Right near the time to decide on a new SS MTB. I have it down to a few but first my requirements…
Ti or steel
fully rigid or just front fork
26 inch wheel about 18 inch frame
price below £1000
test ride required preferably in the south
needs to look good or cool 🙂
My shortlist…
1. Cotic simple or soda (SS?)
2. Kona explosif convert
3. ti 456 SS
4. Scandal (I know I said steel)
5. Genesis
6. on-one inbred
any other you can recommend?
I would like some comments if you own or have had these bikes especially if you can compare them with others 🙂
Needs to be a marked improvement on my existing kona cindercone 97 SS conversion pictured below…
I had a Singular Swift that was a great bit of kit, climbed as well as any bike ive ever had, just singlespeed never really suited me, took me over half an hour on road to get offroad, if you get me, great on singletrack. Well worth a look. Very light and beautiful too.
This one is for sale £950 you can gave a test ride im in bristol the brakes have been swopped to mono mini and thr=e tryes and sadle have been swopped by its all good kit.
Very positive feel to the stearing goes where you point it fast light ans comfortable ride.
I’ve tried several now and my favorite is my 853 inbred – takes up to a 5″ travel fork, the sliding dropouts work perfectly and it handles perfectly, for me at least.
My Explosif. Not for sale, but might help you make your mind up.
Got two sprockets on the back as I’ve lost a spacer, and there is enough fore-aft adjustment to change from 32:16 to 32:18 without messing with the chain which is nice 🙂
I have a genesis i0 i find it awsome and british made. 2009 is better specked than the 08 which i have i upgraded brakes and wheel but you wont have to if you got 09. also customer service is great with them. (and it was lighter than my friends Inbred single speed)
tala, if they had gears, then they wouldn’t be singlespeeds now, would they? (pats him on the head and sends him back to play with his dolls in the corner). FWIW, I have an 853 Inbred with On-One carbon forks and it is very light, and an absolute delight to ride, although my experience with SSs’ is restricted to a Handjob with Planet X rigid forks and a Surley tensioner. The 853 would be the bike I kept if I had to get rid of three of my four.
Yeah I second freeandsingle’s comment. If you like the feel of the Kona you’ll struggle to improve much on that. I have a Unit which is a superb frame.
How about an EBB and a disc-mount for your Cindercone? Should be around £300 from Argos including a full paint job. I’d keep it rigid if I were you – but if it runs 1,1/8″ aheadset there’s plenty of scope to try both types of front end.
Five Bar what are those? no phots …… My gash, put together for £250 On One Inbred EBB is my most fun and used bike and I have a bit of a choice. Most of those above and may be the Love Hate as well – so down to personal pref, good luck R
I’ve had the Inbred and Kona singlespeeds, now on a Nicolai. If I was buying again and forgeting Nicolai it would be between Cotic and Sanderson. However if the Scandal singlespeed does happen then that for certain.
Ozzybmx
It’s an Argon. It’s a great ride (for me anyway) one of those bikes that your other bikes can’t live with and have to go. Modified since this, my only picture with MonoMinis, Eggbeaters and USE bars.
The sliding dropouts are great and it means I can run a very SWB. Also I’ve moved away from rigid forks. Lightweight suspension with lockout is more versatile.