Just one bike - OnOne 456?

supertwisted

So my two main bikes are my Rockhopper and my STP.

When I'm out on the Rockhopper I wish I'd brought the STP for some jump, drop or DH section of trail.

And on the STP I'm always wishing I'd brought my lighter, geared bike for some long climb up a hill or section of fire road.

Since I don't do many epic XC marathons and my down-with-the-kids dirt jumping antics are pretty lame, I'm thinking the hardcore trailbike route is a good way of combining two bikes into one.

The 16" 456 will prob suit me nicely, since it's still fairly long yet low to accomodate my stupid stumpy legs.
No doubt it will survive any abuse I put it through and will be (just about) light enough to pedal round a trail center or up a hill without exhaling a lung.

Anyone gone down this route? Or something similar?

peter413

Go for it.

I only have one bike and its a 456.

Build it tough but light and you will be laughing.

Mine is built using some Fox 32's, Sram X9 drivetrain and will soon have some tougher wheels. The current ones are light (good) but not the toughest.

It is very easy to pedal around everywhere and can go for miles and miles on it, uphill, downhill, it takes it all in its stride. Especially the descending, now thats something special.

And jumping on it, no problem, its very stable in the air and a very strong frame so doesn't care how many times you case a jump (I should know)

supertwisted

Cheers Pete, sounds very promising.

Build wise it would have to be a mixture of parts from my Rockhopper and/or STP to start with. Light weight is probably well out the window, Tora forks, Deore running gear and my OE spesh wheelset.

peter413

Sounds a pretty decent spec TBH.

I started it with a 100mm race fork, crappy drivetrain and I still manage with the wheels ATM.

Just don't expect it to be perfect ATM but it will get better with some stronger/lighter wheels and some burlier forks but the Toras will be pretty good so long as they go to 130mm, not sure they will though but, despite what a lot of people say, it rides very well at 100mm of travel

jairaj

I have a steel framed 140mm travel hardtail, built up strong yet light and I thinks its great. Im the fastest to the top but can happily chug it around Afan and all day rides. I can also ride it down DH tracks. I don't do the massive jumps and drops but give the moderate sized ones a go and bike soaks it up ok. nothing has broken or turned a funny colour yet.

Do remember that its a compromise though, so situations where the STP would be perfect you'll think damm should've kept it and same for the Rockhopper.

But the great thing is you only need one bike and can just go a ride what ever you happen to come across, no need to plan what kind of riding and what bike you will need.

supertwisted

jairaj wrote:

But the great thing is you only need one bike and can just go a ride what ever you happen to come across, no need to plan what kind of riding and what bike you will need.

That's exactly what I'm aiming for. You wouldn't beleive how long I spend agonizing over which bike to take where. It's sad really.

Pudseyp

There are some great do it all frames around, I guy in my LBS whom I go riding with has a Ragley Mmmm Bop which is the alloy alternative to the Blue Pig...he has built it quite light and to be honest whips it about, it climbs and desends brilliantly....so much so I want one myself...an ideal go anywhere frame

The Northern Monkey

tis a nice all round frame... cheap enough to not care if you smash it to peices, cheap enough to not be bothered about the paint work.

Does exactly what it says on the tin!


I though the 18" was a bit small though.... the frames look tiny!

peter413

The Northern Monkey wrote:

I though the 18" was a bit small though.... the frames look tiny!

The reach is quite long but the height is quite small, perfect for an all round bike IMO

jairaj

If your budget can stretch to the mmmBop then check that out. My mate loves his, super light for its strength. The geometry is a bit weird though, so try and test ride it if you can.

nickfrog

My current bike seems to be in line with what you are describing, despite the fact that it's aluminium (but quite heavy) and only has 100mm (which I think is plenty of travel). I wanted a compact, do-it-all bike and it does really work for that purpose. Cost me less than £1,000 all in and is 23lbs yet very very solid (I am 85kgs).

supertwisted

My budget is small, so the new Ragley frames are out.
The real expense will be when i decide i want a set of Revelations to go on it.

I'm pretty sure the 16" 456 is the one for me. Top tube is only a few mm shorter than my Rockhopper which suits me fine.

bails87

supertwisted wrote:

My budget is small, so the new Ragley frames are out.
The real expense will be when i decide i want a set of Revelations to go on it.

I'm pretty sure the 16" 456 is the one for me. Top tube is only a few mm shorter than my Rockhopper which suits me fine.

But would you want a shorter stem on this than you've got on the Rockhopper?

jairaj

I have new U-turn Revs, they go from 150mm -120mm. For DH I keep it long and slacken the head angle a bit. For bombing through the local single track I shorten it a bit to steepen up the head angle for fast steering,

I would recommend saving up for a travel adjustable fork, i find the feature very handy.

supertwisted

bails87 wrote:

But would you want a shorter stem on this than you've got on the Rockhopper?

Good question. Not sure to be honest, and I'm damned if I can remember how long the stem is on my Rockhopper. I know the 456 tends to suit a shorter stem from what I've read.

Duffer

I run my 456 with a 100mm fork and a long (100mm) stem. I find the front very light, and struggle to keep it down on technical climbs.

I enjoy my 456, and it makes a solid, reliable second bike. But if i was to own one bike, it'd be my 150mm FS trail bike.

peter413

Don't worry about the climbing.

Mine has a 60mm stem and 140mm Fox Float and the front end is reasonably easy to keep down on climbs, you just need to get used to the feeling of when it wants to let go and then sort it out before it happens

supertwisted

I can live with a little wayward behaviour on steep climbs seeing as the 456 seems to do well everywhere else.

Think my only remaining decision is brown or blue?

peter413

supertwisted wrote:

Think my only remaining decision is brown or blue?

Pink

supertwisted

My riding is girlie enough as it is.

ride_whenever

I have mine at 140mm with a 50 or 40mm stem, the front end doesn't wander at all.

Duffer

supertwisted wrote:

Think my only remaining decision is brown or blue?

Blue

supertwisted

Ideally I'd like one in the neon orange that the Summer Season comes in. Then I can easily find my bike when I fall off.

peter413

Get the Summer Season then

Or, get the frame resprayed, will be abot 40 quid I think for a pro job but a can of spray paint only costs a few quid

rubins4

Blue Browns nice tho. :shock:



This is very similar to the bike you are talking about, 456, toras, sturdy build up etc... I went for EN321 rims in the end. Its not the lightest bike in the world, but i was VERY surprised how little was in it compaired to a mates aspect 20 with all its hydroformed gubbins. I still feel a bit guilty giving it 5hit around town but its handled most things in its stride. The frame here is the 20 inch because i'm just shy of 6 1/2 feet tall, so its still very chuckable, but the top tube is long.