[Closed] New Hardtail - help please?

This is my Privee Shan and I built it to compliment my stump evo

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Or if your worried about 26 inch wheels being out of date how about this 650b Kona. Image is from Pink bike

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Dialled alpine or prince Albert.

that Kona looks nice.

That Kona does like nice actually, the Shan is also very very nice. I'll recommend what I ride in true stw fashion though, Stanton Slackline - lovely bike, angles are bang on, if you insist on 650b Stanton have one of those coming soon called the 'switchback' which will no doubt be ace too.

Yeah that Kona looks awesome!

Some very nice food for thought there guys 🙂 Those bikes both look spot on!
Plenty of research to be done, thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

I also have a Nomad, and like you I wanted a long travel (150mm) hardtail with a slack head angle for something alternative, built up a Ragley Blue Pig that I picked up in the sale at CRC for about £260.

About 3 rides in and I couldn't me more pleased with how it rides (similar to the Nomad on the Downs!) to the point were it is a real dilemma over which bike to pick up when I leave the garage and I have beaten some of my Strava time set on the Nomad on some of the downhill sections at Gisburn!

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[url= http://postimage.org/app.php ]print screen windows 7[/url]

Probably take it out again for tomorrows ride. The interesting thing is that when I ride my Nomad now I also appreciate that more for the bike that it is - two totally different bikes but both ace!

All the bikes listed are beauties I'm sure you won't go far wrong which ever you pick!

Saw one of these in Mammoth Cycles this afternoon.
Now, I love my Niner, but if I were after a long(ish) travel hardtail I'd be taking a really close look at one.
It just looked so damn [i]right[/i]. Reminded me of a Cotic Soul.
Don't know if they do them as a frame only option.

[img] [/img]

I'm saving for one of these at the mo in 29" but the one in the photo is 650b.....

[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3735/10876794285_350c85dea3.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3735/10876794285_350c85dea3.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/88504879@N03/10876794285/ ]Bikes_TransAM275_Pic2[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/88504879@N03/ ]wobbliscott[/url], on Flickr

Identiti aka, sliding dropouts too

Have a look at this pink bike thread . Its long but there are loads of bikes on there , its where I got my inspiration from.

http://www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=131375&pagenum=1

Another Shan owner here - awesome bikes if you can get one
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and another [url= http://www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=112056&pagenum=1 ]Pinkbike Thread[/url] for inspiration ...

and one you don't often hear about the Dartmoor Hornet
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Those Shans are gorgeous.

I like the Transition too.

With regards to wheel sizes, I quite like having two bikes with the same size (26) because I can swap wheels, tyres and forks around if needed.

You're screwed with the Transition then. From 2014 its only available in 27.5 or 29 inch - though i'm sure you could find a 2013 or earlier model.

Another Shan owner here, v pleased with it. That Kona is v nice though

Whyte 901 or 905, very pleased with mine, initially concerned about long top tube but fits very well and rides even better. Getting some good reviews, have alook at their website.

Has a very slack head angle and 130mm forks with 650b wheels.

IMO 26 is going to be around for a long time.

Lots of good choices above, you'll get a wider range of frames at 120mm travel which I think for your use will be fine.

I built a BFe with adjustable 110/150 forks and ride it all the time now, FS is for Alps hokidays and pre-holiday prep only pretty much these days.

Good bikes above from Dialled, Cotic and Transition

I've got a Cotic Bfe but if I was buying now, I'd have a Whyte 909 without a doubt. Slacker, lower bb and longer top tubes and 27.5 wheels. All things I like in my bike.

Sorry, double post.

Ok, here's one from me - what's the On One 456 Evo Ti like, the head angle is a nice 66 degree, what do you think?
BTW thanks for all the above - liking the Shan and Kona Explosif so far but to be honest theyre all obviously good, so it's going to be down to looks and your input/advice, as the chances of trying them all on the same track are slim 😉

I considered the steel 456 evo but the lack of replaceable rear derailleur mount put me off. I ended up with the Blue Pig that is designed by the same guy, very similar geometry and has replaceable mount at the back. I presume that the ti will have replaceable mount - but they're a bit more expensive!

[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/pace-rc127 ]Pace RC127?[/url]

Good luck finding any details though, as they don't appear to have updated their website in 12 months...

I can see Kona selling a lot of bikes this year. From hardtail to full suss, every one I've seen looks lush.

It sort of depends what you mean by general xc riding. I've got a shan, its not lightweight, but I'm happy enough riding it around xc loops for 2-3 hours. It's worth it though when the trail points down! I couldn't recommend it enough - 66 degree head angle, designed for 150/160 forks, very low, short stays - it feels perfect!

"Whyte 901 or 905, very pleased with mine, initially concerned about long top tube but fits very well and rides even better. Getting some good reviews, have alook at their website.

Has a very slack head angle and 130mm forks with 650b wheels."

Dis - how you finding the height of the BB?
Thinking of getting one, do a lot of xc, are you catching your pedals on the ground?

Are you sure that Kona is a Kona?

Looks like it's got a Chromag decal on the down tube

Yep , to quote him off PB

Here is my freshly built kona explosif, beyond psyched on this thing...some component highlights

2013 Kona Explosif powdered fluorescent orange
Full XTR Except Rear Derail, wanted a short cage SAINT
Rock Shox Pike Solo 150mm
Chromag wherever i could put it, carbon bars and stem
Chris King Hubs w/ 35mm Velocity Blunt Rims
Wolf Tooth 30t
Reverb
2.4 High Roller II front, 2.2 Ardent Rear