Hardtail frame sub ...
 

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[Closed] Hardtail frame sub £500 with modern but not too extreme geometry

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per the above I’m considering moving all the parts I can from my current 26” hardtail onto a 650b one. I’m shortly going to have some spare 650b DT Swiss e1900 wheels which is prompting the move.

My current frame is a 2004 Kona Caldera. I like that it’s light and accelerates quickly and it’s also very easy to pop the front wheel in the air. What I don’t like is it occasionally feels very twitchy either at speed or at random times.

Ive already got a long / slack fs (Bird Aeris 145LT) and I’m not looking to replicate that - I want something where I don’t have to concentrate hard to weight the front wheel to get it to turn in at speed.

It has to have boost rear dropouts as a major consideration to fit my rear boost wheel.

Fork wise I’m thinking 140mm travel - nothing longer as I want this to be fun and responsive rather than just for trucking over stuff.

Ruled out Cotic Bfe as non boost and the rest of their frames are too expensive. Also ruled out the Bird zero AM boost as a bit too extreme.

Wondering so far about:

Airdrop Bitmap (need to check geo)

Sonder Transmitter

Nukeproof Scout 275

Is there anything I’m missing?


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 4:49 pm
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If you want reduced reach … just size down and take advantage of getting a dropper post with more, er,, drop. If you want less trail, you can mess around with headtube angles using a headset. Pretty easy, when buying new, to get "modern" frames to do whatever you want.


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 5:13 pm
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Maybe a Pace?

http://www.pacecycles.com/shop/rc127


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 5:21 pm
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Personally I wouldn't limit myself like that if spending £500 on a frame, just to use a set of e1900 wheels.

They're not bad wheels but they're very mediocre and probably worth less than £100 used.


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 5:27 pm
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How about this if its the right size. If not I think they are discounted from  Stanton themselves at the mo for maybe a bit more

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stanton-Switchback-631-next-gen-18-Regular-Frame/232619580112?hash=item3629351ad0:g:hfMAAOSwhpZaTknq


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 5:30 pm
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Personally I wouldn’t limit myself like that if spending £500 on a frame

True… but if buying new now, you need a reason to pick out a non-boost frame really… and if you already have a boost rear wheel…

That Pace is a good buy… but we need to know what the OP wants geom wise though really… as that version is way shorter than anything many people would consider "modern" now.


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 5:40 pm
 poah
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dartmoor hornet


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 5:50 pm
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Pace RC127 is £399 in the sale at present & is more conservative than their new RC627 @ £575.


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 6:04 pm
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I bought one of these to use the boost 650b wheels off my trek ebike on:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/vitus-sentier-vrx-27-5-hardtail-frame-2018/rp-prod161854

An absolute steal at the price!! Arrived on Friday and for the money there really is nothing to complain about!

Haven't ridden yet, need a cassette, so it could be a dog of course!


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 6:07 pm
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... or an Orange Clockwork frame @ £445 for the 2018 from Sunset bikes.


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 6:08 pm
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My problem is I don’t know what reach etc I need to get what I’m after. My ML Aeris is 481mm I believe - so shorter than that. However I think the reach changes with sag on a hardtail so I don’t know what I actually need!

My e1900 wheelset is surplus to requirements without a new frame - I couldn’t sell them and buy something as decent easily secondhand for the money in non-boost. Plus I know how they’ve been treated / that they’ve stayed straight etc in the time I’ve had them. I couldn’t even build a similar wheelset for the money myself given how much hubs cost.

In terms of head angle maybe between 65 and 67 degrees. Short chainstays - something like 420mm. Not sure what length top tube I’d then need - I don’t want a huge front center that makes it hard to pick the front wheel up.

Just looking for something fun more than anything else.

I don’t have a preference for alloy / steel / carbon etc.


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 6:15 pm
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True… but if buying new now, you need a reason to pick out a non-boost frame really… and if you already have a boost rear wheel…

Yeah, boost is getting ubiquitous now for sure. But I was thinking more that 29in works better for HTs (IMO).

But hey, maybe just get that Vitus frame up there OP.


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 6:16 pm
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Dartmoor hornet is 142x12 I believe. Shame as it’s cheap!

I can’t see the geometry for the Pace - how short are we talking?

I thought that Vitus was as non-boost, but there’s almost no information on it on the link?

Whats the difference between an Lrange clockwork and Crush?

The cheaper the better really overall. The Stanton is really nice although a couple of lads I ride with have them and it would be nice not to copy them. Someone also has a Nukeproof Scout 290 or I think I’d get a black 275 without a moment’s hesitation.

Would something like the Sonder be ok with non-plus tyres? My rims are internal 25mm so more hen a 2.5” would be too round. Really 2.35 is the size I’d ideally run.


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 6:27 pm
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Boost is not an issue there are adaptors to sort that out and you can just get the wheel relished for £15 in most shops so a cheeper option.

Frame wise orange clockwork 137 or the crush from here.

http://www.bikescene.co.uk/OrangeFrames-107.html


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 6:33 pm
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Vitus is definitely boost. It's written on the chainstay and my wheel fits!


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 6:33 pm
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Difference between the Clockwork137/evo & crush.

clockwork reach 473, crush 450 ish head angle 66 or 64 crush and travel 130/150 crush

so clockwork is trail/xc and crush is more hardcore hardtail.

and the clockwork is£300 new.


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 6:41 pm
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With those orange geo’s is that a large frame? Only the reach on the clockwork is longer than my m/l Aeris, which itself is very long.

I’m 5’9 with a 32” leg and short arms /torso so on most frames I’m going to be a medium I’d imagine.

I think that clockwork 137 might be more appropriate for what I’m after than the crush, plus it’s cheaper, plus the green colour is lovely!


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 7:01 pm
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The Orange Clockwork range can be confusing, there is a few of them model wise & geometry changes year by year, see the archive for geometry:

https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/archive/


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 7:37 pm
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The current 137 looks good to me. Added to my list! If I could get a frame nearer £300 than £500bthrn that would be great. Probably crosses the Bitmap from my list.


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 8:48 pm
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http://www.bikescene.co.uk/Orange-P7-650b-frame-15120-107-0.html

http://www.bikescene.co.uk/Orange-P7-650b-frame-15120-107-0.html

Thinking about 1 of these to upgrade the mrs bike to 650b which I can use in winter.


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 8:59 pm
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I think perhaps the p7 is too near the long / low / slack I’m perhaps not looking to replicate? I haven’t found the geometry chart but it specifically talks about it in that blurb and has a 150mm fork spec.

I can’t decide if steel is something I’d like or not - I hear about it being a bit more comfy and springy - but I quite like the directness of the alloy hardtail frame I’ve got now too. I think overall, geometry is more important than frame material for me.


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 9:27 pm
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Just checked the 2019 geometry and the P7 and Crush are both too slack and long I think. I also think the chainstays should be shorter than 430 for popability.

The clockwork 137 or now clockwork Evo look like hey could be a good option. 66 degree head angle / 74 degree seat angle / 425 chainstay all sound sensible. Reach isn’t outrageously long either.


 
Posted : 07/10/2018 9:38 pm
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Just to revive this, is anyone running a Sonder Transmitter with non-plus wheels /tyres - thinking 2.3 / 2.4” tyres on a 25mm internal width rim?


 
Posted : 27/10/2018 11:29 am

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