james266 Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Was wondering what the differences between a street/dirt frame and a stock trials frame were as to geometry etc. All I can make out from pics is that trials frames are much shorter but maybe thats just how they look on the picutres as Ive never seen any side by side.Was going to get a stock trials bike but I think I might fancy something that has front suspension and can do street and maybe some dirt stuff as well. Anyone got any ideas for a frame and setup?Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisbikefix Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Was wondering what the differences between a street/dirt frame and a stock trials frame were as to geometry etc. All I can make out from pics is that trials frames are much shorter but maybe thats just how they look on the picutres as Ive never seen any side by side.Was going to get a stock trials bike but I think I might fancy something that has front suspension and can do street and maybe some dirt stuff as well. Anyone got any ideas for a frame and setup?Thanksi did a simular setup as your thinking, pashley 26mhz frame with 80mm bombers ... wos so nice to ride, then i snapped the headtube, got it re-welded ... job done. Street bikes (dmr rythems/sidekicks) are different geo to a trials, just all the angles and mesurements are different alltogether ... rear stays tend to be shorter on a trials bike, and have a slightly higher b/b, so just be careful when runing suspension, due to the b/b will be raised a hell of alot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james266 Posted October 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Can you suggest any frames that are primarily for trials but can handle suspension on the front?Was looking at a woodman elite?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basher Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Can you suggest any frames that are primarily for trials but can handle suspension on the front?Was looking at a woodman elite??Well all frames will handle sus on front really but would be silly to do it on a gu for example,if your wanting it to be a streety trials bike then you want something with a short wheelbase, longish chainstays not 375 more like 385+ and little bb riseThe woodman should be a perfect frame or look at the base on tarty. You thought about trying to get hold of a norco like ryan leechs. Also old giant frame would be sexy aswell lessons aswell i should think.I think a nice pair of riser bars on the frame and a stem thats short but with plenty of rise will give the bike a great feel for the type of riding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawnmowerman Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Can you suggest any frames that are primarily for trials but can handle suspension on the front?Was looking at a woodman elite??Check out the base ta26 on the tartybikes website. They're brilliant frames and are really cheap at the mo. You can even get them in pink! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james266 Posted October 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 The base looks nice but can it handle sus?Also what does the length of the chain stay do?woodman 400mm base 385mm?and what does the wheelbase change in handling?woodman 1054mmbase 1025mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawnmowerman Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 The base will be fine with short travel forks like marzocchi mxcomps. It'll be easier to lift the front end with shorter chainstays which is what you'll want if you're gonna be doing a bit of everything on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james266 Posted October 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 mxcomps? arent they a bit weak for trials stuff? thought they were more XC suited? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawnmowerman Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 Nope they're fine, I've got them on my jump bike. They are strong as fook and weigh nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 Was wondering what the differences between a street/dirt frame and a stock trials frame were as to geometry etc. All I can make out from pics is that trials frames are much shorter but maybe thats just how they look on the picutres as Ive never seen any side by side.Trials frames are usually much longer.A long dirt frame (DMR sidekick or something) = a very short trials frame, in terms of length.There are loads of other changes though. Shorter chainstays (on the whole) make the bike better on the back wheel, but a bit worse for manuals. High BB makes trials a bit easier - nicer position, more ground clearance - but will affect how the bike corners at speed. This is not a problem for a trials bike (we don't ever go fast, or round corners), but that's the reason why dirt bikes (and DH bikes) have lower BBs. For wheelbase, have a look here: Wheelbase wikiThere are no trials-specific sus forks (except perhaps the rockshox that Martyn Ashton has but I think they're custom). The best you can do is use DJ forks which will be strong enough, but they're very heavy. Or use an all-round fork which will be a bit lighter and cheap (like the MX Comps). No-one really uses sus forks for trials so I have no idea which would be 'best' - anyone even slightly serious about trials runs rigid forks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james266 Posted October 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 OK Thanks a lot Tomm,I think I might get a set of rigids then and maybe some short travel sus if I can aford it to use for streets stuff and just swap them over.Hey Tomm do you have any idea how the woodman elite holds up as a trials frame?Was considering it but not so sure now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 OK Thanks a lot Tomm,I think I might get a set of rigids then and maybe some short travel sus if I can aford it to use for streets stuff and just swap them over.Hey Tomm do you have any idea how the woodman elite holds up as a trials frame?Was considering it but not so sure now?I've never ridden one, I don't think there were that many in this country, so I don't really know much about it. It's one of the kinda old-school trials frames. Not terrible, and probably better than about dirt jump frame, but nowhere near as good (for trials) as a modern trials frame. If you wanted to build up a street/dirt/trials bike it would be OK, but then again most people on here ride 'proper' trials bikes - if you try and make a bike good for more than one thing it usually ends up being pretty rubbish for everything. If you are getting it really cheap or you're short of cash, then it's probably not the worst frame in the world. But you'd be better off spending money on a proper trials frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisbikefix Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 im building up a norco moment at some stage, rode run a while ago with 80mm fox forks ... rode lush! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neomember Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 You need a bike 'a la Ryan Leech'. I'm on the same quest as you.I just bought a Planet-X Pitbull Pro ($225US on eBay). Also bought a ridgid fork to do the swapping trick. I'll try to find myself a second crown race that fits my headset to make quick changes.Street bikes with suspension fork are pretty hard to build under 30 pounds. With the fork swapped and the seat removed, i'm planning to get about 27-28lbs... but that's with a lot of lightweight and expensive components.As other said, you should look for a frame with longer or adjustable chainstay. Cause with the weight of the bike combined with short frame(low leverage), it won't give you much punch from the rear wheel.Maybe consider a longer/higher stem(to get more leverage).Chromoly made frame is nice to have also(but heavier).Hope i've help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.