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spot rocker hadn't been mentioned, I've had a look, looks nice but £££ and there doesn't seem to be much availability in the UK.
I've had a look at all the ones that were previously mentioned. I want a bike that is
- XC not trail
- easily available in the UK from new
- can be fitted with suspension forks at a later date
- I've decided my budget for built bike around £1500.
This narrows the field down hugely, though Brother's Big Bro is now top of the list. Woods cycles were helpful and have said that one of their employees has a L frame I can try which I will once travel restrictions are somewhat lifted. Local Spesh dealer not currently open and don't seem to stock the Fuse but I will talk to them once they're open. Kona Unit was also on the list, but the Kona dealer about 40 miles away didn't have a dem version, didn't have any in stock, didn't think he could get one, didn't think they were still available, suggested I rang back when he was less busy or ring Kona in Reading. This has made me much less motivated to try kona, though I might ring another dealer.
This thread helped hugely in terms of lots of ideas of what to research, but many of them are very expensive, trail geometry or not available in the UK. I don't want to buy second hand really. Really looking forward to being able to ride a Big Bro, hopefully soon.
Any other ideas which fit my above criteria gratefully received! thanks for all suggestions so far 🙂
Genesis bikes look nice also, but headset 1 1/8 and straight. Am I right in thinking that this will make it difficult to find suspension forks to fit?
You will find it harder to buy new, used is still fairly easy - but expensive as prices have gone nuts. Tbh, I know you want to love it but the big bro doesn't seem exactly what you want. Of all the options, the Singular seems like it will be the closest. And they look amazing 🙂
they are lovely Rich, I agree. Is that yours? looks great. Swift only available in Ti ATM I think, also I think straight 1 1/8 head tube which means no or limited option of suspension fork.
Curious to know why Brother Big Bro doesn't look like what I want?
The right answer is always: Stooge 🙂
Stooge is lovely. It's not what I have in my head that I'm looking for, ie geometry and no suspension forks option, but I love the design and the idea behind behind them, I also want to support a UK manufacturer. I would try one though if I could!
If you can get a Mk3 they have slightly steeper geo and will take sus forks.
Just think the Big Bro looks messy - it's got tons of mounts, eyelets and cable routing. So you can put racks, gears, bottles and all that shizz on the frame. So it's a really flexible option, but for me all that is superfluous on an SS. Plus the chainstays are gopping 😉 The swift has some of that stuff but not as much- website says there could be a new batch of steel frames coming. The Ti frame will now take a tapered fork so I'd expect a new steel one too as well.
The swift has some of that stuff but not as much- website says there could be a new batch of steel frames coming.
Think new Swifts will be next year, based on when I last asked Sam. I was hoping for one as well.
Just think the Big Bro looks messy
hmmmm I know why you'd say that, but I reckon that would be handy if my kayak-packing ever led to any bike-packing 😀 chainstays look normal to me. I don't like the current forest green...! bit drab. I will test one at some stage, there aren't really that many options and I'm not waiting til next year for a Steel Singular. Or buying a Ti one.
Pondering the Stanton Sherpa right now. I almost bought one on eBay yesterday. Never even seen one let alone ridden one, so I decided that was a bit foolhardy 😀
You wouldn’t be disappointed in the pipedream skookum, steel frames with sliding dropouts are very rare, and it’s a very good spec for the money, ps always open to offers as well
Pipedream Sirius 4G is on sale at the mo, steel frame with sliding dropouts, only medium (17") left: https://www.pipedreamcycles.com/shop/29er-steel-hardtail/?v=79cba1185463. The geometry is more trail bike compared to the Big Bro, which is touted as an adventure bike and has fairly old school XC geometry.
Anna B, my email Address is jonathantraverse@hotmail.co.uk
The pipedream Skookum fits your criteria, sliding dropouts/steel/tapered headtube, i still have receipt for frame purchased May 2018 direct from pipedream (which i can forward you) like i said above spec is excellent, Hope singlespeed wheels, Hope carbon seatpost, renthal carbon bars, Sram XX1 carbon cranks, Absolute black rings, list goes on, drop me email to discuss if you want
The loose one, thanks for that. Good price and right size, probably not the right geometry for what I want though. It’s frustrating! Johnny Rocky mountain thank you for that, your skookum looks nice but I’m pretty sure it’s too small, as a small frame. Will need medium at least, some manufacturers size charts are suggesting large for me.
I'm 5'8" and usually ride a Med scott scale 29er and the pipedream is similar, its on the large size for a small 16" frame and i run a 70mm negitive rise stem and flat bars, so room for movement there. plus your saving loads of money on your £1500 budget ?
Thanks Johnny, I’m a bit taller, will test ride the big bro ASAP and take it from there once I have an idea of sizes and geometry. It’s not budget saving if it’s too small 😆
The new steel Singulars were originally due to land in Spring of 2019 and the website has stated "Stay tuned" for over a year; the Swifts were going to be boost I believe.
Someone on here did mention that they were now on hold due to tooling costs and I can't imagine that the CV19 crisis has sped things up any. However Sam's always been great at answering emails if anyone wants an update.
Unusually there's a fair amount of [url= https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2499334.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xsingular.TRS0&_nkw=singular&_sacat=7294 ]Singular stuff on Ebay[/url] at the moment (including a Swift frame).
Sam's just about to put the order in for the next batch of Ti Singular frames this week...
custom options available, though anything needing significant redrawing might not make the cutoff.
Hi both thanks for that. pjay I have seen all the singular stuff on eBay, I never usually look though so wasn't sure if that was normal?! It's all large though. I would probably have bid on the swift if it were M.
I did actually e-mail Singular as someone suggested to see if there were any steel M Swift frames hanging around but never got a response. I did mail info rather than anyone direct though. I really don't want Ti though I have decided, would rather save my money for better components... 🙂