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Saracen Mad Geo?


JoNnY__Mc

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hello all... bit late for me but i have bin looking at frames on ebay... i know what im looking at now, and obviously frames such as echo and zoo! are the stronger frames and generally have the better geometry and better feel.

anyways without rambling on, my mumba frame has cracked unusually on the driveside drop out (i think this is from when i ran the frame without a tensioner) :$ theres nothing i can do now... its done.. the frames pretty f**ked up... all my fault, im stupid... yeah don't go on about it as i feel like a twat... anyways back to topic... looking for a budget frame with reasonably good geo and a good ride. when i say buget... i meen seriously budgetted like 50-100 :P.... anyways i have found a few saracen mads on ebay and thought they looked like a suitable frame, cant tell the geometry from the pictures, but £99 for brand new frame and forks looks reasonable enough to me, was wondering how the newer frames ride? i remember the old ones being abit... wank :ermm: has anyone ridden the newer frames, are the chainstays shorter? will a 38mm rim fit? do they dent easy/crack/snap easy? do they still come with a sump guard? whats the difference between the red version and the silver one without stating the obvious (colour and brake mounts) :S?... also will the change in frame start to limit my riding? i have all top bits ready to onto the frame, all are light and the stem is actually the original mad stem :P ...

i know it would look pimped.. but the main think is how will it ride?

let me know your thoughts... really need help on this one (Y)

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as an ex-owner of a 2005 Saracen 2.Six MAD, let me answer your questions in turn!

how the newer frames ride?

they ride great. super stable on the rear wheel - easy to flick.

are the chainstays shorter?

shorter than the old (black/white 2004) model? yes, i believe they are

will a 38mm rim fit?

i don't think so. i only used the stock rim on the rear and it was pretty tight with new Plasmatic Spanish FLy pads in a HS33, so a 38mm wide rim may be pushing it a bit

do they dent easy/crack/snap easy?

no more or less than any other frame - any frame will dent/crack/snap easily if you abuse it enough

do they still come with a sump guard?

nope - neither do they have any mounts for one

whats the difference between the red version and the silver one without stating the obvious (colour and brake mounts)

i did some research into this myself (including contacting Matt Barlow (MAD rider)). the only frame difference between the red and silver is the 4-bolt Magura mount - other than that they are the same frame

will the change in frame start to limit my riding?

i have noooooooooooooo idea! :huh:

i have all top bits ready to onto the frame, all are light and the stem is actually the original mad stem

i ended up changing everything on my 2.Six with the exception of the rear rim, derailleur and shifter!

i know it would look pimped.. but the main think is how will it ride?

well - a mate of mine from wales who rode a 2005 Echo Pure said that my 2.Six rode and handled better. most other people that rode it also commented on how stable it was and how it was a 'no suprises' ride: it did what you expected it to!

below is a pic of the evolution of my 2.Six, from when i first had it to when i had to sell it last year (i only sold it cause i moved to the USA and couldn't bring it with me - i regret it to this very day!)

IPB Image

i hope some of that helped answer your questions.

cheers

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When you say silver frame do you mean the team issue (whatever its called) because team mad said its same geo but alot stronger, i have the team issue and it rides really nicely and you can just squeeze in a 38mm rim but you have to sand the pads a bit (Y)

Edited by fredrico
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the mad i'm looking at is this one: madness

not too fussed about having to sand the pads a little, as i have zoo pads on a smooth rim and i cant see them wearing too fast with just tar :-

looks decent too me though and i actually can't wait to get away from long low and silver :P... i have always liked to ride a different frame... i've ridden a diamondback and a black mumba which are fairly rare frames (odd choices)... have you got a pics of your team issue fredrico?

edit: just found out the frame i'm looking at on ebay is the 05 and not the 06, can anyone tell me the difference? also can anyone tell me the geometry/dimensions of the mad frame?

Edited by JoNnY__Mc
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I am an ex owner of...saracen mad team issue, saracen mad 2.six H and a saracen mad team urban.

Simple, there are much better frames around...go buy a different one. Team issue was around 3 months late getting to me due to the cargo ship having to take a detour apparently. Team issue cracked on the driveside where the bottom of the rear triangle meets the bb shell, and then eventually the drive side rear triangle snapped off within 5 months.

Rang the shop i got it from, told them, right we will send you a new one, 2.six H with forks ok for you? Dont you want a picture? no its ok. That frame was took a month to get to me. Yep you guessed it, cracked and snapped in the same place, only the triangle didn't snap off completely. Rang the shop AGAIN and told him, ok we will send you a new one, team urban or team super pro...the difference, the colour. i wasn't going to pick the chrome so i got the team urban+forks. Rode it for about 3 months and it is fine but i have an adamant frame now so...pffft

The only good thing about saracen is the customer support as they have been outstanding, if not very slow. 2 free frames and forks including 2 stems and 2 headsets. For £100 i would say get a t-rex as they are often floating about quite cheap on here...

Edited by Clawz114
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...or that pitbull of Tunni ... if i was you i would probbaly go with the Echo pure.

that's a no brainer! :-

no offence Neil, but who'd want a used frame from him? it's gonna be hammered to hell and back (such is the way when you're doing the envelope-pushing riding that Neil does)

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