Must be (in order of importance):

Whippy
Light
Comfy- springy, not solid rear.

A sort of SC Chameleon without the boxstay rear stays that beats you up.

does it need a good resale value?

Cotic soul

Curtis 🙂

have a look at the Kinesis XC130 and the Decade versa (120mm).

not quite sure how long ‘long travel’ is, tbh.

Depends how long travel you want Mark. My old Soul was all those things and the new ones take 140mm forks. Gave mine a pasting too and never let me down…

I like my Chumba HX1. I’ve just changed from a P7, it’s definitely lighter and whippier. More comfortable than you’s expect from an alu frame too. Done a couple of longish rides on it and had no comfort issues at all.

Cotic soul

I briefly had a large Cotic Soul and found it ‘too big’ for me. Should I look at a medium (or even..a small?!) one?

I’m 6ft1/33inside- but prefer shorter top tubes of upto23″ actual MAX.

Does anyone have a medium Cotic that I could have a quick spin on for fit?

The Stanton Slackline comes in a 18″ that’s in between a large & a medium Soul.

I was after the same thing, and will be ordering my first steel frame (Cotic Soul) in about 10 minutes .

Whyte 19 Trail Steel.

Just gone from full suss to this, love it, very nimble and capable. Has adjustable dropouts that affect wheelbase and angles too, even running singlespeed if thats your bag. 120mm fork standard which i find is ideal for my riding.

It doesn’t matter really though, does it? You’ll only have it a week. What we looking at realistically? One quick run round Calderdale?

I am not sure which bike was next in the sweepstake http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/who-fancies-a-horas-next-bike-sweepstake/

How tall are you?

Chumba HX1?

imo the whole ribbing hora about his bike is a bit done to death now?

Si thats too stiff for me. If it was stiffness that I was after I’d buy a Chameleon again. Thanks tho.

I’d love a ti frame but not the Ti price though 😳

Si thats too stiff for me. If it was stiffness that I was after I’d buy a Chameleon again. Thanks tho.

Have you ridden one? If not, that’s a stupid thing to say.

I have one and was very surprised (and pleased) at how compliant and comfortable it is.

I’d be looking at the Slackline, in fact i’m seriously thinking about getting rid of my blue pig for one. Fancy a blue pig?

Charge Duster?

Whippy = short top tube, short stays, tight* H/A, good standover and low(ish) BB (forget longer forks and stems too)
Light = not steel
Comfy = MTFU (stand up!)
springy = down to the rider, a stiffer rear end will actually be more “springy” with the input of a decent rider
not solid rear = MTFU (choose good lines, go faster, get off the brake and use your legs to absorb rough terrain and you won’t feel so beat up)

*not overly steep but def not overly slack

not what you wanted to hear but it’s the truth.

cotic soul here too, somewhat predictably.

Hora….if your referring to the Whyte above its STEEL not Ti 🙂

Slackline weighs circa 5.6lb?

Springy? I rode a Sanderson Life and that was definitely comfy/springy. I keep coming back to this- but thinking of a smaller size.

Pity you’re not a bit shorter. I’m selling on my Ti Ragley – but it’s in short-arse size.

carbon 456? light & comfy, not sure I’ve ridden a whippy hardtail since the old skinny steel days

carbon 456 Looks are a bit shakey but is meant to be nice.

Cotic Soul. Mine was awesome round Afan on Monday. GW doesn’t seem to understand that a Cotic Soul can be built up plenty light enough, a reasonably slack head angle is a good thing for most riders and you can stand up loads yet still benefit from frame compliance (and big tyres) because the kickback through the pedals is less.

Despite his boring and boorish manner this is true:

“…a stiffer rear end will actually be more “springy” with the input of a decent rider… …choose good lines, go faster, get off the brake and use your legs to absorb rough terrain and you won’t feel so beat up…”

But a more compliant rear end will be yet more springy with that same rider.

I’d like to have a spin on a C456- had a quick one in the carpark on PeterPoddys but he didn’t throw it down Cavedale too quickly 😉

So shortlist

Small or medium Soul
Sanderson Life (16″)
C456
Whyte’s only do a full bike and I’m really after frame only sadly.

hora – I’ll have a medium c456 for sale soon – really good nick (I bought it new and change frames more regularly than you’re reputed to). I’m the same height inside leg as you. mail in profile if you’re interested.

YGM

The C456 looks great too – long top tube though. I ride a medium Soul which is a great fit at 5’10” but I find the medium 456 a bit too long so I’d have gone for a small one of them.

Moots YBB?

GW doesn’t seem to understand that a Cotic Soul can be built up plenty light enough

oh, I understand perfectly, but if weight is important to you why bother with a heavy cotic frame when you could have a lighter, stiffer and stronger frame from another brand made from another material? oh, yeah, coz it’s STW and you MUST all have a steel frame from either Cy or Brant to harp on about 🙄

Druidh, which Ragley and how much?

20″ Voodoo D-jab Ti frame – £450 to you.

My current rockhopper frame is a pretty light 3.3lb, the new soul looks like 4.3lb giving a 24lb bike, so still reasonably light once all the bits are swapped across.

I had a cotic soul in size small, I like you like my bikes on the small side but the soul was just a little small tbh.
I am 5/11 with a 31 inside leg so I think you should look at a medium.
Great bike the soul, but I now have a Sovereign 😆

To a fair extent, it depends what you plan to do with it and how heavy you are. My choice is a Dialled Alpine, still comfy, rewards a confident rider with great handling and some attitude. I’ve ridden both in real hills and found the Cotic was too flexy for rocky terrain. And I’m only 12 stone.

oh, yeah, coz it’s STW and you MUST all have a steel frame from either Cy or Brant to harp on about

Nah, my DMR Trailstar rocks!

I’ve got a medium Soul if you want ago. I’m in Leicester if thats any good to you?