Access frames, what do you know?

[Jamespio]

My son, who does a little XC racing, and a shitload of riding, is trying to build an affordable 29er (he screwed up his grades and I refuse to buy him the bike he wants). He's looking at an Access XCL frame. Do any of you know anything about these? It's been offered at a good price which would let him use mor eof his limited cash on a better fork and wheelset. Are they sturdy? Reasonably light? Are they something else, just rebranded as Acess?

[zombinate]

I HAVE ZERO EXPERIENCE WITH THESE!

that said, they get pretty decent reviews at MTBR:
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/bikes/29er-hardtail/access/xcl-29er/prd_444743_1548crx.aspx

[toast2266]

I think access is just performance's house brand and has been around for quite a while. I'm not really up on my frame weights, but the XCL 29 is listed at 3.7 lbs. That's not overly heavy, but it's quite a bit heavier than the high zoot carbon options. My impression is that, while they're not "nice," they're probably fine.

[bagtagley]

Access was Supergo's in-house brand, and was absorbed by Performance when they bought 'em out. My brother had an Access mtn frame that took some abuse from him and then me when I got back into riding. It's now street cruiser for my Mom. It's gotta be 15 years old by now. No idea if they're anywhere near the same as what Supergo was making, but Performance in-house stuff has always been pretty solid for the price.

[rainier]

They are not bad, just baasic al frames. If anything ever happens though, with enough bitching performance will hook you up. If you can swing it see if you can get the store to face and chase the frame, some have a lot of paint buildup on the bb

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[Jamespio]

"face and chase?" I know that "facing" an item usually means milling an exterior contact or wear surface to a spec. But what is meant by "chase" in this context? are you talking about paint buildup INSIDE the BB?

[stuckathuntermtn]

An important note on this thread: Real parenting!

[birdman829]

An important note on this thread: Real parenting!

True. many these days seem to underestimate the importance of denying the kids what they want on occasion.

[Jamespio]

True. many these days seem to underestimate the importance of denying the kids what they want on occasion.

I was totally pissed when he missed the goal on grades, mainly because I actually really wanted to buy him what he wanted. But he let his grades drop early in the quarter, so I had to set him a tought but completely doable goal, and tried to bribe him with a Sanata Cruz Highball. Say what you want about that bike, I'll just say it's increidbly pretty. SC designers have a fine sense of style. But when he didn't hit the grades, I would have lost all credibility if I got him the bike. So now, he needs to figure out how to stretch what little money he has or can earn into a new 29er.

Speaking of which, I know a mostly deserving, smart, but lazy teenager who rides like a demon and needs a supergood deal on a 29er fork, wheelset, cranks, disc brakes.

[El Chupacabra]

I know I keep posting links to this site, but for basic hardtails, it's really hard to beat some of their bikes:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/9iron_elite.htm

Steel frame (something I like), good drivetrain & brakes, functional fork & wheels. Replace the crappy bar/stem/seatpost, and it's a solid deal.

[Jamespio]

Actually, Chupa, I've been looking at those motobecanes for some time, but for whatever reason they don't appeal to the boy. Partially that's because of how picky he is. He knows bikes well enough to have some strong opinions about what he wants, and he's also still caught up in the vanity of wanting a ride that's "cool" enough to show off to his ridin buddies.

[rainier]

"face and chase?" I know that "facing" an item usually means milling an exterior contact or wear surface to a spec. But what is meant by "chase" in this context? are you talking about paint buildup INSIDE the BB?

Yeah sometimes theres a ton of overspray/ shitty mask job esp at this level. May as well have them do it if they're facing. Its the same tool. Go in on a midweek morning with beer or cookies and ill bet theyll do it. I would have.

[stuckathuntermtn]

When I got good grades, I got Legos.
Hell yeah.
Now I get help with rent and dog food.

[spudbumkin]

117243Jamespio- I've been riding on an Access 29er for two seasons now. I picked the frame up about 4 years ago for a mere $80 on sale online at Performance. Collected pieces and parts for a couple of seasons and now I have a perfectly utilitarian, non-fancy, solid, pretty light, 1X9, foothills climbing machine. I put a Voodoo Zombie rigid fork on it and I really like it. I could bring it by your place if you want to check it out one of these days.