what all-mountain frame (£1000) and 140mm fork (£500)?

skippy-do-da-day

got the santacruz heckler frame in mind. and the fox talas RLC forks.

frame for around £1000, forks around £500. RETAIL! im not looking for bargains, and dont want a full bike.

just want frame and fork, got all the parts and stuff! any other recomendations? dont want giant or trek or specialized, i want something good. its to be used in chamonix and morzine, for a month or two of mtb'ing heaven this summer!

cheers

supersonic

Have a read of this:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12554526

What is all mountain?! Splasher brings up an interesting point that its different to all of us. To me is a MOR all rounder.

skippy-do-da-day

this:
An all mountain bike is a bike that's big enough for freeride and downhill but light enough for XC

so it can handle just about anything you throw at it. go fast when you point it down hill and can handle roots and rocks, but can handle the reality of going uphill as well. its to be used in chamonix, and im only gonna be taking one bike with me so it needs to handle anything. around 140mm rear wheel travel, 140mm fork. through axle or QR, i really dont mind.

supersonic

I would question that 140 is enough for DH, especially with a QR fork.

skippy-do-da-day

140 travel is what i want. its enough for what i want it for. and it can be through axle, doesnt have to be QR frame or fork. just 140mm travel front and rear, recomend me a frame with 140mm front and rear for about £1000, and a 140mm fork for £500.

supersonic

I'd have to say Heckler then. Only 6.4lbs. As for fork, a Pike if you want thru axle, or a Float RLC. No point having a Talas as the frame is meant for 140-160 forks. Beefier option would be the Float 36.

fenella

skippy-do-da-day wrote:

dont want giant or trek or specialized, i want something good.

just wondered. is this opinion based upon experience or whim?

steelo

Trek, Spesh and Giant are no-brainer bikes really. They are big bike manufacturers who sell to the masses. Ideal first buys but for a special build I can see the guy wanting a frame thats slightly more unique and less seen on the trails.

If I was building my own spec bike then I would go for a Cotic Hemlock. I haven't seen many of them around at all - none in fact!

fenella

yeah, i understand that, but i've seen loads of giants & spesh bikes at morzine and in sierra nevada. they can do it, all so wondered why he/she thought they made crap bikes? they're not bad. its more down to riding skills.

santa cruz arent that different - they're also a big manufacturer & you'll always see 2 or 3 out on a ride in my neck of the woods. theres better out there, but they're good for no-brain mbr bling factor.

i just dont believe you can generalise like that unless you've reach that opinion via experience.

(although i do agree with the trek bit)

Splasher

skippy-do-da-day wrote:

this:
An all mountain bike is a bike that's big enough for freeride and downhill but light enough for XC

so it can handle just about anything you throw at it. go fast when you point it down hill and can handle roots and rocks, but can handle the reality of going uphill as well. its to be used in chamonix, and im only gonna be taking one bike with me so it needs to handle anything. around 140mm rear wheel travel, 140mm fork. through axle or QR, i really dont mind.

This is what I was on about on the other post - this is a much better description in terms of getting useful answers from the forum than a subjective term like AM.

Anyway, if it were me it would have to be the ew curvy Yeti 575 with a Pike dual air. If I was looking for something less common than Trek etc. Santa Cruz is the last brand I'd look at.

skippy-do-da-day

ive got nothing against trek or anyothers like that, its just theyre a bit common and not really that special. ive had a trek and a specialized before and they really just didnt excite me, just a bit boring really.

as for the cotic, i had their soda hadtail frame, and despite being titanium it still gained a crack thatd cost me more to fix than get a new frame. never tried yeti, might take a look. heard a lot about them but ive never ridden one.

what do you guys think of the cove hustler or a rocky mtn? would like a nicolai but dunno where to get one from.

Splasher

New Hustler looks worth waiting for (apparently will be called the bone-air



Have a look at this http://www.yeticycles.com/Bikes/Bikes575PopUp.cfm

Click on the colours in the top left hand, especially the black side view!

skippy-do-da-day

now that cove is something worth waiting for! where you get the pic? any sign of a release date at all? yeti looks good. any prices for either? dont mind paying a bit more for them, they do look rather quality

Splasher

No prices or dates on the Cove that I've seen.

Yeti is £1,350 with carbon rear end

While we're on the subject of spending a bit more, what about this



Click http://www.intensecycles.com/web/bikepi ... _lrg0.html for large image

skippy-do-da-day

i think im gonna have to wait for that cove, my handjobs the best bike ive ever ridden. most sites are saying its gonna be avalible late spring / early summer. yeti looks good, as does the intense but man im just luurving the cove! haha. then i could tell everyone im getting a bone-air, like when i got my handjob haha

jbford

What about the PACE RC405 or 506?

I've got the 405 and it I'm taking it to Morzine in June for the XC and light downhill riding(which it's definately capable of handling), for the harder downhills I'm going to hire a Bullit.

skippy-do-da-day

nah, not pace. ive had bad experiences with them in the past, although there new bikes look good, im not gonna get one. think im gonna wait for the cove, or if i cant wait that long im gonna go for the santa cruz heckler with fox float 32 forks.

Amos

I do like the Cove, and was thinking of waiting for one, a little over your price range for the frame is the Tomac Snyper which I'm also considering, has anyone been on one? http://www.stif.co.uk/gear/select_optio ... uctid=5448

Its designed for a 140mm fork and there is a review on bike radar and pinkbike.

Father Faff

I've got a Commencal 5.5.1 and that's pretty good on rocky stuff. I've used it on some pretty steep and rocky terrain in France (though not the Alps) and the Lake District and it just seems to be way more competent than I am. Other bikes to consider apart from the Heckler could be an Orange 5. All climb pretty well and will take plenty of punishment.

rmacneil

I'd second the Meta 5. You can get the frame for £810 off Merlin (inc. 10% discount) and Pikes would suit it well. There's also the Meta 666 for £899 (again from Merlin) if you fancied something a bit beefier, maybe with Lyriks. I've tried a Heckler, which is an excellent frame and you won't go far wrong with one of those, although personally I'd go with the Pikes rather than Talas. I preferred the the riding position on the Meta, but that's a matter of personal taste.

fenella

cove hustlers are bomb-proof & look good, but i personally dont think you get as much for your money - they're quite heavy compared to other frames in the same price/use range. heard theyre good for the gnarly stuff tho.

i ride with a bloke who has a meta 5 & his riding improved virtually overnight. he bought frame & fork (pike coil) & new wheel (cos of the pike - bolt thro & very stiff). also bought some 2.5" kendas. hes used it in verbier, wales, the usual trails & he's proper fast now.

the guides in sierra nevada this year all rode rocky mountains, which performed very impressively, as the terrain there is pretty harsh.

personally, i quite like the intense frame...

skippy-do-da-day

Commencal meta 5 does look pretty good, and at a decent price as well. cheers for the help guys!