New XC hartail?

[Back Woods]

Looking for a new hartail for general XC use, nothing too fancy, can stand up to a agressive rider. I'm looking at the Airborne Liberator, and Santa Cruz Chameleon, maybe a Rocky Mtn blizzard, steel, alum, whatever, any other suggestions would be awesome. Thanks

[scrublover]

Looking for a new hartail for general XC use, nothing too fancy, can stand up to a agressive rider. I'm looking at the Airborne Liberator, and Santa Cruz Chameleon, maybe a Rocky Mtn blizzard, steel, alum, whatever, any other suggestions would be awesome. Thanks


man, that's a wide open category. how about some more definition of what you want?

how big are you? how much front suspension would you like to use? something to do some small/moderate drops on, or just fast riding? you looking to get a frame and build it up, or a complete bike?
most importantly what's your budget?

i'm a steel fan myself, but whatever floats your boat, right? i'll throw a plug for my hardtail maker.

www.peytocycles.com i've got the wild bill model, and it works wonderfully well as a do it all hardtail.

[jacksonpt]

Yea... almost any non-race bike will fit your needs, and some race bikes. How about a price range perhaps?

Some of my favorites...
- Kona Explosif
- Jamis Exile
- Cove Handjob
- Cove Hummer XC (*drool* titanium)

[Back Woods]

i guess i shoulda said, i'm 6' a little over 200lbs, i'm just looking for something i can ride xc, but is kinda burly, about a 100mm fork, V brakes, and what not, been looking around, saw a Banshee Scirocco that i kinda liked, just lookin for input is all, thanks

[Pau11y]

How about this thing, Cove Handjob, full XTR, '01 Z2 Atom 80 (just back from Zokes), carbon FSA cranks, bars, and seatpost, Time carbons, Ti FSA ISIS. Handbuilt Hayes/Huge w/ DT 4.1D, 3x, 2.0x1.8/2.0 w/ alloy nips, and Avid mechs for brakes. Around 22# for a Nivachrom frame. Soooo forgiving...
BTW, I'm 180#, 6ft w/ 33" inseam, and longish torsol. It's a really good aggro XC fit. Definitely a west coast config, not well suited for east coast tight woods.


http://home.comcast.net/~pau11y/Cove_02.jpg

[blue]

Look at the new Salsa hardtails...

[MikeD]

Hey, I'm a Dh guy who wanted an XC hardtail... I got a Mountain Cycle Rumble, just because they were cheap ($350 at Greenfish.) Wanted something that wouldn't feel sketchy or flexy when I pushed hard, but also wouldn't kill me going up.

Set it up with (wide)flat bars, 135mm stem, barends, layback post, and a Fox TALAS, and a triple chainring with a Heim guide, and it was great. Once I started taking it on tighter singletrack, instead of just riding for fitness on dirt roads, I dropped to a 100mm stem and ditched the barends, and it was even better. Just put an Evil DRS on with a 22/36 chainring combo, too...Heim wasn't doing it for me, and the big ring really was a liability in aggressive riding.

With the TALAS, it's nice to lower/steepen the front end for climbs. I probably go from a 70.5 or so HA at minimum travel to a 69 or so at max.

So, any frame like this would be good...Banshee Scirocco, as you mentioned, Cove Handjob or Stiffee FR, Mountain Cycle, Kona Hoss, or, if you want something really sweet...Evil Sovereign. I have a Sovereign on reserve, myself, but due to production delays will probably have to pass on it.

MD

[BaggyShorts]

What about a giant xtc aluminum? I love mine! It's stiff and durable - especially for the weight.

[Cash-Money]

a kona hoss frame would work out well, it's as strong as their DJ frames, but with XC geometry. comes in a 16, 18, 20, 22 size

[blue]

Maybe the Salsa Ala Carte would work for you...

[Darkreaper]

How about one of the Marin (http://www.marinbikes.com) hardtails?