I have a grand to spend and am looking for advice on what to buy. This much I know.......I dont want a complete bike, I want to build something personal. On my budget I am told this may take a little time to get the right things at the right price and I am prepared to wait. I want a steel frame and accept that Reynolds 853 may not be in the budget.
I am new to mountain biking and am mostly riding single track at present.
So what do you recommend.
was going to recommend a charge duster (until i read your thread) curtis seem to be very well rated by people looking for a custom steel frame http://www.curtisbikes.co.uk/ (i would consider one,myself one day,if i had the cash 
i take it your budget is 1k for a full bike build, so your looking at £150-250 as a frame?
so something like these:
onone inbred
charge blender
ragley blue pig
Evans have Charge duster skinny for £225ish at the moment. Very tempted myself, just to keep hold of in case i build another bike!
The grand is for the full bike. Quite like the charge duster suggested by racefaceec90. Can strech a little more but its not an umlimited pot! Less than £350 ideally.
try and get a 2nd or build a new Single speed Singular humingbird or a swift if you like the look of big wheels.
Single Speed - Sounds a bit hardcore!
I'd look for a decent 2nd hand Cotic Soul.
Best steel frame I've ridden was a cove handjob.
Second a Cove Handjob, they're really great frames, come up for about £150 second hand, couple that with some maxle reba's or similar and some proIIs on flows/arch's and a decent solid build kit, you can happily come in under a grand if you don't mind second hand.
Genesis Latitude - massively underated about to get stunning applause in the mbr group test, fantastic bike/frame.
I would get the Genesis Latitude frame, very tidy with cable stops and light aswell strong paintwork.
The new Charge Duster, the skinny tubes, I was told it's not suitable for heavy riders and going off jumps will crack the frame, it's suitable for light off road riding.
If you're willing to buy 2nd hand then you should be able to put together a decent Soul for £1K. Mine was built up with mostly 2nd hand bits and cost me about £800 to put together (Coil Pikes, Hope XC/X317 wheels, mixed LX, XT, SLX drivetrain, Deore disks etc.).
Have not ruled out second hand. Ideally would like new. Short list then is Cove, Soul or Latitude. Soul was recommended by a friend but how often do you see them 2nd hand? Like the Latitude will definately find out more about it. Cove could be the bargain I am looking for if £150.
I'd look at the Genesis, Soul and add Dialled Prince Alberts to your list. I gota second hand dialled as I was toying with the idea of a hardtail and just sold my fs frame. I'd get a soul if weight was your primary consideration.
Kona explosif frame frame from Charlie the bike monger. Bargainous.
Get a Cotic. They are the best made and best riding steel frames.
Surprised no one has mentioned the orange p7 yet.
An update..............initial idea out of the window! Started looking at the different frames recommended, latched onto the Genesis Latitude 10. Tried it and loved it and also got it for an amazing price. Had a ride over the south downs yesterday to break her in. A bit of everything, some single track and downhill and some of the south downs way. Superb bike. No doubts about the decision I made.
suprised no ones pushing the inbreds.
nothing fancy as such, but nowt wrong with them, and you can get a complete bike new for a grand, or in the bargins more bike for less
Looked at the inbreds. Trouble is cant try it out and the spec on the latitude is better.
I have a dialled PA and I bloody love it so I'm going to second that recommendation up there ^
Sanderson Breath?
(I have the Life and it's amazing - best bike I've ridden, and it replaced a snapped Ti-frame).
I've also had Inbreds but the build quality always struck me as poor - not a problem with the Sandersons which are superbly finished. That said, if you can pick one up cheap on the classifieds they are a giggle to ride.
I tried out a friends Cotic Soul single speed and it was good so I went and bought the new 'swapout dropout' Inbred frame and single speeded it. The whole build cost me about £450 (I already had some bits like brakes and forks) and the bike is so much fun. Personally I prefer it to the Cotic as the steering feels way more precise and planted but that could have been due to the long forks on the Cotic which felt a little sketchy up front. The Cotic maybe had a little bit more life about it but I'm so impressed with the Inbred and it gives you the option of a slot dropout if you want that option for single speeding.
I'm doing a similar build myself, just ordered a Sanderson Breath as the bikechain are doing them for 200 posted. got a set of new rebas to go on and a slx chainset all new, current spend standing at 440.
I quite like my Duster. Its certainly not the lightest frame, but it rides well.
2nd hand soul, I got one for £200 and have never looked back best riding hardtial I've ever had bar none and I also have a yoeddy so it's pretty high praise. it's just fun to ride and can handle a lot more than I'm capable of riding
You should be able to get hold of a second hand Chromag for that kind of money, i have one and it's the best in my humble opinion.
Brilliant. 9 posts after the OP's "thanks for all your help, I got a ... in the end and it's great" update, and people still recomending him frames!
Glad you're chuffed, outthere!
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