Fun and affordable trail frame?

All being well I will have my Voltage sold soon so I’m on the lookout for a new all-rounder frame. I’m still on 26″ and will be for the foreseeable future so hoping to pick up a bargain somewhere. I don’t need masses of travel as I want to be able to pedal it around trail centres and not feel limited to Dh only like I am now, but still want to have fun and confidence on jumps and the dh stuff. My fork is a 160mm Lyrik (tapered) which I’d like to keep using, maybe lower it to 150 if I can. I was looking for a Nukeproof Mega TR but never seem to be able to find the frames for sale, otherwise they look ideal – anything else similar to that? May go back to hardtail but ideally FS if there’s anything good in my price range.

Budget will be about £300, up to 400 at a push. Obviously going 2nd hand.

Orange 5 would be on my shortlist, late model with tapered HT and 30.9 ST

bandit.

Would you get a Bandit or an Orange 5 on that budget?

If you’re looking for a full sus 26″ then I’d just be patient and see what pops up. Sometimes bargains come along.

easily a bandit, maybe a scruffy five.

bandit is betterer. I sold a five to get one via an ST4.

Just had a quick browse on Pinkbike and saw a reasonably priced Bandit frame in Cardiff.

I’d have been tempted myself if I hadn’t just bought an Aeris…

http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1996778/

What size frame do you need?

I’m about 5’9″ so a 16-17″ would probably be about right.

Saracen Ariel? I had one, it was a lot of fun.

I’d consider getting a full bike on the cheap and flogging the bits you don’t need.

Here’s a cheapish one…
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1955515/?page=0&lastredirect&directtofirstphoto

Whatever you’re getting, it might be worth sizing up if you can live with the seat tube length – to get better handling.

Tom, a large Bandit would be fine I’d expect. I am on a medium but in modern terms it’s quite a short effective TT.

Pretty good price as well. I just bought a sh Bandit and am seriously impressed with the stiffness and build quality.

Cheers for the suggestions. I always liked the look of the Bandit and the original Ariel,think I’m strictly a medium though ! Only have a 29″ inside leg and still want some standover haha.

Someone has emailed me about an Ibis Mojo HD, what do you lot reckon to that for what I want?

My young riding pal is on a Mojo HD and he rides it hard – big jumps, drops to flat and lots of DH tracks.

It seems to hold up OK and he likes it well enough. I found it frighteningly short when I had a go, but I’ve gone pretty long with my bikes now.

One of my riding buddies has a Mojo HD too, and does absolutely huge stuff on it. He’s had it for years and its bloody solid and reliable too considering how hard and often it gets ridden.

I might have a 16″ tapered headtube/30.9mm post/Maxle’d rear end Orange Five going soon. Would be looking for £400. Bare, stripped frame by Orange with 2015 decals.

Could do it with a Works slackset for a little extra and it’ll come with offset bushings…

That sounds like a good endorsement of the Mojo HD! If he’s close enough and still has it when I have the cash I might take him up on the offer. Davy I’ve always found Orange a bit odd looking but could be interested as they must be popular for a reason, will send you an email 🙂