Hi there,
Yes, I need your help. After 15 years of hardtail riding I want to try out a full suspension bike. I just want to get a frame, cause I have most of the other parts sitting around. I know that there are some parts that would be frame specific. But, in most part I am set with the parts.

Now I have been considering two full suspension frames. One is a brand new 2005/2006 Raleigh Phase II and the other one is the Sette Ace frame.

Raliegh Phase II (the one I am considering is a year older than this one)
http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?...=11&itemid=282


Seette Ace
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/164...e-SL-R-Air.htm

and the last option I am considering is the

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...+Frame+06.aspx

the only thing that I dont like about the Jamis is the angles of the seat and head tubes. I want to use this bike for XC/AM type of riding on root and rock infested trails in NY, PA, VT, MA and GA/TN.

As you can imagine that I am familier with the hardtails climbing efficiency. But due to my lower back problem I would have to give up that and go for something thats a bit gentle on my back and still climbs with decent efficiency. Although, I am getting more and more interested in small climbes and long rolling decents.....I dont do big jumps or drops (less than 2 ft).

Any comments about the suspension system (swinger 3-way, RP3, etc) and overall frame desing would be great.


thank you. thank you. thank you.

I want to thank dminor publicly. He had been very very helpful with some good insight on suspension desing and different options.