Hardcore Hardtail Frames

I've got a santa cruz chameleon right now, with a rockshox revelation 426 fork (110-140mm travel), chris king 1+1/8 headset, XT BB, thomson 30.9 seatpost.

However, for certain reasons I'm not happy with the chameleon, and want to get a new frame. I would like to keep it as light as possible, while still being able to take 140mm of travel. I also want stiffness.

I have looked at the ragley mmbop, but what's it like with 110mm travel? And I think I know you can change a 1.5 headset down to 1+1/8, so my fork would be fine with the mmbop, but would I need a new headset? Could I use a 1.5 chris king headset?

And what other frames could you recommend, something under 5-6lbs?

Cove Stiffee?

That Stiffee looks quite arousing.

Cotic Soul? New one is rated for 140mm and works a charm at any length your fork'll do. Though you'd need a new seatpost. Comes in just a hair heavier than your Chameleon despite being steel…

I'd look at the Ragley, or a 456, as well. TBH the question of "What's it like with 110mm" might not make much sense, I think it'll be more "Will I ever feel like I need the 110mm setting". Which you might not.

i have a mm bop, but running 150mm on it.
very nice bike, and with the right build it would be a lovely light ride.
would not fancy it a 110mm tho….

but i keep hankering for a xl stiffee, and running it with 140mm forks, and getting rid of all my other bikes.

you could get an on one and stick some pikes on the front, seems that most people here do the same. stiffees=awesome. also, if you're feeling flush have a look at cotics, orange p7 and the 24seven twin deviant

That Stiffee looks quite arousing.

Why thank you kind sir.

What's not right about the Cham?

What's not right about the Cham?

Thats what i was wondering, i don't really see how any the other bikes above would be a huge difference apart from going to steel.

I just built my new Cham with some revelations up front. I gotta say I prefer it to my Heckler in this winter stuff.

Dialled alpine?
Mine is in the post And I can't bloody wait!

stiffness wise i didn't there was much stiffer than a chameleon?

Pace 303 was a nice bike with Pikes at 140mm.
(They were wound to 120mm in this shot)

Don't forget the Hummer 🙂

Ive got a rocky mountain flow 05 (best year still handmade then) frame I am selling for £110 inc newish orbit extreme headset and seatpost… like this but in white:

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/221625/

frame weight is 4.5lbs i think… built for hard trail and 4x duties…

Ok, thinking about the soul, the mmbop, the pace rc305(?), and the dialled alpine. Although the alpine looks a little heavy, and I'm not seeing the advantage of that extra weight.

Basically what's wrong with my chameleon is its not built for real world riding. Almost every time I ride, the EBB creaks like mad, the frame fills up with water, and I feel like I made a complete mistake buying it. Its such a fantastic bike in the dry, and if I lived somewhere where it never rained I'd probably buy another.