For my 30th birthday I’m looking at getting a nice hardtail frame, but I’m looking for something ‘a bit special’.

I’m drawn towards getting a custom Curtis XC Reynolds built exactly how I’d like, but I’m trying to keep an open mind before blowing such a large amount of cash. I’d like to get something a bit different from the norm, which fulfils the following…

Suitable for 100 – 130mm forks
Not too slack geometry – will possibly be raced
Fairly lightweight
Currently open minded about the material its made from (but do like my current Inbred)
Plenty of chainstay clearance (Don’t want to blow lots on a frame to have it destroyed by chainsuck)
Decent warranty
Something I don’t see on the trails every week…
Up to £900

Any suggestions?

Shand.

Enigma are doing custom steel hardtails now IIRC, Curtis are nice and your supporting a small business, Dave Yates will do something for that money also

I love my curtis, like the work that enigma are doing too, tempted to get them to build me a road bike

Thanks for the links so far… hadn't heard of Shand, but their stuff looks good. Keep em coming!

18 Bikes?

APF

Doesn't have to be custom, I'm also open minded to off-the-shelf stuff.

I really like the Cotic Soul, but just worry about chainsuck (chainstay clearance looks very similar to my inbred).

If you're going to spend £900 on a frame, then splashing out on new steel deore chainrings once a year to avoid chainsuck seems good value = ;87)

Take a look at the Ventana El Chiquillo.

If you can srounge together a little more cash, then you could go on Dave Yates framebuilding course and make your own fillet brazed frame…. WIsh I had the time/money to do this myself!

Hmmm, got 3 years to grind the wife down for an Enigma Custom Ti frame for my 30th.

Kelvin = If you're going to spend £900 on a frame, then splashing out on new steel deore chainrings once a year to avoid chainsuck seems good value = ;87)

Already do that, and plan to continue to do so. More chainstay clearance can only be a good thing though. I only ever run up to 2.1" tyres, so don't need huge tyre clearance.

That Enigma Ti frame seems pretty well priced when you compare it to a Cotic Soda etc.

I love the look of the Whyte hardtails, but the framesets don't seem to be available seperately…