Forum menu
Currently looking at doing a hardtail build to replace my stif morf & thought id check the hive mind for options to look at. I've really enjoyed the morf and want something thats of a similar flavour
Thinking frame only
Doesnt have to be steel
130/140 travel
Top of the list so far i think is the Bird Forge but others i'm thinking about are..
Sonder Signal ( slightly steeper head angle than im used to)
Cotic BFE - sizing is a bit weird for my 5'6.5 height reading the reviews
Pace 529 ( dont know much about it)
what else should i consider?
ps the Stif Squatch doesn't come in a small enough size as far as i can work out otherwise that would be a tempting option
You could at one point get an Orange Crush 29 frame only, but not sure whether you can currently?
Pipedream Moxie or Sirius?
Their geometry charts are super confusing because the former is with a 140mm unsagged and the latter is with a 100mm fork sagged. Loving my Moxie though!
Owned a tonne of 'trail' or 'hardcore' hardtail frames, including some fancy steel ones but one of these:
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/the-new-alliminium-scandal-29er-from-on-one-planet-x/
Was the best I've ever had. Dont pay over the odds - they were less than £200 at one point. Wait for a sale (inevitable), go second hand, or buy a full build and sell/swap the bits you dont want, which is often the cheapest way to do a custom build.
They are superb!
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FTOOSC29V3/on-one-scandal-29er-mtb-frame
I'm selling a medium BFEMax frame which may or may not be of use, depending on your sizing weirdness ;o)
I have a Pace RC627 and think it's ace. Very confident and comfortable bike. Imaging the 29er will be similar and around this time last year they had a frame sale (when I got mine).
Orange P7?
According to the size chart im a small on the BFEmax ( im on a small cotic rocket which is def the right size) so if i went with the BFE the small is probably the right one. Having said that, the hardtail party review guy is the same size and he tested a small but said he would buy a medium so dunno!
will have a look at the pipe dreams!
Rå .410
/recommendwhatyouhave
Failing that, have a look at Dawley bikes. Either the Eponym or the rallye
Having said that, the hardtail party review guy is the same size and he tested a small but said he would buy a medium so dunno!
Yeah, reach looks quite short on the small BFEMax
18 Bike no.9, they don't just make them in 'silly long' now either.
https://www.18bikes.co.uk/2021-18-bikes-9-frame.html?id=256458899
Where abouts are you?
If anywhere near Oxford then you can try my BfeMax medium.
As pictured with a 150mm dropper for someone 173cm. I've got short legs.
i'm darkest devon so not very close but cheers for the offer!
168cm with short legs so not far off you i guess. what travel are you running at?
I'm looking for something exactly the same but in a large size. Things on my list are:
- Bird Forge
- Stanton Switch9er
- Stanton Sherpa
- Cotic BfeMax
- Cotic Solaris (But new one is 120mm max)
- Pipedream Moxie (discounted the Sirius due to low stack)
- Santa Cruz Chameleon
- Nukeproof Scout
- Ragley Bigwig
- Pace 529
- On One Big Dog - (scandal is a great bike but it'd need to be a bit more 'special' for me to go ALU)
Switch9er or pipedream moxie 👍
Hello Dave for a bit more hardcore hardtailness. Love mine.
+1 on the Hello Dave. (Unsurprisingly) good downhill, ( surprisingly) good uphill.
Surprisingly It was ace on a 100 mile bike packing ride and 50 mile xc rides.
The Bird Zero 29 is currently reduced to £410 and similar geometry to the Forge.
Ragley Big Wig is my hardtail of choice. Decent value for the full bike set up with only minor fork upgrades (swapped out the damper) to make it perfect for local riding.
Ragley big al 2023 is a great frame in principal - it's been lengthened and dropped (seat tube, BB) and looks really nice.
I started to accumulate the bits to buy one then got a bargain nukeproof reactor for about the same as the total build cost was going to be on the big al.
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/ragley-big-al-hardtail-frame-aqua-white-2023
Not sure how the geometry compares, but a damn good price:
https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-malt-725-steel-mtb-frame-266867.html
Definitely take a look at the new Ragley Big Al, I've been very impressed by mine. Considering its only £350 its outstanding value for what it offers.
Honestly, the Signal (Ti) is amazing, I'm not sure its as steep as you think, i heard there was some confusion over the measurements being sagged or unsagged
The Ragley looks interesting! Nice colour too!
I'll second the Signal TI. I've had one for two years now and its the best bike I've owned. It still puts a smile on my face every time I ride it.
The geometry is spot on for modern trail riding.
Slight Hi-jack but has anyone ridden both a signal Ti and Tarn Ti? Be interest to hear how they compare.
/recommendwhatyouhave
Production Privée Shan GT 🥰
What's your reason for changing the Morf, if you like it? Might help with recommendations. Not that you need any more, after mine 😉
Main reason is that I fancy trying a 29er
quite a lot of stuff on the morf is a bit knackered- I need a new wheelset for it amongst other stuff & just thought now might be a good time to explore a change in wheel size.
the morf has been really fun for most of the riding I do it maybe feels a little short seated and I’ve been running it with a 50mm stem as the 35mm it was designed to have felt too short so a slightly longer frame with a shorter stem is attractive but otherwise I’ve loved it.
that’s why something similar but 29er is what I think I want!
Pole Taival?
got a honzo dl
frame was £250 on eBay
im blown away how good it is, with a deore build and 140mm z2s, 2.6 spesh tyres
questioning why i have a full suss