In the time-honoured way, a couple of months after buying some spangly new retro throwback 26″ straight steerer forks, the fricken frame has developed a problem which may or may not prove to be terminal (cracked carbon seatstay)

In the event it is terminal, what are my frame options

26″ wheels
140 mm travel FS trail bike
1.5″ headtube
Budget £1k – £1.5k maybe a bit more

Go!

you can gte one for a lot less but id say cannondale prophet. 140mm take any forks you want with right headset and they do ride nice

You can run 1.5″ steerer forks on a Banshee Spitfire if you use an external headset cup (it’s a zero stack 44/56 headtube). Amazing frame!

Liteville 301.

Tapered headtube, though, not 44mm straight – not sure if your steerer is 1 1/8″ or 1.5 strait?

Gives you some options for (whispers) 650B int he future too.

That Spitfire looks nice similar to what I’ve got now (Cannondale Rize)

301 looks awesome not entirely sure about the shock placement though?

Thanks folks keep ’em coming!

A nice second hand Orange five with CCDB coil/air?
Or a second hand Santa Cruz TR/LT carbon?

not entirely sure about the shock placement though?

chiefgrooveguru can justify it far more eloquently than I would be able to.

my experience is

a) it works really well

b) it looks like a bike when you’re not sat on it

c) you can’t see what it looks like when you’re riding it 😉

Some of the frame details are just lovely, too, real ‘ooh, I’ll just stroke that bit’ stuff.

A nice second hand Orange five

Don’t get me started on 5s 🙂

wwaswas thanks bud my problem is I sweat a lot and I can see that shock & linkage being subjected to a steady stream of perspiration. It does look good though – how is yours holding up?

Are you sure the forks are 1.5 inch straight steerer? This is quite a rare size I think you’ll struggle to find many options.

the shock is more protected from mud and splash than most designs and I expect a bit of sweat wouldn’t be the end of the bearings – the top tube is actually ‘U’ shaped so the shock shouldn’t get dripped on too much.

I love mine – pedals great and delivers the travel when you need it to in a controlled way 🙂 Light bike too.

Are you sure the forks are 1.5 inch straight steerer?

No sorry the forks are 1-1/8″ but if I’m buying a new frame I’d prefer one with a 1.5″ headtube

wwaswas any chance of a few pics around the shock?

My sweating is quite intense I’ve corroded more than one shock mount 🙂

few pics here;

http://s239.photobucket.com/user/LukeBurstow/library/301?sort=3&page=1

shock detail;

it’s an untreated frame unless you pay more for anodised – not really noticed any issues though.

No sorry the forks are 1-1/8″ but if I’m buying a new frame I’d prefer one with a 1.5″ headtube

A tapered or 44mm headtube will fit straight 1-1/8 and tapered forks so I wouldn’t go limiting yourself to 1.5″ headtubes.

Hmmm thanks wwaswas I like that 8)

Yeti ASR5 Carbon? Let me rephrase that….my Yeti ASR5 Carbon 😀

2013 Saracen Ariel 14X frame – £1K

-Taper 1 1/8″ to 1.5″ headtube
-140mm travel
-135x12mm dropout (can be changed for 9mm QR/142x12mm/bolt through)

Nukeproof Mega? has 44mm headtube so will take ANY fork. Some cheap frames about.

Ok some good ones there folks. Ariel or Mega hmmmm
Or a Yeti!

Spoilt for choice!

The last ride I did I got lots of strava Koms up and down. I wasn’t riding my 29er or my Nukeproof mega but my 6 year old cannondale prophet. There is life in the old dog yet! (Both me and the bike)

Got a prophet mx (size medium) up for grabs early august!

1.5 headtube, takes ALL forks.
12mm rear axle.
140mm rear travel.
Designed for Up to 160mm front travel
Head angle between 65 and 69 degrees dependant in fork choice/ rear shock position.
Way ahead if it’s time 🙂

So a tapered fork should be fine?

Last of the Blur LTc’s then. Awesome bike

Turner 5 Spot worth a look, the 2011 on has a 44mm straight headtube, so takes all forks.
Much more efficient riding compared to an Orange 5, (having ridden both) low maintenance bushing system and the shock is well away from the sweat zone.
Comes with an excellent after sales customer service backup, even for second hand frames.