Which hardtail frame?????

Mac270

Needing a new Hardtail frame, for 160mm travel forks, for under £400ish. Preferably hitting closer to £300.

Downhill, but I want to pedal and complete XC runs. A solid tough, all rounder required.

Do not like steel framed as they don't look meaty enough.

Looking at Kinesis Pha5e, but states 150mm max fork. Hard ride rear end???
Banshee (Mystic) Scirocco. Hard rear end, low clearance.
Orange Subzero, Love it but too exp
Santa Cruz Chameleon. Love it but over budget by tiny bit.
DMR Exalt, like it, but 150mm max fork.
NS surge, heavy.

Will the aluminium frames that state 150mm max fork take a 160mm????

Which frame argh, I have been researching for weeks.

PLease help.

downhillholty

are you looking to buy a brand new frame if not try and get a bargain on a cove stiffee frame they a good alrounder if not the best! also dmr exalts can run more than 150mm more like 170mm but they are steel and you said you dont really want steel.

Yeti575

What size are you after mate?

Mac270

Looking for a 17" or something. I had a 16" Giant before and found it too small

I am 5' 11".

Wanting a new frame.

As you said not really looking for steel.

Kinesis, can it run a larger fork. 150mm recommended. mines are 160mm????

Yeti575

Same height as me, got a large Chameleon am thinking of selling. I know you want new, but this is a 2008 and has only been used a handful of times, hence the sale. Can do pics later if you are interested. Where you based?

Mac270

What size does large come in at mate????

Glasgow but down in Newcastle and Liverpool over weekend.

Then Liverpool again next weekend. How much etc,

Yeti575

I'll PM you mate, will try in next five minutes but the Mrs is giving me major grief for going out on road bike all evening and then coming straight back onto internet! May have to wait until morning but should be able to sort some pics out then as well.

Mac270

Will be at comp morning, heading South lunch time.

How much what colour????

downhillholty

im selling a norco torrent frame mate almost new can send you pics if u wish? excellent FR frame would easily take 160 i was running 170 and it was fine PM me if your interested

hucking_fell

What forks have you got?

Some 160mm travel forks have an axle to crown height similar to most other 150mm travel forks. For example Fox 36 floats.

Mac270

Marzocci Bomber AM2 mate.

Norco Torrent no thanks bud.

n000bZ!LL4

I was after a pha5e untill they discontinued it in every size but small.

I ended up getting a Scirocco which is awesome on some pikes, the back end is a bit harsh but not too bad.

There was a Morphine on the bay the other day that didn't sell and was on a very reasonable start price. That frame is just pure overkill, but I still want one

Mac270

That Scirocco look s lovely mate.

But as you say, the reviews say the back end is harsh. How bad is it?? does it become uncomfortable on longer rides.

I ride mostly up North and some of our trails here are pretty hard going rock and rough wise. Do you reckon it will be too harsh???

They seriously discontinued the Pha5e???

My forks are larger than the pikes, but reckon they should still ride ok with the geometry of the Scirocco, Just concerned over the rear end. I know if we want a soft ass we should go FSuss, but its the jacking around on the rockier sections I am concerned about. You know throwing the back end up and around after choosing a line must be a pain in the ar**.

Cheers

supersonic

I would imagine most long forked hardtails have solid back ends! Why put some flexy xc stays on there?

Mac270

The reviews state that its a harder back end than most, I think coz of the short geometry on the rear end. ALso ground clearance is said to be a problem, with less ground clearance up to the bottom bracket.

ride_whenever

Dialled prince albert? Cotic BFe?

Steel is more forgiving on the back end, and these don't weigh that much


Considered a custom build, you can get them done for around 400, 853 steel and angles of your choice.

n000bZ!LL4

I was going to suggest the BFe or an Alpine. If you want strength and a bit of give then steel is the way to go.

I'm just getting back into things and the longest rides I've done have been around 3 hours/40 miles where things did start getting uncomfortable, but I don't know how much that is down to the frame ,my saddle or my butt "breaking in", or any combination of the three.

The short stays are great for climbing traction. The only time the back end has kicked on me was when my forks were underinflated, the front dived under braking and the backend hit a root and popped up on me. Ouch, off to A&E for 5 stitches and five weeks off the bike. But that was my fault not the frame. :roll:

Ground clearance is fine, I think it's just under 13" with 140mm forks.

Yep the Pha5e is discontinued except for the small size. Some places may still have stock but I was messed around so much I wouldn't even consider buying any Kinesis Maxlight products.

supersonic

Be aware that heavier, oversized steel frames may well be stiffer than an alu frame!

Yeti575

Mac270 - have tried sending a few PM's on Friday, yesterday and today but they are going straight into my outbox and not getting through. Don't know if yours is full or not? Can you PM me your e-mail address and I'll fire all the details over to you asap. Cheers.

Mac270

Argh. Finally decided on a frame to bu new. or if suits buy the one mentioned above.

But turns out Banshee (mythic) dont have any bloody Scirocco frames in this country. Now am trying to get one in from US or Canada at the cost of £100 postage.

Gutted.

Yeti, you sold that Chamelion yet???

Mac270

After all the thought and messing around deciding on a new frame.

I decided on the Banshee Scirocco.


However, it appears that there are none in this country to be had. So even after talking to Keith@Banshee, I could not get even one tiny wee frame.

So I e mailed every shop and company in Canada and America that stocks them, and managed to find one.

Thanks for all advice chaps. I am now a proud owner of a burnt orange type coloured Banshee (not poxy Mythic) Scirocco. Cant wait to get her fired up and out on the trails

Laters
Mac