Finding a good deal on a frame

All the love and rave reviews I've seen of full-suspension bikes have finally convinced me that I should get one. Hell, even schral is getting one. Mostly I came here because, well, you guys are a bunch of enablers. And I want to be enabled.

I'm trying to build up a trail bike or a light freeride bike. I probably won't be shuttling, but frankly I'd rather suffer on the uphill so the downhill can be one big long WHEEEE!!! Unlike SNPete, when I climb hills it is solely for the purpose of descending them.

My hope is to buy the frame now or soon, and then build the bike up myself as I get the money. I know this is probably more expensive, but it's the only way this will happen. Anybody know any frames that get good bang for your buck? I'm probably going to buy new, because I am a very very hard size to fit, and 95% of the used stuff available does not fit. I have a 38 inch inseam, depending on how you measure it, and long arms.

Pricepoint is advertising Sette Frames...as far as I can tell they are a mail-order only company. Anybody know anything about them? http://www.setteusa.com/

Other than that I've heard good things about the Heckler, 575, AS-X, Intense 5.5 & 6.6, and others. Unfortunately, all are kinda spendy. Any advice? Deal hook-ups?

sounds like fit is the issue for you, I'd worry more about that then the bike, and none of us will be able to tell you and you REALLY long arms/legs what is good for you.
either take a chance on the cheap bike option, (and you might just have a bike that fits like shit, or have to resell it) or spend some $$$ and get the right frame once.

yeti and intense are great rides...

I think what Mnt Lion is saying is that you should at least buy a frame that is available as a complete bike, so that you can ride it and see if it really fits your freakishly large dimensions correctly.

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Originally Posted by Squatch

I have a 38 inch inseam, depending on how you measure it, and long arms.

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You are a big fucking kid.

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Originally Posted by Rontele

You are a big fucking kid.

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that's actually me in my avatar.

as for bike fit, i have had issues with my roadie that i've solved with little tweaks and changing my body position frequently. I feel like mountain bike fit isn't quite as important or strict. I have a rigid 20-inch frame bike from 95 that I use as a commuter bike. I have a huge fucking seatpost in it, and while I definitely sit more upright on it, I like that it is small and relatively flickable. I'm not sure that it's as important to get the fit dialed precisely, because I'm not sure I'll notice.

As for fit concerns...I notice for freeride bike sizing, Kona lists their frames in inches, with half-inch differences. So there's like a 2 inch difference between small and XL for them. Does a half inch really make a huge difference, a la a 2 inch difference on a XC-type bike? If I find a deal on a large, is it gonna fit me very differently than an XL?

freeride bike are all smaller then a XC bike, small frames and large travel still make a large hard to stand over when the shock is unwieghted. (talking 6-10 inch travel bikes)
I tihnk you want a 6" travel type bike (cannondale prophet, jamis XLT, Kona Dawg, etc) and just get the biggest/cheapest one you can, an large WILL NOT FIT YOU.

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Originally Posted by mntlion

freeride bike are all smaller then a XC bike, small frames and large travel still make a large hard to stand over when the shock is unwieghted. (talking 6-10 inch travel bikes)
I tihnk you want a 6" travel type bike (cannondale prophet, jamis XLT, Kona Dawg, etc) and just get the biggest/cheapest one you can, an large WILL NOT FIT YOU.

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Dude, I really don't think standover height is gonna be a problem. Just a hunch.

Or are you saying a large will be too small?

door # 2

I have a Jamis XLT in a 21" frame. While I am not of the Squatch size, I'm about 6'2" and fairly long arms. The frame fits me well but I use a short stem to keep the bike manueverable. A longer stem could make up for your longer arms. Usually really big sizes are still in stock at shops from older years- hence bigger discounts.

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Originally Posted by ridefree

I have a Jamis XLT in a 21" frame. While I am not of the Squatch size, I'm about 6'2" and fairly long arms. The frame fits me well but I use a short stem to keep the bike manueverable. A longer stem could make up for your longer arms. Usually really big sizes are still in stock at shops from older years- hence bigger discounts.

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I'm finding the opposite on mtbr classifieds and craigslist. The big bikes seem to go while there are a ton of mediums and smalls around. Gigantor-sized bikes seem to stick around sometimes, but unfortunately these seem to be pretty low-end bikes, like specialized hardrocks/rockhoppers in a 23 inch or the like. :frown:

Damn squatch. I shoulda sold you my Stumpjumper XC bike. bout 4 inches travel in the back, frame amost too big for me....Sold for under 100 bucks, even though I wouldn't love to sell it to someone I wanted to hook up, thing was BEAT.....

but woulda been a good fit for ya.

'bout a 21 inch frame or so, right?

my brother has a 21.5" trek 6500, that, with a few tweaks, I actually like the fit a lot. seatpost is all the way up, and the seat is pretty far back on the rails. so the large ends of bikes are definitely workable, it's not like i need some titus custom or anything else ridiculously out of my price range. but yeah, that stumpy would have been pretty nice.

if you ever look new a 29' wheeled bike will help too.

The Specialized Stumpjumper FSR in XL is pretty big. You might be able to find one at a shop and size yourself up on it.

XL frame sizes generally = 21/21.5"...thats what you're gonna need forsure.

Go down to sports garage and see if they have any XL 575s or Rocky mtns. The new Slayers are really cool.
An XL Kona Coiler (@Full Cycle, I think) would be a good pick too. And you might be able to find one of those, frame only, at a mail order place. If you go frame only on the coiler platform, do a dee lux at least so you get a decent r. shock.

last time i was in sports garage they said they would sell their XL 575 demo for 1800...still a little expensive for me.

wheelworld.com has some stinky frame in their XL size for 600, but i fear it is too FR-oriented. and somebody would have to go in to the shop to buy it, because of mail order rules. anybody else know other mail order places that will have discounts?

Have you looked at cambria bike outfitters? adrenaline bike shop? beyond bike? All have web sites and demos.

i was looking at adrenaline bike shops, and there are a few brands there that i know that tend to be spendy (yeti, foes, etc.) but i don't know shit about brands like voodoo, KHS, avent, astrix, banshee, identiti, mountain cycle, and versus. Adrenaline also has some really cheap house-brand frames. Can anybody fill me in on some or all of these?

I'll also suggest the 29er option.

DISCLAIMER:
I do not own and have never ridden a 29er, so the following is speculation only.

From what I hear from knowledgeable friends who do actually own 29ers, they are amazing for bigger riders. There is also a claim that the bigger wheels roll better and actually provide a suspension benefit. I think a 29er would probably ride nicer than a softtail, but not as plush as a 6-inch bike.

But the best part for you is how well suited the 29er geometry is for the taller rider.

You can buy a Surly Karate Monkey new for pretty cheap. This is a heavy steel hardtail. People who own them seem to absolutely LOVE them. Surf on over to www.mtbr.com and have a look at the 29-inch forum. They are a bit fanatical, but it is a good source of info.

If you win the lottery, Intense are contemplating a 29er verison of one of their bikes - could be good. Gary Fisher has a lot of 29er models as well.

You could also try www.pinkpike.com for their buy&sell. Burly bikes go for super cheap here in Vancouver. Under CDN$1500 gets you into a pretty nice ride. If you see something that interests you in North Vancouver, I could go and check it out for you.

more about 289ers from a non 29er rider.

carver bike is 26 rear 29 front.

idea is like a moto bike. if you can roll the front over the back will follow.

just built a 21 jamiz XLT they are HUGE..

might be a option?

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Originally Posted by mntlion

just built a 21 jamiz XLT they are HUGE..

might be a option?

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quite possibly. they also seem to offer a fair amount of bike for the money.

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Originally Posted by AKWL

But the best part for you is how well suited the 29er geometry is for the taller rider.

You can buy a Surly Karate Monkey new for pretty cheap.

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I'm a tall guy. After riding a 29er for a few weeks I have no interest in ever buying another 26" wheeled bike. It feels so much more natural to ride.

Looks like he wants a dually, so the KM (and other cheap options) are out. For prebuilt full suspension bikes, you're into the XL Fisher 292 or 293...both are 4" travel bikes. If you are willing to build up a frame, the XL Astrix Monk looks a lot like a 29" Heckler and is reasonably priced, but it's very similar geometry to the Fisher...you've also got the Van Dessel Buzz Bomb if you like Horst links.

There are some sweet 29 FS frames by Ventana and Lenz, but they're very expensive. Also your fork choice is limited to Reba, Reba, and Reba unless you want to spend a lot of money. So if you really want 5" of travel or more, or you like to beat the hell out of your bike, 29ers aren't for you yet unless you can spend $3000+ on a Lenz Behemoth with a White BW1.3.

How much you looking to spend? This is a 6.5" or 7.5" travel frame and it's a 24" top tube. It was ridden for about 1/2 a year and would be cheaper than the Sette. It could come with a Boxxer Ride too.

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Originally Posted by Spats

I'm a tall guy. After riding a 29er for a few weeks I have no interest in ever buying another 26" wheeled bike. It feels so much more natural to ride.

Looks like he wants a dually, so the KM (and other cheap options) are out. For prebuilt full suspension bikes, you're into the XL Fisher 292 or 293...both are 4" travel bikes. If you are willing to build up a frame, the XL Astrix Monk looks a lot like a 29" Heckler and is reasonably priced, but it's very similar geometry to the Fisher...you've also got the Van Dessel Buzz Bomb if you like Horst links.

There are some sweet 29 FS frames by Ventana and Lenz, but they're very expensive. Also your fork choice is limited to Reba, Reba, and Reba unless you want to spend a lot of money. So if you really want 5" of travel or more, or you like to beat the hell out of your bike, 29ers aren't for you yet unless you can spend $3000+ on a Lenz Behemoth with a White BW1.3.

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There's also a 29er Marzocchi fork (MX Comp, 100 mm travel). (I think...hard time finding it on marzocchi.com. Anybody know any 120-130 mm travel 29er forks, other than the WB option?

Crash, I think a freeride bike is overkill for me. A trail bike is probably more my style.

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Originally Posted by Squatch

There's also a 29er Marzocchi fork (MX Comp, 100 mm travel). (I think...hard time finding it on marzocchi.com. Anybody know any 120-130 mm travel 29er forks, other than the WB option?

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Marzocchi doesn't make that fork anymore, and everyone agrees the Reba is far superior anyway. This thread contains an excellent review of the current ~100mm options:

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=187865

I think a Maverick DUC32 comes out around 120mm, but that's even more spendy than the WB.

Of course you can always take any inverted DH fork (Shiver, Trixxxy, etc.) and limit the travel, which is all Maverick does...it's their 6" 26er fork with a limit bumper. But many 29ers have short enough head tubes that you can raise the crowns far enough to clear the tire.

This is all kind of pointless, though, until we get a tire wider than 2.1 (the WTB Exiwolf "2.3" is bogus.) Panaracer has a true 2.3 coming in August. WTB is making a Weirwolf 2.5, and Kenda is making a 2.35 Nevegal, but I don't know when they're coming out.

All-mountain on a 29er is close, but it's not quite there yet. In the meantime, I'm riding my rigid and keeping my 26" big bike.

Read the MTBR 29er forums for all the information you can handle on these topics.