Recs on basic 26" MTB frame

[ski-wpk]

Looking for recs on an online shop for a basic steel MTB frame in 26" to build up a commuter from a bucket o' parts in the garage. Needs disc brake mounts, ideally horizontal drops but not essential. Any suggestions?

[kidwoo]

Bunny hop curbs and small dogs commuting or helmet mounted rear view mirrors commuting?

[abraham]

Bunny hop curbs and small dogs commuting or helmet mounted rear view mirrors commuting?

Does it matter?

PM Damian Sanders

[jimmyjames11]

I got a transition trans am you could have cheap sitting in my basement pm for info

[kidwoo]

^Buy that

[ski-wpk]

I'm a 365/day rider. Most of my daily bikes don't last more than a few winters. Urban riding. No bunny hopping over small dogs but no helmet mounted mirrors either.

[doebedoe]

I'm a 365/day rider. Most of my daily bikes don't last more than a few winters. Urban riding. No bunny hopping over small dogs but no helmet mounted mirrors either.

Jeebus, how many watts do you put out that a few years of commuting kills a frame? Winters here in the front range are hardly bad enough to kill a frame.

[kidwoo]

Jeebus, how many watts do you put out that a few years of commuting kills a frame? Winters here in the front range are hardly bad enough to kill a frame.

Maybe he means he has poor depth perception at intersections.

Don't judge.

[jm2e]

Some would argue that you can put 26" wheels on a frame intended for 27.5" or even 29" wheels. It has been done before.
Be forewarned: you could die if you choose this path.

[joetron]

See if you can find an Surly 1x1 or Bianchi BASS,HOSS, etc

[evdog]

Check out On One bikes. They are decent steel frames, direct to consumer so they are cheaper. I know plenty of people who have ridden them, and they may be the best value out there without buying used. Looks like the website is UK based now but they ship from Portland so no sales tax. I rode an On One Inbred for a couple seasons. I loved the bike. So did the thief who took it from me, apparently.....

http://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/frames/...in-bike-frames

[El Chupacabra]

Check out On One bikes. They are decent steel frames, direct to consumer so they are cheaper. I know plenty of people who have ridden them, and they may be the best value out there without buying used. Looks like the website is UK based now but they ship from Portland so no sales tax. I rode an On One Inbred for a couple seasons. I loved the bike. So did the thief who took it from me, apparently.....

http://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/frames/...in-bike-frames

Are they back to shipping from Oregon? I thought they closed down the U.S. operations.

I have an On-One Inbred 26" wheel frame, with swapout dropouts. They also make (or made) one with horizontal dropouts, and one with regular vertical (or semi-vert) dropouts. I like it, but I've never broken a frame, so YMMV. It's certainly not a light fragile thing. Maybe look at their 456 or "summer season" frames for heavier gauge tubing; might be stronger and hold up to abuse better.

[ski-wpk]

Thanks to the collective. Good suggestions. Will check out On One, Surly, and the Transition Trans Am.

Also I honestly don't know how I wreck my gear. This year I snapped a crank, tacoed a rear wheel, and cracked the frame at the bottom bracket.

[Anospa]

Preventative maintenance?

I have a transam, absolute trail slayer, should put up with any BS commute as long as you don't give it a salt bath every week.

[doebedoe]

You're in Boulder. There are lots of old titanium 26ers around. Buy one, swap in a rigid fork with a disc tab, have one disc tab welded on the the back and you're set for life from corrosion.

At least that's my plan for my ti hardtail once I save up cash to go full squishy.

[evdog]

Are they back to shipping from Oregon? I thought they closed down the U.S. operations.

I thought it said somewhere they were still shipping from OR. But it would make sense that they aren't if they only have the UK website now.

[kidwoo]

You're in Boulder. There are lots of old titanium 26ers around. Buy one, swap in a rigid fork with a disc tab, have one disc tab welded on the the back and you're set for life from corrosion.

At least that's my plan for my ti hardtail once I save up cash to go full squishy.

I think my ideal commuter would be an old Moots YBB. I always liked those things. Is it hard to find Moots in CO ?

[Soups]

I see someone riding a Moots about every other time I'm out. They also seem to pop up on CL fairly regularly. Those and DEANs, but a lot less frequent.

[jm2e]

I see a lot of Litespeeds around here.
Everyone thinks they're sitting on gold though, so I never see them for under $500 bucks.
Anyone know if that kind of vintage has 1" or 1 1/8" headset? Would be rad to put a few inches of travel on front of one!
How easy is it really to get a disc brake mount welded on there? Can the seat stay really take all that torque?

[ski-wpk]

Still looking. Anyone have a 19-20" frame? Old titanium frames are indeed overpriced around here.

[justcuz]

Still looking. Anyone have a 19-20" frame? Old titanium frames are indeed overpriced around here.

I have a fully built On One 456C. I'd sell the frame and/or the parts...whatever you might need. Frame would be pretty cheap. I believe it's 18.5"??? I'm 6 foot and it's about right for me.

[doebedoe]

There is a 19.5" Specialized StumpJumper on CL in Denver/Boulder (bike is in Thorton) for $60. XT group is workable and frame is rad late 80s purple and white. Get it, framesaver it, and voila.

[muted]

Maybe he means he has poor depth perception at intersections.

Don't judge.

[Anospa]

I'm considering selling this:

Large Transition TransAm


http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1976514/

[ski-wpk]

There is a 19.5" Specialized StumpJumper on CL in Denver/Boulder (bike is in Thorton) for $60. XT group is workable and frame is rad late 80s purple and white. Get it, framesaver it, and voila.

Thanks. I have a 90s era in the garage built as a single speed. Love how on CL people are selling 20 year-old bikes for $300+!

Ideally looking for a newer frame that can have disc brakes.