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So, I want a 27.5+ hardtail for long days out (my idea of "long" is 30-40miles) on natural trails. Things like big loops in the Peaks, Brecons, Black Mountains, Chilterns. I'm better at climbing up than coming down so something that goes uphill well and is comfortable for those kinds of distances. And a mate is keen that I try some bikepacking with him so good for that too. Leaning toward steel. Budget £1500 but less if I can. 2nd hand is OK (hint). My shortlist:
Marin Pine Mountain 2 (not enough fun on the trails?)
Genesis Tarn 20 (good on the trails, but too heavy?)
Sonder Broken Road (over budget)
Comments and alternatives welcome
Thanks
Dan
Stooge. Fit a bouncy fork if you want to get a bit hooligan.
get one you can fit 29er wheels to.
i have a chameleon. can hook you up with some good value + wheels and tyres if you like?
Surly karate monkey, bit pricey like, but a great machine.
Takes 27.5+
or normal 29.
Or 29+ if you don’t use mega wide rims.
Pinnacle ramin plus well worth a look too, stooge lovely also
Someone's gotta suggest the Cotic Solaris, so it may as well be me. Lovely steel feel.
I'm about to offload a large MK2, ping me if you might be interested - well under your budget.
Before the current version a lot of people sized up to the large to get more reach, me included.
Stooge mines a Ti but the steel ones are just as good gave mine a a good battering around the Lakes for the last 20 months!
http://stoogecycles.co.uk/product-category/bikes/
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I really like my Marin Pine Mountain 2. I think it’s good value for money on sale.
Used it for bikepacking along the Brecons and over the Gap a couple of weeks ago and it worked well.
Did 50 miles round the FoD and the Wye valley on it today on it beat my time on Launchpad at Cannop on the way home, so can’t complain.
Of course I haven’t ridden every HT going, so others may have broader experience to share.
Not sure what size you're after, but how about a Tarn 10 for half your budget? You get the rigid carbon fibre forks and would give you plenty of money to upgrade (suspension forks, better tyres etc)
Pinnacle ramin plus well worth a look too
I love mine and cheap enough to buy a suspension fork as an option within your budget or if you find rigid is fine you could spend the money on 1x12 drivetrain. Original gearing was a little high for my liking so I changed to a 30 up front and 11-42 Sunrace at the back. The cassette change alone would have been enough for me but I wanted to change to a narrow/wide ring at the front anyway.
Orange P7. I like climbing and it does it well. Also goes downhill really well. I do 30 milers no problem and just spent 4 weeks bikepacking in Nepal on it. Best hardtail I’ve owned.
Singular Swift. Forks are included (rigid) but you can put low level bouncy forks up front.
The head tube might limit choice though.
Mine has been great - does exactly what you've described, very capable. At the moment running a 27.5+ front and 29r rear setup.
Thanks for all the comments/suggestions. A few new ideas in there and I hadn't thought of Stooge - I'll take a look
Thanks for the Tarn 10 tip off too 🙂
I'd be going back to the Sonder site and hitting the buy button on a Signal Ti.
A touch over budget but in 6 months from now that would be forgotten and you'd have an outstanding frame and good kit.
I have a Tarn currently in 27.5+ mode. The frame is a bit heavy. But it is a very capable trail monster with a decent suspension fork on it. Looking at where you ride, there are some cracking descents there...
I've got a Tarn 20 and a Sonder Broken Road!
I've bikepacked the Tarn, but it really is too heavy (In my opinion), it's just a bombproof All-Mountain hardtail. The Broken Road is a recent purchase, and it's blooming lovely. Recently loaded it up for a 100mile bikepacking trip around the Yorkshire Moors. I can't see how it could have been made more perfect for that type of ride.
Oh, the Broken Road is set up as a 29er.