Hardtail trail bike.. Buy or build

[aanon]

I think Transition Trans Am are fairly priced too, another one that looked pretty decent was the Cromag Wideangle, Can't say I had an in depth look but the numbers I saw were good.http://www.chromagbikes.com/bikes/wide-angle

 

[mitchy_]

Ho shit, these things look fun. 67.5 deg HTA, 74deg STA and wtf a super short CSL @ only 418mm :faint:
This thing would just shred and rip all day in a 27.5.

Wish the boat would sell....

the spesh fuse 6fattie comes in around there... 67° HTA, 73° STA, 430mm stays with 27.5+

 

[Elbo]

Another vote for build.

I built a Surly Troll for xc/trail use with XT/XO all round, Hope Pro 2/Stans ZTR Flow, Crank Brothers bits for $2.5k a few years ago, so can't see why it isn't possible.

Have you considered a Surly Instigator 2? http://surlybikes.com/bikes/instigator_2point0/frame_highlights Super nice looking bike, steel, not as slack as the Ragley Blue Pig, but definitely trail inclined.

 

[spoozbucket]

If you are tempted by a 29er a Canfield could also be an option, 413mm minimum back end-

http://www.crankin.net.au/?product=canfield-brothers-nimble-9-chrome-142x12mm-rear#!prettyPhoto

 

[Miguel75]

Ho shit, these things look fun. 67.5 deg HTA, 74deg STA and wtf a super short CSL @ only 418mm :faint:
This thing would just shred and rip all day in a 27.5.

Wish the boat would sell....

The NS eccentric has almost the same name numbers; size L - HTA 67.5, STA 73, Chainstay 420... and they come in ninja stealth black!

 

[Kind_cir]

The NS eccentric has almost the same name numbers; size L - HTA 67.5, STA 73, Chainstay 420... and they come in ninja stealth black!

Yes, I had considered it, tiny bit longer and slacker at the back.

 

[mitchy_]

If you are tempted by a 29er a Canfield could also be an option, 413mm minimum back end-

http://www.crankin.net.au/?product=canfield-brothers-nimble-9-chrome-142x12mm-rear#!prettyPhoto

29er's are getting crazy short... my 160mm 29" Enduro has 430mm stays, my 140mm 26" Torrent had 437mm!

 

[slider_phil]

Indeed! My Riot has 414mm chainstays for a 140mm 29er. Ordering bits for my new hardtail build at the moment (Chromag Rootdown) and its got 430mm chainstays.

 

[spoozbucket]

My 650b hardtail is 415-430 and I'd like it in the short setting but it just lifts the front on climbs, 430mm is a bit of a pig to manual.

 

[Kind_cir]

My 650b hardtail is 415-430 and I'd like it in the short setting but it just lifts the front on climbs, 430mm is a bit of a pig to manual.

Currently my chainstay length is 442mm which is awesome on climbs, but sucks ballzs to manual.

 

[agentninety3]

I've been keen to try a Kona Honzo as a burly 29er HT.

http://www.konaworld.com/honzo_st_frame.cfm

 

[Kind_cir]

I've been keen to try a Kona Honzo as a burly 29er HT.

http://www.konaworld.com/honzo_st_frame.cfm

Them Kona's are looking good straight off the rack.

 

[cramhobart]

Yes, I had considered it, tiny bit longer and slacker at the back.

The NS is about $600 cheaper on CRC at the moment- thats a massive price difference for SFA in geometry, Nukeproof Scout 275
ticks most of the boxes, available soon and about $500 cheaper than the transition. I'm sure the transitions a nice frame- but $1200 is a big chunk out of a 3k build budget.

 

[aanon]

I'm sure the transitions a nice frame- but $1200 is a big chunk out of a 3k build budget.

I thought they were about 800 bucks Oz, Not the first time I've been wrong, yeah $1200 is getting up there.

 

[cramhobart]

I thought they were about 800 bucks Oz, Not the first time I've been wrong, yeah $1200 is getting up there.

I'm shortlisting for a similar build to yours- and wish I was wrong- cause at $800 i'd have one. But at $1250 rrp, when theres similar frames for half the price.

http://www.supersports.net.au/products/bikes/transition/transition-transam

If you can find them for $800 please send me a link.

 

[DamionGiersch]

Cotic BFe275 FTW

I went the Cotic BFe 275 route, and ordered the frame through the Australian Distributor. Got it for $600, but that was before the Australian Dollar kept going down like a 2 dollar hooker.

Am running mine with 160mm Suntour Auron forks (seem pretty good to me), and this bike shits all over the Ragley BluePig I had previously. I haven't ridden enough bikes to make a subjective comparison, but this bike to me is the Ducks Nuts!

Killer frame materials! Killer Geo! Killer Ride!

 

[aanon]

I went the Cotic BFe 275 route, Killer frame materials! Killer Geo! Killer Ride!

That would be a pretty bloody good bike, nice build. I had the 26'', brilliant bike.

 

[JTmofo]

I went the Cotic BFe 275 route, and ordered the frame through the Australian Distributor. Got it for $600, but that was before the Australian Dollar kept going down like a 2 dollar hooker.

Am running mine with 160mm Suntour Auron forks (seem pretty good to me), and this bike shits all over the Ragley BluePig I had previously. I haven't ridden enough bikes to make a subjective comparison, but this bike to me is the Ducks Nuts!

Killer frame materials! Killer Geo! Killer Ride!

Your brake line routing is making me feel ill.

 

[DamionGiersch]

Your brake line routing is making me feel ill.

Lol. I know - probably shouldn't assemble a bike while downing beers.

Have since corrected the brake line routing, shortened hoses, and replaced all cable outers with white, but have been too lazy to take any photo's of a nice clean finished bike

 

[floody]

This was is the cost breakdown of my Soul build:
(lightly used) Soul 26" frame with Cane Creek Forty headset- $700
Blunt 35s on Novatec 4 in 1 - $480
Continental Trail King 2.4 x2, Renthal Apex stem, M785 brake set, ODI TLD lock ons - $530
New GXP BB - $40
Used Fox 32 Float Factory RL $350
Fox heritage decals - $40
Tubes (I know) - $20
Deore shifter - $60

Total purchases: $2220.

Freebie used parts from old bike:
-SRAM S1000 crankset
-Renthal 32t chainring
-11-36 SRAM cassette
-Sram PC1031 chain
-Zee Derailleur
-Renthal bar
-Generic seat and post
-180/160 Shimano rotors
-Rear brake adaptor from parts bin


I think fork choice would be a defining factor in overall build cost but $3k should be well doable with some savvy purchases.

Also worth noting I could have had a killer deal on a '15 Honzo for $2199 out the door.