Hardtail Alternatives
Discussion
I am in the market for a new hardtail and have been looking at the Santa Cruz Highball 27.5 with the XX1 build kit and Enve wheels.
My current full suspension has XX1 which I love so would like a bike with similar. My question is what other lightweight hardtails have you guys got experience of please? I want something that will be quick cross country and I can use for blasts around my local trail centres. I don't really want a 29er as they never seem to gel with my rubbish riding style.
My current full suspension has XX1 which I love so would like a bike with similar. My question is what other lightweight hardtails have you guys got experience of please? I want something that will be quick cross country and I can use for blasts around my local trail centres. I don't really want a 29er as they never seem to gel with my rubbish riding style.
Am I missing something here?
You say you want something for blatting around your local trail centres with a rubbish riding style, yet you're looking at a £6k out and out race bike??
Why????
OK, if you want to start XC racing at a serious level, go for that, but for what you've described, I really can't imagine what you're expecting to gain out of the last £4k or so of your expenditure?
You say you want something for blatting around your local trail centres with a rubbish riding style, yet you're looking at a £6k out and out race bike??
Why????
OK, if you want to start XC racing at a serious level, go for that, but for what you've described, I really can't imagine what you're expecting to gain out of the last £4k or so of your expenditure?
Have you considered the Orange bikes Crush?
With your budget I'd be looking at the Crush RS, it's a 650b wheel size https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/crush-rs - It has a Pike fork and 1x11 gearing. I almost bought one but am building a full sus and so I bought a cheaper hardtail as a second bike
With your budget I'd be looking at the Crush RS, it's a 650b wheel size https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/crush-rs - It has a Pike fork and 1x11 gearing. I almost bought one but am building a full sus and so I bought a cheaper hardtail as a second bike
Kermit power said:
Am I missing something here?
You say you want something for blatting around your local trail centres with a rubbish riding style, yet you're looking at a £6k out and out race bike??
Why????
OK, if you want to start XC racing at a serious level, go for that, but for what you've described, I really can't imagine what you're expecting to gain out of the last £4k or so of your expenditure?
Shhh, the second hand bike market needs people like this! You say you want something for blatting around your local trail centres with a rubbish riding style, yet you're looking at a £6k out and out race bike??
Why????
OK, if you want to start XC racing at a serious level, go for that, but for what you've described, I really can't imagine what you're expecting to gain out of the last £4k or so of your expenditure?
but in all seriousness, I see people riding Pinarello Dogmas dripping with Campag SR on sportives with their knees around their chin, they would be fine on a Carrera from Halfords, I see people on trackdays in £30k worth of Caterham where a £3k kit car would be more in level with their driving ability but hey, who actually cares? if he can afford it and it makes him smile why stress.
I forgot why I don't ask many questions on PH 
I was being tongue in cheek about being rubbish, apologies if that did not come across. I am obviously no pro but I am a decent enough road and MTB rider and am just looking for a nice bike that is light, quick and makes me smile when I ride it or look at in the garage. What is wrong with that?
Thanks for the other options Dragonic and Rob, this is really appreciated. Just what I needed.
I was being tongue in cheek about being rubbish, apologies if that did not come across. I am obviously no pro but I am a decent enough road and MTB rider and am just looking for a nice bike that is light, quick and makes me smile when I ride it or look at in the garage. What is wrong with that?
Thanks for the other options Dragonic and Rob, this is really appreciated. Just what I needed.
I had an Orange Crush on demo recently, whilst it was a fun bike, I wouldn't say it was fast - I struggled to hang onto the people I was riding with on it where normally on my other bikes I can (just about!)
I returned it to the shop, tried out a Highball 29er (breifly) and am now awaiting delivery of the frame, its the alloy 29er but will be built with 120mm forks, short stem, wide bars etc so not full on XC.
I returned it to the shop, tried out a Highball 29er (breifly) and am now awaiting delivery of the frame, its the alloy 29er but will be built with 120mm forks, short stem, wide bars etc so not full on XC.
Norgles said:
I forgot why I don't ask many questions on PH
I was being tongue in cheek about being rubbish, apologies if that did not come across. I am obviously no pro but I am a decent enough road and MTB rider and am just looking for a nice bike that is light, quick and makes me smile when I ride it or look at in the garage. What is wrong with that?
Nothing per se wrong with it. I was asking an honest question, as all the reviews I could find of it said it was an out and out race bike, which didn't seem to fit at all with the sort of riding you say you'll be doing on it.I was being tongue in cheek about being rubbish, apologies if that did not come across. I am obviously no pro but I am a decent enough road and MTB rider and am just looking for a nice bike that is light, quick and makes me smile when I ride it or look at in the garage. What is wrong with that?
Rob_T said:
You Sir, have good taste. CRC keep offering the frames with some very rude discounts.For me it's either as you've posted or a Renovo hard-tail. http://renovobikes.com/pages/badash-29er
But with custom mahogany detailing as the Ash is too light in colour for my tastes. Something very appealing about riding around on furniture
My last xc bike got written off by a car and I wanted something similar (i use it for commuting in the wet) but also something that would cut it on the easier trails at a trail centre. Some of the slacker (whyte 905, orange crush) hardtails were just too much like work on the road. In the end I went for a giant xtc advanced, the carbon frame is really nice and the groupset has some nice upgrade oportunities. The geo is more relaxed than my old trek xc bike but not so relaxed to make it rubbish on the road.
Norgles said:
I want something that will be quick cross country and I can use for blasts around my local trail centres. I don't really want a 29er as they never seem to gel with my rubbish riding style.
Depending on your height don't rule out the latest 29er's. I thought the same as you, but at a recent Demo day at Cannock I couldn't see any negative for a 29er compared to a 650b. Actually it was impossible to tell which wheel size I was riding.How about a Cannondale FSI? (Carbon) I rode one at Cannock and it was more fun (and faster) that the Santa Cruz, Whyte and Trek I rode.
I'd recommend a Pivot LES.
I've been using a LES 29er for the past 18 months and it's a great bike. Very fast for XC riding and racing but easily comfortable enough for 12h races as well.
They do it as a 27.5 which quite a few very fast people are racing this year. Personally I'd have liked to get a 27.5 rather than a 29er but the 27.5 has swappable dropouts to convert to singlespeed for winter use.
From personal experience, I'd avoid Niner. The carbon frames have had plenty of cracking issues in the past and my Air 9 had the most appalling paint finish imaginable. I didn't know that you could apply paint so thinly! It would chip with the slightest knock to it which was pretty poor for an expensive frame.
Apart from that, the ride quality and handling were dire!
I've been using a LES 29er for the past 18 months and it's a great bike. Very fast for XC riding and racing but easily comfortable enough for 12h races as well.
They do it as a 27.5 which quite a few very fast people are racing this year. Personally I'd have liked to get a 27.5 rather than a 29er but the 27.5 has swappable dropouts to convert to singlespeed for winter use.
From personal experience, I'd avoid Niner. The carbon frames have had plenty of cracking issues in the past and my Air 9 had the most appalling paint finish imaginable. I didn't know that you could apply paint so thinly! It would chip with the slightest knock to it which was pretty poor for an expensive frame.
Apart from that, the ride quality and handling were dire!
Thanks for the suggestions and ideas. Maybe I should try a 29er again before buying. Last one I tried felt quite unwieldy in the turns but maybe I just need to recalibrate. Whatever I buy I would like to have the XX1 group set. I have this on my full suspension and in the last 3 years it has needed hardly no maintenance and has never dropped the chain once. The lack of a small cog upfront has also done wonders for my power, over that time my FTP has increased by over 30% 
WestyCarl said:
Depending on your height don't rule out the latest 29er's. I thought the same as you, but at a recent Demo day at Cannock I couldn't see any negative for a 29er compared to a 650b. Actually it was impossible to tell which wheel size I was riding.
How about a Cannondale FSI? (Carbon) I rode one at Cannock and it was more fun (and faster) that the Santa Cruz, Whyte and Trek I rode.
What was fun about the Cannonade? Also how was the single fork?How about a Cannondale FSI? (Carbon) I rode one at Cannock and it was more fun (and faster) that the Santa Cruz, Whyte and Trek I rode.
Norgles said:
What was fun about the Cannonade? Also how was the single fork?
It felt light, rigid and very very fast, but also supple. As to the lefty, once riding I didn't notice any difference (apart from looking cool 
) compared to standard forks.Afterwards I rode a Focus Raven as a comparison and although slightly lighter I didn't enjoy it as much, the back end was far to stiff and not as compliant, the ride was very very firm. Over tree roots the back wheel would hop and skip, slowing progress, the Cannondale would just absorb these.
I also rode a Santa Cruz, and although very capable it felt like a tank compared to the Cannondale.
I currently ride a 26er 120mm and was looking to get something a bit more enduro, however having ridden the Cannondale FSI, I've changed my mind and will be now likely be ordering one. As a comparison the Cannondale didn't feel any less manoeuvrable than my 26er.
WestyCarl said:
It felt light, rigid and very very fast, but also supple. As to the lefty, once riding I didn't notice any difference (apart from looking cool ) compared to standard forks.
Afterwards I rode a Focus Raven as a comparison and although slightly lighter I didn't enjoy it as much, the back end was far to stiff and not as compliant, the ride was very very firm. Over tree roots the back wheel would hop and skip, slowing progress, the Cannondale would just absorb these.
I also rode a Santa Cruz, and although very capable it felt like a tank compared to the Cannondale.
I currently ride a 26er 120mm and was looking to get something a bit more enduro, however having ridden the Cannondale FSI, I've changed my mind and will be now likely be ordering one. As a comparison the Cannondale didn't feel any less manoeuvrable than my 26er.
Sounds interesting, I have just booked a demo ride of the F-SI HI-MOD tomorrow to see how I get on. Thanks for sharing!) compared to standard forks.Afterwards I rode a Focus Raven as a comparison and although slightly lighter I didn't enjoy it as much, the back end was far to stiff and not as compliant, the ride was very very firm. Over tree roots the back wheel would hop and skip, slowing progress, the Cannondale would just absorb these.
I also rode a Santa Cruz, and although very capable it felt like a tank compared to the Cannondale.
I currently ride a 26er 120mm and was looking to get something a bit more enduro, however having ridden the Cannondale FSI, I've changed my mind and will be now likely be ordering one. As a comparison the Cannondale didn't feel any less manoeuvrable than my 26er.
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