Hardcore Hardtail (Frame Only)

Hardcore Hardtail (Frame Only)

Author
Discussion

Mr Scruff

Original Poster:

1,322 posts

214 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
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missing the VR6 said:
I'm not sure how you define hardcore
A good question, and perhaps it’s somewhat subjective. I want something I can basically hammer hard in the drier summer months - relatively long wheelbase and holding it’s own on the more downhill trails.

missing the VR6 said:
I'd also suggest the Orange Crush is the bike in Oranges range for you.
Would very much agree, but my riding buddy has one (which is what kicked off this whole adventure as it’s so bloody fast!) and don’t want to turn up on the same bike as him. Brilliant bike, even if some of the components not 100% my taste.

BaronVonVaderham said:
But if you already have a 27.5 Orange, then why would you want to replace it with one with extra heavy clown wheels?

27.5 is more fun to ride, and imho looks far better.
laugh Contentious! Ultimately I prefer 29”, I think they roll better and I can thrash them harder. I’m also pretty lanky which helps.

Anyway, thanks all for the suggestions. Am away riding motorbikes this week but when I’m back will put more effort into selling some old kit and researching new stuff



patchb

946 posts

113 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
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Mr Scruff said:
laugh Contentious! Ultimately I prefer 29”, I think they roll better and I can thrash them harder. I’m also pretty lanky which helps.

Anyway, thanks all for the suggestions. Am away riding motorbikes this week but when I’m back will put more effort into selling some old kit and researching new stuff
I had a Crush Pro 27.5 (I didnt recommend it purely due to it just looking biased recommending what you have/had) it was an incredible bike, there's probably a reason why your mate has one!
I join the view of the other poster that 27.5 is more fun even in XL (I'm 6'4") and 100% looks better however that's all personal preference - I would however be tempted with a crush MX if I were to buy another.

My old one, I miss it!

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey

5,071 posts

54 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
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Mullet... Best of both worlds.

james0

313 posts

205 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
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GCH said:
missing the VR6 said:
I'm not sure how you define hardcore, but I wouldn't class the Yeti as "hardcore" it's got a 67 degree head angle. If I wanted a trail hard tail I'd absolutely love one though.

I know it's the wrong wheel size but my Ragley Mmmbop has a sub 64 degree head angle and a 150mm fork. To me, that seems the region for a hardcore hardtail.
I do agree.... the yeti is hardcore for dentists perhaps hehe

The mmmbop is 63.75 on a standard 150mm fork, but as you say thats on a 27.5 wheel.
The 29 wheeled big al and big wig (identical geo but in steel) are 65 degrees on 140 which is superb as standard. Increase that to 150 and its 64.5, 160 and it is 64...mullet it or angle space it and it can go even further.
Moxie is in the same range. The el roy is 63 degrees as standard.

65 is the hardcore cut off.
@GCH Didn't know you liked MTBs.

I'll throw in a Bird Forge, lovely in stainless.

It's probably quite slack not that headangle defines hardcore.

I've a liking of steel hardtails, despite having a nice full suss enduro bike, I've mostly been racing my Onza Jackpot lately. It's not long or slack but it's burly and not slow.



Tall_martin

41 posts

69 months

Sunday 26th June 2022
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I snapped 3 frames in 18 months back in 2001, bought a cove stiffee and rode it for 15 years most weeks.

I have had an on one hello Dave for the last 3 years and its superb. It's better up nasty tricky stuff than any other bike I've had. It's ( unsurprisingly) great down tricky slippy descents. The biggest surprise it that is actually fine on flat stuff as well. I've had a few out and out xc bikes and it's not quite that nimble, but for my riding it's actually nice. I've done the odd 50 mile day on it in the peaks and while it was harder work than a full suss it was splendid.

I don't change bikes that often, so I can't comment on the rest of your short list. The hello Dave is great, the rest probably are as well. If I had any of those, I'd probably have the same story to tell🙂

http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p3pb20227215/p3pb20227215....

mattvanders

220 posts

25 months

Tuesday 28th June 2022
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Hardcore hard tail is alway a fun thing to define, I have a 64 degree - size large (475 reach) marino frame. Considering i’m only 5.9” this is quite large but i’m actually going to get a kona honzo esd which will be lack and longer. You do really have to change your riding style to make the most of them which isn’t always the easiest thing to do

Hugo Stiglitz

37,010 posts

210 months

Tuesday 28th June 2022
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A Kingdom? I'm selling mine as a frame only.


BaronVonVaderham

2,316 posts

146 months

Wednesday 29th June 2022
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Yeah I knew the 29 clown wheels comment would be controversial, but as a child of 26’ I just can’t get on with the huge hoops, especially aesthetically (despite also being v lanky!)

Here’s my 27.5 Bird Zero Am with 150mm Pike ultimates, came in at 13kg before pedals:


Tickle

4,879 posts

203 months

Wednesday 29th June 2022
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Hugo Stiglitz said:
A Kingdom? I'm selling mine as a frame only.
Please tell me it's not a small frame, I wasn't planning on buying a frame today!

Hugo Stiglitz

37,010 posts

210 months

Wednesday 29th June 2022
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Nah large so you sre safe!

Tickle

4,879 posts

203 months

Wednesday 29th June 2022
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Hugo Stiglitz said:
Nah large so you sre safe!
Phew biggrin

ar-em-en

253 posts

101 months

Thursday 30th June 2022
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I'm a big fan of stanton frames, this is my ti switchback and it does everything very well and you can specify alot of custom finishes.



I also like the look of pipedream moxie

Tickle

4,879 posts

203 months

Thursday 30th June 2022
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BTR Fabrications make some lovely looking bikes, especially slack hardtails.

molineux1980

1,197 posts

218 months

Friday 1st July 2022
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I love my Scout 290 - Bought as a frame only, as I crashed my On One Big Dog into a tree, and bent the downtube behind the strenthening plate.

Oddly, the wheel and forks were fine, so all the bits went onto the Nuke frame.

The Big Dog is now a lamp holder on my garage wall :-)

It's definetely the best HT i've had, it's good at everything. XC to BPW, and i'm giving it a go at the next round of the Welsh Enduro series.

Simes205

4,528 posts

227 months

Friday 1st July 2022
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I have a carbon SC chameleon, it doesn’t disappoint.

sam.rog

723 posts

77 months

Sunday 3rd July 2022
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Take a pipedream moxie out and I’ll bet you buy one. I have the slightly less hardcore sirius s5 and it’s the best do it all bike I’ve had, and Ive had a few.

cowboyengineer

1,410 posts

113 months

Sunday 3rd July 2022
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Hi have just picked up a kingdom vendetta ti , not ridden it much because I broke my ribs at Forest of Dean, but I’ll upload some pictures tomorrow


Hugo Stiglitz

37,010 posts

210 months

Sunday 3rd July 2022
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Let me know your thoughts on it. I found the geometry 'awkward' for my riding and I stripped it down and stuck it in the shed!

keith2.2

1,100 posts

194 months

Tuesday 5th July 2022
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Chromag Doctahawk cool

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey

5,071 posts

54 months

Tuesday 5th July 2022
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Where are you based scruff... And what size frame.

You can try my Taival if you're around N Yorks. Might not suit but it will give you an idea of geo figures as a basis for future purchase.