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The paint flaking on my current frame is down to a crack. Aluminium so not easily fixed and a bit porky, anyway. Consequently, I’m looking for a new frame and I’d be interested in any suggestions you may care to make.
I think I’m favouring carbon but I’m not decided on anything yet.
It must be, though
Hardtail
Medium frame size
Non boost
I don’t want a dropper
XC end of the spectrum
I ride in the Dark Peak a couple of times a week and mostly ride to ride starts rather than drive so something quite ‘roomy’ if that’s a thing?
I have carbon wheels, full XT group etc on my current frame which has the following spec
- Tapered Head tube: 1 ½" bottom, 1 ⅛" top
- Integrated cables
- Press fit bottom bracket 92 mm
- Seatpost 27.2 mm diameter
- Direct mount Derailleur
- Thru-axle rear dropout: 142 x 12mm
I’m not concerned about keeping internal cables and I can always buy a new seat post.
Thanks for any suggestions. I don’t know where to start
I think a Giant XTC Advanced fits that. Mine does anyway - it's a 2014.
What size wheels and what fork?
Whoops. I knew I’d forget. 29” wheels and 100mm fork.
Isn’t the Giant XTC a little weighty? I’m sure I read somewhere that they’re quite hefty. Thank you for the suggestion though. I’ll look further into them.
Niner air 9 RDO all day long
The Niner frame would take a lot of self persuasion, as nice as it is. Eye wateringly expensive. I’d like to keep my budget to not much at all over £1k
You could go direct chinese carbon - but there's a number of risks associated with that. You can reduce those risks by buying from one of the better known manufacturers/vendors. Something like a FM699 from TanTan (which I've been considering myself). Non-boost, PF92 and reasonably modern geometry (and a reputation as reliable)
More information that may or may not be accurate can be found by trawling through aliexpress, on various chinese carbon build threads on forums or on chinertown.com
Santa Cruz Highball carbon.
... it's the only MTB I've ever owned that hasn't broken, including steel, carbon and titanium and I've ridden further on it way further than any of the others.
I hadn't thought of the Chinese frames. Thanks. I'll have a look.
I think the Santa Cruz frame will be out of my budget. The only other frame that I've 'broken' was an Orange Sub 5. I had it two months from new and Ben at North West Mountain Bikes found a crack in the seat tube / BB joint. It was replaced under warranty.
A Cube Reaction GTC (around 2016) sounds like what you're describing. I rode mine in the Peaks across some chunky stuff and did a Hope Pre Peaks on it too.
You'd have to have a good look around for a second hand frame or bike though now.