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Am hovering between the Signal ti and the Broken Road, and wonder if anyone tried both before buying? I'm 6'3 so edging towards the 29er Signal, but if anyone has a view on anything else I should consider, please tell! Thanks all
I’m 6’3 and have a signal ti as it happens. Didn’t try either, just took a punt on xl signal frame. Really like it. It’s long enough, but not too stretched out with a 50mm stem - so modern geometry but not radical. I’ve got a 165mm crank brothers dropper on it, and there’s tons of space for it. Got a few spacers under stem as I’m running flat bars and didn’t want it too low given first serious outing was Strathpuffer and. The slackish head angle feels good without being slow steering. Got 120mm pikes on it. Rides very nicely indeed. Was running 2.6 tyres with plenty of room, but got ice spikes on from puffer just now.
Think the broken road is more traditional geo, and not so suited for wide tyres, etc. broken road also has mounts for guards/rack iirc, signal doesn’t. For me the signal made more sense. I’ll be using it for bikepacking with various bags.
Not really what you’re looking for in terms of perspective, but I don’t think you’ll go too wrong if you go for the signal.
I also considered various whytes, cotics, stantons, SC chameleon etc. But in the end liked the spec of the signal and the price was great (with alpkit 20% off sale).
Hi Bob - great, thanks for the info - I'd be looking at an XL too. I'm long in the body for my leg length/height, so was a bit concerned about having to add a long stem to fit so the ride didn't feel too cramped. Am also going to be bikepacking so had originally thought the Broken Road was an obvious fit/geo, but the 650s put me off tbh as I'm currently riding 29. You haven't found the Signal too much a 'play' bike to be a good all-dayer/bikepacker then? As usual, I'm looking for the 'perfect' all-in-one bike, which I know doesn't really exist, but the Signal seems pretty close so far 🙂
Not much help, but the one in the hathersage store looks lovely!
Yes, doesn't it just! Checked it out this afternoon 🙂
I have been thinking about a Signal Ti for a while too, and was deciding between that and a steel Onza Jackpot, how often do Alpkit have sales and are the bikes included?
I bought a small Signal frame in the sale. I sourced all the components, because being short (5' 4"),there were a few changes i needed to make. Living on the South Downs, and with most of my riding in the South of England it was important that the bike pedaled well.....which it does.
It is the sort of bike that is equally at home swinging off the chandeliers or lying back thinking of England! it can be very playful with very little effort or can be just wheels on the ground.
I'm 68 and find it a lot easier to get airbourne than my Soul 26. I like the 29" wheels for traction,rollover and a bit of extra speed, with no disadvantages that i have discovered.
Neil Cottam is riding one in Nepal at the moment, some pics on his blog
www.chasetherainbow.co.uk
A chance to ride here:
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Definitely suitable for all day riding, and all night too at ‘puffer! That said, I did do the west highland way in a day on my s150 before I got the signal, so my definition of “all day bike” is pretty flexible! I’d choose the signal for that ride now.
If you’re very long in the back the reach might be a little less that you would like. Depends how long you want it. I’m about a 33” inside leg and it seems right for me. Wouldn’t want it shorter I don’t think, but it’s definitely not cramped. A 60 or maybe 70mm stem would be ok I reckon (though so uncool) for xc type duties if you wanted more.
I went with both .... l Front end of a Signal with the back end of the abroken road .... in 29 plus mode obviously 😂😎
Good info all, thankyou for the detailed replies. Am going to book a Signal test ride this week, seems like the most sensible option as they're only just down the road anyway. I've been used to a fairly stretched out Whyte 729, so maybe I just need to get used to riding something a little more compact - ie get up to date! Similarly with the bar width - had a trundle round the shop and it felt like a cruise ship...
Brotherofsteve - interested to hear how you got on and what you ended up with?