What is the best hardtail frame out there?

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I am looking for a new hardtail frame for when funds allow.
I have been considering:
Specialised S-works
Kona Kula Primo
Klein Attitude


What are peoples thoughts?

or should I save up and buy a full susser? (I have never ridden full sus)

Also consider the hardtail I bought if your spending that sort of money, I have the Salsa Bandito full Scandium hardtail, allthough its been replaced by a new frame for this year, but as I see your from the UK like me I havent seen anywhere that sells the new version anyway (I bought from Wiggle & wholely recommend them).
I looked at the S-Works & nearly bought that but the Salsa was less "harsh" feeling to me through the rear triangle without losing all the nice stiffness of alu & I'm glad I went for it (doesnt look quite as sexy as the S-Works though, allthough the Salsa is a work of art in its own right), I also looked at the Yeti Arc but that was the slightly more expensive than the Salsa & was only part Scandium so I decided against it.
I think my Salsa was a few hundred grams lighter than the S-Works & Yeti as well, I did like the black anodised frame on the S-works though but I'm more than happy with my Salsa as allthough it was a lot of money for a frame I really do feel it was worth it as my riding has improved no end.
My previous frame was a Easton Elite tubed Coyote & whilst it was nice the stiffness of the Alu was a bit tiring after a while & I dont seem to get that feeling with the Scandium but I also specced it with carbon bars & post so maybe that helps a bit.
I just realised that the Kona is Scandium as well, I did look at that but never tried it out just for the fact I thought I'd rather have the Salsa (just for the more exclusive name if I'm honest).

hmm..he's right...the salsa scandium is good,but i think not probably the best...try to take a look at the stumpy(specialized stumpjumpers...) theyre good too..and theyre a lot more cheaper than ARC and Bandito...but if you have the cash...go get them...but if you dont have..try the new stumpjumper...the m5 alloy is good like the S-works...a lot of folks here in the philippines own stumpies...its a good xc bike....try it and im sure...youlle like it....:)

Cannondale Optimo...super light, super strong, lifetime warranty...not if your just tooling around though...not a beginners frameset..I have the furio and it kicks tail too, hovers over the trail sweetly:) I am looking for a new hardtail frame for when funds allow.
I have been considering:
Specialised S-works
Kona Kula Primo
Klein Attitude


What are peoples thoughts?

or should I save up and buy a full susser? (I have never ridden full sus)

I sometimes miss my old C'dale CAAD5 hardtail MTB.. light and chuckable, and could take a beating...

Good luck trying to find a reasonably priced Cannondale frame outside of eBay auctions and one-off LBS special deals, though.

1998 Schwinn Homegrown! American Bred, American Grown.

Hey Guys! Newbie Here. I Dont Know Where To Address This Question. I Like Cross Country Or Commuter Bikes. My Question Is Why Do You Guys Love Hard Tail? Why Not Go For Light Full Suspension Bikes If There Is Such.

Hey Guys! NewbieDonte. I Dont Know Where To Address This Question. I Like Cross Country Or Commuter Bikes. My Question Is Why Do You Guys Love Hard Tail? Why Not Go For Light Full Suspension Bikes If There Is Such.
I personally prefer hard tails because when I go out with my friends on their full suspension bikes they fly over everything, roots, bumps, stones, whatever just picking the direct route through.
I however cant see the point of using suspension to ease the challenge of riding infact that's the reason I ride, if I see a set of weird roots sticking up in my path I dont want to use full suspension to blast over it without knowing it's there.
I want the challenge of riding that set of roots using just the skill & control of setting my weight in the right place picking the correct line & riding it well, infact I will go rigid at the front with a Pace RC31 when I get some spare money.
I wouldn't say there's anything wrong with a full suspension bike as my friends do stuff easily I wouldn't attempt on my HT it's just they get kicks from that style of bike & riding & I get kicks from mine, neithers better than the other it's just personal preference.
I'm not a racer or anything so I dont really need a light weight bike (mines about 22lb now) but I had a bit of money spare so I bought a quality light bike like I have wanted for ages.

I am extremely happy with my Litespeed Pisgah. It is fairly light and extremely responsive...and I love the geometry. It climbs amazingly well. Ti just has a great 'springy' feel to it. I bought it (new) in 2001 - so I'm over the $$$ sticker shock. You can certainly buy a less expensive bike...but nothing rides like Ti. IMO.

i guess it depends on the kick you want. thanks guys. man what forum do i belong? im a commuter basicaly so i have to deal with potholes and stuff. and i want comfortable ridinga and i want my bike to be tough enough.

You just can't beat a hardtail, although Giant has recently released their Meastro line, and it's supposed to be pretty light and extremely effecient. But as far as loving my hardtail, nothing climbs like one, period. I rode a Cannondale Super V for several years, and after going back to the hardtail, I can't believe I rode it for anything other than going down. I lost so much power on the climbs is was unreal. Believe it or not, there's still guys out there that swear by fully rigid!:eek: :)

Pace f8 all the way for me!!!


not the lightest frame out there but feels like it'll last years (except for denting the downtube :rolleyes: )


Keeps it British too :)


They've stopped making it but you can get the Team Issue one with Carbon Fibre seat Tube.

Strong Racing Frames Ti Hardtail.

Believe it or not, there's still guys out there that swear by fully rigid!:eek: :)
yeah, they usually say, fcuk me, my arse is killing me...

The best frame depends on what you are looking to do and what terrain you're riding on mostly. Personally I love my Orbea, but for the best all-around hardtail, I'd have to give the prize to the Litespeed Ti frames.

while i love my klein attitude, it def beats the crap out of my on rough trails. i don't believe i'll ever buy a hardtail again. i demo'd a ellsworth truth a week or so in moab and loved the difference. my klein is very light and climbs like crazy. but i def have to go slower over the rocks and roots than my buddies on full suspension rigs so i'm not sure i gain any time. and i'm more fatigued at the end than i otherwise would be.

The best.............hmmmm........

I'd have to go with the Seven Cycles Titanium Sola.

anybody has any input on the 05 trek carbon hardtail i believe its called the fuel 80?

Carbon and MTB frames don't mix. I like Ti. What the best is, I couldnt say, but the Trek OCLV frames arent it, unless youre sponsored and get em for free.

i guess it depends on the kick you want. thanks guys. man what forum do i belong? im a commuter basicaly so i have to deal with potholes and stuff. and i want comfortable ridinga and i want my bike to be tough enough.
My 0.02

Please somebody jump in if I am wrong.

I have never ridden a dual suspension bike. Suspension makes a softer ride. But I do know that suspension on any vehicle = weight and inefficiency.

That's why a lockup _front_ fork is sometimes a good idea (???). If you don't need the suspension, it takes up power to run it.

IIRC, the theory is that a hard frame will fly over a bump because of inertia, at any pace that allows it, or comes close. It may not quite make it (and then you are either riding properly or it hurts <G>). But the susp forks only have to get the _wheels_ down; no inertia, so they get right to the bottom of the hole, but then they have to come up again. The wheel tends to have to "climb" against the spring, as it comes back up out of the hole, and your body, which wants to keep going in a straight line, is pushing downward to try to stop it. That spring is quite strong. All of this takes energy.

So suspension is to stop you feeling bumps. Dual suspension stops lots of bumps. If you are not hitting lots of bumps, or cannot ride with enough muscle-up to soften them, then get suspension.

I guess if you had suspension that was fully customisable/lockable, you could tune it to be as hard as you wanted in any terrain, and get better efficiency/comfort to suit. But that starts to get expensive.

Soft, wide tyres are not slow _just_ because of friction. Same principle.