I've a 2017 Tallboy with a set of 29 & 27.5+ wheels which i can swap depending on riding / mood.
I'm looking at getting a hardtail frame to build up which i can then keep the second set of wheels on.
Other than the SC Chameleon what other frames are there out there which will run the above? riding type would be xc and trail mostly with the occasional steep hill thrown in for fun, so nothing too burly required.
Any helps or ideas would be appreciated, cheers
The Chameleon is crazy expensive this year if you're looking at buying new.
Specialized Fuse, Pipedream Moxie or Sirius, Trek Roscoe, Trek Stache, Ragley thingy. There's quite a list. I've owned the Stache and the Fuse (I bought a second hand frame, forks, dropper and bits for very little) - both are good. I'd been thinking of going for the Sirius before the Fuse popped up.
Take a look at Hardtailparty on Youtube - he does some great detailed teardowns of hardtails.
The Chameleon is crazy expensive this year if you’re looking at buying new.
Isn’t it, £800! I can’t / refuse to get used to the way prices are heading. Specialized fuse frame is knocking on the door of a £1000. Mental
Thanks all, and apologies i should have said i'd be looking 2nd hand if possible. Cotic & Stanton would be close to my heart but probably rare as hens teeth 2nd hand and expensive brand new. I did see the Trek Roscoe but from what i saw the frame had standard QR rather than bolt through.
I'll have a look at the others and see if there's anything out there.
Cheers
Whyte 905
Sorry plus compatible only
I use a Sonder Signal Ti for this exact purpose. Second set of wheels from my FS trail bike go on this.
Winter it's my mud bike, and leaves a spare set of wheels to leave more dryer tyres on. Although not spcifically a 27.5+ frame, i can get 2.6 tyres in when in 27.5 guise.
Thanks @Lardman, do you reckon it probably would be a bit tight with a 2.8?
Actually just noticed the Ti part of that bike, which may take my budget build OTT
@4130s0ul
Not sure TBH. I don’t have tyres that big to compare, but I’d say probably not 2.8.
Still great versatile bike/frame. Available in non-ti as well?
I have a carbon chameleon and an On One Whippet. Both are set up 27.5+, both have been 29" and I prefer them both as 27.5+ builds.
The Whippet rides more like a fast version of an old 90s bike, Chameleon more planted and less on edge at (reasonable) speed over tricky terrain.
If you can find one cheap enough, might be worth a look at the Whippet or at least a check on its geometry to see how it compares for you.
I did just what you describe with a Stanton Sherpa and a 2017 SC Tallboy, although in the last year or so J settled in plus wheels for the Sherpa and 29 on the Tallboy. Different hubs meant swapping wheels was a faff and I preferred them both set up that way, so stuck with it.
Genesis Tarn Ti if you can find one (or the steel version which is probably easier to find).
Cheers @Twonks, i'll add the Whippet to the list, i looked at it before but never realised it took + tyres too.
@Sheck, which gen Sherpa did you have? my second set of wheels came with the Tallboy and is a like for like set up vs the 29ers so would be easy to swap as long as i can get the same mech (already have the same brakes on the donor bike)
Thanks again all, appreciate the help
I had a Gen 2, which I’ve just replaced with a Gen 3.
Kona Big Honzos seem to come up s/H often
@Lardman
I totally disagree
how are you getting a 2.6 27.5 in there? i was originally going to build mine up on 27.5 and it was a gnats whisker clearance to the chain stays, dangerously so
30mm int rims with Maxxis dissector 2.6
Balls, missed out on that one, it'd sold already. Cheers for the headsup as that would've been grand
if you're looking for something budget, decent and in medium (!) the 2020 pinnacle ramin would be on my list.
geo here:
https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/pinnacle/ramin-2020-mountain-bike-frame-913973#colcode=91397301
£150.
takes 27.5+ or 29. slack, longish, boost.
The Ramin always looked good - nice call.
The Trek Roscoe is bolt through this year I think (please double check!) I was going to buy one a few years back after failing to find any Chameleon frames in stock, so settled for a Stache frame instead and didn't regret it.
Isn’t it, £800! I can’t / refuse to get used to the way prices are heading. Specialized fuse frame is knocking on the door of a £1000. Mental
Yep - that's nuts. I bought a hardly-used M4 frame (the Fuse Elite) with dropper + lever, RS Gold 35s, stem, headset, BB and seatclamp for far less than that in December 2020.
Other option, OK, is the Bird Forge at £695. They do test rides, and Bird is a lovely bunch of people to deal with.
Not sure how good the Forge would be as a 27+. I have the Alloy zero 29 and it is a low bike with 29er 2.4 tyres.
Lovely customer service though, so maybe ask them if its suitable. There may be a bit of a difference between the zero29 and the forge.
That Ramin is a bargain, though it looks like it's 1 1/8th headtube which will be an issue for forks.
The Fuse frame price is absolutely nuts, especially when there's pretty much brand new completes out there on Ebay for 600-800 notes.
A brand new Bird frame may be pushing the bargain build even though it does look rather pretty.
I was chatting with a non-biking friend last night who pointed out it may be easier to keep my existing bikes and just sell the + wheelset....he's not my friend any more 😉
Yeah - aftermarket frame only from Specialized is always a bit funny.
Maybe consider buying a complete on the 'bay and stripping the stuff off it you won't need. My neighbour bought a Fuse Comp after riding mine and aside from slightly cheap forks and a chainring made from cheese it's very well specced.
Other thing to check on the Pinnacle is the chainstay length. I'm short so a short chainstay is good, but over 430 and you probably want to be 6 foot or over
I've got the Genesis Tarn (steel version). It will definitely take both a 27.5 x 3" and 29 x 2.6". It's a monster in plus guise.
That Ramin is a bargain, though it looks like it’s 1 1/8th headtube which will be an issue for forks.
Thats an error on the listing. it's 44mm, so external lower for tapered forks.
Other thing to check on the Pinnacle is the chainstay length. I’m short so a short chainstay is good, but over 430 and you probably want to be 6 foot or over
a lot of newer LLS type bikes are speccing longer than this. 440 was pretty standard for a bit, with a few frames specced at 435, but not a great deal shorter (maybe 430 for a 29er if you're lucky). Now the trend is for frames at 450mm for 'stability'.
that said, the chameleon was very very short.
a lot of newer LLS type bikes are speccing longer than this. 440 was pretty standard for a bit, with a few frames specced at 435, but not a great deal shorter (maybe 430 for a 29er if you’re lucky). Now the trend is for frames at 450mm for ‘stability’.
It's weird, isn't it? My old San Andreas Mountain Cycles had 16.5" / 419mm chainstays for a 26" wheel. My Stache could go as short as 415 with the dropouts all the way forward. My first 29er had 445 chainstays and was great, but shorter stays feel better for my height, especially in tight stuff where all that stability is a downer. Adjustable chainstays are a great thing.
