2nd hand Cove Handjob frame or a brand new On One 456?  Which is better?  There's only one way to find out....FIGHT!!!

What's the opinion of the learned masses?

A 456 is more of a 'throw it about have a larf' with the seat down kinda bike (though it doesn't have to be at all) and the handjob more of an XC type beasty corrected for less travel.

I use my 456 for 50km+  rides and other days stick flats on it and ride up to the top of local backwoods north shore / DH silliness and repeat.... 

Whatever you like the sound of more tbh. 

anyhojoe - El Presidente wrote (see)

A 456 is more of a 'throw it about have a larf' with the seat down kinda bike (though it doesn't have to be at all) and the handjob more of an XC type beasty corrected for less travel.

Cove schpeel:- 

The Hand Job features high performance, sloping top tube geometry suited for riders who like to spice their XC riding with technical downwardness. It's geometry and construction is so Shore proven, depending on how well you take care of yourself, this bike could outlive you. Using custom Columbus tubing, the Handjob incorporates the dynamic flex profile and strength of steel to work everything from lighting fast ridgelines to heart-thumping descents: at a price that leaves room for a lot more lovin'.

Stiffee is just even more of an aggressive bike, for gap jumps n'stuff, more freeridey.

Dirty Karlos wrote (see)

anyhojoe - El Presidente wrote (see)

A 456 is more of a 'throw it about have a larf' with the seat down kinda bike (though it doesn't have to be at all) and the handjob more of an XC type beasty corrected for less travel.

Very misleading quote that tbh, the 07 frame has quite laid back geometry and is more of an agressive riding hardtail these days and would certainly qualify as a ''throw it about have a larf' bike.

Licko - What year is the 2nd-hand Handjob? Pre-'06 models had steeper geometry, IIRC.

I have 130mm forks on my '06 HJ, and it's been superb at the sort of trail centres you mention. Much more comfortable and capable over rocky stuff than I had expected.

It is definitely an XC bike with slightly relaxed geometry, rather than a freeride bike - but it's also quite able to handle the odd little drop or jump.

The front end on the 07 Handjob is really stiff due to the ovalised downtube and the back end just nicely springy, this makes for a great handling bike for big rocky descents and Mr Ping is right it handles jumps/drops surprisingly well.

Some HJ owners say that it feels wallowy on climbs; Personally I like the way it climbs particularly on technical climbs, where you need to keep your weight back to keep traction on a hardtail (possibly the laid back angles help). I clean two particular climbs at Dalby everytime on the HJ where as on my full suss it's 50/50 whether I make these climbs or not.