I'm new to this section because I normally resides in the Classic & Vintage section, so a hi to you all ;)

anyways. I build a MTB last year and all the parts are fine (XT fd and rd, a LX and a Hope hub, mavic rims, etc etc) but the only part which sucked big time is the very old '89 Gazelle Field Cruiser steal frame. I enjoyed riding it but i want a newer frame so I can fit in the front fork with suspension I allready have (the Gazelle has 1" headset). Now here is the deal.. I'm a student and don't have any money to spend so I'm looking for a bargain. Luckely for me I don't need (and can afford) the latest carbon monster. I found myself some options on our Dutch version of Ebay.

Parts I allready have:
- XT fd
- XT rd
- DX/XT crankset
- SR Suntour 7500 (far from the best i guess ;))
- Selle Cuda saddle
- Mavic 230 TIB rims with a Hope and a LX hub
- STX shifters
- Shi. 200GS cantilevers (ok.. not good ;))
- Rito 6061 T6 Acor riser bar
- SPD pedals
- the rest i forgot to mention (the gazelle rides fine so it's complete qua parts)

Not impressive but it will do. Now on to my options


Bike1. Gary Fischer Aquila
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/8253/gf10du.th.jpg
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/3702/gf28ue.th.jpg
- 18.5"
- stx rc fd&rd
- suntour sr xcc (rode 100km, tube 17.5cm)
- chain
- 8 speed cassette (100km)
- shifters 8-3 stx
- v-brakes
He asks €60,=

Bike2. Be One Torix
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/5...orix6aa.th.jpg
I get:
-tektro v-brakes
-XT bb
-saddle + seat stay
-levers
-frame + fork
He asks €90,=

Bike3. Kinesis 6061 alu
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/2...sis15rd.th.jpg
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/9...sis28nc.th.jpg
Noname frame with kinesis tubing
- 19"
- fork
- Modus headset
He asks €65,=

Bike4. Be One Mason
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/9970/mason9ar.th.jpg
- 21"
- seat stay
- headset
- changeable pat
He asks €75

Bike5. Korus Turbo
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/9...urbo5qd.th.jpg
no info
no price but if i see his other auctions it will be cheap

my first impressions
I'm 1.88m (6ft2") and i think i need a 20 or 21". Is this correct? inseam height is 91.5cm. (35.7")

The GF is cheap and has more charm than a noname alu frame but it's steel and somewhat older and with 18.5" perhaps too small. On the other hand, with all the parts its kinda cheap. The Kinesis frame is brand new but for almost the same price i can buy it in a shop. The Be One Mason is the newest i guess and prepared for disc brakes. The owner did a new paintjob on it. The Torix looks good to me too.

Altough I would that is was not but money is the biggest factor at the moment... But i want to ride and i have had it with my current frame /setup. I didn't negotiate on any frame so far so prices may drop.

any thoughts on this serie?
thx for your time!

get the gary fisher

to be honest i dont know what kind of bike your planning to build with theres frames they look more like road frames if so check your in the correct thread. if not i dont know much about any of these makes of bikes, by the looks both of the B1's look awsome and light, depends what forks your being offerd with them?

but IMO i would go for the Be One's probs the green 1!

LoL! I'm in the MTB sections, right? ;)
At least I can tell a mtb from a race bike :p
Of course we are not talking state of the art here (oversized tubes anyone?) so they look more racey than other mtb's. B1 is a (former) Dutch brand so you may not know them. Kinesis is a famous tube builder. GF doesn't need an introduction and the last one is a bogus brand but i got an email he sold it this afternoon.

I'm planning to build a enjoyable, cheap not so state of the art (because of financial reasons) MTB which I;m gonna ride XC.

If used, maybe go steel GF. AL has a lifespan\fatique limit factor, old's not so good they say.
Small is o.k for mtb's, helps you muscle them around offroad.
One inch short toptube = one inch longer stem (I'm a hack rider.)
Second i'd look into the Kenisis.

They all look like XC mtb frames to me.

Go fisher.

I have an old HKEK frame that I planning on building up this spring.

in my opinion, if you are going retro, go steel

With regard to the size of the Gary Fisher, with a 35" inseam, an 18" frame is kind of small. Do you have some freinds who have old steel bikes that you can try for fit?

Does the GF frame have the 'genesis' geometry?
I thought I read it was a longer toptube length?

I think that may have been before 'genesis' . And yes , I know that would be impossible by definition.....

I see disk mounts and a replaceable der. hanger on the B-One and sexy ovalized tubes. Plus, they're still making the Mason and b1 is an interesting company. I'd go that way.

Dude, there are a LOT of different types of mountain bikes for all the different ways to use them. Me, I just like riding fast through the woods, other guys go riding down stairs and jumping off brick walls - those are two very different kinds of bikes. So saying "XC" is important to the guys who are trying to help you here.

I'm pretty sure you need a 20 or 21 also, 21.5 is a fairly standard size and if measured to the top of the seat tube should be fine.

I would let fit make the decision for me. You know the size of your present bike and I'm sure you know what you'd like to improve. I'd get measurements from the sellers or form the manufacturers and take a best guess at which will fit you and your fork best. The frame should match the fork you'll be using or you'll have goofy handling or too low a bottom bracket (like my last bike). There are adaptors that'll let you use a 1" fork in a 1-1/8" frame, they aren't recommended.

Ron

Ok, today I went to the Gary Fisher owner.

Gave the man 60 euro's and got me:
- a mint '96 GF Aquila frame (just had to clean her up)
- the original rigid fork
- a new SR Suntour XCC fork (ok.. not state of the art, but new!)
- STX fd and rd
- Deore LX v-brakes
- RSX narrow chain, new in box
- STX 8 speed shifters
- Tange a-headset
- nice BB, which i can't identify.

all in mint condition..

just one problem.. the 18.5" he said is probably a lot smaller (at least the bike looks/feels like it) and i definitely gonna need a 20/21 after all..

so i'm gonna sell the frame, buy another and still make a profit on the parts. It's a pity because the frame is awesome (which you cant see on the pic).