XC/bikepacking hardtail options?

Seeing as this thread popped up, may as well post an update.

I ended up getting a used Specialized Chisel Comp hardtail on ebay, stock apart from SID SL fork. I’ve since upgraded the wheels (DT 421/350), cranks+drivetrain (XTR/XT/SLX), brakes (XT), and post (PNW dropper). Happy with it so far!

Frame triangle is tiny (compared to gravel bike) so need to figure out how bikepacking works…

When I was looking into something for exactly that use (before I decided to go full suspension) I was looking for a Specialized Chisel hardtail.

Another one worth considering, in that case, is the Chisel’s trail bike cousin, the Fuse. A little bit slacker, adjustable dropouts, and 120-130mm on the front. I’ve got one (second hand) and hopefully will be using it with some friends this summer on a trip from Austria to the Italian Dolomites.
The only downer I’ve found with it is that the seat tube bottle bosses are rivnuts, which limits the length of dropper I can use to 180m on a medium. This is a consideration if you’re a shortarse like wot I am, possibly less of a problem on larger frames for larger people – not sure. Stack is possibly quite low for larger peeps, but that’s easily rectified with taller bars.
If sliding dropouts are important, note there are two versions of the frame – the spendier ones have sliders. They’re one of the more dependable sliding dropout designs I’ve used – really nicely thought out.

I can’t help thinking that if anyone other than Specialized had come out with this frame, people would be raving about it.

That is pretty smart.

I think the reason people may not be raving about it is that they probably don’t know it exists! I can’t remember the last time I saw a Specialized advert/marketing influencer video for one of their hardtails (Maybe the Chisel limited edition when they came out?). I think they’ve spent so many years pushing their full-sus bikes to “proper” mountain bikers and mainly offering budget/relatively generic hardtails at the non-exciting end of the spectrum to the general public they’ve probably created a bit of a stereotype for themselves in that market.

I have also been considering a full frame bag but I was concerned about side winds. Thanks

Never had an issue, but it’s got a bar bag and seat pack plus never going that fast 🙂

No idea how to post an image, is there an easier way than having to sign up to some app?

I can’t help thinking that if anyone other than Specialized had come out with this frame, people would be raving about it.

Has the same look as my Scandal, with an equivalent small triangle…

Another Chisel Comp owner here – got mine at pretty much half price last year when they were doing a load of discounting. It’s a great bike – fairly “no-frills” but it all just works perfectly! Agree with earlier comments about the lack of marketing on their entry-level & mid-range hardtails. Everything seems to be pushing full-sus, e-bikes or gravel now!

I’ve got a Tailfin Wedge frame pack, one of these:

Frame Bags

which I actually bought for my road bike (which it fits perfectly). It’s a bit of a squeeze into the MTB though because of that small triangle, even on the XL frame that I have. I reckon, especially if you have a smaller frame, you may need to go for the smallest in-frame bag and then rely on top tube, bar and saddle bags.

Had a whippet but found the handling a little too “flighty” for my iffy skillset and traded up

to a mason raw. Love the thing to bits and more bosses than you can shake several sticks

at

A bit late with this, but you might want to have considered the new Pedals Downshift (put together by the amazing guys in Pedals bikes in Bruntsfield). It’s pretty much exactly designed for what you are looking for and designed for the territory you mention: https://www.pedalsbikecare.co.uk/pages/pedals-downshift-titanium-hardtail

Nice bike — was recently featured on Pinkbike!