I'm looking for a new frame. The bike when built up will be for days away in the hills, looking to do some of the Munros/big hills and I've a weeks holiday with Riviera, I fancy trying some enduros too. Everything seemed to point to full sus but in the past I've never been a big fan, I've a 99/00 Stumpy FSR and a 06ish Kona King, neither had me singing their praises or becoming a full suss convert.Still even so they(full sussers) seem the best tool for the job.
At the moment I've a Dialled Alpine which will be giving up alot of its parts for the new bike, mainly a pair of 150mm air Sektors so a match for these would be nice. I have been looking at the carbon 456 though, could build light and appeal to my hardtail preferences but will it be enough to cope with what I'd want to do?
At present I've a rigid 26" singlespeed, a 29er geared hartail Scandal and a fat bike so something that wouldn't be doubling up what I already have would be beneficial. The Scandal is erring on the lighter side of things.
So anything to add? Initially I've been reading up on the C456 and Orange 5's and the El Guapo. A susser would probably be secondhand.
Suspension just means you can add and carry speed better
If you were going to race enduro then I wouldn't do it without suspension unless you were really good, in which case you already know you're not bothered about having it
But there are plenty on here who can offer guidance on what frame / shock combination. I rode hardtails for years until I got ground down by work / finances. When that got sorted I got a SH 06 enduro and did it up. It's great 🙂
You couldn't really go wrong with a Orange Five. It covers every riding scenario you mentioned, will last for years, easy to look after and most importantly rides fantastically well IME.
What is it you didnt like about the Full suss bikes?
I currently have a Titus FTM carbon (140mm FS), a 456C (150mm HT) and am building up a Heckler for Alps duties(160mm FS).
Cheers all, dantsw13 I've found sussers to be harder work to pedal and haven't soaked everything up quite as well as I'd have hoped. Ulitmately feeling a bit short changed and under thrilled. Granted both bikes are at the XC end of the spectrum and though I've had a shot of a few bigger bikes I've not really tested them. On the plus side though I do end rides fresher and less beat up.
You may have the answer to your own question in saying that both the full sussers you have owned have been of the XC variety.
Question for you... from the bikes you have and your planned usage why are you thinking of selling the Dialled Alpine? Surely this with a dropper would be the perfect hardtail for Alps and Enduro racing (in as far as any hardtail would be perfect 🙄 😉 ).
As above, reason for selling the Alpine? If you just don't get along with it, fair enough, but it would help in providing you with better suited options if we know why.
I wouldn't worry about the C456 not being able to take it, and with a slackset I think that would be a good choice.
If you found XC FSers to be hard work pedalling I can't imagine you enjoying a ~140mm enduro bike much more. Then again my experience with FS is limited (some might say non-existent).
The Dialled Alpine is just too small and cramped, even with a Thomson lay back I'm looking for another few inches off the back when I sit down.
I guess if the 140mm plus bikes done the biz on the downs I could live with the sluggish pedalling. Though from what I'm reading its not so bad these days.
So any other suggestions or frames to look at?
Full suss bikes do pedal quite differently - and it will depend on your pedalling style which designs you prefer.
You want a shot of the heckler before I sell it Klaus?.
I've pretty much given up on full sussers. It's more stuff to go wrong, pivots, bearings and associated gubbins, it's another shock that needs fettling and servicing, and I think like you I've always been left a bit "mleh" with the whole thing.
Got a chameleon, once you get away from all the "it'll batter you" nonsense it's actual a reasonably conventional stiff HT that'll take forks long enough to be flexible about what you use it for, and is pretty much indestructible ( I've tried)
You want a shot of the heckler before I sell it Klaus?.
Aye that would be good. Why are you selling it?
Full suss bikes do pedal quite differently - and it will depend on your pedalling style which designs you prefer.
I wouldn't say I was a spinner or owt, medium to grinder I reckon.
Got a chameleon,
Always like the Chameleon, I'll add it to the list.
Got an itch that needs scratched, so the heckler is going, to be replaced by said 'itch' 😀