Ive decided I want a bike with more travel skills compensation
to be a 2nd bike to a hardtail.

It has to be ridden around the peak, lakes etc, but also cope with “uk” downhill, uplift days, and holidays abroad.

Accordinly I have been thinking a burly 160mm ish frame is probably the way to go.

It needs to be available in extra large type sizes (ETT ~25″)
Ideally 26 inch wheels.
Not cost the earth (2nd hand possible)

My current list:
Cotic Rocket (cy says an XL in in the works)
NP Mega am
SC Heckler
Specalized enduro
Banshee rune
Transition Covert (there will be a 275 xl next year apprently)

Anything obvious I should have on the list that isnt there?
Want to demo as many as possible, so Canyon types are out…

Orange Alpine
Giant Reign X

Pitch or enduro

+1 Orange Alpine or Patriot

Liteville 301?

If you are 6ft or there abouts, I have a Blur LTC frame and lyric fork for sale…..?

Andy, could you send me details please?
A mate is after one if it’s a large?

Cheers andy but im 6’5″ with a 6’9″ wingspan, so the short TT on older SC’s put me off.
also I think (rightly or wrongly) that I want something a bit burlier than the blur

Saracen Ariel 16x
Intense Tracer 2
Santa Cruz Nomad

I use an Intense tracer for exactly that. It’s my only bike and has to do everything. The two position travel adjust, that also takes a degree and a half out of the head angle, is great. It eats everything you throw at it for breakfast and surprisingly rides up the other side reasonably well.

I think I got my frame off Ebay for about £600ish. An XL will no doubt be cheaper.

Canyon Strive, love mine. 160×26″

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Liteville-301-Mk-10-Frame-XL-Race-Black-140mm-/271276048975

£1200 brand new. Get a set of 160mm rocker arms and you’re sorted 🙂

Cheers andy but im 6’5″ with a 6’9″ wingspan, so the short TT on older SC’s put me off.
also I think (rightly or wrongly) that I want something a bit burlier than the blur

XL specialized enduro. Specialized seem to do bikes with longer top tubes than most.

I had a large enduro and it fitted me perfectly at 6’3 with a 6’8 wingspan.

canyon, tracer, strive, nomad, sarecen, orange all too small…

the 301 should go on the list

I used to have a nomad! and it felt far too much for the UK, where as Blur was very capable but more nimble. It depends upon what you want it for…

It’s re lily strong and very stiff, and goes up hill well too, where as the nomad really was irksome uphill

Ibis mojo? I use mine for exactly what you want it for. Now I just need a 120mm hard tail to compliment it

If I were you I’d be watching for the price of the Mega AM frames to drop a bit more.

AndyRT – Member
I used to have a nomad! and it felt far too much for the UK, where as Blur was very capable but more nimble. It depends upon what you want it for…

It’s re lily strong and very stiff, and goes up hill well too, where as the nomad really was irksome uphill
Just gone Heckler to Blur LTc with 160mm up front, amazing bike easily up there with 160mm frames tough and very very stiff.

yep, had that in mind, as the new 275 NP megas will be out soon, am watching CRC with interest for when/if they do their usual and shift old stock on a price drop or similar offer…

just need to find a demo ride first

the mojo… too spendy…
Andy the blur your shifting is in large, deffinately too small for me!
replacing a 130mm frame with a huge 26″ tt!

Yeah, I know it’s too small for you? Just saying is all….

Friend bought Cube Stereo and loves it. has taken that down CYM carn, Antur Stinniog and raced It at PORC, and it’s still in one piece….

Extra Large Yeti SB66 has a 26″ TT. But probably falls into the too spendy category?

Worth every penny though, I must add.

Sure I saw an XL SB66 on offer somewhere…. hang on

Yeti falls into the, if one shows up at a big discount possibility,.,
I’ve seen the long tt approach to their geometry and fits with what I’d want.

Tell a lie – it was an XL Mojo HD on offer. £549 off. Not bad.

http://www.moosecycles.com/m6b0s26p1630/IBIS_CYCLES_HD_160_2012-13

And the SB66 with £400 off

http://www.moosecycles.com/m6b0s26p1564/YETI_SB-66_A_2013

This any good? (Link)

That yeti has just thrown a spanner in my own works! Was planning on a 2nd hand nomadC for a very similar price…but the yeti…always wanted one.