Currently im riding an on-one 456 summer season, it was an impluse buy after wanting a second bike to just use and abuse, when I didnt feel like getting the racey carbon HT out and blowing my lungs up.
My problem is now that, i love riding it so much, ive not touched the carbon for ages and think i will sell it shortly.
I really like this more relaxed fun style of riding and feel like im a better rider, even a better person for it, biggers belly yes, but bigger grin's too!
So, now id like to build up a better quality AM/Trail HT.
I think ive got it down to, the Cotic BFE and the Identiti AKA, this is going on reviews and websites, but i just wondered if any real users, such as your good selfs on here could shed any more light or make any other suggestions, many thanks
Cove Stiffee. I have the new one and use it for everything from Alps to long distance XC. It's pretty versatile with a travel adjust fork. Super fun on the descents.
Better quality?? In what sense?
Thanks Neil re cove, I haddn't really thought of them.
As for better quality,im wanting to have a better build off of a higher quality frame,thus a nicer bike. The on-one is a cheapo starter costing the same as a good quality pair of treds and tubes. You get what you pay for, right?
I take your point but the reason I got my summer season was that no one else makes anything with similar geometry (apart from the custom route). I had a BluePig but always felt it was not slack enough and the BB too high. With the summer season I can get it much slacker running the fork at only 130 and a lower BB height.
Plenty of ways to spend silly amounts on trail/am hardtails..
The 456SS is a very capable frame, and as you have already found a great all round bike, the build quality on them is pretty good so i wouldn't worry about that.
If it was my money I would be considering a second hand full sus frame to compliment the hard tale but that is just me.
I own a Identiti Mr Hyde frame and have built it as a AM trail bike, they are very stiff frames which means although a lot of fun, for longer rides over rough ground you can take a bit of a pounding. If I was going to change frames I really really like the look of the BFE.
I have a full sus as well as the Mr Hyde and the confidence the full sus gives is fantastic.
Did you consider the carbon 456?
Amazingly versatile bike and there's a angle-adjusting headset in the pipeline for it according to On One if it's not slack enough in standard form.
If you love riding the 456 so much why not just carry on enjoying that and perhaps treat it to some pimp wheels or something?
Good to hear you're enjoying the riding so much.
I agree with what's generally been said above.
You have a good frame, and any differences by "upgrading " it won't be massive. As neninja said, changing wheels could be just as significant.
However, If you do want to do it you need to decide why and that will help choose.
Going carbon 456 would be the best way to save weight,
alluminium ( like the stiffee ) would save a little weight and up the stiffness of the ride,
A new steel frame ( like the BeFe) won't change the weight much at all but the ride may feel different. Ideally , you'd want a test ride to see if its what you're after.
Having said all that, a few options to consider (in steel cos that's what i've got) : cotic Befe, evil sovereign, ns surge, transition trans am, and Stanton Slackline.
The stanton's pretty new so i don't know if you'll find one to test but it looks beatiful, is made from R853, and seems to fulfil all your requirements. I've not seen one in "the flesh" myself yet but if I was buying now I would deffinately investigate 🙂
How about the Chumba HX1 frame?
£399, 10% offer to singletrack users using the code STW10 here [url= http://www.progressive-bikes.co.uk/product/chumba_hx1/ ]Chumba HX1[/url]
[url= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6071/6143438014_072056e727_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/93388219@N00/6143438014/ ]Chumba HX1[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/93388219@N00/ ]srbwilson[/url], on Flickr
I've just gone from a standard 456 to a carbon 456 (not ridden it yet!) - sold my susser as it wasn't getting used
My idea was to go light weight - would have bought a Ti Ragley but couldn't stretch to the 2nd hand prices - and tubeless so I can run lower pressures without pinching
I wasn't sure that I would notice such a difference if I just spent more on a better steel frame, but could be wrong!
Sweet, heaps of top advice, nice one singletrackers!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with those that say keep the frame...if you've having fun and being inspired with confidence changing it could be a backwards step, pimp it out in every respect, forks,wheels, brakes, drivetrain, etc and it will be even more fun!
P.s if you haven't already get wide bars!
The Stiffee is a heavy old frame, really fun due to the short back end but there are better options out there imo.
The Bfe is a good start but if your replacing both your carbon xc bike and your 456 have you looked at the Cotic Soul?
The newer frames that meet CEN regs are pretty strong and i've given mine a fair old amount of stick, it's built up with Pikes, double and bash/stinger, wide bars, short stem and go between xc wheels/spd's and burlier wheels/flats depending upon where i'm riding. I also find my u turn fork helps on the Soul as i like to have it around 125mm most of the time but it's nice on bigger stuff to slacken it a touch by winding the fork out to 140mm.