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OK, I have a budget of £850max. Below is a hit list of what I need. The budget allows lots of choice for the obvious builders (Cotic/Stanton etc) and not enough for boutique or titanium. Below is the broad spec requirement, i'd love some 'alternative' suggestions if you please.
Material: Steel or Ti
Geometry: Modern...long-ish and slack-ish but not OTT 'out there'.
Wheels: 650b with decent clearance for up to 2.6", maybe 2.8" (NOT 29er/650+ as I don't want semi-fat and don't want 29" for this build).
Handling: Poppy and enthusiastic. It should be good for all-day mile munching but love a dirt-jump session too. So not a dirt jump frame, but not an XC rig either
Image: I'm a bike snob. There, I said it. I don't want to see the same frame at every trail centre I turn up to. Though I understand my budget won't afford exclusivity, so will reserve that for the full suss bike. I just don't want 'the obvious' choice.
Thanks for your help comrades.
I have been impressed by move from steel to alloy - the tyres, rims/wheels, seatpost and bars are *far* more important than frame.
I don't miss the springy nature of my old Sanderson - it is comfy enough running a nice comfy back tyre...
Is your budget frame only?
Sick Bike Co Wülf or hacksawsurgeon?
Yes frame only. Funny you say that about alloy. The Liteville hardtail is appealing.
Kingdom were selling a ti hardtail at about that price a while ago?
Stif Morf? Well impressed with mine.
Kingdom, yes that's a good suggestion. I'm coming off a Lynsky titanium hardtail and wonder about the ride feel of a cheaper Titanium hardtail.
You've completely contradicted the riding characteristics you want.
"Modern long and slack" (even 'ish') cannot really be truly "poppy and enthusiastic" nor "love a dirt jump session" 650x2.8 seems a bit of a strange choice for the latter too.
Choose one or the other characteristic unless you just want it so you can tell unwitting people on the internet how poppy and playful your long slack ti plus hardtail is at the dirt jumps and ride around trail centres past families on their Giants/Specializeds with your nose in the air.
Being more serious. A Nukeproof scout would be a fairly decent compromise if you plump to stay somewhere in the middle.
These frames are so underated. The finishing is brilliant
If you fancy steel then these are different to your usual suspects
https://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/frames-forks-c6/mountain-bike-frames-c48/dmr-trailstar-frame-p14289
I was going to suggest the DMR Trailstar too. Ticks all of your boxes, I haven't seen another in the year I've owned mine......and currently on sale for £320 direct from DMR....
https://www.dmrbikes.com/Catalogue/Frames/Hard-Tail/Trailstar
Gratuitous pic:
Production Privee Oka?
Kona Honzo?
I'm looking for something similar, only for a rigid fork up front. BTR is the dream.
I'd say the Stanton switchback hits your criteria pretty well. I absolutely love mine. The only other bike I've ridden that I'd potentially swap to would be the Stif Morph.
Orange P7? You'll get to choose your frame colour and decal colour choice so the chances of seeing one exactly the same is slim.
Talon ? He s just finished my frame and will pretty much make what you like. Only steel option though.
the honzo I had was a beast.
Pace RC127?
Chromag Stylus? Hard to find, but that should suit your proclivity for exclusivity
I've only got experience of the BFe and Switchback (mk1). Both are ace, but the Switchback is ever so slightly acer*. It gets used for buggering about on- skids and wheelies, that sort of thing- and did a 70-odd mile trip to my mam's and back last Thursday with a change of wheels 🙂 I'll be doing a few local DHs/enduros on it this year as well.
* nicer colours, cleaner top tube/seat tube/seat stay area** and shorter back end.
** the wishbone made my teeth itch.
PipeDream moxie
I’d go for the Kingdom Vendetta. I’ve just bought a Morf, but not had chance to ride it properly yet. Looks and feels brilliant though.
Genesis Tarn?
I know you said no to cotic, but in the time I have had mine I haven't seen another out in the wild. I would demo a soul as it meets all of your criteria.
Onza Jackpot as above, 20% off if you go direct to Onza at the mo. Really nice frame, not so keen on the gear cable routing as it used split outers, I preferred continuous outer.
Not built it yet but will probably run the gear cable internally using the dropper routing.
PF30 B.B. if that bothers you.
Chromag Rootdown BA?
In 27+ guise it ticks all your boxes...
Airdrop Bitmap? I know it's Alloy, but it's pretty exclusive, has space up to 2.6 tyres, modern and slackish, but not mental. Plus it looks like an updated Chameleon, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Transition Throttle? I know it's carbon, but it ticks all the other boxes. Not seen one in the flesh but have a mate with one and he speaks highly if it. 😉
This is 4 months old.
This is 4 months old.
And it was all slightly tragic back then with the whole...
Image: I’m a bike snob. There, I said it. I don’t want to see the same frame at every trail centre I turn up to. Though I understand my budget won’t afford exclusivity, so will reserve that for the full suss bike. I just don’t want ‘the obvious’ choice.
... vibe and all. Just saying. Sonder btw and just strip the decals off it.
Airdrop Bitmap.
Transition Throttle? I know it’s carbon, but it ticks all the other boxes. Not seen one in the flesh but have a mate with one and he speaks highly if it.
Raise the ceiling a couple and see a Curtis AM7?
And it was all slightly tragic back then with the whole…
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, even when it's not asked for.
Personally, I see no harm in wanting a bit of exclusivity in your bike. It often goes hand in hand with stuff that is at the cutting edge. The start point of the trickle down affect that ends up benefiting everyone.
PP Shan
Dartmoor hornet and spend the change on drugs and hookers?!! Just kidding but I do like the airdrop bitmap, first thing I thought was 1st gen chameleon!
i wanted that dmr to be way better than it is, can’t get past the look of the curved top tube. Old school one looked cool
15 year old me wanted a chameleon so bad. Is it me or did anyone notice sick’s prices have jumped up a bit? No more sub 500 frames? Sorry for the slight hi jack.
so after 4 months did op buy a frame?!
Personally, I see no harm in wanting a bit of exclusivity in your bike. It often goes hand in hand with stuff that is at the cutting edge. The start point of the trickle down affect that ends up benefiting everyone.
I suppose the converse argument is that it's a shame not to consider functionally outstanding bikes from brands like Sonder or Ragley for example because they're not exclusive, 'boutique' labels, which is probably what I should have said. You arguably get better vfm too.
Cutting edge tech? You get more from the likes of Spesh or Trek than from niche hardtail makers I'd have thought. Not that it matters, as long as you look good on the dance floor, erm, metaphorically speaking 😉
I hope no one who buys boutique thinks they're getting any more bank for their buck than they would from Giant/Specialised/Trek.
But the heart wants what the heart wants.
I guess I'm just not particularly brand conscious as far as bikes go. It's all just function and I'll happily de-sticker frames, wheels etc. I'm a disgrace to consumerism really 🙁
Looks like we will never know what he/she bought...........
I’m a disgrace to consumerism really.
Too many logos and stickers on bikes these days…
I love a what bike/frame? Thread but always wish there was some closure!