Forum

I have a hardtail with a not so good frame, but have other decent bits on the bike that I have upgraded so was looking to upgrade frame.

I don't have a massive budget but I have seen some new full sus frame for around £500, is it it worth buying one of these or try and get a second hand frame?

I hear second hand can be a pain as usually you have to replace all the bearings etc.

I only do XC stuff really (mostly Thorndon), still a relative newebie, so would a new better hardtail frame be better for that money?

Any help appreciated

Cheers

Richard

New for under £500 ?...Would be a pretty old model for that low price.

CRC does have some new full suss frames, normally slighlty odd makes pretty cheap.

and recently I was after a Commencal Supreme and Real Cycles had frame only for £399 which tempted me if it wasnmt for the awfull brown colour.

Personally i'd take another look at 2nd hand frames, I bought a lovely Commencal Supreme DH + Forks for £500, had recently been fully serviced, shot blasted, powered coated, laquered, etc so was in prime condition.

Replacing bearings is pretty simple, a great way to get a top notch cheap frame is to but a rather battered example, strip it down, get it shot blasted/coated (I got mine done for £70) and repalce the bearings, etc..and hey presto..a sparkling new looking bike for a fraction of the cost of a new one.

Andy

I bought my Sworks stumpy FSR frame a few years ago for £500 new but it was the previous year model so it is possible to get a good new frame quite cheaply if you don't mind an older model. Look around and you should get something good.

Cheers for replys, as I said I'm a relative newbie so,

In terms of makes/names and for that sort of money, what should I be looking out for?

R

Have a look at this on ebay it may be 2002 but it is still a fantastic frame, just ask VWSURFBUM he has the same year but in a 29er.
If your just doing cross country don't get lured into big travel bikes that you don't need.

here's the item number 120789962668

Yeah its a super frame, You should be able to get a really good second hand frame for that money.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OEM-Full-Carbon-MTB-Frame-Mountain-Bike-19-Full-suspension-/200657948990?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2eb825513e

Also look at these item No's
120790485625
110757404846
130587337576

In terms of new, I have seen this?

http://paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?p ... Suspension

In terms of that carbon frame, how would you know it's a good make VW Surfbum?

Cheers

R

Richard, although that is a massive bargain, unless your going to take up big burly downhill stuff that would be completely unsuited. for a XC frame you should be looking at a 100mm-120mm travel really, that said, its all down to personal choice.
Make doesnt really come into it, as long as your open minded.
that one i linked is a chinky inport and is a blatent copy. but a lot of these chinky inports are made in the same factory as the origionals!
like i said up there^ for your budget you'll get a cracking frame!

Nope no big burly stuff at moment, still trying to stay on most of the time, so cheers for heads up...

So many types, need to do more homework me thinks...

I'll keep my eye out for bargains, also check bike radar and singletrack world in their classifieds

If your not intending to do the big burly stuff and just want to do XC then a good hardtail is all you need in this area, you will get a better quality frame for your money than a full suss frame. Plenty of guys in XC section riding HT

Very true, but a FS frame for long XC days in the saddle is more comftable and grippy, I like both for their plus points but always come back to FS foe XC

I only have ridden Thorndon at the moment but hopefully will progress to harder stuff, so thought FS is the way to go...

What about this lot...Any Good??

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=68153

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=71652

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=59168

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/5853/products/atomlab-trailking-slopestyle-full-suspension-frame.aspx

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/5850/products/bottecchia-fr-680-mountain-bike-frame.aspx

top one looks the best to me