hardtail carbon xc frame

curlyrobert

summary: anyone recommend a carbon hardtail ...


I am a mtber, always have been, but moved away from the hills of Wales and somehow found myself buying a road bike and lots of lycra.

3 years later I find my mtb again and realise what it is all about! I love it.

I have a trek fuel alu/carbon built by myself with a mix of XT/XTR and all the 'choice' bits from 98-03 crossmax, sid, monkeylite, king, thompson etc.

all saved for and loved.

Now I get on my fuel and it feels a bit heavy, but more importantly the main pivot creaks like mad, so I replace the pivot, but still no better. this annoys me and I find myself dreaming of owning my old frame a Trek 9.8 Elite. simplicity, nothing to go wrong.

I love the carbon trek hardtail, true was not as comfy as the fuel, or as fast downhill. but I was in control and loved the pace i could generate.

So I want a hardtail again this is where I need the help. since I stopped riding mtb, trek was pretty much the only company doing carbon hardtail frames (I think Scott did one too but I don't like them that much for absolutely no justifiable reason), now there are many on the market and I know nothing about them.

so advice needed on a new carbon frame choice, similar geometry to Trek would be nice and even better if it was some obscure specialist brand with rich heritage... (moon on a stick comes to mind)

supersonic

Getting one new for this price will be nigh on impossible. And if go the 2nd hand route, have to be very careful as the older ones are not made to the standards of todays.

I have seen a full bike for less than 600 quid:

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... Suspension

Couls sell off the parts you don't need. The bare frame weighs 3.5lbs, is cautiously overbuilt.

curlyrobert

true, I had a santacruz superlight briefly before the fuel but it was a terrible bike, really would not recommend to anybody, so swapped over all the parts to the fuel because I am have a weird obsession for Trek.

not sure on Claud Buttler, OK, so lets change the budget, ignore it completely, carbon frameset wanted, will change my post now

or maybe Ti, hadn't thought about Ti...

supersonic

Its a good frame, I emailed CB, made in the same factory as some of the others you see...

The ones that spring to mind are the Scott Scale, GT Zaskar Carbon and Stumpjumper carbon. The GT is designed for slightly harder ridinfg, but still light at 2.65lbs. The Scale LTD is about 2.2lbs.

curlyrobert

The GT looks good, was worried when they were bought out by pacific, but it looks like they have not compromised build

is there not any smaller brands worth looking at, a colnago of the mtb world?

supersonic

There are a few niche brands that make carbon frames ie Storcke, but you'll pay for them!

The pacific buy out was in 2001 - they kept much of the same team and designers which was good.

Giant XTC carbon is another option. You are looking at 900 quid plus really for a new carbon frame.

curlyrobert

Yeah, I figure having looked at your recommendation's, that is steep, perhaps something like this could be a compromise? not sure on the point of a mix though?

curlyrobert

hey, thanks btw supersonic, excellent help. I miss the mtb community

supersonic

Looks good value for what is it, but seems a little short in the top tube.

Here is another very light scandium tubed frame at a decent price:

http://www.supercycles.co.uk/site_detai ... ductID=403

supersonic

curlyrobert wrote:

hey, thanks btw supersonic, excellent help. I miss the mtb community

No probs!

Anonymous

metal frames tend to be cheaper and the real benefits of carbon (the flex they intoduce more specifically) can be felt without building a whole frame from it.

by making a metal frame and cabon stays, you get the strength and good weight but the forgiving trail dampening from the carbon stays.

i know a guy who has the salsa frame yuou hve shown and he loves it, the kinesis maxlight would be worth a look if you go down that route.

Anonymous

this is the frame i was recommending

http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/product.php?id=3

supermonkey

Carbon frame from a smaller (Although respected) brand:

http://www.ibiscycles.com/mountain/tranny/

I've heard nothing but good things about their customer service as well.

Blundell

Frame-wise you'll probably be hard pressed to beat the giant xtc range as it'll cost you only £900 and is pretty light (1200g) and has a lifetime warranty.
Most of the ofther CF frames hit home at about £1300. I do believe that Trak and Spesh have lifetime warranties on their frames, Scott give you a basic 3 year warranty that I think is extended to 5 years on regular (yearly) servicing by a scott certified retialer / mechanic.
One brand that people haven't mentioned are Orbea. The Alma is designed around the world champs current stead, so the geometry must be pretty much dialed. The only thing not going for it is the lower grade spec.

Anyways happy hunting!

Amos

If you want something different Wilier make a carbon hardtail frame.