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What BIke

markhammond77

Monkey
Apr 6, 2007
205
0
Well, as many of you know, I do DH on a hardtail. Anyway I also like freeride and street. My question is, what hardtail frame will suit my needs (DH, FR Street)? Thanks.
 

SquadraCorse

Monkey
Jul 25, 2007
297
0
Ridgefield CT
Go with the Vagrant. Amazing bang for the buck and the geometry is spot on. Get a fork you can drop down with the flick of a switch and it makes a great jumping bike. Plus it's real lightweight, my FR Vagrant probably comes in around 33lbs.

Freeride Hardtails FTW.
 

wanabe

Monkey
Mar 16, 2007
177
0
Go with steel. Way smoother. Aluminium is too stiff for street. 243 has a couple to choose from or a steehead, all are bad ass bikes that can "do all". If you want to ride transition on the street/dj go with the TOP. The TOP sizes are small. check the geo (top tube) before ordering.
 

SquadraCorse

Monkey
Jul 25, 2007
297
0
Ridgefield CT
Go with steel. Way smoother. Aluminium is too stiff for street. 243 has a couple to choose from or a steehead, all are bad ass bikes that can "do all". If you want to ride transition on the street/dj go with the TOP. The TOP sizes are small. check the geo (top tube) before ordering.
How is steel "smoother"? "Aluminium is too stiff for street."

The elastic modulus for cro-mo steel is about 3x higher than it is for an aluminum alloy...:huh:
 

sittingduck

Turbo Monkey
Jun 22, 2007
1,958
2
Oregon
It's a very common perception, which I think is fairly misguided. I mean really... how much flex do you think there is in a steel frame?
 

AtTheGates

Monkey
Mar 5, 2003
259
0
How is steel "smoother"? "Aluminium is too stiff for street."

The elastic modulus for cro-mo steel is about 3x higher than it is for an aluminum alloy...:huh:
You're forgetting other factors like the geometry of the tubing that have a large effect on the flex of the frame. Alu frames typically use larger diameter tubes==> stiffer



I had an older gen. p series that I did about everything on. mostly street/slalom/dj but it saw some dh use also.
 

markhammond77

Monkey
Apr 6, 2007
205
0
I am pretty much thinking of these options. Jackal, Morphine, Vagrant. Which of these 3 is better for FR/DH? If anyone knows of any not listed here, please post. Thanks for the info so far and please keep posting.
 

markhammond77

Monkey
Apr 6, 2007
205
0
Ok, I will discard the Jackal (my friend just got a Jackal and I dont want to have the same bike). Anyway, Vagrant or Morphine for DH/FR?
 

markhammond77

Monkey
Apr 6, 2007
205
0
Ok, I guess I can add the imp to my list. So,what vagrant, morphine or imperial? Also were do they sell new imperial frames?
 

SquadraCorse

Monkey
Jul 25, 2007
297
0
Ridgefield CT
You're forgetting other factors like the geometry of the tubing that have a large effect on the flex of the frame. Alu frames typically use larger diameter tubes==> stiffer



I had an older gen. p series that I did about everything on. mostly street/slalom/dj but it saw some dh use also.
Er.....It's pretty much design dependent, but for the sake of argument, you're going to run a cro-mo tube with a smaller cross section, or an aluminum tube with a larger cross section, and pretty much come out with a frames that are similar in stiffness do to the material properties. But to say a cro-mo bike flexes more than an aluminum bike is an ignorant statement.
 

markhammond77

Monkey
Apr 6, 2007
205
0
Allright, well any other opinions on a DH/FR/a bit of street hardtail? So far, I really like all the options, but I would like to see others as well. Thanks.
 

bjanga

Turbo Monkey
Dec 25, 2004
1,356
0
San Diego
My vote is for the vagrant. I ride one (and have not ridden an Imp or Rigde), and like it although the chainstays are kinda long (16.5" if I remember correctly).

The Imp looks great but I wanted a longer seat tube for climbing. Of course, I just converted my Vagrant to singlespeed and do not need to raise the seat any more. The Ridge looked like a very nice frame as well but I remember it being more $ (and I think it has a steeper head angle?).
 

wolfrider

Chimp
Jun 6, 2007
23
0
I already posted my Imp in your other hardtail thread. Imp's have 3 rear droppout positions adjusting the chainstay between 15.5-16.25-17 and still maintains a hardtail pedaling feel with a 180mm fork with very raked geometry yet somewhat steep headangle, even though it functions like a downhill bike on the rocky steeps.
 

Sir_Crackien

Turbo Monkey
Feb 7, 2004
2,051
0
alex. va. usa.
ok i'm going to pipe in on this one. i have owned a morphine, instigator, soulcycles sluggo, and others. the morphine is a very strong bike. you i bet will never break the thing but its like 7+ lbs for the frame. its actually good geo for both street and dh. BUT i always had problems with the rear wheel moving, even with bolt on. the surly just cannot compete with these other bikes mentioned thus far. the sluggo has a lot on nice features like the sliding dropout and twin toptubes. its about 1.5 lbs lighter than the morphine but its pretty dedicated to fr and dh. not that good of a street bike. i have ridden imps many time and their geo just doesn't agree with me. they feel like a street bike and you have the put a long fork on the thing to feel good for fr and dh but that kills the street. the vagrant is my favorite on the bunch listed as of let. its geo is similar to the morphine and have vertical drops (no sliding rear wheel). also its probably th lightest as well and if it proves to be like the other transitions it will be strong.
 

rmb_mike

Chimp
Sep 18, 2007
24
0
-RM Flow
-GF Mullet
-Scott Voltage
-Giant STP(friend has one and loves it)
One of my other friends has a Mob steel DJ, but I can't remember the name of it.
Another friend has a Trek Jack. I like them really well, but it seems to have that brand name price hike.
 

markhammond77

Monkey
Apr 6, 2007
205
0
I will probably get a vagrant, but want to know more about other bikes. Maybe a DOC? What do you guys think of it?
 

ROTFLMAO

Monkey
Nov 17, 2007
363
1
Maumee, Ohio
You should buy a frame that was designed to run with a taller fork like a Soul Cycles Sluggo. That way you won't be messing up the geo resulting in a goofy feeling bike.
 
Aug 22, 2004
979
0
FEAR ME ^