Saracen, would you?

Apologies for the hijack.. but Ive been looking at new frames recently to replace my old Trek Fuel EX7 (2009). This looks a cracking frame and the 2014 one is available for around £700 with shock.
Just wondering if all my old stuff from the Trek would go fit nicely on this frame:

I gather I could get my 1/8″ sektors into a tapered headset but cant find the seatpost dia anywhere (would like to re-use reverb if I can)

If your looking at freeborn, they have been fantastic with me, they sent me a hope adapter for the headset, the frame comes with qr back end 135mm bolt through and 142 bolt thru options a fsa no 9 headset (not fitted) and a seat clamp. The post size is 30.9mm.

Excellent, thanks for the info….

My 12x is available for demo if anyone want to try one in the Midlands.

UR BIK IS SARACING

*Only the old school riders will understand this

No – The old school was 10-15 years before that, and probably read the Crane’s book about riding (ok carrying) them up Kilimanjaro. Still got my proper Kili-Flyer in the attic – 1990 ish vintage in fillet brazed Tange Prestige, Deore II groupset (when Deore was basically mat finish XT), Farmer John & John’s Cousin tyres. Sigh. I got my first in 1989 and they were damn nice bikes for the time.

They were still making some quite nice steel and ti bikes up to about 1997 ish I think.

I do like the look of the new ones to have as an Alipne holiday type of bike – especially as just realised I still seem to be riding modern bikes made out of fillet brazed steel…..

My first MTB (in 1993 or 1994) was a Saracen.
Sahara Elite in gloss black. Got me well and truly into MTBing and eventually I upgraded to a Kili Ultra Ti (in about 1997/1998).
Lovely raw titanium finish.

I sold that a little while ago but I’d certainly have another, their new bikes look stunning. Yes, they had their truly shit supermarket special range for a few years but I think the brand has made a real comeback.

Ah, sigh. Those Z-Max tyres were so good at picking up mud.

Ive got a 2012 Kili Flyer. It’s one of the nicest bikes I’ve ever seen and a fantastic ride.

42/365 by PeterPoddy[/url], on Flickr

Ah, sigh. Those Z-Max tyres were so good at picking up mud.

Not z-Max’s, those tyres are Tioga Farmer Johns. (Might be the nephew one?)

Name wouldn’t put me off but this years colours would (yes I know that doesn’t really matter but….)

I loved my Zen,it has now moved on to my nephew, but I would like it back when he has grown out of it. I done a mini review here.

Going back off topic…..exactly like Skoda. Started off good, went through a rough patch, most people didn’t know about the good bit and now they’re good again. 🙂

I’d go for a stealth look for sure. Got me a demo ride for the weekend, if all goes well I’ll seriously start haggling.

Would

Definitely would

😉

Demo’d the Ariel 152 today, can’t fault it at all. Well, the 1x might have to be a 2x but apart from that…

Going to go and check the sofa for spare change.

Not sure the Skoda comparisons are fair. More Mercedes, if you ask me. Yes, seriously…..bear with me!

Back in the day, Saracens were the bikes we all wanted. Beautifully built, reassuringly expensive but not silly money. They had the best paint in the business, a brilliant after sales team and were perfectly specced for each use. Think Merc W123.

Then, the Stanforths bought the company, bent it over a desk and had their wicked way with it, producing the abominations that were posted on the previous page. Think mid-school shitter of a C-class. Built to a price point and fell apart.

Now, they’re back. Making great bikes with real thought and care. Look at a modern E-class. Almost perfect.

Skoda were screwed by communism. Saracen were screwed by idiots. Thankfully, both brands are back where they should be.

My 16x arrived today. Looks nicely made and has built up to be a little lighter than I expected.

It will get a good shakedown ride tomorrow and I’ll post my thoughts then.

I have a 2015 Saracen Myst pro, it’s a fantastic bike, I would recommend it to anyone who is into downhill

My cousin has got that exact bike that nach posted. He bought it back in the day and rarely used it. It’s still got the original Z max tyres on it. I bought my first Saracen around the same time, a protrax which I later upgraded to a Killi pro. Ah! Them were the days!

I’d have an ariel or kili I reckon, shame they seem a bit overpriced.

First ride on the 16x today. Built up with Lyriks and 1×10 drive.

Initial impressions, for those interested, are that the frame feels as solid to ride as it looks. With the steep seat tube the bike pedals much better than I expected. The 60mm stem I have on it is too long for me with the 630mm TT and is pulling me too far forward on the bike, but I expected this and always planned to order a 40mm for it.

The suspension is very active and the CTD BV shock that came on it doesn’t seem to be up to the job. Reading the opinions of others on this shock I half expected this would be the case. I like a firm feeling setup and in order to get this I have had to run the shock in the Climb setting on number 2 trail adjust. I’m concerned that long term this would damage the shock though. The simple fact is that compression wise its way under damped for me. I’ll send it to TF Tuned sooner or later and get it Push tuned to my liking.

Once I have a shorter stem and have my riding position nailed I can tell I’m going to love it. Having the shock Pushed will finish it off nicely.

Oh and no sign of play in the linkage. Hope it stays that way.

You can pick these frames up for under £700 at the moment, which IMHO is a pretty good deal for a very capable frame.

run the shock in the Climb setting on number 2 trail adjust

Thought the trail adjust only worked on the trail setting?

Another hijack on this one…. How are the sizing’s on these frames (Ariel 14X)?
My old trek was an 18.5/19.5v and always felt a bit short for me. Looking at the Ariel 2014 frames they do a 15, 17, 19 & 21″. I’m 6’2″ and a lot of online ‘frames size guides’ say I should be on a 21 ” frame… Anybody got any advice to throw at me. Obviously it would be nice to go and sit on one but as its a 2014 frame I’m looking at, this might be difficult.

Thought the trail adjust only worked on the trail setting?

Good question. Have to admit I didn’t RTFM.

It didn’t seem to make much difference either way. Been in touch with TF and will get it Pushed.

BFITH

I’m 6 foot with a longish reach on a 19″ 16x, if that helps.

*Only the old school riders will understand this

Call that old school?

Back in the day, Saracens were the bikes we all wanted. Beautifully built, reassuringly expensive but not silly money. They had the best paint in the business, a brilliant after sales team and were perfectly specced for each use. Think Merc W123.

Then, the Stanforths bought the company, bent it over a desk and had their wicked way with it, producing the abominations that were posted on the previous page. Think mid-school shitter of a C-class. Built to a price point and fell apart.

The Stanforths owned it from the around 85 onwards, just after the Cranes went up Kilimanjaro, so all the good mid-late 80s and into the 90s stuff was under their ownership. It went a bit wrong in the Halfords years.

Agreed that Madison are doing a good job now, a chap at work has a 650b Ariel and loves it.

Going back 3 yrs I was all up for one of these. Never did, still would:

It went a bit wrong in the Halfords years.

They supplied bikes to Halfords long before they went bab in the late 90’s. They used to badge up one of the other bikes (Usually Tufftrax level) as the Eiger to sell in Halfords. I’ve got a 1989 Tufftrax and also had a 1989 Eiger that was exactly the same apart from the top tube sticker.

where you based BFITH? got a large 14X you can swing a leg over if you in Wiltshire.

Hi there BFITH, I’m 6 2″ and ride a 21″/XL, that’s the size my Kili in the picture I posted earlier is.

It’s got good standover due to the dropped top tube and the length means I can run a 50 mm stem although I’m toying with the idea of trying a 40.

I wanted a bike I could ride a bit of distance on so I wanted the reach but also wanted a stubby stem for handling and it seems to have worked out well.

If you’re thinking of getting an Ariel for uplifts and push-up/hoon-down duties then you maybe better with the 19″ but if you’re planing on doing any distance or climbing I’d go for the 21″, otherwise you’ll have to ran a bit of a donkey-todger stemwise to get a comfortable reach.

I think around 1998 they decided to go rad, offshored production and became saracin.

this was the year I bought a tufftrax.

http://www.rideandrepair.co.uk/Retrobike/Saracen_1996.pdf

compare and contrast

http://www.rideandrepair.co.uk/Retrobike/Saracen_1998.pdf

I’ve got a 1989 Tufftrax and also had a 1989 Eiger that was exactly the same apart from the top tube sticker.

Didn’t realise they were sold there that long ago. I don’t think Halfords were a reason for the srcin stuff btw. Saracen just struggled in the mid/higher-end MTB market them, so did Muddy Fox, Ridgeback, all UK brands that made great bikes early on.

Hatter – thanks for the info. Would be using it for everything really. Mostly trails around the local area, the occasional trip to a trail centre and Alps for a weekend each year.
21″ might be the way forward

MTB Rob – thanks for the offer but im in west Yorkshire….

I got the 17″ Kili Flyer 122 in the end. First ride was at Llandegla on Saturday and it was great fun. Climbs particularly well and it felt solid on the descents (and in the air).

I was quite surprised at the attention it got while in the bike stands, maybe it was because I left the wheel reflectors on in my haste to ride 😳