Have a chameleon that I switch between 29er and 27.5+ and also a kona honzo ESD. Both great bikes. The chameleon has taught me that just lobbing a smaller rear wheel in makes the bike turn in more readily but it does get hooked up more. The honzo is a beast but once it's rolling it's great fun and despite it's weight it's easy to get in the air. It's standard spec but would benefit from lighter wheels and cassette. Look forward to trying the honzo ss (as the chameleon is) but it's a pain to sort due to the spec.
Wheels and tyres make a big difference.
Also 29ers do often feel a bit ponderous to start with.
Fairdale Elevator is pretty much exactly what you are asking for. Frame only option should be about in your price range.
Funnily enough that video just came up in my YouTube recommendations. Looks ideal, similar kinda thing to that Stanton Sedona.
Cotic BFE max.
I bought a Sentier 29er, swapped the parts over. Great bike.
Covers ground quick, great geo (for me anyway) works great with a 130mm fork.
No regrets.
“Fairdale Elevator is pretty much exactly what you are asking for.”
Those are crazy short chainstays! Looks fun but surely just a fair weather bike for anywhere on clay like Northants?
Yeah it might be a bit extreme tbh 🙂 would possibly end up feeling unbalanced and weird that short.
I'd actually quite like something with sliding dropouts so I can experiment a bit and figure out what I like, plus it opens up singlespeed as an option for when my gears inevitably mess up and I can't afford new stuff. I do like how the Honzo ESD looks with the low slung steel look, but it's crazy slack. I saw someone on YouTube fitted one with a reversed angle set to steepen it up a bit.
You're 5'8" so a 406mm chainstay for you is like someone 6' riding 430mm chainstays, yes it's on the short side, but not crazy, if you want poppy and fun then it's what you want. If you want to be able to bunnyhop and lift the front wheel when you need to then short stays are the way to go.
There is so much BS about weight over the front wheel in the media, but as soon as the trail heads downhill nearly all the weight shifts to the front wheel anyway.
All BMX's are short CS and DJ bikes go for the shortest they can fit round the wheel.
I’d actually quite like something with sliding dropouts so I can experiment a bit and figure out what I like, plus it opens up singlespeed as an option for when my gears inevitably mess up and I can’t afford new stuff. I do like how the Honzo ESD looks with the low slung steel look, but it’s crazy slack. I saw someone on YouTube fitted one with a reversed angle set to steepen it up a bit.
I’d maybe suggest the Chameleon then. I’m not sure I’d say it was the most “fun” bike I’ve rode but others seem to really rate theirs. I’ve adjusted the dropouts on mine to the shortest position to see how it rides, just got to wait for these little summer showers we’re having to ease off so I can get out ion to a dry-ish trail and try it out.
If you’re anywhere near the Chilterns then you’re welcome to try out my large chameleon and see if you like it.
Pipedream Moxie is a fun bike with sliding dropouts. Easy enough to run mixed. Plenty nice ones around used. I’ve currently got a frame only deal on a Kona Honzo ESD. It’s an absolute blast. Not tried it mixed yet, I’d want a higher volume 2.6 in there as the BB could get low. Again, sliding dropouts. I’ve ridden it on some steep stuff - the trails off the back of Staunton, if FOD is your reference, a lot of the steep off piste stuff in the peak, Macc Forest, Warncliffe and it’s never let me down or felt like the wrong bike. I’ve had it out for winter all dayers too and it’s not been a slog. Much recommended.
