Cane creek hellbender is probably the highest end headset. Is it actually better than a series 40? Maybe if you keep the bike for 20 years.

Chris King also makes fancy ones.

Seems like you want something like the Specialized Diverge Evo?

I second the custom TI Waltly approach.

How about a lightbicycle Journey in size large? Gives you effective top tube of 574 and you can add a 60ish mm stem to flat bar.

If you're gonna run smaller 700c tires, then consider a 650B bike frame so your bb drop doesn't get too crazy low if you choose a mtb frame.

For your wheels, just get different end caps to match whatever frame you get. If you go boost, you'll have to dish the rear wheel which is pretty easy or cheap if you pay for it.

Bro, how huge are your legs that you're pushing around 40t mountain bike? Genuinely impressed and also confused on the use case. You might consider either a 2x which puts larger ring out a bit or that weird 'Classified' 2 speed hub with crazy expensive cassettes.

There's a few on top-fire but I've never heard of anyone who's got one so far. A couple hub based and a few crank based. Might have to accept gravel tire spacing.

Any thoughts on hub vs bb motors? Hub seems maybe cheaper, more reliable (at least simpler), and probably feels great if lower powered as these seem to be.

https://www.top-fire.com/carbon-road-e-bike-frames_c28

Trek has their 1120 fork (or whatever the bikepacking one is called) with a 510 A2C. That's what I'm running on a  Nukeproof Scout. Else you could get a custom steel one built for whatever size you want.

Very interesting, can't find anything myself - got a link?

Quote from: daifanshi on May 03, 2023, 08:37:26 PM
I honestly don't want either.  The fact is this bike frame has 120mm of travel which already pushes it out of the "XC race" category.  spcycle can cater to a far larger market if they had one frame that would satisfy both the XC and light trail duty requirements.  All I am suggesting is shrinking the seat tube can make the design far more flexible and capable.

I agree with you, the seat tube should be about 30mm shorter (or even shorter, ideally).

What do you estimate the maximum rear tire clearance to be? I'm hoping some high volume 2.4's or...god willing, 2.6" could fit.

Thanks for posting. I'll be following along and, pending your review/thoughts, be ordering one for myself.

You best bet is to find one with a pressfit bottom bracket and then install an eccentric bottom bracket. I have yet to find a chinese carbon mtb frame with sliding dropouts.

StefanB - what frame is your bike? It looks great!