[Closed] Right hardtail it is - which 29er

Out of your list: Solaris. Mate has one and it looks, and apparently rides, like a bike ie normally and neutrally.

I do like the look of the Solaris, Skookum and the Whyte 929.

Wharaabout a Buzzard from Singular? Sam seems to make ace bikes, and is a very helpful chap - I would have bought from him should thebikechain have not seduced me with a bargain....

Al from Cotic seems a very active chap in selling and looking after his customers.

However phone calls and emails to Pipedream where ignored. I did not buy for that reason alone.

If you're after a large I would see if clink is still selling his nimble nine

Cheers but I'm a short arse, 5'9 30" inside leg. Will need a 17" ish I think

Ta pop - my Nimble 9 is medium - 18" seat tube, 23.7" ett.

Go the whole hog and get rid of suspension and gears, I'm always amazed how much stick my swift can take!

Got to be the whyte 929

I haven't ridden any, but love the look of the Solaris and the Ritchey P29er.

2 souls slim jim or quarterhorse, built my QH For 2.5K

if you're thinking Cotic Solaris, then you'd be rude not to think of the Genesis High Latitude.

they're very similar, but the Genesis is half the price, and doesn't have the 'some-front-mechs-may-need-modifying-with-a-hack-saw-to-make-them-fit' [s]problem[/s] ...[s]issue[/s] ...'feature'.

In classic STW fashion, I shall recommend the bike I own.. Whyte 929!
Not the harsh rear end you may expect with an ali frame, & no taller on the front end that the similar 100mm spec'd 729. I'm having a lot of fun on mine 😀
Though you'll have to chase round dealer to find one (all stock with shops & reportedly sold), also consider the cheaper but capable 729.

As per Awhiles, the Genesis High latitude was top my list for a long time, and would have been purchased if I could have demo'd one, even a little bit (or wheelies supplied my m8 his insurance payout/replacement)

Local shop was pushing the Santa Cruz High Ball at me, nice and short stay but I didn't like the fact that it was designed for 100mm (and not slack), though the mechanic was running one with 120mm forks (to make it slacker?)

and of course the obvious choice is the Canfield Screamy Yelli (seriously loved on here & surprised it not been mentioned yet), which I stayed away from due to cost & availability (and going too 'far' on my 1st 29er)

Wouldn't recommend a certain Italian company, anyway...

[img] [/img]

😯 😆

From your list, I'd get the Cube gtc - good vfm.
Can get it for half your budget.

or not on the list, look at Canyon's offerings?

Househusband - sorry I'm being dim.

I don't get it

The brake mount had been welded on very badly; it was off into planes/axes and fouled the rotor - another pic [url= ]here[/url].

Sen it back for a refund and replaced with an El Mariachi.

Sorry for the hijack, OP!

To me, my SIR.9 rides a bit like a Soul. It just has a very lively feel to it. Soaks up bumps very well.

I do like them niners, but it needs to take a reverb

I'm in the same position - looking at a potential 29er frame and the Solaris tops the list... but at 500 GBP seems quite expensive.

I'm put off the Pipedream re the customer service etc

I don't get Singular - the frame is 440 GBP and "only" 4130 steel. Surely the Solaris then represents good value!

Have you also considered the Titus Fireline Ti 29 Evo?
The cheaper Limited Edition (out of tolerance brake mount), was a bit of a shock, after I'd ordered the Whyte.

PS: AS I wanted a trail bike, the like of cubes & canyon were of no use to me...

Singular does come with EBB which must add cost? And don't forget it comes with fork too!! 🙂

Swifts are lovely things and the fork is as good a rigid fork as you will get this side of a niner carbon job

Have you considered canyon? Well built, excellent quality, amazing spec for the money. Direct sale though so if you get nervous about warranty etc probably best to go local. They are apparently expanding their uk support though due to demand. I've had a nerve xc 9 since 2011 and found it to be fantastic. The 29ers are supposed to be good too.

I have looked at the yelli and the fireline, but seem too specialised for my first 29, not really after a hardcore or play bike.

Would like and canyon but the al seems too cheap and the cf too expensive, there seems to be a big gap.

I do like my SantaCruz Highball. Lovely handling and does everything I ask of it.

The sc does appeal to the have you seen the make of my bike! In me 😀

I've got a 2013 Cube Reaction GTC SLT which i picked up incl XT pedals well within your budget...incredibly light, stiff and powers up hills with no trouble.

[img] [/img]

Salsa El Mariachi? Or Mamasita if you want something lighter.

Keppy that's the cube I'm looking at, what's your thoughts.

What sort of stuff will it handle?

My rule of thumb:
Short chainstays and slacker out front, recommend the Yelli 'cause I have one, but there are others.....
Canfield brothers:
http://www.canfieldbrothers.com/frames/yelli-screamy
http://www.canfieldbrothers.com/frames/nimble-9
2 Souls cycles "Quarter horse" :
http://2soulscycles.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=98&lang=en
Chromag Surface :
http://www.chromagbikes.com/frames/surface
2012 Banshee Paradox :
http://bansheebikes.com/paradox
Kona Honzo :
http://www.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=honzo
Transition Transam 29 :
http://www.transitionbikes.com/2013/Bikes_TransAM29.cfm
Diamondback Mason:
http://www.diamondback.com/mason-mountain-29er
Kingdom bikes:
http://www.kingdombike.com/TheKingdom/?p=1230
Titus Titanium Fireline 29er:
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FRTITFL29/titus_titanium_fireline_29er_frame
Whyte 929
http://www.whytebikes.com/2013/product.php?xProd=32&xSec=85

Hard to comment fully as I've taken it out only twice since I picked it up last weekend, both times on snow.

However it is brutal uphill, the lack of weight and stiffness mean you're able to climb really quickly and efficiently. Climbs that were hard work on my Remedy 9 are now pleasurable. And the good thing is the running gear is basically the same as on my Remedy which itself is a cracking bike. The Cube is XT all round, so it stops and changes when you want it to. It even has a satisfying little twang as you change gear with the internally routed cable moving. When I arrive at obstacles I lift the bike clean over my head or above on one hand, it's disturbing how easy it is. Not sure yet on the advantages of the larger wheels, other than to say that I don't feel I'm sinking in to mud/snow as much as others or I used to. And going downhill feels more composed, but I will assess this as the snow clears. The whole bike is really nicely made too, the frame is very nice indeed. Oh the forks, not sure yet as they're shorter than on the Remedy and I've not yet set them up fully.

I'm absolutely chuffed to bits with it, and can't really got wrong with a carbon 29er with XT all round for the price.

Frame material is making life hard,

Carbon worries me - cracking and impact damage
Ti is too expensive - is this still a frame for life too?
Al is so last year 🙂 - a bit to harsh?
Steel rusts - chips and scrapes = rusty ride?

?

ljs1977 - Member
Frame material is making life hard,

Carbon worries me - cracking and impact damage
Ti is too expensive - is this still a frame for life too?
Al is so last year - a bit to harsh?
Steel rusts - chips and scrapes = rusty ride?

?

You're thinking far too much. Worst case you buy a big don't like it and sell it. Move on....

IMO, buy a good priced S/H version of what you're after, use it, try it and sell at a profit/minimal loss.

You're debating this rather simple decision way way too much.

ljs1977 - Member

Frame material is making life hard,

Carbon worries me - cracking and impact damage
Ti is too expensive - is this still a frame for life too?
Al is so last year - a bit to harsh?
Steel rusts - chips and scrapes = rusty ride?

?

Carbon composites are ace, they're as strong/light/stiff/comfy as they're built to be. if you want strong - don't buy an xc race frame.

Titanium is ace, it's almost perfect.

Aluminium is ace, it's cheap and easy to work with. if you want comfy, get a frame that fits and use big tyres.

Steel is ace. it lasts ages.

is that what you [i]meant[/i] to say?

Kinesis FF29's are frikkin awsum.

You'll get a fully built one from Kinesis for £1700 and weighing in at 26lbs

Brilliant bike*

*I do happen to own a rather nice 23lb one 😉

Weeksy - you are right!
ahwiles - more than alot of sense.

Thanks for the electronic slap around the face! 🙂

Has anyone actually had a steel frame rust and fall to pieces when in use?

It seems to be a reason for not selecting as steel frame - but almost all my bikes have been steel. With no issues ...

steve b77

Please could you give me a little review of the FF with the type of riding you do

Cheers

[img] [/img]

27lbs built, rides fantastic

Whoooaaa. 😯

What's that seat angle all about then?

Not the best picture seeing as front wheel considerably lower than back, I can assure it is level SSStu

Looks at horizontal line in block work.
Looks at angle of ground.
Looks at seat angle.
Shakes head from side to side. 😆

I'll redo a fresh picture...ok?

I think you might be taking me a little too seriuosly.

If if feels right to you don't worry about what anyone else thinks or says. 😀

Pics of it out in the woods/in action would be great to see though.