As above. I read the whole build thread and found a few useful comments. But its mainly build details . Asking for a colleague in the chilterns and grown up son in Sheffield.
Obviously depends a bit on the build, mine is middle of the road. Seems to climb very well and eats up flat miles as well. Descending wise been riding from home so not tried it on anything that tricky yet but from the tame stuff I've tried it goes pretty fast. Not the lightest but you don't notice it and the length and slack head angle seem to work well to give you confidence. Also it's purty
Thats really helpful. Even just a quick "like it" is helpful....
Most of us paid £150 for the frame and built it up from bits we had, thinking it would make a good cheap winter hack.
It has massive tyre clearance, modern geometry, threaded bb, Internal routing, it's an easy bike to build. Some built it rigid, others with suspension forks.
Its very well made (in my opinion) and the paint work has been very good apart from on the chainstays where a lot of us forgot to wrap in our haste to ride
Most of us were surprised how well it rode. It climbs well and descends well. Some of us liked it that much that we upgraded the winter hack and put some better parts on.
I really like mine. It's got a longer reach than I'm used to so it's got a 35mm stem which works really well. I like it that much that it makes my other bikes feel like the reach is too small.
I run mine rigid with 29er 2.6 inch schwalbe nobby nics on. Around my local loops it's just as quick as any other bike and not that much slower downhills.
For the money I don't think there are many bikes out there that's better.
My only complaints are the 8mm rear axle but I changed that for a ktm and the terrible box they sent it to me in with the head tube and mech hanger poking out the box.
Well it was planned as a bike to do a bit more distance on and be able to link up some routes with occasional tarmac, seems ideal for the job.
First ride today on mine, replaced a Genesis Tarn with it. Light, and very quick up to speed,running 2.35 tyres it copes with stutter bumps and roots well.All in all,bargain boight for bothy visits and riding to the foot of hills is surprisingly capable on singletrack.
Bought mine at £150 running selcof rigid fork/xt crank/mech/Slx shifter. £55 Clark’s brakes and 780mm bars and 35mm stem. It’s a stonking ride and it’s my go to for local hooning. I have done few 5hr rides on very challenging terrain where the rigid fork takes its toll. I plan to fit a sus fork at some point too.
Excellent riding frame and very well made imho.
Its a bargain at £300 !!
Posted my thoughts in the big thread a bit, however - got mine for £149 at the start of lockdown and rode it a LOT over the Spring and Summer rather than my big heavy suspension bike.
I am really happy with it - theres no big misses in the spec (boost, threaded BB, dropper routing, internal cabling, loads of clearance etc) which means I can swap wheels etc with my big bike.
I tried to build mine up quite cheaply but on the lighter side, Its got some really nice but quite spindly REBA forks, 2.3 tyres and light Mavic wheels.
I wont do this - as I have another bike, but I reckon it could actually work really well with a bigger fork (Pike/34) and some bigger tyres if it was your only bike too.
I really cannot see how spending any more money on any other type of hardtail would get me any appreciable 'upgrade'.
Mine gets used for all my local riding, old fashioned XC, canals, local woods razzing etc, and keep the big bike for days out and propeer hills, jumps, rough stuff etc.
Well happy with mine.
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Reply cheers everyone. Snot rag great write up
Again my build was from spares box with my only purchase being a fork, I now have to resist the temptation to throw money at it as everything I don't like relates to the cheaper components especially to the Rock Shox Judy TK Silver forks. These get overwhelmed on the rougher stuff. It climbs brilliantly and rolls over everything on down hills. I don't find it the most nibble in tight singletrack as it feels very long but overall I'm delighted with it. My plan is to use it over the winter and for bike packing trips.
Best bike I've ever designed. Finally got it right. Last one too btw.
Love mine, when first built up with full SLX and 120mm Fox 32's and fast tyres was the lightest bike I've ever had. Climbs well, fast and stable on the downs, decent in the air. I put some big Vittoria Gomas on for the winter/spring and was able to tackle some of the steeper stuff at the Golfie quite happily, though this was pushing the limit of the fork. Just about to rebuild with some 140mm Fox 34's and wider rims, quite excited!
Love mine. Bought the GX build and although there were a couple of issues with timescale and delivery condition (missing front Maxle, no seat clamp bolt) once it was ready it rides fantastically. Slacker head angle than my previous bike makes it slightly harder to lift the front wheel when necessary but I can't help but smile when I ride it. That says it all to me
Last one too btw.
Last one you designed, or the last one you'll ever design?
I don't know Brant, you should be proud of your Dog too. I love mine. You did me a deal on a RST fork for my sliding dropout 29er Inbred and that has never been touched, still good, though recently replaced with a longer Recon. I just went with steel again due to a very dodgy back. You have a fine body of work to be happy with.
My comments also on main thread but it's good, definitely a long slack big wheeler in terms of handling but it's very stable. Nice weight. Just tainted by it coming in a wheel box with a dented head tube I had to hammer and press out, and hanger sticking out the other end like my parkwood before it did. Should email on one for a new hanger, think it is a little bent.
Will also be my last on one as a result.
Mine was bought as a build with SRAM GX and the Gold 35 fork, mainly because I wanted to upgrade the frame but so many standards have moved on since my last bike that a "parts bin" swap would have made no sense.
I think it's great - very different to my old bike (the "old" Scandal) - long slack etc. I was worried when I first had it together that it would be useless on the flat and twisties due to the slackness but it's surprised me in being a great all rounder.
The biggest (and only real) annoyance so far is that the DUB BB needs a whole new tool to remove vs my older Shimano ones. Hardly One Ones fault!
Have mine built up with 650+ wheels (2.8 NNs) and a set of the 130 travel Fox 34 Performance forks that were in a PSA deal a couple of years ago. I'm not great on analysing the ride of different bikes but it just feels right to me. Light enough, very comfortable and I like the reach (I also have a Bird AM9 so am used to a long reach). Climbs fine and pretty stable at speed/on the steep.
Will try it with 29" wheels this winter.
Mine's got 650/2.6 wheels, fox 34 (prob from the same PSA as hamishtc) plus a load of spare parts and my other bike is an AM9 too - which is longer by quite a bit. I've just put a bit longer stem on the scandal and I think it's better for it, definitely for pedaling but maybe also cornering; certainly not obviously worse anyway (frame's a L, I'm 6ft1)
I'm no connoisseur/ace reviewer though, so "it's fine"
Whats size frame would you recommend for 6:2ft (189cm) ? On One size chart shows 6:2ft as on the cut off of large to XL.
Some great imfo here. I think Brant's answer seems definitive.....
He's a poncho designer, what does he know about bikes? 😁
Having second thoughts about the Signal ST you ordered, coconut?
Whats size frame would you recommend for 6:2ft (189cm) ? On One size chart shows 6:2ft as on the cut off of large to XL.
@Brant answered this in the other thread, I'd go try and find it as he knows better than anyone. I think he said go smaller as this is a modern geometry bike with longer reach.
I'm 6ft3 with a 35mm stem and riser bars and I wouldn't want it to be any bigger!
Most people on here, it seems, either are spreadeagled on bikes far too long for them, or think they ought to be.
But that's ok as most people seem to want to ride noddy high speed trails rather than twisty fun trails.
See also:-
https://twitter.com/shedfire/status/1303076827666280448
6"2" on a large, previously a large Tarn and an XL Orange stage 5 is my other bike.
I'm 190cm (6'2/3") on an XL and find it perfect... The wheel base is pretty mad though, have to take the front wheel off to get it in the back of my van. guess that's why its so stable though.
@duckman - how do you find it compared to the Orange S5? I'm considering one and was was worried that there would be too much overlap between the bikes in terms of ability and use, if you know what I mean?
Most people on here, it seems, either are spreadeagled on bikes far too long for them, or think they ought to be.
Most people seem to have bought as per On One sizing guide - which seems to work. 6ft on a Large here, with 40mm stem.
6ft, also on a large.
Id not be too worried about sizing up, its not that long. Its still shorter to the bars than bikes were 10 years ago because of the short stem.
Most of my riding on it has been Swinley and Tunnel Hill, so mostly tight and undulating rather than wide open and fast. I wouldn't have said it was past the point of being too slack, I'd happily pick something longer and lower for when the trails open up and get faster/rougher.
I was tempted to swap the frame to a Hello Dave but suspect that might actually tip the ballance too far the other way!
For those running a Brand X dropper on the Scandal.... does it take a full length outer cable?
rides like a bike 🙂
Only done a handful of rides on it so far but I'm quite enjoying mine, it replaced (or more like added to, once Ive got another rear wheel) a scandal V2. Was after something not quite as racy and got it. Stable, climbs well, descends well, fun on singletrack. Ive been doing a lot of FS riding (and getting older) so struggle a little going back to HT, this seems a little harsher than my carbon singlespeed, but I could just be riding rocky trails faster. Not got the setup quite right yet, struggle to lift the front end on steep downs (local trail steepish down, cant seem to unweight properly for the 3 big steps on it, there's a similar trail with an even bigger step that can't be rolled nearby, won't be trying that til Ive got this sorted) already got a 45mm stem and got the bars set reasonably high. Obviously this is fairly niche scenario, its absolutely fine popping wheelies on the flat. Maybe it's a touch long for me*, dunno, probably just need to spend a bit of time getting it dialled in for me, Ive not done much since the up and down the front street, yeah seems OK that I did at build time.
I'd be very tempted to singlespeed it if it didnt mean faffing with internal bloody cabling.
Still on the lookout for a dropper post, got a reverb in the repair shop, it's not a stealth so zipties ahoy assuming it gets fixed ok.
*6'2" on an XL, had a few on-ones in XL, so thought it would be a no brainer, maybe the longer "new geometry" means I should have gone for L, dunno.
This all makes me very excited, I ordered mine (Burnt orange) this morning, it should be built on the 21st, I can’t wait 🙂
Hopefully I ordered the correct size, I’m “only” 5’10” and ordered the large. My medium Sentry fits me perfectly with a reach of 465 and the large Scandal has a reach of 460 so fingers crossed!
I'm 6'2 is too short for an XL, what's the point in XLs. How many tall folks buy these things?
(Says the 6'3 person)
Hopefully I ordered the correct size, I’m “only” 5’10” and ordered the large. My medium Sentry fits me perfectly with a reach of 465 and the large Scandal has a reach of 460 so fingers crossed!
On what scale do you think being 5’10” makes you a large? Why? You’re definitely a medium sized person. Not small. Not large. Not xl.
I’m 5’11 on medium
The bike definitely comes up bigger than Planet X suggest. I'm 6'1 and ride a large but could get away with a medium no problem
I originally designed just S M L and was asked to add the XL. It’s big.
On what scale do you think being 5’10” makes you a large? Why? You’re definitely a medium sized person. Not small. Not large. Not xl.
Brant, I went off reach on the large which is less than my current bike and I am (just) in the large recommended height on the size guide. I am guessing from the comments that I need to change it to a medium if I don't want to make a mistake I will regret!
5' 9" and the medium is perfect for me, but I have short legs and long back so modern long low bikes suit me. Only bad thing is the Fatty is now languishing in the shed.
Brant, I went off reach on the large which is less than my current bike
Is your current bike a 29in hardtail with similar fork length too?
Do you understand what happens to the reach dimension when you sit on a hardtail?
Brant, no, its a full suspension 29er enduro bike so I am guessing there is a lot I don't know about sizing a modern hardtail and just using reach isn't the way to do it! I have contacted customer service re changing it.
My XL Scandal (still not built) with an XL 26" Cannondale Trail frame (2012?) on top, aligned at the BB shell as well as I could do. Bit longer, bit slacker, shorter seat tube. I ran the Cannondale with a 100mm stem. I'm 6'4". Might be of use.
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For those running a Brand X dropper on the Scandal…. does it take a full length outer cable?
I do, outer cable runs through the downtube with the others, out under the BB and back in the rear of the seatube.
Tom99; totally different bikes, as I originally said; I built mine up to backpack. I stuck a spare rhythm fork on it and have taken it out each day since I built it up. Must faster steering than the full sus. Plus; which one would you rather take camping/ access the hills with?
Brant, no, its a full suspension 29er enduro bike so I am guessing there is a lot I don’t know about sizing a modern hardtail and just using reach isn’t the way to do it! I have contacted customer service re changing it.
I'm sorry that reach has been so over-complicated by so many. It's a good figure for comparing similar things with, but hardtails get longer when you sit on them due to the fork compressing, and should be shorter overall anyway.
Hardtail seat angles should be a lot slacker than FS ones are heading towards, as the seat angle doesn't sag backwards on climbs as it does on a FS bike.
Many people are getting very confused and tarnishing very accomplished hardtail designs with ignorance or riding things that are terribly designed or set up.
Thanks Brant! 🙂
Hi steamtb
If it’s any help I’m a smidge under 6 foot and ride a large sentry (487 reach 460 seat tube) which fits me great. My size large 29 hardtail has a 140 fork and 450 reach 450 seat tube. Also fits me great. My mate who is 6’ just bought a large 29 hardtail with 465 reach 460 seat tube 130 fork (a sonder signal Ti). I think you’d be better on a medium scandal.
Edit. Reach and seat tube the other way round on the sonder
Many people are getting very confused and tarnishing very accomplished hardtail designs with ignorance or riding things that are terribly designed or set up.
gotta have the biggest reach number possible for forums though
Thanks Docrobster!
I cant see the stem length in the stock build. Any idead. Son about to press buy but just checking all angles or sizing
Cheers.
Has anyone else changed a size choice before the build date? Is it the same process as general returns, so purchase another bike and then they refund the original later?
I changed to 35 and GX on my dog and they couldn't have been more helpful. Tends to be a couple of days before one gets a reply, that's all.
@steamtb normally it's a lucky dip! But they have been selling so many bikes that trey are behind with builds at the moment so you might get lucky and they might come back to you before they build yours.
Have you done the live chat?
That’s what I guessed re busy, there isn’t a live chat option? Thanks!
I really like mine. I'm 6'2½", and if anything the large feels just a smidge too long, even with a stem where the bars are near enough touching the fork steerer! Built mine with some XT and SLX kit I had lying around, a cheap Rock Shox fork, and Planet X's own Smorgasbord tyres. It feels fast and playful most of the time, but of course it's too long for some tighter trails - I've run wide on some stuff that I could nail happily on my older 26 and 27½" wheeled bikes, but that could have been a factor of me being faster on the Scandal, too.
It's made me really reevaluate 29ers, tbh. Every one I'd ridden before this always felt like a city bike with knobbly tyres. I also rarely ride my full susser now, grabbing the Scandal in its stead. Make of that what you will.
Anyone managed to fit a 180mm rotor on the rear? I've found the 160mm lacking power for my 100kg lockdown bod. Got a rotor and ordered the adaptor but the mount bolt looks like it will struggle for clearance to get a hex key in
It’s made me really reevaluate 29ers, tbh. Every one I’d ridden before this always felt like a city bike with knobbly tyres. I also rarely ride my full susser now, grabbing the Scandal in its stead. Make of that what you will
Mine turned up this week and I was expecting much more of a transition period getting used to a 29er after almost 25 years on 26inch wheels with a bit of recent riding on a Bossnut but the bike just clicked with me as soon as I rode it. I'd go as far as saying I'm more confident getting into a "new geometry" body position with more weight over the front on the Scandal than the Bossnut. Really happy* with it and the finishing kit for £999 (GX, 35 forks) when I ordered it has impressed, especially after the slightly mushy SX groupset on the Bossnut.
*except the saddle which is awful and was swapped ASAP
Anyone managed to fit a 180mm rotor on the rear? I’ve found the 160mm lacking power for my 100kg lockdown bod. Got a rotor and ordered the adaptor but the mount bolt looks like it will struggle for clearance to get a hex key in
Yes, the caliper bolts are a faff whichever adapter you use, one of mine wouldn't fit at all (a 'wedge' shaped +20mm one) one that the bolts pass through to the frame was fine.
180mm shimano fits fine which was a surprise as the spiders clash with some frames and the Scandal looks tight at first glance.
I've got one and absolutely love it.
It's really nicely balanced- climbs nicely and is great on the longer xc rides too. It's pretty confident on the descents too. Nice light alu frame so it's built up light and stiff.
What's surprised me is that given the geometry I thought it would be a winch and plummet type of bike, but it's actually a great all-rounder (& better than my SolarisMax LS).
I originally got it and built it up as a budget build as a winter hack bike, but it's superb and deserves better components so I'm upgrading bits as I go along. The finish has also been excellent on mine.
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brant
Full MemberI originally designed just S M L and was asked to add the XL. It’s big.
Your not kidding are you! I'm 6'3" with a long torso and gibbon arms.
Got my XL delivered yesterday and I have zero gonad clearance when sat feet on the floor 😮
I originally bought the Proto 26" Scandal off Brant late one night and turned it into a commute bike, just look how much seatpost is showing!
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I was just going to buy the XL, and now I'm wavering...
My old hardtail is a 20" Lynskey 456Ti and my FS is a Cotic with 495mm reach -only 6'2" but I do have long, long legs plus have totally bought into the longshot geo but just want a value XC 29 HT.
What size...
@intheborders I'd go L. I'm 6'1 and I'm between M and L but went for the L due to long legs. I could happily ride either size
I was just going to buy the XL, and now I’m wavering…
As others have said including @brant the XL scandal is big. I'm 6ft3 and had to put a 35mm stem on to get it right.
Everytime I ride it, then ride my specialised stumpjumper I think I need a new fs bike as its too short. After a while it feels OK again.
I suggest you go for a large.
Brant, I went off reach on the large which is less than my current bike and I am (just) in the large recommended height on the size guide. I am guessing from the comments that I need to change it to a medium if I don’t want to make a mistake I will regret!
What did you end up doing? I'm only a little taller than you and went for the large, Every other time in my life I was between sizes according to size guides I went for the smaller bike and always had a nagging what if. It feels perfect, I have a 23mm of spacers and a 50mm stem so it actually feels quite short.
I received my Scandal yesterday and sorted tubeless etc late last night. Only had a little spin today, but I’m guessing it’s going to be fun 🙂 Loving the colour!
Re sizing, I’m extremely glad I swapped from a large to a medium (Thanks for all the advice!), even the medium feels a touch on the big size, the large would have been far too big. Pic:
cokie - in what way do you find it better than the sloaris max? Interested as have been looking at both of these...
Mate's new Scandal build date was yesterday. Whats the delivery time for these builds ? Its not like he is in a rush as had to self isolate on Wednesday for 14 days as a work colleague came up positive on a C19 test 🙁
My build date was the 6th and it arrived with me on the 7th...
Bought a large - let's hope it fits.
Thanks Steamtb . He is expecting it this afternoon and then sit looking at it in the lounge for the next 12 days ........ Never mind. I said I could check it works for tomorrows ride :). no response to that as yet.
Ok, first proper ride tonight and I definitely need to change some stuff as I didn’t really gel with the bike on the trails. It felt oddly slow (twists and direction changes) and didn’t inspire confidence. I obviously expected it to be a lot slower than my Sentry on the downs but I didn’t think it would be a lot less agile too, so I presume it’s something to do with me and set up changes I need to make (or differences I just need to get used to like the lower front end).
First off, did anyone else get the Vittoria Morsa tyres? They seem pretty poor, either run them at lower pressures and they squirm ridiculously hitting jumps quickly and under hard cornering or have them rock hard, grip suffers and the bike feels harsh and unforgiving (I tried lots of different pressures on the same downhill section). I have a nearly new set of WTB tyres sat in my shed so I will throw those on when I get a chance, hopefully that will make a big difference. Will swap some new bars on too as I generally run a little bit more backsweep and slightly narrower.
I definitely need to change some stuff as I didn’t really gel with the bike on the trails. It felt oddly slow (twists and direction changes) and didn’t inspire confidence.
@steamtb How tall are you and what size did you buy? Is the bike too big for you?
@damascus, I’m 5 10” and got the medium, which should be spot on for me.
Spent five hours playing on the trails with it today with my daughter. Raised the bars a bit (plus more sweep), increased sag from 18 to 25% and concentrated on shifting my weight back a lot more. Definitely feels better for me and lots more enjoyable. I will swap the tyres this week at some point too hopefully. I think it’s also very different proportions to my Sentry, feels the same length but lower at the front, need to practice more 🙂
Rode my mates 'round the block ' today after sticking it together His is a large and I am 5ft 10. Seems pretty manageable and dimensionally similar to my normal bikes ( Ibis and Stooge to name a couple) Obviously I cant comment much on off road riding. But I found the Sram gears to be pretty snappy and good, although the gear cable was about 4 inches too long, which I shortened. The brakes are pretty mushy and hoses were also similarly long as the gear cable. If you need the olive and barb, they are the red ones, not the silver. So, he has ordered a pair of them to shorten. Bars are fine, if a little out stretched for me , but he is 6ft3 and should be good for him.
We did find a scrape on the top tube from the brake lever rubbing, out the box. He stuck the Nukeproof sticker from his pedals to disguise it . He is fussy and its a mountain bike , but he just said he hoped it would be his damage from the off.
Overall is a lovely looking bike. I havent tweeked the forks at all, just told him to bed them in and we can adjust then. Would I have one ? Yes, I would , they seem a great bike for the money.
He is pretty happy with it and is more a bike than he would ever need, so hopefully he will get out and ride when his covid isolation ends or his test comes back negative.
I ordered my Scandal (large and burnt orange) last night after spending hours debating the merits of a Scandal vs. a Vitus Sentier VR. The Vittoria Saguaro tyres don't sound fantastic (certainly not against the tyres on the Vitus) but I will give them a go - I'm sure they are better than my rusty abilities and the likely trails I'll ride for the foreseaable future. However, can anyone clarify whether the wheels are taped up to be run tubeless or do I need to hunt down some rim tape for the i29 rims? I have the necessary fluid, kit etc from running tubeless the Hunt wheels on my Boardman CX.
My rims weren’t taped and oddly they weren’t i29s as expected... I’m guessing it’s a bit random re some components and depends what they can get. It only took five minutes to pop some tape on and not much longer to fully set up tubeless. 🙂
