Hello
I currently own a 2010 Orange 5 Se (heavily upgraded) and a 2009 Orange P7.
As me and the missus are due a baby in march and the missus gets really crap maternity pay terms though Derbyshire Council (she is a teacher), money is going to be really tight. So it looks like the five will have to go so we will have some spare cash aside if needed. Storage for two bikes is also an issue plus my fitness isn’t going to improve. I always find it easier on a HT.
I am going to build up a mint HT though using all the components off the P7 and look to get some 150mm forks. The P7 currently has 140 RS Coil Pikes.
Ive been on the internet all weekend looking at HT Frames. Ive narrowed my search down to the below three:
Cotic Bfe - £300 (£300 is currently special offer)
Ragley Blue Pig - £300
Ragley Mmmbop - £276.
I will have to wait until March 2012 for the Mk2 Mmmbop frame though.
I was considering a newer P7 frame but I want to be able to buy a dropper post and it’s a nightmare trying to get hold of a 27.2 dropper at a good price.
Does anybody have any experience of any of the above three frames. Can you let me know what your thoughts are.
Recommendations for other HT frames will also be appreciated.
Cheers
Ian
PS - I mainly ride in the Peaks and North Wales Trail Centres
there was a thread about a cheap (£60 or so) 27.2 dropper post last week. It didn't drop very far though.
Just search for the other threads on this subject. very few people (if anyone) has ridden all 3 frames with the same kit set up the same way, which would be the only way to do an objective test. lots of folk have ridden\owned one of them and love it, but wouldn't be able to objectively compare it to the others.
I personally ride the ns bikes surge. Right price, right material, right sort of frame. Just buy which ever one you like the stickers on best.
if you want to save money just keep the p7 as it is, there won't be a significant difference to any of the other frames
Put the NS Surge on your list too, it's a great frame. You can run anything from 120mm to 180mm forks, I run mine at about 140mm most of the time and it feels perfect.
Carbon 456 bril bike and fir 300 a bargain
Have a look at a Mythic Viento (from Freeborn) I love mine, a great hooligan bike...
Stanton Slackline
if you want to save money just keep the p7 as it is, there won't be a significant difference to any of the other frames
I'd probably say this too. I've just been through the 'reducing bikes due to babies'-thing, and kept my BFe which I'd had for a couple of years, selling off my FS, then replacing the BFe frame with a Blue Pig X. The Stanton looks lovely, as does the Surge.
For me, the BFe was an 'upgrade' from a Soul (again, owned for a couple of years), and it was great fun, and could be ridden all day (as it often was). Very harsh back end, and restrictive rear tyre clearance were a bit of an issue, as I like to run big, light tubeless tyres. The Pig X feels more nimble and has a much more 'steel' feel to it on rocky descents and climbs (whereas the BFe rides more like an aluminium bike). Other things I like about the Pig are the 44mm head tube and swap out drop outs, so pretty flexible there.
If I was more into 4X or jumping, then I'd say the BFe, but for an all-day HT, there are loads of other options (and a very good one is the P7....)
Doing the same as you did the research, +1 for the Staton Slackline, guys there very helpful re sizing and spec set up for the type of riding you do.
Love my 456 SS to bits, but it's a bit of a burly bike TBH... I run 160mm forks and it's pretty much a DH HT... it's certainly not light and not subtle, but for ragging in the woods and abusing on big mountain type stuff its awesome. Cheap too.
For more trail work the MMMbop is great, but a very stiff ride (ooh err missus) the blue pig is similar (same Geo) but heavier and a touch softer (being steel) Surge is quite heavy iirc.
BFe is great, but heavy and expensive... I'd struggle to justify the £300 odd over the SummerSeason...
Id love to get my mitts on a Stanton Slackline. I hoped id never replace my santa cruz chameleon but now im looking for any excuse to get rid of it and buy one of these. They look hell of a sweet.
I have a Five, P7 and a BFe and if I had to choose just one of those, then it would have to be the P7.
Burly enough for DH, sprightly enough for XC. Plus easily changeable to SS, geared or hub.
Can't see that selling your Five and getting a new frame is gonna leave you with a lot of spare cash. Plus you might need new seatpost, front mech if tube sizes are different.
Carbon 456... Though, that's the last of the good P7s you have there isn't it? Still a bit lardy for what it is but rides lovely?
325.5.....way better than a 456
Sounds like your just looking for an excuse for a change & there is nowt wrong with that!
I think its been summed up nicely for you. You own a great frame already. I think it really comes down to which frame you like the look of.
I ride an early SS, which is slack and a little heavy but its been powdercoated in metallic black with grey graphics and a Singletraction pewter headbadge, so its unique to me.
Might be daft but these little things make it unique and keep my 'frame changing demon' at bay 🙂
My tuppeneth on your suggested choices, based on superficial opinion rather than riding experience.
Carbon 456 - Too ugly for words (which is a shame, because if not I would buy one).
Bfe - Looks lovely but the Soul is probably enough for most folks.
Soul - Looks lovely but the Bfe is cheaper.
MMMbop - Again, definately fell out of the same ugly tree as the carbon 456.
Blue Pig - Nice apart from daft, 3 finger bridge.
Stanton Slackline - Latest greatest, therefore, top of your list.
Second hand SS with fresh powdercoat - What i've done so I am duty bound to recommend it 🙂
Or something in Ti?
Chumba HX1, £299
[url= http://www.progressive-bikes.co.uk/product/chumba_hx1/ ]Chumba hx1[/url]
[url= http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6071/6143438014_072056e727.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/93388219@N00/6143438014/ ]Chumba HX1[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/93388219@N00/ ]srbwilson[/url], on Flickr