You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I've been riding an Inbred 29er for 2 years now and love it, however she is on the portly side and I've decided to look for a lighter frame.
So sticking with what I know I'm considering the Scandal. I appreciate the aluminium frame will be a little harsher but I have read that the Inbred is not a particularly compliant steel frame and the Scandal is comfy for aluminium, so is the difference not too great?
My riding is local woodsy singletrack with regular 2-5hr rides in the Peak.
The web is littered with scandal vs inbred threads any many contradict each other. Can anybody offer some help? If I go for a scandal will it feel too harsh or be too fragile? Real world experience welcomed?
I had a 26 Ti inbred, now I have a 26 Scandal, blindfolded, I couldnt have told you what one I was on, they had near identical builds.
Been looking at getting an inbred or scandal 29er so quite interested to see what people reckon, saving bit of money on frame would be useful.
I went from a steel inbred 29er to a Mk1 Scandal(Scandium) 29er. I don't think the new ones are actually Scandium so don't know how similar they will ride. BUT
I thought the Scandal was almost as forgiving as the Inbred. Was lovely to ride for 12 hour enduros, trails centres and short singletrack blasts. I would buy another in a heartbeat. definitely the least "harsh" aluminium frame I have ever ridden.
I'd always been put off alu HTs before and have had half a dozen steel 26"s - currently 853 sanderson. My non-scandium scandal isn't harsh at all in comparison and is a blast. Comfy on the protracted and carbon bike eating kielder 100.
some encouraging replies, thanks. Any Scandal haters in the house?
I had a Scandal 29er frame for about a year and it was lovely and light to ride, and as already said felt the least like an alu frame i have ever ridden as was nice and comfortable. Changed to a inbred 29er a few months back simply as i prefer steel, and i prefer how the inbred rides, i think the geometry is slightly slacker on the new 2012 frames, and seems more 'surefooted' on the trail, but that of course could just be me! 😉
i've just had a Scandal 29er nicked from my house, and would happily replace it with the same frame. not harsh at all.
I ride a Scandal 29er, fitted a slackset to it and run a 120mm fork instead of the recommended 80-100mm and i love it, have a Reverb seatpost and 2.35NN front and 2.25NN rear tyre, find it is a great trail bike.
I have had a Scandal 29er (purchased from On One as a complete bike) for about 18 months now and I’m very happy with it; at around 24.5 lbs. it’s reasonably light and fitted with a pair of semi-slicks it doubles up nicely as my week day commuter.
I also like the fact that an 18 inch frame is available, size wise I find that I sit awkwardly between many of the 17’ & 19’ offerings so it offers me a good fit in that respect. It would be fair to say it’s not a truly ‘beautiful bike’ so if ascetics are you thing or you would like one of those nicely hydro formed frames it’s unlikely to be your first choice.
In summary so far, so good – throwing those awful Avid Elixir brakes in the bin is the only planed improvement!
Thanks for the replies. I think thats made my mind up.
Just to reinforce the fact you have made a good decision. Not at all harsh. I miss my old Scandal and wish I hadn't sold it 🙁
Great thread, I have an Inbred and wondered the same thing about a Scandal. Any pics of a raw finish built up?
bought a mk1 29er Scandal frame off here a little while ago , to give the 29er thing a try . i built mine rigid SS . Absolutely love it
With 29er wheels the frame material matters less in terms of "forgiveness" by some margin than it does on a 26" bike. You've got inherently more give in those bigger wheels, so I'd not worry so much about the Scandal being forgiving or not.
Besides you've got clearance for a 2.25" tyre or bigger anyway, and has been said before, good as the inbred is its pretty stiff for a steel frame, and it also weighs a ton! My old 18" inbred 29er frame was less than 2oz's shy of 6lb!!! My full sus frame with 5" of travel, including the shock and ancilliaries, is a good few oz's lighter than the inbred was.
29er Scandal with 120mm forks here.
Am-maz-in.
Love mine, no issues at all on long rides, way more comfortable than any hardtail has any right to be.
I read about Scud's pestered him a bit then copied what he did...
New raw 29er, slackset, 120mm forks, absolutely love it, seems much more nimble than my steel inbred 29er and feels much livlier..
Absolutely love it..few issues with the hose clips being in odd places and far too many of them but one its built well worth it..
Can anyone confirm the weight, a 19.5 but any size would be interesting. What is the exact slackset headset? Cheers
specializedneeds - Member
Great thread, I have an Inbred and wondered the same thing about a Scandal. [b]Any pics of a raw finish built up?[/b]
19.5" on the right and an 18" on the left. Both built up with XT kit and 100mm reba RLT.
[img] 
[/img]
18" just after build and seat post height now adjusted 😀
[img] 
[/img]
Bump
Very nice. To my eyes and in that finish, it looks like an expensive boutique frame. The thoughtful builds help too.
I love riding my Inbred, but they've never looked 'special'.