following my 'what hardtail' thread, I'm also considering getting a second hand short travel (100-120mm) frame instead.
Needs to be
– sub 6 lbs
– stiff snappy handling
– not too slack (4X kind of angles)
– suitable for a 140mm fork
– can put up with a bit of abuse
.
thinking of something like a Blur 4X
.
an ideas?

Blur 4X?

An original Spesh SX would be perfect if only the idiots at SBC kept making them rather than extending travel year by year. Try eBay and you've a chance of getting one for 150-200 sheets.

You need a Yeti 4x. You can thank me for this revelation later.

Not quite up to your 140mm fork requirement but orange st4?

the Spesh SX's are great – like them a lot, but they're a bit on the heavy side
the subsequent SXs (not the SX Trail) would be good too but they were never imported to the UK and are like hen's teeth
.
Yeti 4X is a good one, ta

Orange ST4 is 6.6lbs for an 18" I believe – absolute ripper downhill and rides light – only 120mm fork though but if you're getting a new fork it'd fly with something like a Maxle Reba and can easily hold it's own with 140mm bikes.

Perhaps not an obvious choice based on your requirements but I'd look at a Fuel EX. I run Pikes at 140mm on mine and it's a light, tight frame.

Might sound a bit crazy, but when was 140mm classed as short travel?

the ST4 was on the possibles list, I'll be using 140mm Revs which I already have so not an option really unless I can reduce the travel, which I'd probably prefer not to do

Steve_b77 – short travel at the back as opposed to the front

If you can reduce the travel on the Revs – seriously go and try an ST4 demo bike…

Just backing up what Gary Lake + Surfr said. I've found my ST4 to be a properly engaging bike, that rides fast through the singletrack + on the descents and is surprisingly good in the air. Much prefer it to the Prophet it replaced.

Perhaps not an obvious choice based on your requirements but I'd look at a Fuel EX.

+ 1

hmmm, never really liked Treks, although they've brought out a few bikes recently to change my mind…

any more ideas from the lunchtime massive?
I'm struggling…

Commencal Meta 4? (Not sure about max. fork travel though….probably wouldn't run to 140mm come to think of it).

Trek EX or older Trances.

Blur LTc. You won't pick one up second hand, but they are designed around a 140 fork, 5.7lbs, and apparently stiffer than stiff thing with rigor mortis

Chumba XCL, 127mm travel, really tough and stiff. 68 degree HA good for most riding, ideal 🙂

bakes me old mate, me old cocker sparrow, old apples and pairs , frog and toad how Have we got to 140mm travel forks in a short travel post, cor blimey luvva duck.

easily hold it's own with 140mm bikes.

Surely with only 20mm difference in travel, its got a LOT more to do with the rider than the amount of travel? I'm sure I could tell who would win a race between two ST4s, one with 140mm travel and a mincer on board and one with 120mm with a rad gnarly rider on board…

Chumba XCL, 127mm travel

what took you so long Si? you're normally in like Flynn

me old mate, me old cocker sparrow, old apples and pairs

you forgot 'me old china'

Have we got to 140mm travel forks in a short travel post

the back end would be short travel and I did it to avoid people suggesting 5-6" bikes, I've already got one of those

An old trance would be perfect apart from the tough to meet 6lb part. Got mine with a new set of bearings and a serviced shock for £150 – bombproof, great suspension, snappy handling if you're used to bigger bikes. Can't be beaten really!

Blur 4X will get slack with a 140mm fork.

This is my old one which was a 16" and too small – it was an absolute little ripper but a bit sketchy at top speed. I've now got an 18" which isn't as big as it sounds (Other bike is a 16" patriot). It is almost as snappy as the 16, but the back doesn't try to overtake the front as much 😆

An '08 Trance could fit the bill.

They made the frame much lighter for one year before scrapping it in favour of the Trance X/Anthem X.

I've got one and it's great with a 120mm fork. Lots of people like them with 140mm forks, although I must admit it wasn't any good for my local riding when I tried it.

Ventana El Saltamontes 4" or El Ciclon 5.5".

I run my Blur 4X with the fork set at 160mm virtually all the time and its perfect. Certainly never had any problems with it feeling unstable etc. Felt excellent on hour long downhills in the Alps…

Older trance would fit the bill like Ianpv said.
Meta 4x – but slack seat angle so not sure about climbing on it for any distance.

Nicolai Helius ac or cc

to avoid people suggesting 5-6" bikes, I've already got one of those

140mm is in between 5 and 6 inches (125mm-150mm)? Surely you should be looking at 120mm-ish? Even that is hardly short travel. If you're thinking that a slightly longer fork travel vs rear travel makes sense it will go against your need for 4X style angles.

I think a regular 120mm trail bike with a slightly tougher build would do the trick. Bit like that Chumba. Add bolt-through fork, stiff/wide handlebars, chunky tyres… and go!

If you're thinking that a slightly longer fork travel vs rear travel makes sense

it does in that I don't want to buy a new fork (140mm Revs) and that I need shorter travel on the back than I currently have (150mm)
I see what you're saying about angles though, and that's why I want to see if I can change the travel on my forks (wish I'd got U-turn now)

I'll have a hunt for a Trance – that's a definite bargain opportunity

Are they air revs? Should be able to space them down – 125-130 would be perfect for a trance, but 140 is ok. I've got a u-turn recon on the one I've got now and it climbs fine at 130mm, but better at 110. A mythical 2008 trance sounds perfect (mine is 2006 and pretty chunky)

It's tempting to put a pike on it as I miss the bolt through, but I'm trying to keep it a lighter build than I'd normally have.

ST4 can take 140mm, i know, mine does.

you've said it now Nina
SNAP!

erm, i doubt it

What they all said about ST4s 🙂 I have 120 Maxle Reba's on mine. I did have U-Turn Forks but never ran them above 120 so can't comment on how it would ride.

Super capable bike. Never felt "short" of travel.

What are you hoping to get from the shorter travel back end?
If you looking to go more XC than AM there are plenty more options, such as SC Superlight or Marin Mount Vision. Even with a 140mm fork on the front they will probably still have a steeper head angle than your current 6" bike. Depends whether you can live with the 'uncool' label, but i reckon they would be a lot cheaper than a ST4. Depends how much abuse are you talking?

shorter travel back end means less suspension to wallow in up hills and round corners
it'll mostly be pretty tame, but if there's a 10' double on the trail or a 4' drop, I don't want to go round it through fear of breaking the bike

trance trance trance! on my 3rd now. currently have 150mm forks and they are officially too long. pegging them back to 130.

fine on the downs, but the damn thing wont go round hairpins and wheelies up anything more slopey than a carpark with the forks like this.

great bikes, had them for 3 years or so now.

Well all mountain bikes are designed to withstand being ridden off road. As long as you're not a slammer-into-the-decker almost any bike won't break. Still think you're describing a normal trail bike. Probably cheaper to buy a complete bike and sell your SH fork.

That's all bikes that are mountain bikes, not All-Mountain bikes.

I've never broken a frame, so either I'm pretty smooth or I don't keep them long enough!