Shortish travel bike for fun (trails and 4x)

So I’m thinking of building up a fun shortish travel bike just to have fun on doing some 4x, trails etc.

I’ve been looking at 4x frames as they seem perfect for this (the long versions for that extra versitility), commencal meta 4x, transition double, santa cruz blur 4x, banshee rampant, and they all seem to be around the £400-600 mark which is a fair bit for a second hand frame.

Then I spotted the Nukeproof Rook which is about £640 on CRC for a new frame. It is classed as slope style frame, but you can play with the geometry by changing fork length (110mm-160mm) and you can get a long version.

Has anyone any opinions on the above frames or even the NP Rook? (which is rather tempting considering thats new rather than second hand)

The rook is an excellent frame and surprisingly versatile if you like lively, playful bikes.

I’ve ridden a rook at Antur Stiniog and it was great. It’s burly so will take the hits but, stable on the rough stuff but has a very responsive, lively feel to it.

A great do-all bike in my opinion. It’s going to be my next build.

That’s good to hear. Would you recommend the longer frame size for extra versatility? (I’m about 5′ 10″)

Any chance of getting a dropper post to fit on one?

Yeah, the large is still small. If you were going for pure dirt jumping, slope style type riding then you’d get away with the small but for extra versatility and some climbing capability go for the large. I’m 6’3 so no matter what i was always going to opt for the large.
Can’t remember what the size of the seat tube is but as far as I can remember there isn’t any cable routing for a dropper but zip ties can resolve that. I’d double check on the dropper post thing with CRC or NP first.

Yeah, I might do that. I’m not too worried about having to cable tie a dropper post cable. As long as I can fit a dropper post that when extended will be the right height for me that’s all that matters.

I’m only about 5′ 10″ so a long is probably a good fit.

I had a quick look about and I see a set of xfusion slants with travel adjust 160mm to 130mm which look like a great match for this frame.

For anyone else into this type of bike, I have a Kona Howler frame for sale…

Thanks!

Anyone else ridden one of these frames?

I’ve been looking at the sizing chart for the rook and it has the regular size frame for 5’3″ – 5’11” (inside leg 28″-32″) and the long frame for 5’11” – 6’7″ (inside leg 32″-36″).

As I’m 5’10” that puts me on the top end of the regular size. The inside leg measurements make no sense for this frame as the seat tube length is the same on both sizes, and the only real difference being the top tube (TT effective 576 vs 596) which affects reach. (401 vs 421)

As this is primarily a slopestyle frame I’m assuming that that means the sizing is designed to be smaller.

I have a meta 4x from 2010 (I think) and its so much fun. I’m only 5’6″ and its a bit on the small side for me, so think about going larger if you get one.

Hi, I have recently bought one of these frames and I’m waiting for a few more parts to build it, could anyone explain how I fit the headset with the dummy gyro spacer ? How is it laid out ? Thanks.

Dmr bolt?

Someone posted this earlier…

http://outlet.upgradebikes.co.uk/Outlet/Clearance/Frames/DMR/DMR-Bolt-Long-2

I went through this a month or so ago and I ended up getting an Orange Blood as it’s not too specific a frame. Im very happy with it too as it rides much better than I imagined it would.

fd3chris – Member
I went through this a month or so ago and I ended up getting an Orange Blood as it’s not too specific a frame. Im very happy with it too as it rides much better than I imagined it would.

I’ve looked at the Orange blood but those frames aren’t easy to come by and are very expensive when they do.

I’ve got a Rampant, it’s a great fun bike but can be a struggle as an all-rounder as you can’t fit a front mech. Mines a short (I’m 5′ 8″) with a 50mm stem and with 1×9 steep climbs are a bitch 😀 +more for technical climbing. Just gone 1×10 with 2 lower climbing gears, but not used it yet – hoping I won’t have lost too much in the smaller cogs. Quite a lot of the struggle is down to a short reach, but I’ve survived the climbfest of the Dyfi Enduro on it.

I looked through loads of similar and the only ones that ticked all the boxes for me were this and a modern Spesh SX, but seeing as they don’t come around too often rampant it was. Costly and does have some bushings issues (although not very bad), but suspension design is v. good in the chop & for pedalling and does drops & jumps nicely. Very strong for its weight. Descends well, but with a pretty short wheelbase there are times when I’ve felt I’m approaching going a little too fast. SX is claimed to be more stable; Rampant to have more pop.

Would love to have a go on some similar bikes to see how they compare – have seen few frames come up at decent prices, but it’d be an expensive waste past-time 🙂 Most tempted by Meta 4xs – seen a few recently & think they can take a front mech…

The Meta 4X is tempting but long frames don’t come up often and once again they are very costly.
Last one I saw was £600 for a 2009 long frame. That’s only £40 less than a brand new 2013 Rook frame from CRC.

The most fun bike I’ve ever ridden is a Morewood Ndiza ST. Goes round corners like… something that goes round corners really well.

I would recommend, and it so happens that I’m going to sell mine to help fund a house move – none of my local riding really suits it :'(

Despite the rarity and cost, I’d recommend a Blood as well. A riot of a bike to ride. Keep wanting to find an excuse to add one to my collection!

Is that Morewood the one with the adjustable pivot?

I had a Blur 4X and it was as good as the hype suggests. They tend to be ~£400 which is pretty damn good value for money IMHO. That said, it had its downsides:
a) they eat bearings. A lot of bearings. And bushings so get yourself a bushing and bearing kit.
b) my medium felt quite cramped on longer rides even for me at 5’8″

But, it was a 30.9mm seattube so dropper compatible and worked well setup 1×9.

I fancied a change to something a little more suited to longer rides and had wanted a Five for ages and I’m glad I changed. Went from a medium 4X to a 16″ 2012 Five (the slack one with the taper headtube, maxle rear end etc) and angles wise I think it was pretty much exactly the same but with an extra inch in the top tube and 2″ on the wheelbase. Feels as good in the air and mucking around but so much more stable as the speed picks up.

Don’t rule out smaller trail frames like that…

It’s strange that they don’t seem to make these bikes anymore.
If there were new updated versions e.g. if the Orange Blood with a tapered compatible head tube and 30.9mm seat tube I would definitely be considering it as a possible new frame purchase.

Maybe I should be looking more at the Transition Double, as it meets the above so gives greater component compatiblity. Looking at the geometry/frame measurements it is reasonably similar to the NP Rook, so that would probably make the Rook the wiser purchase.

That Morewood looks awesome.

Real shame there arent more around.

I have a Blood as my main bike and it is my favourite bike since my last favourite! 😉 Great fun and quite versatile with an adjustable fork, it loves to jump!

I’m after something similar to match up to a set of pikes I’ve been hoarding… Just want something that is a blast to ride and not a massive chore to pedal back up.

Another Blood owner here too. Amazed they stop making them. Rook and Bolt look fantastic value now however. Whatever you end up with it is bound to be huge fun.

Specialized sx 2003 supercross for those that remember. …… 😀

The only thing that really holds me back from the Bolt is the BB pivot, which will make the pedally bits a bit of a pain especially if it starts to get steep and you try to put some power through the pedals.

I’m not sure how well the Rook’s suspension layout works but it looks similar to the the layout they use on their Mega frames and they seem to work ok.

Maybe I should just give up and buy something like an orange five, throw a 50mm stem on it, travel adjust forks and go that route (Wouldn’t be miles away from the Morewood above).
A medium frame with a short 50mm stem like that could help make it pretty chuckable.

BB pivot frames don’t bob as much as people who’ve never ridden them say they do. They do however benefit from smooth pedaling and a wobble ring chainring.

The only reason I got rid of mine was it was too heavy & too short. Other than that it was a beast

… I still have a 2003 Specialized SX … still just as awesome as ever 🙂

The only thing that really holds me back from the Bolt is the BB pivot

Loads of these kinds of frames have a concentric BB – it was something that made me rule out a lot of potentials. As thepodge says though I’ve never ridden one 🙂 I defnly mash the pedals at the start of descents and wouldn’t mind experiencing the real-world difference and knowing if I’d feel like I was on a pogo-stick.

Maybe I should just give up and buy something like an orange five, throw a 50mm stem on it, travel adjust forks and go that route (Wouldn’t be miles away from the Morewood above).

In my experience there’s a huge difference between how a dedicated 4x frame and a five will handle.

A 4x frame will be very, very nimble and ‘snappy’ for want of a better word – bordering on twitchy. A five will feel much more stable, but much less manoeuvrable.

Whether that’s a good or a bad thing depends on exactly what you want to use it for I guess.

Blur4x is probably my favourite ever frame. Really regret selling my last one. The only thing that I’d have changed- if you stood upto pedal and happened to be on rough-stuff it got unsettled. I think the VPP version II sorted the tiny niggles of the early VP?

One thing that is bothering me a bit is the lack of good (relatively cheap) 1-1/8″ straight steerer forks availabe these days, which alot of these frames only support.

As I said earlier in this thread I reckon a set of Xfusion Slants 160-130mm travel adjust would be a great fork for a potential fun trial bike like this, but it only comes in tapered.

Meta hip-hop?
cove hooker
and yep, Specialized SX (not trail)
saw one on ebay u.s. not long ago, lokked weird with dropper and seat up, but they sound spot on. i’m stuck on the meta hip-hop at the mo.

pivot m4x, 66.5 ha, 12.5 bb. 120 font, 100mm rear comes in long and short but rare and expensive.
unfortunately it has sat in the corner unused for a year… hopefully soon

160-130mm travel

The handling could be gash at 160. Have coil Pikes (shortish a to c) and at 140 my bike’s only good for drops, for anything else 100 – 120 is great.

pivot m4x

Ooo you beauty! If you happen to be flogging that at any time I’d sell my children for it 🙂

Rob Hilton – Member
160-130mm travel
The handling could be gash at 160. Have coil Pikes (shortish a to c) and at 140 my bike’s only good for drops, for anything else 100 – 120 is great

When I first spotted those forks I was looking at the specs of the NP Rook which is designed around 110mm – 160mm (head angle is 69-66 degrees).

Looked at the Pivot M4X but that’s way too much money for me for just a frame.

Looked at the Commencal Hip Hop frame suggested above as well and its rather expensive as well, though about a grand cheaper than the pivot lol.

There’s no way it’ll do that range of travel comfortably, the frame may be strong enough, but it’ll have been designed at 110; increasing the length of the forks will have a noticeable impact.

Rob Hilton – Member

There’s no way it’ll do that range of travel comfortably, the frame may be strong enough, but it’ll have been designed at 110; increasing the length of the forks will have a noticeable impact.

I’d say you’re probably right. This is what the Nukeproof blurb says;

The geometry of the Rook is optimised for a 110mm travel fork giving a 13” BB height and 69-degree head angle. Running the frame with a 160mm fork raises the BB to 13.75” and slackens the head angle to a trail-taming 66 degrees.

Rampants are ace fun. I just sold mine as had a bike cull of big bike/small bike to just 1 mid travel bike.

I am 5.9 and had a short with dual position pikes at 110/140 so made climbing OK…

went round corners like nothing else and really nimble…

shame I sold it really as perfect for riding here in the Surrey Hills.

We’vn mainly been talking about 4x abd slopestyle bikes that can work for doing some trails, but to look at this from a different angle, (and hopefully find more frame possibilities) what trail bikes are snappy, lively and not hopeless doing a bit of dual slalom/4x fun?