For me - it is a Rocky Mountain Vertex TO - fantastic paint job and climbs like a mountain goat
Alternative would be a Merlin XLM I guess for Titanium option...
Alternative would be a Merlin XLM I guess for Titanium option...
What is the best hardtail frame out there?
- Thread starter davebee
- Start date
davebee said:
I ride KLEIN Attitude from 1996 (have 2 more bikes) and i think is the best frame ever.
Serbian_SPIRIT said:
Hi - I am currently riding either a Rocky Mountain Vertex TO (2000) which is absolutley awesome climber - very light and gorgeous paint scheme and as an alternative a Pace F8 - built to sustain any terrain....
I have a Gary Fisher and love it...but recently I've started looking at the little custom shops turning out bad ass frames for cheap... I really think my next ride is gonna be a Soma. They're reynolds 631 steel and the welds are beautiful. I just think it would be cool to give the little guy a try... we all know that a Kona or a Fischer or a Merlin kicks ass but for less $$ maybe the little dude kicks ass too...
Got to be a Seven. Haven't got one (yet) but working on it. Big money. but will last a lifetime. Got two Klein Attitudes. One pre-Trek, one post-Trek. The later one is absolute rubbish; heavy (by comparison) useless flaky paint finish (I'm back to the brushed aluminium nearly all over, after just 2.5 years. Yet the original Klein is beautiful, and will serve as the template for a new made to measure SEVEN.
For me it is a KHS Alite Team. Frame weighs around 2.3 lbs, and is uber responsive. Looks pretty darn good too. Paint is a little on the flaky side, though. My previous bike was fully rigid, and having that as my primer, I cant see the point in going full susser. Unless you are on flat trails, around half of your riding is uphill and a rear shock dosent do much good when you're pushing hard in the granny gears.
Mpc350 said:
have a look at www.weightweenies.starbike.com (i think, otherwise google weight weenies). They list the weights of most manufacturers so gives a good idea of what is out there. half the fun is discovering enw brands on an almost weekly basis. I want one of everything!!!
I have a Voodoo Sobo scandium hardtail with a Manitou R7 fork. The bike rails tight single track and is a little flexy, so it has a sweet, smooth ride. The flex also helps cornering because it keeps the rear wheel in contact with the ground and absorbs the little bumps. The Sobo has similar geometry to the Kona Kula Primo (both designed by Joe Murray). The only problem with Scandium is it dents easily, mine has already got a few dents just from normal use, one on the downtube where a rock was flung up by the front wheel. If I could afford it I would get a Ti hardtail such as a Lightspeed, Merlin or Seven cycles, they also have similar geometry and dimension to the Voodoo, they weigh almost the same but Ti is tougher than Scandium, and should last many years, where a scandium frame has a limited lifespan.davebee said:
TREK Elite is probably the most advanced carbon hardtail out there. I've seen dozens of wins on this very bike and have no less than three friends who one this frame.
The 06-07 elite hardtail is probably the only carbon mt bike that uses an integrated headtube downtube and toptube. This is the same technology that was used on Lance's 05 tour winning madone bike. You simply won't find a stiffer carbon hardtail frame.
The Elite 9.9 comes spec'd w/ full XTR and sells for 5500-6500 depending on whether its an 06 or an 07
The 06-07 elite hardtail is probably the only carbon mt bike that uses an integrated headtube downtube and toptube. This is the same technology that was used on Lance's 05 tour winning madone bike. You simply won't find a stiffer carbon hardtail frame.
The Elite 9.9 comes spec'd w/ full XTR and sells for 5500-6500 depending on whether its an 06 or an 07
depends on whatcha gonna use it for....
If you're a true cross country racer nothing beats the ride of titanium in my humble opinion or really light steel think Curtlo, Seven makes great bikes, there are lots of great small builders, or something like the Yeti ARC.
But if you are looking for more of a trailbike, why not the On-One 4-5-6, which has killer tyre clearance, and a sane geometry. This purchase would also leave you plenty of extra cake for a dynamite fork such as the Fox 100RLC or similar and a good kit to boot.
VTW
If you're a true cross country racer nothing beats the ride of titanium in my humble opinion or really light steel think Curtlo, Seven makes great bikes, there are lots of great small builders, or something like the Yeti ARC.
But if you are looking for more of a trailbike, why not the On-One 4-5-6, which has killer tyre clearance, and a sane geometry. This purchase would also leave you plenty of extra cake for a dynamite fork such as the Fox 100RLC or similar and a good kit to boot.
VTW
If u ask me i love the ibis mojo steel. TO me taht is the definition of ahrdtail MTB fram. Atlesat as far as steel goes. the down sde to taht is that tehy stopped making them but if you run across a good deal for a used frame or comlete bike i would jump on it.
my specialized epic comp does feel like a hardtail when going up hills. it has the brain fade on the rear with cusomizable options and is totally stiff unless it hits a bump at speed. sure, this will cost a little bit of weight but overall i believe you save time on flats and downhills and lose only very little, if anything, on the climbs. you pay alot for this technology, but it seems to combine all the advantages of a hardtail with all the advantages of dual suspension. it has gotten better over the years. mine is an 07 and after tweaking the settings for a while, both in front and back suspension- and depending upon the ride- i can honestly say that i wouldn't want any other kind of mountain bike. this coming from someone who originally set out to buy a hardtail also...
I think this is a very subjective and personal issue. Although I've ridden many full suspension bikes I prefer my fully rigid 1996 YoEddy from Fat City Cycles, sadly, now defunct. Nothing, absolutely nothing climbs and carves tight, twisty singletrack like a Yo, except Independant Fabrication's Steel Deluxe. Were I in the market for a peerless hardtail and money was no object, I'd go to IF.
-fb
http://www.ifbikes.com/
-fb
http://www.ifbikes.com/
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