hi

im after a steel hardtail frame but my minds gone blank as to decnet brands to investigate. i think hte on-one 456 sounds liek a great idea so probably looking for something like that.

any alternatives?

cheers

There are millions of them. Well, not quite. But a fair few. Cotic Soul, Pastey Howler, Dialled Bikes Prince Albert, Cove Handjob...

Cotic do one, amazingly good by all accounts

Been looking at the Cotic - reviews have been good. The Pastey has got a Spacehopper badge tho.
DeKerf are meant to be the db's as well.

DMR
Thorn

yeah the cotic does look nice, maybe a bit expensive for me thou.

i was riding a older ritchey tubed dekerf in the summer and it felt great, but more racy feeling than im looking for i think.

does the 853 make a big difference over the standard cromo? most seem to have a cromo rear end anyway.

Pastey howler is a lovely bike, been riding one since the summer. The cotic is also nice, know someone who rides one of them and ditto the dekerf. Pretty much any of them really.

My Rock Lobster 853 is a lovely ride and cheap as well.

Curtis

853 gives you a magic rust proofing sticker

853 is a lot stronger than regular cromo, so you can build a strong frame lighter. The Soul will do pretty much anything a 456 will, but it's 3/4lb lighter. It's also more expensive, so you pays your money etc...

As Cy says, 853 is a lot stronger but it's 'magic' property is that the metal around the welds gets stronger, rather than weaker (like most other alloys) due to the heating process.

marin pine mountain is a bit cheaper (£300-400 iirc), but still good

oooooooooh

Independant Fabrications

if you've deep pockets

What fork are you planning on plugging into it?

You won't find a rear triangle made of 853 because 853 does not come in that small a diameter tubing. Hence the use of standard chromo in rear ends.

I'll be visiting your sweetie shop in the new year Mr. Cotic.

Cove Handjob? Kona Explosif? Now my mind's gone blank...mmm...Kona...

Cove Handjob is only corrected for a 100mm travel fork. You need to think about what you want to do on the beast.

I think my Cotic Soul is one of the best bikes I have ever ridden, since I built it up the 7+, S-Works, Niota and 5 SE have been gathering dust. Thats a measyre of how good it reallly is.


I am the person who (after owning a Santa Cruz Chameleon) swore he would never have a hardtail again!

Rocky mtn 853 (Hammer?), Kona Explosive, Marin Pine Mtn, Merlin 853, Handsome dog, De Kerf, Cove Hand Job, Pastey, Cotic Soul, Dialled PA, DMR, Orange P7, On one original and 456.
Plus loads of 2nd hand and real cheapo's.

There's a lot of difference between the Freeride 5.5lb+ and the 4 lb (approx)XC steel frames.
What are you after? How much travel?

IMHO a lightish steel allround trailbike with a 100 - 120mm fork makes most sense.
If lightweight race is important you'd choose Ali. If you want to jump off stuff a full susser will beat you up less.