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Which carbon frame ?

1060 Views 12 Replies 7 Participants Last post by psinsyd, Dec 5, 2005

xc-rider

Discussion Starter · Dec 1, 2005

Hello,

I'm looking for a new carbon frame and am currently interested in these models (must have vbrakes bosses, geometry designed for a 80mm travel fork) :

Scott Scale Limited 2006, Giant XTC, Simplon Gravity, Merida Carbon Team 2006 (new lighter version)

I have the stiffness numbers for all of them but the new Merida (only 2005 version was tested many times in Bike Magazin, Mountain Bike Magazin...)...

The simplon is one of my favourite right now, but I don't want a too harsh ride, and I have no idea if this frame is as stiff vertically in the rear as it is at the BB...
I unfortunately don't read german so I don't know what the german magazines said about comfort for this frame (and the others). I'm referencing to german magazines because I have no other source of information (appart from EFBE good results) about the Simplon Gravity

If you owe one or more of these frames, I'm very interested in your oppinion.
Also if you read german and can tell me what people says about the gravity "compliance", I'd be very happy to get a quick translation.

Thanks in advance
Pyf

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1 - 13 of 13 Posts

Brib

· #2 · Dec 1, 2005

I like new Orbea Alma!!! wow!!!

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Spin Cycle

· #3 · Dec 1, 2005

Second the Orbea Alma!

I have a 2005 Orbea Scape Scadium Frame riding it about one month and i love it also have a few mile on on of there carbon road frames so just waiting for my LBS to get one then??? time to upgrade!

http://www.orbea.com/ingles/cuadros.php?tipo=2&familia=8&cuadro=14

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ferday

· #4 · Dec 1, 2005

sorry, my german isn't as good as it used to be apparently...

but the simplex gets really high ratings, i read a couple german bike forums and it's a well loved bike. it seems to be rated stiffer than the merida and is recommended for racing where the merida is recommended for all day riding. the gravity compliance (you must have used google translate...) is referring to the frame stiffness. i didn't check prices, but the simplex gets really high "bang for your buck" ratings. hope that helps a bit.

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CODMAN

· #5 · Dec 2, 2005

Hi PY,
so you are leaving the realm of Ti??

Come over to the dark side of carbon....

Soory, can't help you out! I just wanted to say hi!

Talk to you soon!!!

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psinsyd

· #6 · Dec 3, 2005

Orbea Scape!

Spin Cycle said:
I have a 2005 Orbea Scape Scadium Frame riding it about one month and i love it also have a few mile on on of there carbon road frames so just waiting for my LBS to get one then??? time to upgrade!

http://www.orbea.com/ingles/cuadros.php?tipo=2&familia=8&cuadro=14

Hey, if you're Scape is in a 20", you just found someone to unload it on when you upgrade!!! Orbea's site says the Alma and the Scape weigh in at the same weight, which would either make the Alma heavy for a carbon frame, or the Scape light for aluminum, I would think!

Just my .02$

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xc-rider

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 3, 2005

CODMAN said:
Hi PY,
so you are leaving the realm of Ti?? Come over to the dark side of carbon....

Soory, can't help you out! I just wanted to say hi!

Talk to you soon!!!

Hi Codman,

I'm not a 100 percent sure yet... but yes I'll probably try one black frame...

I don't know what's happening to me... I almost had tatooed "Titanium forever" on my legs... and now I want to try carbon...
Actually I think I know what's happening... you know that I work for a carbon company now... so that makes me curious about the result of these fibers into a frame...

I also have a good opportunity for a very nice alloy frame... but I think I want to try carbon.

And I still have my YBB and my Kish at home

... what am I gonna do with all these frames ?????

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xavier lord

· #8 · Dec 3, 2005

maybe your right, but how about the geometry is not the same with the aluminium frame, i think its better handling with the alma and it absorbs much better too

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psinsyd

· #9 · Dec 4, 2005

Ah, I see..

xavier lord said:
maybe your right, but how about the geometry is not the same with the aluminium frame, i think its better handling with the alma and it absorbs much better too

Yeah, you have a good point there. I didn't look to far into geometry. I've also heard nothing but good things about carbon's ability to absorb shock coming up through the frame.

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Spin Cycle

· #10 · Dec 4, 2005

Scape

psinsyd said:
Hey, if you're Scape is in a 20", you just found someone to unload it on when you upgrade!!! Orbea's site says the Alma and the Scape weigh in at the same weight, which would either make the Alma heavy for a carbon frame, or the Scape light for aluminum, I would think!

Just my .02$

I'm on a 20" and it weighs 1391 gram so it's alittle heavier than the 1300 grams on there
wed page albeit for a 18" frame

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psinsyd

· #11 · Dec 4, 2005

Orbea site

Spin Cycle said:
I'm on a 20" and it weighs 1391 gram so it's alittle heavier than the 1300 grams on there
wed page albeit for a 18" frame

The Orbea site is saying 1200g for the 18" for both the Scape and the Alma. Either way, a 20" frame weighing 3.0602lbs is pretty light!

Do you like the ride and quality of the frame so far? It seems like an ultra-sweet frame!

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Spin Cycle

· #12 · Dec 4, 2005

Pic's of my scape !

psinsyd said:
The Orbea site is saying 1200g for the 18" for both the Scape and the Alma. Either way, a 20" frame weighing 3.0602lbs is pretty light!

Do you like the ride and quality of the frame so far? It seems like an ultra-sweet frame!

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=141029

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psinsyd

· #13 · Dec 5, 2005

I remember that thread!

Spin Cycle said:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=141029

Yep, I remember that thread!! Man, is that sweet! Once the season starts, I'll finally get around to posting pics of my Kona.

Sweet ride, Spin!

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