Solid chassis, good build quality, seatstay brake mount, nice tire clearance, fancy head badge, full length brake housing guides.

Fork is very portly, not full length derailleur guides

Mine is set up as a 1 x 10 for a 225lbs (+ gear) Clyde. Replaced the heavy and not great riding fork with a Surly Karate Monkey fork which dropped a pound and rides nicer. Running full length housing for the rear derailleur but need to use zip ties, wish the guides were full length like the brake housing guides.

Seatstay brake mounts make removing the rear wheel a breeze. The ride is snappy and compliant like a good steel frame should be. Quality of build is surprisingly good for a bargain frame. I've had many complements on how nice the build looks.

Easy to build up. Quality is excellent for the money paid. Heavy like a Tank. Rides much more nimbly though.

Running the full length housing creates a nice sealed system, but a muchy feeling at the brakes. Not an issue if you have hydraulics.
One quibble is regardless of the collar I used the seat post slips a little which suggests the tolerances were not exact. A little grip paste cured the issue immediately.

From a performance standpoint, my only beef is when I really stomp on the gas I can get enough flex to ghost shift the rear end, but in reality all of my steel bikes will do that so not a big deal really.

Built this as an all season commuter, but have been guilty of taking it on the trails often. It is built as a full rigid 2x9 drop bar mountain bike.
A little over 500 miles on it and it just makes me smile.

Similar Products Used:

Niner SIR 9, Gunnar Rockhound, Kelly Deluxe

Price, function, versatility

Weight, finish

I just don't know where you can find more bike for this kind of money.

I've had no issues with this frame whatsoever. Horizontal 'dropouts' have worked as advertised, with no slipping using a QR rear hub. I use this as my bad weather and winter rig, built up with spare parts I had around. Even so, this bike has been more than capable and super fun to ride.

I have noticed some surface rust under the top tube gusset - I think the frame finish did not fully make it under the narrow slot. I treated with some paint just in case - doubt it would be an issue since it's on the surface, but it's no fun seeing rust on a new frame.

Mine seems put together fine, but I've heard others had issues with weld quality and frame symmetry. Not sure if that's still an issue on the newer frames - I certainly don't have any.

Of course it's heavy but at least you know that going in.

Similar Products Used:

Jamis Dragon 29er, Specialized Hardrock

steel, short chain stays, versatile, nice paint

slotted rear a bit of work, not light

I wanted to build an affordable SS 29er. The Scout was my start. I am impressed by how both sporty and smooth this bike rides. I run Flows and low PSI tires which has to help with the smoothness, but all the same, it's smoother than other bikes I've owned with the saw wheel/tire treatment. This bike does just what I need it to: it allows me to go on short rides close to home that only have sprint climbs. I ride it rigid. The only drawbacks to this frame that I can see is that the rear wheel R/R demands some time and effort. The brake needs to be loosened and then re-positioned. It is also heavy, but what does one expect at this price point. The frame has wildly exceeded my expectations in terms of ride and even appearance. It has, over time, become a poor man's frame with mid-life crisis build. At times I want to get a Nimble 9 and change my components over, but feel that it would be an unnecessary use of funds. The origin 9 Scout does what it's supposed to. It makes me happy just to look at it, and even happier to ride it.

Similar Products Used:

Nothing really. My only SS

Price, now comes with rigid fork, overall quality very high, easy build, did I mention price?

Heavy, doesn't have lively "Steel" feel, zero bling factor.

Reviewing the 2012 Origin8 Scout 29er frameset with fork. I purchased this frame to replace a tweaked Kona Unit frame. I paid a little over $300 at my LBS. I was shopping this against a Surly Ogre or Karate Monkey, and just couldn't justify the additional cost for the Surly.

My Kona was set up with a Marzocchi 44 MicroTi fork with QR15 axle. Since I'm not running a 9mm axle, I can't use the Origin8 fork that came with the frame, but that's not really a problem.

Now for the real review. I'll give you the bottom line first: I don't like this frame as much as the Kona. It's heavier, and just doesn't have the snappy, lively feeling the Kona had.

I'm running it as a single-speed. The track-ends with integrated tensioners are OK. Certainly not as slick as the sliding vertical dropouts on the Kona, which allow you to keep your chain tension setting while still able to remove the wheel. But, they're simple, they work, and with an XT skewer, my wheel has been holding fine without having to resort to a solid nutted axle.

I like that it has cable stops and a derailleur hanger, so I can run it geared if so desired. Not sure I ever will, but having the option is nice. Paint and decals are quite good. I'm not in love with the routing for the rear disc brake down the bottom of the downtube -- seems a little exposed, but it hasn't been an issue so far.

Overall, the bike rides fine, certainly better than I have any right to expect for such an inexpensive build. I would certainly recommend this frameset to someone looking for a budget-build SS 29er. I wouldn't put one up against a Niner SIR9, but they're not really in the same market segment, are they?

Similar Products Used:

Kona Unit

price, fit and ride!

not the greatest looking welds, but... who cares?! my welds don't look awesome all the time either and they hold up just fine...

I bought a complete single speed version, brand new from a LBS for $325. i rode it for twenty seconds in the parking lot and bought it; i've swapped out the stem and bars for bontrager rxl bits, tektro auriga comp hydro disc brakes and got the stock maxxis ignitors set up tubeless. ths bike has been a dream! single speed and twenty-niners are new to me- (i never rode bmx when i was a kid even) i'm just as fast as i am on my turner burner FS... which is now going up for sale! I've hadno problems with the sliding dropouts, brakes or chain tension and the 17" frame with a 70mm stem is fitting me great at 5'-08"

strong, light weight, QUIET!

"black ops" logo

This is my first 29er and my first single speed bike. The frame geometry forces you to ride a little "bound up". If you are tall and lanky, you may want to consider a different bike. I am a short stout rider so it is perfect.
I have only upgraded the grips to oversized grips (blueskycycling.com) to ease the amount of stain on my fingers/hands cause by long periods of trail chatter.

Similar Products Used:

redline mono cog 29er, se stout 29er

Short chainstays - super easy to pop up the front end (for a 29er), tucks in rear wheel for SS mashing
Versatile - geared or SS
Good standover clearance

Pretty heavy for an AL frame
Steep-ish HT angle
Track ends and disc brakes can be tricky
Rear tire clearance is pretty tight (Ignitor 2.1 in the back with ~5 mm on each side at the chainstay yoke)

* This review is for the (nearly) 1st generation aluminum Scout 29 *

I bought this bike complete off of eBay to add a dedicated rigid, SS to the bike stable. I wanted something light and quick for short local rides. It had a few nice upgrades beyond the stock bike and turned out to be quite a deal.

I LOVE the short chainstays. With the bike set up 32x20, the BB-to-rear axle distance is 16.75". My only complaint with 29er's has been how much more work it is to lift the front end and it's MUCH easier with the short rear. I have since set up my Unit (now geared) with the sliders set as far forward as possible to shorten it as much as possible.

Other thoughts: For aluminum, it doesn't feel as uber-rigid as the Outcast (but, of course, not nearly as smooth as the Unit). If I were riding anywhere gnarly, the rear tire clearance would be a real problem.

Overall, very pleased!

Similar Products Used:

Kona Unit 29, Motobecane Outcast 29

Price, Handling is nimble and fun

None Really

Just overall fun to ride, Handling is as good and predictable. Cornering is spot on, predictable on fast down runs. Was just fun to ride.

Similar Products Used:

29ers from Redline, Fuji, Raleigh, Haro, Voodoo, Haro

Price, weight, Geometry, The Ride.

JB Importers (Distributors of the Origin 8 Scout), bolt on rear wheel, non-replaceable derailuer hanger.

The bike is a riot to ride! It is super fast and responsive. A fellow 29er rider commented it feels like a "Ferrari" while riding it! However, the frame cracked on a weld after about 6 months. JB Importers would not stand behind it. Even though I purchased the bike new, it wasn't from one of their dealers, therefore, I am SOL! I love the bike, I just wish JB would stand behind their frame material/workmanship. I have had to have a local weld shop weld it a couple times, it keeps cracking. Due to JBs lack of help, the value rating is low. Overall, the bike is a blast!!

Similar Products Used:

IF 29er, many 26s,