Seriously tempted to get one of those new colour 456 summer seasons – mainly cos I like the funky orange. Just wondering how people have got them built up?

Thing is, I have a Pitch and would sort of like a hardtail as a bit of a contrast to that. Is the Summer Season gonna be too burly? Kind of imagining it being fun for trail centres and arsing about on jumps etc, plus little local loops.

Especially interested to know what forks people are using – I'm guessing something like U-turn Revs would be perfect.

Don't get one they're pants. The new orange ones are particularly pants. Stay away. Don't say I didn't warn you.

I got one to replace my 456 because it was like my Hemlock. Makes swapping between the two easier.
Running 140mm Vans which are lovely but i have to work hard on the steep stuff, although part of that is that i'm trying to persevere with flats..

DeVs – screw you buddy!

Mugboo – got any pics? 🙂

When you say work hard on the steep stuff I take it you mean uphill? Was wondering how it is for climbing.

I was wondering the climbing ability too ❓

Wasn't the idea of the summer season to be a bit like the normal 456, but getting the slacker angles with shorter travel forks? Doesn't that make a 140mm fork maybe a bit long?

Doesn't that make a 140mm fork maybe a bit long?

It still rides fine at 140mm, like most bikes though its easier for climbing if you make the front end lower. The only issue is the handling as the slack head angle can make it a little bit of a handful at slow speeds.

Mugboo's Summer (16") was mine and this is what it looked like at the time with 140 Pikes:

He's painted it and made it look all pretty now 😉

Personally I found it a little wandery / flip-flop steering at 140 on steep climbs etc. Was better at 120 / 130 mm for climbing and general riding. Wound the forks out for max' skill compensation when descending 😉

Oooh that's purty!

Also wondering how much they weigh? Not too bothered but something a bit lighter than my Pitch might be nice.

Weight is ~5.8lbs. Not light!

DeVs – screw you buddy!

Honestly, move away from the Summer Seasons. Some ****t keeps leaving this one around my property.

It has made my other bikes gather dust. I think it would look rather nice as a SSSS (singlespeedsummerseason) whilst one of those orange babies got the gear treatment built up nice and slow over the winter ready for the ahem summer season..

They're not particularly light, but that's probably not the point. It's no anchor though.

It isn't like-for-like (on price at least) but I much preferred my Dialled Alpine. But hey, (not that I paid new price) it's a couple of hundred quid more.

Well I bought one – orange in 14" which I fear might be too small but we'll see.

Thing is, I wasn't really intending to buy a new bike, and it's already gonna be tricky getting all the bits for it, so the cheapness was one of the main reasons I got it.

Bollox. I appear to have just got the Orange in 20". She's gonna kill me.

My Summer Season. It is heavy (but then my other ride is a Turner Flux) but it makes the perfect 'mess around in the woods' bike. It creams down anything technical or steep with awe inspiring ease. I'm running 120 – 90mm up front but almost all the time I leave them at 120mm.

Nice.

Also what height/size do we have going on here? Went for a 14" (I'm 5'7 and a half) to be more 'chuckable' but I'm worried it might be too small now. 😐

it"ll be fine my brothers got a 16 and he"s 6ft,1 😀

Got up stairs lane on it but it did include zig zagging, wheelering & swearing 😀

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2493/3846007146_d99ba8d430_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3481/3845215647_95ac896415_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2555/3716171226_90682c91e2_b.jpg

Grumm, yes i mean't climbing although as Mybikes says, its been up Stairs lane so don't climb bad and its worth it wandering a little up hill for its stance everywhere else.

Mine lookes like this:

but will be rebuilt SS with 29e front wheel and rigid On-One CF forks. Why? Why not!

Hey Stumpytrek what the hell size is that frame? 48 inch?!!

I've never seen a handlebar touch the lintel of a door before……

it"ll be fine my brothers got a 16 and he"s 6ft,1

Cheers that makes me feel better. 🙂

Off sick from work and bored 🙂

Hope you don't mind me bastardizing your pic DeVs

Yowsers! It's gonna have Hope M4s and 180/203 floating rotors but otherwise it will look something similar. All I need is a seat clamp and some lock ons and I think I have everything – except the frame of course. Ta for that, looks good and you must be really really bored!

I'm not good enough at photoshop (or bored enough) to put on M4s and floating rotors sorry. 😉

Anyone running 100mm forks?

don't be daft oo00oo, the summer season was designed to have a nice slack head angle with 100/120mm forks, so obviously everyone ignores this and slaps in a set of 160mm forks.

i do wonder how many of the longforksonnahardtail massive actually use all their travel,

i'm telling you now, short forks on a slack hardtail is the new niche within a niche outside a niche…

avast, grumm, you got one then 🙂

im going for 150mm Z150s, which shoiuld give a head angle around 67 i think.
the head angle on a Zesty is 68. and is great descender.

i also have eta on those forks, so will be able to push down to 80mm travel, with a flick of a switch, so im hoping climbing wont be too much of an issue, though going for a primarily "battering back down again" build.

pretty sure ill be using all of that 150mm too :p

cant wait 🙂

Head Angle with 5in fork 66.6°

So you'd probably get more like 65° Olly with those

short forks on a slack hardtail is the new niche within a niche outside a niche…

Wow, that could mean I'm on trend for once!

Yeeeah I got one! Just trying to work out what forks to put on it – what's a good tough 120mm ish fork that's not really expensive?

Marzocchi DJ1 from a few years ago.

it could be a bit of a boat then!
we will have to see.

i would go for old dirt jumpers.
you can get "better" forks, but they are slimmer (bams etc)
DJs are tough as hell, a bit rough and ready, but you wont break them!

What years are we talking about here? Are new ones rubbish?

the older the better i think would be the way to go with marzocchis.

03-05 ish

possibly find they top out a bit readily as they are DJ forks, but i solved that on mine by replacing hte 7.5wt oil with 30wt oil 😀

i recon a set of coil Tora's would go really nicely with a summer season.

steel frame, steel stanchions, steel springs.

slightly heavy and a bit basic maybe, but you'll be able to pass it onto your grandchildren!

can someone convince me 150mm forks are a good idea please.

ooOOoo has worried me (suprise suprise)

giant glory DH has a 65 degree head angle.
cooooool