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I've decided that the time has come for me to get a SS specific frame, I've been using a tensioner with a Spesh hardtail for about 5 years. So far so good except I'm struggling to find SS specific frames that are currently available. Would rather a 29er than a 27.5, but I suppose I would consider the latter, I've never ridden this size bike though.
Not sure that On one still make SS frame?
Singular only doing Ti at the moment as far as I can see. I've found Chumba - $1.5k frame is too expensive, (also read some dodgy reviews of the brand?) likewise IF too expensive.
What else is there that I haven't found through googling? Ref budget, this doesn't have to be shoestring, but also not Chumba / IF price bracket.
thanks in advance for any help 🙂
I've been trying to find frames with horizontal/adjustable dropouts too, for an upcoming build later this year.
Kingdom vendetta - different options starting at 1350 euros. If you're going ti then this is the best imo. Even the full custom option (they'll do custom geo like an XL length with L ST/standover) with every option ticked is 1700 euros.
Stanton switch9er
Santa Cruz Chameleon
Trail or xc?
Few to think about:
Stooge Mk4, or any previous Stooges 2nd hand.
Pivot Les ss
Salsa Timberjack (no frames currently available in UK, as far as I'm aware).
Stanton - think all their frames take ss dropout, but it might need a qr rear hub??
Kona Unit - again don't think frame only available in UK.
Specialized Fuse - again don't think frame only available in UK.
Thank you for input, good point - I want an MTB not road / gravel etc.
Don't particularly want TI, but would consider cost dependent, also these frames / bikes need to be available in the UK.
I would also consider buying entire bike rather than frame only. So clink your suggestions where you say Frame only not available in UK, would whole bike be do you know?
I'm going with the obvious Stooge but if it's bouncy forks you want then the MK4 is rigid only I think.
For I think £800 (which is still a flippin great chunk of cash) you can get a Santa Cruz Chameleon which runs singlespeed. To date that was my favourite bike. It handled like a dream and did just about everything and was pretty much bomb proof but light.
Mentioned above but to add the chameleon builds into a really fun, versatile bike. It’s £670 for the alu frame, carbon more naturally
I do want suspension forks.... something else for the wish list! 🙂 thanks will look at santa cruz if they are available in UK. £800 is a lot, I think I would spend that if it was whole bike, not frame only though!
Although I will start googling all suggestions above later today, recognise I may have to revise my budget! 😀
I would also consider buying entire bike rather than frame only. So clink your suggestions where you say Frame only not available in UK, would whole bike be do you know?
Yep - Fuse and Unit. Timberjack I think so, but I don't think massive stock. Somebody on here brought one recently.
I e-mailed Trek yesterday to see if any plans to do another run of something similar to the Superfly ss frameset from 2015/2016, but it seems highly unlikely. On that note add Trek Stache to your list.
Shand Bahookie and BTR Chaser ss if you want custom.
Pipedream Sirius? https://www.pipedreamcycles.com/shop/29er-steel-hardtail/?v=79cba1185463
You can also get a frame with a PF30 BB shell and fit an EBB like https://wheelsmfg.com/bottom-brackets/ebb.html.
I wanted a new SS recently and ended up getting a geared frame and a tensioner since I couldn't find a SS frame that met my other requirements (light, slack, not too expensive).
I wanted a new SS recently and ended up getting a geared frame and a tensioner since I couldn’t find a SS frame that met my other requirements (light, slack, not too expensive).
What did you get and post a pic? 🙂
Genesis longitude has slidding dropouts.
I wanted a new SS recently and ended up getting a geared frame and a tensioner since I couldn’t find a SS frame that met my other requirements (light, slack, not too expensive).
*however you do the quote thing 😀 *
yes, see I am finding it a bit tricky too hence my thread. It feels to me like the SS heyday was a while ago, I always meant to get an on one but missed that boat a bit, I'd love a Singular swift too but steel, not TI.
It has been very helpful though seeing what else is available, brands I've never heard of or considered for SS so thank you all.
Pace RC529 has slideout dropouts so although not 'singlespeed specific' chain tensioning is easy and 'clean' looking.
Shand Bahookie Single
I would go for the latest Niner sir 9. Great Reynolds 853 frame and very versatile! Cool as bike.
Stanton Sherpa mk2 (current model). Can fit singlespeed rear dropouts and rides superbly
Nb My Sherpa is set up geared. For singlespeed I am still using my 12 year old Ti29er. Very happy with it.
What did you get and post a pic?
A Sonder Transmitter:
(Apologies for the mudguard in the pic - now removed for summer)
I love it! Running 27.5 wheels and 120mm fork. Alfine tensioner gives a bit of chain slap but fine otherwise.
Not cheap again but steel and SS. All city log lady https://allcitycycles.com/bikes/log_lady
Sonder Broken Road? Ti, but at the less expensive end.
If you're on facebook and don't mind second hand, find the "One Cog" group and ask on there. Decent chance of a Swift coming up!
And it's worth sending Sam @ Singular an email, he might have some steel Swift stock left.
You are limited to straight 1 1/8 steerer forks for the Swift, though
And I think some Stantons have dropouts available for SSing?
Trickstuff make the exczentriker (think that's right) so any BSA frame can also be SS'd without a tensioner.
Personally though, I'd just get the frame you want + tensioner. It's the cheapest and most versatile option. And just as reliable unless you're trying to run sprockets so worn the chain skips.
I think Niner still do some SS frames?
Stanton Sherpa mk2 (current model). Can fit singlespeed rear dropouts and rides superbly
With its 435mm chainstays and 67.5-degree head angle, the Sherpa 853 Next Gen is a serious mile-muncher with a geometry calculated to win races.
sounds great, and then I looked at the eye watering price, or maybe I was crying? 😉 have you got one?
Yes I have a Mk1 Sherpa, my second actually. This was mint and bought from a guy in france via Pinkbike for £200 with Headset and BB. So there are bargains about. You would need a mk2 though as can fit horizontal drop outs for SS. Superb frame, only let down by single bottlecage mount.
Think the Sherpa is what the Swift should have become had Sam kept making them.
Price? Meh! You deserve it
Personally though, I’d just get the frame you want + tensioner. It’s the cheapest and most versatile option. And just as reliable unless you’re trying to run sprockets so worn the chain skips.
that's what I have at the moment, I want the right dropouts to not need a tensioner. It does slip TBH and probably is worn. also no tensioner looks better 🙂
Price? Meh! You deserve it
haha! you're quite right, but £2,391.67 to £2,516.67 - In stock seems a little excessive, even when I deserve it.
That's more than big spesh cost with it's FS and everything, still going incidentally, but only just. Hence SS frame and then gears for the HT which is current SS.
Surly Karate Monkey ?
Ebay sometimes has interesting stuff, reckon that might work with 27.5 and a short travel fork. You'd need a fairly specialist rear wheel build tho.
If that's you Anna, and you go 26" I've got a spare set of Goldtec SS wheels you can have.
Personally I always think a single speed should be slightly bodged together.
Had few over the years, favourite is a 2souls quarterhorse, 142 rear on sliding dropouts
Definitely worth sticking a couple of ads up for a Swift and keeping an eye on eBay.
Do Pace still do something in steel with sliders?
It is me Rich, thanks for the link and the offer of wheels. had a quick look at the ebay frame, the problem with that I think would be not knowing if it was the right fit for me, it's M/L, prob too big.
Clink thanks for that Brother link, another brand I hadn't heard of. looks nice, price good, do you know if you can fit suspension forks?
I've got a nice list of bikes to look at over the weekend 🙂
haha! you’re quite right, but £2,391.67 to £2,516.67 – In stock seems a little excessive, even when I deserve it.
That's a full build not the frame. Frames are £560-680.
I've got a Mark 2 Sherpa set up singlespeed. It's nice works well. Not the cheapest frame but there wasn't a lot else that could take SS dropouts, bolt through or QR.
Clink thanks for that Brother link, another brand I hadn’t heard of. looks nice, price good, do you know if you can fit suspension forks?
Yep, 100mm I believe.
I have a Santa Cruz Chameleon V7 as my singlepeed, running a 130 mm fork and 29" wheels. Nice aluminium frame, LOADS of mud clearance. The geometry is more towards trail than XC, though I've used it for 12 hour XC solo events no problem. As said above, it builds into very capable, versatile trail bike that isn't too heavy. A mate has the Pipedream Sirrus 4G which is also nice, though a bit short in reach in my opinion.
A really nice bike to run singlespeed is a mk2 29er scandal if you get the track-end swap-outs. Cheap, light, rides well. I think someone in the main forum is trying to get one ready to sell too (nothing to do with me).
what's the difference between trail and XC? Is trail classed as being more DH or steep?
Short reach I guess short top tube? that would work for me as I use short risers on mens frames.
A really nice bike to run singlespeed is a mk2 29er scandal if you get the track-end swap-outs.
love that matte burnt orange! forgive my ignorance, what are track end swap outs? would they be fitted before I bought the frame?
mk2 scandals can take regular geared drop-outs or track end swap outs so the wheel goes in horizontally from the rear. You then use a tug-nut or other rearward tensioner to stop the wheel from moving forwards once your chain is perfectly tensioned. There has to be loads of swap-outs in sheds/parts bins so if you went for a scandal, just put a wanted ad out and i'm sure you would get a set.
Be aware that building from frame up can be expensive, this was supposed to use bits from the parts bin!
It has an EBB, but as pointed out above, the Wheels Mfg one fits into any BB30 frame. Though the EBB is more than £100, overall you're going to get a much wider choice of frame.
love that matte burnt orange! forgive my ignorance, what are track end swap outs? would they be fitted before I bought the frame?
That's the 'new' one, the mk2 looked like the mk1, but wasn't scandium anymore and had bolt on dropouts so you could swap to track ends. The new one doesn't.
I've got one (and planning to SS it for SSUK), it looks awesome, but up close it's the lumpiest paint job I've ever seen! Thankfully it's matt!
Have you thought about custom titanium from china? I had a quote from one of the big factories for about £750 inc shipping and duty, you can either go completely custom or just say I want to match a certain frames geometry but but with sliding dropouts.
I have a fully built medium 2013 chameleon if it's of any interest?
I'm running a current one. Not my most favourite bike ever. It's noticeably heavier than the 26er it replaced.
Running a regular frame with a chain device set up as a tensioner works very well IME.
Otherwise you can pick up a full build kona unit for about a grand.
I had an On-One Scandal Swapout before the Chameleon, it was good but had limited mud clearance and after riding a bike with more modern geometry, it felt way too short in the reach and was too steep in the head tube angle (i'm 6'4" tall so the more modern geometry has been very welcome). As far as I can tell Planet X (who own On-One) are no longer making the Swapout dropouts (they are selling off their current stock) so i'd be wary of getting an On-One Swapout frame.
Personally I prefer adjustable dropouts over EBBs.
Anna B how tall are you? Size small 2019 Kona Unit frame and rigid forks on sale here: https://shop.bikesandbuddies.co.uk/unit-frame-green-fork-multi-speed-d-o-hanger-small.html
Rich that looks lovely. another frame manufacturer I've not heard of. Been away from STW too long 😉
Have you thought about custom titanium from china?
I hadn't, I didn't even know that was a thing. Thanks for the info!
3,395 Shand Bahookie looks lovely but !!!
The looseone thanks for that, good info to know.
Anna B how tall are you? Size small 2019 Kona Unit frame and rigid forks on sale here:https://shop.bikesandbuddies.co.uk/unit-frame-green-fork-multi-speed-d-o-hanger-small.html /a>
I'm 5'9", My HT is 17" and FS medium, may be ok on a small 29er but it may be a shade too small. will check it out though, thanks.
will also check out the kona thanks Del. would then have a car and a bike with the same name, apparently a rude word in Portuguese.
Keep your eye out for an original Ritchey P29... They don't come up on ebay that often any more, but would be ideal for what you want. They also look amazing too!