xs650hacker
XS650 Member
Hello all, I have searched the forum for the answer to my question I have but couldn't find one. Sorry if I'm asking the same question that has been asked before.
Ok, on to the question: I have been debating on what to do with my frame, should I go bratstyle or hardtail. I am 6'-1" tall and weigh in at a whopping 160lbs (roofing will do this to you )
I love the look of the bratstyle bikes from Galcia and An-Bu, but don't think I would be comfortable even with the mid controls (I could use forwards but then ruin the look of trying to duplicate a true bratstyle) I also know it would be way more expensive to emulate one of their bikes just by looking at the prices for the parts that they have used if I were to try to achieve an exact replica.
I spoke to Mike at Visual Impact and he didn't feel it would be very comfortable for me either with the stock control location, just wanted to know if anyone here is the same type of build as me and has ridden a bratstyle.
I'm not so concerned with the suspension aspect of it as I've had hardtails before and it doesn't bother me. As it stands now, my frame is cut up to the point where I could brat it or go all the way and just hardtail it. If my intention was to build and sell the bike, I would go full bore on building the replica and calling it good. But this is going to be my bike that I want to put a lot of miles on during our off season up here.
Thanks for any input, sorry for the long winded post and if anyone has any info on whats best hardtail to use if that's the way to go, please chime in (been checking out Travis DIY kit pretty hard!)
Ok, on to the question: I have been debating on what to do with my frame, should I go bratstyle or hardtail. I am 6'-1" tall and weigh in at a whopping 160lbs (roofing will do this to you )
I love the look of the bratstyle bikes from Galcia and An-Bu, but don't think I would be comfortable even with the mid controls (I could use forwards but then ruin the look of trying to duplicate a true bratstyle) I also know it would be way more expensive to emulate one of their bikes just by looking at the prices for the parts that they have used if I were to try to achieve an exact replica.
I spoke to Mike at Visual Impact and he didn't feel it would be very comfortable for me either with the stock control location, just wanted to know if anyone here is the same type of build as me and has ridden a bratstyle.
I'm not so concerned with the suspension aspect of it as I've had hardtails before and it doesn't bother me. As it stands now, my frame is cut up to the point where I could brat it or go all the way and just hardtail it. If my intention was to build and sell the bike, I would go full bore on building the replica and calling it good. But this is going to be my bike that I want to put a lot of miles on during our off season up here.
Thanks for any input, sorry for the long winded post and if anyone has any info on whats best hardtail to use if that's the way to go, please chime in (been checking out Travis DIY kit pretty hard!)