What frame for an XC build

JimboM

Guys

Want to have a go at building up a bike from scratch but could do with some suggestions on what to use as the base frame. I mainly ride Surrey Hills & Swinley so no huge drop offs or anything but I do like to try and get a little bit of air where I can so something that would suit that would be ideal.

I'll buy the frame secondhand and want to go with a full suss so was thinking along the lines of a Giant Trance or Spec Stumpjumper as a base but have you got any other suggestions of other frames that would be a good start.

Cheers

Jim
ps I've got some Rev 120-150mm U-Turn forks to go on it so plenty of scope for up front travel

ddraver

Giant Anthem x

One if the short travel Scotts (forget the name sorry)

One if the older Trek Fuels (the 100mm ones, again, I forget t name)

Spesh epic

The Rookie

Budget?

Titus from on-one worth considering, good value for money.

Personally I'd look at getting a good used rather than new, much better VFM, or even perhaps a base spec model, break it down and flog what you don't want for your build.

benpinnick

If a large frame would suit, Mountain Trax have an Anthem x for £650... Bargain. I on the other hand have a Blur LT frame for sale... Yours for £650 inc. RP23., headset & fr. mech Would be great with the Revs. Thats what I have been running. Blatant plug over. Seriously though, if you're after 100mm travel, check out the trance at M-trax.

JimboM

Thanks for the suggestions guys, as it happens I saw an Intense 5.5 EVP frame on the bay this evening, don't know anything about them but the reviews online were good so stuck a bid in and won it for £210.

Any opinions on wether it will suit what I want or will it be going back on Ebay next week ??

Cheers

Jim

benpinnick

Thats pretty cool - The EVP is a quite rare intense version of the Blur LT 1 for all intense (sic) and purposes. Depending on the condition, it could be a bargain. Id recommend running your fork long though, the head angles were quite steep IIRC.

The Rookie

With shock I trust?
Yup...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Intense-5-5-e ... 7675.l2557
That looks a real bargain as long as the paint job is good (bad it'll will still be a bargain once you fix it!)

Should be an RP23 shock, they often cost about £150-180 on ebay by themselves!

njee20

No mention of shock, it's a DHX 5.0 in that frame, but I'd not be expecting it to be included...

The Rookie

Sorry I was going from the fact the shock was in the photo and not excluded in the description.

njee20

And that could well be the case, but whenever I sell a FS frame I'd certainly mention the shock in the listing, particularly as he's mentioned the seatpost etc.

Could just be me being cynical, unless he's got another frame the same size there's little point in keeping the shock.

benpinnick

njee20 wrote:

No mention of shock, it's a DHX 5.0 in that frame, but I'd not be expecting it to be included...

Its a manitou Swinger not a DHX. Id expect it in the price.

JimboM

Yep, seller confirmed that shock in the pics is included - no idea what it is though. Apparently he ran the bike with a DT Swiss Carbon which he also has for sale, would this be a worthwhile addition and what sort of price should I expect to pay.

Cheers

Jim

benpinnick

Nah, I'd wait to see what nick the Swinger is in.