Lightweight Hard tail ideas?

[RogerH]

You could also go back to the early 90's frames ( a little harder to find). There are a bunch of complete bikes in the sub 24 lbs range. Ritchey, Breezer, Specialized, KHS, Schwinn KOM, Marin, to name a few. My full suspension bike from 1997 is 24 lbs and my rigid bike is only 19.5 lbs. Both are 19 inch frames. Some of these bikes were top of the line $2000 in there day.

[LukeHooligan]

Just FYI, Vassago bit the dust, due to poor management and idiot employees. Looks like some other investor bought them out and will "return in 2013". I don't think they made 26" frames anyway. Neither does Salsa at this moment. (Unless you count the fat bike). On One and Surly make nice bikes, but I didn't list them as their frames aren't really considered "light". (I do have both makes I've built up over the last several years and they're great).

didn't realize vassago was gone, had heard a little while back they were having some troubles though. I overlooked the part where the OP said he was sticking to 26". Would still say look at on-one, awesome products, excellent prices. their steel frames are still quite light for as strong as they are and they have aluminum and carbon fiber options as well, i actually ride one of their steel 456 long travel hardtails and it has really sold me on the whole all mountain hardtail idea. climbs wonderfully even with 140mm travel fork(geometry is designed to work with anything from 120-160mm travel forks) but still super fun and stable on the descents. Will also say that if you do want to go with a rigid fork, i would suggest sticking with a steel frame.

[DR BrianO]

Redline mono 9 if you can find one are nice and a 29r unless you short is a must. If you are close to la you ride mine. I'm liking my 650 way to much and the niner is collecting dust.


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So you are not bite by the 29er bug? no Kool-aid for you? I still have not ridden a 29er, but as I have always been comfortable on the small wheeled mtn bikes I see no reason to switch at the moment.

[Tim A]

I just switched from a hardtail 29er to a full sus 26". I switched because when making turns (leaning to turn, not turning the bars) I could feel a lot of lateral flex in the front end. I wasn't sure where exactly the flex was coming from but I could definitely repeat the noodle sensation by doing a "slalom" at any moderate to high speed.

After some online research and talking to riders/mechanics I determined it was probably a combination of the 29" wheel, a tiny skewer and a cheap suspension fork. Some higher end bikes may have a "thru axle" which is thicker than a skewer and threads directly into the fork and this may eliminate some flex. A thru axle also indicates a higher quality fork. If you go with a entry-level 29er with a skewer in the front, see if you can feel lateral flex in the front end. Whether you're OK with the flex is up to you and the way you ride. Good luck in your search.