best steel frame hardtail

looking to build/buy a new bike to throw around cannock chase, starting with a good steel frame, likes of on-one, cotic, orange p7 or cove handjob. i want the bike to be light and nimble, but soak up some vibration etc so alloy is out and i cant afford titanium or carbon. im not going to be racing/jumping (much)

your views welcomed.

Cotic soul

my two penneth worth anyway.

on-one, cotic, orange p7 or cove handjob

Buy one, any one; I doubt you’ll be disappointed with any of them tbh.

all depends on budget, you gets what you pays for!!

tbh ive had a couple of inbreds and a good few expensive bikes and i think the latest 456 really blows away the gets what you pay for myth 😉 its fantastic for very little money

rock lobster ?

light and nimble, 115mm rebas on mine.

Kev

PA one of the best if you want a tough do anything, go anyhere HT.

😆 So far nobody has posted the same suggestion twice. As I say: buy one, any one. I’ve got a PA and an Inbred and I’d be happy with either.

i’ve had a PA, sold it after one ride, just didn’t get on with it.

just try a few and see what you like

DB Alpine

There’s Brant’s whizzy new frames to consider as well, tho’ I’m not sure when the steel one, (blue pig?), will be available. I’ve had a Handjob, (careful there), which was a lot of fun, although it was an early 100mm one, and I’ve got two Inbreds, an 853 SS, which I just love to bits, and a 567, which is a real hooligan bike with 160mm Nixons on the front, and a lot of fun as well. An Inbred 456 with a new pair of 150mm RS Revs on would be a real hoot.

Still using Pikes on that Alpine RS or did you get some bigger forks?

oh and is the riding still as nice as it looks in Canada, you lucky sod?

Yeah, still riding it exactly as in the pic, don’t think there will be any chnages for a while… and yep still enjoying the riding here, duh! 😀

On-One 456 Summer Edition

another vote for the on one , had a PA but i always felt beat up after a ride the on one is much more forgiving imho

First press review of the Blue Pig coming out in What Mountainbike in a couple of weeks.

A Charge Duster

I’m currently selling one.

Here’s it built up:

regular inbred or cotic soul would probably be adequate. Steel is an alloy. I have a 456 and would probably go standard inbred next time round.

I’ve had 4 inbreds (1 ss, 2 geared, 1 456), cotic soul, pastey howler, prince albert and a rock lobster (but that doesn’t really count cos i seem to remember it a 1″ stem) and a couple of others in the early 90s.

If I had to choose now? For, “a new bike to throw around cannock chase”? PA or 456.

Another +1 for inbreds. I relly enjoy riding mine. Gonna “upgrade” it one day for somehting that’ll take longer forks. Probably a 456 or one of them blue pig things.

If I were to upgrade my 456 SE I’d go for… a smaller 456 SE or… Revell of some sort (just for the heck of it). If money was no object I’d buy a Rocky Mountain though (you can’t beat a loooovely paint-job).

Surely only 853 steel should be classed as pure steel, everything else is a poor imitation, imo

Lanesra – Member

Surely only 853 steel should be classed as pure steel, everything else is a poor imitation, imo

i disagree, plus how many complete 853 bikes are there

DB alpine there perfect for cannock, i ride mine loads there

Cove Handjob for me – have an Inbred too which is very good.

Cove Handjob..

Great fun.. 😛

Lanesra – Member

Surely only 853 steel should be classed as pure steel, everything else is a poor imitation, imo

Ummmm… what exactly is pure steel?

To the OP… any of those bikes would be fantasitc, I’ve got an Inbred and I love it.

So have we found it then? The best steel hardtail I mean

I say look at these two for Cannock:

Sanderson Life
http://www.independent100.com/life_853.html
Pastey Howler

Both 853.

Sadly both overshadowed but very good?

456 definitely- Summer season would be too slack though for Cannock?!!

I believe the new P7 is going to be 853.

Just try a few out, I’m a big p7 fan, its very versatile, not the lightet but it feels quick and its forgiving enough for all day rides to be comfortable.

Juan… yep, I have, but it’s mine and you can’t have it… 😆

P7? Oo yes another! There is the Chromag’s but who would pay 1k for a steel frame?

Aything really for the Chase, most steel frames are good these days and the seatpost and saddle will affect comfort as much as a frame. 456, PA, Souls, Handjob P17s are relatively common for a good reason. DB Alpines are the best though, but not really available at the moment and require expert pilots 🙄

Genesis? They are supposed to be really good? Plus the new CERN frames- stronger? Aye but heavier? When a steel frame is getting close to 6lb I’d rather buy a full suss frame. The hardtail starts to lose some of its appeal to me (part of the apeal of a hardtail is lighter weight no?).

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/series/alpitude

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/series/core

Alloy is not out. I doubt you’d tell the difference.

I used to have a 456 till it got pinched and am a Cannock regular, it was perfect. Been looking at one of these though as considering another steel frame to replace my alu hardtail.

Swappable dropouts so can be run geared or ss without a tensioner.. ummmm 🙂

Anyone ridden one?

Its a Kinesis Virsa by the way 🙂

Kinesis Decade Bikes

(part of the apeal of a hardtail is lighter weight no?).

No.

Direct feel? Tick
Instant power transfer? Tick
Simplicity? Tick
Weight advantage? Tick

Is it a hardtail? Tick.

Nothing else to it.