On One Big Dog or Scandal

Not ridden either but did some armchair research last year when looking to build a 29er hardtail.
My take, for what its worth, would be;

Big Dog for MTB or Scandal for flat bar gravel, pub bike duties.

I would consider either equally for bike packing but would purchase based on what I ride generally.

I ended up getting a Stanton Switch9er as Mrs Wachowchow bought it for my 50th (Stanton Sherpa would sort have been the Scandal equivalent?) but the Big Dog was on my shortlist.

Aren't they the same bar the material? Post CEN steel is stiff AF so unless it's bristling with mounting points just get the lighter/cheaper one?

I was considering both of these options,if I recall the real difference is steel vs alloy. Alloy is lighter but apparently not as good as a ride quality as steel, the steel version weighs more though.

I never got to swing a leg over one but lots of 2nd hand options on ebay and FB marketplace.

Aren’t they the same bar the material?

Basically, yeah, and I've got a Signal ST, which is basically the same-same-again from Sonder. If I were buying again, I'd buy aluminium, as the weight of steel leads to a bike that's a bit of a lump.

Alloy is lighter but apparently not as good as a ride quality as steel,

There's a huuuuuuuuuge amount hanging on the word 'apparently' there, and say that as a steel fanboi

Big Dog for MTB or Scandal for flat bar gravel, pub bike duties.

I've got to say, I think this is nonsense. They're both basically 'normal' hardtail mountain bikes.

I've got a Scandal. Its fantastic. Its the nicest riding hardtail I've ever had. For general trail riding I recommend it unreservedly.

Bike packing though? Its not got any pannier mounts so its harder to recommend if that's what you are basing your decision on.

My mistake and apologies.

I always thought the Big Dog was the modern HT geometry and the Scandal was more now older school HA etc.

I'm probably luck I let my wife buy my frame for me. Maybe that's the way to go?

The mounts aren't a deal breaker to be honest if the Scandal is the all round better bike.

My mistake and apologies.

Whoooooooah, don't come round here with a contrite admission of a mistake, that's not the Singletrack way! 🙂

As above alloy vs steel but otherwise pretty much the same bike by all accounts. On the tyre clearance point I’ve got a big dog and have run 2.6 mezcals front and rear so plenty of clearance.

I don't think it's wholly accurate to describe them as both the same bike just different frame materials.

Lots of differences in the geometries, wheelbase length, chainstay etc, etc. Plus the Scandal is much tidier on cable routing.

I'd agree that if you want to get them up to the same spec, ie dropper post RS35 fork, tubeless then they work out at roughly the same price give or take £50.

Lots of differences in the geometries, wheelbase length, chainstay etc, etc.

Bit whether anyone would really notice the differences in the real world is very doubtful. They're both 'modern' every-day hardtails, the main difference is the weight, which will definitely be noticeable

If this works

https://bikeinsights.com/compare?geometries=5ffdb1868a236a0017b1acbd,5e884fd41116ac0017142a05,

Large Scandal vs Large Big Dog, the difference is, basically, bugger all

How is the budget?

I am eying up a Pipedream Siriusin 29er flavour for my next bike - it is 'only' £150 more for a frame. Yet seems a much higher quality product than OnOne- and certainly better customer service...

I haven't looked, but Sonder would offer something similar too.

I haven’t looked, but Sonder would offer something similar too.

In steel, yes, the Signal ST wot I have. As said, it's good but a bit of a lump

In aluminium there's the Transmitter, but that's a 27.5+ rather than a 29er, if that makes a difference.

I've got a Scandal so it's a one sided opinion. The basic spec is just that, basic. It works but is a bit heavy. I imagine the big dog at the same spec is a bit of a lump to drag up hill.

I've use my Scandal for all sorts, it's not been amazing at any of them, but it's been really versatile. I did some XCO races, an XC marathon but all managed to ride with friends on Enduro bikes. I find it nice to ride, it's forgiving down hill with some good tires.

Tyre clearance is massive. I've got 2.4s on 30mm rims and there's loads of room, you might even squeeze a 2.8 on the back in the dry?

Does the big dog have bike packing mounts? Doesn't most of that clobber strap on so that wouldn't be a problem on any bike?

I'd go for the Scandal and save the weight. I don't really see what the big dog would offer unless you are a bike breaker and needed something really strong.

The modern Scandal is superb.

Big Dog for MTB or Scandal for flat bar gravel, pub bike duties.

Nope, the scandal is a proper bona fide up to date trail bike, its great. Loved mine, only sold as I have too many bikes but missing it now winter is kicking in.

Does the big dog have bike packing mounts? Doesn’t most of that clobber strap on so that wouldn’t be a problem on any bike

The Bootzipper does. Same with Pipedream Sirius and Sonder Frontier.

I got a Scandal, as above I think you really have to have a good reason for a steel bike these days post CEN. There are good steel bikes, but it's no longer an absolute so why not save all that weight?

The Scandal does ride very nicely in it's own right too.

A big 2.4" tyre fits comfortably, I'd say a 2.6" might fit depending how realistic the manufacturer is.

Negatives:
Could be even more modern, but it's a good compromise between long/slack and fun. Could make it lower for a longer dropper but a 150mm post fits.

Only one set of bottle mounts. Which just seems unforgiveable on a hardtail.

I've done a couple of overnights on it, easy enough to strap bags to it although the front triangle is an odd shape, the kinked seatube, low-ish top-tube, and kinked downtube that intersects above the BB center make it quite compact.

I’m likely selling my scandal frame(medium). Pretty much complete bike minus wheels I’m moving on. Got a racy hardtail again which I prefer. Otherwise I’d keep scandal as it’s a superb all rounder. Mines built with xtr/xt pikes/Thomson/spank bars. It’s a hoot 🙂

No idea what price the hello Dave is at the moment. It's been cheap and expensive at different times.

I love mine,it's fine for bike packing as it is clattering about trails. So in true stw tradition I'll recommend what I have

Unless you ride the big dog and scandal back to back you are not going to notice the differences. With great big fat tyres on will you notice any frame compliance?

I've seen a few alternatives today. Vitus Sentier NS Eccentric Alu both 29ers seem reasonably well specced as well as Ragley Marley 1.0 although this is a 27.5 but may suit my local trails better than a 29er.

Decisions!

Sentier is good fun but just watch the seat tube length. From large upwards when I looked the seat tube was very tall vs the reach.

Nukeproof Scout is similar to the Sentier but I think in the latest update they’ve just shortened their seat tubes a bit.

If you are looking at alternatives the the Canyon Stoich might be worth a look. Also Ribble do one. No idea on availability.

I cant comment on the Big Dog, but i really liked my Scandal, a great hardtail, and fine for bike packing. I added another strap on cage for a bit of extra load carrying.
rear tyre I was running a 2.35, sure there was room for larger.
I would have kept it if on-one hadnt had a big discount on the Ti Vandal frame

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The big dog has rack mounts at the rear, but curiously only one bottle cage mount.

It's a fine bike to ride, and I've bike packed mine on the KAW and the North Downs.

No getting away from the fact that it is heavy, but sturdy. That said, without bags on it's a lot of fun hooning around in the winter.

Paint job is shite though, just have to show it a pebble and it chips.

Pretty much set on selling mine though, I want a drop bar rigid MTB and this will need to be moved on. Just need to take all the bling off it and put the SX rubbish back on...

I've the Scandal and use it for general XC and bikepacking. Works well.

I did get a custom frame bag (Alpkit, just like the one above in the pics) and use it with Topeak soft bags front & rear. Also added an extra bottle cage underneath using a Jubilee Clip.

I've the large but as I'm long-legged managed to fit a 200mm dropper.

Did the Badger Divide earlier this year on it, no issues.

I know that big wheels help, but doesn't really feel much harsher than my pre-CEN 456Ti - alloy has come on.

Judging by the positive comments from Scandal owners above, there really is very little to tell between them and it may well come down to how you view the material choice and the way it looks rather than rides!
I've a Big Dog that was my commuter pre-covid and is now my hooning about in the woods bike. I've used it for packing journeys too. It's a rewarding bike to ride, the sort where the harder you push it, the better it feels but that's steel for you. The size large is slightly shorter in wheelbase than a Solaris and that defines the biggest difference between the feel of those frames in my experience
Mine's built up reasonably chunky for an xc bike, 120mm Z2 Bombers, robust wheels, big tyres and brakes; 2x10. Yes, the paint chips more easily than, say, Cotic but you gets what you pays for. After about 4 years, it's still looking fine and it's been out and about maybe twice a week throughout, so that's a lot of riding.

I love my Scandal. Like loads of the others above I've hooned it around as well as bikepacked on it. I think I've put around 6,000 km on it in the past four years. Probably more. It replaced, or more correctly reframed, an early Zaskar 29er, which was a horrible thing. It sits at the front of the garage and it gets grabbed for basically everything.
It compares favourably with the Sonder Transmitter I built for my son, but isn't as 'nice' as my Ragley Piglet. The paint is slightly less chippable than M&M shells, but only slightly. But it doesn't matter. It's a cheap and fun bike. If it got nicked? I'd build another exactly the same.

Oh, and tyre clearance? I'm running 2.3s and I reckon 2.6s would still be fine. You could probably even get some 27.5x3s in there, tbh.

I've tried 2.6 (Nobby nics) on the Big Dog, they run, but only just - I have a bit of a rub mark on mine, but I think it was from when it was muddy...

Stick to 2.4s these days.

I've literally just sold my Big Dog this week - it wasn't getting used - it was the GX build with RS 35s - it was a great bike, bought in a sale inc dropper upgrade - I would have one again in a heartbeat if I needed another bike (I've got too many and this one drew the short straw). It was heavy though, so next time I might go for a Scandal instead - simply because of weight and the new colours too! I think for the specs you're getting a great bike vs any of the other options above.

I can see PX have a handful of Scandals on the deal page now for just £895 in the GX spec - I would have thought thats a no brainer?

Thanks for all of the replies. Certainly some glowing feedback to consider. Unfortunately looks like my motor will be going to the knackers yard after some news from the mechanic today so my next purchase will have to have four wheels, not two 😭

I don't have a big dog but I do ride a rigid xl scandal.

Ive used it with 29x2.6 tyres front and back, 2.35's and some 2 inch gravel tyres.

Its done everything from rough downhills, xc, gravel but it mainly gets used as a bikepacking bike. Really comfy all day mile muncher.

When a bike can take big tyres are you really going to be able to tell what the frame is made of? The only thing you can tell is the weight of the bike.

The only thing the scandal lacks is pannier mounts but you can attach enough bags to it that it's not really needed. Or buy a tailfin.

Its the bike I use the most and if I could only have 1 bike it would be the scandal.

I've got both. Geo is slightly different but the feel very similar. However the Scandal is lighter and climbs hills a touch better due to being stiffer laterally. That is until one hits something really steep where upon the Dog doesn't lift the front end; due to longer chainstays and wheelbase and steeper seat angle. If one is long legged the seat angle gets pretty slack on the Scandal. I sorted that with a particular Fizik saddle that has differently positioned rails.
I could easily get the Dog's head tube to wobble sprinting hard downhill on tarmac but offroad it never gave cause for concern.
The Dog is much better for bike packing. The Scandal is the sharper weapon. I stripped the Dog and built a BFEMax. If I was riding tight trails the Scandal has a lot to offer, and some prefer the Scandal to the Solaris for its agility. I still ride it a lot. Over all it's a truly great all rounder.
All three feel fine over ground. I can't abide a harsh frame.
I really ought to sell some stuff.....

Another happy Scandal owner, I use it for mile munching XCO at which it's by far the comfiest HT I've owned by a country mile. It's a touch heavy for what it is really, and at 5'10" I should've perhaps bought the medium (but that's my own fault, not the bike's)  but those are pretty much my only complaints. Good value bike though and great at what it does.

Are the formula hubs any good on the Scandals wheels?

I’ve been looking at similar bikes as a way back into the game having sold my Aether in the summer.
What about Ribble? They have some lovely looking hardtails starting at £1200 which seems a bargain.