Its Friday: Long travel 26'' HTs …. Inspire me.

Despite sitting quite comfortably in the 29er xc type mincing category I have a longing for a LT (140mm+) 26in hardtail.

Thinking a Production Privee Shan 823 based wheels reverb etc.

Inspire me with pics of yours 8)

Curtis with 140mm Bombers;

[now has a 27.2 Lev fitted]

found a slightly better pic of the bike;

I love my Ragley… Wish it had a tapered steerer and a more dropped top tube, and OK maybe a wee bit more flex in the rear end but still, it is mint

IMAG0293 by Northwindlowlander[/url], on Flickr

Enduro racin

!cid_F784396A-976F-4E7E-943F-BCF8AFE71230@gateway_2wire by Northwindlowlander[/url], on Flickr

or XC racin

IMG_2719 by Northwindlowlander[/url], on Flickr

My short list was

Transition transam
Stanton slackline
Evil soveriegn

Went for none of them in the end! Got a stanton switchback instead at 650b as I already have a 26 FS

Got a stanton switchback instead

Have you built it up yet?

Waiting for my Switchback to come, Hopefully end of the month

My ti slackline is on here http://www.hardtailnation.co.uk/2014/07/south-wests-shredder-steve-death/ can’t post photos up as I’m stuck in the desert with shit Internet signal and just my iPhone! Love my slackline, it’s a beauty but I wouldn’t say no to a Shan either, very nice looking bikes and great geometry – the only thing that puts me off is the press fit bb which seems unnecessary

My Brodie Holeshot. Gone now, and I hope the new owner enjoys it as much as I did.

It lives! by NeilCain[/url], on Flickr

July mountain biking in the UK. #mud #wet by NeilCain[/url], on Flickr

Post-Dyfi Brodie by NeilCain[/url], on Flickr

Here’s my old Blue Pig. Sold the frame 12 months ago to fund a Spitfire but would definitely have another if I was in the market for a LTHT, although I do have a soft spot for the Privee Shan in Gulf racing colours:

Shan …

As mentioned, the BB is a pita, but that’s soon forgiven when you’re riding it.

I could post a photo of a Cotic BFe, but it’s probably not that inspiring really.

Oh, go on then. It now has X-Fusion Velvets in place of the coil Pikes.

Untitled by Rick T.[/url], on Flickr

My Ragley Ti – like Northwind’s but better…

No the switchback hasn’t arrived. I’m undecided how to do it just yet too. Probs some sort of 150mm lakes natural trail bomber, in current lingo “enduro lite”

Steel 456 with 120/150 revs.. I hated it in this guise, twas a divey, bucking mess.. Much better with 100mm travel for getting rad to the power of sik

another Shan here. It’s unbelievably good. I’d even say the BB isn’t that much of an issue TBH.

Run mine with 160mm lyriks and it’ll still do XC 😆

My ragley marley.

Got a new CB iodine 3 wheel set sat in the box for when I get around to it.

Evil Sovereign with 150mm, builds into a fantastic bike that’s as capable as a full suspension in most situations. The only negative is the straight steerer limiting fork choice.

I’ve just broke mine (mk2 Dialled Alpine), been offered a good deal by Mike but just considering others so the more pics the better!

Has anyone got a Mk3 Alpine, any good?

Another BFe. Currently at 130 but was equally good (if not quite as nimble) at 150.

Kent Eriksen
[/url]
image[/url] by Stew1978[/url], on Flickr

Any excuse! My Dartmoor Hornet with 150mm Pikes. Brilliant fun, climbs well at 150mm and absolutely flies down. 12mm rear means it’s pretty stiff on drops and probably helps in the corners too. That said, it didn’t destroy my body after a 40 mile day ride, so a good choice for whatever sort of riding you do.

My 456 sporting a set of 150mm Sektors. Bloody love it. Now reduced the mince and upped the enduro with a dropper.

My Slackline. Messed around with Fox 36 TALAS 160/130/100 but now converted to FLOATS at 140.

I want every bike in this thread

Gone but not forgotten…

(Dialled Alpine)

Mmmbop, now getting on a bit and batters me on long rides but I won’t be changing it any time soon…..

150mm c456, and here i am not using any of that travel:

😉

Hey Yunki I recognise those woods! Only one place in the world looks like that 😀
Yet another Ragley Ti – like BadlyWiredDogs but with a nice straight down tube 😉

Thought you might appreciate a wee video as inspiration as well Mark

http://nsmb.com/chromag-collectors/

Enjoy

A couple of my previous ones as well:

NS Surge with zocchi rc3ti 150mm forks

Dialled PA with u Turn 140mm pikes.

My Sov.
2013-10-01 14.05.10 by warpcow[/url], on Flickr
and enduroing:
_7D_7514 by warpcow[/url], on Flickr (photo by Aron Gooch).

I used to ride my old Blender with 140mm forks but it feels so much better with 120mm, I just don’t get long travel hardtails at all. Here’s my 2nd Blender, probably the best HT frame I’ve ridden. I want to try a Slackline though, this isn’t the best for climbing with a 67 degree seat angle and short tt. Still, I managed 28 miles round the Long Mynd with it so it can’t be too bad 😆

Here’s my Slackline.

Love this bike. It’s just fun to ride. It’s too small for me and not as fast as the Rune, but I just don’t care.

It replaced this.

Which was a good bike, but not one that I ever really gelled or clicked with.

I love long travel hardtails and if I can sell my Rune, I’ll happily live with a Skackline that actually fits me. I was gong to drink the kool aid and get a Switchback because it’s 650b and therefore future proofed but I’m going to bury my head in the sand, stick with 26 and get a Slackline Ti (if someone buys my Rune).

Just as everyone was starting to go all ‘Murdered out’ I decided to build an antidote. One year on and I still love my Dialled Alpine. Even more so now that it finally has a reliable fork!

^Whinlatter^

^Ulswater Bridleway^

^Helvellyn^

^Helvellyn^

^Lift from French to Swiss alps^

Wanted a Stanton Slackline but got this Ragley Blue Pig frame off here for £70, and I love it. Needs a black stem though. And the fork lowers painting…
It replaced an Orange Five but I think the Ragley is more fun.

[/url]Ragley BP by Adam Branston[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Thanks all.

An awesome set of bikes on the thread.

I would love a Stanton Slackline to accompany my Sherpa 29 but I think the 18″ would be too small.

Do you all run maximum travel all of the time?

No. My Prince Albert was mainly run at 95mm unless I was in the alps our somewhere similar. My surge was actually preferable with the longer travel – it had a very low bb. I have the pikes reduced to 130mm on my bfe.

So it depends on the bike really.