That sprung clip I mentioned. I hurt watching those landings, these days.
black Chute frames
I had one of them nicked 😭
Was waiting for someone to post a norco.
A mate had one, my god it was heavy. Almost needed 2 people to put it on an uplift
Dialled Bikes Alpine
Spooky Metal Head is the undisputed king IMHO.
With an honorable mention to anything those loons from 24 cycles were producing around the early 2000's, loved that Sprung segment.
That sprung clip I mentioned. I hurt watching those landings, these days.
Really? It looks so tame these days, folk are landing stuff on BMXs now that folk were doing on DH bikes back then.
I had a Le Toy 3 that got stolen, was a hard ass bike but never felt particularly lively on street. On a DH track it was a monster though.
Porn Kings were DJ/Street specific IIRC hence the weird geo.
I had a GT Moto jump bike with was basically a beefed up Little Zaskar and fitted 130-140 forks on it, 2.5 high rollers and then thrashed it everywhere until it got nicked.
My brother had one of those ‘aggressive XC’ Marin WildCats and for Devon that was a much more sensible bike. When he got it nicked at Uni he used the insurance money to buy a Small Norco Torrent/Sasquatch(?) and that thing was a beast. I dug it out a few years ago and rode it as an XC bike a few times (with 160mm z1s, single rear brake and 780mm bars and it was a struggle but way more fun than everyone else on their skinny XC bikes). I donated it to a local shop to pass on to any kids wanting a bike but with no money and I think there’s a ‘yoof’ in the Yate area still thrashing it about. Indestructible.
I think the Metalhead, the Zaskar (in small) and the DMR Trailstar, Norco Sasquatch/Rampage/Toreent or Charge Blender get my vote.
Currently riding a slacked out Calibre Line 29 as my hardcore hardtail nowadays, it’s got better geometry, components and the same travel than my Moto but modern hard tails are a totally different game. I still fancy building up an old 26 bike for pump tracks and pottering around with my kids as the 29er is a bit quick for bimbling with 2-3 year olds following.
Doesn’t get much more hardcore than an Evil Imperial
Banshee Morphine called and asked her place to be vacated immediately xD
Cheers!
I.
Think this is my favourite thread in a long time. So many great bikes i'd totally forgotten about over the years.
Thinking about it most of my hardtails have been hardcore of some variety.
Planet X Bommer (On One Gimp with vertical dropouts) - cracked and folded on Fort William WC. Got a crash replacement and sold it.
24 Le Toy 3 - went through a few iterations then settled on some NOS Z1 CR QR20s, utter brilliant. stolen a couple of months later.
.243 Freeride - probably the hardest of the bunch. Weighed a ton and was utterly awful to ride any distance but was a hoot. Didn't help I had the steel cruiser bars and kit to go with. Sold that eventually. If anyone knows Tony Fong and he still has it tell him I'd have it back off him!
DMR Trailstar LT - still have it, only changed a couple of drivetrain parts but it's the same as the day I got it. Been everywhere and it can be hard work but so much fun. Currently in bits.
Have a Chameleon 5 at the moment as I fancied something lighter, not had a proper thrash on it though thanks to lockdown.
.243 Freeride – probably the hardest of the bunch. Weighed a ton and was utterly awful to ride any distance but was a hoot. Didn’t help I had the steel cruiser bars and kit to go with. Sold that eventually. If anyone knows Tony Fong and he still has it tell him I’d have it back off him!
I know someone who still rides one of those. Bloody horrible little thing that weighs a tonne. He's also 6'6" and much better at jumping then me. I'm sure he only rides it to annoy me.
So subjective since what constitutes a hardcore hardtail seems to differ so much from person to person.
1990s. Spooky Metalhead.
2000s. DMR Trailstar.
2010s. BTR Ranger.
HM. Cotic Bfe.
On the more modern side the Stif Morf is the best HT I’ve ever owned. Not sure if classes as hardcore though. If I get another MTB it’s going to be the Stif Squatch
I have, in my workshop, one of the original 100 Trailstar frames DMR made. They ordered 50 with vertical dropouts and a BMX BB she’ll and 50 with vertical dropouts and a MTB BB.
I had it respected and got some of the original decals from DMR themselves (they said it was their last set!) but I’ve never built it up and ridden it.
They only ordered 100 as they didn’t know if the hardcore hardtail thing would catch on....
Should really sell it!
I'm still riding my Cannondale Beast of the east from 97, its an absolute weapon of a bike 18" frame. Unstoppable.
I'm going with Ragley Mmmbop and Dialled Alpine respectively, honourable mention to the Orange Crush
2 i have owned (still own in 1 case) are well up there.
On one 456 summer season. So stiff it felt like it was made of granite, plowed through most stuff and frame was capable of taking a beating.
Current Production Privee Shan. 160mm fork, agressive geo and rides everything that can be thrown at it.
Both real as steel can offer.
The hardtail frame that had the biggest impact on me was my 99 Zaskar LE. I'd ridden a trail the day before on my 95' Pantera, then built all the components onto the Zaskar and it was loads faster and much more composed going on the same trails.
If course, it probably wasn't, but it felt awesome to ride at the time.
HT frames I've had since are quite numerous but stand out ones are;
On One 456 carbon. Very rigid and direct. Flew around trail centres and was incredible to ride when it was wet on the ground for some reason.
Mk1 Ragley Piglet. Stood out for all the wrong reasons. Heavy, dead to ride and nasty paint job but it was a hardcore beast as it would steam roller everything.
And the two current bikes, SC Chameleon Carbon - built with plus tyres it rides well and is forgiving to a degree. Just feels nice everywhere and very planted downhill.
On One Whippet (new one). Not hardcore at all and only ridden rigid with 1x10 and SS so far but it feels like a great mix between old school lightness and direct with newer geometry and bigger wheels for ride position and feel. Brought back memories of Zaskar Esque light weight as I could feel it accelerate with every push on the pedals. Have suspension forks on it now but not ridden them yet.
On One 456, summer season and C456 (which I’ve had for years, or will until it sells) fit this mould for me. I’ve always wanted a go on a Ragley Ti Piglet.
anyone that's saying dialled or cotic, or production privee need to leave this thread 😂
Judging by how fast I've seen it ridden it has to be a Giant STP, bald Maxxis tyres pumped up to 40psi and 100mm forks that barely move. Its not about the bike.
Several kilos of Easton Rad
Before you could get properly designed hardcore hardtails everyone had or wanted a zaskar.
Ragley also had the Bagger and Troof steel and alu frames from about 10-11 years ago which were designed around a 160mm fork.
I can't believe it took until page 2 to mention On One 456. I loved my carbon version, still got it, so light, but could bash it about
Has the "worst case" or "heaviest use case changed?
Those boat anchor gusseted bikes from the past, are they more suited to urban hucks to flat or hardtail downhill than a suitable modern Cotic, Stanton, DMR etc hardcore hardtail?
Or has the design technology moved on?
I over-indulged in the hardcore hardtail scene for a while, the bike I always wanted (before I saw sense and just bought a full suss) was the Clifcat Tankass
Wish I could find a picture of my old Kona Scab, that was a burly wee beast...
This thread needs more close ups of gussets and bracing/ strengthening features. The more welding beads the better
I've got a Mk1 Trailstar in the garage, and a Mk2. Just about to go for a ride on it now.
My Identiti Mr Hyde was a chunky beast!
I had a Mr Hyde too. That back end was super solid.
On One 456 Summer Season with 160mm Marzocchi 66 RC2X, went through anything in it's way. I say this every time but it's the one bike I should never have split/sold.
Another vote for the LT Trailstar
Bought when I first started riding at Chicksands. Rode all the big ladder and 'log' drop on it. Reckon my knees would explode now. Also it was once run over by another bike which dented the TT near the head tube junction. Put a sticker on it and 5 years later, still going!
Gave it away, but it's still getting used locally. Somewhere I have a blurry pic of my best ever bunnyhop.. such short chainstays, even I could manual it at will.
Also little known brand Atomlab
Had two, neither were straight. Seemed to get good reviews tho (2004 ish)
And the one that started it all, my £100 'Chicky Special'
Ended up being my London commuter. Never saw a set of steps it didn't want to charge down 🙂
Had a Saracen Zen in the 00's - used to keep up the Orange 5's and Marin's of the day in the Lakes no problem. 2.4 tyres and a pike fork, made the inbred I had before it feel like a boat anchor.
Sold it to someone off here I think, should have sold my Dialled Prince Albert instead, that's pretty handy too, just not as much fun
Something from the North Shore, a Banshee Morphine probably. From new it looks like it's been repaired a few times by the local Gusset Welder.
2 pages in & not a mention of anything from Sick?
Had two, neither were straight. Seemed to get good reviews tho (2004 ish)
Atomlab were shite, was that not the era of the best forgotten Trailpimp rims and exploding pedals?
I had a banshee morphine, used it for xc rides and anything else. that thing was never going to break
Never owned one, but it has to be the spooky metalhead......
I had a 1st gen chameleon and it was a great bike. But the metal head came out the year later and at the time I really,really wish had that bike.
GT Zaskar... finally upgraded from my GT pantera and built a zaskar, it was late 90s/early 2000s so the frame and fork (Z2 atoms) had both disc and v brake mounts. I got about 10 years service from it until it snapped across the left hand seat and chainstay from fatigue. When the disc mount had been added no additional reinforcement had been added. Sad day!
A friend rode an Identiti Dr Jekyll but I always fancied a chameleon but could never stretch to it.
Early - mid 90s
GT Zaskar or JMR's Specialized
Watch mbuk's Dirt 95 film (this deserves more views)
Late 90's into early 00's SC Chameleon or Planet X Jack Flash
Mid 00's Marin AXC Rocky Ridge.
Kona tended to cater for the more hard core orientated by adopting the sloping top tubes early on too.
There were various others in that era inc from Orange but often needing a custom build.
Late 00's then a lot more options but the Marin Rocky Ridge and Orange Crush were prob the most recognisable mainstream options in the UK and quasi affordable.
These days finding a hardtail that isn't hardcore seems to be the challenge.
I had a very sweet Mountain Cycle ‘rumble’ for a few years... was quite light and had monocoque head tube junction area, with short machines stays and was made for a 140 ish fork.
Slotted replaceable dropouts gave options for SS or gears. It’s was fab in drab olive green. If it had been tapered head tube, I’d still have it.
Sold it on here I think.
Not mine, but same as this.
It's a moving target isn't it, everything in the context of its own time. I owned a first generation Marin Rocky Ridge, but if you could transport it back in time, my current Sonder Transmitter would make it look like a shot, quick-steering xc bike. I owned all three of the original Ragleys - the only one I still have is the Ti - and they felt like a step forward at the time, now they feel short and tall, though the Ti is still a great, lightweight all-rounder. Cove Stiffee was pretty ground-breaking in its day as something with jump bike type robustness designed for wider riding. And that On One thing, erm, Planet X Armadillo. I remember looking at one of those and being amazed that anything could be quite so ugly.
Dawes Edge One. Made entirely of solid aluminium box-section bars, or that's how it felt.
A lot of what look like heavy and horrible to ride bikes here. I would nominate a Whyte 19. It just made you want to ride faster and faster. It had wonderful geometry, and it was nice and light.
Orange Sub Zero from about 2007/8?
180mm forks, 1.5 inch steerer and the down tube came up from the bb like a girder, wrapped around and over the top tube and was then welded to the head tube in one massive join.
Apparently it was targeted to some extent at Alpine guides who needed a burly bike, but minimal maintenance and were skilled enough to ride a hardtail whilst their client were on full suss(?)
In the modern era I can only think of the Dartmoor Hornet as being a ht designed for 180mm forks, but I bet there are still others knocking about.
