[Back Woods]

Right now i'm looking at steel hardtails, built w/ gears, no SS, and probably a 4" or so fork... so far its between

Kona Explosif
Soma Groove
Voodoo Bizango

does one stand out more than the others? is there one i'm missing? any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks ahead of time

 

[robdamanii]

Any reason for steel?

If you're willing to spread out to Al you've got loads more choices.

 

[Muuqi]

Dude if you're gonna go steel then you should consider getting a custom frame from a smaller company. Like DeSalvo Custom Cycles, or Vanilla. You get to pick the paint and geo (sometimes) and even get your name put on it. Plus the craftsmanship will be much higher than any off the frames you listed. Just something to consider. . .

 

[blue]

Dude if you're gonna go steel then you should consider getting a custom frame from a smaller company. Like DeSalvo Custom Cycles, or Vanilla. You get to pick the paint and geo (sometimes) and even get your name put on it. Plus the craftsmanship will be much higher than any off the frames you listed. Just something to consider. . .

I love it when someone posts some frames/bikes/whatevers they've been looking at, and someone chimes in with suggestions that cost three times as much. He obviously does not want to spend around a grand on a frame that will likely take months to get...give him some useful info.

Anyway, I haven't heard anything about the Voodoo since their corporate reincarnation, but supposedly the Soma Groove is a schwag frame (although a bit heavy from my recollection). Doesn't Pricepoint have them for around 300$? Sorry, don't know anything about Kona steel....

 

[Wumpus]

Voodoo - 853
Kona - Dedacciai SAT
Soma - 631

I really like the ride of my 853 frame so I would probably say the Voodoo. My biggest complaint about my frame is rear tire clearance. I can only get a 2.1, and I have to run it around 50psi to keep from pinch flatting.

 

[jacksonpt]

I've heard lots of good things about the Explosif - it's actually on my short list (along with Jamis and Cove) if I ever get around to buying a hardtail. Don't know anything about the Voodoo, have heard mixed things about the Soma (kind of along the lines that it's a good bike, but not in line with some of the other more well known names).

Have you looked at Jamis - they offer a few steel frames/bikes... and Jamis is known for selling a lot of bike for the money.

 

[rooftest]

I love it when someone posts some frames/bikes/whatevers they've been looking at, and someone chimes in with suggestions that cost three times as much. He obviously does not want to spend around a grand on a frame that will likely take months to get...give him some useful info.

Ha! yeah - that's especially my favorite in the mountain bike mags (mostly MBA)

reader - I'm looking for an entry level bike for cross-country riding, probably a Specialized Hardrock. Any suggestions?

MBA - You should look at a Titus, an Ellsworth, or a Santa Cruz Blur. We recommend the Titus with XTR.

 

[Bicyclist]

But a custom is always something to consider, especially cheaper companies like Walt Works. If you can spend the extra few hundred bucks a Walt Works would be awesome.

 

[James]

I have a Soma, I got it because I got a good deal on it, and I'd never had steel hardtail (the horror!). I was really impressed with the frame overall, factoring in the cost of course.
The couple of bad parts were that the disc mount was slightly crooked, and not quite on-spec, so I had to use spacers/etc to get a disc mounted. That, and the canti studs are non-removable. So unless you cut them off, they're always going to be there. I went back to Vs on mine.
Oh, also, you need either a low-profile crank, or a slightly wider BB, as the non-bent chainstays are pretty close to the cranks, and I would hit my crankarm on them until I swapped them out.
But overall, I'd recommend the frame as a really nice, budget steel rig. I still have mine, and love riding it...

JJames

 

[The Toninator]

i've seen 3 of the kona's fold like a waste napkin. In that same price range you can get a nice Jamis Dragon i've had one for a few years now and it's a very nice ride.

 

[sanjuro]

i've seen 3 of the kona's fold like a waste napkin. In that same price range you can get a nice Jamis Dragon i've had one for a few years now and it's a very nice ride.

Just curious, did you see those Kona's fold Just Riding Along, or was it like DJ's or drops?

 

[reflux]

SPAM!!!

If you ride a frame with a 23.5" effective top tube, I have a Sycip frame (in great condition) that I may just sell for a price that's within your range. It's made of Columbus Foco tubing and has been ridden with a 4" fork in the past.

 

[stinkyboy]

i've seen 3 of the kona's fold like a waste napkin. In that same price range you can get a nice Jamis Dragon i've had one for a few years now and it's a very nice ride.

Ahh, I'm gonna have to throw a BS flag on the Kona statement as well as a Jamis being "nice".

 

[FlipSide]

Right now i'm looking at steel hardtails, built w/ gears, no SS, and probably a 4" or so fork... so far its between

Kona Explosif
Soma Groove
Voodoo Bizango

does one stand out more than the others? is there one i'm missing? any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks ahead of time

You could add the Rocky Mountain Blizzard and/or Hammer to your list. I'm not sure but I think the Blizzard is offered frame-only for 2006.

 

[narlus]

i had a Kona Hot fold on me...


after my wife drove it into the house, while still on the roof rack.

 

[AustinM]

i have a kona explosif, 2002 frame, when it came a complete bike. Amazing bike for the price, paid $1500 cdn, what bike in that price range comes with a xt/xtr drivetrain? Handles amazing, great in the tight singletrack, it climbs great and is good on the decents. I use to race on a trek 8500 (2003) but the explosif is what I race on now. I ride pretty rugged trails where there is a 1 to 2 foot drops occassionally and my bike has yet to fold on me. It is a good frame in the weight department as well.

 

[kicknitLivE]

Stick with 853. Im loving my gunnar rockhound, short stays for traction, and long top tube for out of the saddle stints. I would never buy an aluminum hardtail, not even a road frame.

 

[maxyedor]

voodoo gets my vote they ride realy good, sorta that indesribable greatness, and the company is owned by joe mother effin murry. as far as the kona's folding, any lightweight steel xc rame should be ridden as a xc bike only they just don't have the strength to hit even 1-2 foot drops repetedly, that is true of even the highest end steel xc frames. I said it before I'll say it again get the VOODOO

 

[stinkyboy]

i had a Kona Hot fold on me...

after my wife drove it into the house, while still on the roof rack.

So she was just riding along... I stand corrected.

 

[Trainwreck]

I have a Bizango built up as a single speed- it rocks! I definitely like the frame- I think it's like 3.7 lbs. out of the box.

 

[AustinM]

i think an xc bike can handle a 1 foot drop, some curbs are almost almost one foot.