Another steel hardtail thread £1k budget

robmanic1

Now then. Looking for a replacement for my recently lifted Whyte 805, which replaced my also recently lifted Cannondale F800SL.

Riding mainly XC, edge of field, singletrack stuff.

I fancy a bit of steel this time around and have been drooling over the usual suspects, Cotic Soul, On One Inbred etc.
But which is best (as HH would say)?
If I go Cotic that wouldn't leave me much for bits'n bobs (already got a set of REBA SL's) but it looks a truly great frame, if I go Inbred I could afford better quality components.

Ideally want something stealthy looking to try and keep the local magpies away, no shiny shiny allowed.

Any thoughts?

Also, will have a spanking new Specialized Stumpjumper HT Comp (2011 model), which will never have been ridden (unwanted insurance replacement) within the next couple of weeks for sale or swap for the right bike!

Rob

supersonic

There is a good thread on the Cotic (and steel!) in the general section - well worth a read.

But in a nutshell steel frames can feel markedly different. Are you wanting a soft, springy ride?

robmanic1

Hello supersonic, long time no speaky (not been on for ages, lost my MTB mojo for a while! Glad to see you're still here sharing the wealth.

Fancied something different this time, alu can feel a little dead sometimes, so yeah, something with a bit of spring would be good I think. Also looked at the carbon 456 but a bit rich for my blood.

supersonic

Aye, still here lol ;-)

The inbreds are a good price, but pretty stiff still. if you can stretch to the Soul it would be my choice, but there is another...

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... me_697.htm

Will take a 120mm fork, is 853 steel, has that frame sprightliness, and actually lighter than the Cotic. Great price - but email Merlin for the geo.

robmanic1

Cheers super. As mentioned, I have a Speccy due, which I really don't want, I'd hope to get around £1200 for it, after "mrs Manic" tax that should leave me around a grand to play with. What would you do, bearing in mind the following;
Must be stealth
Not something coveted by the chav element (Cube, Speccy Etc.)
Something a bit different
Something I can build to my liking.

The dear old Cannondale was such a bike until someone decided they deserved it more than me

supersonic

If wanting steel, and using Rebas, the Rock Lobster sounds ideal! It is red, but the thin tubes tend to put most chavs off as they like chunky stuff.

robmanic1

That's true, could always get it powder coated anyroad.
So, componentry then, as I say been off the scene for a year or so, thinking SLX for the drivetrain and brakes, what wheels are good these days? Always had Mavics until the Whyte which had Alex (I think).
Need to be reasonably light but strong, don't mind spending a bit on them as they do make a massive difference I reckon (£300 500 mebbe)

supersonic

SLX groupset is great for the money, but the Deore at this price is just amazing:

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... OUP-10.htm

A bit heavier, but little in performance.

I'd look at Superstar for wheels, such as the Switch Evo hubs on Stans rims for £220.

robmanic1

Top man, I'll take a giz.

Thanks bud.

maddog 2

I've run 456s, inbreds, konas, and currently a BFe and a Soul.

The Cotics are my favourites though. 456s are great value but the Soul is a better ride, and the BFe is just great fun.

Blow the budget and get a Soul, or go s/hand on the frame to get in budget (maybe)

robmanic1

Maddog, they certainly look the biz, can't argue with the lobster for value though (on the other hand it's got a fugly paint job).

Need to sell the speccy and see what funds are available then I reckon.

Cheers for the input

ilovedirt

On one sell a couple of full builds on 456 and inbred frames, they're definitely worth a look as they're good spec for the money.

robmanic1

The complete builds are very good value, not keen on the colours though, I've emailed them to see if they offer custom paint jobs.

bails87

Also, is it worth considering your security arrangements? If the bikes are being stolen from the same place then someone knows you've got expensive bikes, and they probably know that there's an insurance replacement on it's way, so they might be back.

I'd spend £1k on a hungry lion........

specialeyes

maddog 2 wrote:

I've run 456s, inbreds, konas, and currently a BFe and a Soul.

The Cotics are my favourites though. 456s are great value but the Soul is a better ride, and the BFe is just great fun.

Blow the budget and get a Soul, or go s/hand on the frame to get in budget (maybe)

Hi maddog, what sort of set up do you have on your cotics and how do they compare to each other? I'm thinking about getting a bfe in the new year. Also do you have any pics, don't see many bfe's on here. Cheers!

Sorry for the thread hijack rob! :oops:

robmanic1

Well one was stolen from outside the pub (unlocked so no insurance claim :oops: ) the other was taken from a double-locked shed, no doubt about it being scoped at some point. Replacement will be stored in the house until the shed can be fitted with some kind of man-trap complete with sh1t smeared punji spikes, like what the gooks did back in 'nam. (if you don't know, you weren't there man).

Looking for something less eye-catching, but don't want to compromise on quality, so I fugure matt black, skinny tubes, no logo's.

specialeyes

Haven't been on on one's sight for a while but isn't the carbon 456 in the same price range as the soul and it also comes in stealthy black and decall free!

robmanic1

It does, and I am tempted, just don't want to blow my budget (oo-er) on the frame and leave knack-all for the componentry (although I appreciate this can be upgraded later).

It is on my radar tho, thanks.

bails87

Ah yes, the C456 is very good, and with no decals is nice and stealthy. Doing it justice with change from £1k for all the other kit may be a struggle though.

robmanic1

Yeh, I've got a set of REBA SL's from my old Giant Trance, so that'll save a few bob. Set of hoops for £220, chainset and brakes £259, not far short of a grand with the frame, might be able to squeeze a few more quid for bars etc.

Need to sell the Spesh first then see what I can stretch to.

gilesjuk

Singular Hummingbird (26er). They only have large Hummingbird frames left and at £330 they're a good buy if that size is for you.

http://www.singularcycles.com/

Don't be put off by the retro styling, they're not old school in use.

robmanic1

Giles, another one for my radar, nice looking frame, anyone got one?

Brighty

I've got the rock lobster 853, had it since 2007 and the colour really worried me when i was first looking, like you i like my bikes stealthy having a charcoal grey 2005 rock hopper before this. But when i went to merlin and saw one in the flesh to size myself up for a 17 or 19, it's really not that bad at all, it's a much darker more crimson red than the pic on the website shows, plus the super slim 853 tubes reduce the redness too. I have no intension of changing it in the near future, but i got a bargain with mine, full XT transmission inc brakes, reba team forks for £1000, not quite such good value now, but still better than most

Brighty

robmanic1

Cheers Brighty, just to chuck another one in, been looking at the Inbred with Alfine hub gears. Too much choice out there I reckon.

Inbred with Alfine
Rocklobster
Cotic soul
456 carbon

These are my current "favourites"

specialeyes

http://www.pipedreamcycles.com/sirius_2010.html

Another one I had been considering!

robmanic1

Spec, that also looks nice. Swaying towards the Cotic if I can pick one up cheap enough, probably change my mind again before the day's out!

supersonic

The Sirius is a nice machine, but quite a weighty frame of late - the new CEN regs have pushed it above 5lbs. Inbred with Alfine - interesting! Whether you want that hub gear or not, again a weight option at the back of the bike.

robmanic1

SS, on further investigation I've seen the Alfine described as a "sea anchor" on a certain review, so on reflection, and because I enjoy a "fettle", I'm scrapping that idea.

Got my heart set on a nice Handjob at the minute (leave it!).

Brighty

piccy of the rocky, not too red

supersonic

Buy them all ;-)

How about a nice Zaskar Carbon?

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... Suspension

Will take a 120mm fork easily. Swap your nice bits over, sell the rest, and you'll have a corking bike.

robmanic1

Brighty, that actually looks really good, looks "old-skool" (in a good way), so not that attractive to the local ne're-do-wells!

Thanks for taking the trouble, It's certainly right up there in my choices.

SS, but GT's are rubbish aren't they ?

That's far too flash for me, It'd have the local scrotes queuing up to nab it!