Triad 0 or On-One 456

b_real

Hi, looking for a trail hardtail that will munch up the downhills. Upgrading from a 2006 Giant XTC SE. Currently looking at the Revolution Triad and the 456 range from On-One. To save clicking links, rough specs are as follows:

£ Shifters Brakes Chainset Mechs F/R Wheels Forks
Triad0 899 X7 Elixir 5 Truvativ X9/X7 Mavic RS Revelation SL Team Dual Air 150mm
456 SS 999 SLX Deore FSA V-Drive Deore/SLX Shim MT15
456 Trail 999 Deore Deore FSA V-Drive Deore/SLX Shim MT15
456 SS XT 1200 XT XT FSA Afterburner XT/XT Shim MT15
456 XT 1200 XT XT FSA Afterburner XT/XT Shim MT15

SS is summer season. Current forks on On-One website are out of stock. The guy said he would put Rock Shox Revelation Team Air U-Turn 120-150 with BB Motions on. Not sure how the SRAM and Avid stuff stacks up against the Shimano. Same for Mavics v Shimano wheels. Is the extra few hundred on the 456 worth paying for the XT set up?

LIke the slacker look of the SS, could be better for downhill, and combined with an adjustable travel should be good uphill too.

Links for info:
Triad 0

On-One 456

Any thoughts?

Duffer

I've never ridden (or even seen) a Triad. So in my objective and unbiased opinion, i'm recommending the 456. Personally, i'd have the trail version. The XT kit is good stuff, but you're only going to break it or wear it out. And i'd prefer the Revelation over a Fox fork any day.

b_real

Triad is Edinburgh Bike Coops own brand, got 4.5 stars out of 5 in What Mountain Bike.

So would you go for the normal 456 frame or the Summer Season?

I'm thinking the more laid back Summer Season with adjustable travel forks sounds like a cracking idea.

maddog 2

not ridden the Triad but I have ridden, and owned, a few 456s and 456 SS and they ride quite differently. Coming from the Giant you'll find the SS quite a bit slower steering.

I prefer the std 456 myself but it does depend on how you like to ride, and the type of trails you do.

Adjustable travel sounds good. I've run U-turn Pikes in the past and just bought some new Sektors, and the travel adjust gets used a lot (basically - 95mm for climbs, 140 for DH and 120 everywhere else).

b_real

I'm in Edinburgh, and mainly ride down at Glentress which is a mixture of trails and downhill. Also do some XC stuff around the Pentlands, and plan to take it up north for some XC & possibly more trail & DH stuff.

But the big event I want it for is a 24hr endurance event in Fort William on 9th Oct (Relentless 24). Its an 8mile circuit which includes the Witchs Trail. I'm doing it in a team of 3, so 1 lap on, 2 laps off, 1 lap on etc.

http://www.nofussevents.co.uk/event/Relentless-24/1047/

Is the SS 'comfier' over distance? How does the SS climb compared to the standard 456?

peter413

I own a standard 456 built up with a Sram X9 drivetrain, Fox forks and a few other things (obviously )

It's my only bike and I mainly ride at Glentress and love it, climbs really well for a 140mm HT and descends even better, also ridden it at Innerleithen quite a bit and I love it there.

Never ridden the SS myslef but I would say you want the standard one for XC since it will climb better

maddog 2

the SS has a 2 deg slacker head angle (67.5 compared to 69.5) so the steering is slower.

Makes it more stable on the downs, especially fast downs. That's not to suggest the std 456 is 'unstable' in any way. It also means you can use a wide bar (700mm +) and/or short stem (50-70mm) without any twitchiness issues arising. Some would say you need a wide bar+short stem to get the damn thing to steer properly....

What it means the rest of the time is that on singletrack, it's not as nimble and you need to muscle it around more. And on technical climbs you notice this even more.

Personally, I prefer the std 456. The SS is too slow steering for my liking but many frames are coming 'slack' these days - Ragleys, Brodie etc. - so people must like them.

No difference in comfort.

b_real

Thanks for the replies so far. I think i'm leaning towards the standard 456. However, ive just tested a Giant Trance X3, and really like it!

Has anyone compared the 456 to a Giant Trance full sus? Or is that not really a comparison you can make...