Mountain Biking - Suppose I was looking for a $3-400 HT

Alright, suppose a guy was looking to buy a hardtail frame for $300-400. Type of riding is mainly XC-type, no competitive racing. Steel might be preferred over aluminum. Frames only, since said guy would be building up with components already owned. What suggestions do you lads and lasses have, and why? Humor me.

Sorry I forgot to specify frame-only in my heading. I'm not so smart sometimes. But I'm really good at getting them Wheel of Fortune puzzles figured out.

I'd be looking in the $500 MTB thread for starters

I think he wants a frame-only for that price. The $500 MTB thread covers full bikes for said price.

I'd be looking in the $500 MTB thread for starters

Then you'd find be finding frames a lot cheaper than I'm looking for. My bad for forgetting to specify frames-only in the heading.

how about... www.covebike.com

Cove makes some pretty nice frames if you ask me. They may be a bit more FR oriented than you're looking for. Heck, who can go wrong with a Handjob?

how about... www.covebike.com

Cove makes some pretty nice frames if you ask me. They may be a bit more FR oriented than you're looking for. Heck, who can go wrong with a Handjob?

I've never met a Handjob I didn't like. As for the bike, looks good, but the only image I could find on the Web site wasn't very good. Also, I couldn't dig up geometries for it. Any clue where'bouts I could find more info?

On the downside... not sure the wife would appreciate the "Handjob" name. Though, I can picture the conversation now.

"Hey honey, I got a handjob today. Cost me about 400 bucks, but it was well worth it. It was even quicker than I thought it would be after reading about it on the internet. My balls are a little bruised, though. Maybe I'll wear padded shorts next time. Honey, why are you crying?"

Fetish cycles makes some pretty nice frames that are always going for cheap on ebay, give them a look.

I would search the forum.

But here's two right in your line with your specifications.

Steel:
http://www.somafab.com/groove.html

Aluminum:
http://www.spicercycles.com/index.c...&sub_cat=Frames

As far as the Fetish frames, they are cheap and probably of reasonable quality. But search the forum, because someone built one up a couple of months ago. His frame had some minor blemishes.

Heck, who can go wrong with a Handjob?


I've never met a Handjob I didn't like.


On the downside... not sure the wife would appreciate the "Handjob" name. Though, I can picture the conversation now.

"Hey honey, I got a handjob today. Cost me about 400 bucks, but it was well worth it. It was even quicker than I thought it would be after reading about it on the internet. My balls are a little bruised, though. Maybe I'll wear padded shorts next time. Honey, why are you crying?"

ROTFLMAO!!! :roflmao:

Get a Kona Scandium frame! I think they're around $600 though, but I think the Explosif is around $400. Nifty paint job too.

lawlz
:(

Get a Kona Scandium frame! I think they're around $600 though, but I think the Explosif is around $400. Nifty paint job too.

lawlz
:(

You know, the Explosif was one I had considered. What's the geometry like? Good steel?

You know, the Explosif was one I had considered. What's the geometry like? Good steel?

I have no idea. I just picked it up and played with it at a store. Kona tends to make good stuff, but you should pop on over to www.mtbr.com and see if they're are any reviews on it.

EDIT: The geometry should be very similar to the rest of their cross-country bikes and people seem to rave about them. (just guessing though)

Also, is the Explosif made of steel? Sure didn't feel like it!

I have no idea. I just picked it up and played with it at a store. Kona tends to make good stuff, but you should pop on over to www.mtbr.com and see if they're are any reviews on it.

EDIT: The geometry should be very similar to the rest of their cross-country bikes and people seem to rave about them. (just guessing though)

Also, is the Explosif made of steel? Sure didn't feel like it!

Yep, the Explosif is a steel frame. Looks like they've switched from True Temper OX to a different tubing for '05, though. Reviews on mtbr are all for previous years' models, and I don't know anything about the Dedacciai SAT Cromoly they're using now. Any idea how it compares to OX, or even the various levels of Reynolds?

Also, reviews mention it's not disc-brake ready, but the '05 seems to be.

What do you have? Xc forks are short travel or solid.
Also xc is seat up, not lower seat jumping setups.

My idea is a higher seat tube. Xc is about position on the saddle, mtn is not so.

Surley has chromo frames @ 400. Instagator? The bent toptube thing.

What do you have? Xc forks are short travel or solid.
Also xc is seat up, not lower seat jumping setups.

My idea is a higher seat tube. Xc is about position on the saddle, mtn is not so.

Surley has chromo frames @ 400. Instagator? The bent toptube thing.

The fork I've got is an Answer Skareb Elite, 80mm of travel. Nothing fancy, but, you know. And yeah I'm showing a lot of seatpost.

Not a fan of the Surly frames. Price and quality of the tubing don't quite mesh.