SCPaul

I am looking for a steel framed mountain bike type hybrid. I'd prefer a rigid steel fork maybe carbon.

I've looked at some but most don't have wide enough tires or wheels. Looking for 40s or maybe 50s.

Any suggestions? If I can't find something, I might have to think about converting or building something.

fietsbob

Explain Mountain Bike Type Hybrid?

China-Taiwan Makes hundreds of brands of bikes ,for Companies around the world.

what brands are sold in shops where you Live ?

or you want someone to say get one from Bikes Direct and work on it yourself?.

SCPaul

Explain Mountain Bike Type Hybrid? - as opposed to a flat bar road bike type bike. looking for lower gearing and fatter tires.

I was asking if anyone knew of anything to look at. I have been looking but not finding much. If I get a hardtail mountain bike, that probably means replacing the fork to ditch a few pounds.

likebike23

Here you go: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._adventure.htm. If you don't think you can handle the assembly yourself, you can bring the specs to a shop and see if they can get something similar, or see how much it would be for them to do it.

badger1

Simple. You are looking for a steel-frame hardtail (26er, 650b, 29er) you can convert to/use with rigid fork.

Solution: the obvious ones are Surly Troll (26er) or Ogre (29er). Unless Marin still makes its Muirwoods 29er, those are the obvious choices. Far as I know, you are not going to find a "hybrid" in steel that meets your criteria. No commercially viable demand for such beasts.

treadtread

Marin Muirwoods.

mtbikerinpa

I just made mine. Some thin mtb rims, a good mtb touring frame, handlebar to suit. In my case I chose to sorta cyclocross my other Sedona which made a rando-rack capable 1.9 inch wide roadie. Good float and good handling/efficiency. Well worth the creative energy and gets lots of positive comments while riding. All told, maybe about $50 extra bux on a bike I already had collecting dust.

fietsbob

Quote : it's on a Brass Plaque somewhere ..

erg79

Yeah, Marin Muirwoods would probably be your best bet in terms of a complete bike that you could buy off the shelf (that is, if you can find a Marin dealer). Lots of options for framesets that you could build up--Surly Karate Monkey (it can run gears)/Troll/Ogre, Soma Juice, Kona Unit (would need to add gears).

no1mad 

Yeah, the Muirwoods 29er comes with 1.6" tires (40.64 mm). I haven't looked at one in person in a couple of years, but if the design hasn't changed, you should be able to get 50 mm on there if desired.

Ravenhog

Here is an Ogre with 38's to give you an idea of how much space you have left to stuff whatever you feel like in there. I believe the Muirwoods is sold by REI but online only.

jbchybridrider 

Buy a 90's MTB and start a project.

SHOFINE

Too bad Trek don't make the Sawyer no more....couple of them listed on Ebay now.

phoebeisis

The 1990's series 700-720 -730-750 (and occasionally another number or two-770 maybe 790)
are poor mans 29ers.
They are 700c-and will take a 2" wide tire I think,
They easily take a 40mm-with maybe 8mm clearance-so they should handle even a 50mm
Now 50mm are frequently a bit less wide than 50mm-maybe 45mm

In any case the 720 on are at least main tube cromo- 750 on DB full Cromo frames
They have appreciated a bit lately-but you should be able to get a 750 on ebay for maybe $225 delivered
Locally maybe $150 or so
Decent lower end Shimano components-21 speed-nice reliable sturdy treks

You can also buy a reynolds 853 frame-29er-just frame maybe fork-for maybe $250-$400-cost you another $300-$450 for components depending on your taste-

SCPaul

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions.

I haven't been able to find a steel MTB up to now. I will continue looking. Otherwise, I'll look at a Surly or Soma frame. The Troll or Orge complete bikes are a little spendy. I should be able to do better building it up myself and get it how I want it.

deerfly

+1 on the Muirwoods. It comes with disk (29er) or caliper (26") brakes. You can get them for really decent prices on Ebay or Amazon, they are all coming from Crosslake Sales.

Here is an example:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-Marin-M...item5afa39f3b3

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-Marin-1...item5d48e59909

In recent months I have purchased two Marin Mountain bikes (for the wife and I) from this vendor and couldn't be happier. Can't beat the prices.

erg79

Wow, really nice deals.

oddjob2

I bought a pair of one year old Muirwoods from what must have been an REI employee 3 years ago. Sold one, so ended up only having $250 invested in the one I kept. Awesome plush ride and fast!

Otherwise, take a steel rigid MTB and put road slicks on it and convert the bars to any style you want. I call it the poor mans LHT, only 10% of the cost of a Surly.

corwin1968

Can't believe that nobody has mentioned it but in May Velo-Orange will begin selling the Camargue. The smaller sizes will have 26" wheels and the larger sizes will be 700c. The bike is designed around a 2.1" tire, is built to be ridden on virtually any terrain and is all cro-moly. It even has a bi-plane fork like the old 80's MTB's. The major differences between this and a vintage MTB are a lower bottom bracket, shorter top-tube, lower amount of trail and 700c wheels in the larger sizes. These are all positives in my book.

You would have to buy it as a frameset and then purchase all additional components and build it up but that's the best way to get exactly what you want in a bike.

They are marketing it as an expedition tourer and there seems to be a lot of interest so I expect the first batch to sell quickly.

corwin1968

I have a couple of 1995 Trek 730's and I consider them to be fantastic bikes. I'll never get rid of either one. However, I mounted 40mm tires on 24mm rims and although they fit the 730 fine, I wouldn't try to go much bigger. You might be able to squeeze 45's on there with the right tire/rim combination but I don't think there's any way a 50mm tire would fit. If it would take 50's my 21" model would be my primary bike!

Another option I'm considering is doing a 26" conversion to my 730. The bottom bracket drop is small enough that ground clearance isn't an issue, even with 175mm cranks. I've been riding mine (sans brakes) with 26" wheels and 55mm Schwalbe Big Apples and it's a blast!! If I didn't already have a set of custom built 700c wheels, I would probably just spend about $350 or so and have the canti-bosses moved, the frame realigned and powdercoated. If I make the move to 26" I'll be compelled to buy a new set of hand-built 26" wheels and that's probably another $500....easy.

Here is a rendering of my 21" 730 with 26" wheels and 55mm Big Apples:

phoebeisis

Corwin1968
I also LOVE those 700 series treks-
Right-DON'T sell them
My first was a 17" 730- PRETTY GREEN- great shape
I rode it for 2 years or so-despite it being too big for me(5'4"-stubby legs) ~30" stand over with 40mm transworld sports on it
I (dumb) sold it-and bought a 750-15"- but DUH sold that too-not sure why?
I actually prefer bigger framed bikes-they ride better than smaller frames-but I still should have kept the 750

Well I regretted it-been hunting for another 730-750 ever since(had 2 700 too-one seat tube only cromo one full main frame cromo)
1 months ago I WAAAAAAY overpaid-for a beat up 17" 750 frame $80 delivered-no fork
Then 2 weeks ago I see a 17" white 750-full bike-ebay-wants $280 delivered-I offer $190-and it is here now
Sweet riding bike-

Oh-the 40mm World Sports-actually 43mm wide 40mm tall sidewalls- have about 8mm side clearance-but just 6-7mm top clearance.
So you are right-a true 50mm sidewall-won't fit-

Oh I like those Big Apples(pricy tires-maybe $40 or so??)-have a 2.4 SUPER MOTO( more or less same tire)-
Yeah they look good-nice high volume compliant tire-fast on the road too!!

Yeah-know anyone who wants and over priced 750 frame-lugged-but ugly scratched-
eventually I will build it into a beater bike maybe??

Yeah-never sell because you can't buy as versatile a bike for the $150_$200 you can sell them for.
Lotta bike for the $$
Kick myself for selling the 1st 730!!

nfmisso

There TONS of '80's & '90's cr-mo frames out there that build up into great bikes of the style you are looking for. Some examples that I have: SR Sierra Sport, Trek 930, Schwinn Cimarron; and there many others, just have to look. Many times the sellers on CL have no idea what they have, and as a buyer you must know what you are looking for in poorly taken pictures and lousy descriptions.

corwin1968

Both of mine are 1995 models.....Ice Green. The 19" I bought in 1995 and rode until 2007, when I bought an FX 7.2. Then, I got back into steel and bought a 21" 730 in 2012...I believe.

Here they are nose-to-nose:

phoebeisis

Hey pretty bikes-exactly the color my 17" 730 was. Hmm-should kick myself for selling that one!
Oh-you are doubly right on tire size
I looked more carefully-at the chain stays-probably only 3mm total clearance with that 42mm wide tire-
so you are right-you would need some luck to fit a 45mm-and honest 50mm-no way!

nfmisso- you are right-plenty of decent to better than decent cromo bikes-1990's vintage- 700c and 26"
Here in NOLA-there are a fair number of flippers-and some interest in steel framed bikes
so in general not that many "great prices" but plenty of decent prices
maybe $100 $125 or so for a 700-720 bit more for a 730-$135-$150 and maybe $175 for a 750 assuming good condition(shiny paint) with everything working-decent tires
Now if the bike is "slightly broken" usually meaning shifters not working-cable broken-derailleur out of adjustment-flat tires etc
Price is MUCH lower.
I paid $190 for the 750-decent but not great paint-tires tubes shot-cables actually "lubed" into function- were sorta frozen on arrival.
Not a great-but a fair enough deal for a DB CROMO framed bike that turns out only "needs' tires tubes-and a new saddle
If I had bought it locally-maybe $150 or less(actual selling price was $90- with $100 shipping)
It is lugged-and made in USA- nice touches but I like the welded frames too-they work just as well

In any case-lots of nice cromo framed bikes out there-decent prices!

erg79

Hadn't heard of that before. Really classy looking.