Lighter gauge steel disc production frame under 1k?

[Sukho Goff]

It's time to upgrade from my first disc frame, a Novara Mazama w Wolverine fork. I only ride 650b disc (and rim bikes) so I guess you could add 650b to the title. So.. is the Black Mountain Cycles Road+ the ONLY production frameset (soon to be) available that uses lighter (8/5/8) tubing under or around $1k? Anything else out there with a sportier non "bikepacking/touring" geometry (like the Road+) that I'm missing?

Sukho in PDX

[Derek Z]

Only one on my radar is Crust LB and I’ve been looking for a while. It’s a bit over your budget though...
Derek Z

[Igor Belopolsky]

How lightweight are we talking here? Bob Jackson would build you such a bike. 8/5/8 if you ask. Not sure about 650b but probably could be done, especially with disc brakes. 

Velo Orange? Probably not as lightweight as you want.

[Igor Belopolsky]

Soma?

[Sukho Goff]

If Bob Jackson could build me a disc frame with clearances for 650bx48's with fenders in a lighter gauge tubing for under a thousand bucks, I (and many others) would be super stoked! Checking out his website now...

Velo Orange's new sweet looking Lilac Polyvalent is double OS 9/6/9 top AND down tubes. Would be great for me and my wife (whilst sitting on the top tube) and our camping gear :-)

Sukho

On Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at 5:44:01 AM UTC-7, Igor Belopolsky wrote:

[Sukho Goff]

*copied from my reply on Bob*

The Bombora looks cool as hell. I've been wanting a pink-ish purple-ish bike for awhile now too. However I'm seeing a down tube brace at the head tube and that makes me think it's another heavy duty touring/bikepacking thing again. Are we at the point now in frames where the tires are actually TOO fat (i.e. 2.4") for a lighter frameset? Maybe diminishing returns like that Rawland thing that Jan tested in BQ where he fell in that creek trying to "maximize" the potential of some huge ass tires on a road-ish bike?

I've been looking for this frame (see title of post) for about six months now. I even have a spreadsheet; which mostly has 700c bikes that you'd have to convert to 650b (but then have ugly inch and a half gaps between your fender and the frame like my Mazama-rine). There's really nothing out there.

I'm thinking the BMC Road+ wins this contest for now; at least until other companies catch on. When I say catch on I'm saying lighter gauged, quicker geometry for fast and rough day rides. Maybe like a production Crust Dreamer built in Taiwan with 8/5/8 tubing. Or even like the Surly midnight special without the plumbing pipes.

re the BMC Road+...another reason I think Mike Varley wins is he's stated both his new disc frames use the exact same tubing as his rim brake road and monster cross frames - which from what I'm hearing in these circles are really sweet riding bikes.

That's it then.

Sukho in PDX

[nm matt]

there seem to be a number of framesets which meet your criteria, save one...price. i don't really think it is a matter of people/manufacturers not getting it, but rather that the cost of producing something lighter than a surly costs more than a surly. the BMC looks nice, and if you get it, i'm sure it will be great. lets not forget the elephant NFE. its impact on just this sort of frame should not be overlooked, although its cost is outside the desired pricepoint. good luck with your search!

[First Last]

Does anybody know how the Soma fog cutter tubing fares in comparison to the road+? Can’t quite stretch the budget to Crust bikes at the moment, so its between BMC and Soma for me currently.

[Derek Z]

I recall 9-6-9 OS but don’t remember where I read that... prolly on the bob list!
Derek Z

[Derek Z]

FirstLast,
This was just posted on the bob list, you may find it of interest in regards to Soma’s tubing...
https://www.instagram.com/p/7YuLhOw-v-/

[Sukho Goff]

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Soma's "Tange" is probably cheap 9/6/9 OS. Especially at their price point. But shoot, for the money, Soma frames are handsome, good riding bikes. I've ridden a few models and they ride OK and would be something most non-hard core bike nerds would be proud to own.

However, IMO, that's why the BMC's lighter 8/5/8 tubing (and all of the anecdotal positives describing the ride quality of the frames) wins this argument. Especially for $695 (or $595 for their rim brake frames). 

And yes I will be putting down my $100 deposit for the BMC Road+ shortly. I just don't think there's anything else out there that can run 650bx48's and fenders made of 8/5/8 for $700 frame and fork.

Sukho. 

On Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at 4:03:28 PM UTC-7, First Last wrote:

[Eric Daume]

Just keep in mind, on the BMC MC, the 8/5/8 only went up to size 62. Beyond that, Mike used 9/6/9 single OS, same as my old Surly Cross Check. I don't know how this translates to the new models.

Eric

with a 62cm BMC MC

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[First Last]

Thanks for the info all. Yes, that makes sense that Soma's tubing is 9/6/9 OS. This definitely seals the deal for me. Been talking to Mike and secured my deposit already. That was quick!

[Sukho Goff]

One more tidbit on the new BMC's. Mike said since there are no brakes connected to the seat stays he made them a smaller diameter than the rim brake frames. That's a big plus in my book. If not for a little flex then at least it's aesthetically pleasing IMO.

Sukho

[Nathan Briles]

The bmc looks pretty nice. I wish they came with a different color and had a lower trail though.

Wish there was more manufacturers around the $6-700 range

[Justin, Oakland]

You want a niche product. Niche does not lead to low cost. In the long run you can actually help potentially lower prices by spending more money now and helping to raise demand and thus supply. If you’re a supply/demand capitalist and believe that.

-J