Saracen Ariel 16x .. any good??

Seen a good deal on a 26″ frame £750
Fox Float 160mm CTD Kashima shock,and includes 142x12mm and 135x12mm dropout options plus FSA headset.

Anyone ridden one / own one?
Looks like this

Mate got a 14x LE for under £600 new from AMG Cycles, were on Ebay and did it a bit cheaper direct- may be worth phoning them, seems a nice frame and good service. Ask for Duncan (the boss)

AMG

ridden the 14x a mate owns and I own the 15x. both are utterly UTTERLY brilliant. not the lightest, but some of the best bikes out there for fun.

G/F got a 15X built up with pikes and liked from the start but a little bit of tweaking with stem lengths/bars/sus set up,now she really likes it.

I been building up a 14x for myself (taken longer than norm as been ill and busy) which is finished now, just need to get out and ride it!

A guy we were out at Ciclo with had one. It was beautiful: the shock linkage is properly nice. He was an amazingly good rider, but the bike made him a god. Very impressive.

I had a 161, which as far as I’m aware is an identical frame with a slightly less bling paint job. It’s a very sorted bike and I liked it a lot. Only very minor criticism are it isn’t the lightest frame and the pivots are bushings rather than bearings, so a bit of stiction in the suspension action. FWIW I sold my frame with quite a few extras for a lot less than £750.. Great ride though.

I believe the OPs deal is for a new one, given you can get a new full bike for 1100…

Yep its frameset only.. was just toying with the idea of getting a new 26″ frame as i cant afford to go 650b. Where can you get the full bike for £1100?

I had the first version of the new Ariels, when they were white and had round tubes.

Most fun bike I have owned and I would absolutely consider the 160mm version if I wanted a burly 26er.

Shock tune was rubbish on mine though, hope they have improved that.

Also worth checking if it takes a bulkier shock, I asked Saracen when I was considering buying a 16x myself – but they never replied.

Looks like the short of bike that would be good with a ccdb air or even coil.

Freeborn are willing to beat the price and offered me a frameset for £700
Dilemma of whether to buy?.. Will a get a better deal on something else?

Dilemma of whether to buy?.. Will a get a better deal on something else?

That’s a bit of a broad question. If you’re after a burly 160mm 26er then you’ll struggle to do much better. Just bear in mind my comment about shock upgrade compatibility above.

Freeborn may be able to advise on that, they are v helpful guys IME.

Anyone know what the difference between the normal 16x and Limited Edition ones? Just the paint job I assume?

Anyone got advice on sizing for these? I’m 5’11″…. wondering to go for 17″ or 19″, probably a 14x.

I’d go for a 19 if I were you. I’m 5’6″ and I’m riding a 17″ 14x.