What is the best hardtail frame out there?

davebee

have a look at www.weightweenies.starbike.com (i think, otherwise google weight weenies). They list the weights of most manufacturers so gives a good idea of what is out there. half the fun is discovering enw brands on an almost weekly basis. I want one of everything!!!

patxcountry

I have a Voodoo Sobo scandium hardtail with a Manitou R7 fork. The bike rails tight single track and is a little flexy, so it has a sweet, smooth ride. The flex also helps cornering because it keeps the rear wheel in contact with the ground and absorbs the little bumps. The Sobo has similar geometry to the Kona Kula Primo (both designed by Joe Murray). The only problem with Scandium is it dents easily, mine has already got a few dents just from normal use, one on the downtube where a rock was flung up by the front wheel. If I could afford it I would get a Ti hardtail such as a Lightspeed, Merlin or Seven cycles, they also have similar geometry and dimension to the Voodoo, they weigh almost the same but Ti is tougher than Scandium, and should last many years, where a scandium frame has a limited lifespan.

muraski20

TREK Elite is probably the most advanced carbon hardtail out there. I've seen dozens of wins on this very bike and have no less than three friends who one this frame.

The 06-07 elite hardtail is probably the only carbon mt bike that uses an integrated headtube downtube and toptube. This is the same technology that was used on Lance's 05 tour winning madone bike. You simply won't find a stiffer carbon hardtail frame.

The Elite 9.9 comes spec'd w/ full XTR and sells for 5500-6500 depending on whether its an 06 or an 07

bubba 02

Yeti arc!! fairly priced ,lifetime warrenty, made in the U.S., perfect goemetry. Aside from custom ,can I say more?

rob_watson

For me the best frame out there is the Pace 303-gotta get me one of those!!!

victorthewombat

depends on whatcha gonna use it for....

If you're a true cross country racer nothing beats the ride of titanium in my humble opinion or really light steel think Curtlo, Seven makes great bikes, there are lots of great small builders, or something like the Yeti ARC.

But if you are looking for more of a trailbike, why not the On-One 4-5-6, which has killer tyre clearance, and a sane geometry. This purchase would also leave you plenty of extra cake for a dynamite fork such as the Fox 100RLC or similar and a good kit to boot.

VTW

theburn

If u ask me i love the ibis mojo steel. TO me taht is the definition of ahrdtail MTB fram. Atlesat as far as steel goes. the down sde to taht is that tehy stopped making them but if you run across a good deal for a used frame or comlete bike i would jump on it.

panagiotis_

i love tomac taos , but I have an ''Ideal target ''

andsoitgoes

my specialized epic comp does feel like a hardtail when going up hills. it has the brain fade on the rear with cusomizable options and is totally stiff unless it hits a bump at speed. sure, this will cost a little bit of weight but overall i believe you save time on flats and downhills and lose only very little, if anything, on the climbs. you pay alot for this technology, but it seems to combine all the advantages of a hardtail with all the advantages of dual suspension. it has gotten better over the years. mine is an 07 and after tweaking the settings for a while, both in front and back suspension- and depending upon the ride- i can honestly say that i wouldn't want any other kind of mountain bike. this coming from someone who originally set out to buy a hardtail also...

fleshbroiler

I think this is a very subjective and personal issue. Although I've ridden many full suspension bikes I prefer my fully rigid 1996 YoEddy from Fat City Cycles, sadly, now defunct. Nothing, absolutely nothing climbs and carves tight, twisty singletrack like a Yo, except Independant Fabrication's Steel Deluxe. Were I in the market for a peerless hardtail and money was no object, I'd go to IF.

-fb
http://www.ifbikes.com/

panagiotis_

I bought a klein attitude , vey stiff and fast bike
I searched for klein attitude (1996) but I didn't find it and bought one new

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Nubes

I'm currently riding a S-WORKS M5...I love this bike, Specialized really pays a lot of attention on the way they build frames...the tube thickness changes in differant areas, its wider near botton bracket for additional stiffness, then the shaping changes near the head tube for more vertical stiffness, even the chains stays on the drive train side is a single piece, with the weld on the opposite side. this bike is a climbing machine, mine weighs 22lbs fully built, sure I could make it lighter but 22lbs is plenty light enough....you cant go wrong with an S-WORKS frame...