which hardtail frame?

roscopeco2000

i know theer have been loads of post of here about this but...iam looking at some buying advice can anyone tell me anything about these frames

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/-_-/5360026907/

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=10497

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... Frame_2009


my fav at the mom is the deacde virtue but its bloody heavy 4.7 ibs seems alot to me

bomberesque

4.7 lbs is not really heavy for a steel frame. You just won't get a steel frame that's as light as a (lightweight) alu one.

Me, I'd go for the steel one although I'm intrigued by the carbon stays on the maxlight. This is a siilar design that Salsa use on their Moto Rapido and that Voodoo use on one of their bikes. So similar in fact that I'm tempted to say *cough*OEM*cough*

If (IF) it the carbon stays make the back end more compliant than a normal alu frame then that would interest me, but I've never been able to test ride one.

if the steel one, have a look at on-one. half the price for what looks to be a very similar frame (although I think the Onone is probably 1/2 lb heavier ... assuming the claimed weight on the Kinesis is accurate :roll: )

roscopeco2000

what worries me is with the kinesis with the carbon rear stay is it such a race bred machine that its no good for when the tough gets abit going on single track, can it handle a few small jumps

blakef111

how about the kinesis xc>120? it can handle jumps and rough trails fine and the frame is lighter than the maxlight with carbon seatstays due to the extra bonding needed and also have a look at my kinesis ( kirstie below) to give you an idea of what it looks like built up

roscopeco2000

yeah ok thanks pic wouldnt open from thumbnails prob is blake i have 100 travel fork only also

blakef111

its ok "The XC>120 is based on the much loved geometry of the Maxlight XC but has been re-designed to accomodate the latest crop of modern, adjustable 100 - 130mm suspension forks" from the kinesis website, and i often run mine down at 100mm

Northwind

They seem a bit of a mixed bag these, the XTC and the first kinesis are very racey, short forks and slack angles and not massively strong. The Decade is more of your classic hardcore hardtail, and looks a lovely frame- if I could've tested one it might have been in the running for me too. XC frames are still up to rough stuff and occasional jumps etc- they're not made of glass- but they're not the obvious choice either. I think you probably need to think a bit more on exactly what it's going to be doing, I know for me it'd be the Decade out of those but ymmv.

If you want a light steel frame you basically end up with expensive tubes, Cotic Soul is just 4.2lbs in medium which isn't so different from some of the alloy competition. Except for the price! I love mine but the price makes it hard to recommend.

bomberesque

Northwind wrote:

Cotic Soul is just 4.2lbs in medium which isn't so different from some of the alloy competition.

4.2 lbs = 1900gr or there abouts. Alu frames are regularly coming in at 15-1600 gr. so it's not so different from the heavier end of the alu competition but....

I'm not having a go at steel (was my choice from the OP's list) but on the scales steel doesn't come near alu frames.

For comfort, now you're in a different league, which is why I don't own an alu hardtail anymore and the main reason why I chose steel from the OP list. It's worth the extra weight IMO. This is why I was intrigued by the carbon stayed alu frame (light weight plus the promise of more vertical compliance) but unless I could testride it, I would be cynical of the hype.

rowlers

I have the maxlight XCProII, and it it first class, the carbon reallt does take the sting out of the back - BIg difference between the Maxlight and the Trek 6000 I had before.

I've done the Whinlatter Altura red and the blue routes, and found it a pleaure to ride (When I wasn't falling off that is!)

Time will tell on how durable it is, but I don't intend any drop of more than a few inches on it anyway.

Pics here if interesed:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12622740&highlight=kinesis

militiacore

I take it budget is around £350?

salsarider79

It's got to be the Kinesis Decade Virtue Frame, though I do like the XC pro2. Yes I've ridden one and they are very nice, and yes, the back end does dial out some of the trail buzz. However the Kinesis Decade Virtue Frame can be singlespeeded and is steel. For those reasons it my vote straight away.
Would also like to vote for the Salsa Ala Carte which is £600 but well worth it. Salas's are fanbloodytastic bikes and well worth the money.

p.s. I've got the El Mariarchi 29er. It is the best MTB I've ridden yet.

roscopeco2000

thanks for all your help but i have went for a good old rock lobster tl

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain- ... am-sl.html


209 quid got a hope bb and matching hope headseat fitted for 340 to my house,always liked the rock lobster and frame(i know it alloy) is 3.5 ibs bargain!i know theres couple of guys on here that use them