Are Hardtails dead?

[Dirt Tracker]

Sure everyone as spotted this Large Gen1 Solaris Max in the classifieds. 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bike-frames/416585/cotic-frame
 

Legacy page for the frame & geo is here: https://www.cotic.co.uk/product/solarisMAX1#sizing

[Kotiet]

I started on a hardtail. Had 3 top end duals....gone back to hardtail. Sworks with lauff fork. Best bike for me ever. Gone up Sani pass and down. Good rider on dual could not shake me down. Up the pass was more fun seeing him suffer with 12kg plus bike. That bike is fast on any segmant up as well. Tested it to softail. Much quicker for me. Gave bike to my eldest daughter...started buying parts and did build my current hardtail. This time with the rubber insert in frame. Dt swiss fork. More than I need. I done two Attas on single speed with rigid fork. First guy to complete K2C on any roadbike. So...for me a normal hardtail is soft. Just compare where we came from. We lost some sanity on the way. Some bikes can fly..the way they glide..as they say over the bumps..Believe they should fly next time then...why ride trails and gravel then.

[Hairy]

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/check-out-16-new-hardtails-for-2020-2021.html

[Dirt Tracker]

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/check-out-16-new-hardtails-for-2020-2021.html

 

The comments for this one are interesting. The Rootdown never really features in reviews but is heavily loved by the public some other good options thrown up by the public as well as what's in the article. 

[arendoog]

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/check-out-16-new-hardtails-for-2020-2021.html

Bikeporn       

[Super Sywurm]

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/check-out-16-new-hardtails-for-2020-2021.html

Stop sharing this!!!  You are making me want to cheat on my bike!!!

[Hairy]

Took my hardtail for a spin this morning

 

[coppi]

I own a Bianchi road bike

Momsen gravel

Norco dual

Next on my lisT is a hard tail for commuting to work and back

[Dirt Tracker]

Question for people to ponder. For WC trails what frame out of these would you go for: 

 

- Cotic Solaris Max 2020

- Cotic BFe Max 2020

- Ribble 725

- One One Hello Dave

- Moxie Pipe Dream

- Cromag Root Down 2020

- Nordest Bardino 2

- Ragley Big Wig

- Cromag Doctahawk
- Pace Rc529
- Transition Throttle (not made any more but but should be able to find a run out or 2nd hand. Only carbon on the list. It is a 27.5 and that could be an issue)

- Edit: How could If forget. Banshee Paradox. This would be front and centre but it's as rare as rocking horse doodoo.

Outside contenders: 
- Kingdom Vendetta Ti (only on the alternate as it's double the rest of others but a steal in the world of Ti hard tails)
- Stanton Switch9er (is an older model that is due for an update in next 6 month)
- Kona Honzo (alternate as it's expensive and needs an update which is coming soon apparently)
- Meta AM (alternate as I've ridden is before and found ot pretty harsh and twitchy when going fast)
- Nukeproof Scout (only on the alternate as it's Alu. If CRC have them on sale it's back up the list)
- Bird Zero (alu but cheeks and fun)
- Cutis AM7 Custom (alternate because it's nearly the price of a Vendetta, it's 650b and double most frames on the list)
 

[CAAD4]

Took my hardtail for a spin this morning

 

Lekker Je Roam. I have the right frame for that fork... Eksemaarnet.

[Hairy]

Lekker Je Roam. I have the right frame for that fork... Eksemaarnet.

Naught Tchjina ... that fork is staying (Well for now at least that is )

[Tatt]

Ribble!

 

Question for people to ponder. For WC trails what frame out of these would you go for: 

 

- Cotic Solaris Max 2020

- Cotic BFe Max 2020

- Ribble 725

- One One Hello Dave

- Moxie Pipe Dream

- Cromag Root Down 2020

- Nordest Bardino 2

- Ragley Big Wig

- Cromag Doctahawk
- Pace Rc529
- Transition Throttle (not made any more but but should be able to find a run out or 2nd hand. Only carbon on the list. It is a 27.5 and that could be an issue)

- Edit: How could If forget. Banshee Paradox. This would be front and centre but it's as rare as rocking horse doodoo.

Outside contenders: 
- Kingdom Vendetta Ti (only on the alternate as it's double the rest of others but a steal in the world of Ti hard tails)
- Stanton Switch9er (is an older model that is due for an update in next 6 month)
- Kona Honzo (alternate as it's expensive and needs an update which is coming soon apparently)
- Meta AM (alternate as I've ridden is before and found ot pretty harsh and twitchy when going fast)
- Nukeproof Scout (only on the alternate as it's Alu. If CRC have them on sale it's back up the list)
- Bird Zero (alu but cheeks and fun)
- Cutis AM7 Custom (alternate because it's nearly the price of a Vendetta, it's 650b and double most frames on the list)
 

[Hairy]

Question for people to ponder. For WC trails what frame out of these would you go for: 

 

- Cotic Solaris Max 2020

- Cotic BFe Max 2020

- Ribble 725

- One One Hello Dave

- Moxie Pipe Dream

- Cromag Root Down 2020

- Nordest Bardino 2

- Ragley Big Wig

- Cromag Doctahawk

- Pace Rc529

- Transition Throttle (not made any more but but should be able to find a run out or 2nd hand. Only carbon on the list. It is a 27.5 and that could be an issue)

- Edit: How could If forget. Banshee Paradox. This would be front and centre but it's as rare as rocking horse doodoo.

 

Outside contenders: 

- Kingdom Vendetta Ti (only on the alternate as it's double the rest of others but a steal in the world of Ti hard tails)

- Stanton Switch9er (is an older model that is due for an update in next 6 month)

- Kona Honzo (alternate as it's expensive and needs an update which is coming soon apparently)

- Meta AM (alternate as I've ridden is before and found ot pretty harsh and twitchy when going fast)

- Nukeproof Scout (only on the alternate as it's Alu. If CRC have them on sale it's back up the list)

- Bird Zero (alu but cheeks and fun)

- Cutis AM7 Custom (alternate because it's nearly the price of a Vendetta, it's 650b and double most frames on the list)

 

Can Mercer not slap something together for you that would cover the best of any of those bikes that interest you?

 

Then you can also go the custom Marino https://www.marinobike.com/ or full hog custom Ti bike from Calculus https://www.calculus-bikes.com/

[Dirt Tracker]

Can Mercer not slap something together for you that would cover the best of any of those bikes that interest you?

 

Then you can also go the custom Marino https://www.marinobike.com/ or full hog custom Ti bike from Calculus https://www.calculus-bikes.com/

I’ve done the numbers with those guys and as much as I’d love to go that route, keeping it local and the rest ends up with it being cheaper to go over seas. Even for the same frames you can buy from the likes of kona etc let alone the likes of Mercer and the rest. Sure I’d love to give him my madibas but I’m not able to pay 1/3 more just because.

 

Even a custom Ti frame from EU comes in

around the same randelas as a local steely custom. An off the peg Uk vs local builder off the peg is significant.

[Hairy]

I’ve done the numbers with those guys and as much as I’d love to go that route, keeping it local and the rest ends up with it being cheaper to go over seas. Even for the same frames you can buy from the likes of kona etc let alone the likes of Mercer and the rest. Sure I’d love to give him my madibas but I’m not able to pay 1/3 more just because.

 

Even a custom Ti frame from EU comes in

around the same randelas as a local steely custom. An off the peg Uk vs local builder off the peg is significant.

Someone was telling me in the week you can do a frame building course at Mercer ... have not followed up on this, but it could be an interesting way to build your own bike ?

[Dirt Tracker]

Someone was telling me in the week you can do a frame building course at Mercer ... have not followed up on this, but it could be an interesting way to build your own bike ?

Now that would be pretty special. Not too sure I’d 100% believe in something I’d made

myself for the first time as I fired down status quo.