[Closed] XC Hardtails/Distance Bikes

I'm in the same boat and getting back on the mtb. I've been flirting with bikes around this price point too, but then I'm also looking at a bit more too.

There is loads out there, the Orange Clockwork always appeals to me, that could be sentimental reasons though although I like the Clockwork 129. Canyon are always worth a look, Trek, Spesh, Marin all have bikes available and worth considering. There are a few Genesis Tarns coming in at £1250 I've noticed in the sale I'm considering too. There is basically loads at this price point and if you are happy to upgrade as you go then the most important thing I would concentrate on is the frame and making sure your happy with the geometry

I got a titanium Titus Fireline frame and have got 29x2.35 slicks on it.
It's fun and very fast - barely slower than a cross bike and the geometry and flat bars are so much better off road.

Very light!

Think I only paid about £200 used for the frame

I'd get a Trek alu Superfly. Not made this year but loads around 2nd hand and some shops still have deals. Great xc frames - both myself and mate ride them for exactly the type of riding you describe. You should be able to get a good condition used one well under budget then upgrade the wheels.

Cube Reaction are great bikes and you can upgrade as appropriate..

Plenty on offer currently.

I pretty much bought my Karate Monkey Ops for this type of riding. It's not the lightest but sure is comfy. The old school geometry works for me when mile munching too.

Second hand for that should get you a bargain.

I would second the Superfly idea - great bike mrs_oab has one. It's light, only 100mm forks, but remindse that big travel isn't always needed for a fun, fast ride...

The Marin Nail Trail 7 (recommend what you have) is also on discount from last year in limited sizes. Great alrounder, with fatter tyres and lighter wheels than chubby, dropper, 1x11, Yari and good balanced geometry.

Yeah, something like the Superfly would be a good shout. I also had a look at the Procaliber. I didn't realise that they do an aluminium one for £1300. If I sold some stuff and put a bit towards it, that would be attainable.

Plenty of options to go and have a look at now. I like some of the racier Marins too, but the Nail Trail is a bit too burly (have a Hightower for that sort of riding). I want to go lighter with this bike (no dropper etc).

Get one of the new Boardmans

Ah yeah, forgot about the new Boardmans. I'll have a look at those, good shout!

*edit*

Ah, looks like they only go up to large, so too small

I want to go lighter with this bike (no dropper etc).

IIRC, my Nail Trail (with dropper) is same weight as mrs_oab Superfly 6. It seems to be hidden in the wheels and crankset, as both bike sport same brakes, SLX 1x11 vs NX 2x10...

Second hand Swift would tick most boxes, but they don't come up often

Kinesis ff29 great xc bike. They only go up to large though. I had one and I'm 6' 4" was fine for me

I was looking at the Fireline the other day thinking it's a bit 'old skool' for a trail bike, but with a 100mm fork would actually have a decent reach/HA for XC.

@matt_outandabout

that's pretty impressive then really. I'll not dismiss that possibility.

Kinesis is a good shout. I've always liked the look of their bikes. I'd have to have a look at the large size, but if it was ok for you at 6'4", then I should be ok.

I'd consider a frame only to build too. That option might work out more affordable picking second hand components up and sale bargains.

I made a very similar change, went from a Planet X london road to a 2013 Kona Unit. Its currently setup rigid with a 11-42 cassette and 38t chainring and a set of Specialized Fasttrak tyres. Its fast enough on the road but SO much more comfortable offroad than the CX bike ever was.

The only downside with the Kona is that realy I should be on the size above, but at the time and for the price it was worth a try. I have been eyeing up a couple a second hand Tarn at some point to give me a little more space, but need to hold off for a minute.

Better get my arse in gear and start posting in the classifieds I suppose! At the moment Trek Superfly/Procaliber are winning due to the boost/thru axle frames. Means I can try my Hightower wheels on it

I've got a bike built for this kind of stuff. I'll not recommend a particular model, but just say I think if you are trying to replace 2 bikes with 1 then multiple wheels is a lot of help, i.e. a 29er with a set of 40mm Nano's on it will likely be every bit as quick as your CDA but a wheel change would have into a different animal in a minute

You could get a nice SH solaris for a lot less than that. I've raced XC on mine reasonably successfully and it is a great distance bike. More recent ones are boost.

I've just replaced mine for local rides with a more modern geo bike (nukeproof scout 290) but I'm keeping my solaris as I'd get no money for it and it can do things that the scout certainly can't!

Even my mk 1 fits plus tyres, too.

+1 for the Solaris. I've done lots of long rides on mine including last year's HT550. A very capable bike. This year though I'll be on a Salsa Spearfish, I bought the frame from IanPV

As well as the KM I mentioned earlier, I have a Solaris as well. Mine is set up with 120mm forks and slightly smaller frame so I use it for the more techy side of my riding.

When I had it at 100mm and even with bar ends for 1 ride it mile munched very well too.

I'd also look at the Brother cycles Big Bro.

Ah yeah, forgot about the new Boardmans. I’ll have a look at those, good shout!

*edit*

Ah, looks like they only go up to large, so too small

No they don't XL size here

I have a xl cube reaction frame to sell.  ridden for 1 week from new last may.  £40 delivered

email me if you are interested.     thoss20@hotmail.co.uk

Well spotted Steve, ta

That's tempting ton, I'll have a think and let you know.

Those Boardman hardtails do look good. Looking at the MHT8.9, the medium should fit me but the bottom bracket drop seems very small at only 17mm, other bikes seem to around 50-60mm.

They look good, I was looking at the old one I think so didn't see the bigger sizes in that.

@ton

Messaged you back about the Cube, but wasn't sure if it took a tapered steerer?

I am selling my xl superfly 7 (2017) - email in profile if interested

Thanks for the offer acsevens, but I have to sell my stuff first before I consider buying. I'll keep it in mind though if my stuff shifts fast

I got a procal 8 through cycle to work this year (OK, the first 1000 through cycle to work, the rest on a credit card deal), then upset my xc mates by putting wider tyres (bonty xr3) and a dropper on it. All I need to do now is get some wider bars and it'll be just right.

The decoupler does seem to reduce trail chatter for longer rides, so a thumbs up from me.

I had a pair of 29x2.35 scwalbe big apples knocking around, so I bought a surly karate monkey frame to put them on, used a load of bits i had lying around to build it up.

comfy, not much slower than anything else with me on it.

loaded/unloaded seems to make very little difference.

im fully rigid though.

Check out Giant XTC Advanced 29er either s/h or you might still get a 2017 one on close out. Boost, 27.5+ compatible and sliding dropouts if you ever decided to go single speed.

I've seen an XTC Advanced 29er 3 at Rutland, but they only have large and below left. Also, a Suntour Raidon has no business on a bike that nice

Fair comment. I got the XTC Ad 2 at 50% more than your budget. Very pleased but by far the most I’ve spent in mtb in one go...

Just been having a look at a few and found an Advanced 29er 2 in XL for 1.5k. Looks really nice too, but they seem a tad short compared to the Trek.

I was after the same sort of thing, mile munching hardtail but still fun in the twisty stuff.

Came across a titanium Salsa El Mariachi with SIDs and XT on eBay for £1,300, guy selling it reckoned it had done 120 miles, I think they must have been road miles, it's mint.

First ride tomorrow, will let you know if it's any good.

Bargains to be had if you look

Andrewh, that sounds ace. It's always nice to snap up a bargain!

Well, if my CdA sells, I've got till August to sort a replacement, so at least It'll give me time to gather the money and watch for some bargains.

Thought I might as well update this thread.

Decided to go the self build route using one of the bargain Cube Reaction GTC carbon frames from Bike Discount.

Bloody hell the frame is light!

I also used a mix of second hand parts and just took my time shopping around eBay etc.

Spec -

Rockshox Reba 100mm

Shimano XT/SLX 1x11 drivetrain

DT Swiss Spline wheels with Conti Race Kings (2.2)

Promax carbon seat post with Charge Spoon Saddle

Shimano XT Brakes

Love the colour and hoping to get it finished next week. Just need to wait for the rest of the parts to turn up!

Half finished so far! The plan is to get signed up for more marathon type XC/gravel events.

Forgot to add, the whole build came in not much over £1000.

Cube Acid 29er. That's all.