In fact I know exactly what bike I want, a Prophet MX, but I just can't seem to find one.
So what other options are there that fulfill my requirements:
-135x12mm back end;
-120 to 150mm travel;
-can fit a coil shock;
-max 67deg head angle [b]or[/b] 1.5" headtube to fit angle set;
-second hand for no more than £600.
Let me know all your great suggestions!
Giant Reign X - Close apart from a bit more travel
or
Save yourself a couple of hundred £ and get a Marin Wolfridge/Attack Trail - live with the air shock, they ride awesome
STD medium Prophet? Less than £300 for a frame, buy two and keep one as a spare.
The whole world & myself it seems (including Joe McE whose been email Prophet own direct in the hope of grabbing one - fair play) would like a Prophet MX, but there rare as rock horse poop (if anyone has a Large they want to flog.. email me!) & are usually more than I'm willing to pay for a 2nd hand frame.
Old commencal Supreme maybe?
oh there is always the Cannondale Gemini, tough as old boots but cheap as chips (2nd hand - they stopped making them in 2007).
Bit shorter TT, 140-170 travel & a bit heavier @ 7.5lbs vs a reported 6.4lbs for the Prophet.
Must build mine back up.
I'm Joe, who are you z1ppy!
Even Std prophets are rare?
The Reign looks good but too much travl, what is the Giant bike below(in terms of travel).
I really don't want to go above 150mm.
Orange 5? Something from Banshee/Mythic/Transition/Morewood
Orange 5, especially with a 135x12 back end go for more than my budget.
My mates got a Banshee and it's not quite right.
Morewood, yup, I've got two already, but again the one I'm after, the Mbuzi, is very rare. Also, just a touch too much travel? However, a shorter shock would solve this....anyone got one for sale!
Joe I admired your tencity..
STD Prophet aren't rare, but as you say/emailed they tend to come as full bikes, I imagine due to the difficulty in selling Lefties.
Keep looking, patience is you friend, four frame only sales & 7 full bike have been sold on fleabay since the 5th Feb, they aren't rare.
FFS there was even an MX, which must have had a buy it now for £250.. grrr, though it looks like a medium (no good for me)
Regards
Paul L
Old Patriot 66 with the short shock shuttle and 190mm shock for about 140mm travel - adjust the geometry to get it very slack and low if you like, you may even find one with a maxle rear end. Always cheap SH. HAd mine for a few years and it is great - bit shorter in the TT size for size than the Prophet though.
Mountain cycle battery [url= http://www.mountaincycle.com/pre-2011/battery ]here[/url] $585 us dollars with free shipping from the us, short as anything, stiffer than a 14 year old boy with porn star, not as slack as you want but with 1.5 head tube. I love mine top bike.
Reviews [url= http://www.bikemag.com/gear/tested-mountain-cycle-battery/ ]here[/url] and [url= http://www.pinkbike.com/news/mountain-cycle-battery-2009.html ]here with good vid[/url]
Here's mine before I ever rode it. Works great with totems but I've seen the slopestylers riding it with 80mm forks!
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[i]rummages through recent back catalogue[/i] 😉
Yep, MC Battery . . . super-short, super-stiff (although I couldn't get on with the steep seat angle - felt as though I was too over the front even with the forks wound out to 150ish).
Commencal Absolut SX . . . cracking little bike, again super-short, 140mm travel. Pedalled nicely with 120/130 up front and rocked the downhills with the forks wound out to 160. Replaceable dropouts too so you could go bolt-thru. Paid £750 for mine from bikeactive.com. Had I kept it I'd probably have fitted a coil shock as I'm not a big fan of air.
although I couldn't get on with the steep seat angle - felt as though I was too over the front
I now have my saddle as far back on the rails as it will go, it's not so bad that it needs a layback..
Don't know anything about them, but did you seen this thread this morning?
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/psa-santa-cruz-bullit-dhx3-frame-400
Pah thats ones a medium, I was just drawing my credit card..
I also have a small bullit older stylee and was going to suggest that - set up almoist exactly the same as the battery now..
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This is a bargain [url= http://www.stif.co.uk/mtb/product/santa-cruz-bullit-frame-and-lyrik-2-step-air-fork-combo/9471 ]bullit and lyrik combo for 1199[/url] could sell the lyrik and have a cheap frame.
I think i need to redefine short.
I mean short travel NOT a short bike. Although good suggestions the MC Battery and Absolute SX are just way too short. I need a 600mm horizontal top tube for my long arms and legs.
So, by short travel, I mean 150mm maximum. Bullits are great, I had one way back when but they're too much travel.
Also, I hade a Patriot 66, lovely bike, but it was a downhill bike. I want something a bit more pedallable.
The whole point of this excercise is to change my DH bike for something a bit less!
What's your DH bike?
My downhill bike is a 2010 Morewood Izimu with Boxxers and wheels and bars etc.
Blue Pig with a Thudbuster?
Don't Moorwood do anything shorter travel that you'd get on alright with? (or if not, an orange?)
Yup,
A Morewood Mbuzi is looking like second choice after a Prophet MX for now.
Bugger, two rare frames to track down!
phutphutend are you still looking for a mbuzi?