Mountainbike frame for a youth.
 

My youngest rides MTB, and has a decent Gary Fisher bike, sadly now too small for him. He's uprated various bits over the years, and doesn't want to buy a complete bike. It has V Brakes. (XT).
He's nearly 16 and about 5' 10", still growing.

I've looked at Merlin but all their "decent" frames are now disc brake only.:(

He can't really afford to buy a good frame AND a new rear wheel, disc and brake, so what's left?

He wants hardtail, lightweight, cross country.
Anyone like to suggest a frame or where we might buy?

Anyone got any experience of the SuperCycles Guess XC1 scandium frame? Looks OK at £399?

TIA, Alcazar

I don't know much. But does any manufacturer have a standard good quality frame which they then sell with different spec equipment? (I'm thinking Specialized A1 frame used for Hardrock up to Hardrock Pro, for simple example). If he could find a s/h low-spec one, he could swap the frame over - and then sell the resulting low-spec bike for a few quid to recoup?

(I'm sure he doesn't want an A1, but it's an illustration)

What size is his frame just now? I'm thinking about building a bike up for my (5ft tall) girlfriend, might be interested once he's got a new one ;)

Thought about a Rock Lobster frame? They get a pretty good write up and are a decent price. Kinesis Maxlights are nice too, have a look on www.bikemagic.com

Maxlight reviews here. Nearly bought one myself. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/R...x?ModelID=2319

Dome: his present frame is, from centre of b/b to top tube centre, approximately 14".

It's a Gary Fisher Kaitai, disc ready, black and yellow, in reasonable nick (no major dings or rust, a few small scrapes), and will now be sold with the suspension forks, (Rock Shox Judy), the front mech (Deore), the headset (WTB, I think, but yellow anyway;) ), and the stem, yellow about 7cm long. He'll probably throw in the seat pin and clamp too, as they almost certainly won't fit a new frame:( Seat pin is black and clamp red, locking type.

I can ride it for size, and I'm a massive 5' 8":D He had it when he was 12 and only 5' 2" or so, he could stand over it then.

It's about 3 years old, and hasn't had that much wear, but has been looked after.

He'd be looking for about £120 all up.

As far as frames are concerned, we've now looked at Kinesis, Kona, DMR, Orange, etc, but still can't make up our minds. Merlin Rocklobster frames are out, as the 2005 models are all disc specific.:(

Alcazar

Cheers for that, my missus and I shall visit a Gary Fisher dealer and try her on a 14 incher to see if she fits :norty::norty:

Just looked at the KONA USA site, Jeez, this sort of stuff makes my blood boil.

Kona Kula frame: USA price $599


UK price £700:eek::eek2:

At present exchange rates, the USA price equates to about £330, so WHY do we pay double?

Fekkin' robbing b@stards:mad:

Alcazar

If it's just the frame it's worth buying on ebay and importing over from the US. Import tax is low in bike components, but higher on built-up bikes apparently

So WTF are Kona robbing us blind then? They aren't Japs are they:D?

Alcazar