What would you consider if looking for the above.

Thinking XC based max 100mm travel.

Would need to be available as frame only.

How about a Titus X-Carbon.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FRTITXCARB/titus_x_carbon_frame

those titus frames are fairly awesome.

Budget? Many are available, but often crazy expensive. Trek Top Fuel is over £3000…

sometimes cheaper to buy a complete bike and sell the bits on than buy frame only from the major brands.

Anthem X, although when I last looked it was as cheap to buy the base one and sell off the bits.

Definitely worth looking at whole bikes and selling bits! You can get a carbon Spark for a reasonable amount, just flog the bits.

For racing or for fun? If the second then the Santa Cruz Superlight is pretty cheap compared to many.

# Cue STW hoard criticising weight / design yahda, yahda, waffle.. #

Carbon Spark is lovely, and cheap as a full bike – but run with 120mm forks… unless you like pedal strike.

Blur XC?

Def need to know more – I bought a turner Flux when on a similar shopping mission; partly for the price at the time but mainly because I was after something a bit racey for the odd event but more for everyday stuff and the flux can be built up a little burly when needed. Mine now has 2 personas with two sets of wheels, forks and bars and feels like two different bikes dependig and who I’m riding with and what I’m up to.

If I was still a racing snake I’d struggle to look beyond the spark (although as said above, it might be better to buy as a complete bike)

I really, really like that Titus…

There’s always the option to buy a Spesh Camber and sell the bits on Ebay. The entry level bike is ludicrously cheap.

If I was still a racing snake I’d struggle to look beyond the spark

Need to ride it though – I just don’t really like the way they pedal, you need to use the TracLoc lots to get the most out of it IMO.

There’s always the option to buy a Spesh Camber and sell the bits on Ebay

Pretty basic frame as well though, not really on par with Spark/Blur XCc etc, depends what the OPs thinking of…

Scott Spark
Spesh Camber
Cannondale Rize 120
Merida 120XT 😆
Trek Rumblefish or EX 9.8 😆
Cube AMS 100
Felt Edict
Ghost Lector

As some above have said I would buy whole bike and either ride till bits wear out or swap bits I want to. Currently needing to renovate my bike which is getting on abit and it would be almost as cheap to by something new 🙄

Happy googling 😆

Scott Spark
Spesh Camber
Cannondale Rize 120
Merida 120XT
Trek Rumblefish or EX 9.8
Cube AMS 100
Felt Edict
Ghost Lector

If we’re being picky, OP said

Thinking XC based max 100mm travel.

And with the exception of the Cube and the Felt (and possibly the Ghost?) they’re all 120mm+.

The Spark is fair enough, as it’s still more of a racey bike, but the others are more trail.

My list would probably be more like:
Spark
Epic
Scalpel
Top Fuel
ASR-SLc
Blur XC

120mm?? is that classed as short travel these days??

Ive still got a Giant XTC EX which runs at 80mm travel i thought that was short travel, my P7 runs at 125mm i thought that was mid travel?

120mm?? is that classed as short travel these days??

The lines are blurred. There are a lot of hardtails running 80mm forks, but for full suss bikes 120mm does look like the sweet spot at the moment.

If you’re tall is (prolly 6’+) I’d do just the frame:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-xl-giant-trance-maxle-rebas

Not as nice as some of the above…but a lot cheaper.

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102mm travel.

Thinking XC based max 100mm travel.

That Ventana is out then, and the Flux. The Ventana is 102mm and the Flux is 105mm 🙁

And the Blur is 105mm

I had a spark and hated it. The rear end snapped, was always loosening up, the pedal strike was a pita and it rode s..t . Would not recommend one to anyone.

What about an sc superlight?

Njee+1, Spark needs an RP23 to make the best of it. Good compression damping, and heavy propedal really makes the bike excel.

Pedal strike is less of an issue with 120mm forks and voluminous tyres, with Propedal on it’s a non-issue.

bike that needs propedal = sh1t design ???

Not really, it’s efficient through the travel descending. It was designed around (as most Scott’s are) the DT Swiss Nude shock, which has Tracloc – so fully locked, traction and open.

For me the Spark’s the best descending bike I’ve had, and incredibly good going up.

But, it’s all opinion, and how the geometry and bike works for you – I had an Anthem last year as my race bike, and although the Maestro is probably the best suspension design for climbing and reducing pedal bob, it just doesn’t compare descending to something simple and efficient.

Santa Cruz Superlight – great all round for UK conditions: loads of mud clearance, low maintenance.

Anthem X complete bike for £900

http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/giant_anthem_x5.html

Sell the bits and upgrade the rear shock to RP2.

Funkydunc beat me to it.

You could use the bits to make a hack bike or build a cheap HT up for a mate.

I really didn’t get on with the spark I test rode. I ended up with an Anthem and it’s been great so far.

Thanks for all of the comments.

I should have really said under 120mm travel.

Plenty of good options for me to look at.

I understand the “buying a whole bike logic” on the basis of value but not convinced I would sell the bits!

but not convinced I would sell the bits!

I think people would be ‘gagging’ for the Alivio kit on that Anthem…

The thing is you could buy a complete Spark for less than the frame only option, so even if you didn’t sell anything it’d still be cheaper!

Most mainstream manufacturers will only offer their top tier frames as frame only, and otherwise you’re into the more ’boutique’ (for want of a better word frames) which are equally expensive. So… it tends to be the best way to do it.

Or just find a complete bike you like the look of and just get that!

Can’t believe no one has mentioned a :
Kona Hei Hei
Can buy frame(2010) only for £750 with a RP23 shock ( after a quick online search)
And the latest model for £900. Makes me wish I was in the market for a new 100mm frame 🙁

Even if you didn’t sell the bits, they’ve not really cost you anything and you’ve always spare for when stuff breaks, even if just a temp. spare.

Morewood Zula.

But shhhhh…. dont tell anyone else cos I would like one and dont want them to be too popular…

you could buy my commencal meta 4 for £200 – 100mm fun frame. climbs great and descends like it has a lot more travel.

I have a Yeti ASRsl frame that I am considering selling – size medium, carbon chainstays, one careful owner…

IMG_6586 by oxym0r0n, on Flickr