Right – I've made a decision…. just secured purchase of a second hand 2007 SL frame. Will prob get it re-sprayed after I collect it next week, then built it up as mentioned above.

Pics to be posted soon 🙂

No worries….

pics up when it's built !

Bottlerocket was plenty strong enough to handle fort bill… but the short (ish) travel rear end battered me a fair bit. I'd have rather been on my bullit.

Orange Alpine would be just the job with coils front and rear ideally.

Make sure you post up piccies when it's all done and we'll inspect your work 🙂

2.25 Racing Ralph front and rear for me – that's basically what I always ride. Fast, and Light.

Here's my bullit.

I also used to have an Intense 6.6 (std, not SS) and reckon the SS version would be an awesome bike for the duties you've suggested.

Essential spec for any of the above:
Twin n Bash chainset, with dual ring chain device.
Wide bars and short (but not too short) stem – say 65mm ish
160mm forks with travel adjust (lyrik u-turns are my choice)
Uppy downy seatpost (Joplin or GD)
wide but lightish rims and 2 sets of tyres (a DH set and a high volume XC set)
Coil fork and shock all the way – extra weight not a problem if you're climbing leisurely, but the extra traction and plushness you get on the downs is well worth the sacrifice.

That's basically the setup on my Bullit, used to have the same on my intense 6.6 (which I changed from air to coil, hugely improved descending) and I've ridden both up and down Innerleithen all day, on all the trails there.

I'd say pickup and old style bullit frame second hand… should be able to grab one for around £400.

I've got a bullit (2006 frame) and used to have a Mk1 Bullit too (2001 frame). I've also ridden my pals Bottlerocket – including 7 runs of fort bill.

Bottlerocket is great for courses like Innerleithen and general play bike duties, but I wouldn't want to pedal one around a lot, or do any climbing on it TBH… I'd much rather be on the bullit for that – also, I found the bottle rocket really struggled with not having enough travel at the back to hit Fort bill hard and fast.

Your mileage may vary though.

Mattie_H

I'd say try swapping the bars first. Swapping to a shorter stem will make those bars feel super narrow I reckon, where as you may find the wider bars are fine with that stem.

I've always found an 80mm or 90mm stem to be spot on with 685 bars on XC style geometry (70deg HA)…. I tend to favour 685 bars.

jad – that looks Luurvely, very like the build I'd be going for.

How's it climb ? And more importantly, how lively can you get on the descents before you feel like you might brake it/ or it brake you ?

Nice looking machine KT… even the old ones still look good. Classic bike.

Guessing you've found it, but there's links to loads of reviews on the SL on the uk Santacruz website here… assume they've got links to Heckler reviews too.

I'm also considering a superlight just now… coming from a trek fuel EX.

see my thread here for more SL opinions.

Have to admit, for the kind of riding you're suggesting, I reckon the Heckler is a bit OTT. It's got 150mm rear travel and pretty tough old boot. Brilliant fun bike, but not gonna blast up hills.

Keen to hear other folks thoughts on the SL and how it'll handle more playful (but not quite hooligan) riding though.

Thanks folks – there's some interesting points here.

It'd be great to get a pedal on one… though I'm so used to my Bullit that I know I like single pivot… both the way it pedals and the simplicity for maintenance.

Will have to ponder some more me thinks.

Bag, there'll be no hucking on it, I've got the bullit for that.

It's the new one I'm thinking of. Looks like a baby light weight heckler.

Geometry on the Orange 5s a different… bit slacker at the front on the Orange. The heckler is also now 150mm at the back, which I think is more than the orange. If I wanted a bit more climbing and all day ability, the orange with a lighter build may be better. Reckon I'd rather have a heckler out the two though for ultimate fun bike.

I love the simple single pivot so much I'm considering getting rid of my Fuel EX in favour of a SC Superlight… it's like a mini bullit 🙂

Clicky linky now worky.

You could get one down to 30lb – with lightish, but strong wheels… a set of 150mm air forks on the front (new Revs would be my choice) definitely with a 20mm axle… an air shock on the back, nout wrong with RP23 on there. Go with a light, tough chainset too and some big volume XC tyres. That bike will be capable of anything within reason…

However…

I'd agree with couple of folk above in that they are the most fun with coils front and rear, a set of burly ish wheels (though not full on DH) and a twin n bash with a 2 ring chain device.

I've got a 2006 Bullit which is pretty close to the current heckler, built up as I've just mentioned. It's around 36lb. I can pedal it around a 30km trail centre, it's a bit of a slog on long flat pedally sections and not the fastest climber, but it'll get you fit. Man, is it fun on the downs though.

Wouldn't want to XC race one, but guess if it's your only bike and you fancied giving it a shot the once, it'd get you round. Perfect for enduros though and a fantastic play bike. If my Bullit died, I'd replace it with a new heckler.

Here's my bullit for comparison…

Totally depends on the kind of riding you're doing and the setting on the frame.

Nomad … bit tough, though light, frame…. definitely designed for 36s.

Tracer on the other hand… if it were me, I'd have one in the short travel setting with a set of 150mm rev u-turns on the front. Def wouldn't tough anything without a 20mm axle though.

Oh, sorry, you said "Scandals"

Actually, talking rubbish, think you sold me some wheels. Hope hubs, 321 rims. I'm a pal of Jamie M's.

Right, not caring about all the tittle tattle about fork lengths etc….

It sounds like my kinda bike, I'd be keen on a test ride of that, will be looking for a new frame for 120mm forks in the coming months. Where's your shop glyn? I'm in Innerleithen.

Do you know Dwain in Kilmarnock? Did I sell you some wheels once? Met up in troon, on the beach? Might not be you.

Anyone know when the 2011 ones will be out ? – or any info on them yet ?

That's a start – least I know it looks as nice in the flesh as it does in the pics.

Be great to know how it rides. Anyone know where I can get a test ride, other than hoping for a chance encounter at a race event ?

Stu, that's the one… Looks lovely…

Nice bike, nice name 😉

How'd you get the custom frame?

Happy to post some pics up for you if you mail em over.

Spec sounds nice.

18bikes – I've emailed you for some discussion on the subject 🙂

I'd be keen to find this info out too… def don't want to go shimano and can't stomach the price of XX… especially the (all be it very lovely looking and super light) cassette… £200 (cheapest I've seen) and you'll have to replace it every year !

What bike were you on previously Rob2 ? Just for comparisons.

Where's the pics of it then… with fresh mud ?

White front triangle and red rear end. Very nice .

I saw that there too. Looked lovely.

Beer and cake? Wicked. I'm definitely in.

Been riding a TCR Carbon (not advanced) last couple of years. Love it. Fast, comfy, great handling. Wouldbuy an advanced if had the cash.

Oh, and if you fancied that big loop, there's some cracking singtrack off the southern upland way from three brethren down through yair forest. It's the route that the Merida marathon takes. Once down the bottom, you can carry on along the Merida route back up into the woods near Ellie bank and through some great techy bits up there too. All in should be a cracking 50km.

I can do it in about 1.5hrs. But that's on my own with no stopping.

Regularly ride it with some pals who aren't that fit and like to stop a fair bit. Nice social ride. That tends to take 2.5 hrs.

I'm local too … Live at the bottom of the trails. Will most likely be riding that day too… Happy to join/help with guiding. Sounds like you've a couple offers all ready, but you may need a couple of folk with 19 riders 🙂

X-lock is a remote lockout like pop-lock, but it's hydrolic, rather than a cable… so more reliable and nicer action. Also, it has a remote barrel adjuster (on the bar mounted button) for adjusting the low speed compression damping, which can be useful. I never liked pop lock and so took it off my old Revelations and switched to a standard leg top lever for lock out and only used it for fire roads.

Now I've got x-lock I use lock out really regularly, I can jump out the saddle to sprint up a short climb and push the x-lock button to stiffen up the front super quick… I am aware that I am starting to sound like an advert here. Anyway, I like it, but I use it a lot.

I'm running the XX rebas – only real difference over the Team is the X-Loc… which is brilliant.

If you don't use lock out really, then prob not work having.

I actually got them in the sale cheaper than I could get the Team version, so winner all around.

Ben Damph route has been on my list for a while…

start here:
http://streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=185745&y=854115&z=120&sv=185745,854115&st=4&ar=y&mapp=idld.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=661&ax=185745&ay=854115&lm=0

head south along the fire track, on the banks of loch damph… turning to singletrack turning … along to Kinloch Damph here:
http://streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=186460&y=847190&z=120&sv=186460,847190&st=4&ar=y&mapp=idld.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=661&ax=186460&ay=847190&lm=0

then head East up the singltrack climb which then heads toward the north… basically following the Drochaid Coire Roill all way to Loch Torridon Hotel…. then back along the road.

Not too long, but that singletrack looks time consuming… should be a cracker though. Too wet last time I was up there.

Recently got a set of 2010 Reba XX, 120mm, with 20mm Maxle on sale at wiggle… not sure if they have a pair left… but super impressed with them. X-Lock is the business and there's no doubt that the blackbox damping is super.

I'd rate 20mm over 15mm any day too…. does depend on the kind of wheelset you're going for though.

No time for driving anywhere…. so local trails for me.

Fortunately, I live in Innerleithen 🙂

Awesome – well done fella…. I'm impressed.

Inners are my local trails, so I ride there a lot and start to take it for granted. Couple of times I've taken less experienced folk around there, saying " yeah, it's pretty smooth for the most part, there's a couple of techy bits but there's chicken runs for them all" and then discovered that it's actually a little tougher than that if you don't ride it twice a week…

Much the same as your pal though, they've all loved it.

I love seeing the enthusiasm of folk her are new to it… makes you enjoy it all the more.
Brilliant post.