I've just about FLIPPING had it...

Splottboy

...With full suspension bikes!!!

My new frame had a leaking shock, so I sent it to be sorted. Now, a short while later, still seems to be losing too much air. Can't be arsed messing around with phone calls/post offices etc. So, it's gotta go...Bye-bye Full Sus...Hello Hardtail !

Choices: 1. Giant XTC - FR frame, apparently has more standover height.
2. Zaskar Team frame.
3. Motobecane Ti frame, 26 or "maybe" 29 er...
4. C'Dale F series or the Trail SL, bike.
5. Trek 6000 or 8000, bike.

Any advice, personal reviews, suggestions welcomed...

( Yeah... I have thought of Cotic, Genesis and other steel h/tails so twist my arm!
If Lottery comes up, Ti Hummer would be top of the list too.)

El Capitano

Can't fault my XTC frame. Builds up into quite a nice XC racer. Not the burlyest (is that the correct word/spelling?) frame out there, but depends on what you want to use it for.

Also, what shock/frame do you have that's causing you problems?

Splottboy

Thanks...
Got a Proflex 768 with Monarch and Pike, frame/fork. It arrived totally flat, so it went back to the shop, then to be repaired, then to the shop, then to me. ( I'm outta breath..)

Didn't ride for months due to recovering from broken femur/Psoas tendinitis.
Rode it the once again, and I had to put air in the rear shock, again...
Tried it yesterday, and yep...seems to be a bit low...again. So, it's going AS SEEN!

Saw the XTC - FR on the Giant site and on Ebay in Chinese shops, looks nice. £350 ish.
The Silver one looks like Ti, and isn't painted so no chips to worry about.
But...the black, red, white looks the Bollocks!!!

SO, the terrian I use is rough, aggressive XC/Trail and I've been recently riding it on a Norco Big Foot with Kona rigid, and...it's been great.
So, Bye Bye full sussy, where you you Hardtail-Love-of-my-Life???

Radioactiveman

I would get a cotic soul I am biased though

Main reason I bought one is no one I know has one,in fact never seen one on a trail anywhere.

http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1878/8 ... 184642.jpg

http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1878/8 ... 281388.jpg

CycloRos

You've not mentioned a budget?

I'm a big fan of the british ht brands - Cotic, Charge, Whyte, Orange so that's where my focus would be.

Been loving riding my Charge Duster for the last couple of years.

Splottboy

Budget: If I get rid of current full sus and my h/tail, I dunno, bout £500 - grand?

Also, I'm awaitng the outcome of a "Blame/Claim" thingy, so could be substantially more...
but, once the Mrs sees any cash, though, it'll go on a hot holiday, no doubt!

Basically, my "ruff and tumble" days are prob over, particularly after the busted femur, which shakes you up, I can tell you. I've got great trails with 15 mins ride, or if I feel brave, Coed y Brenin, Beddgelert and Newborough Forest plus the Marin/Penmachno trails all within 30 mins drive.

Just want "SOMETHING" I can drag out of the garage, kwik visual chek, and get on and GO!

carbonfiend

On One.

RobGT

carbonfiend wrote:

On One.

+1

Oberdiah

Trek 8000 imo, lovin mine

Splottboy

OBERDIAH: Yeah, thought of Trek, as it's got the wishbone rear that I like.
Good review in Mtb Action on the 6000 too recently.
But, I did read somewhere the frames are "paper thin", not good for my local slate quarry!

Just had an "interesting" talk with Giant, Scouseland. Says, they can get the XTC-FR, but if its a "special International order" it'll cost about £200 more!
So, he suggested a Talon, but as I've got a Norco Bigfoot, it may be similar...

I'll do a search in a mo, as well as for On One too. Are they "Shedfire" now?
Thanks all!

Splottboy

Carbonfiend: Quote: all the bad cats in the bad hats...?

Is this from "Black Ceasar", the movie soundtrack by James Brown?

If so, I've got the LP which I special ordered in the 70's.
One of the best undiscovered Funk, Soul, R+B soundtracks...EVER!

The actual Movie wasn't so good. "Blacksploitation" at it's worst."

Others; Black Belt Jones, Cleopatra Jones, Shaft in Africa,
Better ones: Shaft, The Return of Shaft, Superfly...another great s/track by Curtis Mayfield.

supersonic

Zaskar Carbon? You can get a full Zaskar Expert carbon for 1200.

Anonymous

I don't think it's "full suss" that's your problem, just a spate of bad luck.

Splottboy

Yee: Yep, probably right - again!

Super's sugestion was valid, but I've got Mtbcarbonphobia...not contagious, but terminal.

Anonymous

Well, seeing as you only live down the road, I'm sure I could be convinced to let you borrow my wolf ridge, might convert you back to the dark side of full boingyness

And don't fear carbon. It's fantastic stuff for hardtails.

Splottboy

Get yee behind me Satan! ( See what I did there?! )

We'll see...

Riding 2moro, doing the PYG lanes to Garndolbenman, then the lanes to old slate mill.
Using the Norco, so should be about 2hrs.

Local weather looking guuuuurrrrdddd....

el loco pollo

Why don't you just get a new shock

Splottboy

Had a great deal on the frame/fork so new shock would be almost more than I paid!

Good suggestion tho, ta...

Anonymous

Splottboy wrote:

Riding 2moro, doing the PYG lanes to Garndolbenman, then the lanes to old slate mill.
Using the Norco, so should be about 2hrs.

I'm so tempted to try riding down the Snowdon PYG track. Chances are, I won't survive it, so if in a few weeks, anyone's looking for a slightly crash (/fallen off a cliff) damaged wolf ridge, erm, I dunno, PM my family or something

Splottboy

If I find it, and it's not too damaged - any blood, intestines I'll clean off - I'm NOT SAYIN' NUTTIN!...
Ave a good un!

nickfrog

HT for a simple life, I agree.

Splottboy

Yeah, but which one!

Ebay got great "deals" if you wanna pay all the Vat/Import/Shipping etc.
There's gotta be a "softish" tailed hardtail out there for me, somewhere!

Still think its the XTC, Zaskar or Dale Trail.

But Cotics / Steel still in the frame. Ti first choice, but bank manager won't agree...