Mountain Bike Racing - Top 10 racing hardtails?

I want a new bike this year.I'm thinking about building a scandium Rocky Mtn. Vertex up or buying a complete Trek 9.8 and upgrading a few parts.Any other bikes you think I should check out?

Get the Rocky Mountain Vertex. Carbon Fiber Mountain Bikes are a very bad idea.

I just ordered a 2004 Specialized S-works annodized hardtail. It is supposed to be an awesome frame. According to Specialized the 18" weighs in at 2.9 pounds. Supposively the annodized finish knocks off another ounce or so.

Are you getting the complete bike or just the frame?How much is it?

How about the Jamis Dragon or the Marin Team? Both are awesome HT's.

The frame retails for $1090 on the S-works. I am just getting the frame. I have just about everything else I need to build it up.

I'd reccomend a Schwinn Homegrown, but you'd probably have to find it off of eBay or some other used source.

Poor Schwinn :(

I hear ya Blue Thunder, that is still one of the ht frames made. That and the Fat Chance "Yo Eddy"!

LowCel let me know when it's built up and how it rides.The Vertex will cost more than the M5 to build up the way I want.I don't like the downtube routing on the M5 either.
Anyway let me know how it goes.Thanks.

yea i was gonna recommend the s works m5 but if not check out thegiant xtc bikes ;)

S-Works are nice but overpriced, they aren't any better than an XTC or Homegrown, people will pay top dollar for a specialized label though.

S-Works are nice but overpriced.

Totally agree but if i won the lottery..........

S-Works are nice but overpriced, they aren't any better than an XTC or Homegrown, people will pay top dollar for a specialized label though.

I agree Blue Thunder, they are definately overpriced. I built up an XTC hardtail last year but I never had a chance to ride it. Was a great looking very light bike though. As for the homegrown, if it was still around I'm sure that it would be pretty high dollar as well by now.

Here is the bike. The build was completed on Saturday. I have already taken the fork off and sold it on ebay. I'm going to go with an 80 mm fork instead. I am also planning on getting rid of the heavy wire beaded tires as soon as the weather gets a little better. Once all is said and done I am hoping this bike weighs in at under 21 pounds.

http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/000_1485.jpg

Get the Rocky Mountain Vertex. Carbon Fiber Mountain Bikes are a very bad idea.

Uh-huh... Nice over-generalisation. Many successful race wins have been done on CF MTB frames. Ask Roland Green. Although I'm not a racer, I've crashed my CF bike plenty of times and have had it inspected with no problems found. Properly designed, constructed and taken care of, CF is as durable as any other material for mountain biking.

Uh-huh... Nice over-generalisation. Many successful race wins have been done on CF MTB frames. Ask Roland Green. Although I'm not a racer, I've crashed my CF bike plenty of times and have had it inspected with no problems found. Properly designed, constructed and taken care of, CF is as durable as any other material for mountain biking.

Many? Nope, he only got lucky in the big races, where was he in any of the other races then. On the more technical courses the fuel was used, an aluminum fuel even. Having seen 5 broken 9.8's, all at the stays. One was used as strictly xc, and it was regularly looked over. The other 4 were used for 4x, not the best on the bike, but all of them broke at the relatively same spot. Racing a CF framed bike is usually a 1 season frame. Unless you are a pro and are very smooth and easy on equipment a cf mtb will be right up your ally. Not everyone who races is a pro and not everyone is smooth and easy on the equipment, making a cf frame kind of pointless.

I also agree with Hunter regarding the Dragon. I just bought a 13'' 2003 Jamis Dragon frame from JensonUSA for $315. It regularly sells for $600. You might want to check and see if they have any left. It is an incredible deal!!

If you can get your hands on one I would say get this

:beer:

Where did the carbon Giant's go anyway?Why did they stop making them?

http://www.motobecane.com/MBUSAflt.html

very light XC mtn bike. Not sure how durable the frame is though.

Stumpjumper vs. XTC2? I've heard it said that Specialized are overpriced and that the XTC is an awesome bike / great value for money. But I'm in the market for a hardtail that I can do a couple of races on a year but mostly ride XC and in Montreal the base Stumpjumper is 100$ more than the XTC. For that extra $100 you get better wheels, better fork ... and the bike shop is down the street. Both seem like pretty good solid bikes to me ... I'll let you know which I get and how it works out in a couple of months!

get a cannondale Fseries Hardtail in Optimo tubing with a Lefty....
Can't be beat

i just got a leader bike hard tail and it is frikkin awesome!!!!

If you can get your hands on one I would say get this

:beer:

i'd love that bike! how much (if i found one) do you think it would cost?

I bought a Giant MCM last sumemr. I bought in South Korea. It cost me roughly $2200.00 Cdn. I am pretty happy with it so far. I don't race though and I do not ride that aggressivley but I do a lot of offroad trail riding. The bike handles very well. I'll post some pics once I fugure out how to shrink them down.

To bad it's sold........

http://www.gearfx.com/judy/

Still nice to look at !

I've raced on Carbon Treks for years now, the only failures I've see are due to impact. Carbon is extremely strong in terms of normal stresses a bike will experience, it's the impact stress that will cause failure. Say crash into a rock or hit a tree, that will crack the epoxy/resin therefore causing a failure at that point.

I've raced on it all, Steel, Ti, Aluminum, and Carbon, out of them all I stick with carbon. I don't take it easy on my bikes, they are there to be ridden, and I ride them into the ground riding in the Pro class.

Don't be afraid to go carbon, it's strength, lightness, and bump dampening characteristics make it a great material.

Get the Rocky Mountain Vertex. Carbon Fiber Mountain Bikes are a very bad idea.


Not true, carbon is one of the strongest materials on earth when fabricated correctly. I have had nothing but good luck with racing on carbon components. For freeriding, though I wouldn't trust carbon as far as I could throw it.

someone give me a carbon fiber bike

Im late on this but my vote definately goes for the Jamis Dragon. Sub 23 lbs built with discs, and it's STEEL...mmmmmmmmmmm steel

Moots x 10

k here it goes
i suggest....
The Kona Kula Deluxe
a 23lb. bike
Fox f100RLT FOrk 100mm of travel Hayes HFX-9 Carbon XC Disc Brakes
shimano decore Xt/lx 9 compontry
slapp some sick crankbors on there
a new set of tires
and you have a GREAT XC racing bike

or build ur bike up like a am doing and just get the kula primo frame
can u say scandium tubing???? oh ya

get a sycip

2004 Scott Racing frame is the lightest in production 2.5lbs! Its a race winner

someone give me a carbon fiber bike

I have a XL 98' 9900 OCLV that I don't ride and wouldn't mind selling.

Continuous gradiant tubing with inverted forks and a customized paint job(even a glow in the dark theme if desired), yum! Attitude xx disc
http://www.kleinbikes.com/assets/asset_upload_file238_1673.jpg

What do you all think about the Santa Cruz Chameleon. I am extremely suprised I didn't see this mentioned... is it more for Dirt Jumping then XC? A 19' Chameleon ways just under 4 pounds and is extremely durable. You could do some 6 foot drops and it wouldn't break.... yet it isn't mentioned? Isn't that "one" pound or less that we are talking about a little excessively picky? Just lose a pound on your body, and go with a strong frame that is handmade....


Matt

Isn't that "one" pound or less that we are talking about a little excessively picky? Just lose a pound on your body, and go with a strong frame that is handmade....


I wouldn't say that this thread is being excessively picky. They are talking about the TOP ten racing bikes. That means that they are the bikes that will give them the biggest advantage over competition. Also, think about it. 1 pound over 20 miles can make a big difference.

Giant sucks. Specialized looks cool but is just aluminum. Klein is all paint. Its all about the scott usa scale carbon hardtale. 19.6 lbs for their top of the line race bike. FSA cranks. DT 240s wheel set. SID WC. Pure sweetness.

You guys are arguing about a pound.....and if the extra money was put towards training, that pound wouldnt matter. Klein's are very nice HT's....not as nice as they used to be, but nice. Some people dont want to take the chance with carbon, nor do some have the money to replace such a frame. I swear, XC race guys just keep getting funnier and funnier. I think you should just get a Specialized! But, dont run it with paint, or the stickers...it add's 75g's. If you remove a few bolts you could save some cash, possibly drill holes in your crank, and shave the sidewalls on the tires. Hell, why dont you guys get road bikes.....Its much more rider than it is bike, when will some people learn that. Going out and dropping an extra 2k because your lacking. ::rant over::....The biggest advantage over the competition is training, skill, and pace. I rode a XC trail on my 43lb Bullit...might be a bit more now, and it was tough. I rode it again on a 24 or 25lb Yeti, and sure the hills were a bit easier....but I barely noticed the weight. I noticed the rotational weight, but the 4lb difference in frames wasnt noticeable....only while picking it up.

Knun, the SC is a great ride. Its an all around ride, all dependent on setup, very versatile. At least somebody else see's my views on this whole thing, as im sure some others do as well. The bike that will give you the biggest advantage over the competition will be the one you feel most comfortable on, period. Do you see StevePeat winning on the fanciest ride out there, no. He rides what he feels comfortable on, a SP FS bike....that rides pretty light, and is flickable. Man.....some people just want to believe all this hype, when it really comes down to what you like.

O yeah, my list.

-Seven(doesnt matter which one)
-Specialized
-Trek
-Giant
-Klein
-SC
-Bianci
-RM
-Yeti

Those of you pining for a Homegrown ought to check out the Yeti ARC. Slight difference in frame design, but it's hard to tell a difference between mine. 21.5 lbs with a Duke Race and XTR/XT/Race face stuff on my ARC. If anyone wants to buy one, let me know.

WHAT? Are you people insane? Two pages of posts and no one has mentioned the incredible Fetish Discipline??

http://www.fetishcycles.com/images/Img65.gif

Best 4.5 lb. hard tail for $99 you'll ever find ;)

OK, I'm eventually getting a Yeti ARC, which gets my vote for best racing hardtail but until then, the Fetish will do.

Is that frame actually $99?

Yes, if you buy it from them on ebay. Well, that's not exactly true; the bid price is $99 but the shipping is $50. Still a pretty good deal, I thought.

There are usually 2-3 of each size for sale at any time, in addition their selection of road and other frames. This was my first ebay purchase so I'm pretty happy it all worked out.

What is the MSRP on that bad boy?

Well...they list it at $499 but I doubt they expect anyone to pay that price. My guess is that they list it at $499 so when they sell them on eBay for $99, they can say "this is normally a $500 frame!"

Anyway, the builder says it's in pretty good shape. Headtube was almost perfectly faced but the bottom bracket needed a bit of work. Everything's lined up well and seems very sturdy (at over 4lbs., it should be!). My only disappointment so far is the Marzocchi fork. I didn't realize how heavy it was until I picked it up. Weight weenies listed it at 2085 grams!! Well, considering I need to lose 30 lbs., I don't think it will matter. My personal deal is when I'm under 160 lbs. I can buy a lighter fork. ;)

Here's the in progress shot:

http://bellsouthpwp.net/c/r/croakhall/MVC-808F.JPG

Have you thought about a custom steel hardtail?
I've had my thylacine custom XC for about 6 months and it is awesome.

Checkout www.thylacinecycles.com (http://www.thylacinecycles.com)
For more details.

or www.thylacinecycles.com/gallery (http://www.thylacinecycles.com/gallery)
for more pics.

if you can, get a Giant STP

cannondale F-series

I *love* my '95 Klein Attitude. The frame is stiff (Al, afterall) and very responsive. Obviously, finding one would be tough, but you never know. I'd try to get a higher-end pre-Trek Klein (you know, before Trek bought them - '97 or '98??).