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Basically need an up-to-date 2020 HT 27.5 trail frame for my 12 year old - what do you recommend or have had experience with?
Been looking at the Norco Fluid HT in a Small (it looks ideal as it has the modern stuff I'm looking for) - but they are all full bikes with a spec I don't want - I'll build my own...
Any input appreciated.
Thanks,
John
You could try a small Brand X HT01 frame from CRC - £109 last time I looked with the clearance code. It’s not fully long /
Low / Slack but it ok and builds up quite light. Built up a large one recently with
recon golds / Clark’s M4 / Depre
M5100 / Sunrace 11-46 and some fairly heavy wheels (Alex rims on shimano m756 / Superstar /V6
Really pleased with the Ragley MmmBop frame I got for my son, geo is nicely modern and quality seems really good. The Marley is another option also
I didn’t finish my post above - even with wheels the wrong side of 2kgs the whole build came in just over 28lbs on the Brand X. With a small frame / lighter brakes and wheels it would be a very decent weight.
Really pleased with the Ragley MmmBop frame I got for my son
AGGGHHH ... my 11 yr old has decided he wants one but I'm looking for a decent non boost frame.
+1 on the Mmmbop. I’m absolutely smitten with mine - although I’ve got a 150mm Fox 36 in the front of mine which helps!
stevextc
AGGGHHH … my 11 yr old has decided he wants one but I’m looking for a decent non boost frame.
I was too, but ended up buying a boost kit for my wheel - just about any wheel can be converted, either with a "proper" kit or one of the generic ones with the loose spacers. I wouldn't restrict your choice based on non-boost.
I ordered a 2020 Mmmbop frame into my LBS and was set on the purple - unfortunately, they had sent the black/grey, and more importantly, the reach was massive - I took my 2018 Nukeproof mega in and the Mmmbop was at least and inch longer - way too long for my lad. Shame
Brand X HT01 - quite liked, but isn't as slack as I wanted and no 15mm rear end - just old school QR, and unfortunately no S' in stock
I was too, but ended up buying a boost kit for my wheel – just about any wheel can be converted, either with a “proper” kit or one of the generic ones with the loose spacers. I wouldn’t restrict your choice based on non-boost.
Yeah ... I'm half looking as a way to use up the wheels and parts I've got. (I've got at whole bike and lots left over)
That includes 2 wheel sets (nearly when I find a decent 28H rim).. a 26 and a 27.5. The idea is swap wheels about (we do a lot already) but also something shorter he can chuck about. His FS is a Bird so pretty long and he can ride my ML and even my Mega (2015 L) but he can't chuck it about on jumps. Equally don't really want to go for a full on DJ ...
Don't tell anyone, but I jammed a non boost wheel in a boost 27.5 HT frame, it works it's only a few mm of flex. I was going to use a boost spacing kit but to do it properly you should space the non drive side only which means re-dishing the wheel, which is a big pain to then swap back to a non boost bike. I wouldn't do this with carbon or an FS though.
Looking at the Nuke Scout 275 Small - now that could be the winner
@johnski
I'm tending towards a DMR trailstar (currently at £320) .. but really looking for something used but nothing 1/2 decent is coming up under £200ish.
Brand X HT01 – quite liked, but isn’t as slack as I wanted and no 15mm rear end – just old school QR, and unfortunately no S’ in stock
I was more thinking at 12 they’ll still likely shoot up in height over the next couple of years and outgrow it. But there’s another argument that if you get one with 142 or 148 x 12 that everything including the rear wheel will swap across to something bigger / more slack etc in time. That said it’s only the rear wheel that’s an issue - the bb is screw in and it has a tapered head tube / 31.8mm seat tube etc. The one I built was for my 14 year old nephew who is already 5’11 so went large and he’s loving it. Although he is a complete novice so easing him into different trails and going to try and get him bunny hopping / / getting weight right in corners etc as basic skills.
I've got one of those Brand X frames built for my 9 y/o son, you can fit a 2 degree angleset to them if it's not slack enough. It's a decent frame for the money.
Johnski
Looks a lot better in black and you can swap the axle width..
(Though the retro is sorta cool if you remember the original)