Hi,
Currently got a bird zero tr which has been relegated to child carrying duties and commuting (when we go back) and an aeris 145.
Love the aeris but it's over kill for my riding so thinking about a steel hardtail I can move everything onto.
Looking the following:
650b
150mm fork
Can take 2.4 tyres
Similar geometry to the bird.
Currently looking at cotic bfe and ragley blue pig, is there anything else I should be looking at? Would love another bird but looks like the new steel bike is 29er only.
Chromag Wideangle - i've got one and I love it.
Orange P7?
older pipedream moxie where they lied about it being a 29er 🙂
Why 150mm? I find it makes more sense to have less travel on a hardtail to avoid it steepening up too much. A 29er frame is a good option because you have the choice of running 275+ or 29.
Stif morf?
Thanks for the suggestions, will take a look.
The 150mm fork is just so i can use what i have, i suppose i can always adjust it down if it gives more options
Ribble HT725
Pipedream Moxie if you run 2.8” 650b tyres
Stanton Switchback or Slackline
I keep idly looking at steel hardtails and the one that keeps popping up near the top of my list is the Pace RC527 (?).
Stif morf is a great shout. Non boost as is the slightly earlier 2017 orange p7. If you are moving parts over. My 2017 p7 has seen lots of use since September. Loving fun hard tails and nightriding at the moment.
Cotic Bfe?
Second Chromag Wideangle (mines for sale ;))
Sonder Transmitter?
Its on my N=2 thoughts for this summer when I can get another bike on cycle to work (If the price stays below £1000 limit the Halford scheme has).
Transmitter is alloy not steel - if that frame could be made in steel it’d be a good shout I reckon.
Stanton Switchback
Re moxie, that's what I've just built up with a 150mm 29er fork and 27.5x2.6. I was going to go 2.8 but had the 2.6s in stock already and 35mm rims are helping the volume a bit.
I'm really enjoying it so far. Obviously the BB is low though. Run 27.5 I think it could be a problem with longer cranks - I have 165s - or indeed a shorter fork. They do quote it as being OK for 27.5, 27.5+ or 29 so it's within design parameters I guess, however I don't see how it can be any more or less suitable for 27.5 than any other 29er capable frame with similar BB drop.
I was drawn to the Moxie in part because of the sliding dropouts. Without that constraint my research would have brought up vastly more options. Another I was looking at was the Pace RC627.