tick a lot of boxes for you.

I think it looks good in the flesh. Nice to hang your quality kit off for sure.
You do not see many when out and about and I suppose that might appeal. The ride is very good and it handles very well.

I’d take a bit less than asking price. The frame and shock combo are c. £2200 new.

I change my frames quite regularly and this is for sale as I have just acquired another frame and transferred all my parts onto it.

I’m 6 ft with shortish legs (30″) by the way and this sizes up very nicely.

Regards

Richard

Orange st4 – I had one on trial an really liked it. Didn’t have a ‘racey’ seating position like a lot of short travel frames, and seemed, well, just right. However, I bought a Nicolai Helius cc instead. Very similar feel but stiffer and takes up to 140mm forks.

People run Anthem X’s on 120 forks. The back end ceretainly feels like it has more than 100. Its the fastest bike I’ve ever ridden and climbs incredibly well.

£900 in the sales for full bike is a bargain.

http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/giant_anthem_x5.html

With an anthem you don’t need a fancy shock. I had an RP23 on my anthem advanced and never used the propedal mode.

Get that one for £900 and flog all the stuff on ebay.

With an anthem you don’t need a fancy shock. I had an RP23 on my anthem advanced and never used the propedal mode.

So maybe just a properly customed tuned shock would be fine then, like the Pushed Float R I have on the Stumpy? Does anyone know the shock length on the Anthem? I wonder if my 6.5″ x 1.5″ Float R would fit?

One thing I should have mentioned is that due to the damaged discs in my neck and the carpal tunnel issues (also in the hand not operated on, but no so bad)I don’t want too low or stretched out a riding position. One reason I was looking at the Trance possibly more than the Anthem. Need to try a few bikes really, hence my list.

Simon,

From what you describe it may tick a lot of boxes for you.

I think it looks good in the flesh. Nice to hang your quality kit off for sure.
You do not see many when out and about and I suppose that might appeal. The ride is very good and it handles very well.

I’d take a bit less than asking price. The frame and shock combo are c. £2200 new.

I change my frames quite regularly and this is for sale as I have just acquired another frame and transferred all my parts onto it.

I’m 6 ft with shortish legs (30″) by the way and this sizes up very nicely.

Regards

Richard

Unless I’m missing it there doesn’t seem to be an asking price in your ad!

Sorry I was looking at £800 ono for the frame and shock.
Regards
Richard

That £900 Anthem has a slightly iffy (so say) rear shock. I though the main thing with the RP23 or the RP2 was that you could turn the pro pedal off unlike the simpler shocks like the Float R where you have the pro pedal on regardless. Surely the advantage the IS in having the RP23 if you say you never turn it on, a more basic shock would work less well with pro predal always on.

I thought the whole was that more expensive shocks HAVE things like pro pedal, hence why they are more expensive, where as a basic shock doesn’t have pro pedal?

To be honest I havent a clue about the rear shock on the £900 Anthem, but as has been said above, the Anthem doesn’t need any kind of pro pedal shock as the suspension works that well you dont get bob.

Mines got an RP2 which as far as I am aware is either no pro pedal or locked. Very very occasionally on road sections will I put it in locked, but then you still dont really notice any difference.

No, I believe that ALL of the Fox Float rear shocks have Pro Pedal, (my basic Float R does fo example) it is on the “fancier” ones where you can turn it off (like your RP2) or alter the “on” setting or turn it off on the RP23.
I know it is on the Float R as this was changed to suit my weight as as standard the threshold for it was too low and it would always open too easily. Also says Pro Pedal on the sticker 😉
Interestingly Fox no longer mention pro pedal on the Float R info though I’m sure it is still in there.
So, if the Anthem rides better without the Pro Pedal then the higher level shock like yours is probably the better one to have with it.
My Stumpy definitely pedalled better when I had the Pro Pedal threshold upped, but there is a sacrifice on the bumpier stuff as it takes more of a hit for the compression damping to open up.

If I were in the market for a new 120mm-ish bike right now it would either be a Camber or quite possibly one of these.

For just under seven hundred sniffs you get a Horst link, a carbon rear end and an RP3.

Ah yes, I was tempted by that the other day, but they only have small and large, at 6ft with 31″ legs I need a medium 🙁

The problem with the Camber is there is no frame option (except possibly a carbon) and there are no good bike whole deals aorund to be worth while stripping and selling the bits

What about the Chumba XCL? Much cheaper than the VF2, 5″ travel. Haven’t heard anything about these.