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Idle thoughts as usual but as I've been thinking of replacing my gravel bike with a modern XC bike via b2w. However, The rabbit hole I'm currently down is getting an older xc full suss frame and building it up as a short travel canal rocket instead but having paid little attention to such things I don't really know what to look for.
I'm thinking 29er, pre long, low, slack, 100/120mm travel and probably 2010-2016 to keep costs sensible and geometry nice and traditional. Which models would fit the brief?
But why?
Surely you are just going to put yourself immediately out of date with regards to standards, handling etc? I think boost was coming in in about 2015 for example?
Isn't a gravel bike (that you've already got) the answer to the question anyway?
Pyga OneTen - if you can find one.
Best bike I've owned. It climbs amazingly well and is more than a match for previous 140/150 mm travel bikes I've had before it.
Not selling.
something to ride fast on, over easier terrain ??
look no further.
https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/bikes/model/chisel/
Short travel canal rocket = GiantAnthem Advanced 29er.
Do you wanna buy mine?
Camber or Epic?
I agree with the poster above on standards though. I have a 2015 Camber Evo. It's a very capable bike (for its era) and great for the normal southern riding I do but it's on borrowed time as it's non boost and 8 years from the birth of boost there's not exactly a glut of non boost wheels etc any more.
If you do go for that vintage I'd at least aim for a boost back and ideally front end.
Tallboy 3?
whatever spark is in budget. had an anthem. spark is better (imo)
I’m completely with Ton on this, the answer is a XC hardtail?
Cannondale Scalpel.
The previous Canyon Neuron. They sold loads they must crop up lightly used
There are quite a few on eBay
Don’t buy a Nerve the previous model
Potential stealth ad- what about a Devinci Atlas carbon? Just like the large frame sitting in my spare room!
110mm travel, proper XC geometry, lovely and light.
Nothing wrong with an older bike but just try to future proof as much as possible.
Avoid anything quick release or boost plus. Make sure it's got a tapered headtube and bolt through axles. I'd recommend 29ers.
If the bike is boost that's a bonus but not a deal breaker if it isnt
Don't worry if it doesn't have stealth dropper routing as its an older frame, it's out of warranty and you can drill a hole in it.
I wouldn't limit my self to a particular model. I'd set myself a budget and an alert on ebay/facebook/pink bike and see what you can pick up. Try and buy local so you can give the bike a once over. Be prepared to pay some money to bring it back up to spec if its not been looked after. Bearings, drive train and servicing forks.
I've noticed quite a few bargains out there left over from covid. People panic bought and haven't used them since lockdown and now want the money and space back.
If its had a hard life and been ridden hard walk away, plenty princess bikes out there bought by people who have all the gear and no idea and only ridden them gently a handful of times.
My friend was talking about selling his 2018 carbon salsa horsethief with Chris king hubs and di2 and he was gutted about how little we think it's worth compared to what he paid. Don't believe the magazine hype, save some cash and pick up a bargain.
Thanks for the responses all, plenty of obeying to be getting on with.
Yeah, I agree the answer is probably XC hardtail and that's the most likely route. I've been eyeing up a Trek Procaliber and the b2w is open again in a month or two. The older full suss is just idle day dreaming as I like buying a frame and sourcing parts + an older bike can be more wallet friendly obviously. Short travel full suss sounds fun to me but I don't have the cash for a newish one while still running a modern FS and HT. Mate used to have a Camber Evo so the Camber was the starting point. 29er and tapered are a given but not too worried about the rest tbh.
Gravel bike was the answer but I'm not getting on with drops and the cost to change it to flat bar just isn't worth the gamble when I can sell and replace it.
Anthem 29er or a Spark +1, both inspire pedal-till-you-vomit speeds. I think the sparks tended to have more wierd stuff over the years like pull shocks, but then giant did it's thing with 1.1/4 steerer tubes.
Anthem was/is fab. Look at Fuel Exes too, they have a wee bit more travel than you're after but they carry it well, Trek really were years ahead when it came to 29ers.
Camber IMO is the opposite, to create the camber they just took a stumpy and made it worse. Plus a lot of them will come covered in Fox's most terrible suspension, the triad shocks and the CTD 32s were crap Fox multiplied by Specialized novelty addiction.
Trek Top Fuel could be a good option? Or Whyte T-129 from 2018-ish.
Both earlyish examples of good 29'er short travel bikes, but new enough to still have plenty of wheel, fork etc. options when needed.
If it’s for a mixture of easy terrain / canal paths / bridleways etc and a gravel bike was your previous answer then it sounds like a 29er xc hardtail is possibly a better answer than full suss bike.
Those Yeti Arcs look nice that keep cropping up on here - could pick one up frame only on bike to work and build it up with the bits you like?
Otherwise the Trek Procaliber / specialized Chisel / Mondraker Chrono / Scott Scale etc all look decent options