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Big Bloke FS All Purpose frame

2K views 18 replies 12 participants last post by  CaveGiant 
#1 ·
Hi,

I am 6.5 and 260lbs and need some help. I have always struggled to fit on bikes and the flex, oh the flex. Now l dont ride crazy stunts and drops (4 foot max) but just cant find the right frame. I have gone the 29er route (Spider and Sultan) and they are fine for XC rides but cant handle the jumps or drops or heft. I need a big fork but that requires a longer travel frame.
I also have a XL 08 Turner Spot with CCDB coil shock and 150 Fox 36 which weighs 35lbs and doesn't handle my riding. The front forks are the older 36 Talas and are crap. The rear is good (esp with coil and bolt through) but still flexy. Should l go coil front or change frames.
Been thinking of a Yeti Seven, Knolly DT or Niner WFO 29er. Longer travel frames to handle longer stiffer forks / my size and the odd jumps/drops and rough stuff.
Live in Australia so we dont have the elevation or bike parks you do there or bikes for big blokes to test ride or buy secondhand.
Any thoughts welcome
Cheers
John
Sorry if this has been done to death.
 

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#2 ·
I have been riding a Marin Mt vison. It is not a long travel bike, but the thing NEVER flexes on me. It is very solid bike. It is heavier for a XCish bike (120mm ) It is just under 30 lbs. I am now 230 but i have been up to 245 with gear and my marin has never quivered when I pushed it. that's my $.02
 
#5 ·
here are 2 more

Here are 2 I looked at and they where both great to talk to, the Zinn Mega bike and Ventana El Captain. Both 29ers. The only reason I don't have one is I can't drop the cash right now for one. They are both about $2500 for the frame and rear shock only.
 
#6 ·
I ride the WFO, the frame could take the abuse you give it with miles to spare.

If you find an F36 flexy you may struggle with the fork options.

Manitou dorado, machined Rockshox Totem would give you what you need.

I use the WB F150 and find it more than stiff enough, it is not as stiff as the F36 though.
 
#7 ·
JohnD,

The guys at Hammerhead Bikes in Austin, Texas have been building some bikes for several us Clydes in Austin. Cody the owner is a long time frame builder, is great to deal with and is used to dealing with out of state riders. He has built several Ventana's as well as several Knolly's for the big boys. He is also a frame builder (True Fab) it would be worth your time to give him a call (512) 458-2453. They just built a new BMC XC bike for me and did an awesome job. Just a suggestion, but he definately understands what a Clyde needs and they won't sell you any junk or anything that you don't need. Give'em a call. I hope this helps.
 
#9 ·
john
6ft4'' 320lbs here from england
using a ventana el capitan 21'' frame
pretty idestructable in the present build.
kris holm rims, pro22 hubs, saint brakes and 130mm whites fluid fork.

but i am currently counting my pennies for a custom nicolai 29r to run with 150mm fluids.
 
#11 ·
Hi John,

I''ve done loads of research on this as i'm in the same position as you, after a big bloke am bike. If your tall and heavy makes the choice very hard and which ever way you go it is a compromise. The 29er route you have the wfo9 and lenz behemouth frames and kris holm rims (possibly gordo's) which are up to the job but as yet no realistic choice on fork. You could go that route and hope they bring out a 36 talas/vanilla or lyrik as they are about the best forks around. I have a 29er hardtail which is a great bike (custom frame) but as far as a full sus am bike i'm still not sure about the extra weight of the wheels as kris holm rims are over 800grams and am tyres heavy as hell.

I did have a nomad which was a fantastic bike, did all that I wanted and was capable of a lot more than I was but I bought an xl unseen and it was to small for me. I had to make it fit which was less than ideal. There are better frame choices but they are all custom, which starts to make it expensive. I've been looking at the ventana el terremoto or a nicolai helius fr both have custom build options are strong and the manufacturers have excellent reputations. Only problem is helius fr has been dropped for 2010 so not sure if you could still get a custom one, perhaps nicolai-uk could clear that up for me? The downside is where as ventana/nicolai could make a 26" bike to fit you, whatever you do you'll always look like your riding a kids bike. You see pictures of tall guys riding 26" on here all the time and it just looks wrong.

As far as the choice on air or coil forks, i've had 09 fox36 talas and 08 fox36 vanilla's and the vanilla was the better fork and would be the choice for my next build if it was an option. Without a doubt coil on the rear, it's worth the extra weight for that style of riding.

My finances are at rock bottom at the moment so it will be a while before I can afford to build a full suss so i'm hoping some better choice might come on the market. Not sure if any of that helps your situation, would be good to know what route you go and how it works out for you.
 
#12 ·
@Volition72 - you don't say how tall you are or your weight.

I'm 6'4" (35" trouser inside leg) and ride a standard XL Nicolai with a layback post which fits fine but different body shapes/ riding preferences mean another rider of the same height might prefer different. Being British I've no problem with a 26er either.

In response to a few of the questions in various posts -
29ers - Helius AC and Argon CC only at the moment. Both incur the custom geometry charge but that means we can make them as tough as you like (extra gussets/stronger tubes).

Helius FR - although no longer in the catalogue it's still in the range. Standard sizes are the same price as a Helius AM. Custom sizes will, of course, incur the custom upcharge.

In theory we could make a Helius FR 29er but I'm not aware that suitable forks are available - feel free to correct me.


Flex will not be a problem - i've heard many adjectives applied to Nicolais but 'flexy' is not one of them - they're stiff as a stiff thing that's had a Viagra overdose.
 
#13 ·
I'm 6'6" and 210-220lbs depending on how many pies i've eaten! Not that heavy for a clyde but heavy enough to cause problems. The main two things are bar height in relation to seatpost height and spokes loosening, which i'm assuming is to do with increased lateral flex as my weight is higher than normal and I tend to plough through everything!

Good to hear you can still get a helius fr, best start saving my pennies :D
 
#14 ·
MadDuc916 said:
JohnD,

The guys at Hammerhead Bikes in Austin, Texas have been building some bikes for several us Clydes in Austin. Cody the owner is a long time frame builder, is great to deal with and is used to dealing with out of state riders. He has built several Ventana's as well as several Knolly's for the big boys. He is also a frame builder (True Fab) it would be worth your time to give him a call (512) 458-2453. They just built a new BMC XC bike for me and did an awesome job. Just a suggestion, but he definately understands what a Clyde needs and they won't sell you any junk or anything that you don't need. Give'em a call. I hope this helps.
Thanks for the good words MD916.

We have done bikes for legitimate clydes; we also done bikes for 4'10" tall ladies too. The biggest problem is usually budget because when you get to the outer ends of the "bell curve" there are just not too many options that work well. The ones that do are usually not cheap. But when I talk to people in this category most just nod their head and say they understand because its always been this way for them.

All that being said, we've had very good luck with Ventana. They keep up to their biggest sizes in stock at most all times. So we get them quick and no extra custom charges. I almost always recommend an El Cap because they now come stock with the heavy duty seat tube. They also use the heavy duty CS and quad bearings are std too. An added bonus is that it comes stock as a 5" travel bike. This set up is hard to beat.

Knolly makes a very stout and great performing bike too. But not in nearly as grande sizes.
Lenz and Zenn do big bikes too and have heard good stuff about them.

Below are some photos of a bike we did for a guy 6'6" 265lbs. He ended up getting (not by us) the Fox 36 fork mod and has had very good luck with it.

Thread about his bike: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=453590



 
#15 ·
CBaron said:
Thanks for the good words MD916.

We have done bikes for legitimate clydes; we also done bikes for 4'10" tall ladies too. The biggest problem is usually budget because when you get to the outer ends of the "bell curve" there are just not too many options that work well. The ones that do are usually not cheap. But when I talk to people in this category most just nod their head and say they understand because its always been this way for them.

All that being said, we've had very good luck with Ventana. They keep up to their biggest sizes in stock at most all times. So we get them quick and no extra custom charges. I almost always recommend an El Cap because they now come stock with the heavy duty seat tube. They also use the heavy duty CS and quad bearings are std too. An added bonus is that it comes stock as a 5" travel bike. This set up is hard to beat.

Knolly makes a very stout and great performing bike too. But not in nearly as grande sizes.
Lenz and Zenn do big bikes too and have heard good stuff about them.

Below are some photos of a bike we did for a guy 6'6" 265lbs. He ended up getting (not by us) the Fox 36 fork mod and has had very good luck with it.

Thread about his bike: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=453590



Yep that's my bike! I'm 6'6" 265 and LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
I customized it as the thread states and made sure the Xbar was beefed up along with some other modifications, mentioned in Cody's Hammerhead Shop Video on their Home Page. http://www.hammerheadbikes.com/ Check it and them out!

I'm taking some decent drops and riding stuff I never thought possible (more up than down).
The 29 and the geometry of the frame really does make me climb better and ride faster. I just fit soo much better on this bike.

I didn't like the Turner Sultan when I demoed it on the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Too light for me. Scared me. :eekster: Thought it would break at any moment. I had no confidence on the downs and drops. (I was also coming from a Titus Super Moto with 7" of travel front/rear aka "the couch". So I was pretty confident on that bike, it was just waaaaay too short TT for me at 23.5). I did the sway backon my SM to try to make it fit, but the sway backs will mess up the geometry and physics of the ride. I wouldn't do it again or recommend it.

If you need a swayback on a frame, you shoulda got the next size up.

I read the reviews and took a chance with the TALAS 36 and the mod and couldn't be happier. Fox needs to get their heads from out of their butts and make this an adjustable 29er fork. It's rock solid, no issues outside of some mud clearance at Porc Rim (over a year ago). Alex (aka BCD) did my mod out of Amarillo. Great guy. Awesome work.

One thing I will warn you about is drivetrain. Holy smokes have I been blowing thru Cassettes, rings and hubs on my 29er and . I've been thru 6 SRAM 980s or 990s in 2009 alone. 2 different Hadley Hubs with the heavy duty body. A freaking nightmare. Just upgraded to thru axel rear hub. When I can ride on the trails, I'll let you know how it goes.
The longer chainstays and bigger diameter wheel are not a friendly duo but something I'm learning to live with as I can't see myself every riding or fitting on a 26er, now that I truly fit on a bike for quite some time, if ever.

I went with the 20T 30T and 40T custom rings in the front and 11-34 gearing in the back to widen my gear ratio on the bike. Let me tell you. MUCH BETTER! and I got an extra granny gear or two. My "Great granny". Definitely adds to the "goatness" factor ;)

So for sure ring up Cody and the gang at HH. You can ask them about all my research and what I've gone thru. I'm close with the shop and constantly asking questions, giving feedback etc. Great shop . You won't be sorry.

If you're in the Austin area, and its a weekend that I don't have my kids, look me up I'd meet you out for a demo ride.

Bottom line.
If I broke my fork, I'd buy a 2010 TALAS 36 and mod it.
If I broke my frame, I'd get another El Cap with the customizations I did with minor modifications or corrections as needed.

Yep, they're both THAT GOOD!

I love my ventana, how it feels, fits, and rides. I'm definitely taking my riding up a notch or two.

PM me for more information or answers.

Best of Luck!
Erik
 
#16 ·
great responses gang

Thanks everyone for the great details/ ideas and thoughts. At 6.5 and 260 l realise that 29ers are so much better suited to me, just wish there were some serious 29er fork options (15MM IS NOT SERIOUS).
I have built up my Sultan nice and beefy with Minute 20mm, Hope and Flows but it is not up to the jumps or drops. I have a setback post and 90 mm stem and it feels like l fit but Perhaps the 36er modification is the go. I know a number of machinist/ engineers here in Melbourne Australia that could do the mod if required especially if it is just a shave.
So then l think Ventana, Niner WFO and Nicolai Custom Helius AM 29er would be the go for me all of which are obtainable here in OZ but at a huge cost. Hardtails are not for me.
MMmmmmmm a tapered modified 36er on a WFO or Helius AM (4/5/6 inch) Custom 29er sounds really interesting.
I thank you all for your thoughts and advice and will keep you posted on my options.
Cheers
John D
 

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#18 ·
MadDuc916 said:
JohnD,

The guys at Hammerhead Bikes in Austin, Texas have been building some bikes for several us Clydes in Austin. Cody the owner is a long time frame builder, is great to deal with and is used to dealing with out of state riders. He has built several Ventana's as well as several Knolly's for the big boys. He is also a frame builder (True Fab) it would be worth your time to give him a call (512) 458-2453. They just built a new BMC XC bike for me and did an awesome job. Just a suggestion, but he definately understands what a Clyde needs and they won't sell you any junk or anything that you don't need. Give'em a call. I hope this helps.
Thanks MD,

Yes the gang at Hammerhead really offer a great service. Nice to see and rather rare. I find dealing with bike shops in the States to be hassle free and really positive. In Australia and New Zealand we suffer from extensive taxes and over pricing. I brought the Sultan from a great guy in Colorado who researched ways to get the bike here for me. The easiest way was to ship it whole at a cost of $500US, what we have to do here in OZ. I have a good local shop here which l support but the price in the US can not be beat.
I am very impressed with the Ventana with 36er mod. I have a CCDB shock on the Spot which would be nice to fit on my XL EL CAP or WFO. We dont have any reps for Lenz here that l know of so they are out of the equation. I will keep looking on the classifieds for a beefy XL 29er frame and see how it goes.
Could put a coil shock on the Sultan but it will be my XC rig down the track. WIll look secondhand.
Cheers
JD
 
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