Love my MkIV.
There was a thread from way back - https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/mk5-swift/
Anyone remember how much a Swift F&F was when they originally came out 20ish years ago...? I've got to admit, I did just gawp at the £950 price just now, but then quickly reminded myself that in 20yrs inflation has probably topped 80% to be fair...
My MkIV was £500 & the forks £100 in 2017. A decent stel frame & fork package seems to be around the £900 mark (like Brother Cycles Big Bro,).
Yeah prices have gone up.
My Stooge MK4 was £550ish for frame and forks in 2020.
Mk8 are £820 I think.
I wish they made a version without an EBB.
Weight penalty aside, I wouldn't worry about it, the Phil Wood* design doesn't have moving parts to slip or creak, Just take it out and copperslip it once in a blue moon (probably when you change the BB).
*I think they swapped to a generic version of the same at some point?
Having said that, I think a version with track ends (not sliding dropouts) would look mint. People have done some clever things with slightly slotted disk mounts. And I still think hardtails look better with the caliper mounted on the seat stay.
If I ever get around to making my own frame it's going super-niche, 120mm track ends (ISO thread on disk mount to a track hub), and despite what I just said above, this Hayes 22mm disk caliper looks awesome.
https://www.mtbr.com/attachments/philwdiscmount-jpg.178724/
