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The Mmmbop with the mudhugger front and rear looks like a real work-horse...
It gets 3 singletrack rides a week in all weathers and mostly in the dark (at the mo). A hose down (if lucky) and chain clean between. It's been brilliant. Hope hubs, Yaris and Shimano everywhere else - bullet proof.
Workhorse it certainly is.
My full-suss never leaves stable any longer. May put it out to grass soon
is lovely looking, but built for 120 forks.I suggest the Sonder Transmitter
I've got 160mm pikes on the Bird Zero AM I built up as my winter steed. I highly recommend that combo. It just feels right.
Meta HT ticks most boxes but falls down on the long requirement.
Bird zero AM would be my choice for a long slack agro HT, geometry is spot on.
The answer to this used to always be "A Chameleon" what's happened to that now?
The answer to this used to always be "A Chameleon" what's happened to that now?
It's a 29er. And not as slack as some.
Think the OP might need to get over his aversion to the Bird, if he's serious about wanting a light-ish frame.
Orange Crush states maximum 150mm fork, but the BB isn't particularly high so could probably risk 160mm (or just change the air shaft).
Steveh to be fair I’ve not really looked at it from that point of view! But yes it will defo dump the bb down pretty low I recon lol.
Luckily I’ve just picked up a great deal on some Easton arc45 rims and had them built on Hope hubs! So I’m going plus size to start with and I also have a set of hope/stans flow 3 29er wheels in the shed that will go on if I fancy trying them. Also I did the original package offer of frame and DVO forks which was good.
Meta HT ticks most boxes but falls down on the long requirement.
The 2018 Meta is probably long enough actually now, or at least it is for me. I certainly wouldn't call it short. Actually, I would call it long.
But reach is still 30mm "behind" the Bird despite both gaining and the gap shrinking.
There must be a sweetspot somewhere - I have the old Meta and I wouldn't have wanted it to grow more than 30mm - it becomes a little lazy in tight single tracks otherwise.
post from guandax / RAGLEY Mmmbop:
It gets 3 singletrack rides a week in all weathers and mostly in the dark (at the mo). A hose down (if lucky) and chain clean between. It's been brilliant. Hope hubs, Yaris and Shimano everywhere else - bullet proof.
Workhorse it certainly is.
My full-suss never leaves stable any longer. May put it out to grass soon
Thanks! Good to hear. The new Mmmbop frames are available from summer 2018 again. 2.4 inch tires, 64 deg head angle, 150 mm or 160 mm fork... sounds too good!
Full suspension is lot of fun as well - but pamper mine after every mud-ride. Need additional something like the Mmmbop.
The Shan isn't heavy, it's fine. Might be heavier than some frames but it's not heavy..
I was riding mine today and then had a shot on one of those Kingdom Ti Vendetta 29ers belonging to a mate. The Shan is noticeably 'comfier' in the trail buzz stakes.
If not a Shan, what about an Oka.
I ran mine with 150mm forks and it was great. Can't see 160mm making much difference.
New P7?
https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/p7-frame/2018
Says optimised for 150mm so I imagine you could squeeze in 160mm. Love my 2017 bike, loads of fun. Possibly no lighter than a Bfe though but I can't imagine many 160mm'ers will be by their very nature?
The Shan isn't heavy, it's fine.
A friend of mine has a Shan. He loves the bike.
But was an expenisive adventure - think he ended up for the complete bike for around 3 k ...
He uses the Shan for downhill only.
Got a yari 160 on the vantage, and my bike is pretty light with the components I have. You can pick up used frames pretty cheap on ebay.
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The 2018 Meta is probably long enough actually now, or at least it is for me. I certainly wouldn't call it short. Actually, I would call it long.
Ah didn't realise the Meta had grown for 2018. Maybe another 20mm and I'd call it long 😉
The P7 is pretty spot on, but without actually checking the frame weight I assume it falls down on the light requirement.
Ah didn't realise the Meta had grown for 2018. Maybe another 20mm and I'd call it longThe P7 is pretty spot on, but without actually checking the frame weight I assume it falls down on the light requirement.
True, and on 160mm it would only be 6mm in reach longer than the Meta so still not within your "long enough" window. 😉
The Shan isn't heavy, it's fine. Might be heavier than some frames but it's not heavy..
If a bike builds to less than 35lbs I'd say it's fine. But if someone says a 5.6lbs frame is too heavy then I think it's safe to assume they want something that's lighter than that - which the Shan isn't.
True, and on 160mm it would only be 6mm in reach longer than the Meta so still not within your "long enough" window.
I was looking at a medium (my size) where there is a 20mm difference, as there is with the small, but yeah the large and XL frames are much closer in reach.
Indeed, although you're down to a 15mm gap on a M if you stick a 160mm on the P7 up from the optimised 150mm.
That commencal is a contender, anyone know where they are made?
That commencal is a contender, anyone know where they are made?
Not "knowing" - just guesswork: think it's originally a french company. Now they operate from Andorra?
For the bike design they team up with professional downhill bikers and tweak and tune the prototypes until they are happy.
One guy who might have been involved in the Meta HT design:
Cédric Gracia. He was involved in the design of the Shan (for PP) as well.
Means: prototypes made in EU?
Production aluminium frames made in Asia?
Assembly in France?
Cédric Gracia is one of the bikers which always tried to push the bike design ahead. In the direction of "long & slag". Guess all Commencal bikes still gain from that.
That commencal is a contender, anyone know where they are made?
They are made in TW which will tell you very little. Most hardtails are made there anyway as they have some of the best welders and QC, not surprising seeing how much of the premium frame market share they have.
The welds on my 17 Meta are superb.
More info about the ethos of the company here https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/Breaking-the-Rules-An-Interview-with-Max-Commencal,1866
Max started Commencal out of Andorra in 2000 after having founded and led SUNN, in the Pyrennees too. He is a great guy.
Pyrennees
Excellent mountain bike area as well...
If you ever like to have mountains "just for you": go to Aragon area!
Absolut realiable good (hot!) weather summer and great, great area.
made in TW which will tell you very little. Most hardtails are made there anyway as they have some of the best welders and QC
guess that's right.
Thanks for the input. They are the right price too.
How do I sneak one through the door without the Mrs realising?
Great!
Had a glance on their web site as well. The frame is in "winter sale" right now. That's fantastic!
Wouldn't wait with the order for too long - you never know how many frames of your size they still have in stock...
Mrs
If you order the frame in the "right" color everything will be fine...
Anyone know if I'll have to.pay import tax ordering direct from commencal in Andorra?
No you wont
No you wont
Correct.
Andorra is a strange country, has the Euro, but doesn't belong to the EU and for industrial goods: free trade with EU!
No problem so.
Hey. I saw someone mention me in an earlier post - I run the UK side of things for Kingdom. If you're after a 160mm proper trail hardtail, we offer the X2 version - titanium, 65.5 HA, 460 Reach (large), 423 chainstays and you can drop in any wheel size (27, 2.8 plus and 29s). If you want to try one out I'm based near Forest of Dean.
Hi, I presume you're Adam? They are absolutely stunning matey and if this wasn't an exercise in "I've got a set of forks that are too good to sell for peanuts so I'll build another bike" I'd have one in a heartbeat!
Way overbudget though, looking at these has got me considering selling two of my hardtail bikes and just having one though based in those frames.
I've noticed you've not got any of the normal ti x2 ones in stock, any idea when they'll be back in?
Evening chilled76, I'm Adam. I sold my last X2 frame 2 days ago. £900 for an X2 Frame means they sell out within the week we put them on sale. We only do small production runs, but if you're keen I can source you one for Feb, possibly end of Jan.
In my opinion the X2 is a great balance of geo- allowing you the option to ride steep tech, to longer more xc trails too.
The full custom frames at £1575 offer you carte blanc to get the perfect bike, whereas the X2 model offers great value with a sorted, modern geo.