Dreamy Long Travel / AM Hardtails

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[TyronLab]

*snip*

 

Out of interest, how comfortable would you say that bike is i.t.o. terrain absorption and fatigue resistance? I'm currently on a HT 29er XC bike (2.1" tyres). I'm looking at getting a bike that's a bit more comfy to ride, but I really don't have the cash for a FS bike, so I'm looking at a plus bike (26" or 650B) as a happy medium.

 

Also, your bike is metal AF (|m|), so I'd love to build one (excluding the juicy Hope components unfortunately).

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

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Really want one of these Sovereign's but they don't make them anymore!!!!!!

[MORNE]

Out of interest, how comfortable would you say that bike is i.t.o. terrain absorption and fatigue resistance? I'm currently on a HT 29er XC bike (2.1" tyres). I'm looking at getting a bike that's a bit more comfy to ride, but I really don't have the cash for a FS bike, so I'm looking at a plus bike (26" or 650B) as a happy medium.

 

Also, your bike is metal AF (|m|), so I'd love to build one (excluding the juicy Hope components unfortunately).

 

I have not thrown it down a trail yet, been busy the past few weekends with friend and family commitments. Only some urban messing about, bedding brakes, riding down some stairs and sidewalks and doing some wheelies, listening to the swarm of bees chasing me lol(rear hub).

 

This thing goes onto its back wheel like nothing, looped out the first few goes. I've realised im going to have to relearn how to manual it as its weight is so far back compared to my old bike it feels alien almost. with a XC bike you have to force yourself over the back wheel so much more to get it in the air.

It also pedals quite nice, even with the 160mm up front. Cant see me having any issue riding it to Blouberg from obz. Im so over XC geometry bikes after riding this for 3 times it is not even funny.

 

This is my first steel bike since 1999 ish. Ive only had Alu bikes ever since. I had a 9kg alu bike before this. The BFE weighs about 14kg pre-dropper post so its definetaly not for weight weenies, but i have to say that it really doesn't feel heavy at all while riding. It is super plush and compliant and definitely absorbs small chatter better than my last alu HT did...and that was a cannondale with their so called 'save' tech chain stays.

 

I usually ride XL frames but decided to size one down since this is just a fun messing around trail bike, but the reach is actually more than my old XL frame so it actually feels really good and comfy and i have plenty of standover now compared to my old gate.

 

The High volume tires definitely acts as secondary suspension. I havent converted it to tubless yet so the pressures are quite high with tubes in and even then it feels WAAAAY softer than my 2.2s felt like. Surly make a 2.75 dirt wizzard in 26" and maxxis also now does a minion in 26x2.8 which all apparently fit in this frame so ill see how it goes. 

 

I would definitely recommend steel frames and high volume tires for comfort even at this early stage. it might be translated as a bit placebo effect but i honestly feel super comfy on it, where it took me about 6 months to get comfy on my previous bike. Let's put it this way, my next bike will also be a steel frame bike.

 

 

[MORNE]

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i want to need an orange Orange LTHT 

[Headshot]

heres another - bike shredding starts at  ~1:20

 

 

vids like all the ones posted above is what exemplifies mountain biking to me...always has. having fun, doing silly stuff...in whatever clothes you happen to have on..be it your school uniform or jeans and T's. No fancy kit or shoes or whatever....bring what you got and go play.

 

I don't think any of the guys in those vids care what size wheel their bike has...they are there to have a jol. To be honest...i could have easily built a new decent spec 29'r or 650 with the money i spent on the BFE26 but i saw the frame for sale...and with it an opportunity to relive those fun days i used to have just messing around...when wheel efficiency was reserved for those roadie weirdos 

I'm older now, and with that unfortunately comes responsibility and more sense of self preservation LOL. But that does not mean I want to cruise along on some jeep track ticking down the kms. That sucks donkey balls...id rather ride a road bike then and go fast instead.

 

yes a new 911 is better in every single way than a 70's or 80's one...but id still have the old school one if i had to choose between them with a gun to my head.

 

fine, call me sentimental, but 26" steel LTHT's are metal AF

 

I just rode 130 km over 3 days on my trusty little white bike. I was up against a host of carbon marathon 29ers and some relatively fit riders. The bike has a 70mm stem to make it fit me a bit better and I haven't really noticed that it hinders me on the downs.  In fact I had a blast on the treacherous Haarkappers descent which is loose and rocky.

 

Riding it blind at speed was a rush and i never felt that the wheels or frame were outgunned. The long fork makes up for any shortcomings of a HT. When I first started riding the bike at the beginning of this year, I took a while to develop  the leg strength and stamina to ride it fast on choppy trails. That curve has been learned and i hardly notice the lack of suspension even on the longer descents. The only areas I felt the lack of  a rear shock was on the rocky climbs where the back wheel hooked up a bit on edges and on fast but bumpy flat bits, where I would lower my seat a tad to make the ride a bit better.

 

The switch to fatter, faster rolling and yet grippy rubber in the form of Ardent 2.4s has taken nothing away from its descending performance and aided traction and comfort on climbs and in the rough. 

 

This is  all good news and I love the bike even more than ever but the downside is it has made me dislike my long travel enduro bike a bit. Riding it after the three days on the HT really shone a spotlight on the shortcomings of the big bike. 1. Weight 2. pedal efficiency 3. lack of playfulness 4. lack of precision in the cornering and steering department. 

 

Some of these things can be addressed but not without dropping a wad of cash on new wheels and rubber. I also think it needs to be ridden in really rough terrain and at speeds which start becoming dangerous so maybe its my Tokai and JH bike and I must keep it off the mellower stuff where my HT excels. 

Edited December 4, 2018 by Headshot

[Hairy]

or maybe you need to sell the big bike and get a sexy Ti LTHT

I just rode 130 km over 3 days on my trusty little white bike. I was up against a host of carbon marathon 29ers and some relatively fit riders. The bike has a 70mm stem to make it fit me a bit better and I haven't really noticed that it hinders me on the downs.  In fact I had a blast on the treacherous Haarkappers descent which is loose and rocky.

 

Riding it blind at speed was a rush and i never felt that the wheels or frame were outgunned. The long fork makes up for any shortcomings of a HT. When I first started riding the bike at the beginning of this year, I took a while to develop  the leg strength and stamina to ride it fast on choppy trails. That curve has been learned and i hardly notice the lack of suspension even on the longer descents. The only areas I felt the lack of  a rear shock was on the rocky climbs where the back wheel hooked up a bit on edges and on fast but bumpy flat bits, where I would lower my seat a tad to make the ride a bit better.

 

The switch to fatter, faster rolling and yet grippy rubber in the form of Ardent 2.4s has taken nothing away from its descending performance and aided traction and comfort on climbs and in the rough. 

 

This is  all good news and I love the bike even more than ever but the downside is it has made me dislike my long travel enduro bike a bit. Riding it after the three days on the HT really shone a spotlight on the shortcomings of the big bike. 1. Weight 2. pedal efficiency 3. lack of playfulness 4. lack of precision in the cornering and steering department. 

 

Some of these things can be addressed but not without dropping a wad of cash on new wheels and rubber. I also think it needs to be ridden in really rough terrain and at speeds which start becoming dangerous so maybe its my Tokai and JH bike and I must keep it off the mellower stuff where my HT excels. 

[Rigardt@Scott]

Out of interest, how comfortable would you say that bike is i.t.o. terrain absorption and fatigue resistance? I'm currently on a HT 29er XC bike (2.1" tyres). I'm looking at getting a bike that's a bit more comfy to ride, but I really don't have the cash for a FS bike, so I'm looking at a plus bike (26" or 650B) as a happy medium.

 

Also, your bike is metal AF (|m|), so I'd love to build one (excluding the juicy Hope components unfortunately).

So I've been riding a steel hardtail for about 18 months now. It's been in both 27.5+ and 29 formats, with fork length ranging from 110mm to 130mm.

 

In 27.5+ format is was comfy, but steering was vague and I found having just those wheels a bit limiting (this is my XC bike). Very comfy though.

 

In 29 format I fitted it with wide rims and 2.4" tyres. It rolls much faster and offers up very little in terms of comfort.

 

To your question though, steel frames are very comfortable. I suffer from back pain and cannot even dream of riding a carbon or alu hardtail, but a steel one I can ride. Wide volume tyres and a steel frame does not in any way feel like you have suspension, it just soaks up a bit of chatter and smaller vibrations better.

 

You do sacrifice a bit in the weighr category - mine comes in at 13.5kg with 29x2.4 alu wheels, and a dropper. The only carbon bits on the bike is the handlebars - so you can save weight if you want to. I'd be quite keen to try a set of carbon wheels on a steel hardtail at some point.

 

In short, steel hardrails are frigin awesome. Every time I ride mine I am smiling ear to ear - there is just something it offers that my carbon dual suspension trail bike doesn't. It's not faster, it's not lighter, it cannot do the same gnarly trails (well I can't) - but there is just something I can't put my finger on that makes me love this bike. The carbon trail bikes will come and go, but my Cotic Solaris will be in my arsenal for a loong time!

 

Go for it - you won't regret it!

 

Oh, and with wheel size, it doesn't matter if you go 26, 27.5, or 29. The one thing I will just say is that 27.5+ restricts you a bit. If it is between 27.5 and 29 I would go 29" with some high volume tyres. As a second wheelset it is fun though....

 

I would also tend to stay away from 26" - not because it will be any less fun or awesome, but purely because parts like replacement rims and tyres are becomming less available (there are still tyres available, but just less choice ito tread pattern, casings, widths etc etc).

Edited December 4, 2018 by Grease_Monkey