Which hardtail 1x

[Fetchez la vache]

Trying to get my head around what the options are for a hard tail 1x geared bike that I can use for both natural trails plus the odd trip to BPW blue & reds, so can handle the jumps, so I guess I'm looking for the slacker geometry.

I'm a short-arsed 5 foot 7 so am assuming 29er would be too large to still be agile - I've not tried one to know, TBH.

Looking for options to the Commencal Meta HT AM which is £1400 (plus 100 for a dropper - that's my budget) so any ideas?

Sonder Transmitter is another option, at about £1k,..

Not fussed if a 2017 model...

[AndyWoodall]

I've got a Whyte 905, is 1x, has Yari's, nice geo, with a set of decent tyres it rips along. I use it for xc ish days in the saddle and arsing about, including BPW when the full suss was having some work done. Its ace. The 2018 model is plus tyred, but fundamentally the same bike. Bit more money though at £1700.

Radley Bluepig worth a shout as it has similar spec to the above and comes highly regarded in reviews (I know one person with one and he likes it).

Also consider a Cotic Bfe, they've just updated the geo so its very similar to the 905, and looks ace. Downside is it will cost more, the Silver 1x build is £1650 from Cotic and has no dropper so not going to get the value aspect of the Whyte. BUT, you could get a shop to build one and thus maybe tweak some bits (a Brand X internal dropper isn't going to cost the earth).

If I were buying my hardtail now, I'd be going BFe and doing a custom build.

Edit... Other option; Orange Crush. Plus you can normally get good deals on 2017 stuff. Actually, that's what I'd recommend. Good value, good bike. Ta da... https://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product...

Search over, for that kind of money, that's a cracking bike.

Edited by AndyWoodall on Monday 6th November 17:30

[Craikeybaby]

I would recommend the Orange Crush, one of the funnest bikes I've ridden.

[timnoyce]

Steel is real...

https://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product...

[Mr Ted]

Build it yourself! I love my 'Frankenbike' and the best bit is my wife will never know how much it cost cos they dont have it at Halfords LOL

[shouldbworking]

In classic recommend what you have I'll recommend a cheaper option. Diamondback heist 3.0 - 1*11, boost wheels, 2.8 tyres, stealth dropper, recon silver forks £950

Edited by shouldbworking on Wednesday 8th November 21:07

[nickfrog]

Mr Ted said:

Build it yourself!

That's what I've been doing for 10 years. It's so satisfying building a bike to your exact standards/price/weight/travel/geo.

And if you get your cards right it's no more expensive. It takes no more than 2 hours to put together.

If I had to build a bike for the OP's needs I would start with this : http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ns-bikes-eccent...

[Bobley]

My LBS has been trying to flog a 15.5" one of these for ages. It's a beast. Even though my son is a CX racer he's desperate to sell one of my kidneys for it...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trek-Procaliber-9-8-SL-...

[cjm]

AndyWoodall said:

I've got a Whyte 905, is 1x, has Yari's, nice geo, with a set of decent tyres it rips along. I use it for xc ish days in the saddle and arsing about, including BPW when the full suss was having some work done. Its ace. The 2018 model is plus tyred, but fundamentally the same bike. Bit more money though at £1700.

A nice second hand 905?

https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/2017-whyte-905/...

[gradeA]

OH had a Bird Zero AM for exactly the riding you describe and she loves it.

[Bill]

A Whyte 901 plus dropper is comfortably in budget too.

TBH we seem to be spoiled for choice at this price so just see what's available to try locally.

[nickfrog]

Bobley said:

My LBS has been trying to flog a 15.5" one of these for ages. It's a beast. Even though my son is a CX racer he's desperate to sell one of my kidneys for it...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trek-Procaliber-9-8-SL-...

It looks exactly like the opposite to what the OP is after with a geo seemingly out of the 1990s.

Not sure it would survive BPW at all actually, not that it's designed to !

[Herman Toothrot]

Build your own, chain reaction are flogging NS Eccentric frames for £170 at the moment or Brand X HT-01 for £79!, set of clarks £40 brakes that work as well as XT's, Superstar wheels for £110, drive train bundle from any of the internet retailers - hell you can get SRAM Eagle GX for £300 or XT for £250, set of Pikes 2nd hand off eBay £260 seems going rate can build a damn good bike for little cash.

Edited by Herman Toothrot on Monday 13th November 15:47

[DanielSan]

Craikeybaby said:

I would recommend the Orange Crush, one of the funnest bikes I've ridden.

+1

I’ve got a 2016 Crush, upgraded it with SRAM 1x11 setup, BrandX dropper post and just added a Renthal FatBar with 20mm rise. Not sure the rise is really enough but the added flex in the bar has helped stop my hands cramping up on a longer ride. I really Can’t fault it, soooo much fun to ride it’ll more than do whatever pace you can manage. And having seen videos of some guys on them it’ll certainly do anything I could ever hope to throw at it.

I’ll probably end up upgrading the fork to a RockShox Pike rather than buying a new bike next year/year after I love it that much.

[DanielSan]

The other option I’d look at if not the Orange would be something shiny from Stanton bikes. Purely by chance myself and a friend ended up chatting to Dan Stanton at Cannock Chase towards the end of last year as he was out test riding a new model, finalising setup etc. Top bloke and quite cool he noted down a few tweaks to be made after trying my Orange Crush out.

[MonzaEvo]

Any thoughts on the Marin Nail Trail ? It's coming in at £899 from Rutland Cycles for a 2017 model

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/mountain-bike...


Had previously been keeping a close eye on the price of an Orange Clockwork 120S.....

Rgds,
Jonathan

[Tall_Paul]

MonzaEvo said:

Any thoughts on the Marin Nail Trail ? It's coming in at £899 from Rutland Cycles for a 2017 model

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/mountain-bike...


Had previously been keeping a close eye on the price of an Orange Clockwork 120S.....

Rgds,
Jonathan

You ain't going to get Yari's anywhere else for £900, the only thing it's lacking is boost (if you're bothered about that).

I'm going to be in the market for a HT come Jan/Feb, Boost is on my requirements as I want to be be able to swap wheels between any future bikes but if it had that I'd be buying one of them. The closest spec for me is 2018 Vitus Sentier VRS+ at £1170 with a Reba and SLX grouset/brakes.

[Herman Toothrot]

1st ride on my NS Eccentric Alu and I built over the last couple of weeks which could be almost replicated for budget as I mentioned before.

I love it, went down a single track I have ridden loads in the last two years trying to better my times and today 1st ride not trying that hard did.

Spec is :-
Yari
SLX mech & cranks
XT shifter, front brake lever, rear caliper, bottom bracket, chain ring, ice tech rotors 203/180
SRAM GX 10-42T cassette
Zee front caliper & Deore lever
WTB i23 Asym on DT Swiss 350 XD rear hub
WTB i23 Asym on Hope Pro4 front hub (built myself)
Nobby Nic DD front tyre
Purgatory Grid rear
Reverb
Flite Ti saddle
Truvativ stem
Easton Havoc bars
DMR contact, V12 Mg & Death-grips.

Super happy :-)[/Quote]

There's something much more satisfying specing and building your own.

Edited by Herman Toothrot on Friday 1st December 16:52

[molineux1980]

I've got an Orange Crush, bought from Sunset Cycles a couple of months ago. It's fantastic, the only problem is the dropper isn't the greatest.

[Herman Toothrot]

http://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/hardtail/ragley-mmmbo...

I mostly ride one of these, can't actually buy one at the minute as 2017 stock sold out ages ago, but spring 2018 if looking for a hardtail I'd recommend, like MBR a bike that gets 11/10.