Stanton bikes - to buy or not to buy

frankspencer1979
frankspencer1979 Posts: 525
edited December 2014 in MTB buying advice
Does anyone know of anyone over 6ft that rides a Stanton Slackline? The frames look a bit small, short reach. Just wondering if it would be too short for me (6ft2.) I ride an 18" Ragley Piglet at the moment and I think I'm pushing it on that really.

Comments

  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    A mate of mine is just over 6' and rides a Slackline, he loves it. I would say the top tube is about right but personally I would struggle to get even a 400mm seatpost high enough and I'm 6'1"
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235
  • frankspencer1979
    frankspencer1979 Posts: 525
    The effective top tube of the piglet is 613mm and the virtual top tube of the Stanton is 603mm i think so not much in it. I take it this is the same measurement?

    I cope with the amount leg room i have, although i would be interested to compare to a bigger frame to see if i find it easier to pedal and manoeuvre on.
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    According to the Stanton website its a 24" top tube which works out at 609.6mm for the large and an inch (25.4mm) less for the medium.
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235
  • frankspencer1979
    frankspencer1979 Posts: 525
    I've decided I'd like to upgrade my bike a bit, ultimately I'd love a brand new, well spec'd full susser but I can't justify the outlay. So I fancy going a bit "harder hitting" than my Ragley Piglet.

    I'm on the verge of pressing the buy button on a Slackline 653, now I know only I can make the decision, but a bit of thinking out loud doesn't hurt.

    I'll be going from a 120mm rockshox recon silver to 140-160mm xfusion slant. The slackline should be a degree slacker. Should I expect a big difference in feel and capability from this change? Or is a hardtail just a hardtail no matter what the front end is like?

    I'm not sure what the tubeset of the Piglet is, but I'm assuming the Stanton is of a higher quality (Reynolds 631) Can you really tell the difference from one steel frame to another once fork and tyres are between it and the trail?

    I guess I'm basically wondering if the slackline will fell substantially different?
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    They will feel different.
    Obviously.
    I don't do smileys.

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  • kahunajb
    kahunajb Posts: 26
    I've just ordered one today and I'm 6'3" so will let you know.

    I agonised over the decision but have read various reports of them being ok for people at my height so have gone for it.
  • frankspencer1979
    frankspencer1979 Posts: 525
    kahunajb wrote:
    I've just ordered one today and I'm 6'3" so will let you know.

    I agonised over the decision but have read various reports of them being ok for people at my height so have gone for it.

    Brill, an update will be great. Complete build or custom?
  • kahunajb
    kahunajb Posts: 26
    Custom. I've got all the bits so will be built up as soon as the frame arrives.
  • stuisnew
    stuisnew Posts: 366
    RockmonkeySC wrote:
    I would say the top tube is about right but personally I would struggle to get even a 400mm seatpost high enough and I'm 6'1"

    My thoughts exactly - I'm 6'2 and was looking for a frame, but couldn't see that I could get this to fit. I'd look elsewhere - lovely looking bikes that get great reviews but they have to fit!
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    The latest fashion for short seat posts is a real pain for those of us of a sensible height. To get my Mega to fit I had to go for the XL to get a 20" seat tube (18.5" isn't long enough) which meant that I ended up with a 635 top tube so i needed a 35mm stem to make it work. Large frames used to have a 20" seat tube and 620 ish top tube which was spot on.
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235
  • stuisnew
    stuisnew Posts: 366
    RockmonkeySC wrote:
    The latest fashion for short seat posts is a real pain for those of us of a sensible height. To get my Mega to fit I had to go for the XL to get a 20" seat tube (18.5" isn't long enough) which meant that I ended up with a 635 top tube so i needed a 35mm stem to make it work. Large frames used to have a 20" seat tube and 620 ish top tube which was spot on.
    Completely agree with this
  • frankspencer1979
    frankspencer1979 Posts: 525
    I'm currently riding an 18" piglet and feel like I just about get enough height from the seat post.

    The effective top tube of the Stanton is 4mm shorter than the piglet so I can't imagine really noticing that. I've pushed the saddle on the piglet forward a bit as an experiment and it still feels fine.

    In order to get a longer seat tube, an alternative would be a large cotic bfe, but that still has the same top tube as the stanton, so I don't see what I would gain going larger?

    I've read loads of hardcore hardtail threads and so many of them boil down to the Stanton and the bfe. It has to be 26er and take a tapered steerer.
  • jairaj
    jairaj Posts: 3,009
    I'm not sure what the tubeset of the Piglet is, but I'm assuming the Stanton is of a higher quality (Reynolds 631) Can you really tell the difference from one steel frame to another once fork and tyres are between it and the trail?

    I used to ride a Saracen Zen with 631 tubing which rode considerably nicer than my mates On One 456 made from scaffold tubing. How much of this is in the design of the frame and how much is in the materials ... I have no idea. I think there are few people offering demo rides of Stanton's bikes, have a search round to see if there is someone near you and have a go.

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