£100 more now mind with droper post guides and a tweeked shock tune but id pay that for the polished alone

must be good, the dealers I’v contacted are still trying to hold out full price on the 010’s, even with the other goodies I need as well not a great deal of movemnt..

Doesnt any one know how to have a good old fashioned deal up anymore?! Good to see the recession’s over though! :roll:

new colours due on the covert around april with 011 models.
orange/ black / polished :-)

Hush now Sancho..I dont need to be hearing things like that!!!

Heckler is great if your not much of a tweeker.. I sold several in a former life..

If you do like to play with settings or you like to fiddle becuse you just cant leave things alone can you :oops: the price goes over for shocks with knobs an levers

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/internet.htm

I dont hink the above link was the same point I started from the other day when trying to work out import duty and Vat but it might point you in the right direction..

Unfortuately its not totally clear (suprise suprise from HRC) as I struggled to find the list for what code a bike frame would fall under for import duty but I worked off the higher average given of 10% (though it could be less or more than this) of the combined purchase AND shipping cost as directed. Im assuming you then have to ad the vat on top but please be aware I’v not importedany higher value goods before so could be working it out slighty wrong. Either way I dont think the El Gupo with shock is going to sneek in under the magic grand.

I’d kind of given up intrest at this point so I didnt bother checking the correct size and tune’s but CRC do have various 2010 Monarch 4.2 shocks in diffent tunes for around the £180 mark at the moment. I havent bothed doing the maths but you might be able to bring in the fame only, then buy the shock from CRC if they have the right one to get a better price but – I doubt theres much in it by the time bushings are included..

Im trying to keep my buy under a 2k frame fork front wheel(idealy back wheel to match) combo..
Not so easy when you like 36’s!

Any one know much about the new RS sectors in that are they looking like the new pike? I could make a very nice frame work with a set when I admit to myself I dont need new fox 36’s with their new sliper gold stanchions……. LT 2010 Blur on Leisure lakes for example at £1400..

i dont need 36’s i dont need 36’s i dont need 36’s i dont need 36’s i dont need 36’s….

Trying to make exactly the same descion.

Had an El Guapo on order but I had a snout on the HM R&C site and I think you will find buy the time the vat and import tax is added they will be closer to £1200 all in.

Dont thinks the Head angle is deamed a problem because the slighty lower BB compensates.

I canceled because I just cant make my mind up! Seems its very capable frame and light for its strength but I just could’t fall in love with its looks.. Maybe just a bit too flash for me it that makes any sense!

I know im not the best rider at the “Rad and Gnarly!” end of the spectrum and considering I’m planning on hanging some nice kit on a frame as if Im going to do it once I might as well do it properly, Im trying to avoid that old bloke/ flash over biked image!

I like the coverts because I dont think they scream look at me and looks like a nice alrounder.. Back in the day I used to use my old GSpot for everything including XC so Im not adverse to carrying more weight than needed!
Mega’s nice, I like it a lot its light and good value but it wont run a triple(spells 10 speed on the horizon!) and means adding new back wheel to my list of new front wheel, forks and head set.

Seen the meta 55 carbon factory kits for £2,000 which in reality would more than meet my needs. I tell myself that french fellows won the mega on one ffs!

Decisions decisions!!!

Black Chilli seems to roll noticably better than any other brand I’ve tried. Small block 8’s Maxis exeption cromarks/ aspens racing ralphs evo’s still dont feel as fast as 2.3 speed kings with chilli. They have to be run hard, 50 psi but to be a fair comparison I tried them all at that as well. Grip at least as well as all the others if not better as well. Cant run speed kings soft though as you can with the others unless your built like a twig! Even 2.2 ruber queens with chilli suprized me how well they roll even on tarmac. They feel quicker than the 2.4 small block 8’s And as above, they dont seem to wear!

Well keep up the good work there Mr Brant, we are relying on you to pull out the most affordable fun we’ve had on two wheels since skyway tuffs ruled the world!

Ok brant thanks for the info, looks like its 9sp with a double untill i can afford the change to 10spd.

Just as an aside, Id like to commend you for bringing out whats undoubtedly going to be a ***** hot frame at an affordable real world price. Looking around with intention to buy its rare occurance in this day an age of cycling.
Dont suppose you can bring out a suspension fork that pulls off the same trick please! Fox 36 competior for 500 quid any one!

Merci uplink another bargin frame there!

Si If you are around buddy are the sale frames available with the alternative link to slacken the head angle and drop the BB?

si thanks for getting back buddy that is a pretty good price!

just hunting down some reviews, unfortuately in my neck of the woods I’m about a million miles from a decent bike shop!

I will be honest though V2F is cool,but those Transitions are giving me wood though they are working out more expensive. Kind of giving me that feel that my old Cove’s used too befor they went and made themselve silly ******* expensive!

Hora, you gave me some pretty good advice last year, what do you reckon about si’s chumbas?!

I was really thinking about 6″‘s
I know 5’s enough in reallity but I do miss that big bike feel.
Besides this time I can keep the soda as well so best of both worlds

guys – thanks some very interesting and tempting and probabally more sensible suggestions there..

tbh loving the transitions knollys and chumbas
all have the my current seat post size too!!
Its gotta be a sign I tell ya!!

Si you up for deals on frames forks and wheels?

ooooooo good call Munqe-chick!

I did see the wiggle frames firstly and spec’ed with fox shocks did look good value.
I think the US frames are as cheers_drive said working out for about £1200 all in for a Monarched El Guapo.

Not much different to wiggle I know but wiggle never had that frame on sale so the option on that was never there..

Re warranty, On One seem pretty adamant in their news release’s that they are going to look after warranties and I would hope this also applies to the US imports considering it was on one that gave us all the nod that they were on sale there.

Bearings should be ok to get hold of elsewhere if necessary etc and I’m told spare mech hangers etc should be available soon. Crash replacement measures are in place as well it seems

All the FTM’s in decent sizes soon went on wiggle so there seems to be a fair bit of confidence out there still for on one’s word.

TBH I’m pretty much pressing the button on a US El Guapo. I was initially hoping it was going to work out more like under a grand all in to take the risk, but what else is there out the to compete with it in the boutique bracket that you can still get for £1200? Any suggestions before this evening welcome!!

Edit:- I know I should really be thinking Hemlock but Ive just had to many tractor black bikes in the past..

Ok and Nukes new Mega but I really want to build up using a tripple chainset

twelveski, thanks for the heads up buddy, that does look quite a bargin. Might be a bit too much bike for round here and for what im looking for though

pastcaring your probably right there.
Jump back onto a ridged fork and it feels lovely and stiff.

andyflux I know, I know, Im playing with fire! And on a Cotic Soda, the most noodlest of the noodle frames around acording to reviews!

With this crazy combination I have to shedule changes in direction into my diary a full 3 weeks before I actually want to make them! Stll it does give me a chance to get the invites out to my nearest and dearest for my ineveatable funeral for being so foolish!

Guys thanks for the feedback.
I kind of suspected unless I could push the standard head tube frame to its limits, which with my average level of skills Im sure I cant, £500 saved would be much better spent else where.

I have never ridden a tappered tubed bike hence my asking but on my experience of standard frames, just adding a stiffer wheel is sometimes enough. My crossmax with magura QR fork on my hard tail tracks as well as some thru axel forked bikes I’ve tried, even though at 130mm it should really be bolt through if you belive all you read.

Id dearly love a new X and with a bit of luck will be able to scrape together the spare cash for one this winter.

I doubt there will be hardly any all up weight diference between this and my Soda but my local riding if fairly tech free so the x is going to be a lot faster for cycle path- bridal way blasts.

I dont want to race- I just want to go faster and have fun and preferably not on an alloy frame.

Having all 4 of mine out next month under general anisthetic, bottom 2 are impacted and both laying on their sides with the tops facing forwards.. Im not sure if reading this thred is helping or not!!