Recommend a USED XC Trail Hardcore Hardtail - GO!

stevekoz

First off i can't afford or particularly want NEW. I realise with my budget of £500-600 i'm in the used market which is fine for a good strong hardtail and i'm a competent bike mechanic these days to boot.

I've just sold my very custom meta full susser cus i really have an itch to go back towards a hardcore hardtail. Just get back to feeling that back end a bit more and not feeling so dumbed down while i'm riding, more connected with it.

Feel free to look on any site and do some shopping for me if you are bored.

I'm 6ft 1 and a bit, 31 inch leg inseam.

Bike. I would like a good strong frame. Don't want carbon fibre (Not in my price bracket anyway). Looking for a do anything bike, as comfortable riding 50 miles fire trails as it is at climbing and descending at coed y brenin or any other such place.

Likewise if anyone has a bike that may fit that category for sale hit me up.

Probably anything from 2008 onwards

Ones i've seen so far

Orange Crush
Orange p7
Kenesis Maxlight(?)
Marin Rocky Ridge
On One 456

Any opinions, comments, suggestions, etc. Appreciated. Likewise, any others i should/could consider?

Cheers all .

Ferrals

Probably over your budget, but I am toying with the concept of selling 'half' my medium whyte901 2014 for £725. Frame, rs sektor gold fork, brand new fsa headset, easton haven 55mm stem, gxp bb, sram cranks and hope 34t narrow wide ring, whyte branded 27.5 wheelset with maxxis ardent fr crossmark rear tyres. Not sure if frame would be too small for you, it's just too big for me (5'7 and a half)

stevekoz

thanks for the offer, sounds like a nice bike, but don't think it would be large enough for me and its not in the bracket of what i'm looking at. cheers though.

kinioo

Ferrals wrote:

Probably over your budget, but I am toying with the concept of selling 'half' my medium whyte901 2014 for £725. Frame, rs sektor gold fork, brand new fsa headset, easton haven 55mm stem, gxp bb, sram cranks and hope 34t narrow wide ring, whyte branded 27.5 wheelset with maxxis ardent fr crossmark rear tyres. Not sure if frame would be too small for you, it's just too big for me (5'7 and a half)

Hi,

Do you have any photos of this bike ??

If so, can you PM me??

Cheers

Ferrals

Pm sent

stevekoz

Narrowed it down to

On One 456

Cotic Soul

Ragley Blue Pig

I ride XC mainly as live by a massive natural park full of natural single track. I love purpose built trails like Cannock Chase and Coed Y Brenin. I occassionally can be found tearing downhill too and at the same time love an all day fire trail or canal hack with the family. So it really is one bike for all jobs for me.

Any opinions?

Cheers

The Rookie

Soul isn't really hardcore, that's the BFe's job, the Soul is a lightweight steel XC/trail frame, would suit your declared usage though.

stevekoz

Edging towards a blue pig....any thoughts?

The Rookie

Your stated usage doesn't really suggest a hardcore bike is the best option, more a trail bike, are you sure a long travel bike is what you want?

stevekoz

Thinking you are perhaps right. Not sure the cotic is still available, any other options you might suggest?

The Rookie

Masses of choice, look for something with 120-130mm travel and then post back for opinions when you find something, the Boardman hardtails are good value.

andy37

Personnaly would never buy an on-one or planet x bike as have witnessed 1 cracked frame and 1 where the headstock sheared (carbon frame) service is poo too!!

paulneenan76

^^^^^^^ I smell bullsh*t

pigglet

How about a mongrel build up? :P

I built up my 26er to do pretty much exactly what you want. It consists of a rock lobster tig team Sl frame, rockshox revelations and mavic F219 rims.
The forks are longer travel than merlin would recommend but I found it made a great trail bike that was pretty light, would out climb the cove stiffee it replaced and after a couple of years of hammer was none the worse for wear. It's a bike I won't part with but on the rocky terrain near me a 29er is more suitable.

rockmonkeysc

andy37 wrote:

Personnaly would never buy an on-one or planet x bike as have witnessed 1 cracked frame and 1 where the headstock sheared (carbon frame) service is poo too!!

I did a year of DH racing on a 456SS and it refused to break despite some big crashes. I found their customer service excellent.

stevekoz

Tempted by a 456 if I can find one. Think motor vehicle issues may eat into my budget so I'm widening search a bit.

So far found all these within budget

Ragley blue pig
Commencal Ramones al1
Cube reaction
Possibly one 456 but may be sold

I really am not after something you'll see 20 other people riding at the same place which is what it can be like round here esp with boardmans and specialised or trek so discounting those.daftly maybe but that's my preference

rockmonkeysc

Blue Pig is very similar to 456.

cooldad

Stevekoz wrote:

I really am not after something you'll see 20 other people riding at the same place

Maybe they know something...

stevekoz

cooldad wrote:

Stevekoz wrote:

I really am not after something you'll see 20 other people riding at the same place

Maybe they know something...

Could be right, maybe they do, but just my personal taste, just having something that bit less out the box. Not sure why.