What Hardtail?

Doughnutface
Doughnutface Posts: 10
edited November 2011 in MTB buying advice
I’m looking for a medium travel hardtail (120-130mm) for trail and xc use. I want more of a trail geometry, so slack-ish head angle, short stem, wide bars etc and I’m thinking a Ragley Piglet at the moment. Are there any non-steel frames that would be similar? I haven’t found anything in carbon that has the kind of handling I’m looking for but if I could get something a bit lighter that would be good.

The fact that the Piglet has a 30.9mm seattube is also a plus because I want a dropper.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Something like the Genesis Core?

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gen ... gn=froogle

    Always does well in tests.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • Slow Loris
    Slow Loris Posts: 128
    On-One 456 Carbon frame only - although touted as 'long travel' it'll be quite happy with 120 -130mm.
    2011 Genesis Latitude
    2009 GT Transeo 3.0
  • Doughnutface
    Doughnutface Posts: 10
    Thanks for the replys. I'm tempted by the OnOne now! It looks like it can be built up pretty light and would be pretty good with some u turn 120-140mm forks on it or some other adjustable ones. The Genesis 50 looks good and great value too. I should probably go for that because I'll end up spending loads building up the OnOne, but that would be sensible.
  • BG2000
    BG2000 Posts: 517
    Doughnutface wrote:

    The fact that the Piglet has a 30.9mm seattube is also a plus because I want a dropper.

    ...that's sometimes what rules out Cove frames, with their awkward 30.0mm or 27.2mm seatpost sizes... :?
  • Doughnutface
    Doughnutface Posts: 10
    Yeah I was thinking a rock shox reverb seatpost. I'm guessing they might have had trouble making some of them work in the smaller diameters.
  • BG2000
    BG2000 Posts: 517
    Yes, they would struggle, and probably won't bother for that reason. The manufacturers have to base things on the most common sizes, and 30.9 upwards is the norm these days. The only other 'common' size below this is 27.2mm, but the internals of many hydraulic/pneumatic droppers posts wouldn't squeeze into such a narrow collar. So it would require a completely different set of internal parts, which isn't cost effective.

    It's a shame people have to base their choice of frames on availability of dropper posts. If you do set you eyes on something with an unusual sized seat-tube, you'll probably need to consider mechanical dropper posts like RaseBike or Gravity Dropper - which are still good, but that's another topic...
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    ANother reason is flex - a 27.2 with an even smaller internal shaft would be flexy, and liably to wear the bushings faster.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • kja
    kja Posts: 259
    Given the sort of bike you seem to be looking for, I don't think you'd regret getting a Piglet. I think mine is awesome, just got even better with the addition of a KS Dropzone seatpost :D

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