[Closed] Sonder Signal ti.... for XC routes ?

Depends on personal preference.

I like a slack head angle for everything and happily ride my geometron round the peaks, lakes and trail centers.

Why not try a demo at the shop on a cross country ride round Hathersage?

I demoed one in Ambleside - just a quick loop whilst my wife was doing a swim, but I thought it was a great bike. Climbed well and good on descents. Some light wheels and perhaps some faster rolling tyres and you will be good to go.

I use my Signal Ti for XC, you get used to the slack head angle after 1 ride.

I’ve got a Sonder Broken Road which is more XC/general purpose hardtail.  I’ve been very surprised at how capable it is in the Dark Peak trails, but imagine the Signal would have just a bit more in reserve when the speed builds on rough trails.

Sensible advice above regarding wheels and tyres, as the standard Love Mud wheels and WTB tyres are proper porky.  I upgraded to some DT Swiss 650b+ wheels and better tyres and lost about 600g off the wheelset - which is very noticeable.  The main thing putting me off swapping my BR for a Signal is that the latter can’t take 2.8” 650b+ tyres (I think they missed a trick my not making it b+ compatible - I’m waiting to see what running changes they make to the version 2 frame🙂)

I've ridden one with lightish wheels - Hunt Trial Wides (1750g?) and a quick tyre on the back - Conti X king. It fair zipped along on the flat, and gentle up/downs - it just made me want click up a couple of gears and pedal harder! Last bike I remember making me feel like that was my Dekerf Generation.

Climbs well too, shortish fork so you're not bouncing around too much there. Descends well too. The only downside I can think is the steep seat tube angle might be less than ideal for long days out, but you can shove the saddle back on the rails or get a layback post. compromise climbing a wee bit for better all day comfort/pedaling ergonomics.

And obvs, your bar type/position is up to you. No reason why you couldn't stick some Jones bars on there and get as comfy as you like.

Most of my riding on my Signal TI is XC and I've got no problems with it. It's such a versatile bike I've used it trail centre rampaging, long XC routes and even bike packing. It ticks all of those boxes. It's the best best mountain bike I've ever owned, I love it.

Interesting reply’s, sounds like I may be better off buying frame and fork only and building it up with decent wheels and a light 2.3inch tyre. I don’t like the look of the SRAM 11/50 set up, so would go for an 11/46 Shimano SLX setup instead.

I’ve nearly finished building one up from a frame only with Shimano XT 11/46 & Hope/Stans Arch wheels to use for XC & trail use, looking forward to trying it out

Mine’s great for XC. Built the frame up with Hunt trail wides and currently have some light fast tyres on and love it for long days.

I've recently built one up and went round the Forest of Dean on it on Thursday. Whilst not optimised for XC it would do a great job - reasonably light, climbs well and is very versatile. I have a mind to go bike packing on mine in the near future.

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I think I have frame 100. Which I think is quite cool.

I have a custom 29 Plus Signal Ti.

It’s now my main bike.

Living in the wilds of Suffolk XC is pretty much all we have. It does that wonderfully 😁

I have a custom 29 Plus Signal Ti.

It’s now my main bike.

Living in the wilds of Suffolk XC is pretty much all we have. It does that wonderfully

As a fellow Suffolk rider I'd love to see a pic of that!

I very often ride 20-30 miles of xc on my Signal Ti. No issues at all. Being such a versatile bike I can intersperse some more hardcore trails as well..
I just purchased frame and built bike up.

I bought a frame, because I am 5'4" and wanted 165 cranks, which would have had an upcharge of £100+.
I live in the Meon Valley in Hampshire and mostly do XC from the door, doing the occaisional red and blue at QECP. I took it to Vassiliki in June for two weeks, and rode it all day and every day for two weeks...
mostly fast XC with a fair bit of road .I have DCR wheels( around 1800 grams....30mm internal.)
I first set it up with the current Mountain King 2.3. felt fast and accelerated well. I currently have Vittoria Barzo 2.6 for a bit more damping.
It can be as playful or placid as you want it to be........in a lie back and think of England, or swinging off the chandeliers sort of way! It is just a great allrounder.

I did the jennride on a demo Signal Ti.

It was absolutely fabulous and as per someones comment above that was with joneslike bars.

The only negative is for bikepacking specifically, the triangle is quite small. But it climbed beautifully and descended like a rabbit with a rocket up it's arse.

But I'm still undecided between this and a solaris max.

But I’m still undecided between this and a solaris max.

Can I ask what size? I demoed the large Signal at at 5'10" it was spot on. I'd like to demo a Solaris but seat-tube on medium is infuriatingly short, but the large is massive length wise.

I'm 6'1".

I did the jennride on an L Signal.

I have ridden both an L and XL solarismax.

For me it would be an XL in either.
I'd have thought you were an L in both.

I’m 6’1″.

I did the jennride on an L Signal.

I have ridden both an L and XL solarismax.

For me it would be an XL in either.
I’d have thought you were an L in both.

Cheers that's helpful.

@Clink - I'm 1.80m (5' 11") and I'm on a medium Mk1 Solaris. I'm right on the borderline between medium and large, in fact my "test" ride was on a Large and that felt OK too for the short time I was on it. I'm medium on other Cotic bikes I've tried. Best demo one (or two) and decide for yourself.

+1 to the comments about the Love Mud wheels. I got a set of 650b+ to try on the Solaris and "sturdy" would be an appropriate description.

Unless your riding consists entirely of trail centres or DH most modern hardtails are more than capable. A couple of riders in this year's Silk Road race were on Broken Roads. If I hadn't got the Solaris I'd definitely be looking at either one of those or the Signal.

Im 5'11 32' inside leg on a large. I wouldn't want to be on the medium.

I got the first one out the door!

I'm 5' 10 1/2" on a medium. Could have gone for large, but I've tried bikes with similar reach to the medium and they felt good. I'd planned to demo a large, but I got overexcited by the 15% off sale! Happy with it though, maybe I'd be happier with Large, maybe not. Most of my trails are tight and steep, so shorter works nicely. I'd probably be better off with 650b, really, but this will work for better on more wide open stuff and longer rides. Pfff. It's all compromises, this seems to be a pretty decent one. Might help me get rid of a bike or two.

So I'm 6.2ft (189cm) and 86kg.. I was going for a large frame ..? I quite like small framed bikes and generally prefer a bike slightly on the smaller side. Any thoughts on size ? Thanks

I'm 6ft 1 and have the large frame and find it a good fit for me. I'm not sure I'd want to go with an XL.

6ft 3 and went for the XL. I wouldn't have gone any smaller. You really need to swing your leg over one yourself to be certain though.....