Mountain Biking - Steel Frame Quest

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Lumpy_The_Great
10-27-04, 09:30 AM
I am thinking about building up a bike from scratch for myself as a Christmas present to myself. My question is this: What is the best steel Frame out there? I am looking for something Strong and light but, as I am a big guy, strong is more important. Good paint job options, nice styling, and of course it has to come from a manufacturer that will sell me just the Frame(And Maybe fork). Let me know your opinions on what is the best steel frame.

No Aluminum, Ti, Carbon Fiber, berillyium, molybedium, Wrapped paper, Copper or Wood please

rasheed
10-27-04, 09:58 AM
what kind of riding are you expecting to do? there are a few good freeride/urban/dirtjumping/slalom steel frames i know of...

there are some steel frames listed here in this thread: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=71471
Lumpy_The_Great
10-27-04, 10:11 AM
I am looking for a mountain frame, During the week I put the slicks on and ride it on the road, but on the weekend I use it as an actual off-road bike. I don't really do any downhill or Trials so I am basically looking for a generic hardtail mountain frame.

MichaelW
10-27-04, 11:12 AM
Surley, Gunnar and Soma all make stock MTB frames in the old but useful style. These good quality but nothing exotic.
Henryjames.com has a directory of custom steel builders if you wanted something a little bit special.
a2psyklnut
10-27-04, 12:20 PM
Brew Custom frames from North Carolina, or Gunnar would be my two choices.

Independent Fabrications comes to mind.

Since you are from Tejas, I would recommend a Texas FireHouse Cruiser. http://www.firemansbikes.com/

L8R
jeff williams
10-27-04, 12:50 PM
http://www.ritcheylogic.com/frames.htm He only makes one mtb frame, NiTi is a proprietary Chromoly steel. No assembled bikes.
crgowo
10-27-04, 01:20 PM
Never heard of this brand but its another option.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product.aspx?i=FR606A00
slide13
10-27-04, 07:51 PM
Don't think there is a best steel frame, but some really good ones of the top of my head:
Independent Fabrications
Steelman
Strong
Seven
and lots and lots of smaller boutique builders I can't think of.

Most of those are in the $1000+ range for a frame so they certainly aren't cheap, but you did ask for the best.

I just decided to get a steel frame and looked at those, but since money is tight I went with a Gunnar. High end steel tubeset made in the Waterford factory for $750 retail, not too bad IMO. Hasn't arrived yet but it should in a couple more weeks. Not much in the way of stock color choices but they do have a color of the month program where you can get different and facier paint jobs for no addition charge.