Best Steel Frame Under $1500
 

I have decided to build up a frame so I get exactly what I want. Seems a lot of bikes are close but then a major sacrifice ie mechanical brakes, pressed BB or unknown steel.
Will be used mostly for road riding with some path and gravel mixed in.
Size 52-54 depending on geometry.

I was pretty sold on the Niner RLT 9 Steel, seemed to have everything but not keen on the color, only to find out its got press bb.

Must haves.
More relaxed geometry like my current bikes.
Quality Steel (Reynolds 853 or equivalent)
Flush Mount Disk Brakes.
Through Axle.
Easy to find parts for, not forced to use their brand.

I know Gunnar is an option and I have contacted them, seems like it will be late July to get one.

Wants.
Reasonable availability, hoping to not have to wait a long time to get the frame.
Color options

Use a Praxis Conversion or Wheels Manufacturing Screw Together bottom bracket.

Nothing needs to be pressed and you will never have a problem.


-Tim-

Which Gunnar are you looking at?

All City Cosmic Stallion, maybe?

If you could get a custom-geo Gunnar with tubing to suit I'd think the frame would be lighter and more suited to where you'd be riding than the overbuilt Niner frame.

Wait would be worth it in the end.

Trail Donkey Flaanimal 4.0 $975 or 4.1 $1375. There are some recent pics of a built Flanimal on here I think in the Gravel ride pics.
I second the Wheels thread together BB adapter, about $100.


https://www.rodeo-labs.com/product-category/framesets/

Not sure what geometry your current bikes have and that's important to know, but here are a couple frames mentioned in your earlier thread(I think).

https://otsocycles.com/products/wara...nt=28228300231
- quality tubing
- pretty neutral and typical gravel geometry
- flat mount
- thru axle
- dont need to use otso/wolftooth components to build and maintain
- available now

https://fairlightcycles.com/product/...v=7516fd43adaa
- quality tubing
- pretty typical gravel geometry and relaxed stack + reach when the T model sizing is selected.
- flat mount
- thru axle
- two nice color options with matching accessory components
- dont need to use Fairlight components to build and maintain
- available in July

Both are $200-300 under your stated budget.



- the gunner frame is under $1500, but it doesn't come with a fork. Just fyi in case you weren't aware. That'll be another $500-700.
- you will never know the difference between a 631 and 853 bike if the tubing spec is the same. They will perform the same. Unbranded heat treated steel thats .8/.5/.8 or .7/.4/.7 can be built into a great bike that is as equivalent or better than 853, just keep in mind.



Good luck on the search.

I recall reading on the Guitar Ted site that when Raleigh was developing the Tamland, Reynolds encouraged them to use 631 for a gravel bike, rather than the 853 they originally had in mind. I've had a couple of frames of each series and given all the other variables in a bike, don't think I could say one was "better."

Interesting. For strength reasons? My hard tail mountain bike is an 853 frame set and it takes a beating.

Here it is Raleigh Tamland Two Reviewed -

Gunnar Hyper-X can be had for around $1300 in standard geo, with your choice of dropouts, brake mounts, and color. Add $300 for a steel fork, $500+ for a good cf fork, and add $350 if you want custom geo. Make sure your shop checks with them on the timeline, and add a couple weeks to be on the safe side. Trust me on this.

Also consider Bombtrack, which does steel with T47 bottom brackets.

This.
I am strongly considering the Enduro or Wheels Manufacturing Screw together bottom bracket for my Niner.

As I recall it was more for compliance. The 853 was relatively stiff. (relative to the 631). Just depends what your design goals are.

If I were to buy a new steel frame today, I'd have a good hard look at the Norco Search Steel. It's 725 instead of 853, but my understanding is it similar in strength, but not as light or stiff as 853. I also love the green color of this frame, and the blue one that another poster on this board is pleasing to the eye as well.