Mountain Biking - time for a new frame

well my iron horse yakuza has finally given up the ghost and i am in need of a new frame.


i have narrowed it down to these three. any comments you might have, positive of negative, will be appreciated.

the transition transAM. http://www.transitionbikes.com/TransAM.cfm i was looking forward to a vagrant, but sadly it has been discontinued.
pros: cro-mo frame, horizontal dropouts (so can try that whole SS trend ;)), price (cheapest of the 3)
cons: integrated headset (thought these were for road bikes only), 30.0mm seat post (not very common), first year of production (although everything TBC has made gets high marks and rave reviews).

the santa cruz chameleon. http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/chameleon/
pros: traditional tried and true aluminum frame and headset. horizontal dropouts. many years of production and very good reviews on MTBR. derailleur hanger has a built in bottle opener. :D :thumb:
cons: typical aluminum frame (like my IH big and bulky tubes).

the banshee scirocco. http://www.bansheebikes.com/bikes/scirocco.html
pros: traditional tried and true aluminum frame and headset. many years of production and very good reviews on MTBR.
cons: typical aluminum frame, no horizontal dropouts.

i am leaning towards the transAM for the simple fact that i wanted to try a cro-mo frame.

I've got a chameleon and love it. Can give you a bit of a pounding but I find it gives you so much confidence. It's also a very adaptable bike. I've done technical downhill runs, although not very well admitadly, realised 3/4rds of the way down I had my fork wound right down. Well, thats my excuse for getting to the bottom in the same time it took a guy on a DH rig to fix his chain, ride down and get changed. I'm not sure how good it can be on techy down hill stuff. If I'm going to do downhill I prefer it nice and flowy anyways. Also tried dirt jumps and done a few evil climbs.

I did see a scirocco the other day though, and it does look like a very sweet bike.

Trans Am is new and hard for me to comment on. I wonder about the Campy-type headset but theBMXers are into them big. I think I liked the idea of the Vagrant much more but it's gone. With Transition you will get a small, personal and very responsive company with owners who LIVE riding and that passion translates into their products. "Passion for the ride" is not just a marketing slogan for them; they live it every day in how they operate, in their small community and and how they give back to that community in very tangible ways.

I'm new to the forums, and I wanted to ask the TC a question.

I've noticed that a lot of the topics here are centered around hardtails rather than everyone having a dying love for FSR's... are hardtails secretly better? Or is it something that only the pro's/seasoned riders choose for some reason that noobs can't see? :D

I know it's a dumb question and it's a bit off topic, but I was just wondering. :)

I'm new to the forums, and I wanted to ask the TC a question.

I've noticed that a lot of the topics here are centered around hardtails rather than everyone having a dying love for FSR's... are hardtails secretly better? Or is it something that only the pro's/seasoned riders choose for some reason that noobs can't see? :D

I know it's a dumb question and it's a bit off topic, but I was just wondering. :)

If you have the money for a "Good" full suspension- they work and are light. Cheap Full suspension bikes do not work.

You can get a better "Deal" on a hardtail and even get quality at a good price. On top of that- Hardtails will teach you to ride instead of the bike doing the work as in Full suspension.

You still have to get a good hardtail and they are not that cheap. But cheap bikes are cheap and entice a lot of people into riding- and giving up soon after.

If you have the money for a "Good" full suspension- they work and are light. Cheap Full suspension bikes do not work.

You can get a better "Deal" on a hardtail and even get quality at a good price. On top of that- Hardtails will teach you to ride instead of the bike doing the work as in Full suspension.

You still have to get a good hardtail and they are not that cheap. But cheap bikes are cheap and entice a lot of people into riding- and giving up soon after.

Sweet, thanks for the reply.

What would be a "cheap" FSR? I have an 04 Specialized Stumpjumper Elite with a M4 frame... is that bad? Also, how do FSR's do the work? I mean I guess they can help a bit with traction on the way down, but anything other than that and comfortableness?

well it is ordered and on its way. the past weekend was hell having no bike.

And it is . . . ?

i ended up going with the TransAM. unfortunately they were all sold out of the orange....so i went with the white. i am really really looking forward to its arrival.

Very good. White is the new white. Get a custom set of decals made at your local truck-lettering shop in orange metalflake vinyl :D

I have the files if you need them.

aye. i really liked the ones you had made. but i think i will ride it unbranded for a while.

well here she is
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/tweekerh8r/IMG_0972.jpg

only one flaw in the paint though
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/tweekerh8r/IMG_0974.jpg
that bubble goes all the way around into the headtube. normally i wouldnt be concerned about it, but since it is an integrated headset im not sure what effect it will have on the bearings.

that and the fork i have seems to rub the downtube.:(

Pretty frame.

So, is the bubble a hickey in the powdercoating that slopped inside? If so, some very delicate x-acto knife work will take care of that.

For the fork rub, just don't whip those bar-spins :D. Seriously, cut a chunk of smooth radiator hose (or conveyor belt rubber or something else thick and zip-tie it in a 'U' to the downtube right where the crown contacts it. That'll make it a stop.

well its been 2 days now and no work from transition as to the thicker crown race or what to do about the bearing seat....:(

all this waiting to ride is starting to drive me fuggin nuts. to much road riding makes me insane...spin spin spin... that and i seem to now be addicted to guitar hero :twitchy:

I think I'd pick up the phone and dial (360) 366-4960 and talk to Mike M or Kevin or Kyle and get your answers right away.

been trying to get off work early so that i could, but alas have not been able to.