Relatively budget 29er HT frame recommendations

Discuss light weight issues concerning mountain bikes & parts.

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whyamihere
Posts: 71
Joined: Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:18 pm

by whyamihere

I'm looking for a new frame to race on next year. Budget at absolute most is £500, but less is preferred.

Some of the things I'm looking for:
  • 29er
  • 100mm fork
  • HA slacker than 70 deg, preferably around 68-69
  • 142x12 preferred, but I could live with 135x9
  • I'd like a BSA BB for ease of maintenance, but I realise that this may be tricky
  • 30.9 or 31.6 mm ST

I'm looking for reliability over lightest weight (though this is WW, so not too heavy...). Also not too bothered whether it's carbon or alu. The reason I'm a bit wary of the Chinese carbon frames is that I'm not the smallest or most delicate rider (I'll be racing at 75-80kg), and also any potential warranty issues which would be easier to deal with if I buy from Europe.

So, stuff I have been looking at:
The standard Chinese carbon options - Mostly flyxii, but also some of the ones offered on eBay.
Scott Scale 940 here. Alu, top of budget, but a known quantity and the chance to test ride a bike.
Cheapish Cube, slightly steeper than I'd like

Are there any that I'm missing?

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Liggero
Posts: 955
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:49 pm
Location: Netherlands

by Liggero

I´m on the same boat. Canyon is tempting, but gotta wait until RS1 fork is not used anymore.
Happy Trails !!!

by Weenie


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TheRookie
Posts: 926
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:23 pm
Location: Midlands, United Kingdom

by TheRookie

I know 3 people running the open mould Carbon 29ers from China, all very happy with them, one even got a full custom paint job on his frame before it was sent which was ridiculously cheap.
Impoverished weight weenie wanna-be!
Budget 26" HT build viewtopic.php?f=10&t=110956

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stockae92
Posts: 295
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2015 5:13 pm

by stockae92

people seems to have good feedback for IP-057 frame. It has been out for a long time and many people have it. Not the lightest, but seems to be able to take a beating (XC, not AM or DH). I came close to getting one but I found a good deal on a used Giant XTC 29er.

http://www.xmiplay.com/productdetails1571

victorduraace
Posts: 230
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:10 pm

by victorduraace

Cube is great option as well

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stockae92
Posts: 295
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2015 5:13 pm

by stockae92

stockae92 wrote:people seems to have good feedback for IP-057 frame. It has been out for a long time and many people have it. Not the lightest, but seems to be able to take a beating (XC, not AM or DH). I came close to getting one but I found a good deal on a used Giant XTC 29er.

http://www.xmiplay.com/productdetails1571


The 057 has been tried and trued and most feedback are positive. That's not the lightest frame out there but it won't break on ya (if you treat it like you would treat a carbon HT)

I am on an older Giant XTC 29er with QR back. Its a great budget frame.

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LeDuke
Posts: 2021
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2012 2:39 am
Location: Front Range, CO

by LeDuke

My -057 has been great. I'd buy another one, or similar, if buying a HT today.

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Clean39T
Posts: 181
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2016 5:29 am

by Clean39T

Niner Air 9 RDO and Air 9 frames are on sale on the internets for not much more than the open-mold frames.


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spookyload
Posts: 1048
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:47 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM

by spookyload

Older thread, but see if you can scrounge up a Ridley Ignite C9 from performance bike. I paid $350 for a frame last year and noticed they are $300 now. Very light and the finish is top notch.

RedCoke
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2016 8:54 am

by RedCoke

Only brand new?


by Weenie


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