Aggressive 100mm hardtails

What options are there for 100mm hardtails similar to the Shan and Slackline, but built around 100mm forks. Slack head angle (69 -66), short back end, long TT, but big enough to ride XC on (unlike the Blender which is Teeny). 26er as I’m looking to build it up with existing parts.

Cheers

Tom KP

on-one summer season was designed to be what you describe.

Can you be moar vague please?

Dare I suggest…. a 456?

Just as an opener… Not sure if the ~425mm chainstays qualify as short enough, but the sort of riding you describe is kind of what it’s intended for.

Summer season does not have short stays.

Why not try BTR for a lovely handmade frame as you describe?
Pricey though.
Richard

Ragley Piglet maybe? 44mm head tube too so you could chuck a slackset in there.

The new Chameleon looks like it’s got a slack head angle. Nuke proof snap? Or is that too small in the seat tube?

As above BTR Ranger: http://www.btr-fabrications.com/products/ranger/

HA: 64 with 120mm forks so with 100mm would be spot on for what you want.

scottfitz – Member
As above BTR Ranger: http://www.btr-fabrications.com/products/ranger/

It doesnt look well designed. Do they really need all those X style braces everywhere? I thought people designed bikes properly these days, so they didnt need them?

It was a vague question on purpose as just trying to see what was available new or old. Basically I want something like a cross between an xc bike and a 4x bike as I’m limited by space so can’t have a jump bike/hardcore hardtail and an XC whippet so need something that can be pedalled long distances but still survive (and be fun) the odd DH run or a few jumps.
Cheers for the suggestions so far. I rode a Summer season a while ago and it felt heavy and lifeless (pardon the phrasing). Not seen a Snap in the flesh and I think the BTR will be to expensive. Do the standard 456s feel less like they were made from plumber’s pipes?

Ta

Tom KP

It doesnt look well designed

I like the design, need them no idea but I like it.
Edit: But it is very expensive that’s why I don’t have one.

Snaps are very small for XC

scottfitz – Member

It doesnt look well designed
I like the design, need them no idea but I like it.

When I first saw them I thought they looked quite cool, a bit of a throw back to the late 90’s/early 00 dirt jump frames.

But I think if I was paying over £600, I want something that looked tidy.

At least give us a hint as to how tall you are and what ball park TT length you’d like?

Well I ride a 16″ 456 Summer season with 110mm travel forks, 2×9 drive and a dropper yes it’s the Old, old version now, but it does do “XC” (gets pedalled about), and it’s fair share of “DH” type riding, does that combination qualify as “Agressive XC”? anyway, yes it’s heavy, it’s made of old gas pipes, but the geometry is pretty much bob on (IMO)…

You want a bike you can pedal to/from trails; sensible front triangle sizing so you fit on it, Slack HA so it can handle the steep stuff and it doesn’t cost the Earth… Sounds like a 456 of some sort.

Steel if you don’t mind the mass (although is the current “EVO2” lighter than the older versions?) and you are trying to work to a budget, or Carbon if you can stump up ~£400 and want to save some weight…

Other options might be:

Dialled Alpine maybe a PA
Cotic BFE or soul?
BTR Ranger (already mentioned)
SC Chameleon maybe?

How flush are you feeling? how lanky are you?

Snaps are very small for XC

Look fun, but don’t like they’d be that great for the “pedalled long distances” bit.

Maybe some U-turn forks are a good idea so you can drop them for jumps and stuff back up for riding around.

Why wouldn’t a snap be any good for pedalling long distances, (assuming it fits) ?

Why wouldn’t a snap be any good for pedalling long distances, (assuming it fits) ?

there 13.4″ frames, if your under 5’7 it might be ok.

My thinking was more along the lines of fit and probably needing a very long seatpost given the size of the seat tube, which with the short chainstays would put your weight rather far back. Guess this sort of thing is always going to be a compromise though, just depends where you want to compromise. OP, how tall are you?

How about a Dialled Holeshot?

My thinking was more along the lines of fit and probably needing a very long seatpost given the size of the seat tube, which with the short chainstays would put your weight rather far back

Any bike with the same chainstay length and seat tube angle would have your weight in the same place, seat tube length doesnt make a difference

Thanks, I should proof read my posts!

How about a Dialled Holeshot?

I have a holeshot, I love it but they are even smaller 12.7″. I am 5″10 and would need a very long seat post to ride it uphill

OP:

but big enough to ride XC on (unlike the Blender which is Teeny).

blender is 15″

All 4x frames have short seat tube’s, doesn’t mean they have short TTs

456C, it works with forks that are 4″, 5″ and 6″ long.

Giant STP? 15 inch seat tube and IIRC an OK toptube reach, so could be OK. Super short rear for the fun.

Giant don’t bring the current STP into the UK.. The old frames came in 14 and 15″ with 22 and 23″ TT respectfully.. I’m a proper geek when it comes to 4x/DJ frame geometry but begrudge typing at all when the OP can’t even be arsed to tell us his height.

Dialled Holeshot,

I loved mine when riding anything that I could ride stood up, wasn’t so much fun on Flat XC,

I think Mine had the longer top tube 23″ or something ?

I’ve had a few goes at what you describe. If you want to stick to 100mm travel and under, you’ll be looking at a jump bike. STP and kona cowan are two good frames.

Bump the travel up to 120mm and you can have a bfe, slackline or my favorite the NS surge.

I ran the surge at 100mm, but the bb was a tad too low and the HA a tad too steep.

I’m 6’3 with long legs, so can’t really get away with riding jump frames for long xc rides. I’ve tried and it kills me, so I now have a 17″ surge which is just about big enough to get the seat up.

I recently built up an old 456 with a 100mm fork (cos that’s what I had), slx groupset 2×10.
I’ve no idea if its aggressive, its pilot is a bit of a scaredy cat, but it goes up, down, and along OK.

My lads going to be building up one the same but with u-turns, so I’ll be keen to compare.

I’ve got a new unused Woodman D M/L frame still in its box that might suit

Like this- http://www.bikesonline.com/woodman-d-ml-2008-frame.htm

BFe would probably be the best choice. Versatile bikes and mine was really confidence inspiring. Unfortunately this made it a bit boring to ride for my tastes, I prefer something shorter and (to use the mtb buzzwords) chuckable. I actually ended up preferring my old Trailstar despite its steeper head angle and taller front end.

I’m on my 2nd Charge Blender now, take from that what you will 😛 I’m only 5’9″ though so I can get away with a 16″ with a short TT.

I would like to recommend the SC Chameleon, but I find the front end/bb a bit low with 100mm forks. Shame as they’re really fun and versatile frames, I just don’t like long forks on a HT!

bfe – done

As GW campkoala says, your height would help. I’ve a 456 Summer Season with forks @ 100 and it’s great for xc stuff and pulling aggressive faces. Chainstays aren’t overly short but that’s not an issue, what is, is
i’m 5’17” and needed a 20″ frame which makes is less good for jumping.

I run my C456 with 100mm forks and a 2 degree slackset. It makes a good xc bike light and quick uphill but a bit more reassuring on the downs than when all the same bits were on a Boardman frame.

I’m much too old and cowardly to know what happens if you get aggressive though.

Kinesis decade virsa or maxlight xc

Saracen kili flyer 853 handmade loveliness, there are still some 26ers left at great prices. Saracen charged 800plus for this frame, they can be had for about 2-300 now.

If you are under 5ft 10 then u might want to consider a large ns surge.

People usually have 140mm forks on them but I think they can go shorter and have a 67 deg head angle and super short chain stays.

if you’re lucky, a GT Lopes or a GT Hans ‘No Way’ Rey frame will come up on ebay…