Hi folks, Im looking for a comfy light hardtail frame, and would appreciate some input from owners of the following, and suggestions for alternatives not covered. my shortlist currently consists of cotic soul, pipedream scion , cove handjob, and the 456carbon. .I have an orange p7 that has been upgraded with a bias toward light rather than bombproof as Im not an aggresive rider. The one thorn in my side at the moment is the 6lb+ frame of the orange. I have 130mm dtswiss forks so this ties my hands on frame choice a bit.
What about a 456Ti?
But tbh if I was buying now I'd look at the 456 carbon, especially based on how cheap they are.
I would concider titanium but theyre a bit OTT money wise. One one dont seem to sell the 456 ti at the moment,
Kenisis Decade Virsa Prestige, 16" frame is about 4.6lb. I love mine, but then again, I would.
Soul gives a comfy ride. Never had a 456, steel or carbon, but had an Inbred & that was ad comfy as the Soul just a bit heavier. Doubt I'd ever get a 26" HT again, but if I did it would probably have Soul written on it if I did. Can't help but think a carbon frame would be stiff, but never tried one. Kit out a Soul with the right kit & it would feel great.
Well I would go with the Pipe dream Scion but I am biased a have a couple of these frames for sale in the shop. They build into lovely bikes but how comfy will depend on the sadlle, tyres, bars, forks e.t.c. The stays are fairly narrow at 16mm which should help with the comfort.
The Scion weighs a fair bit less than a modern P7 with is plus point. The Scion is designed with up to 130mm fork in mind so your current ones will fit.
The carbon 456 is great for the money its light, strong and will be great with 130mm forks ad that what i run for over a year . For 300 notes its bloody hard to beat.
I have a 456 carbon. It takes a lot of the zing (prepare for cliché bingo!) out of the trail but on long rides that keeps it comfortable, although does deaden the feel a bit. It is quite stiff so on the bigger trail stuff it does tend to get knocked about. However whether this is more than any other hard tail, I don't know.
I do have a croix de fer as well, very different bikes obviously, but it is steel. On the same trails (generally the gentler stuff) I feel somehow more connected to the bike, but that just could be because I am hanging on for dear life at times!
When I am relaxed I am definitely able to push the 456 harder than I was my old Kona, both on downhill and general trails. Having said that my midget riding buddy can kick my ass all over the purbecks irrelevant of what he is riding, so it could just be my abilities.
I've had an Inbred 853, Inbred, Scandal, Prince Albert, Litespeed Pisgah and now have a carbon 456. TBH I don't think I could really tell you that there was a lot between them in terms of comfort...tyre choice/pressure and seatpost exposed length/material made more of a difference to comfort. The carbon456 is nice a light and that I do notice.
I have a Pipedream Sirius, which I'm really pleased with, so I reckon you'd like the Scion but the last time I looked Merlin were doing their titanium Rock Lobster frames half-price (if only I hadn't just had 60% of my hours cut at work!!).
Ive just had a nosy at merlin, they only have 15inch frames left... shame !
Not that I own one but the stanton slackline gets mentioned on here. Dialled bikes are still well reviewed.
I currently own a steel 546, I think if I buy another frame I'd want one that meant I could run it single speed without a tensioner. For me the c456 and the Chumba HX1 look like the most likely candidates.
456 is the value option, the lightest option, the most versatile option, and the ugliest option.
I got a Soul, no regrets.
Currently have a Handjob 2004 and Bfe and had a carbon 456 last year. (Also had 2 steel 456s and 16 and 18" and an Inbred) Loved the Carbon456 and the way it rode, built it with 130mm Revs and not exactly lightweight parts (Nukeproof/Middleburns/719 Hope wheels) and it was the lightest bike ive had. Tried some Lyriks for a laugh and it were still light (although front heavy)
Great bike and a bit of a bargain.... i just sold it cos I got sick of looking at the bloody thing. Hideous. Once you're sat on it though you dont see it i suppose.
I had a Soul, now got a C456... The handling- geometry etc- is a bit different, but the ride character's very similiar. TBH the C456 doesn't remind me at all of the steel 456, but does remind me of the Soul, very much.
Oh, except that the Soul was nice to look at 😉
Lotta people not liking the look of the Carbon 456,i think it's alright but personally would rather hear how it rides than looks.
Genesis core or latitude ti look goood.
Transition trans-am 26" or 29"
Dialled alpine.
Evil sov.
Ragley td.1 ti or other ragley frames there are a few check them out
If there are any near you i would get a demo and try it out for fitting,headtube angle etc.
"steel ht vs carbon"
What is it that makes cast iron brittle?
"ht"? high tensile?
ht = hardtail
pipedream scion had since september lovely bike first hardtail for 8 years after riding full suspension and realy nice ride run 100 to 140 fox forks find it rides best at 120
I have a Scion (pics on forum somewhere) and it's a nice frame, comfy ride and really well finished. Good vfm for a 853 frame as well.
Linky to my Scion pics...[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417807@N08/ ]here[/url]
TheBikeChain have some cosmentic Sandersons on sale at the mo - mine had a chip on rear dropout paint as far as I can tell.
http://www.thebikechain.co.uk/Sanderson-Breath-Blue-LTD-18-201111280115/
Mine is peachy; early days still (faffing with bar rotation, saddle etc, but certainly an all day zippy steel feel...)
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I've gone from a P7 to a Chumba HX1(it's Alu). It's like the P7 but lighter, ie takes a big fork, good at climbing, comfy on all day rides with a little bit of give for the downhills.
tbh I am wondering if should have gone for a Soul.
At the time I didn't realise the soul top tube was still quite long (really needed a frame with longer top tube than the one I had).
The Soul frames do look lovely but it seemed silly to spend more on a steel frame than I could get a lighter and more versatile (tapered headtube, 31.6 seat post and swap outs) for less.
I love my frame but I wish I could try a Soul to compare it to.
Many thanks for all the feedback folks, Two reccurent frame options seem to have been the 456 carbon , and the soul. so ......... I have prised the lips of my wallet apart, gone with my heart and plumped for the soul pardon the puns. ordered and due for delivery next friday. The donor bike, my p7 due to be stripped this week , currently wears a mix of lightish parts ( dt xmc130 , easton carbon bars / seatpost , xt transmission and hope pro/crest hoops ) and tips the scales a touch over 26lb, so hopefully the new frame will shed nearly 2lb of the build and the result should be a sprightly climber!