Steel X-country Hard Tail

hotdiggadidamn · May 2007

I'm looking at a hardy & trusty steel frame hard tail to take abroad on a big mission...there won't be any bike shops on the route so we're looking at defining the decription 'bomb-proof'.

Any advise on
frame 17.5"-18"
advise on (mechanical) disc brakes
shocks

you might even have something in the garage for sale....

Andy B · May 2007

On-One and Orange do steel hardtails (as do a fair few other manufacturers)

How much do you have to spend?

Mech disc's are easier to repair than Hydraulics, but not quite as powerful.

RockShox forks are pretty good, Tora's are good budget forks, Reba's are more expensive.

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streako · May 2007

Merlin Rock Lobster 853 is a good starting point.

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Unknown · May 2007

How long for? Because there was an article a while back in either whatmtb or MBUK about this guy who cycled round the world, i'd get what he had. What will you be doing exactly and what is your budget?

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paulosoxo · May 2007

I'm not saying this because I own an On One, however I reckon the new Slot Dropout frame will be ideal, as should you have any rear mech problems, you can simply use the horizontal drop-outs to convert it to a single speed.

Edit, I belive there may not be enough clearance to get a standard mech disc brake in the frame, because of where the mount is, but I'd be going for Hydraulic anyhow, they really are fit and forget things

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Unknown · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ride_whenever

How long for? Because there was an article a while back in either whatmtb or MBUK about this guy who cycled round the world, i'd get what he had. What will you be doing exactly and what is your budget?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I think he had a Specialized rockhopper or a specialized of some sort

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Unknown · May 2007

yeah it was a spesh and it snapped like most old rockhoppers eventually do....... spesh sent him a NOS one to replace it tho....

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hotdiggadidamn · May 2007

Hey Guys
thanks for the interest in this topic. Keep it coming
Will be a 6 week overland trip in central Asia
The bike will obviously be central to the trip although there will be other items like spares & solid clothing (I've heard Hummer do some good kit)
In view of this, I'd like to get the bike dusted for a grand....
I've yet to do all the maths for the cost based on an own build
if anyone's done this before any advise welcomed
Keeping an open mind as to make and model
keep the ideas coming

Futureboy · May 2007

I don't know about doing it for œ1K, but i'd be looking at:

A Rocky Mountain Blizzard or Hammer (which come with rack mounts), an On-One or an Orange P7.

guilliano · May 2007

Charge duster mid for œ699 or Charge duster hi for œ1099. Getting great reviews at the mo

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paulosoxo · May 2007

Well you'll get this bike for œ599, then pay the extra œ250 for LX drivetrain, giving you a ready built geared bike for just under œ850, leaving you plenty of cash to buy a rack and panniers (I'm sure all On One frames still take racks)

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chemdogwmb · May 2007

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60206

it's withstood my abuse for a hard 12 months riding in the lakes. if i was to buy again I'd get a orange p7 pro though, albeit their more expensive.

good luck with the trip, be sure to let us know how you get on,

Iain

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BOGEY · May 2007

I feel biased enough to throw my frame into the ring [:D]

Cove Handjob XC new for approx 350quid. New version can take 120-130mm forks.

It's a nice steel hardcore XC/freeridey frame. Seems sturdy enough, i'm not a frame trasher though, so far...

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Unknown · June 2007

Well I've got an old Orange P7 with side-pull brakes (which is what I'd go for I think if I wanted reliability in the middle of Asia!) and short travel front suspension and it has been incredibly reliable and bombproof despite being thrown down rock gardens, sunk in peat bogs, hauled through rain and snow, etc. I've not carried any luggage on it but I'm sure it would do the job admirably. The new P7 has longer travel and disc brakes and is heavier so if you are going to build it yourself it might be worth going for an old geometry frame on Ebay (or complete bikes for œ200-300).

I recently bought an all dancing full-sus bike with disc brakes and broke the front brake within 3 days by simply dropping it quite lightly on its brake lever which then bent the pushrod and damaged it to such an extent it wasn't repairable without spare bits which was a month's wait (and that's in the UK not the middle of nowhere!).

CURWENATOR · June 2007

I'd agree with chemdog, Kona explosif has a sherman tank esque steel frame and at œ900 would be just the ticket

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Unknown · June 2007

Cove handjob is a good frame, but I think you might struggle to build it up for a grand, plus it does not have a pannier rack.

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