Hardtail with silly wheels...Stanton Switchback

[reanimation]

It does look smart though. like trick but not showy, and special but not in ya face. if the forks look OK for real they'll do. black white and red works a treat.

Suppose the geometry is very similar so they've done a good job tranferring their magic from 26 to 27.7ers
I've forgotten the details but 631 I think is very similar that it hardens while welding must be really similar, maybe 853 you need less of it making it it lighter and slightly more supple in the light weight souls case.

 

[Mindmap3]

Re:

Originally I wanted red and white decals but with the frame being a cherry red I thought the red decals would clash and look rubbish.

I did Google the differences but a lot of it is beyond me and the rest is contradictory!

 

[reanimation]

Maybe Gil could do some custom decals or overlay a white on to the black.

There will be threads full of armchair experts on metals tubings and geometries and wheel sizes! eek!

 

[elPedro666]

Maybe Gil could do some custom decals or overlay a white on to the black.

There will be threads full of armchair experts on metals tubings and geometries and wheel sizes! eek!

Nah, think you've pretty much nailed it there - 853 is strong and hardens with welding so you can use less of it, meaning lighter and more supple frames, but still very strong. I think I'm right in saying that 6/7/853 are all the same composition, just different heat treatments...

853 rides like it's made of black magic though, floating over anything but then accelerating with like it's totally solid, incredible stuff

 

[Mindmap3]

Cheers for that. I'd always assumed that 853 was a bit posher.

Pretty sure the 853 Slacklines were more expensive than the later 631 version that has a 44mm head tube and a bigger seat tube.

I can't tell the difference between 631 and 853, but they're different bikes.

 

[reanimation]

Good, thanks, I avoid debates without clutching supporting evidence! Haha infact I avoid debates. I'll do some refreshing reading on it again just incase funding another frame is ever likely. A good steel bike is a good investment and a joy.

 

[Mindmap3]

Good, thanks, I avoid debates without clutching supporting evidence! Haha infact I avoid debates. I'll do some refreshing reading on it again just incase funding another frame is ever likely. A good steel bike is a good investment and a joy.

Defo agree with that last bit.

Most of my long travel hardtails have been aluminium (Chameleons, Sub Zero), but I think I do prefer steel. There is some extra compliance for a small weight gain and they just look so right.

 

[MonkeyPuzzle]

According to an interview with Dan Stanton, the only real difference is that 853 is more resistance to dings than 631, but at the thicknesses of MTB tubing that difference is basically null and void.

 

[reanimation]

Did a quick read up just because. STW took me back to the horses mouth.
853 vs 631 has a higher tensile strength, as it has a final heat treatment Same as 725 vs 520 (my other bike is 520).
It's not necessarily stiffer though, so a light XC/trail bike could take advantage of slimmer tubes, though it may be more flexible and possibly more prone to dings even though it is stronger. So Maybe proper trail machines such as Switchback use enough material to get a stiff strong ride that extra strength just isn't necessary...
http://reynoldstechnology.biz/our_materials_631.php

 

[Mindmap3]

I haven't been on the site much, so thought that I'd update this thread.

I'm in love with this bike and it's my main ride...the Rune is restricted to uplift days, DH sessions and the nasty stuff.

I'm still unsure of the impact of 650b and still maintain that a good bike is a good bike. What I do know is that this one seems to suit me. As well as general trail riding at Cannock, it's done CYB twice this year, Hopton, 'Degla and Penmancho with a few more days out planned this year.

Hopton in March...

CYB

Random photo that I just like

And a pic from the FB Stanton Owners group first ride at Cannock last month

Since Januray it's also received a few upgrades. The Race Face wheels were pretty good, but a buckled and flat spotted the rear wheel. My fault for not getting it tried and tensioned after a few rides so I upgraded to a pair of DT Swiss M1700 wheels. I've got say that they're a big improvement; they're lighter, stiffer and have a better freehub pick up.

The runs are a bit wider which I'm convinced had given the tyres a better profile because I seem to like them more than I did. The original Mountain Kings were ditched sharpish for Trail Kings which offer a bit more grip.

The new hubs are centre lock only so I upgraded to Ice Tech rotors because my stock SLX ones were getting mega hot and I did experience fade once or twice. Downside was my older generation Deore brakes were struggling with the new rotors with obe of the front pistons not retracting properly when hot. The calliper itself was getting mega hot too.

Solution? A pair of M615 Deores that are Ice Tech compatible. First big ride oyt at CYB yesterday and no issues at all.

I may also have bought some new Turbube cranks because I wasn't keen in the silver ones any more! Still not done the decals on the forks though. Aside from that, I doubt anything else will change.