New 29er frame suggestions

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gairym
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New 29er frame suggestions

Post by gairym »

Morning all,

First some background - I sold my Cotic 'Solaris' (and RS Reba forks) last year and replaced them with a fully rigid On-one 'Lurcher' frame/forks in order to be faster on the less technically demanding bikepacking trips and routes I had planned.

I liked the ride and idea so much that I decided to go a step further and so am building up a Cotic 'Escapade' CX/gravel thingy.

But.....this has rendered my Lurcher a bit obsolete and so instead of selling it I'm thinking of replacing the frame/forks with something a bit tougher and more trail ready (but also bikepacking friendly)

My problem is that the best option I can think of is to buy another Solaris as I loved to feel and ride of it.

Anyone got anything else they'd recommend along similar lines....?

My requirements are:

- Steel (is real etc...) but not intentionally overweight (Surly etc...)
- Ideally 853 as there's just something about the ride quality I've always loved
- Large
- Not proportionally too long in the top tube
- Plenty of room in the triangle
- Not too bothered about bottle/rack mounts as I always use the same soft luggage setup

I also like nice little brands like Cotic and so no big evil corporations (Specialized, I'm looking at you!).

So far I've been thinking about:

- Another Solaris (which I'm only opposed to because it's what I just sold a year ago)
- Niner EMD
- Stanton Sherpa 853

So what would you recommend?

Ok, answers on a postcard please.....

Cheers, Gairy.
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GregMay
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by GregMay »

Solaris, simple. Nice bike, nice people, versatile too.
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evilgoat
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by evilgoat »

shand?
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gairym
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by gairym »

evilgoat wrote:shand?
Would love one but a tad spendy for a purchase that I was hoping to slide under the spouse radar!

Can't seem to shake the mental image of Ian's thing of beauty now though, thanks!
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whitestone
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by whitestone »

Solaris or a Stooge. Both are very capable and adaptable frames.
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Bearbonesnorm
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

I'd second Bob's suggestion of a Stooge - the new MK3 sounds very interesting and due in spring.
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Solo
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by Solo »

If you'd said a size 'medium' my reply would have been 'my Solaris that is for sale' :wink:

But I think the answer is Solaris.

Was your old one a mk1? If so, you can always view buying the mk2 as a suitable different version - just to convince yourself :-bd
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gairym
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by gairym »

I love the look of the Stooge but I'm less than convinced about the one-size-fits-all idea.

Also, they're a little lacking in the main triangle space department too, no?

And yes, my old one was MK1 and so I might just get a new MK2 and pretend that one day I'll want to run it with B+ wheels.
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johnnystorm
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by johnnystorm »

Niner EMD is alloy and SIR is megabucks, but Stif might have a sale on.

Stick with the Lurcher, it's a great bike. Ask Chris Plesko if he finds his tough enough for bikepacking! :wink:
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gairym
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by gairym »

johnnystorm wrote:Niner EMD is alloy and SIR is megabucks, but Stif might have a sale on.

Stick with the Lurcher, it's a great bike. Ask Chris Plesko if he finds his tough enough for bikepacking! :wink:
Bugger, you're right - I got the models wrong!

I could just get a bouncy fork for the Lurcher - be a lot less hassle/money???
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benp1
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by benp1 »

I'd say Solaris again, I have a Mk1 - would be a nice excuse to get the Mk2?

Also have an El Mariachi, might be an option? You then have the option to go SS for more niche-filling opportunities
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Bearbonesnorm
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

I love the look of the Stooge but I'm less than convinced about the one-size-fits-all idea.
The new ones will be 2 different sizes, ie a bigger one.
Also, they're a little lacking in the main triangle space department too, no?
You're right - no. Frame triangle is much bigger than it first appears. I'm sure helped by the shape of the head-tube, top-tube and and down-tube junction, it doesn't converge to a single point like most frames, so it really opens up the triangle. My Wildcat frame bag is massive :wink:
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Ben98
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by Ben98 »

Surly karate monkey? :grin: :wink:
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gairym
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by gairym »

Don't get me wrong, I loved that frame but.....

Just not quite what I'm after right now.

To be fair it's all a bit irrelevant as any of the above (including the Karate Monkey) would do the job more than will enough but I'm a picky bugger!
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Pirahna
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by Pirahna »

johnnystorm wrote: SIR is megabucks:
I bought mine for £350 on Ebay :grin:

I wasn't too keen on my Solaris. I ran it with a 100mm fork it might have been better with a 120mm?

That Vassago Jabberwocky thing on Charlie the bikmonger looks interesting
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johnnystorm
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by johnnystorm »

gairym wrote:
johnnystorm wrote:Niner EMD is alloy and SIR is megabucks, but Stif might have a sale on.

Stick with the Lurcher, it's a great bike. Ask Chris Plesko if he finds his tough enough for bikepacking! :wink:
Bugger, you're right - I got the models wrong!

I could just get a bouncy fork for the Lurcher - be a lot less hassle/money???
I still have the Reba from the Lurcher gathering dust in my garage..... :wink:
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cycleofaddiction
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by cycleofaddiction »

+1 for the Lurcher, I keep toying with the idea of a new steel frame bike for bikepacking duties but when it boils down it the Lurch is a great lightweight frame with bags of space for a framebag and the lighter your bike is before you start loading it up the better for me.
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Solo
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by Solo »

Ben98 wrote:Surly karate monkey? :grin: :wink:
An Ops version is the reason I'm selling my Solaris :o
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Charliecres
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by Charliecres »

The new Stooge sounds great. Really versatile and will take a tapered steerer sus fork too.

There's also the Swift.
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metalheart
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by metalheart »

Well, I have both a Solaris (mkI) and a Sherpa (new gen).

My Solaris is a medium and feels a bit short for long days (saddle position also makes front end light when climbing on the steep). Bottle mount is bang middle of down tube so interferes with a (non full) frame bag. It's built up 29er/100mm Reba's. It's my bikepacking bike.

Sherpa is 3" B+. Straight pin, so further forward and despite being a large it feels a little short, no light front though. Bottle cage better position. It 'feels' more aggressive than the Cotic. Not sure that's a requirement for b/p though....

Cotic currently only have L frames (in yellow) which are reduced to £399. There has been speculation that as the Soul has gone boost rear that Solaris will follow (presumably with increased clearance as currently max of 2.8" I think). If you aren't B+ oriented then snap up the last frames as no doubt the next shipment will be Soul priced (£550-600).

I'm planning getting a replacement Solaris (in large) to run B+ as my main b/ping bike. So I'm waiting to see if spec is warranted or not.

My biases are (hopefully) clearly stated. :mrgreen:
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gairym
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by gairym »

The text on the Cotic website says that they've got large in yellow in stock but the order form says only medium???

Medium is definitely too wee for me.
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metalheart
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by metalheart »

Give em a phone. Always found Cotic very easy to deal with (and I've dealt with them a bit obver the years :lol: ).

Ask em when the next batch is due too...
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gairym
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by gairym »

I emailed yesterday to ask about it (as it's expensive calling from here) and agree, I've had nothing but good experiences dealing with them. This would be my 4th Cotic if I went for it.
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metalheart
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by metalheart »

Fair point (only noticed your location after posting :oops: ).

Only 4? Pah, amateur. New Solaris will be #6 for me... :oops:
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ton
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Re: New 29er frame suggestions

Post by ton »

singular swift. I have had 2 of em. 1 rigid, 1 with reba's. lovely ride. lovely bikes.
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