Hard Tail to Full Sus?

PAD20959

OK, I've been with my Boardman HT for about 3 months now and I'm loving it. However, I really have a desire to get a full sus.

Now how easy would it be to buy a FS frame and just switch all the parts across? Do all the parts translate over to a full sus frame?

Am I right in thinking that a FS frame comes with a rear shock as standard?

Can you get a decent FS frame for a £1000 that would sit well with the stock parts from a Boardman HT Pro?

Thanks
Pierre

Saviola

The answer is unfortunately yes and no

In theory parts from a HT will work on FS, but there may be sizing issues.

Seat post, Bottom Bracket, Stem may be different in size.

Front shocks may have too little or too much travel in them.

Gears, Mechs, Brakes and Cranks are pretty much interchangeable between 'all' (maybe not all ) frames.

So basically you will need to get the spec sheet of the FS and compare it to the HT. This does not of course take into account any of your old kit just being plain useless from overuse

leaflite

Unless it says NO SHOCK in the description, frames usually come with a rear shock. Frames dont come with a headset however, so you will need to buy and install a headset. Transfering the bottom bracket over is probably also a LBS job. You might find you need a different sized seatpost, but apart from that it would work with the parts you have.

bails87

What kind of frame were you looking at. You need something designed for 100mm forks.
For £1000 you could buy a boardman team FS

leaflite

You could get a carbon 456 frame and 140mm forks for 1k though, and get some money back selling your old forks. That would be lighter and cheaper than getting a fs. If you really want a fs though, this seems to meet your requirements:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=44699

PAD20959

Thanks guys. I was thinking that would be the case.

So as long as I pay attention to size of BB, headset, and seat post then I should be OK?

The Boardman FS Pro was the other option, but I thought I might get a better bike by getting a 1K frame and changing over the parts. Or is the Boardman FS also a very good value for money bike (i.e. is the frame simialr to another 1k frame as the parts would be the same).

Pierre

.blitz

The number of bikes you need is n + 1, where n is the number of bikes you already have. I have owned FS bikes since 1996 but I would not be without a hardtail.

warpcow

.blitz wrote:

The number of bikes you need is n + 1, where n is the number of bikes you already have.

It can sometimes be written as d-1, where d is the number of bikes that would cause your partner to divorce you.

.blitz

cooldad

MTFU and go for d+1

diy

Yes but post Divorce you'd have D+1 / 2

Front mech can sometimes need to be changed too as the clearance on FS bikes tends to be less.

If you go for an XC FS, then ever thing should be fine. If you go more AM, then you start to have a bike that is not ideal given the money spent.

bails87

With the Boardman FS Pro, you'd get a great bike for £1300. Or you could spend the same on an entry level FS from another brand and switch the parts, so you end up with a hardtail with cheaper parts on, and a FS with the nice stuff off the Boardman.

Or you could spend the £1k on just a frame and end up with one bike and an unbuilt frame.

Pudseyp

Thing is many frame shock comb's usually ain't much difference to a full bike...take the Giant Anthem...the 2011 frame is £1,200 whlist you can get a complete 2010 bike in the sales for the same money.

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b4s1p2852

I would do this, pick the best bits and sell the HT which you would still get a good price for...then you have a nice FS for approx £600 (inc sale of the HT)

bails87

Pudseyp wrote:

Thing is many frame shock comb's usually ain't much difference to a full bike...take the Giant Anthem...the 2011 frame is £1,200 whlist you can get a complete 2010 bike in the sales for the same money.

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b4s1p2852

I would do this, pick the best bits and sell the HT which you would still get a good price for...then you have a nice FS for approx £600 (inc sale of the HT)

I think it was last year or 09 , the frame was £900 and the X4 bike (albeit low spec, but still decent stuff, Toras, Deore etc) was £1k

meesterbond

Also, unless you have a mate with the tools and know-how who'll work for beer you either need to pay a shop to transfer the parts of do it yourself, in which case factor in a few quid for specialist tools, decent cable cutters, that sort of thing.

Check that there's enough steerer left on your forks to cope with the new headtube and headset - that's an expensive mistake!

Also, if you're doing it yourself then Swarfega and plasters... probably new cables and outers.

It's very doable and thoroughly satisifying, but any build always costs more than you think and takes longer than you plan for.

PAD20959

Thanks guys (and possibly gals),

Once again, lots of useful info. I might just keep the Boardman HT Pro and save for a complete FS. Seems like that would save a lot of effort and fettling.

Pierre

Shaggy_Dog

You can buy a Santa Cruz Superlight frame for £900. You'll need a headset as the Boardman has a semi integrated one and the Superlight uses conventional. You'll probably need a front mech too. The whole lot shouldn't come to more than £1,000. Labour for building will be down to your LBS and I'd recommend getting it done properly

tsenior

or you could just buy a slightly older (but great condition) 2nd hand complete full suss with nice (fox, hope , XT) bits for half your frame budget like wot i have just done 8)

still need to fettle it a bit prob £100 all in...

have 2 bikes though

cavegiant

If buying bikes online the best place I have found is pauls bikes. CRC used to be great for both, but now only do cheap parts and expensive bikes.

Last time i checked, you could have a full Mongoose Teocali for your budget + change and get to keep your bike intact.

cavegiant

I should add you can then swap you fave parts onto the new bike, and have a spare for friends.

fungus_the_muffin_man

Boardman FS Pro is £1080 at the mo BARGAIN!

The Northern Monkey

I still prefer a hardtail... miss it

FS is just more comfortable for consecutive rides.

PAD20959

Hmmmh, the Boardman FS at that price is looking choice! I presume it is as well spoken of as it's HT brother in terms of the ride/componentry/etc?

Pierre

bails87

It's a good'un!