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Reccomendations for 26" 456 frame replacement
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hardenpeterFree Member
Fancy replacing my steel 456 frame (original one with inbred decals). I like it on the trails (felt rock solid at haleigh park and also good fun at my local in stanmer, brighton) but find the front end a bit squirilly, with a tendancy to lift on the very steep stuff, although that could be due to my lack of technique. Also find it a bit ploddy when doing more xc type stuff around the south downs. Currently running a 140mm fork. Think i still want steel but nothing too artisan and preferably second hand. Would also like to keep cost down otherwise ill just wait for my ride to work to open again next year and properly upgrade/modernise to tapered fork and 650’s. Any suggestions?
garage-dwellerFull MemberStick with it?
I wouldn’t spend it on a replacement 26r frame, although there’s probably a fair few bargains out there. I’m nursing as much life as I can from my two but they’re not getting serious spend on them
The 456 is a bit of a lump to climb on. I have similar set up on mine. 140mm fork, 70mm stem, 710 bar. Ride S Downs & Wiltshire mostly.
If I were changing I’d look at a second hand cotic I think.
FOGFull MemberI had similar objections to my456 and my solution was also to buy a Cotic. It was a few years ago so I bought a new one but there should be a few 2nd hand ones around at reasonable prices. I still have the Soul and have never regretted the change.
PJayFree MemberIf you’re looking for something a bit more XC orientated and don’t mind a straight steer headtube I’d recommend a Pipedream Scion. They’ll take up to 130mm forks (can you reduce yours?) and at £250 for 853 steel are a bit of a bargain. I’m currently running mind rigid and love it.
A word of warning though, Pipedream aren’t the easiest people to contact or get a customer service response from.
AntLockyerFree MemberI recently upgraded my 456 to a new Cotic BFe. My reason for buying it was that I basically live on the side of a wooded hill, so I ride up the road then blast down the trails. What I didn’t expect was how much nicer it would be for general riding. Even riding the canal footpath was nicer (arguably this is a better bike for every non paved situation than any of the others I’ve owned).
cookeaaFull MemberA word of warning though, Pipedream aren’t the easiest people to contact or get a customer service response from.
Vs On-One/PX? 😯
Current 456 “Evo 2” us £200 which is bound to drop worth trying the updated version?
Also what size are you on/what size are you?
It Might be worth looking at TT length in relation to that front end lift/wander issue perhapsNorthwindFull MemberSoul prices don’t seem to have crashed as much as I’d hoped but still. If you want something that’s just like a 456 but better at everything then get a Soul. It’s basically exactly what you described, though you might want to dial the forks down a little.
I think there’s a very high chance that some day there’ll be a soul on sale and I’ll have money in my paypal and…
hardenpeterFree Membercurrently riding an 18″. Evo 2 frame is 603 tt although frames seem to be getting longer so mine may be shorter. Running it with a 50mm stem and flat 810 el guapo bars. That pipdream looks nice pjay; what size you on ( large looks about right for me length). Not sure i can get the forks down though. They are marzocchi 44rlos which can be limited with a spacer but assume this just limits travel rather than dropping by 10 mm. Cotic soul seems to be general winner though. What is nearest size to 456 18 ” (which seems to fit pretty well, as long as i run flat bars, i did have high risers previously but cockpit felt too crampt on climbs). Thanks for offer handyandy but small too…..well small. Whats the difference between bfe and soul? Lasy’ anyone ridden old 456 and evo 2?
hardenpeterFree Member[Soul prices don’t seem to have crashed as much as I’d hoped but still. If you want something that’s just like a 456 but better at everything then get a Soul. It’s basically exactly what you described, though you might want to dial the forks down a little.
I think there’s a very high chance that some day there’ll be a soul on sale and I’ll have money in my paypal and… ]
The Cotic full build’s arn’t cheap are they. Get to the 1.6k mark and eye starts wandering to FS.Thing is im a sucker for looks, and a skinny tubed steel HT looks the nuts. Liked to the look of Stanton frames but they are 700 just for the frameset
NorthwindFull MemberI had an 18 inch carbon 456- same geometry- and a 17.5 Soul, I’m 5’10. I think the fit’s pretty similiar overall.
bfe is just a soul with more metal in it. So it’s bombproof strong, but it’s a bit heavier and a lot less, well, steely. Thicker tubes means less spring. I didn’t like mine for that reason, it had the handling of the Soul obviously but it didn’t have the waggy tailedness. From your original post I reckon the Soul would be better for you just for that reason. But if you want to stick domains in it and jump off a house then the Bfe.
Other brands are available 😉 But I’m still a cotic fanboi at heart even though I sold my soul and my soda and my hemlock’s just a frame on a wall.
hardenpeterFree MemberIm 6.0 but not particularly flexible. Normally go for 56 road bikes, and 456 is my first proper mountain bike which seems to be a fairly good fit at 18″.
The soul sounds like a good option and it does look smark, as does that pipedream. How much would an extra 10mm on a fork screw the geo?
There was an Evo TI on the bay last week that went for 400; made fatal mistake of leaving the page open when my missus walked in the room. Needless to say i didnt buy it due to usual holiday / house / priorities nag, but strangely stumped up for a new handbag today………
stevenmenmuirFree MemberI had a steel 456 and was happy with it until I bought one of the original ti 456 on ebay. I love it. It was wrongly listed as an 18″, it’s actually a 16″, makes it even more fun.
hardenpeterFree MemberThanks gents. After a bit of searching found a black soul mk 2 frame in good nick for south of 200.iked the look of the pipedream but silly number of positive st threads swung it. Age of frame means i dont have to muck about with headseat adapter or get new seatpost which keeps the cost down. Also the forks can be reduced to 120 but does involve taking apart andd shoving in a spacer. What size forks were people on this thread running? Do the cable guides for rear mech also allow for full external hose all the way down the top tube?
PJayFree MemberI ride a 19.5″ Pipedream and it’s a great fit; I love mine. I’ve never ridden a Soul but you rarely hear anything against them and they do seem to be the STW frame of choice (and have been for some time). I’m pretty sure that Letmetalktomark on here has owned a Scion (and Sirius) and a Soul so could compare them for you if you were interested.
Enjoy the Soul! I’m still perfectly happy on 26″ wheels!
pickleFree MemberI’ve been riding an EVO 2 for a while now and it’s great! I picked one up when they were around £130 in raw finish which is well nice.
I’ve had an inbred and a 456 and this rides much better.
hardenpeterFree MemberThanks again all. I should have said in that last post that i got impatient and pressed the buy button!! My last two bikes were One one 456 & PX RT-57 so thought i would give a different brand a go this time. Still amazed at the Pipedream price; at 250 its a real steel (excuse the dreadful pun) and the colours are pretty cool
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