I need some help!

careca78

Hello

My name is Vitor, I'm 35, Portuguese and riding bikes since the days when aluminium frames and indexed shifters were something new :shock:

I have a small dilemma and need some help, but first I will have to tell you a short story...
Back in 1998 I've bought a Trek 6000 which served me well, with some upgrades during the way, until 2005 when I bought a Mondraker Foxy. Since then the Trek had been relegated to 2nd place and/or as my better half's bike and all went well until a crack developed in the front tube. Lifetime warranty activated and some months later I had a new 2011 model Trek 8500 frame to assemble.

Well, it seems that my riding style had evolved and I'm now unable to adapt myself to this new XC geometry. After some thought I've started looking for a replacement and turned my attention to something not very common in Portugal... Aggro Trail Steel Hardtail Bikes, baby yeah!!!

So basically I'm looking for something that allows me to have serious fun like I had back in the old days where there were no XC, Trail or Enduro... just mountain bikes. My candidates so far are the Stanton Slackline (lifetime warranty is scoring some points here), Cotic Soul, Commençal Ramones, Ragley Piglet, Dialled alpine and the On One 456.

Now I need your help figuring out which will be the best bang for the buck... some thoughts?


Cheers
Vitor

ej2320

I know the On One and Cotic are popular round here, and with good reason

thelonegroover

This list is very good, roughly the least to greatest 'bang for the buck' :
Stanton Slackline £460(lifetime warranty is scoring some points here),
Cotic Soul £499
Commençal Ramones ?
Ragley Piglet £350
Dialled alpine £395
On One 456 £225
Cotic is quite expensive, not sure you'll see the benefit, I'd go for the Ragley Piglet but make sure it's the 2013 model.

brucie45

I can vouch for the Commencal Ramones (check my signiture). Brilliant paylful bike which is now my do it all bike.

I do think at the minute the On One 456 frames are unbeatable value wise.

careca78

Hello guys

Thanks for the inputs. Your opinions really count, especially because these kind of bikes are so uncommon in Portugal that no one seems to know much about its characteristics. Only recently there was an article in a Portuguese magazine about a Ragley Piglet (2012 model) and that was the starting kick.

I've been reading bike reviews in Wideopen Magazine, Vital MTB and Enduro Mountain online magazines and it seems Stanton is doing really well. It may not be the cheapest but its geometry, handling, finishing and lifetime warranty are all scoring points.

BIKES AND PRICES:
Cotic Soul -- 590,76€
Commençal Ramones Cromo -- 359,00€
Decade Virsa -- 414,35€
Dialled Alpine -- 386,03€
On-One 456 Evo 2 -- 266,51€
Pipedream Scion R853 -- 413,18€
Pipedream Sirius R853 -- 467,64€
Ragley Piglet 2 -- 414,35€
Stanton Slackline 631 -- 455,78€
Stanton Slackline 853 -- 544,59€

My biggest requirements/limitations will be:
-26” wheels (maybe I will have a pair of Sun Ringle wheels available)
-Able to work with a 130mm fork (2005 Fox Vanilla available)
-Compatible with 1 1/8” steer tube
-Shimano SLX 3 ring cranks compatible
-QR rear wheel frame
-I’m a 95kg, 1.80m, built like a rugby player kind of guy

Keep those comments coming…


Cheers
Vitor

pesky_jones

Stanton Slackline 631.

Dialled alpine.

On One 456 Evo.

That's what I'd choose from, in order as well.

careca78

Can someone explain me the major difference between Slackline 631 and Slackline 853 apart from the material used in the frame?

Is it worth 90€ difference?

pesky_jones

I'd say no. I think it is just strength. Unless your're a really big guy I guess 631 would be fine

careca78

I guess that with 1.80m and 95kg of something like a rugby player elegance (if that even exists) the Slackline 631 should be enough

pesky_jones

I'd say so

perica_mali

Cotic Soul.
I had same quest last winter cause i wanted a steel frame.
List was almost like yours and decided to get Soul.
Didn't regret it cause it's great frame that suits my needs frame from xc to light am.
Maybe it's pricey but I think it's worth.
Guys from Cotic and Eaven Cycles (German distributor that's closest to Croatia) were great so I decided to buy my dream frame.
But, if I wanted more slacker frame, my choice would be Stanton Slackline 853.

careca78

Thanks for the inputs.

I'm leaning more and more towards the Stanton Slackline, but I've decided to wait until mid-October and check what´s new at the annual bike show here in Portugal.
I will keep you informed.

ej2320

For what it's worth, the Stanton is what I'd get if I got round to buying a hardtail

poah

you don't have to worry about a tapered head tube as you get reducers for 1 1/8 steers (I use one)

careca78

Good morning to you all

Finally I’m taking my first step to get a new bike… selling the old one!
Now I need your help to put a value in my old bike. It’s a confusing mix of old and new parts, from which the frame is the only good one:

- Trek 8500, 17.5” frame, 2011 model fresh from the warranty
- FSA headset
- SR Suntour XC-Pro 60-120mm adjustable travel, air sprung, lockable and with remote commands (2006)
- Shimano M-475 hubs with Mavic rims (2007)
- Formula B4 hydraulic disk brakes (180mm front and 160mm rear) (2007)
- OnOff Notion 1.5, 680mm bar or Truvativ XC-AM Riserbar
- OnOff Notion 70mm stem or Intox 70mm stem
- Bontranger grips (2012)
- Shimano Deore shifters (2006)
- Shimano Deore front mech (2006)
- Shimano Deore rear mech (2006)
- Shimano Deore 9 speed cassete (2006)
- Shimano SLX 3 rings cranks (2012)
- OnOff seat post (2007)
- Selle Italia seat (2006)
- Bontranger seat post clamp (2012)

As you can see some of the part are quite old, but they are in great shape because this is/was my second bike and most of its mileage was done by my wife.

Thanks
Vitor

careca78

Can someone help me putting a price tag on this bike… please?

The Rookie

Rule #15

2 packets of fangtastics......

careca78

Sorry about that, I didn’t realized I was breaking a forum rule… honest mistake 
My post was motivated by pure despair because I have a potential buyer but have no idea about the price to ask.
So if anyone is interested in helping me, please send a PM.

PS: due to my mistake, (virtual) beers are on me

cooldad

So get him to make an offer and if you're happy sell it.

careca78

Hello everyone

Since I cannot sell this bike I’m now considering something different… I will try to convert it to 27,5” or 650B, as you prefer, and make it a X-country/Marathon bike.
It seems the 2009-2011 Trek 8000-8500 frame is able to fit a bigger wheel, but my question now is if it’s better to keep a 26” fork compatible with 27,5” wheels or change to a 27,5” specific fork? I’m afraid that the 27,5” fork might screw the geometry.
I need some comments!

Cheers
Vitor

The Rookie

Its teh axle to crown measurement that is key, any fork that will take 650B wheels (which should properly be called 27" as the rim is 1" bigger than a 26er) is a 27" specific fork, the fact that a 26" wheel will clearly fit is a side issue.

careca78

According to some sources only a few forks will be able to fit a 650B Wheel:
http://650bpalace.blogspot.pt/2011/10/6 ... -list.html
http://www.27emezzo.it/compatibilit%C3%A0-26-650b.html

I know tire clearance with the fork can/will be an issue, but I’m afraid that a 650B fork, being slightly longer, will mess with the geometry. Originally the 2011 model was equipped with a Fox Fork with 100mm travel, so I guess I can always change to a 80mm fork and compensate for the longer legs while keeping more or less the same geometry.

The Rookie

A 650B fork only needs to be 12.5mm longer in the lower (within the a2c range of different same travel forks anyway!), so dropping 10mm of travel will correct that back, hardly a big issue!

careca78

Hello

When I thought everything was settled and already choosing components to convert my Trekenstein to 650B I now have a serious buyer offering 650€ for the bike as is!
What should I do? I don’t even know if it is a fair price…

Thoughts, anyone?

passout

Careca78 wrote:

Hello guys

Thanks for the inputs. Your opinions really count, especially because these kind of bikes are so uncommon in Portugal that no one seems to know much about its characteristics. Only recently there was an article in a Portuguese magazine about a Ragley Piglet (2012 model) and that was the starting kick.

I've been reading bike reviews in Wideopen Magazine, Vital MTB and Enduro Mountain online magazines and it seems Stanton is doing really well. It may not be the cheapest but its geometry, handling, finishing and lifetime warranty are all scoring points.

BIKES AND PRICES:
Cotic Soul -- 590,76€
Commençal Ramones Cromo -- 359,00€
Decade Virsa -- 414,35€
Dialled Alpine -- 386,03€
On-One 456 Evo 2 -- 266,51€
Pipedream Scion R853 -- 413,18€
Pipedream Sirius R853 -- 467,64€
Ragley Piglet 2 -- 414,35€
Stanton Slackline 631 -- 455,78€
Stanton Slackline 853 -- 544,59€

My biggest requirements/limitations will be:
-26” wheels (maybe I will have a pair of Sun Ringle wheels available)
-Able to work with a 130mm fork (2005 Fox Vanilla available)
-Compatible with 1 1/8” steer tube
-Shimano SLX 3 ring cranks compatible
-QR rear wheel frame
-I’m a 95kg, 1.80m, built like a rugby player kind of guy

Keep those comments coming…


Cheers
Vitor

Hi

Only the read the 1st few comments but the Versa is different from most of the other bikes here - its not at all slack & doesn't really suit suspension over about 110mm IMO. I have one. I ride it rigid & like it but differrnt from those other bikes.