MTB Recommendations - Steel Frame
07-22-05, 03:22 AM
#1
Retro-nerd
Thread Starter
MTB Recommendations - Steel Frame
Looking for MTB recommendations -
Must be a complete bike with a steel frame.
Right now I am considering the Marin Eldridge Grade.
Anyone know of any other steel frame mountain bikes?
Must be a complete bike with a steel frame.
Right now I am considering the Marin Eldridge Grade.
Anyone know of any other steel frame mountain bikes?
07-22-05, 03:51 AM
#2
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You know, this is a good question... steel frame bikes, oddly not a single one comes to mind, almost every company I know of has gone the way of aluminum and carbon fiber.
07-22-05, 06:29 AM
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Steel frame bikes are still available! They tend to be expensive. Look for name brand steel like Reynolds 853. They are actually very light and have a great feel superior to aluminum.
Jamis (I have an exile and love it)
Bianchi
Independent Fabrication
Rocky Mountain
Airborne
Those are just a few off the top of my head.
Jamis (I have an exile and love it)
Bianchi
Independent Fabrication
Rocky Mountain
Airborne
Those are just a few off the top of my head.
07-22-05, 11:56 AM
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07-22-05, 12:08 PM
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Kona Unit - singlespeed
Bianchi S.A.S.S. - singlespeed with bling (go the chrome!)
Jamis Dragon - Reynolds 853 baby!
Jamis Dakota XC - Reynolds 631
Bianchi S.A.S.S. - singlespeed with bling (go the chrome!)
Jamis Dragon - Reynolds 853 baby!
Jamis Dakota XC - Reynolds 631
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07-22-05, 12:21 PM
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eert a ekil yzarc
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Originally Posted by jeff williams
07-22-05, 04:16 PM
#7
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Georgiaboy-
I bought a Trek 820 back early May and loving it - have put 600 miles on it & upgraded pedals to clipless
and borrowing a set of 1.25 Fat Boy slicks - I'm new to mountainbiking, haven't tried a higher performance bike but again think I got alot for $219
Peter
I bought a Trek 820 back early May and loving it - have put 600 miles on it & upgraded pedals to clipless
and borrowing a set of 1.25 Fat Boy slicks - I'm new to mountainbiking, haven't tried a higher performance bike but again think I got alot for $219
Peter
07-23-05, 11:56 AM
#10
Retro-nerd
Thread Starter
Thanks for all the replies. I am checking out each recommendation Thanks! 
Steel seems to be a dying breed better get one now.
Steel seems to be a dying breed better get one now.
07-23-05, 12:08 PM
#11
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Two other suggestions...
I know they're primarily custom and frame manufacturers but they probably will package in a buildkit or the like.
- Salsa Cycles
- Rock Lobster
I know they're primarily custom and frame manufacturers but they probably will package in a buildkit or the like.
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1999 K2 OzM
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1999 K2 OzM
2001 Aegis Aro Svelte"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
07-23-05, 10:25 PM
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Dont forget the Jamis Dragon. Top of the line Reynolds 835 steel tubing all the way round. I went from an FSR that never shifted to the Dragon and really havent looked back, and you can get the frame alone for pretty cheap
07-23-05, 10:50 PM
#13
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Check out the DaBomb Grenade, it is 4130 Cromoly Steel, very nice ride. I also like the feel of one of the point 243 bikes I rode, sorry forget the model but they are all steel bikes. Azonic have a steel HT also I think, Azonic Steelhead?
07-24-05, 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by PM7771
Georgiaboy-
I bought a Trek 820 back early May and loving it - have put 600 miles on it & upgraded pedals to clipless
and borrowing a set of 1.25 Fat Boy slicks - I'm new to mountainbiking, haven't tried a higher performance bike but again think I got alot for $219
Peter
I bought a Trek 820 back early May and loving it - have put 600 miles on it & upgraded pedals to clipless
and borrowing a set of 1.25 Fat Boy slicks - I'm new to mountainbiking, haven't tried a higher performance bike but again think I got alot for $219
Peter
steel with shenamo conponents.
Hows the thing holding up?
Shifters still working,get a flat,cranks?
Just wondering.
I was thinking of buying it, than upgradeing.
not sure though.
07-24-05, 12:39 PM
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Do On-one do complete bikes? Eather way, there frames are nice. Pashely and Curtis are really nice, not sure if Curtis come fully built though.
07-24-05, 01:20 PM
#17
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but can't afford it...
07-24-05, 06:54 PM
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1) Jamis Dragon
2) Jamis Dakota XC
3) Marin Eldridge
I love my Jamis Dragon and would certainly endorse it but unless you build it yourself is quite pricey because of the full XTR group. The Dakota XC is also a nice bike at a lower price range and comes with a full XT group. The frame is not as nice as the Dragon but at its price range it is a steal. I recently bought a NOS Marin Eldridge for my wife and it is a very nice bike too but is specd below the Daxota XC (mix of LX and Deore components). It is still a very nice bike for the price and comes with Columbus tubing.
2) Jamis Dakota XC
3) Marin Eldridge
I love my Jamis Dragon and would certainly endorse it but unless you build it yourself is quite pricey because of the full XTR group. The Dakota XC is also a nice bike at a lower price range and comes with a full XT group. The frame is not as nice as the Dragon but at its price range it is a steal. I recently bought a NOS Marin Eldridge for my wife and it is a very nice bike too but is specd below the Daxota XC (mix of LX and Deore components). It is still a very nice bike for the price and comes with Columbus tubing.
07-24-05, 07:00 PM
#19
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Originally Posted by jz19
1) Jamis Dragon
2) Jamis Dakota XC
3) Marin Eldridge
I love my Jamis Dragon and would certainly endorse it but unless you build it yourself is quite pricey because of the full XTR group. The Dakota XC is also a nice bike at a lower price range and comes with a full XT group. The frame is not as nice as the Dragon but at its price range it is a steal. I recently bought a NOS Marin Eldridge for my wife and it is a very nice bike too but is specd below the Daxota XC (mix of LX and Deore components). It is still a very nice bike for the price and comes with Columbus tubing.
2) Jamis Dakota XC
3) Marin Eldridge
I love my Jamis Dragon and would certainly endorse it but unless you build it yourself is quite pricey because of the full XTR group. The Dakota XC is also a nice bike at a lower price range and comes with a full XT group. The frame is not as nice as the Dragon but at its price range it is a steal. I recently bought a NOS Marin Eldridge for my wife and it is a very nice bike too but is specd below the Daxota XC (mix of LX and Deore components). It is still a very nice bike for the price and comes with Columbus tubing.
In any case these three bikes to me are the best purchases for their respective levels.
07-24-05, 08:00 PM
#20
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Originally Posted by georgiaboy
I think I have decided on the Jamis Dakota XC - Although I love the 853 of the Dragon. The price is a little high for me. The Eldridge is a great deal. One small little hitch is one tube in the frame is aluminum while the top tube and seat tube are steel. I am saying that the $400 extra dollars for the Dakota XC seems to be worthwhile over the Eldridge.
In any case these three bikes to me are the best purchases for their respective levels.
In any case these three bikes to me are the best purchases for their respective levels.
Not the downtube? It's the most stressed one.
A dent in an alu downtube is a BAD thing.
I might like a titanium downtube.
07-24-05, 09:54 PM
#21
Retro-nerd
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by jeff williams
What tube?
Not the downtube? It's the most stressed one.
A dent in an alu downtube is a BAD thing.
I might like a titanium downtube.
Not the downtube? It's the most stressed one.
A dent in an alu downtube is a BAD thing.
I might like a titanium downtube.
07-25-05, 01:18 AM
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Rocky Mountain "Blizzard"
07-25-05, 12:13 PM
#23
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KHS
Soma fabrications
Gunnar
JensonUSA Zion
Customs:Waltworks, Curtlo, Wily, etc., etc.
Depending on your budget, there are still a lot of steel bikes out there.
Soma fabrications
Gunnar
JensonUSA Zion
Customs:Waltworks, Curtlo, Wily, etc., etc.
Depending on your budget, there are still a lot of steel bikes out there.
10-09-05, 09:50 PM
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Get a Gunnar Rockhound 29'er. Consider lock outs on the front. Can swap phat tires for a cyclo-type width, and have a great hybrid / urban / road-tourer.
Mine: Custom paint (light green / cream) / SRAM XO / Avid / MTB Laser Disk / Marzochi / Brooks B-17 / Cork Grips / Ritchey and Shimano stuff / Triple ring /
Pricey, but inherent value.
Mine: Custom paint (light green / cream) / SRAM XO / Avid / MTB Laser Disk / Marzochi / Brooks B-17 / Cork Grips / Ritchey and Shimano stuff / Triple ring /
Pricey, but inherent value.
