I've also got a Surface with a slackset and I love it, but it wasn't expensive and I know I wouldn't buy a new US made one simply because of the price. It's beautifully made and rides great, but having ridden some Stanton's and Cotics I'd be just as happy riding one of those.
I recently bought a Sonder Signal
What’s it like? Also on my list as I’ve never had a Ti bike, but I’m slightly wary of buying used.
it wasn’t expensive and I know I wouldn’t buy a new US made one simply because of the price
This. All over. My only requirement was a good steel hardtail frame within budget - just got lucky with a Surface popping up
Did you see the Sell & Buy - Steel is Real FB group?
This for £300 is a steal (pun intended)
Need a full bike as my current (Stooge Speedball) doesn’t have any parts I can swap over. Will check out the group though. Thanks for posting it.
I had BFe (Mk2 I think 26") and unfortunately just didn't get along with it but it was a tough ol thing.
A couple of years ago I bought a Rootdown BA - brilliant bike.
Chromag though is probably a cult thing
I had a Bfe with a U turn fork and loved it. Very versatile and a pretty much indestructible thing. Once crashed it in to a tree at a silly speed and the only damage was to one of the grips and a slight scratch to the top tube. Was my first steel HT too
What’s it like? Also on my list as I’ve never had a Ti bike,
I like it. Read all the reviews I could find and don't feel like I've been mis-sold on any front. Versatile, but does the rowdy stuff nicely too. Fun.
I was looking for a new hardtail, tried a couple of steel 650b and 29ers 2 Ti 29ers, thought on balance, I'd end up with 650b given my local trails. Top of the list was a steel Stanton Switchback (I'd probably have held out for a 2nd hand) then Alpkit/Sonder had a 15% off sale and it was only a bit more expensive for Ti Sonder 29er over new Steel Stanton. 850 vs 700. Bit of a post pay day/credit card/ "**** it, why not Ti" decision, if I'm honest! 10 year warranty definitely helped the nerves on Ti.
Ive got a Chromag Samurai 65 frame for sale just now. I've also just bought a Stanton Switch9er to replace it. Paid nearly £1200 for the Chromag a few years back. Fitted a 1.5 Anglesey to the Chromag and it def made it ride a bit better but it was awesome anyway. Stanton is a bit cheaper. Not had a huge amount of rides on it. The Stanton is newer geometry and is slightly longer and it def rides superbly well. Which one rides better? I don't know. When you're in that price range I think a lot of it comes down to aesthetics as none of them are going to be shite. Chromag has more curvy tubes. Stanton tubes are straight. I doubt very much you would be disappointed with a Chromag. Search Google for pinkbike forums for rootdowns primers and surface in the 29er category. Well over 100 pages of builds to get you drooling.
