[Closed] Please help me with a singlespeed frame shortlist!

I've been trying to find frames with horizontal/adjustable dropouts too, for an upcoming build later this year.

Kingdom vendetta - different options starting at 1350 euros. If you're going ti then this is the best imo. Even the full custom option (they'll do custom geo like an XL length with L ST/standover) with every option ticked is 1700 euros.
Stanton switch9er
Santa Cruz Chameleon

Trail or xc?

Few to think about:

Stooge Mk4, or any previous Stooges 2nd hand.
Pivot Les ss
Salsa Timberjack (no frames currently available in UK, as far as I'm aware).
Stanton - think all their frames take ss dropout, but it might need a qr rear hub??
Kona Unit - again don't think frame only available in UK.
Specialized Fuse - again don't think frame only available in UK.

Thank you for input, good point -  I want an MTB  not road / gravel etc.

Don't particularly want TI, but would consider cost dependent, also these frames / bikes need to be available in the UK.

I would also consider buying entire bike rather than frame only. So clink your suggestions where you say Frame only not available in UK, would whole bike be do you know?

I'm going with the obvious Stooge but if it's bouncy forks you want then the MK4 is rigid only I think.

For I think £800 (which is still a flippin great chunk of cash) you can get a Santa Cruz Chameleon which runs singlespeed. To date that was my favourite bike. It handled like a dream and did just about everything and was pretty much bomb proof but light.

Mentioned above but to add the chameleon builds into a really fun, versatile bike. It’s £670 for the alu frame, carbon more naturally

I do want suspension forks.... something else for the wish list! 🙂 thanks will look at santa cruz if they are available in UK. £800 is a lot, I think I would spend that if it was whole bike, not frame only though!

Although I will start googling all suggestions above later today, recognise I may have to revise my budget! 😀

I would also consider buying entire bike rather than frame only. So clink your suggestions where you say Frame only not available in UK, would whole bike be do you know?

Yep - Fuse and Unit. Timberjack I think so, but I don't think massive stock. Somebody on here brought one recently.

I e-mailed Trek yesterday to see if any plans to do another run of something similar to the Superfly ss frameset from 2015/2016, but it seems highly unlikely. On that note add Trek Stache to your list.

Shand Bahookie and BTR Chaser ss if you want custom.

Pipedream Sirius? https://www.pipedreamcycles.com/shop/29er-steel-hardtail/?v=79cba1185463

You can also get a frame with a PF30 BB shell and fit an EBB like https://wheelsmfg.com/bottom-brackets/ebb.html.

I wanted a new SS recently and ended up getting a geared frame and a tensioner since I couldn't find a SS frame that met my other requirements (light, slack, not too expensive).

I wanted a new SS recently and ended up getting a geared frame and a tensioner since I couldn’t find a SS frame that met my other requirements (light, slack, not too expensive).

What did you get and post a pic? 🙂

Genesis longitude has slidding dropouts.

I wanted a new SS recently and ended up getting a geared frame and a tensioner since I couldn’t find a SS frame that met my other requirements (light, slack, not too expensive).

*however you do the quote thing 😀 *

yes, see I am finding it a bit tricky too hence my thread. It feels to me like the SS heyday was a while ago, I always meant to get an on one but missed that boat a bit, I'd love a Singular swift too but steel, not TI.

It has been very helpful though seeing what else is available, brands I've never heard of or considered for SS so thank you all.

Pace RC529 has slideout dropouts so although not 'singlespeed specific' chain tensioning is easy and 'clean' looking.

Shand Bahookie Single

I would go for the latest Niner sir 9. Great Reynolds 853 frame and very versatile! Cool as bike.

Stanton Sherpa mk2 (current model). Can fit singlespeed rear dropouts and rides superbly

Nb My Sherpa is set up geared. For singlespeed I am still using my 12 year old Ti29er. Very happy with it.

What did you get and post a pic?

A Sonder Transmitter:

(Apologies for the mudguard in the pic - now removed for summer)

I love it! Running 27.5 wheels and 120mm fork. Alfine tensioner gives a bit of chain slap but fine otherwise.

Not cheap again but steel and SS. All city log lady https://allcitycycles.com/bikes/log_lady

Sonder Broken Road? Ti, but at the less expensive end.

If you're on facebook and don't mind second hand, find the "One Cog" group and ask on there. Decent chance of a Swift coming up!

And it's worth sending Sam @ Singular an email, he might have some steel Swift stock left.

You are limited to straight 1 1/8 steerer forks for the Swift, though

And I think some Stantons have dropouts available for SSing?

Trickstuff make the exczentriker (think that's right) so any BSA frame can also be SS'd without a tensioner.

Personally though, I'd just get the frame you want + tensioner. It's the cheapest and most versatile option. And just as reliable unless you're trying to run sprockets so worn the chain skips.

I think Niner still do some SS frames?

Stanton Sherpa mk2 (current model). Can fit singlespeed rear dropouts and rides superbly

With its 435mm chainstays and 67.5-degree head angle, the Sherpa 853 Next Gen is a serious mile-muncher with a geometry calculated to win races.

sounds great, and then I looked at the eye watering price, or maybe I was crying? 😉 have you got one?

Yes I have a Mk1 Sherpa, my second actually. This was mint and bought from a guy in france via Pinkbike for £200 with Headset and BB. So there are bargains about. You would need a mk2 though as can fit horizontal drop outs for SS. Superb frame, only let down by single bottlecage mount.

Think the Sherpa is what the Swift should have become had Sam kept making them.

Price? Meh! You deserve it

Personally though, I’d just get the frame you want + tensioner. It’s the cheapest and most versatile option. And just as reliable unless you’re trying to run sprockets so worn the chain skips.

that's what I have at the moment, I want the right dropouts to not need a tensioner. It does slip TBH and probably is worn. also no tensioner looks better 🙂

@sl2000 - thanks - nice colour!

Price? Meh! You deserve it

haha! you're quite right, but £2,391.67 to £2,516.67 - ‎In stock seems a little excessive, even when I deserve it.

That's more than big spesh cost with it's FS and everything, still going incidentally, but only just. Hence SS frame and then gears for the HT which is current SS.

Surly Karate Monkey ?

eBay

Ebay sometimes has interesting stuff, reckon that might work with 27.5 and a short travel fork. You'd need a fairly specialist rear wheel build tho.

If that's you Anna, and you go 26" I've got a spare set of Goldtec SS wheels you can have.

Forgot this option as well.

https://www.brothercycles.com/shop/frames/big-bro/

Personally I always think a single speed should be slightly bodged together.

Had few over the years, favourite is a 2souls quarterhorse, 142 rear on sliding dropouts

Definitely worth sticking a couple of ads up for a Swift and keeping an eye on eBay.

Do Pace still do something in steel with sliders?

It is me Rich, thanks for the link and the offer of wheels. had a quick look at the ebay frame, the problem with that I think would be not knowing if it was the right fit for me, it's M/L, prob too big.

Clink thanks for that Brother link, another brand I hadn't heard of. looks nice, price good, do you know if you can fit suspension forks?

I've got a nice list of bikes to look at over the weekend 🙂

haha! you’re quite right, but £2,391.67 to £2,516.67 – ‎In stock seems a little excessive, even when I deserve it.

That's a full build not the frame. Frames are £560-680.

I've got a Mark 2 Sherpa set up singlespeed. It's nice works well. Not the cheapest frame but there wasn't a lot else that could take SS dropouts, bolt through or QR.

Clink thanks for that Brother link, another brand I hadn’t heard of. looks nice, price good, do you know if you can fit suspension forks?

Yep, 100mm I believe.

I have a Santa Cruz Chameleon V7 as my singlepeed, running a 130 mm fork and 29" wheels. Nice aluminium frame, LOADS of mud clearance. The geometry is more towards trail than XC, though I've used it for 12 hour XC solo events no problem. As said above, it builds into very capable, versatile trail bike that isn't too heavy. A mate has the Pipedream Sirrus 4G which is also nice, though a bit short in reach in my opinion.

A really nice bike to run singlespeed is a mk2 29er scandal if you get the track-end swap-outs. Cheap, light, rides well. I think someone in the main forum is trying to get one ready to sell too (nothing to do with me).

what's the difference between trail and XC? Is trail classed as being more DH or steep?

Short reach I guess short top tube? that would work for me as I use short risers on mens frames.

A really nice bike to run singlespeed is a mk2 29er scandal if you get the track-end swap-outs.

love that matte burnt orange! forgive my ignorance, what are track end swap outs? would they be fitted before I bought the frame?

mk2 scandals can take regular geared drop-outs or track end swap outs so the wheel goes in horizontally from the rear. You then use a tug-nut or other rearward tensioner to stop the wheel from moving forwards once your chain is perfectly tensioned. There has to be loads of swap-outs in sheds/parts bins so if you went for a scandal, just put a wanted ad out and i'm sure you would get a set.

Be aware that building from frame up can be expensive, this was supposed to use bits from the parts bin!

It has an EBB, but as pointed out above, the Wheels Mfg one fits into any BB30 frame. Though the EBB is more than £100, overall you're going to get a much wider choice of frame.

love that matte burnt orange! forgive my ignorance, what are track end swap outs? would they be fitted before I bought the frame?

That's the 'new' one, the mk2 looked like the mk1, but wasn't scandium anymore and had bolt on dropouts so you could swap to track ends. The new one doesn't.

I've got one (and planning to SS it for SSUK), it looks awesome, but up close it's the lumpiest paint job I've ever seen! Thankfully it's matt!

Have you thought about custom titanium from china? I had a quote from one of the big factories for about £750 inc shipping and duty, you can either go completely custom or just say I want to match a certain frames geometry but but with sliding dropouts.

I have a fully built medium 2013 chameleon if it's of any interest?
I'm running a current one. Not my most favourite bike ever. It's noticeably heavier than the 26er it replaced.
Running a regular frame with a chain device set up as a tensioner works very well IME.
Otherwise you can pick up a full build kona unit for about a grand.

I had an On-One Scandal Swapout before the Chameleon, it was good but had limited mud clearance and after riding a bike with more modern geometry, it felt way too short in the reach and was too steep in the head tube angle (i'm 6'4" tall so the more modern geometry has been very welcome). As far as I can tell Planet X (who own On-One) are no longer making the Swapout dropouts (they are selling off their current stock) so i'd be wary of getting an On-One Swapout frame.

Personally I prefer adjustable dropouts over EBBs.

Anna B how tall are you? Size small 2019 Kona Unit frame and rigid forks on sale here: https://shop.bikesandbuddies.co.uk/unit-frame-green-fork-multi-speed-d-o-hanger-small.html

Rich that looks lovely. another frame manufacturer I've not heard of. Been away from STW too long 😉

Have you thought about custom titanium from china?

I hadn't, I didn't even know that was a thing. Thanks for the info!

3,395 Shand Bahookie looks lovely but !!!

The looseone thanks for that, good info to know.

Anna B how tall are you? Size small 2019 Kona Unit frame and rigid forks on sale here:https://shop.bikesandbuddies.co.uk/unit-frame-green-fork-multi-speed-d-o-hanger-small.html /a>

I'm 5'9", My HT is 17" and FS medium, may be ok on a small 29er but it may be a shade too small. will check it out though, thanks.

will also check out the kona thanks Del. would then have a car and a bike with the same name, apparently a rude word in Portuguese.

Keep your eye out for an original Ritchey P29... They don't come up on ebay that often any more, but would be ideal for what you want. They also look amazing too!

How about a Soma Juice?

https://swishcycles.co.uk/product/soma-juice/

Expensive, though nice steel XC frame with sliding dropouts that you won't see a lot of on the trails.

soma juice really nice! I looked at the kona, also nice and good price. thankyou 🙂

mboy I need something I can buy easily really, I don't have the time or patience to hunt stuff down. but thank you 🙂

Just to reiterate a couple of other comments, start looking at frames with PF30 pushfit BBs. You can fit a compatible EBB that bolts in (not pushfit) to do your chain tensioning. Had mine four months, it's not creaked or slipped or been sworn at so far...the only slight issue is I'm not convinced the bearings are that great on my Problem Solvers one, but a new pair of Enduro ones are £20.

They don't expand in the shell like a traditional EBB, and they clamp over the BB shell rather than an interference fit. Shand spec them on their full builds.

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I'm running a Pace RC627 with a a Fox 36 150mm fork single speed at the moment. It will take 27.5, 27.5+ and 29er tires (up to 2.35)

I also have a Ti RSD Middlechild with sliding drop outs, but haven't tried it single speed yet.

I had a SC Chameleon which was nice single speed, their swing out drop out system is great when it doesn't crack the frame.

https://rsdbikes.com/portfolio/middlechild-titanium/

I had the 1st version of the Santa Cruz Chameleon V7 (the 2017 green and purple one), which cracked at the brake side dropout where the dropout barrel nut adjuster fits in the frame. The material thickness where it cracked (where the barrel nut fits) was very thin - less than 1 mm. Santa Cruz replaced the frame under warranty no hassle with the 2019 version, which has a thicker material section where the barrel nut fits and so should not crack again. No other issues aside from that.

I bought my chameleon off here as a frame second hand (2008 _ 10) frame and it was a beast... Pretty much indistructable I reckon. £200 should get one.
Also had a Kinesis Decade as singlespeed which was nice.
Thinking about it I've got a fairly much mint Fire Eye flame in green (Google it) which is 17" and has a swap out type arrangement which was good for singlespeed. Been hanging up in the garage for about 5 years now. Be willing to part for quite a cheap price I reckon.

Pipedream

That's a nice build, bit overpriced IMO but might be worth an offer?

Thinking about it I’ve got a fairly much mint Fire Eye flame in green (Google it) which is 17″ and has a swap out type arrangement which was good for singlespeed. Been hanging up in the garage for about 5 years now. Be willing to part for quite a cheap price I reckon.

For how much? I have googled it, nice colour but don't know anything about them 🙂

Pipedream

That’s a nice build, bit overpriced IMO but might be worth an offer?

That is nice, as you say a bit much with a rigid fork when I want suspension...

Anna..£80. I'm in Milton Keynes.
They are a steel trail bike really. Will accept long travel forks to about 160mm if required. Can be run geared or singlespeed via the swap out dropout system , just change as you need.

Giant XTC Advanced can be run single speed 29er or 27.5+.

I have to confess there aren’t too many around s/h though. Can pick up a NOS full build geared for £1500

Genesis longitude has slidding dropouts.

Not on mine, (MK1) - but it does have horizontal track ends so still suitable for SS

Rigid forks only, and pretty sure that is the case on all Longitudes

OP, here’s also bit of a list (US bias though, but many extra suggestions in the thread commentary):

https://forums.mtbr.com/singlespeed/singlespeed-bikes-frames-2019-20-a-1106367.html

Sorry by sliding i meant track style ends (as in the wheel slides). Mine will accept 100mm suspension forks. The rigid forks on it are suspension adjusted.

Anna..£80. I’m in Milton Keynes.
They are a steel trail bike really. Will accept long travel forks to about 160mm if required. Can be run geared or singlespeed via the swap out dropout system , just change as you need.

thanks Donks, I think I need xc rather than trail, shorter fork than the fire eye.  I do pretty much all my riding these days XC in Wiltshire, nothing very gnarr-y round here and I don't want the weight of a bike I don't need.

I'm really liking the look of the Soma Juice ATM, typically though I love the baja blue which has been superseded by grey... 😀 I'm also looking at the kingdom vendetta, partially as I'm not far from TF tuned and they are a dealer. I've made a list of bikes and enjoying doing the research. Interesting to know that the Spesh HT has the right drop outs, both my current bikes are spesh, so whilst it would be nice to have a change, I know that I like them and there is a dealer very near where I live. Someone suggested mailing Sam at singular to see if there were any steel frames hanging around, good idea also will try that. Thanks all for you help 🙂

The Ti Stooge makes for a great SS frame - super light and a lot of fun. It’s also 44mm head tube so runs a bouncy fork perfectly.

Coincidentally, I’m auctioning my Ti Stooge for the NHS - unsure if my post is going to get nuked but I’m not receiving a penny from it so I figured I’d chance it.

The Bearbones forum link is here

I’m closing it tomorrow at 9, so someone is going to get a good frame for a potentially great price, and a hospital is going to get some much-needed equipment.

There doesn't seem to be much choice in XC singlspeed frames out there. The Soma Juice is XC, the Kingdom Vendetta is a 'hardcore hardtail' and I think would probably be too extreme for the type of riding you do. Sticking to the ti theme, the Sonder Broken Road would seem to fit the bill, except for the price!

https://alpkit.com/collections/sonder-broken-road/products/broken-road-frame

You say your current hardtail is 5 years old? I'm thinking maybe some parts won't fit on a new frame e.g. the wheels (are they non-Boost width - 142 mm or 135 mm and non-through axle?), as many new frames have through-axle Boost hub width dropout spacing (148 mm) so you may end up having to get new wheels if you get a new frame and maybe more parts (e.g. headset, shorter stem, etc.).

There are a few options for complete bikes, the 2019 and 2020 Kona Unit is a steel, fully rigid XC singlespeed that can be had on sale, though the parts build is low end. The Specialized Fuse Comp is another option, as you have already mentioned, which leans towards the trail side of XC, very similar type of bike to the Santa Cruz Chameleon and the price for the full bike seems to be good value compared to the price of the Soma Juice frame.

Decisions, decisions!

Personally I always think a single speed should be slightly bodged together.

That’s why I have an 09 P7 😂 Those dropouts certainly slide...

At least they let you pay to buy the bodge that sort of fixes it. Bodgetastic.

This:

There doesn’t seem to be much choice in XC singlspeed frames out there.

What I want is a something like the Trek Superfly ss from 2016. I'm coming round to the idea of a second Specialised Chisel and running it with a tensioner - how bad can it be?

Chameleon appeals, but too heavy, although arguably it includes the weight of a 'tensioner' already as it has the siding dropouts.

No one mentioned the Brother Big Bro yet?

It’s probably what I’d have if my current ss died (original Al Highball- dropouts have been faultless in the three winters since I bought it off here. Should probably take them apart and check them over at some point. Highly recommended if you can find one sh in your size)

No one mentioned the Brother Big Bro yet?

Think I mentioned it earlier in the thread. Lovely frame, but personally I would prefer boost (as all my wheel sets are boost now) and I want something lighter. Picky I know.

Original al Highball a good shout, difficult to find as you say.

Fair, you did, I missed that!

Pinnacle Ramin Plus is another option, although qr f/r. I’ve been after a large frameset for months.

Thelooseone - thank you for your thoughts.

Just clicked on the Sonder link, another brand I haven't heard of. They only have S and XL in stock, one thing I need to figure out is if I need a S or M 29er, suspect an S - am 5'9 but shorter arms than a 5'9 male I think. I hate being stretched out to the bars.

I like the look of the Soma juice, the problem that I can see is that it might be tricky to test ride, I've only found a shop in Powys that sells them, though that can't be right.

Ref my hardtail, its a 26er from 2010,  so I know would limited in terms of what I could swap - thinking bars, brakes - Shimano XT which I love. My other 26er is an old Spesh FSRXC pro from 2006 so I'm also going to retire that and raid that for my HT to make that geared. I'm not sure what boost is TBH, all bikes are QR. I had thought I may actually be better off getting a full bike rather than frame as you suggest.

i like the Kona also - again - test ride?? not sure where. I would probably end up upgrading the parts over a few years as I have with everything on both current bikes. Also the brother looks nice, test ride?? There is a spesh dealer about 8 miles from me, so test riding that would be easy. Though I do fancy another brand after 15 years of spesh.

There is pipedream Skookum on eBay and pink bike ATM, as per richpennys post. I notice that no-one is mentioning them in their posts, the bike looks quite nice, but age unspecified. I have asked the seller who has just said that he built is 18 months ago. I suspect it's around 5 years old from what i can find on the 'net.  so £900 is a tad on the ££ side for it I think. It's a S frame.

In time honoured tradition I’ll recommend what I ride which is a Singular Rooster in 29+ running Maxxis Chronicles. Absolute blast to ride and the bike that tends to get the most ridden amongst my others. Not easy to pick up second hand but keep an eye out or pester Sam to see if there are any Singular steel frames available as it’s just a superb ride.

Edit: post-lockdown and if you’re local to Sheffield you’re more then welcome to test it for size. I’m 5’9” and it’s a size medium.

https://salsacycles.com/bikes/timberjack/2019_timberjack_frame

Not easy to pick up second hand but keep an eye out or pester Sam to see if there are any Singular steel frames available as it’s just a superb ride.

Someone suggested that so i did mail singular just to see! thank you. thanks for offer of test ride also, am in Wiltshire, you're 5'9 with an M, see I think I'm going to be on the cusp for a 29er, how annoying! Also the Kona unit I have found in Swindon about 40 miles away, but says 27 wheels not 29?

https://www.specialized.com/gb/en/fuse-expert-29/p/171068?color=263307-171068

These have also got adjustable dropouts. Look pretty cool.

Fuse and Timberjack both mentioned already.

https://salsacycles.com/bikes/timberjack/2019_timberjack_frame/blockquote >

No Timberjack frames available until 2021 I believe.

 

5’9 with an M, see I think I’m going to be on the cusp for a 29er, how annoying!

I think you’d be surprised how well you’d get on with a sorted modern 29er in a medium.

Also the brother looks nice, test ride?

There was a bike shop in the new forest that did brother when I was looking.

Ah, screw it, I was bored, found it. Woods Cyclery

Anna B - as your current hardtail is quite long in the tooth and you're changing wheel size, i'd say it would be better to get a full bike rather than a frame, as only a few bits would be able to be swapped. A lot has happened in 10 years, geometry being the biggest change in my opinion. Generally, bikes today are 'longer, lower and slacker' with shorter stems than from 10 years ago and as result are generally a lot more capable and fun to ride.

Due to the above, a test ride is therefore essential to help inform what you want, the Spesh Fuse would probably be easiest to get a test ride on, though as you want a singlespeed frame, the scope for test riding a broad selection is pretty small. If you ride the Spesh and like it, you could look at other frames or bikes with the same or similar geometry and build.

Boost spacing is wider hub spacing. I'd bet your 2010 Spesh will have a 135 mm width, 9 mm diameter rear hub axle. Boost spacing (for the rear hub) is 148 mm width and a 12 mm diameter axle. Boost gives more mud clearance and space for wider tyres.

The Pipedream Skookum is a discontinued model, the current Pipedream model is the Sirius 4G, a steel XC/trail frame. The reach is relatively short compared to other frames, so won't be a stretch to the bars. A mate of mine has one, its a nice frame and rides very well for XC and light trail duty.

So I found Woods cyclery, swanny853 thanks for that, they also do Salsa, so I thought I could try both out, but someone has said no timberjack frames til 2021, I was sure I saw one on there a couple of hours ago but I can't see it now! But yes good shout to try a Brother.

Kona in Swindon, Spesh in Salisbury, Brother in Lyndhurst. Will continue to look for a Soma dealer, but that's probably my shortlist due to availability.

Thelooseone - thanks so much for the explanation. My MO tends to be to buy a bike/s then not take any notice of what's going on in the bike world until I've ridden them out of existence 😀

Has the Spot Rocker been mentioned?
They have a sale on at the moment.

https://spotbrand.com/products/rocker-ss-29