REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Which frames am I missing?

3217 Views 40 Replies 26 Participants Last post by G-Ryder, Sep 15, 2012

shopcat_cycles

Discussion Starter · Dec 31, 2009 (Edited)

Hello People -

So, I'm thinking of taking apart my 26 inch hardtail and parting it out. I would like to get a 29er hardtail to replace it. Lately, I have been looking at some of the hardtail 29er frames out there - Ventana El Padrino, Niner EMD 9, Vassago Bandersnatch(perhaps the Jabberwocky). Looking for a strong frame that I can beat up, if need be. Looking at geared frames - Jabberwocky would be nice to go SS to gears, but I ultimately see myself riding a geared bike. The SIR 9 and MCR 9 are viable options - Is the only difference between the two, the SIR's ability to go SS? What other differences are there between those two? EDIT: Looks like the MCR 9 can go SS too. Is the EBB found on the SIR 9, the only difference?

Steel or Aluminum? I could go with steel, but thinking I would rather have AL for the lighter weight. I will not be getting a carbon or Ti frame.

It will have a suspension fork - minimum of 100mm of travel. How do the Vassago or Ventana bikes ride at 100mm? I know they recommend 80, but I generally like the feel of 100mm.

What frames do I need to add to my list? Budget for the frame will be $500-$1000 - would like to stay near $500.

1 - 20 of 41 Posts

Ronnie

· #2 · Dec 31, 2009

ncfisherman said:
Looking for a strong frame that I can beat up, if need be.

Steel or Aluminum? I could go with steel, but thinking I would rather have AL for the lighter weight.

It will have a suspension fork - minimum of 100mm of travel.

What bikes do I need to add to my list? Budget for the frame will be $500-$1000 - would like to stay near $500.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by, " can beat up". If you mean a hardtail meant for more aggressive riding then take a look at the Banshee Paradox. I have ordered one based on the great reviews I have seen like this one. It's aluminum, designed for a 120mm. fork and sells for $600.

Ronnie.

shopcat_cycles

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 31, 2009

Ronnie said:
I'm not quite sure what you mean by, " can beat up". If you mean a hardtail meant for more aggressive riding then take a look at the Banshee Paradox. I have ordered one based on the great reviews I have seen like this one. It's aluminum, designed for a 120mm. fork and sells for $600.

Ronnie.

By that, I mean something that can take the occassional jump/drop. I'm not looking for a purely XC based hardtail. I'm generally more of an XC based rider, but if it's on the trail I like to hit it or drop it(4 ft max).

Thanks for putting that one out there. Hard to find the 29er hardtail frames that work with a 120mm fork. Certainly an option.

LBIkid

· #4 · Dec 31, 2009

Aluminum, gears or ability to run gears, able to take a beating and 100mm fork makes me think of the Soul Cycles Dillinger or Misfit DiSSent. Scroll down a bit and find a thread comparing the too.

Bondseye

· #5 · Dec 31, 2009

Take a look at The siren Trauco, www.sirenbicycles.com, or if you can wait six months a Curtlo http://www.curtlo.com/ Both are steel Ht's at the top end of your price range, but both are hand built in the USA. A good, light steel frame will still race, but it's not going to beat you up as much as aluminum.

shopcat_cycles

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 31, 2009

Thanks for the suggestions....I'll look into the Siren and Curtlo - I have time to wait for the Curtlo.

The SoulCycles Dillenger is probably at the top of my list at the moment. On paper, it looks like it would fit very well - probably the best looking out of every bike I've looked at. Thanks for pointing that one out, LB.

SS is not a priority, but geared is...if I can convert to SS easily, that would be a bonus.

treesmasher

· #7 · Dec 31, 2009

just my opinion

What ever you do dont buy the Niner frame with the EBB. My LBS sells Niners and they tell everybody to use a chain tensioner to make a Niner a singlespeed. The owner all of his friends and employees that ride singlespeed use them. I`ve read countles times on this forum about the problems with the Niner EBB. I also wouldnt pay MSRP for a Niner frame.Almost Every person I have talked to that rides a Niner bought them on Ebay or a classified. The frames are over priced for what you get. There are frames out there every bit as good and they cost less.

Bondseye

· #8 · Dec 31, 2009

ncfisherman said:
Thanks for the suggestions....I'll look into the Siren and Curtlo - I have time to wait for the Curtlo.

The SoulCycles Dillenger is probably at the top of my list at the moment. On paper, it looks like it would fit very well - probably the best looking out of every bike I've looked at. Thanks for pointing that one out, LB.

SS is not a priority, but geared is...if I can convert to SS easily, that would be a bonus.

If you can wait 6 months for a Curtlo I believe you can get a full custom frame within your price range.

mvi

· #9 · Dec 31, 2009

Scandal. SS or geared.

big_slacker

· #10 · Dec 31, 2009

LBIkid said:
Aluminum, gears or ability to run gears, able to take a beating and 100mm fork makes me think of the Soul Cycles Dillinger or Misfit DiSSent. Scroll down a bit and find a thread comparing the too.

Just to add to the diSSent thing, I run mine with a 120mm reba and you can run a decent sized rear tire. The front triangle could be described as burly. I've ridden mine all over vegas which is rugged to say the least. I do very occasional small drops and have no reason to believe the frame couldn't handle the occasional 4 foot to tranny type stuff that might be on an XC ride, especially with a strong wheelset and fatter tires.

They make a steel version now too BTW.

canyonrat

· #11 · Jan 1, 2010

Well, if you want a 120 fork there's the Chumba HX-2 within your range. Of course the Sinister Simon Bar also at the very top end of your range. Aluminum is real.

29erchico

· #12 · Jan 1, 2010

Astrix Rook.

~martini~

· #13 · Jan 1, 2010

Got some reasoning behind that there silly, over-generalized statement?

agu

· #14 · Jan 1, 2010

Bondseye said:
Take a look at The siren Trauco, www.sirenbicycles.com, or if you can wait six months a Curtlo http://www.curtlo.com/ Both are steel Ht's at the top end of your price range, but both are hand built in the USA. A good, light steel frame will still race, but it's not going to beat you up as much as aluminum.

The Siren Trauco is crafted out of aluminum...perhaps you meant the Siren John Henry?

http://www.sirenbicycles.com/johnhenry.html

OldHouseMan

· #15 · Jan 1, 2010 (Edited)

I can only comment on the Ventana El Padrino and the Niner Sir9.

I don't think either of these bikes were designed around riding the occasional 4' drop, let alone 1-2 footers. My experience, the Ventana is it's much stiffer than the Niner, but the Niner is much smoother in the ruff. Build quality goes to the Ventana 100%, it just looks amazing, the Niner on the other hand, has left me unimpressed.

Treesmashers comments about the EBB on the Niner don't jive with my experiences, but I do agree with most of what he says about price vs what you get.

I can't recommend Ventana enough, very nice to work with, and they even do custom, at a hefty price though. I'm sure they could build you an appropriate frame, but in stock form, I'd look somewhere else.

Enel

· #16 · Jan 1, 2010

Ronnie said:
I'm not quite sure what you mean by, " can beat up". If you mean a hardtail meant for more aggressive riding then take a look at the Banshee Paradox. I have ordered one based on the great reviews I have seen like this one. It's aluminum, designed for a 120mm. fork and sells for $600.

Ronnie.

The Paradox is a no brainer given the OP's shopping list. It should be top of the list. I would take it over the Dillinger or El Padrino in a heartbeat. Don't get me wrong, both the other frames are beautiful, quality frames but will not perform like the Banshee IMO. If he preferred a 100mm fork I think the Banshee is probably not the best choice.

cb4photo

· #17 · Jan 1, 2010

I will second the "Astrix Rook" geared only, but the joy of not having a EBB is a good thing. I have mine set up with 110mm fork and it handles great on my tight east coast trails.

metelhead

· #18 · Jan 1, 2010

I don't think its out yet...but the Canfield HT might be a good choice....on the other hand I have really enjoyed my Giant XTC 29er 2, very capable and versatile HT...stiff and yet compliant, tapered headtube and slack enough to handle the downs, Tech and chunk all considering....good pricing/value too.

shopcat_cycles

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jan 1, 2010

Thanks for all the suggestions/info.

I have narrowed down what I'm looking for a little bit. I'm gonna stick to 100mm of travel. Looking for a strong XC frame. I primarily ride NC singletrack and roll most objects, but like to hit jumps/drops if they are on the trail. Also leaning towards a strictly geared bike, instead of something with an EBB, to avoid issues I may have with it since I really can't see myself running SS for long periods of time. I will keep the Dillinger on the list though, cause it would be a great fit and looks to be a strong frame.

Ventana is off the list. The El Padrino is a bike I was immediatly drawn to, but it won't be a good fit for me. Maybe if I can get a test ride on a couple sizes.

Still stuck on steel or aluminum. Last steel bike I had was a 98 fisher hardtail. Today's aluminum frames don't feel particularly harsh to me or maybe I forgot what steel feels like.

Short list: OnOne Scandal 29er - fit would be spot on, just don't know if it will be as strong as I'm looking for. This is currently at the top of the list.
-Siren Trauco - might be too much $$
-Niner EMD 9 or MCR 9
-Astrix Rook
-Vassago Bandersnatch
-Soulcyles Dillenger

Thanks again for everyones input....greatly appreciated.

See less See more

honkonbobo

· #20 · Jan 1, 2010

i didnt see anyone address the sizing issue... sounds like the op doesnt think sizing will be an issue but for anyone else getting inspiration from this thread i can tell you that i would have picked up a bandersnatch in heart beat if it werent for the fact that at 6'4.5" they dont make one to fit me.

that pushed me into buying an MCR (which i bought used for half the price which made it a reasonable deal) to get the longer ETT.

just another factor to think about when looking at the list of frames above.

1 - 20 of 41 Posts