Best Bicycle Frames – For Bike Builders
There is a wide variety of bicycle frames available online for each different cycling discipline, from MTB to gravel, to touring. Some frame styles have barely changed over the decades, while others incorporate modern design technology that has only emerged recently.
It’s important to buy the correct frame for the riding style you intend to partake in, otherwise you could end up damaging your frame or injuring yourself. Here we examine the differences between each type of bike frame and the riding style that they’re intended for.
While most bicycles are built around a specific geometry that serves a certain purpose – there are always many more factors in play. Factors such as materials, design, fork travel, and many more that make the bicycle whole. While each of us has our own preferences in terms of how the bike should feel, there’s a lot that can be adjusted from frame to little details around it.
If you have already found the best components for your needs such as the right wheelset, tires for your riding style, but you are looking for a bicycle frame to build the bike from
Table of Contents
Mountain Bike Frames – Hardtail / Full-Suspension
FAQ & Accessories
Best Mountain Bike Frames
Hardtail
27.5” Full-Suspension
29” Full-Suspension
Best Hardtail Mountain Bike Frames
Hardtail MTB frames are considerably less complex than full-suspension frames. Although newer models have advanced geometry, hardtail MTB frames typically look like early mountain bikes. They consist of a traditional bike frame with two triangles split by the seat tube and a suspension fork on the front.
Depending on the style of riding the bike is intended for, hardtail MTBs have varying head and seat tube angles. This is largely to do with the amount of travel in the fork, which is usually more if the bike is intended for downhill riding.
Salsa – Timberjack Ti
Head Tube: 68° / Seat Tube: 73.6° / Chainstays: 420-437mm
Trail
MSRP $2,500 Aventuron
Related: Salsa Timberjack – Series overview
- Titanium
- Designed around 130mm fork
- Max Clearance: 27.5″+ 3.0″ / 29″ x 2.6″
- Internal Dropper-Post Compatible
- Cable Routing: Internal
Chromag – Rootdown ‘2020
3 different designs
Head Tube: 64° / Seat Tube: 76° / Chainstay: 420mm
Enduro / Trail
MSRP $750 JensonUSA
- 4130 Chromoly Steel
- Recommended Fork: 150-170mm
- Tire clearance:
- Headtube:
- Cable Routing: External
Santa Cruz Bicycles – Chameleon
Head Tube: 67.3° / Seat Tube: 72.8° / Chainstay: 415mm
Trail
MSRP $1,299 Competitive Cyclist
- Carbon
- Recommended fork travel: 120-140mm
- Max Clearance: 29″ x 2.6″ / 27.5″ x 3.0″
- Headset: IS41/IS52
- Cable Routing: Internal
Santa Cruz Bicycles – Chameleon 27.5″+
Head Tube: 67.5° / Seat Tube: 73° / Chainstay: 415mm
Trail
MSRP $749 CompetitiveCyclist
- Aluminum
- Headtube: 1-1/8″ 1-1/2″ tapered
- Cable Routing: Internal
Trek – Stache C
Head Tube: 67.8° / Seat Tube: 67.9° / Chainstay: 420mm
Trail
MSRP $1,700 TrekBikes
- OCLV Mountain Carbon
- Max compatible fork travel: 120mm
- Max Clearance: 29″ x 3″
- Headtube: FSA IS-2 1-1/8 top, 1.5″ bottom
- Cable Routing: Internal
Chromag – Monk
3 colors available
Head Tube: 70° / Seat Tube: 76° / Chainstay: 381mm
Dirt Jump
MSRP $650 JensonUSA
- 4130 Chromoly Steel
- 26″
- Recommended fork travel: 80-120mm
- Headtube: 44-56 Semi-Integrated
- Cable Routing: External
- Integrated chain tensioner
Surly – Karate Monkey
Head Tube: 69° / Seat Tube: 73° / Chainstay: 423mm
Trail
MSRP $700 JensonUSA
- 4130 Chromoly Steel
- Max clearance: 29″ x 2.5″ or 27.5″ x 3.0
- Dropper-post compatible
- Suspension-corrected fork
- Headtube: 4mm
- Cable Routing:
Ibis – DV9 Frame 2020
Head Tube: 67.4° / Seat Tube: 72° / Chainstay: 439mm
XC Race / Trail
MSRP $999 JensonUSA
- Carbon fiber
- Max Clearance: 29″ x 2.6″
- Recommended fork: 100/120mm
- Headtube: 1-1/8″ – 1 1-/2″
- Cable Routing: Internal
Surly – Bridge Club
Head Tube: 70-71° / Seat Tube: 73° / Chainstay: 435mm
Touring / Commuter / Trail
MSRP $525 JensonUSA
- 4130 ChroMoly Steel frame & Steel fork
- Tire clearance: 26″/ 700c / 27.5″ x 2.8″ max
- Headtube: 1-1/8″
- Cable Routing: External
- Full rack/fender ready – Just look at the amount of water-bottle mounts
Best 27.5“ FULL-SUSPENSION BIKE FRAMES
Full suspension mountain bike frames are the most complex of bike frame designs, with the most moving parts and mechanical components. They consist of two separate frame triangles on the front and rear, connected by pivots and links so that each one can move individually.
Connected to the front triangle and a pivot point on the rear triangle is a coil or air-sprung shock absorber. Rather than directly under the seat like on a motorbike, this suspension design pivots from the center of the bike so the rider doesn’t flip over forward on steep descents. When combined with a front suspension fork, this provides the best possible suspension that you can get on a bicycle.
Ibis – Mojo 3
Also Availabile in Red
Head Tube: 67.1° / Seat Tube: 74.4° / Chainstay: 425mm
Trail / All-Mountain
MSRP $2,833.00 $1,800 SAVE 36%
- Material: Carbon (Weight: 5.5lbs)
- Suspension Type: DW-Link
- Rear Shock – Fox Performance DPS / Fox Factory DPS
- Tire Clearance: 2.25″ to 2.8″
- Headtube: 1.5″
- Cable routing: Internal
Eminent – Haste
Head Tube: 65.5° / Seat Tube: 73° / Chainstay: 442mm
All-mountain / Enduro
MSRP $1,600
- Material: Unidirectional Carbon
- Suspension Type: AFS
- Rear Shock: DVO Topax T3 Air 230x60mm
- Recommended fork travel: 170mm
- Tire clearance: n/a
- Headtube: 1 1/8″
- Cable Routing: Internal
Ibis – Mojo 4 DPX2 2021
Head Tube: 65.4° / Seat Tube: 76.7° / Chainstay: 425mm
All-mountain / Trail
MSRP $2,999
Related: Ibis Mojo 4 – 2020 Review
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Suspension Type: DW-link
- Rear Shock: Fox Float DPX2, 210 x 50
- Tire clearance: Up to 2.6″
- Headtube: 1.5″ tapered
- Cable Routing: In-Frame Molded
Juliana – Furtado 3cc frame – 2020
Head Tube: 66.2° / Seat Tube: 74.9° / Chainstay: 425mm
All-mountain / Trail
MSRP $3,800
- Material: CC Carbon
- Suspension Type: VPP
- Rear Shock: 130mm travel Fox Float Performance Elite DPX2
- Recommended fork travel: 130-150mm
- Max tire width: 2.8″
- Headtube: Integrated IS41/52
- Cable Routing: Internal
Trek – Fuel EX AL 2020
Head Tube: 66-66.5° / Seat Tube: 75-75.5° / Chainstays: 435-437mm
Enduro / Trail
MSRP $2,000 Trekbikes
- Material: Aluminum, Magnesium rocker link
- Suspension Type:
- Rear Shock: 130mm travel Fox Performance Float EVOL, RE:aktiv3-position
- Max Tire Width: 2.6″
- Headtube: 1-1/8 (top – 1.5″ bottom
- Cable Routing: Internal
Best 29” Full-Suspension Mountain Bike Frames
Ibis – Ripmo AF Topaz 2020
Head Tube: 64.9° / Seat Tube: 77-76° / Chainstay: 435mm
Trail / All-mountain
MSRP $1,799
- Material: Aluminum
- Suspension Type: DW-Link
- Rear Shock: DVO Topaz 3-position
- Tire clearance: 2.6″
- Headtube:
- Cable Routing: Internal
- Dropper-post Clearance: 150mm (S) 175mm (XL)
Yeti – SB 150 Turq 2020
Head Tube: 64.5° / Seat Tube: 77.1° / Chainstay: 433mm
Enduro / Trail
MSRP $3,800
- Material: Carbon
- Suspension Type: Switch Infinity
- Rear Shock: Fox Factory Float X2 – 150mm
- Tire clearance:
- Headtube: Tapered IS 41/52 headset
- Cable Routing: Internal
Related: Yeti Cycles
Orbea – Occam OMR+ DPX2 ‘2020
Head Tube: 66° / Seat Tube: 77° / Chainstay: 440mm
All-mountain / Trail
MSRP $3,800
- Material: Carbon Fiber OMR
- Suspension Type:
- Rear Shock: Fox DPX2 Factory 3-Position Adjust EVOL Kashima
- Tire clearance: Up to 2.6″
- Headtube: 1- 1/8″ – 1-1/2″
- Cable Routing: Internal (Full housing)
GT – Sensor Carbon Frame ‘2020
Head Tube: 65.5° / Seat Tube: 76° / Chainstay: 435mm
All-Mountain / Trail
MSRP $1,900 JensonUSA
- Material: Carbon fiber front triangle with an alloy rear triangle
- Suspension Type: LTS
- Rear Shock: Fox Float DPX2 Performance Elite 185 x 50mm Trunnion – 130mm travel
- Tire clearance:
- Headtube: 1-1/8″ – 1 1/2″ FSA NO.42 Semi-Integrated sealed bearing headset
- Cable Routing: Partial Internal
- Optimized for: 130-140mm travel
Niner – RKT 9 RDO
Head Tube: 70.5-71° / Seat Tube: 74.5° / Chainstay: 440mm
XC / XC Race
MSRP $3,000 JensonUSA
- Material: RDO Carbon
- Suspension Type:
- Rear Shock: 90mm travel Fox Float DPS, 165 x 38mm
- Max tire width: 2.3″
- Headtube: 1.125″ x 1.5″ Tapered Integrated IS 42/28.6
- Cable Routing: Internal
- Drivetrain compatibility: 1x / 2x
- Recommended fork travel: 100mm
Evil – Following RockShox ‘2020
Head Tube: 67.9° / Seat Tube: 77° / Chainstay: 430mm
All-mountain / Trail
MSRP $3,099 JensonUSA
- Material: Unidirectional Carbon
- Suspension Type:
- Rear Shock: RockShox Deluxe Ultimate RCT Debonair
- Tire clearance:
- Headtube:
- Cable Routing: Internal
- Recommended fork travel: 120-130mm
- Drivetrain compatibility: 1x
Santa Cruz Bicycles – Megatower Carbon CC Coil
Available in Yellow & Grey
Head Tube: 64.7° / Seat Tube: 76.5-75.8° / Chainstays: 434-447mm
Enduro
MSRP $3,399 Competitive Cyclist
- Material: Carbon CC
- Suspension Type: VPP
- Rear Shock: 160mm travel Fox DHX2 Factory Coil with 2-position lever
- Recommended fork travel: 160-180mm
- Tire clearance:
- Headtube: 1-1/8 to 1-1/2 tapered
- Cable Routing: Internal
- Lifetime warranty
Evil Bikes – The Following
Head Tube: 66.9° / Seat Tube: 76° / Chainstay: 430mm
XC / Trail
MSRP $3,099 Competitive Cyclist
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Suspension Type: DELTA
- Rear Shock: 120mm travel RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate RCT DebonAir, 2 tokens
- Recommended Fork Travel: 120-130mm
- Tire clearance:
- Headtube: 1 1/8 – 1.5″ tapered
- Cable Routing: Internal
Best Road Bike Frames
Bianchi – Oltre XR 4 Disc
Different Color Schemes Available
Head Tube: 72-73° / Seat Tube: 74-72.5° / Chainstay: 400-411mm
Race
MSRP $5,900 Competitive Cyclist
- HM Unidirectional Carbon Fiber with Countervail
- 700c
- Compatible with Electronic and Mechanical groups
- Included Headset: FSA Orbit 1.5″
- Full Carbon Oltre Aero Seatpost
- 5-year warranty
Bianchi – Infinito
Head Tube: 70.5-72.5° / Seat Tube: 74.5-73° / Chainstay: 415-420mm
Race
MSRP $3,900 Competitive Cyclist
- Infinito Countervail Carbon
- 700c
- 1-1/8 – 1-1/2″ Tapered head tube
- Headset: FSA Orbit C-40
- Internal cable routing
- Compatible with electronic, mechanical drivetrains
- Aero seat post
- 5-year warranty
Cervelo – R3 Disc
Head Tube: 71-73° / Seat Tube: 73° / Chainstay: 410mm
Grand Tour / Classics winner
MSRP $3,000 Competitive Cyclist
- Carbon fiber
- FSA IS2 1-1/8 – 1.5″ Tapered head tube
- Max Clearance: 700c x 28mm
- Cervelo Carbon SP19 Seatpost
- Cable Routing: Internal
- Lifetime Warranty
Ridley – Helium SLX Disc
Different color schemes available
Head Tube: 71.8-74° / Seat Tube: 75-72.5° / Chainstay: 405-408mm
Classic Road
MSRP $3,500 Competitive Cyclist
- Carbon Fiber frame & fork
- 700c
- Max Clearance:
- Headtube: 1-1/4″ – 1 1/8″ tapered
- 5-year warranty
Best Gravel Bike Frames
Gravel bikes are very versatile and cover a wider range of disciplines than simply gravel riding. These days, many bikepackers use gravel bikes for short or long expedition trips that involve rougher terrain than pavement.
Simple to touring bike frames, gravel bikes typically have longer chainstays, slacker seat and head tube angles, a lower bottom bracket, and a longer wheelbase. This makes them more stable at speed over loose terrain or when loaded with luggage.
Niner – RLT 9 RDO
Two colors-schemes available
Head Tube: 70-72-5° / Seat Tube: 74.5-72.5° / Chainstay: 430mm
Gravel
MSRP $2,300 Competitive Cyclist
Related: Best Gravel Bikes
- RDO Carbon fiber
- 700c x 35mm
- Max Clearance: 40mm
- Built for 140mm rotors, can be used with 160mm with spacers
- Cable Routing: Internal
- 5-year warranty
Santa Cruz Bicycles – Stigmata Carbon CC
Head Tube: 71-72° / Seat Tube: 74.5 -73.5° / Chainstay: 425mm
CX / Gravel
MSRP $2,800 Competitive Cyclist
- Carbon fiber
- Max Clearance: 700c x 45mm / 650b x 50mm
- Headtube: Cane Creek 110 IS Integrated headset
- Cable Routing: Internal
- Lifetime Warranty
Niner – MCR 9 RDO 2020
Head Tube: 71-72° / Seat Tube: 73.8-73.3° / Chainstay: 440mm
Gravel
MSRP $3,000 JensonUSA
🏆 Winner of: Best Gravel Bike of 2021
- Carbon frame w/& alloy link
- Rear shock – 50mm travel X-fusion Microlite RL with Remote locker
- Max Clearance: 700c x 50mm / 27.5″ x 2.0″
- Headtube: Upper: IS42/28.6 / Lower: IS52/40
- Cable Routing: Internal
The Chamois – Hagar Gravel
Head Tube: 66.7° / Seat Tube: 73.5° – 74.5° / Chainstay: 430mm
Gravel & Bikepacking
MSRP $2,800 Competitive Cyclist
- Unidirectional Carbon Fiber
- 700c
- Cane Creek 40-series headset
- Internal cable routing
- 3-year warranty
Surly – Midnight Special
Head Tube: 71-73.5° / Seat Tube: 75.5-72.5° / Chainstay: 425mm
All-Road / Gravel / Commuting / Touring
MSRP $650 JensonUSA
- 4130 Chromoly Steel
- Max Clearance: 700c x 42mm / 650b x 60mm
- Headtube: 44mm
- Cable Routing: External
Best Cyclocross Frames
Cross (CX) bikes are similar to road bikes but intended for off-road use in disciplines like cyclo-cross. They are often compared to gravel bikes but the frame geometry is actually quite different. Unlike some gravel bikes, CX bike frames are never designed to carry luggage and are intended purely for short and intense rides of around two hours or less.
CX bikes have tighter seat and head tube angles to position the rider over the handlebars in a more aerodynamic position. This provides greater speed over short distances but is less comfortable for long rides.
Ibis – Hakka MX Disc
3 Different Color Schemes Availalbe
Head Tube: 70.5-72° / Seat Tube: 74.5-73.5° / Chainstay: 430mm
CX – Cyclocross / Gravel
MSRP $2,000 Competitive Cyclist
- Carbon Frame & Fork
- 700c / 650b
- Max Clearance: 27.5″ x 2.1″ / 700c x 40mm
- Cable Routing: Internal
- 7-year warranty
Ridley X-night SL Disc
Head Tube: 71.5-72° / Seat Tube: 75-73.5° / Chainstay: 42.5mm
CX – Cyclocross
MSRP $2,600 Competitive Cyclist
Current Listing: $1,800 (31% off)
- Unidirectional Carbon
- Headtube: FSA 1-1/8 – 1.5″ tapered
- Cable Routing: Internal
- 5-year warranty
Best Fat Bike Frames
Trek – Farley C Frameset 2020
Head Tube: 69° / Seat Tube: 73° / Chainstay: 455mm
Enduro / Trail
MSRP $2,200 Trekbikes
- OCLV Mountain Carbon
- Max compatible fork travel: 100mm
- Max Tire Clearance: 26″ x 5″ / 27.5″ x 4″
- Headset: FSA IS-2 1-1/8″ top, 1.5″ bottom
- Cable Routing: External
Salsa Mukluk Carbon Fat Bike
Head Tube: 69° / Seat Tube: 73° / Chainstay: 432-449mm
Fat bike
MSRP $2,000 Aventuron
- Carbon Frame & Fork
- Max tire Clearance: 5″
Best Track Bike Frames
Track bikes usually have the most intense and aggressive frame geometry, placing the rider far forward over the handlebars in the most aerodynamic position. This is the perfect position to exert the most amount of power on the pedals and get the most speed out of the bike.
Track bike frames have the shortest wheelbases, very steep seat and head tube angles, and minimal fork rake. They are also designed with very stiff materials for maximum power transfer on the drivetrain.
State Bicycles Co – Black Label 6061 v2
MSRP $299 Amazon
- Weight: 4 lbs
- Aluminum frame & carbon frame
- Sizes that fit riders from 5′ to 6’6″
All-City – Thunderdome
Head Tube: 72-72.5° / Seat Tube: 74.5-75° / Chainstay: 396mm
Track / Velodrome
MSRP $750 Aventuron
- 7000-series Aluminum frame
- Tapered head tube, axle-to-crown carbon fork
- Tire clearance: 700 x 25c
- UCI Certified track bike
All-City – Big Block
Head Tube: 75.5-72° / Seat Tube: 75-74.5° / Chainstay: 396mm
Track
MSRP $550 Aventuron
- 612 Select Chromoly Steel
- 4130 Chromoly double-butter fork
- Velodrome legal track bike frame geometry
- Max Clearance: 700c x 32mm (28mm with fenders)
Best Touring Bike Frames
Touring bike frames are traditionally built with steel and designed to be as stable as possible due to the heavy loads they carry. They usually have slacker head tube angles and tapered forks to provide more ‘fork trail’. This makes steering slower but more stable, particularly if you are carrying heavy front panniers.
Touring frames usually have longer chainstays (up to 470mm) to provide better stability and more heel clearance for carrying rear panniers. Traditionally, touring bikes had low bottom brackets for better stability but on more modern bikes built for off-road conditions, this can be higher.
Surly – Disc Trucker 700c
Head Tube: 72° / Seat Tube: 73-72° / Chainstay: 460mm
Touring / Commuting
MSRP $575 JensonUSA
- 4130 Chromoly Steel Frame & Fork
- Disc-brake specific
- Max Clearance: 26″ x 2.1 / 700c x 42mm
- Headtube: 34mm
- Cable Routing: External
- Multiple rack mounts
Surly – Staggler 650b
Head Tube: 69.5-72° / Seat Tube: 75.5-72.5° / Chainstay: 405-410mm
Touring / Road / Trail / CX / Commuter
MSRP $600 Aventuron
- Steel
- 135mm spacing
- 4130 Chromoly tubing
- ED coated
- TIG-welded
Salsa – Vaya
Head Tube: 70.25-71.5° / Seat Tube: 75.5-72° / Chainstay: 450mm
Light touring
MSRP $999 Aventuron
- Steel frame & Carbon fork
- Disc-brake orientated
- ED Coated frame
- Max Clearance: 700c x 50mm / 700c x 45 w/fenders
- Headtube: Included
- Cable Routing: External
FAQ
Where to look for the best bike frames for sale?
Check out our Best Bike Deals review, or look for:
- JensonUSA – A wide range of mountain-, road-, and gravel bike frames
- TREKbikes – Quite a selected which only a few can be ordered online. Road/Fat/MTB
- Competitive Cyclist – Top bicycle brand frames available – Evil bikes, Ibis, Yeti, Niner, Pivot, Santa Cruz Bicycles, Juliana, Devinci
- PlanetCyclery – Road bike frames starting from $380
What are the best bicycle frame brands?
- Santa Cruz Bicycles – Offers a wide variety of mountain bike frames, both full-suspension, and hardtail
- Surly – One of the best steel bike frame brands
- VAAST – Known by their magnesium frames
- SAGE Titanium Bicycles – High-end bicycles built on Titanium frames
Aluminum / Steel / Carbon / Magnesium / Titanium
(C) The Carbon fiber bike frame is characterized by ultra-durable, lightweight, and vibration reduction characteristics. Being more expensive than steel and aluminum frames, carbon is one of the most used road bike frame materials on higher-end bikes. Also, carbon bike frames are used on most mid-high end bicycles on the mountain bike range as well.
- Vibration-reduction, super lightweight, tough weight to stress ratio
The Steel bike frame used to be the main material for decades. Today, steel frames are still widely used by their low production cost and durable characteristics. Surly bikes is one of the most known bicycle brands to use Steel frames on all their bikes’ range. Most cyclists prefer steel due to their solid feel of the ride with no flex on the frame.
- Affordable, traditional, has a distinct solid feel to it
(Al) Aluminum alloy bike frames are among the mass-produced bicycle frame materials due to their lightweight and low manufacturing cost. Often seen on the entry-level road- and mountain bikes. The only downsides are that it is difficult to repair an aluminum frame, and aluminum tends to fatigue over time.
- Lightweight, affordable, corrosion-resistant, stiff and responsive
(Ti) Titanium bike frame – Most likely the rarest and most expensive materials to use. Although titanium is mainly used on higher-end bicycle components, a full-titanium bicycle frame is rather uncommon and used on limited or higher-end bicycles. One of the most iconic bicycle brands that use titanium on all of their bikes is Sage Titanium Bicycles.
- Great corrosion resistance, the frame itself won’t fatigue
(Mg) Magnesium bicycle frame – Magnesium bicycle frames started to come around the 80s. Some of the more popular magnesium bike frame brands: Pinarello, VAAST. Although due to difficulties in manufacturing and build quality issues, magnesium frames are a rather niché product these days.
- Strong, great weight-to-strength ratio
Bike Frame Accessories
To be updated soon!
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