I love my BFe, but I sometimes wish the front end was easier to pop up – like my Marin Rocky Ridge, which just feels a little more fun. Is it because the RR has slightly shorter chain stays? Is there a lovely steel frame, with dropper sized seatpost, which is more poppable?

technique?

Sorry to chuck the tough one in there first 🙂

Tbh, the above. BFe has pretty short stays for a all-round bike anyway. Stuff like the Slackline and Surge have marginally shorter stays, but not enough to make a difference.

Could the difference between your two current bikes not mainly be in the relative length and height of the fronts?

Defo Technique – My Bfe pops up nicely.

Tbh, the above. BFe has pretty short stays for a all-round bike anyway. Stuff like the Slackline and Surge have marginally shorter stays, but not enough to make a difference.

Could the difference between your two current bikes not mainly be in the relative length and height of the fronts?

BB height.
Reach.
Seat angle.

Use the same technique as on your Marin 😀

To answer your question, a Mk1 Dialled Alpine. Wooahhh there!!

EDIT: Just thought, too (purely coincidence) a pal is selling his Mk1 frame (which are awesome). Email if interested.

I find it hard to believe that my technique is worse on my BFe than my Marin. I just find the Marin more easily thrown around; lighter on the front end; easier to flick around. The BFe is a lovely bike, but less all out fun than the
Marin. After riding the BFe, I obviously get used to it and can ride drop offs etc normally, but it requires more conscious effort than on the Marin. The Marin has a 140mm Talas, while the BFe has a 150mm Rev.

It was a bit of a shock when I went back to the Marin recently and found it so much fun. I’m thinking that instead of settling for the BFe, maybe I should just swap the frame. I bought the BFe frame used, so I should be able to sell it for pretty much what I bought it for.

I wondered if it was the head angle which made the difference? The BB height is definitely much higher on the BFe, but that doesn’t annoy me.

Would a Slackline be slacker or more poppable?

fwiw I had a Attack trail and am yet to find anything that rides like it. It was just such a good bike to manoeuvre.

Marin AXC frames are very high at front end with short stays, used to have a B-17 (AXC) and can’t really think of any other XC-ish bike with quite the same kind of geometry. P7 or 456 maybe?

Not saying your technique is worse on one but it’s probably going to work out better if you get your head round why you can’t pop the Bfe and fix that rather than swapping frames.

for me its the TT length/reach..
last oktober I rebuild my trusty old stiffee (frame!)as winter hack bike..
couldn`t believe how much fun it is..
it easily pops up on the rear wheel…quite different to the BFe..
technique is the same of course..