Hi all,
So far can't find a frame to replace my 2016 Genesis Longitude, so thinking now of giving up selling the parts and just buying a build. Tempted to get a second hand Sonder Transmiter. Want something ont the light side, will mainly be doing short bikepacking trips, maybe will do the HT550 in summer. I could stretch a grand new, but maybe it makes more sense to buy second hand. Around 500-600 quid. Any ideas?
Rigid deore Sonder Frontier? I think they are about a grand
Already got a steel rigid 29er thats for long-distance bikepacking/touring, so want something a bit different 🙂 The Frontier with front sus and the Transmitter are almost the same price.
I use a On One Scandal for general trail riding and bike packing - not perfect for anything but works well on anything TBH, did the Badger on it last year, camping.
Can usually be got for £1k with a decent spec.
Whatever you can get second hand. There's some half decent bikes for sale locally to us for that money - but I think pre-selecting a model will narrow it too much.
fair fair.
Saw a 2022 Specialized Fuse 29er for 900 quid but never heard of the vendor (Verdana?). Seems to get good reviews.
Bird have just announced a new delivery of their steel Forge, it looks a lovely frame and good for many types of riding. For a cheaper option you could hunt down a Bird Zero29, loved mine for all things. One One seem to be good value, and I have had two of their frames in the past with no hassles including the Ti HT that they had which was great value. I had a Stanton Sherpa for a while but couldn't get on with the SO height but that is probably too close to your rigid 29er anyway but maybe a Slackine? And finally (as you can see I have had a few) I am currently on a 18 Bikes No9 which I love, but I would caveat this by saying it isn't at the cheaper end.
Edit: - I have just read again and I thought you were talking frame only sorry. Will leave this here just in case it gives food for thought
ahh, no, it's that I can't find a compatible frame, so looking just to buy a whole new bike. So much for "standards".
Recently went through this thought process and as budget was limited the ideal Ti or Banshee mullet was out of reach. Ended up with an orange crush mx with a big discount from sunset mtb. Not the lightest but rolls along v nicely and comes with a decent spec for the money wheel and fork wise.
Kinesis have just announced a new hardtail, not really checked out it out but frame only for £600 I think
I’d think an On-One Scandal / Vitus Sentier / Sonder Transmitter / Nukeproof Scout would all do the job.
Kinesis have just announced a new hardtail, not really checked out it out but frame only for £600 I think
FF29er
https://bikerumor.com/kinesis-ff29-hardtail-mountain-bike-2023
Saw an orange one at the Core bike show and it looked the usual LLS offering you seem to get these days. So short steep seat tube and long reach
Whyte? Love mine
There's a Nordest Britango on eBay if you're a size large. Been out a few times on mine and it's a superb bike. Well under £1k as well. Is on Pinkbike as well.
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3553762/
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My large Niner One9?
£500 - xt, mavic, x-fusion, KS etc etc and a nice light all-day bikepacking build. Last used to do the Badger Divide in 2020 so it's had a fairly easy life!
If it's of interest I'll send you some pictures and full spec etc.
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There's a Bird Zero TR in the classifieds.
Slackline
Voodoo bizango carbon look good.
Edit, didn't read the bike packing bit.
Been mentioned a few times, but I reckon a Transmitter would do the job nicely (unless your bikepacking needs stretch to multiple frame mounts?). I've got one as a do-it-all second (third, really) bike and it's a properly effective jack of all trades.
Nukeproof Scout Deore builds are currently sub-£1000 on Wiggle/CRC or frames for £270 (27.5" only, 29er is £500 still).
Maybe worth a look? Some people build them up to be really beefy but great as an XC/'normal' hardtail too!
With the 27.5 frame that cheap and new Deore 10-speed/11-speed groupset bits now being discounted most places you could probably build a decent bike for under a grand again, after the last couple of years of everything being either out of stock or full RRP!
Just had a look on CRC as I'm on lunch and these are all great bikes that review well/friends or myself have and love. I know it's nice to support a local shop but in the world of trying to get a good bike for under £1000 it's tricky! Scout in that trim level is missing a dropper but that's only a ~£125 problem to solve so still pretty cheap:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/nukeproof-scout-275-race-alloy-bike-deore10-/rp-prod205992
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ragley-marley-1-0-hardtail-bike-dark-blue/rp-prod205331
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ragley-mmmbop-2-0-hardtail-bike-silver/rp-prod205330