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I know it's been done loads of times, but there are still many options.
I'm 5'11" and skinny, ride up as much as down (though of course love the down more) and mainly have wiggly windy wooded singletrack at my disposal. Will be set up with Revs, GD post, 2x9, Hope hoops.
I like the odd jump (jump with a small j) so need to be able to bail without fear of frame replacement, but then again I ride with with cleats so never go that big!
Budget....flexible but don't really want to spend more than £400.
Thinking of: 456 in it's ordinary, summer and carbon incarnations. Blue Pigs get pretty good feedback, and not too sure from there.
I think I'll go with steel, lightweight always a plus but solid is more important. Tempted by the carbon, but don't want to worry about the frame more than my body when I bail!
What to do? Too hardcore and it won't climb properly, too flimsy and I'll weep when it breaks. I like the non committal price of a 456, but don't know if the summer geometry sucks at climbing?
Thanks as ever.
carbon 456 sounds like it'd fit the bill perfectly for your riding.
got mine built with 150mm revs, hope hoops w/flow rims & big volume tyres, 50mm stem, 710mm bars, formula the one brakes - love it so much
only you can decide if it's too risky though. They've been about a while and I haven't seen any posts on here about breakages yet though.
steel std 456
burly, tough, stonking value
I'm the same height as you and have run both 16" and 18" frames and prefer the 16" for jumpy stuff and the 18" for more "all day" trail work. Both run a 60-70mm stem, depending on how I set them up.
If you want to spend twice as much then the Cotic BFe looks nice. I've just bought a Soul and it's beautifully finished and I'm very impressed with it.
Would you consider a mmmBop? Alu, I know, but I have a brand new 16" in blue boxed sat under the bed which was waiting to be built up (I have all the parts!) until I changed my mind and decided that I think I want a FS! Just waiting on a demo.... 🙄
If your interested, emial in profile.
There's a Soul going on here within budget which has caught my eye! I like the look of the build, really hate the little face thingy on the HT. Looks like something drawn on a school desk.
So we've got 456 carbon at 1.5kg, Soul at 2kg and 456 standard at 2.5kg.
With this in mind and the dropouts the Soul is winning. I think I'm unlikely to push myself on a carbon frame, I find committing a big deal with the cleats; but that's part of the fun!
Only thing to avoid with the Soul (or any hardtail really) is using 160mm travel forks, especially when you ride "up as much as down". Use some 120 - 140mm travel forks instead. Soul sounds good though
Ah, so the Blue pig and Mmmbop have been chucked in to the mix. I've heard raves about the Mmmbop and also critique for harshness. The Bluepig looks pretty tasty.
I run my Revs pretty saggy, so hopefully it'll balance out.
I think the issue with big forks and twisty singletrack is the bike not becoming too much of a downhill rough-ground fast-corner slow-steering beast as opposed to a pumpy-whippy-jumpy rocket. I'll be putting 140s on my 2x9 GD'd Soul shortly which you're welcome to try - I'd describe my riding preferences the same way (love air, just not big air) am a similar size to you and ride the same trails. Do you already have the 160s?
Surley it's a BFe if your using 150mm forks.
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I currently have a soul with that very set-up your looking at.
I run the Revs at 140mm max though.
i am still consideing chaning it for a BFe though, although I still don't know why.
more of a want than need i think.
Yep, I'm transplanting from my current bike. CGG, where abouts are you?
The Blue pig pleases me aesthetically, but we're talking more weight than a 456!?
Flippin heck. I reckon the Soul would have been snapped up by the time I decide, then it may be out of budget.
Aaaaagh! Too much choice!!
This is how I see it...
Soul if you want it lighter and for more basic trail stuff. It really is a sublime ride.
If you want it tougher and stiffer (and heavier) then it's a 456 or BFe.
As I said, I rode my new Soul last night for the first time and was very impressed. Not as stiff/burly as a 456 but still was pretty good on rocky downhills. And the ride quality everywhere else was sublime - very smooth.
If you do mainly woodsy stuff then you arguably don't need a big, tough hardcore frame. A Soul will be enough.
HS, I'm in Brighton, am over on t'other forum too. Need to buy some Flow rimmed Hope Hoops so I can use my big new forks asap!
You can always space the Revs down a bit btw...
If you want to run 160mm forks I would look at the Dialled Alpine. Great bike and can climb quite happily. Mine is built up fairly chunky but could easily lose several pounds with a change of fork etc.
It's not steel but my alu Chumba HX1 is much more compliant than you'd expect. Fits the bill perfectly too in terms of travel, budget etc.
And it looks good - especially when you change the tires so the back doesn't look massive in comparison.
Mine...
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And now I've seen the Ragley Bagger 288. 160-180 fork, probably on the porkier side but looks good fun.
But if I'm going for a burly tank, I may as well get a 456... But then again I'll just end up replacing it if it doesn't feel 'right'.
FFS. I've done hardly any uni work and filled my head with a lot of steel framed information!
hoochylala YGM
😳
I have been deluded about my fork length!! I'm actually running a 140! What a teet.
Well, this changes things... That Ragley Bagger is off, now it's; Blue Pig (£260), Soul (£320 ono, or £480), BFe (£375), 456/456 summer (£180). Carbon 456 still lingering in the mind (£400+parts)
I think the BFe's off as I can potentially get a Soul for less dollar. Which leaves the 456/456 summer, Blue Pig, Soul and 456 carbon.
3 words, Santa Cruz Chameleon!!!! do it 🙂
The SCC is Al, looks good but not feeling it.
I've punted at the Soul seller, the resounding opinion on here, there and everywhere is that they're great. 500g is hard/expensive to shave elsewhere too.
We'll see...
Good choice
£300, Soul+ Hope headset and seat clamp!
Job done.
Thanks all 😀