Our classic singlespeed frame in a 29" version, constructed from DN6 tubing, a designed for tough UK conditions with huge mud clearance, strengthening gusseting, continuous outer cabling and a great ride.
Strengths: Price, Paintwork, Ride Quality, Geometry (great for a big guy)
Weaknesses: Weight might concern some
Bottom Line:
What can I say - my first 29er and I am converted for life!! I'm a pretty big guy (195cm and 100kg) and even in XL sizes, the 26" frames that I have ridden always felt a bit on the small side but the XL 29er frame just feels right.
I initially thought that all the hype about 29ers rolling over the rough stuff was just made up by guys trying to justify their purchases, however, from my very first outing on this bike I was amazed at the difference the big wheels make. In the 6 months prior to getting this bike I had transferred from a Specialized Epic S-Works dual suspension to a Surly 1x1 26" fully rigid bike and was starting to get into the old-schoolness of riding a SS rigid bike. This means that my direct comparison was from a fully rigid steel framed 26" bike to a fully rigid steel framed 29er and so I reckon that I was able to get a good perspective on the benefits/downside to the 29er. I was running 32/18 on the 26er and selected 32/20 on the 29er which is pretty much an identical ratio (again helps with comparison).
First thing I noticed was that it climbed better. We have a few steep pinch climbs out where we ride regularly (Smiths Gully) and right from the first ride I was able to get up a couple of them without too much fuss whereas I would only get up them about 20% of the time on the 26er. I put this down to a larger contact area on the rear tyre (29er and tubeless) and the fact that the 29er rolls over the bumps a bit better.
The other aspect of climbing that was a lot easier was going over tree roots while on a reasonably steep (out of the saddle) climb. There were sections where I would have to stop pedalling on the 26er and wheelie the front tyre over the tree roots but on the 29er I was able to just keep riding and let the front wheel roll over them by itself - this allows me to maintain more momentum.
In regards to handling/cornering I find that I am a lot more confident on the 29er and I can turn it in harder without worrying about the front wheel washing out. I think this is due to a combination of the bigger wheels and the fact that I am running the 29er tubeless and at lower pressures than the 26er.
Downhill the big wheels just rooooooollllll. I go faster on the flats and over the rough stuff and as it gets rougher I pretty well let the front end find its own line and just go with the flow. The main reason that I am confident that I go quicker on the 29er is that one of the guys that I ride with who has a 26" Inbred says that he used to be able to keep up with me on descents when I was on the 1x1 but he can't do it anymore now that I am on the 29er Inbred......this confirms what I was thinking and hopefully means that I am not just kidding myself to justify my purchase!!
As for purchase price - these frames are a steal at about $200 AU with another $130 or so for postage to Australia. I am running a Salsa Grand Moto fork that cost about $95 and for this price for a frame/fork combination I don't think you can go wrong!!!
Another mate I ride with has a Lynskey Helix frame that cost him somewhere around $2000 for the frame only - he recently got an Inbred 29er as a second bike and admitted to me the other week that he cannot tell the difference in the way that they ride......that is a pretty big endorsement right there!!!!
Similar Products Used: Surly 1x1 (only 26" wheels but setup as a rigid SS)
Bike Setup: Inbred 29er frame with horizontal dropouts (orange), Salsa Grand Moto fork (black), Stylo 1.1 Cranks, Surly stainless steel chainring, Surly SS cog (18, 19, or 20T - depending on conditions), KMC 810 SL chain, Shimano XT SPD pedals, Thomson layback seatpost and stem, BB7 brakes with 203mm rotors, Dice Shuffle hubs laced to Stans Arch rims.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
MagicCarpet
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Queensland
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2012
Strengths: Steers brilliantly and easy to lift the front wheel. Strong and cheap.
Weaknesses: The short wheel base causes the front wheel to wander everywhere on those steep pinches and switch backs. Frame is heavy, but you can't complain because of the price and there is a lot of steel in a 29er frame.
Bottom Line:
Great value for money. I've had it for a couple of years now and will keep it for sure. What could I replace it with unless I forked out big dollars anyway. The short wheel base is a two edged sword. It slices and dices like a dream in single track but on the tough climbs becomes unsteerable. I like the thing. Mainly because it was cheap.
Favorite Trail: Probably closed down by the goon squad by now
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At: OnOne Shop
Similar Products Used: None
Bike Setup: Rigid and geared.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
stojo01
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney NSW Australia
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2010
Strengths: Rides roughshod over everything. Really look forward to the ride home everyday.
Weaknesses: chaintug and single speed setup was a bit cruddy I changed it to a surly chaintug and andel cogs with velosolo spacers. Also some gebhardt chainrings.
Bottom Line:
I bought this online for 631.45 pound and had it shipped to Australia It cost me 1047 Ausd and because it was very close to the $1000 customs limit I didn't pay VAT in the UK, nor GST or duty in Aus. It cost me 150 pound to ship it though and there was a volcanoe in iceland that slowed the delivery down a bit.
My on-one inbred is a 21 inch frame 29er single speed mountain bike. It came with a 32t chainring and 16t cog on a shimano hub with spacers.
I found the 32t\16t too high a gear for me so i changesd the front chainring to be a 34t\36t with 15t\17t cogs
I use the 36t\15t combination for the downhill bit to work everyday and flick it to 34t\17t for the uphill on the way home
I really love this bike it is a lot of fun. Being 193cm 6'4" I find the long top tube and big wheels perfect for standing up and sprinting with very little side to side swaying. I don't power past people on the downhill but on uphill sections i can really steam past people because of how easy it is to sprint.
In hindsight i should have just bought frame and forks and built it from there. I am almost 50 and have ridden to work everyday for the last 20-30 years.
After riding a 29er i will never ride anything else it is a big persons bike. I have a giant crx1 with biggest frame they make that is gathering dust in the corner
Similar Products Used: The only other bike i considered was a surly karate monkey but that was $2300 Ausd.
The giant 29er full gear also got a look in but i had a bad experience with a giant once so i kicked it for touch pretty quick. Also fairly pricey for what it was.
Bike Setup: Has a 36/34 chainring and a 15/17 cog. The chainrings are cheap gebhardt. The cogs are andel from velosolo
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
fastfish666
a Weekend Warrior
from bagneres de bigorre
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2010
Strengths: great geometry
price
steel durability
Weaknesses: weight -- its a bit porky at 2.6kg for the 18" quite a bit heavier than my generation 1 Inbred 26er
Bottom Line:
Great performing bike, just a shame its a bit heavy -- the Ti version is 1kg lighter.
Geometry is spot on (I feel) with 80mm Fox F29 G2-offset(51mm) fork, its a bit slower with the carbon fork that has 47mm.
Great in single track and also descents. Climbs well
comfortable for all-day rides
Similar Products Used: INbred 26er (tried as 69er with rigid fork)
Bike Setup: on-one carbon forks or fox F29 80mm G2 offset -- as the mood takes me!
32x18 singlespeed. Avid brakes, DMR/Surly/Mavic wheels
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
royce
a Cross Country Rider
from Bryson city, NC
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2010
Strengths: Climbs really well, and the steel frame combined with the 29 inch wheels give you a nice smooth ride.
Weaknesses: None so far
Bottom Line:
I love this frame, it does everything well. This is my first 9er, but deffinetly not my last. If you are looking for a good steel 29er frame take a look at on one.
Bike Setup: Rock shox Reba fork, Stans no tubes wheels w/ AMC hubs, X9 and XT, Chris King headset, thomson seat post and stem, WTB saddle, BB7 brakes
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Dion
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Cruz and San Jose, Ca.
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2009
Strengths: STEEL! Nice over-all, versatile design, many ways you can go with this frame.
Weaknesses: Top-tube length took some time getting used to. Rear brake positioning a bit limited if going single-speed.
Bottom Line:
THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE FRAME ONLY
I built this bike into a single-speed and it is definetely my go-to bike for my local trails (I have two MTB's with a full suspension bike on the way). I wanted a steel frame that I could change components out over time and have the thing live as long as me. The Inbred is proving it's worth! I ride 5 days per week, mostly on this bike... so even though I've only had it 3 months, I definetely ride it often enough to give it an honest review.
I love this frame... it's lax enough for chill-out mountain exploration (which I mostly do), but racy enough for some climbing and XC. Given that I only went with a 80mm travel fork, I shy away from any agressive terrain that would require long travel suspension (learned the hard way), but as far as single track, fire roads and trail is concerned, this bike just rocks. I do go over some rock gardens that, on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being extreme downhill, I would say they are about a 2 or 3. So, it's not all that bad. I let the 29" wheels do their thing.
As with most hardtails, it's a great climber and I've been in situations where I had to really stand up and crank; the 29'er wheels and geometry just tossed me up the obstacle at hand.
The biggest improvement I made to this build was that I went tubeless. Because it is a hardtail, you can get monkey butt on seated, rough climbs. Tubeless allows me to run lower pressures so the hardtail isn't so harsh on the bumps. No more Preparation H!
I got this frame for a great bargain. Just because it was inexpensive doesn't mean it is cheap. Beautiful welds, great look and graphics and excellent do-it-all geometry.
You can pretty much go any direction with this frame: SS, geared, 1X9, mountain touring, XC, CX, Fixed (mountain or road), commuter, Monster cross... well anything but downhill (that's why you need more than one bike!).
If you're building a 29'er, consider this frame. It's a great all arounder and leaves the hanger most in my garage.
Weaknesses: Not big on the graphics, but hey that don't affect the ride!
Bottom Line:
My first 29er and I'm a convert! Combination of big wheels, steel( and carbon!) mean I can run rigid and am comfortable. Makes so much sense for single speeding with added traction, and a smoother ride. The geometry of this frame is spot on - fun but fast. I find myself chasing dually riders down hill, and catching them!
Similar Products Used: Surly 1x1, Kona Unit, lots of dually's
Bike Setup: 34 t x 17 t eno freewheel , Easton bars, Gobi seat, changed fork from steel ( on-one) to on-one carbon, cross marks on retard rims
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
PETE WATSON
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2008
Strengths: Light, Strong, Flexible springy frame
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
This is the best and lightest bike I have ever owned. Didn't need suspension forks as the frame is very springy and takes the sting out of the trails. I weigh 18 stone and everything has held up very well so far.
Only problem I have noticed is the XT brake rotors keep rubbing against the pad at one point each time the wheel rotates. Don't know whether the wheels are out of true or whether the rotors have bent out of shape. Tried taking it into a local bike shop and they hadn't ever seen the center rotor hub mounts that were pinned onto the rotors, supplied by On One so couldn't help.
Apart from this minor problem with the brakes, very happy with the bike
Similar Products Used: Specialized Rockhopper, Scott Aspect
Bike Setup: On One 29er Frame, Carbon Forks, XT Cranks, Xt disk brakes, Easton EA70 Riser bar, Thopson Elite X4 Stem, Thomson Elite Seatpost, Brooks B17 Titanium Saddle. On One Smoothie Grande Headset. Kenda Small Block 8 Tyres
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
oleg babich
a Weekend Warrior
from hightstown nj usa
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2008
Strengths: feels big and powerful, size XL, rolls over everything. reminds me of my old KLR 650, but powered by me. This is my first 29 but not my last. Once this 29 gets going its hard to stop it. Mud pits that I used to walk, I now do not get off my bike. Just pedal damn it!
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
It was not the cheapest, but if you want to build a bike like you want , then go for it.
Bike Setup: niner sir 9 XL- Single speed fox f 29 easton carbon stem salsa carbon riser bar crossmax 29 nevgal 29 xt crank bb 34 rotor ring/20 surley cog race face bash ring/pc 68 chain fizic gobi saddle/easton carbon seat post magura 8 front /6 rear brakes ergon grips shimano xt pedals xt crank arms
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Velo Ciphile
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2008
Strengths: On One Mornington Crescent philosophy; you either get Brant's gags or you don't. Exudes 'thing' at cafe stops. Ride me looks. Singlespeed simplicitiy but geared bosses and cables if you wimp out. Rolls over trails that rattle my 26ers. Fork offset gives 26er like steering. Light enough. Not too expensive. Ladybird bell gets the girls giggling.
Weaknesses: Forces you to reconsider the 26ers in your garage as obsolete. Same old legs though..... Juicy 3s no Hope but not bad after break in.
Bottom Line:
29+SS=right answer. The Bike industry needs a few more inspired minds like Brant and Co. A briliant piece of value engineering.
Favorite Trail: Monarch crest silver creek rainbow trail CO
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At: Chain Reaction
Bike Setup: Stock 07 spec.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from Dolores, CO
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2008
Strengths: Handles like a dream come true, great value! Stiff and strong wheelset.
Weaknesses: Bought as complete bike with unimpressive Juicy 3's had to be bled out of the box, and needed rebled after sittinga few months, took them off and replaced with BB7's. 2008 BB7's don't work well with the chainstay brake mount, but 2007 and earlier do.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike in the fall just as cross season was cranking up. I rode one 45 minute ride and then it sat in the shed while winter hit us with snow and more snow. My first ride over an hour was the first lap racing at the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo and within 20 minutes I felt like I'd always owned this bike. It is so quick for a big wheeler, I thought my Monkey was nimble but the Inbred blows it away. Mine came with the carbon forks and they were a perfect match for the smooth and tacky conditions in Tucson. It handles like a european cyclocross frame but has the beefiness to let you slam a few rocks on the way to the finish line. Great Job guys!
Similar Products Used: Surly Karate Monkey, Sugar 293, Hifi 29
Bike Setup: LX cranks, BB-7's, stock wheels, Maxxis Crossmarks (Awesome race tire)turned the Mary bars upside-down for better saddle to bar drop on my 15"frame.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
ferday
a Cross Country Rider
from calgary
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2008
Strengths: geometry. price (and quality relative to price). easy rear end setup (sliders). looks good.
Weaknesses: weight
Bottom Line:
my favorite bike to ride. the ride is so inspiring i bought a RIP9 for a trailbike.
brant has made a stellar bike, i can't believe how well it fits me and how well it rides (i'm 5'6", it's my best fitting bike!) the geometry is beautiful with both the reba and the rigid fork. frame is a bit heavy for racing, but SS only goes so fast anyways...
Bike Setup: full SS race setup (reba, delgado race wheels, ignitors) 25lbs.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Pedal
a
from Christchurch, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2007
Strengths: Nicely balanced frame handles well. Weight is ok for steel. Well designed for easy set-up as SS or geared. I'm slowly warming to a beige (sand?) bike and the Inbred guy sets the right tone for my riding.
Weaknesses: I question the suppleness of Brants steel back end.
Bottom Line:
This is my 1st 29er but I'll try to stick to this frame - not 29ers in general.
Once I'd adapted (1 or 2 hrs riding) this turned into such a blast I hardly ride my other bikes on flat(ish) trails. It's a comfortable fit with geometry that turns easily through singletrack with the Reba at 100mm. I'm sure the flex I can feel is thru the wheels not the frame. Have raced one 6 hour on this bike (as a SS) and had no handling or reliability issues at all.
But. I got out of expensive, hyped suspension bikes a couple years ago because the DMR (Swithback - production over!) frames gave me such a supple shock absorbing ride, especially with a hi volume low pressure tubeless set up. The On-One feels quite harsh by comparison - even compared with the 26" DMR running tubes & smaller tyres. So much so that I ran the 6 hour with my (oh no!) Thudbuster seatpost. Don't know why but Dr Intuitive Retro tells me that pencil thin chain/seatstays (like, say, a Niner steel frame) might soften the haemorrhoid hammer. I might buy a Crossmax UST 29er wheelset to run bigger softer tyres - it could help.
So the frame feels quite harsh at times - I've learned NEVER to jump this bike (it makes a kind of banging, jarring landing that says 'don't try that again') and thats why I use it as a flat trail high speed SS and not a technical uphill/downhill geared trailbike. Anyway, somehow the bike feels more together as a SS than geared - I think thats how Brant started & still designs with that in mind. Also, do all 29ers have clearance issues behind the front derailler to the rear tyre or is it short chainstays on the Inbred? You'd have trouble with gears & a high profile tyre.
In spite of all the above I love this frame in it's current build and for how I use it - I ride it more than any other of my bikes - it's like a big grunty V8 that gets up to speed & flys compared with the 26" bikes that I can jump, flick and hurl about (think Subaru WRX).
Finally, I reckon the price of these frames is pretty good for the quality and performance you get - a damn good way into 29 inches. Zedsport were excellent - helpful, prompt and their shipping price for a frame to New Zealand (US$70) should shame most US web retailers who charge $100's.
Similar Products Used: First 29er. I have 2 DMR and one old KHS 26" steel frames that I run variously as SS, 1x8, 1x9 and fully geared.
Bike Setup: Have run as geared (XT & XTR bits) but now as SS with DMR hubs/Notubes 355 rims & Spec FastTrack front/Kenda Small Block 8 rear. Reba at 100mm.
Strengths: Comfortable steel frame, dropouts, great value, looks really cool!!!
Weaknesses: Gives me less time to ride my other bikes. Is that a weakness? Cranks can loosen if you dont use lock-tite.
Bottom Line:
I purchased this bike with the factory rigid fork, and rode it that way for a few months before adding a Reba fork. It rode great with no suspention, but was tough for longer rides. Since I installed the new fork and Magura brakes this bike is awesome. I can ride it all day and still feel great. If anyone is looking for a mid-priced SS this is a great choice.
