What is the Forum's Sexiest AM/FR/Enduro Hardtail of 2017? - Pinkbike Poll

Dec 25, 2017 at 12:19
by James Morris  
Over the last week, candidates have rolled in on the Pinkbike Forums' Sexiest AM/FR/Enduro Hardtail thread to narrow down the 2017 nominees. We shortlisted 6 bikes that were clearly leading the pack.

So, in no particular order, here are the nominees (be sure to vote for your favorite in the poll below):

photo
Purple Blue Fade Swarf Spline 275


Pipedream Moxie
Pink Pipedream Moxie

PVD SR-71
Dark Red PVD SR-71 Blackbird


Custom painted by NEAT works https www.facebook.com neatworks2012 Parts list bottom of the page http jinyaatca2.blogspot.jp 2017 03 rat-gypsy.html
Rat Rod Chromag Gypsy


Not my bike just need a pinkbike ver for forum use
Stanton Switch9er Ti


Not my photo just borrowing it for forum use
Red Curtis AM7


Check out more on the Forums.

What is The Sexiest AM/FR/Enduro Hardtail of 2017-Pinkbike Forum

This poll is closed

On The Sexiest AM/FR/Enduro Hardtail thread we decided to have a poll to decide what has been the sexiest bike of 2017. Over the last week, candidates have rolled in and the most-nominated bikes short listed. 6 bikes were clearly leading the pack. In no particular order, the nominations are:



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295 Comments
  • 104 23
 That rat rod Chromag is beautiful!
  • 11 9
 Made me realize there are too few silver droppers in the world. Fox factory is the only non black option I'm aware of...
  • 10 1
 Jinya and his hardtail soul.
  • 7 2
 @sspiff: Thomson, too!
  • 3 2
 @sspiff: And KS
  • 4 3
 the pipedream in chromag rat rod.
  • 3 3
 boi-oi-oi-ng!
  • 7 4
 Yes, but geo is oldschool.
  • 3 0
 Plus if it’s a true “rat rod” it’s built with old left over out of date shit, that should make all the $10,000. Santa haters happy.
  • 8 0
 @sspiff: Yeah lets get some shitty steel-stanchioned droppers on the case.
  • 4 0
 all are so nice... really like the Chromag but the fork looks outta place to me...IMO the Chromag would be mint with a debadged DVO like the one on the Pipedream......Stanton Switch9er Ti FTW
  • 1 0
 @moturner: shwing!
  • 2 0
 @Bluefire: Guess that was a derpy moment for me. Thanks for the reminder!
  • 2 2
 I would have voted for a Ti Surface if it were on the lust.
  • 3 1
 List not lust... sorry big thumbs
  • 6 1
 IMO except of the Chromag which I like most, the head tube angles of all the other bikes look faaaar to slack. Especially the Stanton.
  • 3 0
 @fartymarty: in thought that was on purpose and funny! A list of bikes we lust for should be called a bike lust!
  • 2 0
 @VwHarman: actually that's a good point. I lust after all on the list too.
  • 4 1
 @fab0ne: I agree, but on the other hand, the Chromag looks kind of steep.
  • 2 0
 Except for that poorly set up B screw..... smdh
  • 2 0
 @MrDiamondDave: good eye!
  • 6 1
 @fab0ne: what you have to remember is that hardtails don't have rear end sag like a FS bike. Therefore a good descending geo (on a HT) looks weird at first, but once you ride one on a proper trail (descending/rowdy) the slack geo is pretty comparable to how a 160mm(ish) FS bike would sit. And who cares how they climb as long as they get to the Top.
  • 71 1
 As someone that's never owned a full suss, and likely never will, this is some proper bike porn. That Dark Red PVD SR-71 Blackbird is enough to make me slam the laptop shut in a guilty fashion when my girlfriend walks in the room unexpectedly.
  • 16 0
 Why, are they banned in North Korea? Big Grin
  • 10 0
 @Extremmist: Bizarrely yes. I visited last year on a bike tour of Pyongyang and they have a law that bans all imports of bikes not made in DPRK. North Korea hasn't really got much of a mountain bike scene.
  • 7 0
 @egb81: And do they not make their own? Or is it impossible to develop a shock that wouldn't explode under Kim Jong Un's fat ass?
  • 12 1
 @Extremmist: As far as I know there are no suspension designs fit for a rotund dictator as they've all been developed by imperialist, sub-human pig dogs. They do have a natty line is super flexy shopper bikes though.
  • 1 0
 @egb81: I'd assume that any bike would become super flexy under his weight...
Anyway; do you have any pictures? Is it possible to export them? I can imagine people that would like to ride a North Korean bike just for fun...
  • 4 0
 @Extremmist: www.pinkbike.com/photo/15484002
This was my beautiful gnar sled! I doubt with all the sanctions on the country you'd be able to get them out. It was weird enough travelling there, let alone trying to get a bike out. I did get some interesting propaganda stuff though, posters, newspapers, books etc.
  • 1 0
 @egb81: ...and you must be the luckiest person.. alive.
  • 34 3
 Stoked on this hardtail content!!
  • 32 9
 Dayum. That's some good company.

Here's the story on the Blackbird:

www.peterverdone.com/sr-71-blackbird
  • 7 1
 That Blackbird is a monster bike!
  • 15 2
 heres a story on the real blackbird!

(of the actual plane... got literally nothing to do with bikes but i really like this article and sharing it with people)

maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com/archives/7821-Major-Brian-Shul-I-loved-that-jet.html
  • 17 7
 Thanks for the link! Some awesome background and build pics.

On an aside, his article on the importance on engagement is an entertaining blend of engineering and humor.

"Bicycle ‘mechanics’ are generally very inexperienced riders. They spends their days in workshops talking trash and theorizing about this and that. They wax their beards and go out for beers with their boyfriends after work. Late at night, the gaze into the blue glow of their screens to see what has happened on some message board about the artisanal use of cork bar tape."
  • 1 0
 I had been thinking about asking you to build a DJ frame that fits me. Probably can’t afford it now. Good work!
  • 5 0
 @GumptionZA: Great article on an amazing jet. Thanks for the link!
  • 5 0
 Awesome write up. I can't believe the hidden machining in the chainstay yoke, subtle apearance indeed!
  • 3 11
flag scottcantride (Dec 30, 2017 at 13:25) (Below Threshold)
 @TheStabbyCyclist: This bike mechanic can pretty much guarantee that hear rides more than you and has more skills. My job also just happens to include working on my favorite thing, bikes! P.S.- I'm not quiet sure why you call yourself a cyclist on a mountain bike forum as in my experience that generally refers to roadies.
  • 1 2
 @scottcantride: Get back to wrenching then. Or maybe riding. Oh, wait... your username would imply that you can't ride.
  • 2 0
 @GumptionZA:

Cheers for that! What a rush!
  • 1 0
 Absolute work of art indeed. Do you sell them?
  • 2 0
 @GumptionZA: That's just cool, I love reading about these planes.
  • 2 0
 Amazing how much thought, effort and skill went into producing that beauty. Thanks for sharing!
  • 1 0
 @pvd666 Why isn't the Blackbird painted black? Either way, nice work.
  • 1 0
 @m-t-g: Why is the sky blue? Oh wait... there is an answer for that. Wink
  • 19 2
 Nice bikes!

I'm not on any forums but this is a looker if you're into this sort of thing...

www.pinkbike.com/u/banffowen/album/Sheena-the-Show-n-Shine-Winner
www.pinkbike.com/photo/15480021
  • 3 2
 That was nominated but didn't make the final cut
  • 8 2
 Chromag makes some beautiful frames
  • 1 0
 That bike is so sick! Would've got my vote!
  • 2 0
 @MtbTico: Have you seen the pic of its TT? Looks awesome. There’s another Chromag with a black and red fade paint job on our thread that also looks great too
  • 1 0
 The black/red Chromag is the nicer bike and got my nomination. That said the rat rod Chromag is still very nice:
  • 20 3
 Nice bikes. BTR should probably get a mention:
www.btr-fabrications.com/portfolio/robin-comrie-ranger-109
  • 18 16
 Gross. The head-tube spaghetti junction is a full out eyesore.
  • 1 0
 Couple got nominated but didn't make the cut. Rad bikes though!
  • 2 0
 Surprised to see BTR were missing; thought the new Cotic BFe might have made an appearance too.
  • 1 0
 @Smevan: The old BTR's looked significantly better, with the thin braces for tubing. I think one got nominated last year. This is what I'm talking about with the old braces: www.pinkbike.com/photo/11616000

Unno would probably get nominated too, if they made an all mtn bike. www.pinkbike.com/photo/14144266
  • 4 0
 I prefer the new bracing but of course it is personal preference. Sexy or not, I think their design for shorter travel forks (120mm with a 63deg HA) makes sense for a bike like this. Either way, my 26" Ranger should be finished early March, so stoked!

I wonder whether the other frames on my shortlist were even considered. I was considering the Pinion gearbox but eventually dropped it. One beauty I considered was the Portus Cycles Krowd Karl ED. While Pinkbike was way too busy moaning about e-bikes on Eurobike they completely missed this one, complete with Intend USD forks:

enduro-mtb.com/en/trail-enduro-bike-highlights-eurobike-2017/8

Fair enough it couldn't have been on the PB forum simply as it hasn't been finished yet. Delivery should be in April. Or Alex Claus (the owner/welder) himself should have submitted it.
  • 1 0
 @vinay: the Portus was nominated but didn't make the final cut.
  • 1 0
 @vinay: true that is one sexy hardtail. Thanks for sharing
  • 12 2
 Blackbird without a doubt. Read the owner's writeup on how he designed & built it, he's not a frame manufacturer per se.

Deserves to win this natty poll.
  • 4 1
 PVD SR-71 Blackbird stands out a lot, the Curtis also looks good. Surprised at the Chromag love, looks a mess to me.
  • 3 0
 @StevieJB: agreed on not liking the Chromag. I love Chromag and there are better ones out there like their gorgeous Surface Ti.
  • 11 4
 All the pictures should've been taken at the exact same place with the exact same backgrounds to make sure the pictures themselves don't influence the poll's results. STANTON is the most beautiful one !
  • 5 3
 Considering these bikes are spread around the world (UK, USA, Japan etc.) that's not really feasible.
  • 7 4
 @RedBurn, but the Curtis is handmade in the UK, hands down the nicest IMO
  • 3 2
 @Joebohobo: and your not bias at all
  • 7 0
 These are forum users’ bikes, and they probably wouldn’t be too stoked to send them to Squamish to have photos taken.
  • 3 6
 @Scotj009, there's no bias needed, don't know why that comes into it. A hand built frame in Britain by one of the most respected brazers in the country (Even Spielberg came to them wanting to make a frame for the film ET, as well as honda used to out source there frames to Brian to be brazed by him amongst other things) versus a frame built out of a standard factory in Asia? No bias needed at all, just common sense
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: free holiday on the PB expenses Big Grin
  • 3 0
 @Joebohobo: only the ti stanton & pipedream are asian fabricated. all others are UK Canada US.
  • 6 0
 AM/FR/Enduro Hardtails are the best! will never go back to FS.

voted for the Dark Red PVD SR-71 Blackbird, it looks like it has the right geo.

got a Liteville H3 and whenever it goes downhill, uphill, sideways I love it, never felt so confident on a bike.
  • 9 3
 On the same homepage, there is another article from Pinkbike stating: "Bike are made to be ridden hard, not put on pedestal". Alright.
  • 9 2
 The above bikes can be ridden very hard, that's part of the appeal. Nothing wrong with appreciating a well thought out bike.
  • 5 2
 Are the pipedream and the stanton company builds . I think it would of been better if they were all rider builds. Kind of takes something away if a companies show bike wins imo, they are lovely bikes but not so special in my eyes due to this. The stanton will win, because its a stanton with a trick build but its not a riders lovingly built bike unfortunatly... i might be wrong though
  • 2 0
 I hear ya, but I'll bet the guys at any of these companies are riders and put a lot of love into their builds. Companies are made up of people like you and me.
  • 8 1
 I need that Dark Red PVD SR-71 Blackbird in my life
  • 1 0
 Drool...
  • 7 0
 What a silly question. All hardtails are sexy. :-)
  • 4 0
 ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb107786/p4pb107786.jpg
  • 2 0
 @MmmBones: someone always has to remind me that I never owned the evil imperial!
  • 6 0
 Those Shimano cassettes are hideous.
  • 3 1
 Unsexy: Chromagg's DT-BB junction and chainstay, Stanton's dropouts and internal routing ports, shrunken DT by the HT, fat top tubes, a lot of things combined on that Pipedream Moxie...

Sexy: Stanton's ST. Brushed Ti. Neat chainstay yokes on the Stanton and PVD. That purple-blue fade finish. Nice little detailed touches, like PVD gusset by rear brake and hooded dropouts. Tube diameter proportions on the PVD.

Honorable mention: How Stanton's DT connects to the TT and HT. How PVD machined his chainstay yoke (have to see his website).
  • 1 0
 Okay, I am going to admit to falling for illusions and marking them unsexy. Seeing the Chromagg DT through the window of the chainring gave me a poor first impression. It's also hard to confirm if the downtubes are really shrunken by the headtubes on some bikes, but it appears that way due to shadows and cable routing. No doubting top tube proportions being sexy/unsexy--I prefer them slimmer than the DT.

I tried to avoid rating based on the components, but I'll admit that they had a factor in my vote. Some of them are responsible for causing the illusions...
  • 3 0
 There are so many more to choose from like the Bird TR or AM. Orange Crush, Dartmoor Hornet. All of which would look good here. I will stick with my Bird TR.
  • 8 3
 Sick bikes hardtails are dope, haters gonna hate
  • 1 1
 Who hates hardtails?
  • 3 0
 @RedBurn: My ankles.
  • 9 4
 Ive heard of one of those brands.
  • 17 1
 Welcome to the deep depths of modern hardtails. They don't have to be from big brands, they have a following by a few folks. And don't worry, those brands haven't heard of you either.
  • 1 0
 @JDFF: Any good hardtail makers in the US? Looks like these are all British or Canadian. I’d like to get one made here.
  • 2 0
 @jwrendenver: Less options for US made, but the GG Pedalhead does stand out. ridegg.com/pedalhead
  • 3 1
 @jwrendenver: Plenty in the US. Breadwinner, Rosko, Alliance, Waltworks to name just a few. Check NAHBS for more. You just need to know where to look
  • 4 0
 @jwrendenver: Not forgetting PVD of course.
  • 1 0
 @jwrendenver: Stout Bikes
  • 1 0
 @matther01: thanks for the info
  • 2 1
 They're all damn sexy so it's got to come down to technique. Tires on with matching orientation, valves either at the top or bottom, middle to high gear, pedals level is nice but not always practical. Chromag and PVD just about nail it on composition but Swarf takes it for doing it all right and in a difficult spot to boot.
  • 5 0
 I'd take any of them...in a heart beat. Hardtails forever..
  • 6 2
 Uh where's the pedalhead?
  • 3 2
 It was nominated a green one but didn't make it to the final
  • 2 1
 that bike is on my short list to buy. here we go tax return/bike buying season
  • 5 1
 No Btr Ranger on the list, booooo
  • 4 0
 www.pinkbike.com/photo/15437433

Better pic of the Swarf here
  • 2 0
 I really love the look of hardtails and love how they ride. Fast on the trails and on the street. Such a fun versatile machine.
  • 1 0
 When is that Stanton going to go one sale? I might have to wait till it's out. I'm I. The market for 29er steel hardtail and wall looking at the Sherpa. I hope they do a steel version!!!
  • 1 0
 Not sure yet - guessing it won't be too long. Pretty sure that a steel version is being considered. The 853 tubeset of the standard Sherpa is lovely to ride and nicer than the 631 of the Switchback.
  • 4 0
 Surprised not to see a Honzo or BTR in the list....
  • 3 1
 Where is Mondraker Vantage RR? This bike is sexy as hell and it rides like dream!!
  • 3 0
 The real winner in this contest...each one of the owners of these 6 bikes.
  • 6 2
 CHROMAG!!!!
  • 2 1
 That thing is beast. Makes me miss my raw Edit 1.
  • 4 1
 That is a very pretty slack 29er from stanton ????
  • 2 1
 id say ns surge evo but i’m biased. come on people the 2 bikes with the most votes either has no pedals or clipless (clipped in) pedals.
  • 2 0
 I like that purple blue fade.
Another cool on I found on Insta:
www.instagram.com/p/BbxxkkCnYa8
  • 2 0
 Love them all but I would take the Curtis over the others. And not just cos they're crafted just down the road from me
  • 6 3
 I guess I"m in the minority but that Cromag is fugly af. Just eww
  • 3 2
 It's cool to see hard tails get some much needed updated geo. All of the above look fun to ride. I think I'd go with the Sick Bicycles Gnarcissist though.
  • 1 0
 Surprised Sick weren't there.
  • 2 0
 Amazing bikes. Pretty much art. A well put together AM hard tail is like the craft beer of bikes.
  • 4 1
 the chromag is the best hands down
  • 3 0
 Where is PP ? production privée ?
  • 1 0
 It would have brought a bit a variety with the shapes, all these 6 are "just" two simple triangles. But I guess that's what hardtail lovers like... Otherwise there would be a metal HT crmo purple! Best shapes ever imo
  • 2 1
 Peter's bike is fantastic (you've got to read how he's creating his frames). I wish I could see this frame in Sfarf's purple blue fade.....
  • 1 0
 Got a Stanton myself and maybe a bit biased but Dan makes some stunning bikes. The Ti frame is stunning, but all the still bikes are pretty damn sexy.
  • 2 0
 Definitely makes me want the Chromag Surface Ti I have ordered show up RFN so I can build it up.
  • 2 0
 Would love to see a Commencal Meta AM HT in there... Gun metal with a 36 and a transfer. Ohhh
  • 1 0
 Disappointing that you didn't consider at the Matter Slayride. Made in Colorado, best long travel hardtail 27.5 on the market..
  • 2 1
 Sick Bicycles have turned out some stunning paintwork on their bikes so I think they could deserve a mention too
  • 2 0
 What about the Production Privee offerings??
  • 2 0
 Production Privée is missing Smile
  • 1 0
 Looks like I should have finished my HT build to send in to that forum :O haha. Least for 2018 it'll be done lol.
  • 2 1
 Those first couple have geometry that is aggressively modern. It reminds me of a Dachshund. Long torso, short legs.
  • 6 3
 No Kingdom Vendetta?
  • 2 1
 I nominated ledude's build with the Revels on but don't think it got any other nominations so didn't make it through to voting. Next year I'll post in the Kingdom forum so you lot can help out when (sorry, if...) there is a good one to put forward. You've got about 11 months to get yours built Razz
  • 4 1
 or Production Prievee!!!!
  • 3 1
 These are all very impressive bikes. Hard to choose - which is awesome.
  • 5 4
 Canfield Brothers Nimble 9, not the best looking but an affordable steel ht, rides really well.
  • 3 0
 I love my Nimble 9. It never ceases to amaze me how capable it is.
  • 1 0
 @Rucker10: Ya man, had one but it was a size too small, looking to get another one.
  • 3 2
 The swarf spline has cranks that look like White industries cranks, therefore I voted for it
  • 2 0
 They are...and cost a fortune to get shipped to the UK! Lol
  • 2 2
 @matther01: and they are also outdated square taper cranks that just look really really nice.
  • 2 0
 @VTwintips:

Nope...full 30mm spindle in a Hope threaded BB
  • 1 0
 @matther01: Well that's a significant development!
  • 3 0
 @VTwintips: They’re stunning in the flesh and extremely stiff...made in good old USofA too!
  • 3 1
 @matther01: I believe it. Anyways, the thing about square taper cranks isn't the stiffness, it is that they wear out over time due to to cracks that propagate through the crank from the sharp corner where it comes into contact with the square. Its such a textbook example of failure from cyclical loading that they use it directly in undergraduate engineering design courses, comparing the old square taper stuff to all of the newer splined designs.
  • 4 0
 @VTwintips: ...which is precisely why I didn’t buy the White Industries ENO cranks. Style over substance isn’t my thing. Well thought out components is! Smile
  • 3 1
 Titanium still is the shit. The Stanton gets my vote.
  • 3 1
 No aluminum..Hmm I will replace my aluminum hardtail then..
  • 2 0
 Good idea. Steel frames feel much better and dampen trail vibrations. Not all steels are the same, and tubing qualities also come into play, but once you go steel you will never go back to "harsh" aluminum.
  • 2 0
 The Chromag Gypsy gets my vote.
  • 2 0
 Prettiest Paint - Swarf Best Geo - PVD Dreamiest - Stanton Ti
  • 2 0
 PVD's site will now get the hug of death.
  • 1 0
 Lol, yes!
  • 2 1
 Pinkbike, can we do this for all mountain bike categories next year? Maybe with a prize for winners?
  • 1 0
 You're all wrong; the sexiest hardtail is my 2004 Norco Rampage that is currently in the buy/sell section.
  • 2 1
 Stanton looks gorgeous- but it doesn't exist yet...
Paid ad article conspiracy?
  • 1 0
 It does exist - just not on sale (yet). There are a couple out in the wild at the mo.
  • 2 0
 No Guerrilla Gravity Pedalhead? Thats my choice!
  • 2 1
 mine is more sexy is the cove stiffee
  • 1 1
 Shoot! Should have tossed in my Niner ROS 9:
www.pinkbike.com/photo/14288608
  • 3 1
 Chromag!BC for the win!
  • 4 2
 Stanton Switchback.
  • 7 7
 Slamming the seat makes them look too dirt jump, please stop doing this people.
  • 8 2
 Should the seats stay up while descending?
  • 1 0
 I agree but only the last bike has a slammed seat?
  • 5 0
 Disagree, I think almost every bike looks way nicer with the seat down
  • 1 0
 @pumpjumpnflow:
  • 1 1
 Anything Naked nakedbicycles.com/the-bikes/mountain - love the 29'r.
  • 2 0
 Naked are anything but AM/FR/enduro bikes...
  • 1 0
 God, is there nothing like Steal Hardtail Between your legs.
  • 1 0
 Do they actually ride these or they just show bikes
  • 2 0
 I definitely ride mine...and my Capra hardly gets used these days (especially as our weather at the moment seems to eat through bearings).
  • 1 0
 Too bad you didn't post mine xD
  • 2 0
 I love my bike more Smile
  • 3 2
 The SR 71. Hands down. No Ragleys?
  • 1 0
 I'm with you dude. Why no Ragley's on the list? The Blue Pig and the Big Wig are monster hardtails.
  • 1 1
 How slack is too slack?
I feel sorry for the stanchions on a few o those rigs
  • 3 0
 a 64 HA will soon become 68 as soon as start dipping into the travel, even sagged under rider weight will steepen 1-2 degrees. a 65 degree fs will be 65 until it bottoms out. a ht will steepen 6-7 degrees as it goes through its travel. I thought as a HT owner you would be up to speed on HT geo.
  • 1 3
 @a-d-e: thanks for the math lesson but my point( as a hardtail owner) is these bikes an there head angles are sag an stress that's putting on extended (or sag) stanchions. As the fork goes deep. The stanchions are gonna be shorter at their leverage point an more supported by the bushing.
Fork manufacturers must engineer in how much strength an support a stanchion needs. Some of these bikes have silly HA's and must be pushing those limits
  • 2 0
 Waltworks
  • 2 1
 What?! No Diamondback Mason! I guess its not boutique enough.
  • 1 0
 My Mason is awesomeness
  • 1 0
 I'm a sucker for purple bikes
  • 1 1
 are those headtubes straight sided? where are they getting the straight steer tubes?
  • 3 0
 44mm headtubes. Accept all fork steerers
  • 2 0
 Chromag all day long!
  • 1 0
 got nothing on the .243 racing hardtails
  • 1 1
 no SICK BIKES? haters gonna hate
  • 1 0
 Not really..
  • 2 2
 it will be a crime if Jinya's bike doesn't win this...it's not even close.
  • 1 1
 Why the rootbeer on that pink machine? fail

otherwise the winner
  • 7 8
 The build on the blackbird ain't upto scratch imo,budget transmission,crap saddle and pedals also miss matching tyres.
  • 9 2
 I'm pretty certain every item on that Blackbird was chosen through a detailed algorithm matrix from PVD. Purpose, function and reliability probably won out over expense. I would of done a few things different myself, but I'm certain PVD has his reasons for that build. When you weld your own frames, you can dress them how you like.
  • 8 2
 Lyrik RC3, Guide RSC's, carbon SRAM crank, full RaceFace cockpit. Sure, doesn't have ENVE's, but you're really picking apart tire choice and whether they match brands and if his seat has Ti rails? F-man, Go ride your bike.
  • 3 3
 @mtnbykr05: I never said that it wasn't rad just that its just not a sexy or as sexy as it could be build which is kinda the point of the pole isn't it.
  • 8 2
 @JDFF: Yes. Indeed. I put bikes together to get hard work done, over and over. I don't waste money on bling.
  • 5 5
 @pvd666: spending money on "bling" isn't a waste. Higher-end stuff tends to work better and be lighter, to boot. Always nice to have a light bike that works well.
  • 2 2
 @pvd666: word!
  • 3 0
 @seraph: I have a lot of bikes to keep running and up to date on top of new designs. Thus, I use what maximizes value. Magazines dont talk about it much.

Here's a great game to play:
www.peterverdone.com/the-msrp-challenge
  • 1 0
 @pvd666: That's really interesting and agree with much of it. I've never gone above XT with Shimano and now moving to SRAM with a GX derailleur as it's probably the most consumable part on my bikes. There has to be comprise in places with what is desirable, affordable and serviceable...at least in my book.
  • 1 0
 I would not shun either.
  • 1 1
 ITT Bikes with a longer wheelbase than the pickup you haul them in
  • 2 1
 Dark RED pvd!
  • 2 2
 Sorry if you know you know And the winner is BTR
  • 1 1
 should not miss Stif Morf...
  • 2 4
 My hard tail is in a museum right next to a rotary dial phone. Nice to see there is still love for vintage thought. Some times simple is best and less is more.
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 This viewpoint isn't uncommon. I run into lots of folks that automatically think the same, likely because there experiences on hardtails were on bikes with oldschool geometry. Geometry and tire choice goes a lot farther these days. Don't get me wrong, I still race on a FS 160mm bike, but for most of the winter my slacked out steel hardtail is so rad (and surprisingly fast). (Other bikes I have been on this year include a Wreckoning and Range 29er, and yeah I still have a place in my heart for the HT.)
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 Where is one of the Originals? BTR???
  • 1 0
 None of them
  • 1 2
 No On-one's... Frown
Granted they're cheap, but sexy.
m.pinkbike.com/photo/14278592
  • 1 1
 Mone La Roca!!
  • 1 2
 OK, now I want to take the decals off my fork and get a blingy chainring.
  • 4 6
 I struggle to see the point of a 150 fork on a rigid rear.
I guess it is ‘enduro’.
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 All of the above.
  • 1 2
 Enduro Hardtail? You meant XC Bikes?
  • 5 6
 Swarf!!!
  • 2 1
 Something we agree on!
Smile
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 why is this on the home page
  • 3 4
 Kona Explosif
  • 3 2
 the kona honzo gets a lot of posts on the forum. the ti or the carbon could have easily made the short list.
  • 1 3
 where is the none of these options.
  • 1 4
 Shit, no Bird AM?? PB sleeps too much...
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