Hardcore Hardtails

eoghanmurray

hi, im thinking about getting a hardcore hardtail for all mountain/light downhill. i`m thinking about a dmr exalt or 456 summer season, which on would be best-what other options do i have? im trying to keep the price as low as possible but i dont want to end up buying some cheap crap that i will have to upgrade soon.
thanks

CraigXXL

Just been down this route myself but you have quite a lot more choice:

Ragley Bluepig £200
Ragley Mmmbop £150
Cotic Bfe £370
Dialled Alpine £380
Evil Sovereign - What I got but not built up yet. £595
NS Bikes Surge - got some very good write ups and good value. £250

You tend to get what you pay for but then Ragley prove this wrong

eoghanmurray

thanks, im now thinking about the ns bikes surge-you seem to get a lot of bang for your buck.
looks like it would be good for some downhilling- do you know what the head tube angle is?
thanks

CraigXXL

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/surge-frame-only-10-35338

Everything you need to know is in the specifications.

Northwind

Can't say enough nice things about the Mmmbop, myself.

Lucozade1

CraigXXL wrote:

Evil Sovereign - What I got but not built up yet. £595

DROOL...... Now i like that....... I have been looking for a project frame ..... I think you helped me find it... +++11111 Thanks

rudedog

Northwind wrote:

Can't say enough nice things about the Mmmbop, myself.

Would you say you prefer it to the Cotic Soul? And your not allowed to dodge the question by saying they are 'different' :P

jay12

kinesis pha5e. mine has been through everything and tommorow it will be flying on the roadgap

Pudseyp

Transition Trans AM
Santa Cruz Chameleon
Intense Tazer ?

peter413

rudedog wrote:

Northwind wrote:

Can't say enough nice things about the Mmmbop, myself.

Would you say you prefer it to the Cotic Soul? And your not allowed to dodge the question by saying they are 'different' :P

Put it this way, he is reconsidering selling the Soul, don't think he knows which he prefers so the weight weenie inside him has gone for the lightest

CraigXXL

Lucozade1 wrote:

CraigXXL wrote:

Evil Sovereign - What I got but not built up yet. £595

DROOL...... Now i like that....... I have been looking for a project frame ..... I think you helped me find it... +++11111 Thanks

The details and finish is unlilke anything I've seen before on any bike. Unfortunately I won't get chance to build it up before Christmas but it's not stopping the parts getting ordered.

Northwind

rudedog wrote:

Would you say you prefer it to the Cotic Soul? And your not allowed to dodge the question by saying they are 'different' :P

Well they are Pete's right, I've had a Soul for about a year and it's a brilliant bike, actually it's better at what it does than the Mmmbop. Buuuut, it's not all that hardcore. If you want, basically, an XC bike on steroids then the Soul's perfect- it's longish travel but still fairly traditional geometry when wound down and it handles beautifully, and it's tough without being an anvil. Immensely capable, I've had mine down bits of the fort william dh route and I'd take it down the rest. But I've raced XC on it too. Basically it's not an XC bike or a trail bike or a hardcore hardtail, it's a mountain bike in the classic vein, one bike to do everything.

But, at the end of the day that's not quite what I want any more, I wanted something a bit more descendy and I didn't mind losing some of those brilliant allround manners. And that's what an Mmmbop is basically- still all-day XC-able and a capable climber but it doesn't shine so much as the Soul. But point it at a steep descent or a pile of rocks and it's happier than the Soul, and more confidence inspiring. It won't ever get me down anything the Soul couldn't I think but it does inspire more confidence while it's doing it and that makes a big difference.

So it's horses for courses. The Soul is going to be the better choice for most people though I think and it's definately the better allrounder. The Mmmbop's more specialised and focused. I might regret swapping them but not yet. If I could afford 3 good bikes I'd keep them both.

supersonic

Hardcore HTs doesn't just mean steel