Pondering going electric again but it would replace a well specced and lovely bike I currently have and with second hand values at rock bottom I'd happily swap the kit over. I've seen a few frame only options out there so what else is available?
Are you looking for a shopper/commuter or a winch & plummet gnarpoon?
Sorry mate, should have said. Trail/Enduro/Gnarpoon end, 150/160mm or a bit more.
VELDURO.CO.UK 
MONDRAKER.COM Some Specialized dealers were doing the Kenevo as a frame only, not sure if they still are mind
S-Works Levo - but it's overpriced and not the latest tech motor wise (I'd still have one for the right money though)
I'm tempted by a Velduro - I've posted about it before.
That said, my current choice would be a Tier 1 Forbidden Druid E full bike
Yeah, the Druid looks ace but details on price are scarce. Seems the frames are pitched at a point where you may as well buy the full bike?
One of those 4k Amflows and sell the finishing kit.
One of those 4k Amflows and sell the finishing kit.
Looking at frame only prices that is a more than reasonable option. Hell, you could chuck the finishing kit in the bin and be quids in against many frame only prices. I wonder how well this latest frame performs
The Specailized gen 4 S-works frameset can be had for £6400 and has the 111nm motor
The gen 4 Evo Comp complete bike is £6700
As far as I'm aware they both use the same carbon frame, the only difference is the S-works has the upgraded 111nm motor (only available to S-works) and comes with a FOX Factory Float X Genie shock
There are some of the older Gen 3 S-Works framesets out there for £4300
The price of the frame only options renders them largely pointless IMO... Not that I wish that wasn't the case, but when you can buy a full bike with reasonable kit on (that though you might not want it, you can either take it off and sell it on for a decent price, or leave it on and wear it out and upgrade over time) for usually only a couple of hundred quid more than the frame only price...
With my 2025 Mondraker Crafty, I just stripped the bike down the moment it arrived... Sold the wheels and tyres for £350, brakes and groupset for £400, and just upgraded the GRIP damper in the fork for a GRIPX2 (rather than spend crazy money on a new 38 Factory fork), and then set about building it up with the parts i wanted... Worked out a lot more cost effective than buying the frame only version anyway, if slightly more hassle...
COMMENCAL.COM Cheers for the replies all. Yeah, seems like you may as well go full build and the Amflow would be on the list but it's sold out everywhere so god knows when you'd get one. Sunset MTB have some decent Mondraker deals but if the price starts going past 5k I'll probably just get what I really want on 0% over a few more years....
I got a Druid E Tier 2 frame via Bird a week ago. However, I also put the deposit down in October.
Give them a ring on Tues and see what the score is on waiting times or anything unallocated.
Need to know the price first! 🤣
I also need to see a pricelist from Bird. I'm not desperate for a bike yet but the Druid or Dreadnought will be top of the shortlist.
I wonder how well this latest frame performs
I'm not convinced it'll be great. The previous gen had frame cracking issues and I'm to be convinced that they have studied geometry to the point they've got it right rather than just churn out another generic Chinese carbon frame to cram their bits into. I'll happily be proved wrong though
Considering the already mentioned Amflow can be had for under £4k I really don't see these selling as a frame only option but at least you get a chainring, no shock tho 🤯
The Amflow only exists to showcase the motor. I don’t think anyone would be in much of a rush to buy one if it had a Bosch or TQ etc. At least with the likes of the Forbidden and Unno et al you're getting a frame that's actually had some thought put into it and not just a Stumpjumper copy. People are quick to forget/neglect the bike part of ebikes.
People are quick to forget/neglect the bike part of ebikes.
100% agree, I won't rule out an Avinox equipped ebike when I eventually replace my current Whyte but I'll be choosing it based on its descending ability. Current Bosch motor has been faultless in almost 3 years of riding and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Bosch powered bike if it rode well
