2005 .243 frames are here

[arnott]

check these out, 2 new frames and one original,

http://www.243racing.com/page141.htm

the ones with the think tubes looks ugly and the one with no head tube gusset is only 6lbs

[Rik]

Interesting...
the .243-lite was hinted at earlier in the year, and it looks like they've tweaked the geometry a bit, which would make it even better.
15.1" chainstays! :shock: (Carlin, our resident chainstay pervert, will die at the thought of this)

The adjustable disc position is very welcome, allows for full use of dropout positioning.
The price... well, who knows what it'll be when it lands in Aus. The Evil D.O.C is cheaper than it by almost CND$100, alas I doubt the Evil will be imported. Interesting times, I wonder who else is going to bring out nice street hardtails for 2005, we've had the Norco 416Reynolds, the D.O.C, .243 Lite... what next? Shame that we're a small market and won't see alot of them though :cry:

[arnott]

I wonder who else is going to bring out nice street hardtails for 2005, we've had the Norco 416Reynolds, the D.O.C, .243 Lite... what next?

i dont think it is quite in the same price league but here is the new santa cuz hardtail for ya, people will have many different opinions regarding the top tube

http://www.farkin.net/forums/album_thumbnail.php?pic_id=11624 (http://www.farkin.net/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=11624)

[lotec]

omg 15.1" chainstays, they took a manualling machine and made it even better :shock: now I'm faced with a huge desicison, buy a second hand 04 frame for 400 or wait for the new ones and pay a lot more but 15.1" stays :cry: !

[Rik]

people will have many different opinions regarding the top tube
There should be a new rule for bike manufacturers: Don't ever take your inspiration from KHS' aluminium bikes. That front end looks a bit like a KHS Bitch... which itself looks like it was beaten with an ugly stick.

[03choko03]

people will have many different opinions regarding the top tube
There should be a new rule for bike manufacturers: Don't ever take your inspiration from KHS' aluminium bikes. That front end looks a bit like a KHS Bitch... which itself looks like it was beaten with an ugly stick.
cue ramones- beat on the bitch with the ugly stick oh yeah oh yeah oh oh

[Carlin]

15.1" :shock: That's damn short. I bet you can't run a 26" wheel at that length though!

The light one is looking good though, and there is more chance of seeing them over here than the DOCs.

As for the 8 pound one, who was breaking the 7 pound one in the first place?

[chrus]

hmmmm now i have to reconsider my street frame ideas...

[roasted]

didnt they used to be 8 pounds?

the new, light one is nice, and I actually quite like it.

[Psyloman]

looks like i might have to add to my 243 family with one of those street bikes

[arnott]

would the street(one without the gusset) be cheaper then the .243 now and will the .243 now be cheaper also

[floody]

The 8lb frame -what could the point of that be, I thought the 7lb one was some kind of uber tank, strengthwise?
I like the gusset free one, at 6lb thats a definite improvement, and one I'd nearly consider..

[DYJK]

i like them a lot...they dont seem to vary very much though. Those pedals must weigh a tonne! :lol: so the original .243 will still be around $650?

[2 smooth 4 u]

whats with the pedals

[S.]

whats with the pedals

They're a revolutionary new design that allows you to put your feet on them. They have a novel axle-and-bearing system that allows the body of the cage to rotate about the spindle, thus allowing you to pedal without taking your foot off every half a rotation. Neat huh!

[kalem]

whats with the pedals

They're a revolutionary new design that allows you to put your feet on them. They have a novel axle-and-bearing system that allows the body of the cage to rotate about the spindle, thus allowing you to pedal without taking your foot off every half a rotation. Neat huh!

great to have you back. Good to see NZ didn't change you.

[Tomas]

people will have many different opinions regarding the top tube
There should be a new rule for bike manufacturers: Don't ever take your inspiration from KHS' aluminium bikes. That front end looks a bit like a KHS Bitch... which itself looks like it was beaten with an ugly stick.

Rik tho mate, think about the pressure the forks put on the headtube. I can see why it would make it a hell of a lot stronger.

I like thoes .243's tho. Very sex.

[naz]

im in line for the light, might be nice to ride a normal bike again

[arnott]

im in line for the light, might be nice to ride a normal bike again

but it only warranties single crown forks. i also like the light version and may be the next buy for me.

when i get out of major debt

[Rik]

Rik tho mate, think about the pressure the forks put on the headtube. I can see why it would make it a hell of a lot stronger.
Prebent tubes are never stronger than straight ones (all else being equal)

[Tomas]

Rik tho mate, think about the pressure the forks put on the headtube. I can see why it would make it a hell of a lot stronger.
Prebent tubes are never stronger than straight ones (all else being equal)

Im not an engineer, so im not going to argue it. I was just thinking of the forces that would be put on the frame by the fork, where they would be and what direction... Made sense in my head anyway :roll: .

[danv]

Rik tho mate, think about the pressure the forks put on the headtube. I can see why it would make it a hell of a lot stronger.
Prebent tubes are never stronger than straight ones (all else being equal)
I'm no expert either, but I wouldn't think that is neccesarily true, if more material has been added, which seems to be the case here. Although, is that even a square tube twisted 45 degress?

[Rik]

if more material has been added
"All else being equal" being the operative statement there. And I was moreso referring to the KHS being an ugly POS originally. At least I have faith in SC to do a half decent bike.
Anyway, time to speculate, looking closer at the SC it appears it's hydroformed tubing, and the design appears to have more weld area, so it could be stronger than a "standard" design using the same tubing thickness, but meh, who knows really.
That still doesn't take away anything from the fact it's ugly, and so are KHS's.

[mtb_man]

That still doesn't take away anything from the fact it's ugly, and so are KHS's.

Just close your eyes when you're riding so you can't see how ugly it is.


hmm, that sounded better in my head than when typed.

Kids, ALWAYS ride with your eyes open... ---> :shock:


Oh and the .243 lite looks nice and sensible

[naz]

im in line for the light, might be nice to ride a normal bike again

but it only warranties single crown forks. i also like the light version and may be the next buy for me.



exactly, it would be nice to ride a bike with normal geo
and have my other 243 for hucking n DH

[.243racer]

the 8 pound frame is specificaly designed to use a dual crown fork. it is the ultimate dh hardtail.

i really like the un gussteted 243