Best SH Full Sus Frame for less than £400

ali4390

As per the title really, I will be looking to upgrade from my Kraken over the coming months and would like to build a full sus, primarily used for XC and AM duties with trail centres thrown in and the option to progress onto DH runs. I have already upgraded my Kraken and until recently it has suited me fine but I am starting to realise it's shortcomings (more noticeably since riding a friend's Commencal Meta 5.5 recently).

In light of what I will need it for, and the fact I would like to keep costs down i.e. about a grand max for total build, what sort of frame will I be best going for? Having been watching the classifieds it seems like there are a few that come up around the £400 and less: Trek Fuel EX8, Commencal Meta 5.5 - are there any other ones I should be keeping an eye out for that is a particularly good bike for that price? For example, I've heard that the Meta 5.5 2008 frame is a better version than the following 2 years?

I am obviously not too fussed about having the very latest frame or shock, it would be nice to get something that I can build up into something that can do (almost) everything. And I fully appreciate I could buy a full bike instead but I don't want to, I would like to build something unique and learn along the way.

Thanks.

styxd

Cannondale Prophet

warpcow

^^this!

ali4390

Thanks for the answer, why that one in particular?

styxd

Cheap, solid, ride well, not to heavy, good design, adjustable - loads of reasons really.

ali4390

Sounds good, I'll keep my eye out thanks.

Any other suggestions in case not many come up?

rockmonkeysc

Giant Trance or Reign, Specialized Stumpjumper, Turner 5 Spot (saw one for £350 recently), Santa Cruz Heckler, Trek Remedy

loads of options. Depends what you mean by AM really. Bit of a vague category with everything from light weight 140mm travel bikes like the Lappierre Zesty to monsters like the 170mm travel Giant Reign X and the Santa Cruz Bullit.

ali4390

Would something like http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewit ... cmd=VIDESC be a good buy for what I'm after? Seems like it might be slightly expensive considering it doesn't have a shock though?

supersonic

Yes, but is not a DH bike, unless you plan light stuff or easy runs.

ali4390

I don't want a DH bike as the majority of riding I do is XC, a lot of single track riding in the peak district and a few trail centres! I would like a bike that is more capable of doing more difficult runs than my current steed, as the times I've done black runs (albeit at Cannock Chase) my bike was a little out its depth. I imagine a bike like the stumpjumper would be a better ride in that sense?

paul.skibum

The Stumpy would be a perfect xc/trail bike for the UK. That one obviously doesnt have a shock so factor in a couple of hundred to buy a rear shock.

I bought my ageing heckler as a frame only, 200 quid with its old coil rear. I bought everything except the wheels as new from Merlin and CRC, wheels I already had. My bike came in a shade under a grand - are you plannign on cannabalising your old bike for parts or buying all the other bits? If you are going to buy everythign else then a grand may prove difficult to attain.

ali4390

If cannibalise the majority of parts from my old bike as I've upgraded a lot of things like wheels, bars, stem etc etc! The main parts I would need would be forks I think. I've also got a friend who is a very good customer at his LBS who gets great discount on new and sh parts which should help.

dusk

I've got a Trek ex8 and it's fantastic, it's been absolutely faultless at all the trail centres I've been to and even some light DH riding

ali4390

Specialized Enduros and Trek Liquids pop up quite regularly, are either of these suitable? Both seem to have good reviews and from reading about them they seem like they would do the job.

Shackster

There's a canyon nerve am frame going in the classifieds, with BB, headset, stem and headset

ali4390

Shackster wrote:

There's a canyon nerve am frame going in the classifieds, with BB, headset, stem and headset

Yeah I've seen that one and would be very interested apart from the fact its a small/medium and I'm 6ft2 with a 32 inch leg

Shackster

Ah unlucky! could have been perfect.

paul.skibum

Wait. What?

Someone is selling their Canyon?! I thought they were the bestest bikes in all the world! Or did someone buy one to get all the kit on it cheap?!

ali4390

ali4390 wrote:

Would something like http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewit ... cmd=VIDESC be a good buy for what I'm after? Seems like it might be slightly expensive considering it doesn't have a shock though?

What would a frame like this be worth with no shock? I'm assuming most shocks would fit?

supersonic

With a grand to spend, and the Kraken to sell why not buy a whole new bike?

This for 1k:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

You'd be hard pressed to get anywhere near that good overall, even with second hand bits.

These are also capable bikes, and will take a 140mm fork:

http://paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?p ... Suspension

This is under 30lbs:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-92 ... ctFeatures

ali4390

I won't be selling the Kraken and I don't want to spend £1000 in one go, I'd like to do it bit by bit. To be honest, the budget was only chosen as a guide for a sensible amount, it's as much about having some fun and learning whilst building my own unique bike.

supersonic

Fair enough, it can be hard work, but rewarding! Keep an eye on compatability of parts.

ali4390

That's the thing I'm finding most difficult at the moment but already learning things so it's all good!

What would you say is a fair price for the above frame?

supersonic

Hard to say, persnonally no more than £350 with shock if in mint condition.

ali4390

Thats around the figure I had.

Thanks for the help.