So, if you had £500 to spend on a 29er HT frame that you already had 100mm forks & Crests on Hopes for what would you buy.

Essentially used for XC & marathon events, single track thrashing and general riding around n’ that.

I’ve currently got a Chumba HX2, which comes in at around 2,4kg for the medium frame due to the EBB amongst other things, but fancy something lighter.

Cheers

Singular Swift

Should’ve expected that to be fair, it’s definitely lighter – by a whole 100g’s!!

Without doubt a Solaris. The geometry is perfect, not to steep or slack, it climbs really well, it’s lightish for a steel frame and I have had it out on numerous 5+ hour rides without feeling beat up after.

Santa Cruz Highball (the alloy one) would be on my list….

Santa Cruz Highball Alloy – First Ride

Kinesis FF29?

Loving my Surly Karate Monkey myself. £139 over your budget but worth it. Tritton cycles knocking them out for £639 instead of a silly £1k for the whole bike.
The KM has made me consider flogging my trusty 456ti for the 26″ wheeled KM version, the Troll.

Salsa Mamasita and I know where there’s one not too far from you and in your size to have a fettle with 8) .

This confuddles me every time you crop up Rorschach.

I do like the look of the FF29, but there’s none around in medium

Mutual friend….and I’m stalking you 8)

Tomac Flint
Lurcher

Fair play, can’t blame ya to be honest 😆

Under budget, but a Scandal. ‘Raced’ mine for up to 11 hours comfortably and with fox 100mm and the same wheels, it handles Lakes rocks admirably.
Having said that I fancy a Solaris, just because.

I love my Solaris and would recommend it. Perfect all rounder at 100mm.

Solaris by c8cda158ac5a41398cd382d5cc81901d, on Flickr

See above!

No contest mate,get a Cotic Solaris,it’s the best bike i’ve ever owned(and there’s been a few!)

If you want something light… Mamasita.

The Solaris is a lot cooler though. The Salsa ‘version’ is the El Mariachi which also has swinging dropouts so it can be run SS.

GB

I doubt the solaris is ‘cooler’ just more ‘on trend’ with the STW populous.

I like them salsa thingies

ScandAL – Got an XL without a silly light build & it still only weighs in at 25lb 😯

The Pipedream Skookum 29er looks ace & at only £395 for an 853 frame set it soulnds like a bargain.

Oh & will everyone please STOP posting pics & talking about the Solaris…. I’m trying VERY hard to resist at the moment

Upgrade are showing stock of the Grey & Black FF29 in medium 😉

I just prefer the colour of the Solaris, which is what I’ve got a 2010 El Mar not a new one! It’s pretty much the same blue as that Solaris.

Say for example I went for a new Scandal – they’re silly cheap to be honest – is there going to much difference in ride quality between that and one of them Salsa things or say a Niner EMD?

Kinesis FF29 +1

I’ve just built up a new el mariachi, came from a Gary fisher xcaliber which was lighter but very stiff, verging on harsh after a few hours riding, early days yet but the salsa seems much comfier, while still being a singletrack whippet 😀
Triton cycles near Epping had some good deals on the salsa frames not long ago…
2012 mariachi 2 frame
And they’ve got the pre 2012 frames for £399, different sizing on those through, new ones are 17-19-21, old ones are 18-20-22 with a normal headtube not semi integrated

khani – what sort of build/weight is the El Mariachi coming in at?

Mines a 19inch L
Fox f29 100mm
hope pro2 sp on crests,
9sp 770xtr/ cranks,
xo, rear mech and shifters,
Xt front mech
hope mono minis 180-160, braided and floating..
use sumo carbon post,
Fsa os140 90mm stem
answer protaper carbon bars, 720×12
wtb prowler 2.1’s tubeless,
sdg bel air ti saddle,
time atac pedals,
yeti loc on grips, hope bar end caps and an ass saver.. 😀
Lbs scales of truth say 27.18llb with pedals