TL:DR After a cheap 27.5" mid travel trail frame for a friend, any recommendations?
So after finding out his wife was a prolific cheater, a good friend of mine will soon be divorced. It's been pretty tough on him having to move out of his house leaving his girls behind, moving in with his parents on a minimum wage job (which he only left his better paid job for recently so that she could go for a promotion and work longer hours) and not having much if any spare cash. He's always ridden with me but not with any regularlity, and he's found himself riding a lot more over the past few months and mentioned wishing that he had a better bike than the 20 year old Claud Butler he rides at the minute.
I've got a bunch of parts i'd like to build into something, but i'm stuck when looking for a frame. Covid has pushed prices up and i'm not even sure what I should be looking for. I've got a set of 27.2 wheels with a 142mm hub and would like a mid travel trail frame but what should I go for?
Secondhand Calibre Bossnut should be priced reasonably. Anything with not-so-modern geometry and 27,5" wheels should.
What a good friend you are.
Stick a wanted add in the classifieds on here, see what comes up, I'm sure there will be few around that need a good home.
If a hardtail is any good then https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/brand-x-ht-01-hardtail-mtb-frame-27-5-2019/rp-prod130452 certainly ticks the 'cheap' box. It is 135mm QR rear though so that's no good if you can't adapt the hubs.
, moving in with his parents on a minimum wage job
I've been there. What a nightmare. Thankfully no kids involved but there's nothing like going from feeling like a functional adult to being back in your teenage bedroom to make you feel like a sack of shit.
Sorry I can't help with a bike but have you checked the Pinkbike classifieds to see what's for sale nearby? Also check Facebook marketplace it's packed with bikes recently.
I don't think anything is going to beat the Brand X for £120.... even accounting for a new hub if you can't change endcaps with 120-130mm travel.
£320 + £6 P&P gets you a DMR trailstar that comes with 142mm rear... but has a swapout thing that lets you change standards for a 140-160 travel.
Thanks for the idea's guys, he had said he'd like a full sus so will explore that a bit more first but if not then that Brand X looks good (he cant be too fussy).
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FRTIELV140/titus-el-viajero-trail-275-frame
200 X 57MM shocks are sub £100 on Ebay.
What size frame?
I’m looking for a medium.
Scunny, where are you. I have a well used but perfect working Turner rfx frame hanging in the garage doing nothing. I genuinely don't want anything for it. I'd be happy just knowing it was getting a good use.
Would need a shock though. Got headset and bb fitted.
I'm not sure on frames but just wanted to say good man, everyone could use a friend like you.