Steel fame options

Darra8

Hi Guys,

I currently have 2 bikes, a steel framed Genesis and a alloy framed Boardman. I love the feel of the steel and would like to change my alloy frame for a steel one.

I ride for fun not thrills and just keep it around my local trails and the occasional trail center. I am looking for something light and skinny that will take a 100mm fork, and something that is less than £300.

Can anyone recommend something for me?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

BorisSpencer

A Rock Lobster 853 frame.

thebikechain

Have a look at the Prince Albert from Dialled Bikes.

The Spiderman

Pipedream Sirius.Admittedly a little over budget.....
Which Genesis do you currently have,though?

The Rookie

On-one of some description?

Cove Handjob?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/COVE-Handjob-MTB- ... 439b9c6856

Simon

Northwind

Trouble is light steel frames tend to be a bit more pricey. I'd be looking for something used at your budget. Or, and this might sound daft, an On One Scandal. No it's not steel, but it's a compliant/flexy alu frame. Good handling, very light, a great XC bike... And if anything felt more like the stereotypical soft steel ride than an Inbred does, which is weird.

The Spiderman wrote:

Pipedream Sirius.Admittedly a little over budget.....

Not exactly light either. But nicer to ride than an Inbred I reckon.

Darra8

The Spiderman wrote:

Pipedream Sirius.Admittedly a little over budget.....
Which Genesis do you currently have,though?

I have an 07/08 Io single speed, and it's a great bike with a carbon fork.

blister pus

there are only two sub 5.0lbs steel frames since CEN and that's a Cotic Soul and Sanderson Life. All the others are over by some margin or other so it depends what your definition of light is really. Some people will be bothered by a 5.1lbs frame, others not bothered, and actually prefer how a 6.0lbs frame feels.

Like for me, a Soul feels spindle-y compared to a Sirius, and a 456 feels dead to either, so the extra for the Soul isn't really worth it but I would pay the extra for a Sirius over a 456. Which is why you should really demo as many as possible. But at 100mm travel the Rock Lobster 853 would be my shout (at least to start with).

supersonic

Handsome Dog Talisman is about the lightest you can buy in steel nowadays - 4.2lbs and only 40 quid, but old school geo.

blister pus

forgot about them. when do they get phased out, victim of CEN? don't suppose anyone knows because trying to find detail out on 'em is impossible.

supersonic

Oops, 60 quid even lol.

I think they were a one of run, and loads left over. But the shop certainly deosny give anything away about the fine details.

Darra8

supersonic wrote:

Handsome Dog Talisman is about the lightest you can buy in steel nowadays - 4.2lbs and only 40 quid, but old school geo.

That would have been ideal, but it only comes in 19.5" now. I am a little short in the arse, so am looking at a 16" !

Darra8

Thanks guys for the help so far.

It looks like it will either be the Inbred or the Rock Lobster. But, which is best?

Northwind said that the Scandal, even though it's alloy, rides like steel, and it 's light. Would anyone else agree with this?

Cheers,

Steve

Northwind

Ah now don't misunderstand, it doesn't ride like steel, it's definately different. My Soul feels springy, my Scandal felt bendy. But it did much the same job

supersonic

Northwind has a very valid point - nowadays you can't really say steel feels one way and aluminium the other. Many alu frames are very refined - you can do a lot more shape wise with the material, and careful butting and manipulation can result in a softer feel than classic old school alu frames.

Same with steel - they tend to be havier now than the lightweight frames of the late 90s, and many are surprisingly stiff.

Infact if you could ride blindfold, I think many people would struggle to tell what certain frames are made of. Wheels, seatpost, saddle and suspension can make more of a difference to comfort.

Darra8

OK, so maybe I'm looking at the wrong things. I like the look of the old school steel frames with skinny tubes and like the feel of my steel SS, but I want a light and soft feeling frame. I don't ride hard enough to ever notice any flex, so I don't think that would be an issue. Do I still go for the inbred or the RL :?

Cheers,

Steve

rockmonkeysc

Charge Duster? Good XC frame, reasonably light, looks good & rides very nice.

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

Darra8

Thanks for that, but I have a bike, I just want to change the frame.

Steve

BorisSpencer

RL is a bit shorter on the top tube than many others, I find it a very easy bike to ride all day, and supposedly only 4.25lbs.
And if it's the old school look that you're after look no further, if you've not seen one in the flesh the red is to die for.

blister pus

4.25 for the smallest 15" and i think that's a stretch. From memory the larger ones pan out around 5.1

Darra8

blister pus wrote:

4.25 for the smallest 15" and i think that's a stretch. From memory the larger ones pan out around 5.1

I had a 15" Merlin Malt frame, and I found that fine, unless the geo is totally different.

blister pus

I'd give them a call and have a chat...

but don't forget swapping everything over from one frame to another might not always pan out. the steerer tube on the forks, for example, might be cut too short - requiring you buying a new fork. just some things to take into consideration.

The Spiderman

From what youv`e sadi,I `d day go for the RL.

Darra8

I know the RL is lighter than the Inbred, but is it twice as good, as it's double the money?

blister pus

personally I'd pay the extra for the RL - but then I've physically sat on both and had a (brief) go. So it would be worth it for me - you might not feel the same way.

TommyK

Reynolds 853 is a phenomenal steel alloy, well worth the extra as it actually air hardens in the heat affected zone around the welds, making a strong frame with a light springy tubeset. The butting and wall thicknesses have changed on some tubes to meet CEN tests too.

bike-a-swan

Had a lobster for a couple of years now, absolutely love it. It's taken me round trail centres, along the south downs a few times, managed a couple of enduros and of course been ridden miles every week, all year round in between.

Fat tyres on and you'd be surprised what you can charge it down too!

Can't compare it to the inbred, but I can say it's a good bike. I will be keeping it until either it breaks or I do!

Darra8

Thanks for all your help guys...