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Short travel light Trail bike with a 160mm fork?

Macho

Macho

Chimp
Sep 24, 2010
14
0
Currently UK
I'd like to get a short travel (like ~4 inch) frame, that would work with a 160mm fork...
Ideally cheap and maybe with a 1.5 headset or tapered so I can use a cane creek adjuster......

Any recommendations?
 
jackalope

jackalope

Mental acuity - 1%
Jan 9, 2004
7,610
5,925
in a single wide, cooking meth...
Can't speak highly enough about my Spit:





Light, low, slack, adjustable geo (also has a tapered HT), reasonably priced, and moar fun than a pornstar convention in Vegas.

And if I didn't already have a Spitfire, I would be looking real hard at the GT Distortion (but I don't *think* you can run a 160mm fork on it):

http://www.gtbicycles.com/bikes/mountain/freeride/2011-distortion-2-0-gray

EDIT - sniped!
 
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A

alfonz

Chimp
Jan 28, 2008
60
0
NYC
that thing is way to heavy an overrated.. plus alot more money than the spitfire which you can multiuse on trails, jumps, an light freeride.
 
A

alfonz

Chimp
Jan 28, 2008
60
0
NYC
jackalope said:
Can't speak highly enough about my Spit:





Light, low, slack, adjustable geo (also has a tapered HT), reasonably priced, and moar fun than a pornstar convention in Vegas.

And if I didn't already have a Spitfire, I would be looking real hard at the GT Distortion (but I don't *think* you can run a 160mm fork on it):

http://www.gtbicycles.com/bikes/mountain/freeride/2011-distortion-2-0-gray

EDIT - sniped!
Click to expand...
i have the older Pyre an can't tell ya how dope that bike has been for me! an the spitfire is an improvement, so that being said i can't even imagine how much more shredtastic that bike is!!
 
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R

roel_koel

Monkey
Mar 26, 2003
278
1
London,England
Spitfire is 130mm in the rear so actually "mid travel"

I ride the Spit's little brother, the 100mm Rampant and you really don't want to run a fork with more than 140mm of travel on the Rampant as it turns it into a wheelbarrow

when I swapped my Wildcard frame out for a Rampant, I initially used the lyric coil u-turn from my Wildcard, but had to run it on 115mm all the time, and even then it felt too tall in the C-2-A

sold the lyric, got a Pike 454 air coil u-turn which suited the Rampant way better, I run it at 110mm all the time unless going DH riding when its wound out to 130-140mm depending the track


however, if you want a Spitfire, then look at the RS Revelation Team Blackbox / Fox 32 Float RLC QR15 both in 150mm for a lighter build or Fox 36 Float RLC 160mm / RS Lyric Solo Air 160mm for a burlier build
 
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alfonz

Chimp
Jan 28, 2008
60
0
NYC
for anything cheaper you'll have to go either used, or get your hands on an older ironhorse MK3 hollowpoint. i'm sure you can find one of those brand new for almost nothing. goodluck..
 
captainspauldin

captainspauldin

intrigued by a pole
May 14, 2007
1,263
177
Jersey Shore
DHPeteinSC said:
1599.00:banghead::banghead:
Click to expand...
Yeah, I just assumed it was under $1500. I guess transition doesn't list the prices on their site anymore(kinda annoying).


alfonz said:
for anything cheaper you'll have to go either used, or get your hands on an older ironhorse MK3 hollowpoint. i'm sure you can find one of those brand new for almost nothing. goodluck..
Click to expand...
I know guys run 160mm forks on the mk3 w/a shorter shock to slacken it out a bit and keep the bb height down. Sure you could do it and run the stock shock, but it's gonna raise the bb height and prob make it not work as good..

Sidenote why do you hafta run a 160mm fork?
 
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haromtnbiker

haromtnbiker

Turbo Monkey
Oct 3, 2004
1,461
0
Cary, NC
Although it lacks both the tapered headtube and being in production, the blur 4x sounds like it would fit the bill nicely. Up to a 160mm max fork height. I run a 100-140mm pike on mine and ride it everywhere.

If you can find one, definitely give it some consideration.
 
mtg

mtg

Green with Envy
Sep 21, 2009
1,862
1,604
Denver, CO
captainspauldin said:
Yeah, I just assumed it was under $1500. I guess transition doesn't list the prices on their site anymore(kinda annoying).
Click to expand...
Yes they do, click on "Pricing/Build Kit". They did just redo their website, though, so stuff moved around a bit, but it's still there.

Question to the OP: out of curiosity, why 100mm rear and 160mm front?
 
amishmatt

amishmatt

Turbo Monkey
Sep 21, 2005
1,264
397
Lancaster, PA
haromtnbiker said:
Although it lacks both the tapered headtube and being in production, the blur 4x sounds like it would fit the bill nicely. Up to a 160mm max fork height. I run a 100-140mm pike on mine and ride it everywhere.

If you can find one, definitely give it some consideration.
Click to expand...
I can't imagine a 160mm fork on my 4x. 140mm is too much unless it's DH.
 
amishmatt

amishmatt

Turbo Monkey
Sep 21, 2005
1,264
397
Lancaster, PA
Forgot to add, the Sinister Gruitr is a good option if you can find one.

If you're looking for a small frame, I know somebody who has one for sale.
 
JustMtnB44

JustMtnB44

Monkey
Sep 13, 2006
840
114
Pittsburgh, PA
I'll add another recommendation for Banshee Spitfire. I love mine, it is so much fun to ride and always puts a smile on my face. 130mm rear is perfect for trails, and it rides firm not mushy but soaks up everything. You can run a 160mm fork with a flush bottom cup headset. I use a 150mm fork with normal 1.5 headset cup (tapered steerer) on mine. It already has adjustable head angle so adjustable headset is not required. Not that you would ever need it to be more slack than it already can get.

 
captainspauldin

captainspauldin

intrigued by a pole
May 14, 2007
1,263
177
Jersey Shore
mtg said:
Yes they do, click on "Pricing/Build Kit". They did just redo their website, though, so stuff moved around a bit, but it's still there.

Question to the OP: out of curiosity, why 100mm rear and 160mm front?
Click to expand...
I don't see it.. all I get is: "Pricing Varies by Region"
 
Z

Zorba

Chimp
May 25, 2010
17
0
I've been rocking the Blur 4x with a 36 and it rules for most anything save serious DH. Crank out the fork and it has DH geometry, but crank it down, lock out the shock and instant (albeit low) XC bike. Short chain stays = snappy, fun cornering. Huge gussets keep it worthy of abuse. Hard to find though as it was discontinued a couple years back.
 
mattmatt86

mattmatt86

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2005
5,347
10
Bleedmore, Murderland
Zorba said:
I've been rocking the Blur 4x with a 36 and it rules for most anything save serious DH. Crank out the fork and it has DH geometry, but crank it down, lock out the shock and instant (albeit low) XC bike. Short chain stays = snappy, fun cornering. Huge gussets keep it worthy of abuse. Hard to find though as it was discontinued a couple years back.
Click to expand...
I have one I need to offload. PM me if anyone is interested, it's a Large.
 
jon-boy

jon-boy

Monkey
May 26, 2004
799
0
Vancouver BC
I had a MkIII with a 160mm fork. Worked awesome for me.



I had a flush fit hs, so it wasn't too slack and with the rear sagged I didn't notice the bb being high, the bike railed corners and I really did enjoy throwing it into sections that it shouldn't have coped with as well as it did. The only thing I found was that the rear end was a touch whippy. Other than that an awesome bike. If the 5 Spot from Turner is similar but has a stiffer chassis then it would be an awesome trail bike.
 
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