Long Travel Hardtail

robbierobrob

What is the best long travel hardtail frame? 130+ fork and not a rediculously small frame as im quite tall, 17"+, for trails, few jumps, bit of downhill, everything!

supersonic

How much plonk you got to spend? Personally I don't think you can go wrong with the Rock Lobster B52, Easton RAD tubing for a paltry 200 quid.

WillGTJumper

DMR Exalt frame will take upto 150mm IIRC

dave_s

Quite a few frames fit into that category nowadays.
The B52 is a good deal at £200 as mentioned.
Cove Stiffee FR,
Santa Cruz Chameleon,
Mythic Morphne,
Mythic Scirocco,
Kinesis Phase,
.243 Racing hardtails FR/DH/SL (from www.balfa.co.uk)

I think the DMR Exalt will actually take up to 170mm forks but woudn't fancy riding a hardtail myself with something as mad as that on the front

jacktheoc

norco rampage :P

WillGTJumper

Yeah dave_s 170 mm on a hardtail wouldn't have great handling

jacktheoc

some hardtails will be ok with 170mm on the front, the norco rampage was designed with 150mm travel and can go upto 170mm

dave_s

I agree that some hardtails might be ok with 170mm on the front but if you're whacking that amount of travel on a hardtail, you've got to think to yourself - should I really be looking at a full-suspension bike instead ?

150mm would be max travel on a FR hardtail in my opinion.
If he's doing trails, jumps and a bit of DH then 130-150mm would be ok.
Although alot of dirtjumpers run shorter travel forks 100-120mm I think (although I'm a XC.AM rider mysefl)

tompsk73

cotic: soul, or grander still the bfe, doesnt get much sexier

tommywmb

Sonic, pretty sure you cant get B52's anymore?

dave_s

Pity about the B52, noticed Merlin have took it off their site now.

They were probably shifting the last few at £200 which was deffo a bargain for an Easton RAD frame very like the Cove Stiffee.

The colour of the B52 wasn't my cup of tea but I saw one in the shop a while ago and was impressed with the frame quality.

It's a bit more cash but having had one, I can recommend the Mythic Scirocco if you're after something different as an all-rounder
http://www.freeborn.co.uk/shop/frames/h ... occo-frame

supersonic

Oh thats a bugger! Was a good price.

habitrail

specialized P All Mountain,

nice bike, rides ace, on a note mine just have the original frame left like as i had all the parts already to upgrade it as i changed from an 06 enduro back to a hardtail but they are ace value for money and ride amazing. I cant fault mine!

artillerydave

thought i would add my point as a B52 rider, the frame as rightly stated can't be bought from Merlin anymore as all gone, I've had mine for about 1 year and it is a peach, absolutely fabulous frame Easton Rad tubing and strong as an ox, remeber speaking to Nigel in the shop about them and he said they just were not selling well hence the massive discount. he couldn't understand why either. for those who got one at £200 they got a mega bargain in my opinion. I was running mine with 150mm marzocchis but have recently changed to 130mm Rock Shox 426's great fork on a great frame and more than enough for the terrain in this country.

cunning-stunt

How about a Marin Rocky Ridge?

I have an '07 model,and the '08 looks good.

I've absolutely hammered mine with jumps,drops,AM,general trail riding etc and it's stood up admirably.

There seems to be a slight difference in the frame though,with slightly less gusseting on the '08 model at the top tube/head tube/down tube junction,and it has a triple ring rather than a double with bashring as on the '07...oh,and the Van Rs get an extra 10mm of travel on the '08.

Tell you what,you buy the '08 model which seems a bit tamer and I'll swap you for my '07 with cash adjustment

GT Destroyer

Stunt - My mate's just bought a rocky ridge frame 2007. He'll be glad to read how good it is!

Habitrail - How is the P1? Its popped up in my search for a long travel all-mountain HT bike, but I'm not convinced?

As far as the thread goes - I too am quite tall, the Kinesis maxlight XC120 goes up to a 21.5" frame. The Orange P7 21" and the Orange crush 21". I am on the lookout for a new frame and am torn between these few, I just can't decide which would be best for me? Any tips?

habitrail

I really like my P All Mountain, i just fired on some Rock Shox Domain U-turns and it has made it come more alive.

I really cant fault the frame at all, apart from maybe the bb being a bit low but that is the same for all Specialized frames.

I have however changed most parts of the bike from the original due to having better parts already, i.e. Pro 2 hubs, mavic ex721 rims, hope headset, hope seatclamp, Thomson post, erm... racefae diablous stem 70mm, erm... easton bars, the onyl parts original are the sram gears and the frame. But i love it to bits

here is a pic of her



why are you not convinced?

The marin is a very nice bike as well i came close to buying one myself before i decided on the P.

I am 6ft 1 almost 6ft2 and ride a 19" frame, feels perfect, seat does up a fair bit for more sit down xc stuff and it rides amazing. I have ridden DH tracks on it, dome northshore, dirt jumped it, and gone on long XC rides, it can handle a lot.

tommywmb

I just bought me that very same bike habitrail, with stock spec however. Bargain at £560 though!

Rich25

Rocky Ridge was guna be my call as well.Quality bike and the 08 looks amazing

cunning-stunt

I'm thinking about getting a P myself.

I don't need one,and it won't really do anything my Marin won't..but they're going so cheap right now that it's hard to pass up
Looking at that pic has pushed me one notch closer to buying one 8)

Father Faff

I've got an old short-travel Orange P7 and it's very tough, ideal for the UK, and needs little maintenance. It's also great fun with penty of zing in that steel frame. I believe the Crush is a heavier and beefier frame if you are doing tougher stuff but ask Orange what they recommend for what you ride.

GT Destroyer

habitrail wrote:

I really like my P All Mountain, i just fired on some Rock Shox Domain U-turns and it has made it come more alive.

I really cant fault the frame at all, apart from maybe the bb being a bit low but that is the same for all Specialized frames.

I have however changed most parts of the bike from the original due to having better parts already, i.e. Pro 2 hubs, mavic ex721 rims, hope headset, hope seatclamp, Thomson post, erm... racefae diablous stem 70mm, erm... easton bars, the onyl parts original are the sram gears and the frame. But i love it to bits

why are you not convinced?

The marin is a very nice bike as well i came close to buying one myself before i decided on the P.

I am 6ft 1 almost 6ft2 and ride a 19" frame, feels perfect, seat does up a fair bit for more sit down xc stuff and it rides amazing. I have ridden DH tracks on it, dome northshore, dirt jumped it, and gone on long XC rides, it can handle a lot.

Its just the frame size I'm not convinced about - For a guy as tall as me it seems a bit silly opting for a 19" frame? But the bike looks great, I like it a lot, and I think it would do the job perfectly.