[Closed] Steel Hardtails

Its a subjective subject! I think that steel has more 'feel' to an aluminium hardtail. I think they are a blast to ride and somehow more alive than aluminium. The weight penalty is not noticeable to me and at speed, the handling far outshines lighter weight aluminium.

just swapped my stuff from an inbred to a scandal (so same geo) doesn't feel any harsher. does feel a lot lighter.

It really comes down to the design/tubing. My old steel 456 was a fun bike but didn't really have any 'feel', but something made with quality tubing, like the old steel Breezers for instance, felt great.

Old fashioned 26 inch wheeled Soul here. It is every bit as much fun as my 27.5 Anthem SX. The steel comfort removes a bit of the riding fatigue I think and it doesn't feel harsh at all.

I'm on a 29er HT - Chromag Rootdown with 140mm pikes..

Ruddy love the thing. Quite heavy (like, 6.5lb frame!) but rides beautifully..

DrP

I have a Ragley Blue Pig- the older model, not the latest one, and I really like it. It's quite heavy but I was pleased to find that it climbs pretty well. In fact it climbs better than my Cotic Soul. The Soul is lighter but the front end always wants to come up even if I put my weight further forwards.

On my El Mar I really felt the [i]steel feel[/i] when I fitted rigid forks, when it had suss forks on it just felt heavy..

Loving mine so far, doing lots of stuff I wouldn;t have done on a hardtail in the past.

Definitly recommend big wheels - and big tyres.

i had a connondale trail sl aluminium and a dialled PA steel frame. the PA was noticeable stiffer and less compliant. it also had crap geometry so was sold.

I like steel hardtails, but they're no all equal.

My old BFe was a rigid, stiff pig of a bike with no feel. The Slackline 853 that replaced it was a much nicer bike to ride with some feel and compliance.

My Switchback 631 was a bit stiffer / harsher which I out down to the bold through rear end, bigger diameter seat tube and headtube. It was still nice enough to ride all day. My old Chameleon used to batter me to death.

Love a steal HT, Mine is a 456 evo 2 which some might say is made of broom handles but I love how it rides and love the seat stay details.

But there's other things like when gravel and stoves flick off the tyre and hit the steel frame it doesn't just ping it piiinnngggs!
Know what I mean?
Stanton! Get one now!! You will love it!!!!

Steel hardtails are lovely. That is all.

I have a Solaris and an El Mariachi (although the latter is being run rigid)

Just found out from a mate that he's got a 45650b arriving next week, don't know much about them to be honest

I love steel hardtails but my pinnacle Iroko is far more compliant (and lighter) than the on one it replaced.

On steel, you dont land jumps but touch down 🙄

I ride a carbon Niner RDO (geared) and a steel Ritchey P29 with niner rigid forks (ss) and it just as much a blast and lively as my Niner!! Build it on the lighter side you will feel the benefits...

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If I just built the carbon frame I've got hanging in the garage it'd immediately be 3lbs lighter.....but that's not the point.And I like ferrous bikes.

Don't think I'd ever have an ally hardtail again. Been on steel for years now and although subtle, the feel is better imho.

Had a Charge Blender, a Dialled PA, a Transition Trans-Am, and just bought a PP Oka, which I'm riding for the first time in anger tomorrow. I loved my Trans-Am but fancied something a smidge slacker, plus I found the Trans-am with my 150mm forks was way too light in the front on steep climbs.

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But would it be ok to go steel for a do it all bike? I only have room for one bike so i will have to commute on it (which often involves going the long way home in summer through the fields) and weekend trail centre rides, red and blue routes mostly. I loved the feel of my old singlespeed inbred which is why I am tempted again. Saw a good deal on an Onza Jackpot today. Looks very very nice but another brand I don't know much about.

Had an Orange crush, Cotic soul mk3, Slackline Ti and now on a Switchback mk1.

The switchback is an amazing do it all bike even with the slack HA and find it very 'comfy.'

I won't go back to an aluminum frame and quite happy to live with the weight penalty of steel.

No problem having a hardtail as your only bike. I've only just bought my first full suss after 20+ years of mtb! Probably a better choice for you as a 'do it all' and less maintenance too.

Love my BFe and have a Prince Albert to build up. I ride my BFe everywhere from xc to Surrey Hills trails. Now I don't jump much aside from a few simple pops and as such I only ride my FS on holiday now. O would imagine you will fi d a steel HT lighter than your Canyon so does weight bs say Carbon realy matter ?

I'm sold on Steel and wouldn't buy another alu or a carbon frame.

i have just gone back to full rigid steel hardtail, just like i started on in 1985. 😀

What did you go for Tony? I always wanted a Dekerf, they were lovely.

Steel for me, tried a few Alu frame but never felt the love.
Yet to try Carbon or Ti but can't see me going those routes.

Cheers, Steve

What did you go for Tony? I always wanted a Dekerf, they were lovely.

jones+

On my ninth hardtail (out of sixteen mtbs, christ!), only two of the nine have been ally. All the others, including this one, have been steel of varying types.

There is a difference in the ride, steel does feel more 'pliant'.

I wouldn't have another ally ht again, but that's got nothing to do with the ride, as an ally frame could be made with some of the quality's of a steel one. I just think a (thin tubed) steel ht looks right, not a chunky ally one. YMMV

This one
[img][url= https://c3.staticflickr.com/2/1461/26674012522_e67b94c97a_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/2/1461/26674012522_e67b94c97a_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/GD6hBC ]Bike shed[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/andygines/ ]andy.gines[/url], on Flickr[/img]

What did you go for Tony? I always wanted a Dekerf, they were lovely.
jones+

Nice

Steel Hardtail = smiles, lots of them!

Pics of the Jones plus please Ton!

[i]I m selling my full suss Canyon as I need a hardtail[/i]

Surely you mean WANT.

Probably the best/easiest/cheapest way is to just buy a frame and swap the bits over, then you can either 'park' the full-suss frame or sell it on.

No its definitely 'need'. I 'want' to keep my canyon but for various reasons can't. These include not being able to fit my sons bike seat on due to the rear shock.

I also have a Ragley bluepig (again, the older 26" model). I struggle a little bit uphill but one of my mates has a steel onone and frickin races up hills so it probably says more about me than the bike.

I think that the extra weight actually suits me on downhills - it feels a bit more solid and allows you to carry momentum over obstacles a bit more easily. I've not found that it limits me in terms of e.g. jumps, hops, skills, etc.

It's a very fun bike, although I've relatively little to compare it to, having never owned a full suss.

My steel hardtail history started with a Peugeot Tim Gould "replica" which weighed 37lbs. 1st mtb. loved it, rode it everywhere, nothing to compare it to.

Picket up cannondale beast of the east, 2nd hand 5 years later. Loads lighter, so much qucker. Rode that everywhere for a few years till it got nicked.

I always wanted a Dekerf, they were lovely.

I never thought I'd get one, but strolled into Recycle in Penge, and there was a Generation, 1 year old and mint, exact same spec as the one I'd been gawping at in MBUK.

Did exactly what a steel ht is supposed to, plush ride, soaked up chatter, and pinged me down the trail. went everywhere 2 gears faster, because it always rewarded another kick of the pedals.

Few upgrades and a respray later (and a load more miles) and it looked like this:

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Then I picked up a Dialled PA classic. Loads of fun, but built burlier, so doesn't have the same zing. Didn't see the point of 2 steel geared hardtails so did this to the dekerf. 17 years old and still as brilliant to ride as ever!

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OP as I think you can see most of us who have tried steel hardtails wouldn't go back to alu and if I really had to have just one bike it would probabky be a steel hardtail as I only "need" the fs maybe 10 days a year

the obvious weight issue

That the hardtail will be much lighter than your FS?

A quality steel frame, say, 853 - will surprise you by how light it actually feels. I used to ride a nicely built Soul and several non-enlightened riding buddies couldn't believe how light it was even stationary. On the trail I could flick it all over the place and the front wheel popped up with virtually zero effort.
Invest in a nice steel frame and forget about the 'weight issue'. There isn't an issue.

Steel all the way for me. Some have a definite tensile 'spring' to them. Try before you buy.

I had a blue pig as my only bike for ages. It's an absolutely brilliant do it all bike. With a 160mm lyrik up front it never felt out of its depth on anything at all. My friend now has it and he loves it as much as I did. Get one! (Although the Bigwig does have my curiosity).

John

I know there are a lot of On One haters on here but i've had this 15 months now and still really like it.
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This is actually not helping at all. I really thought the consensus would be that they are heavy and people have them as a 2nd or 3rd bike. Didn't realise the love.

Looks like my choice is between Ragley Blue Pig, Ragley Piglet, Bird Zero or second hand Onza Jackpot. May even consider a 45650b as they do look good and are great value.

Some great looking bikes on here though.

No its definitely 'need'. I 'want' to keep my canyon but for various reasons can't. These include not being able to fit my sons bike seat on due to the rear shock.

Had a 45650b, they are noticeably heavier than an 853 frame - but - when on the move they feel bombproof. Amazing tracking as the front end is super stiff. Beats the wrists up a bit as a result, but worth it for the steering.

Great value frame, almost throwaway pricing. Would be nice to have a bolt-thru rear end though.

Despite it being steel it still feels lighter than my mate's alu Boardman HT. I've not had them both on the scales though so can't say for sure.

Just to add to the steel hardtail luuuurve, heres my P7. I absolutely bloody love this bike! It doesn't feel heavy at all. Far from it. My extremely nice 140mm full suss Cannonade Trigger regularly gets overlooked, with me preferring to take this out instead. Steel frames are just far nicer to ride than alloy ones IMHO, and they just look 'right'

Have you had a look at the new P7. They look lovely! I really really want one, but the 'I want a new Orange P7 to replace my present Orange P7' is not going down well with the committee

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Your lawn needs a trim Binners.

Love my steel hardtail... it's the bike I ride every time. My mate got one too after seeing how much fun I was having compared to the full sussers... for some reason a hardtail makes me feel like a kid again - zipping around pinging off everything...

This
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Is within a pound of this
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I've been riding the full suss for the last 5 weeks, but I've been missing riding the hardtail. It's my go to bike for local riding. The full suss makes my local riding 'too easy'.

Not sure I'd give up my Last for ut, but this looks pretty ace

http://enduro-mtb.com/en/liteville-h-3-b-review/

Mainly ridden steel hardtails and currently have a Transition Trans AM 29er. Didn't get on with it at first, but after lowering the forks to 120mm, shortening the stem and fitting a low riser bar it's brilliant. Not felt under biked on anything and it's also currently my only bike.

It weighs a lot, but I honestly don't notice it and the bike just feels solid, confidence inspiring and tough. The only thing that would convince me to get rid of it would be a Kingdom Vendetta (or another steel bike when I get bored). I honestly feel no need to own any more bikes and I used to have three. Not owned an Alu bike for years.

edenvalleyboy spake thus-

Love my steel hardtail... it's the bike I ride every time. My mate got one too after seeing how much fun I was having compared to the full sussers... for some reason a hardtail makes me feel like a kid again - zipping around pinging off everything...

Yep. I've binned my FS off and now just have a steel hardtail and a couple of pairs of wheels for different stuff- one with tyres for doing skids and wheelies and the other for doing sweet jumps 😀 😆

Of the many bikes I've owned, the only one I regret selling was a 2011 Kona Unit, rode it SS or geared, every now and then I ask the buyer if he wants to resell it back to me.

New Units have a more trail geometry than old ones AFAIK.

If you want to go fully rigid I'd explore the 27,5+ path, the Genesis Tarn 10 is damn sexy.

They will have to prise my Niner from my cold, dead hands.
Even now, 5yrs on, it still rides like nothing else I've ever tried.
Supple yet lovely responsive ride. It just feels more lively than anything ally that I've tried.

That blue pig I'm looking at is over 31lb. Thats heavier than my Canyon! I know its not all about weight, its about how it feels. Still tempted though.

I sacked off my 160mm gnarrpoon for a Ti Switchback because I kept on riding the steel Switchback instead of my Banshee because for 95% of my riding it suited me better. The Stanton was surprisingly light.

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I never thought I'd get one, but strolled into Recycle in Penge, and there was a Generation, 1 year old and mint, exact same spec as the one I'd been gawping at in MBUK.

Did exactly what a steel ht is supposed to, plush ride, soaked up chatter, and pinged me down the trail. went everywhere 2 gears faster, because it always rewarded another kick of the pedals.

Lovely bike @nedrapier. Funnily enough, the first Dekerf I saw in the flesh was in Recycle. I loved that shop and bought traded a few bikes in there, last one was a Yeti Ultimate. Not a good looking bike, but great to ride.

I'm another who doesn't 'get' the On One hating. My evo 2 got nicked, so I got a 45650b in the totally awesome 'raw', with a dropper for less than £1,200. I love this bike. It needs riding quick to get the best out of it because it is so capable, but I can't hold that against it. Steel hardtails rule!

Clean lines, narrow tubes and a buzzy rather than thumpy ride quality.

I traded an orange 5 for a genesis latitude 26" 853 a few yrs ago. Great bike, lovely zing and nice looking. It was a great alternative to a soul at the time and I'm really pleased with it. Spe nt the last few yrs commuting ( just up and down the street on a single speed '93 orange clock work that I've had since er, 1993 with big apples and I love it. Tempted to go rigid on my latitude.

Just been dabbling with a rigid fattie which has tempted me to go rigid on the latitude...

There's not enough Soul in this thread so here are two -

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We changed from 100% Aluminium to 100% Steel earlier this year - also big changes (for us at least) from 26" to 650B, 3 x 9 to 2 x 10 transmission and some additional slackness in head angle.

So far we are very happy. BTW bikes weigh in at around 26lb.

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Finally got sorted. Went for most of your advice and went steel. Mainly due to the fact I have always wanted to try one as well as seeing a bargain that I couldn't turn down.

Its an Onza Jackpot chro-mo frame with Hope wheels, 140mm Revelations, XT brakes and Sram 1x11 gears. Think its the ideal setup for me, the Spectral I had before was brilliant but only for what it was designed for not the riding I do 95% of the time. Hope your'e right about how plush they are, got some big rides planned. Will report back.

^ That ought to do it! Looks great to me!

That looks lush...

(Even better in the SPARKLY PURPLE their show bike is in....)
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Looks mint

Looking at the payoff (29er version of the Jackpot) as a 40th present for myself, would be interested to hear your thoughts on the ride

What's this? A steel hardtail thread?

Well...I've had a few...
:breaths in:
KonaLavaDome (no pics)
SpecializedStumpjumper
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DialledBikesPrinceAlbert
[url= https://c5.staticflickr.com/1/114/291799644_b57a9997d2_b.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rMxSm ]IMG_1658.JPG" target="_blank">https://c5.staticflickr.com/1/114/291799644_b57a9997d2_b.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rMxSm ]IMG_1658.JPG"/> [/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/danclairelees/ ]Dan and Claire Lees[/url], on Flickr
DialledBikesLove/Hate
[url= https://c6.staticflickr.com/1/198/442004437_a73cef5fcc_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c6.staticflickr.com/1/198/442004437_a73cef5fcc_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/F4owa ]Rebuilt Love/Hate[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/danclairelees/ ]Dan and Claire Lees[/url], on Flickr
RagleyBluePig
[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/4/3365/5846768830_25ef2aa1fa_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/4/3365/5846768830_25ef2aa1fa_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/9UEdF9 ]Peaks pig[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/danclairelees/ ]Dan and Claire Lees[/url], on Flickr
SurlyKarateMonkey
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7608/16952148152_c428e0d243_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7608/16952148152_c428e0d243_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rQ1c3q ]Pre HONC shakedown/prep ride for both me and the #surlybikes #karatemonkey[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/danclairelees/ ]Dan and Claire Lees[/url], on Flickr
SurlyKrampus
[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7288/16708354227_592b87b9ea_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7288/16708354227_592b87b9ea_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rssFAT ]Current Krampus build.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/danclairelees/ ]Dan and Claire Lees[/url], on Flickr
ChromagRootdown
[url= https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8626/28062012164_cde060db3b_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8626/28062012164_cde060db3b_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/JKK9xW ]2016-07-31_07-36-03[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/danclairelees/ ]Dan and Claire Lees[/url], on Flickr
:breaths out:

They were/are all lovely. Some had that whippy steel feel, some didn't. When you start slapping 140 or 150mm forks and 2.4 (or even Plus) tyres on the frame, that whippy feel doesn't really make any difference.

OP - You'll notice there is a Blue Pig in the list, was one of the Mk1 frames. Fun bike and very fast pointed down. Very good climber too on steep stuff. However it was a bit of a chugger on the flatter trails.

I made the jump from 26 to 29 and to be honest I'm not sure I would go back to smaller wheels on a hardtail.
That being said I'm not convinced by 29+ for hard riding as the tyres (specifically the sidewalls) weren't up to it. 2.3 or 2.4 (with a decent sidewall) on a 29er is fine for me.

The current bike, Chromag Rootdown is definitely the best bike of lot, as you would hope. It feels like it takes the best bits of the Ragley and Karate Monkey, sprinkles in some Whistler magic bear poo and distills them down into a very very good all round package. That being said it does benefit from a set of Pike RCT3 on the front. The ability to make the spring rate more progressive is a boon on a hardtail. Dropper posts really help too.

Some beauties there pal. Glad these are so popular, I wasn't keen on being too "niche".

That looks bloody lovely!

Did you get any luck with getting this years P7 binners or did the committee stand firm?

Its very much a work in progress. 😉

I'm somewhat besotted with my Solaris which I only acquired on Saturday from Rogan Josh on here. It's my second Solaris having always regretted selling my Mk1 a few years ago.
Hopefully I'll be out on it later for the third day in a row.

Anyway. Here it is...

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funkmaster p, I may be selling my vendetta if this is of interest to you (or anyone else for that matter!)

Thestabiliser - Well first impressions are really good, rides very nicely and feels much lighter than my Canyon especially when accelerating. Frame feels plush and confidence inspiring. Like it. Would be a real flyer as a 29er.

Need some advice on tyre combinations for my Onza Jackpot. Currently have slaughter 2.3 front and butcher 2.3 rear both tubeless and its perfect for my local trails. However when I go to the lakes next month to do the borrowdale bash will I die? Obviously I could do with more grip at the back but don't want to lose how it feels to ride now. What combos are people using on rockier rides?

You have Slaughter front and Butcher rear?

My 2016 P7 is bloody mint. Still, current safety regs mean that steel frames are now overbuilt, so the difference in ride between steel and aluminium probably isn't what it used to be. New Orange Crush is aluminium and is supposed to be surprisingly comfy.

Whoops! No, other way round, well spotted George

Right... was figuring as much since you talked about needing grip out back. Purgatory?

Finding the Minion SS(slaughter equivalent) surprisingly capable.... might ger away with it as you are

Just found a slash in my rear tyre so forced to replace it. Gone with your recommendation George - a Purgatory. Lighter and grippier according to all the reviews and feedback.

When are you posting a picture of it?