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So, I'm on the hunt for a frame and shock (new or used). General criteria:
Big enduro bike
29er (or mullet)
Looking for something around 170/160 f/r
Ballpark geo:
Reach 460ish
HA - 63/64ish
CS - 440ish
Seat Tube - max. 420ish
Around £2.3ish K (could maybe find a bit more)
Needs to come with a shock
Available some time before the next ice age (don't mind waiting a few weeks, maybe months)
If I thought I could get one, a Nukeproof Mega 290 carbon would be very high up the list.
Other top contenders:
Privateer 161
Raaw Madonna
Any other good suggestions? Or is anyone selling something?
A fair shout, but I should have mentioned that my current bike is a non-linkage single pivot and I'd quite like to try something different.
Raaw Madonna
That would be £2,000 without a shock unfortunately.
Bird AM9 perhaps?
A Bird AM9 could work - run it 170mm fork and 150mm rear. Depends if you’re racing or not - if you are perhaps you want more rear travel.
Looks like there are a couple of frame size / colour combos that might be in stock and some you can order for September back order. Also looks like they have 3 shocks in stock - either a Rockshox super deluxe coil or a couple of air shock options
That would be £2,000 without a shock unfortunately.
Yeah, just realised the RAAW prices don't include VAT. Bugger! Have definitely thought about a Bird before, but just quite fancy bit more travel. Amazing value though and would definitely be one to consider.
Why don’t you go and test ride an AM9 as it’s one of the only frames within your budget with a shock and see how it rides?
Cotic Rocketmax? £2100 with an RS shock, £2500 with a Kitsuma?
Cotic RocketMax?
Why don’t you go and test ride an AM9 as it’s one of the only frames within your budget with a shock and see how it rides?
Would love to. Based in Tweed Valley though, so not sure what options are available within a sensible distance.
Cotic Rocketmax? £2100 with an RS shock, £2500 with a Kitsuma?
Love the Cotics! Thought they were more expensive that that TBH.
Would love to. Based in Tweed Valley though, so not sure what options are available within a sensible distance.
Have to admit I don't quite get this, if I was spending £2.5K on a bike or frame and fork, I'd consider it well worthwhile investing some time and petrol money to go and have a proper look.
Bird have a site in Aberdeen, that's a distance but not impossible.
I think Bird have a site in Consett which is 88 miles from you. Not sure if they do test rides from there or not - probably quite a bit closer than Aberdeen.
If a Rocketmax is in budget then that’s probably a good option to look at too - although a coil shock with that frame seems to be £500 over budget.
If you can find a Slash then the most recent one is meant to be excellent. Obviously that’ll be a secondhand option for the price though.
Consett site is closed currently.
Yeah Bennachie Bike Bothy in Aberdeenshire is a Bird dealer and usually has demo bikes available, however they suffered a break-in last week and lost £30K of bikes so I’m not sure if that included the demo fleet as well. Worth giving them a shout though.
Propain Tyee Carbon
https://www.propain-bikes.com/en/product/framesets/frameset-tyee-cf-29/
Or if we are recommending what we own, Bird AM9.
That Propain looks ace, but with a shock it’s £2100 shipped + VAT plus any duty if that’s not included in the £175 shipping cost quoted
Transition spire?
From memory the new RocketMax doesn't take a coil shock - something to do with spring rates/curves
Have to admit I don’t quite get this, if I was spending £2.5K on a bike or frame and fork, I’d consider it well worthwhile investing some time and petrol money to go and have a proper look.
Bird have a site in Aberdeen, that’s a distance but not impossible.
I'm not selling my current bike, so this is something of an experiment. If I don't like whatever I get, I can just sell and go back to my current frame. I did email Benachie about a demo, but as mentioned, they've had a major break in so maybe not possible.
From memory the new RocketMax doesn’t take a coil shock – something to do with spring rates/curves
I test rode a Rocketmax in 2019. Liked it a lot, but definitely required a fairly aggressive riding style and I would really like to have the option of a coil if possible.
Trek Slash ?
For some reason, Trek's just do absolutely nothing for me, although I'm sure they're good bikes.
Transition spire?
Awesome, but likely way out of budget.
That Propain looks ace, but with a shock it’s £2100 shipped + VAT plus any duty if that’s not included in the £175 shipping cost quoted
Love the look of these and there's one of Pink Bike. Just don't know that much about them really. This is probably the most tempting beyond the Privateer.
Id suggest a banshee titan, but the sit tube limits insertion depth of a post, so not ideal in that regard.
That Propain looks ace, but with a shock it’s £2100 shipped + VAT plus any duty if that’s not included in the £175 shipping cost quoted
@joebristol Get the alloy one then
https://www.propain-bikes.com/en/product/framesets/frameset-tyee-al-29/
Made in the same factory as Bird
Plenty of good reviews, enduro-mtb, loam wolf, pinkbike etc
@wzzzz - not me looking for one - but sounds a good option if it’s cheaper!
Would love to. Based in Tweed Valley though, so not sure what options are available within a sensible distance.
You'll be able to test them at Tweedlove... Can you wait 4 weeks though!
Was just here to point out that the Demo Weekend is next month ^
You’ll be able to test them at Tweedlove… Can you wait 4 weeks though!
Yes, I can definitely wait 4 weeks. But....theoretically, I am in Finale the same week. Although that really depends on the quarantine on arrival situation at the time.
Awesome, but likely way out of budget.
2.2k
Didn't even know they did an alloy version. Looks like there's even one in stock. Very tempting!
BANSHEE TITAN (or any of the others - are you sure you need 160mm travel?)
schmung
Free Member
Id suggest a banshee titan, but the sit tube limits insertion depth of a post, so not ideal in that regard.
not sure what the lovein for massive droppers are, especially when you have a 29" wheel up your jacksie... That said, im quite sure you can get a 180mm droper on a Titan depending on brand..
Im still on a 150 on my Spitfire, and i quite like having the saddle somewhere to grip onto..
not sure what the lovein for massive droppers are, especially when you have a 29″ wheel up your jacksie… That said, im quite sure you can get a 180mm droper on a Titan depending on brand..
Im still on a 150 on my Spitfire, and i quite like having the saddle somewhere to grip onto..
Don't have any issues with tyre buzz really, chainstays are quite long. I just cannot abide a saddle up my arse when I'm trying to ride something really steep though. Total deal breaker for me I'm afraid.
For ref with the titan I have a 180mm shimmed to 175 and I'm on a medium frame with 31.5" inside leg.
I almost put my commencal meta am up for sale the other day as I’m thinking of getting something with less travel. Full 29er or mullet with the wrp link.
Definitely under budget, geo is pretty close..
Still thinking about selling it if second hand is an option