Frames Frames Frames...what shall I do ?

-liam-

I have been occasionally looking for a frame to mess around with.

My thoughts were either to buy a half decent hard tail to replace the one I already have and just swap all the bits over but I have no idea what constitutes a decent, possibly second frame....I have a Kona Firemountain, which although is an entry level bike when new, I've spent a few quid and it now has a decent spec.....click below.

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2981028/

Is my frame any good ? I have no idea :?

One frame I almost won on ebay tonight is below. Where does this stand in relative terms to my Kona ?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... AA:GB:1123

Last option, is to keep my Kona and buy a full sus bike complete which I wouldn't mind or just buy a full sus frame and swap bits from the Kona as it would no longer get used....or would it ?

Help ! I don't know what to do !

Whytepeak

Not to dampen the fire, but swaping kit from one bike to another isn't that easy, the fork crown, new cables, different size seat tubes, geometry issues.....
this list ends somewhere in Bolivia, so good luck
Plus you don't want to rip your old kona to shreds, do you.

TBH, I don't see how changing a frame to one of the same materail, you're not thinking of splashing your cash on titanium i take it, will yeild much reward. Unless geometry is the problem...
Buy a full suss in my books, the ride will help you and ''ulp', you will become a better all round rider'. Go figure.

anyone else? :shock:

-liam-

Thats part of my confusion. I'm not totally sure that there is a huge difference between one alu frame and another. In which case are the price differentials between a cheaper bike and a more expensive bike purely down to components?

I do like my Kona and I don't want to hurt it btw

BoingBoing

Assuming you like the Kona.....keep it and get a new full suss.

You'll always have a spare bike if one needs fixing....you'll have two very different bikes to choose from to stop you getting tired of your local trails...

....and you'll be doing your bit to get the economy going again

Larok

That Orange frame looks well used also no gear hanger! I don't think it would have been as good as the one you have either. The Orange frame looks bigger than your Kona in the pictures. Is that an 18" frame?

To invest in the Kona. Perhaps some Tora/Reba forks, light tyres and some riser bars?

edit. you have done that already?

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2944973/

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2961840/

-liam-

Ooh! Thats a nice oven. Shit! Its mine;)
yeah, i've fitted recons. The only original bits of the bike are the wheels and frame and the wheels are to be changed soon. One thought was to buy a cheap frame to put all the old bits from the kona on, but that wouldn't last long before i started replacing bits again.

The Big Cheese

I would go down the full-susser route. I'd keep the Kona as is and don't swap bits over - it can be a mare and it's always good to have a hardtail around.

I have come across some really good deals for 2nd hand full-suss frame through STW classifieds.... obviously you need to be careful buying second hand but they are generally a bunch of good guys.

I find building a bike much more satisfying than buying one off the peg... in fact the only bike I have bought off the peg was my marin IFT, but the only thing original now is the frame forks and headset.

It's a cheaper way to do it, over time and it's nice to see it coming along. My yeti build took me a year!!!!

Check it out - better than FleaBay!

supersonic

The Kona is a decent frame - light, and tough.

There are differences in alu frames and amounts of flex - depends on how they are designed and constructed. Same with steel and titanium.

What is your budget and what are you trying to achieve/want?

mygiantmtb

i used to have a full sus before the weld at the bottom broke. I now use my other bike, giant terrago (HT) that is great but i still am looking for a full susser and i would say keep your kona because that's a decent bike xc and i would say get a full suss within your price range? whatever i'm just suggesting :P