Bombproof bike frame

I’ve been out the game for a little while but starting to get the itch. Looking for a FS Frame that can take some abuse and is reliable, weight isn’t too much of a concern but needs to pedal well and not too heavy for an enduro. I don’t know if this exists but would love a bike I could take to the alps that wouldn’t need repairing due to the abuse, an over engineered bike is what I need. I currently have a BTR Ranger and bloody love it, to give you an idea of what I like to ride. Any suggestions?

Geometron.

There was a comment earlier about the weight of the Airdrop Edit. That has to be pretty bombproof

just get something with a good warranty. Other than looks and reputation its hard to know whether a given frame is actually strong, but if it costs nothing to replace it for 5 years, its as robust as it needs to be

Raaw Madonna.

all of the above

Later Rocketmax? Some early ones had an issue that was addressed with an extra gusset, later ones are stronk, they’re heavier than some but they pedal pretty well. It’s an unashamedly big bike with big bike manners but it’s still practical to live with. I didn’t really gel with minebut it was very good.

Any half-decent bike ought to be fine with what you decribe tbh, I mean I took my ancient Trek Remedy out to the alps 6 times I think inc the Mega, raced enduro and occsaionally dh on it in the uk, did dozens of UK uplifts, and that was just a “trail bike” with a big fork stabbed in it. I didn’t get my current Bird with bombproofness in mind but I’d trust it to do the same, I wouldn’t buy a bike that I didn’t think was up for that tbh

7 years into Geometron ownership, I’d say Geometron.

2 weeks in whistler and 100 miles overnight bikepacking adventures are some of the things I’ve done on mine

Transition Sentinel alloy 2022. Properly solid build that.

I’m a featherweight so unqualified to comment, but my riding buddy and his wife who are both built big and strong stand by privateer bikes again and again.

I’ve just been looking at eldest_oabs bike – it’s a 3.5 year old Rocky Mountain Altitude A30.
It’s done 3 full alpine seasons – like 2 – 3 months every year.. It’s been raced DH.. It’s raced Enduro. It’s been up about 12 Munro’s. It’s been ridden twice a week, every week, year around minimum.
This week he crashed at BUCS – 3-4m through the air and all there is to show is a bent brake lever and a serious concussion.
He’s gone through wheels as he’s an animal and frikkin’ fast through rock gardens. It’s just a couple of months ago had a clearance CRC rear shock instead of a service.
It looks battered.
But its plush, great to ride, no creaks, no cables cutting into the frame, just scabs and scratches from riding.
I’m really, really impressed, as is he and wants another.

How much abuse are you going to give it, really?

Are you heavy, hard rider, or expect to crash it spectacularly on a regular basis? I expect for most people, any enduro bike would do, just add a proper downtube protector.

A fair bit of abuse, usually race both DH and Enduro, go to the alps at least once a year and usually go up to fort William once a year and ride the DH track there. Between all that I’m riding typical uk trails, just get a bit fed up with something always breaking when I’m miles away from home. Obviously somethings you can’t help but pivot bearings going seems to happen to me regularly, they used to go on my Capra fairly often.

Spoke to a dude who cracked his airdrop frame (not sure which model) in the alps. I’m sure he showed me a photo but can’t quite remember where it failed. Rather vague sorry!

My Airdrop cracked after 2 years. I’ve been on a G1 for the last 5 and it’s proving to be very robust. Last year I put some Fox 40s on it for my Alps trip. I expect most modern ‘Enduro’ bikes will satisfy your brief.

Can’t recommend an unbreakable frame, but can warn you off Marin. Snapped my FS on Launchpad in The Forest.

Atherton A170

@supernova – what were you doing on launchpad to break a full suspension frame 🤯

joebristolFull Member

@supernova – what were you doing on launchpad to break a full suspension frame 🤯

That was my attitude too! I imagine I must have cracked it some time before.

Geometron, don’t know of anyone who’s broken one, had mine 4 years, good as new. Raaw look super tpugh, but I have heard one snap loudly as I was chasing behind it…. was just a linkage bolt, to be fair

I don’t own one but Geometron was my first thought.

I’d also put money on the Atherton bikes being very hard to break – both their construction methods look super durable.

joebristol
Full Member

@supernova – what were you doing on launchpad to break a full suspension frame 🤯

I broke my old Hemlock on a slightly rooty flat bit in the Pentlands. I’m sure it was purely coincidence that the week before I’d raced the endurance downhill at fort william on it 😉

This is where “bombproof” gets pretty complicated though, there’s so many different ways to fail, and it’s hard to know exactly why most things failed when they did. Was it one big incident? Was that big incident right now, or in the past? etc

Another vote for Geometron, had my G1 for 3yrs and have been to the alps, raced DH/enduro and done big XC like rides – no issues at all with it. Its robust but rides fairly light IMO – awesome machine! The RAAW is another bike I’d consider.

If you can’t afford a Geomteron or Raaw (or even if you can), the Bird Aeris 9 is quite similar in geometry and in terms of stoutness.

I’ve been riding mine for a year and a half, including a couple of weeks in the Alps and some big rides/uplift in Scotland and Wales. Pedals well for this kind of bike.

It’s held up really well, frame is well aligned and nice to work on, bearings well protected and have lasted well. Oh and you can do external cable routing if you want.

Would recommend for someone after a more-sturdy enduro frame (it’s a bit overkill for mellower riding).

whats that full suss thing that steve geall is riding/making? Looks like a brooklyn machine works bike

Steel MTB Frames Handmade In The UK

bloody lovely. EDIT – hes been riding an enduro version so have a chat

That’ll be my next none Ebike.

they have got a 160mm enduro in the prototype stage, but nothing in production yet.

doesnt look as cool as the DH bike, imo

I didn’t know Steve Geall was building frames again, that’s awesome. I hope they expand the range.