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Now I've got myself back into riding more regularly I can't shake the thought that I'd like a FS bike again. The main barrier is how bloody expensive it will be if I want something modern. Current bike is a 2015 Dartmoor Hornet on 26" with Lyrik RC2DH, Pro 2 hubs, SLX groupset etc - so good stuff but all old standards and not all easily transferrable to a new frame. I have a few spare tyres so should be covered for a while on that front.
So my bright idea was to look for a used 26" frame that fits all the old standard stuff - I thought I'd be able to find a bargain on something relatively nice from around 2016, but I can't see much about either on here, Pinkbike or Facebook/eBay. Where do you lot buy used gear these days?
Also what older frame would you look for? Something to ride a bit of everything on. 140-150mm travel, fun and poppy on DH and jumps but still fine for pedalling and climbing. Mega TR maybe?
27.5 started to take hold in 2013/14 so id be looking a bit further back.
Banshee? If you can find a 27.5 option, I’ve some 26” rear dropouts…
I caught up to the 27.5 party in 2014 when I got my Foxy. It's still going strong like triggers broom, onto it's 3rd rear triangle and second front triangle (now a 2014 front and 2017 rear) .
As for what 26".... No idea.
Orange Alpine? There’s a few frames on ebay right now.
You could just put a 26" wheel with a big tyre in a 27.5" frame? Would be pretty close to intended geometry, and lower/slacker which seems to be popular!
You could just put a 26″ wheel with a big tyre in a 27.5″ frame? Would be pretty close to intended geometry, and lower/slacker which seems to be popular!
Yeah I did that before with a YT Wicked 650b frame that I really regret selling! My thought process was a 26" would be less desirable and thus cheaper, but I'm having a hard time finding any nice looking ones tbh! Also as my rear hub is an old Pro 2 I don't think it can be converted to boost, it's 135x12.
Banshee? If you can find a 27.5 option, I’ve some 26” rear dropouts…
Yep I always wanted a Rune or Spitfire back in the day! Great looking bikes.
I think if you had one demo day on a modern bike this plan would be dead in the water. I had some great 26" bikes back in the day but you couldn't pay me to go back.
I think in this case ignorance is bliss 🙂 I like how the Hornet rides tbh, I just want some squish on the back. So long as it's slack and lowish I'll be alright I think. I rode a summer season in Whistler on a 2000 Santa Cruz Bullit with horrible outdated geo and ancient Boxxer and didn't die, old bikes are ok still. Loved my old Scott Voltage too, so fun downhill just a pig to pedal!
For me I wouldn't spend another £1 on 26" except for maintenance. I'm seriously contemplating retiring my last proper 26" bike. I have the disadvantage of course that I have a more modern bike to compare to.
I certainly wouldn't go backwards from 2015. You probably hit peak 26" around then.
A V3.2 Spitfire would take all your old parts as long as you can change the rear hub to 142.
Down the track you can still update it with the latest 27.5 parts when you want.
That's the way I went a few years ago, but started with a 27.5 fork on it.
I'm on a V3.2 Rune now & it is absolutely the best bike I've ever ridden.
I bought a 2009 26inch mojo hd a a couple years back
Wife's got a pivot mach 5.7
It suits my riding.
I've ridden plenty of long low slack modern geometry and nothing the makes me massively want to change. If anything I'd like a modern 29er mojo without it being long low and slack.....
The mojo keeps up with my mates and I'm having fun.
Best part is it cost pennies so when there's 6months between getting to trails these days that warrent having an LT full sus I don't feel guilty having it in the shed - and means I'm not guilted into dragging it round flat trails pretended it's the perfect do it all bike
- not a curmudgeon....I've a number of 29er xc bikes -and have been a 29er fan since my 2004 Gary fisher rig .....the only thing that likely gonna kill my fun on the mojo is availability of good tires.
If you can find a nice condition one, Evil Uprising would be worth a look. Reach is quite short on them though compared to current frames, think mine was 438mm in Large.
Also as my rear hub is an old Pro 2 I don’t think it can be converted to boost, it’s 135×12.
135x12 is just an end cap swap to 142x12 (the difference is 3.5mm pockets in the frame either side to make wheel fitting easier). From there any boost converter kit will work. Is it a original pro 2 or a pro 2 Evo? If the latter then the official hope boost kit should fit, as will something like a wolftooth boostinstor that leaves the cassette in the correct position.
Best part is it cost pennies so when there’s 6months between getting to trails these days that warrent having an LT full sus I don’t feel guilty having it in the shed – and means I’m not guilted into dragging it round flat trails pretended it’s the perfect do it all bike
That's my thoughts too! Still not riding quite as regularly as I used to (and definitely not as gnar) so shelling out shit loads for a top spec current bike seems like a waste. I'm not seeing many bargains online for older gear like I'd hoped, though.
The Banshee Spitfire V3.2 does seem my best choice, but still £1800 for a new one and none on the used market. I was hoping for something used closer to £500 max - When I got my YT frame about 5 years ago I paid around £300!
Orange Five should be cheap and plentiful by now , I think they went 650b in 2011 ish.
Orange Alpine 160 is a good shout as they made the 26 quite late and kept the geometry up to date. That or just use your wheels in a 27.5 frame.
This is reminding me how ugly the old Orange bikes were 🙂
Re hubs. Original pro2 requires an axle change to go 142x12. Pro2 evo is just end caps. The axle change is what makes a pro 2 into pro2 evo.
I’ve still got a blur 4x built up in the shed. 115 rear travel. Mine has uturn lyrics on and is best about 140 up front. 135qr rear end but wouldn’t want to have to source frame spares. You might find one cheap though.
Compared to bike with modern geometry it’s a death trap though! So unstable at any speed. I realise some might want mega playful but it’s no for me!
There’s a Banshee Rune v2 frame on eBay for a few hundred quid. You might need different end caps for your rear hub but otherwise everything should swap straight on. You don’t need the 26” dropouts, the only difference between them and the 27.5” ones is they’re 10mm shorter, so you get shorter chainstays but no other changes in geometry. 26” wheels just drop the BB height by 12.5mm which is fine (better!) on a Rune because it’s not that low on 27.5
What travel is your Lyrik set at now?
It's 170mm but have considered getting it lowered to 150 when I get round to sending it in for the service it really needs. Think it can be done with an extra travel spacer, I looked into it ages ago but again never got round to it!
Not sure I can get away with the colour of that Rune, great price though.
Keep it at 170mm! Then you can put your parts onto any 160mm fork 27.5 frame and get the correct geometry but with 12.5mm lower BB height. Tons of 27.5 frames to choose from - the only ones to avoid are the few older frames that already have super low BB heights.
This is reminding me how ugly the old Orange bikes were
Beggars can't really be choosers when swimming in such a shallow pond but good luck!
Compared to bike with modern geometry it’s a death trap though! So unstable at any speed.
To be fair to time.... They were like that when they were new also.
Partly why I went for the mojo - it's slightly short in the top tube but with a 160 fork upfront it's still on the relaxed side of steep.
Also, if you get something with a 44/56 or straight 56 head tube you’ll be able to add an angleset to take ~2 deg off the head angle. That’s what I did on my old medium Spitfire with 27.5 wheels and a 160mm fork.
Transition Suppressor is 26 and 27.5 compatible.
Looked for one a while ago. They don't seem to come up for sale often.