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Sooooooo
My new Niner race bike is pretty much done and I'm off to pick it up soon. My current race bike, a whippet will get taken apart and various 26'er related bits sold off. Which will leave me with a bunch of decent parts to put on something else.
I'd really like to have another 29er for all day type riding, my Five has morphed into more of an Enduro type bike and isn't a lot of fun for all day 'proper XC' rides. I also want to do the SDW and a few 12/24 hour races for which the Niner will be a bit too focussed and a bit too 'nice' to ruin in the mud of SITS and such.
So, I really like the look of the Solaris and I've always liked the Swift. However, are there any other frames out there of a similar standard (other than an Inbred) that would work just as well? I'm choking a little at the thought of spending £500 on a Solaris - just seems a bit dear....
Cheers!
Oohhhh, and edited to add - I'd love a Ritchey P-29 but they're silly money....
Just gotten an Salsa El Mariachi, awaiting for it to be built up single speed, but can be set up geared using the altonater drop outs. Dont know how it rides yet but comparing it to similarly priced bikes this comes out on top for the functiamlity to go either single speed or geared without the use of an EBB.
I'm looking at this now: Swift/Solaris/Ritchey/MCR9 (or SIR9) is my current short list (I don't want ally, probably not carbon, so it's steel or ti. But ti is probably too expensive).
A '12 Van Nic Zion can be got from < a grand too.
Just gotten an Salsa El Mariachi
where from?
Dirty Harry.
I've been wanting one for several months but O-O/PX have their usual shite stock control...apparently 7-10 days away although this last bit of Summer sunshine will be gone by then. I'm bitter 👿
choking a little at the thought of spending £500 on a Solaris - just seems a bit dear
that leaves the Swift then.
edit,, scrub all this below you just added the no ali or carbon bit!!!
What length forks you thinking of buying?
Scandal 29 at £210
or
Carbon race at £400
Yeah yeah I know it overlaps with what you have, but maybe with slightly longer travel forks than their intended for.
I lust after a carbon race myself right now.
I got the El Mariachi from Speeds Cycles in Bromsgrove
FF29 @£450?
Santa cruz highball aluminium looks a good versatile bike, and can take a 120mm fork.
Oohhh, highball alu is a good call, as is the FF29
Tinsy - I'm trying to not have any overlap with the niner so have ignored the mad cheap deals on the race frame. Hadn't considered the scandal, will have a look
Try and get a test ride of the Solaris, once you've ridden it you'll realise its £500 well spent 😉
Alternatively, you could buy a Scandal for 58% less than the Solaris despite it being 95% as fun.
I really really like my Swift. And put some pics of the niner up when it's all built up.
hold on for the new Genesis?
I've both a Scandal and a Solaris Flange that you'd be welcome to try and i know you live close to me as i'm the fella that bought your CB Iodine wheels off you, although the Cotic is a medium and the Scandal is 18" so may be a bit small for you!
The Solaris is built up geared and with fork and Reverb, the Scandal as a SS.
They do ride differently, the Scandal is the lighter frame and feels more racy plus you don't have to mess around trying to get front mech fitted as seat tube is curved, but also it not so sure-footed when it gets rocky or on long descents and I love my Solaris for long all day rides, definitely a bit of a hooligan when descending especially with 120mm forks.
Hi Scud
Cheers chap, may well take you up on that offer.
Because the new bike is built for racing I'm a little loathed to buy something racy as a second bike. Having looked around it really is between the Swift and the Solaris - I really want the solaris but the cost is a factor on top of the fact that I'll have to buy forks which I won't with the Swift.....
hmmmmmm
How about a Genesis High Latitude?, very similar geo to the Solaris 44mm headtube, 435mm stays and £330 for the frame only.
+1 for the mariachi, lighter than the swift and made better for the same money. My swift was nice but just didn't ride as well and had paint falling off leading to rust issues. I also think i prefer my old mariachi to my niner one nine.....
I have a Mariachi ( 😉 JRTG ) and I think its a great riding bike!
I love my SIR9. It's such a nice ride. Bit pricey though. If your sure you want a 120mm fork I'd get a Solaris.
If Cotic used an EBB I'd have bought a Solaris in a flash, but I like to run gears & ss, hence the SIR9.
SIR 9 is lovely but the new ones are likely to be in excess of 900 quid for the frame (US RRP is 999USD).
Cotic Solaris 🙂
Yup. Solaris. Defo.
I'm choking a little at the thought of spending £500 on a Solaris - just seems a bit dear....
Buy one, if you don't like it, i will personally refund you the £500 - that's how confident i am that you will fall in love, as i have with mine.
Thankyou please.
Have a look on here.
http://www.freeflowbikes.com/Hardtail/Frames-Forks/Frames/Cotic/Cotic-Solaris-29er/
Have a look on here.
http://www.freeflowbikes.com/Hardtail/Frames-Forks/Frames/Cotic/Cotic-Solaris-29er/
... to read a cut and paste from Cotic's site.
It's nice that blue though.
.. to read a cut and paste from Cotic's site.
I think he actually meant the cost....£448 😉
What about a pipedream skookum?
Just checked they're still on back order!!!!
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FRVARWD/van_nicholas_redwood_titanium_29er_frame
Van Nicholas Ti 29er for £700!!! I know where my money would be going (sadly not available in 16.5" 🙁 )
Nice but SS specific.
No. It has a mech hanger and Van Nic sell them as a complete bike - with gears.
So it does. How does it differ from the Zion 29er?
JRTG - Member
+1 for the mariachi, lighter than the swift and made better for the same money. My swift was nice but just didn't ride as well and had paint falling off leading to rust issues. I also think i prefer my old mariachi to my niner one nine.....
Considering they are made in the same place that's unlikely. If you had problems with the finish you should have let me know. Ride quality is a subjective thing.