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Have been looking at a couple of nice XC frames - any feed back based on experience:
- S-Works M5 Stumpjumper HT
- YETI - ARC HT
- Giant XTC Carbon
...all around the GBP800 budget...
Views welcomed please - I ride 2-3 times a week, XC, typically lots of climbing ... the odd trailquest and MM!
Pedal Force frame off eBay, £200ish and 1240g.
Giant Giant Giant Giant Giant....
I've not owned a Giant before Cullen, why the enthusiasm?
...I can't see any pedal force frames listed at the mo?
Votes for the Stumpy. Had an M4 Sworks HT, went like stink, if a little head down.
I like the idea of the Stumpy...I used to have an 04 S-Works Epic so know that they make fab bikes. But worried that I might be a bit blinkered so casting the net a bit wider - what's out there?
Search eBay for 'Carbon MTB frame', then scroll to the international sellers at the bottom. There are hundreds.
I ragged mine around the Surrey Hills for 4 hours today, great bike, more compliant than my S-Works Carbon HT was, lighter too, and yet far far cheaper.
Like [url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brand-New-Full-Carbon-MTB-Mountain-Bike-Frame-18_W0QQitemZ320496646439QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMountain_Bikes?hash=item4a9f16b927 ]this[/url] one!
Ace, any more thoughts on the XTC Carbon or Yeti?
Yeah, I love the Whytes but my donor bike has an 80-100mm fork and IIRC the 19 needs a longer travel fork?
no, whyte 19C = 100mm fork
the steel 19 comes with a 120mm reba as standard with adjustable rear dropouts to adjust the head angle.
I bought a Rocky Mountain Vertex 08 frame from a bike shop on ebay that was splitting its sale bikes. got it for £150, so may as well be new. not niche, or cool by stw standards. The same frame with different paintjob is £700+ on crc. Depends what you want, but it is perfect for me and my rides, short travel 115mm on my rebas and light and fast (3.7lbs frame). for a "nice XC frame" it is perfect. For an £800 budget, you can get pretty much anything HT, but still, get a bargain! they are out there, hold fire and keep an eye out. If you REALLY MUST spend £800, get a custom frame fitted.
Pedal Force! A pound lighter than the Rocky Mountain! You know you want to. They have a big following on weight weenies, and I'm well impressed with mine. You can spend £600 painting it like an s-works if it really bothers you! Or you could hang some much nicer bits on it. I've got mine at 20lbs.
Scandal without a doubt and save a packet.
Pedal Force! A pound lighter than the Rocky Mountain! You know you want to. They have a big following on weight weenies, and I'm well impressed with mine. You can spend £600 painting it like an s-works if it really bothers you! Or you could hang some much nicer bits on it. I've got mine at 20lbs.
those look great
Merlin Malt 4 or Kinesis Racelight frame - nowhere near that price and equal if not better than all on your list.
Plus Merlins customer service is one of the best.
right- 1) they are all good frames.
2) giant are great for warranties if you ever need them to, but i dont know what spesh are like. i do know lots of yeti carbon things crack though, in comparison to giant and spesh.
3) the i have only ridden the giant and specialized frames but the giant (i felt) rides more nicely than the spesh.
If it were my money id get the giant, but if i were you i would head to demo days and try the bikes.
Spesh warranty is superb, on par, if not better than Giant.
However, you could buy 4 Pedal Force frames if it's a concern...
bloody hell njee20
you like the old pedal force dont you. think ill have to get me one!!!
Well, I think they're onto a good thing, may as well shout about it!
I'm pretty surprised they're not more popular over here actually, on Weight Weenies there's loads of talk about them, they did a 'Forum group buy' and everything.
Lighter than an S-Works for less money than a ScandAl, not difficult IMO...
I'm not convinced weight weenies is all that good for advice because they definitely give the impression that they're a lot more interested in what the bike weighs than how it rides. Not that I think all that many of them actually ride...
Anyway another option would be a cheap Ti frame like the Van Nicholas Zion. It's reasonably light and very nice to ride. It's a bit heavier then the lightest frame I own (Dave Hinde M3) but much nicer to ride.
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I've also got an Epic (a 2003 one) and reckon if you liked yours then you'd also like one of these as I find the pretty similar to ride, particularily the way the egg you on to ride faster.
I've had the 2004 xtc frameset and last years; both have been used and abused and are light strong and good looking.
There are definitely some folk on WW who never ride and just weigh their bikes, but a number of them are actually very good riders.
When mine snaps and I die I'll know it was a mistake!
one vote for the Giant, I've had mine as my fast bike for a few years now.
Cool, my LBS stock Giant so I may just wander up there later in the week.
Must say the VanNich look nice too... 😉
njee20
What forks are you using with the carbon frame? Do you find the geometry/handling OK? have you got a photo of it built up?