Trying to make a list of possibilities for my next bike. I currently have a Yeti ASR-sl and fancy something with a bit more travel. I only want a frame as I much prefer building up my own bikes.
There seems to be lots of 100mm travel and 140mm travel frames but not many 120mm. I briefly had an Intense 5.5 and although a great bike I found 140mm too much travel and felt too disconnected from the trail.
So far my list is;
Yeti 5 - Aluminium.
Most obvious choice but at £1600 is a bit too expensive.
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Pace 405
OK 130mm I know. Really really not impressed with only a 2 year warranty.
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Santa Cruz Nickel
Another 130mm. Rather heavy compared with my Yeti.
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Chumba VF2
Looks interesting. Seems aimed more at a 140mm fork?
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Mythis Spitfire
Maybe a bit more 'Grrr' than I need. Again seems aimed at a 140mm fork.
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So what have I missed?
Cheers.
What do you want it for? Just XC with more squish, or more jumpy bumpy twisty stuff?
Plenty of bikes like the 100mm orange ST-4 which would give you the more attacking geometry without much more travel.
For the price of some of those frames you could get a less boutique trek fuel-ex complete bike, swap the bits you want to and sellt he rest.
cotic hemlock?
or, as spoon suggests, buy a complete bike (trek fuel, speccy camber, etc), and sell all the bits you don't want...
Mostly ride local woods and trail centres but do a week away in Spain every year.
I'm after a 'trail bike'? somewhere between XC and all-mountain thus the 120mm.
Already have a VW (and a Cotic Soul) and prefer something a little different to ride.
Cannondale Rush? I have a frame for sale if you're interested. Perfect for XC/trail.
[url] http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-2009-cannondale-rush-sl-carbon-frame-8 [/url]
Ventana El Saltamontes.
Leku, of those, the Yeti, as it looks ace, and the others, er...
Would the Orange ST4 fit the bill? Very popular on here and I'm sure they ride lovely. Might be heavier than you'd like though?
Personally I'd look at those Ghost AMR bikes with 120mm travel, although not sure if they do frame only (full 2010 bikes cheap on CRC though).
Or the Trek Fuel EX if you're not averse to big brands - they seem very fast and light.
The way a frame feels and behaves is not just defined by it's travel.
Some bikes still feel lively and chuckable, and pop off humps at the drop of a hat with 150mm travel (like the Remedy), others just deaden the ride with far less travel (Titus Motolite - 100 to 120) but they're designed as all day expedition bikes.
Try a few and buy the one you like.
Turner Flux?
If you liked the Intense 5.5 why not try a Spider 2? 4.5"-5" travel.
ST4 is 110mm rear with 120mm fork, could be ideal for your needs and it's a wonderful singletrack riding bike and very involving.
Tuner Flux - £1800!
Intense Spider - £1550 (would rather the Yeti)
ST4 - interesting....
Giant Trance?
EDIT:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b4s1p2833&rs=gb
and sell on the bits...
Really love my Ventana but they too have this gap between 100 & 140mm.
Shame. My El-Ciclon rides beautifully, but as someone else has said, there is this isolation from the feel of the trail. I think it serves to make me enjoy my ht when I ride it. I guess your looking for some middle ground. But does it exist ? 🙂
I'm a bit conflicted. I have the "new" ST4 and have found it a fantastic bike. The geometry and long stroke shock seems to work whether your whipping round some forest singletrack, descending some rocky madness or grinding up an endless fireroad.
It's not superlight, but otherwise hard to find any faults. It's not cheap either but then it's UK designed and built and Orange are a decent company to deal with.
The reason I'm conflicted is I have a Pace 405 for sale 😉 Just not getting ridden since I had the ST4.
The Chumba VF2 works well with 120mm forks (rear travel 127mm), will give a 69 HA.
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Also, just had a chat with Chumba. They are clearing quite a few VF2 frames, mainly small sizes, but they do have large and medium in limited numbers. Very good prices too 🙂
I've recently bought a Nicolai Helius CC to replace a 145mm travel frame I simply didn't get on with. It's adjustable from 88-130mm - I've set it at 130mm and it's brilliant. With the 32 Talas up front it's very adaptable.
Nicolai UK were selling of some Helius CC frames at discounted prices which might be worth a look.
Its more of a plan for next year rather than asap.
Need to save some cash up first.
But I will be after a small anyway.
Lets hope Yeti start discounting 5s (as if).
whyte e120/t120