Charge Scissor

A mate of mine (down my road) has a frame and fork he abuses it all the time and has had no problems, I have had no problems with the paint on the freestyler I just picked up...

Could be a poor coating or something?

hark! my paint is coming away also, i just have the frame but its chipping up a bit, but i totally expected this cause i treat her like a whore.

but really i am singing utter praise for this bike, crazy james had a rant about a page back and i totally agree, fantastic bike

So as a slightly different thought - would the scissor make a good off road frame, how much of an effect would the tight wheelbase have?

The theory is that it would make a good off-road frame especially cyclocross tyres (or 29ers), I don't think there's anything to worry about the tight wheelbase though.

No i thought that but wasn't sure as everything rally designed for off road tends to have a longer wheelbase - I assume for balance or maybe a touch more flex (and therefore comfort?). Hmmm decisions decisions....

The Scissor makes a great off road frame. That is what I use mine for 50% of the time.
I tend to like quicker handling than MTBs offer so suits me really well (when I has SS MTBs I always ran rigid forks that were shorter than the frame intended to sharpen up the angles a bit)

Due to the long top tube/short stem that the Scissor requires it gives a more playful ride than road frames, the front wheel pops up more easily to get over obstacles, bunny hop/jump etc,.
As long as you are used to/like rigid off road riding then it is just the job.

I was using a track frame with 25c tyres off road before the Scissor though so maybe my perspective is a bit off!

Well I've done exactly what you have previously - rigid frame and a shorter a-c fork than designed for. Sound. I think I'll get one on order...

is the fork drilled for a brake?

yes

A very long reach brake!

Look at the distance and that is with a pretty big tyre.

The hole look way too small to be a brake holes though.

Unless it's there for a reason, I don't like that hole!

It's a drainage hole...

Isn't there one where the tube ends under the "fork crown"?

Stick that in your drainage hole...

I couldn't see the point of a brake hole either as didn't think anyone would be wanting to put a brake on this sort of frame/fork. But then the question above means they do I guess.
And the MKE forks come with AD990 mounts I think which for me are even worse/uglier. (unless you use them!)

i was thinking of getting one as a cheap commuter/beater and maybe do some off road - not interested in tricks really. i think i need to have a go on one to see how compact the geo is and how fast i can go.

I think i saw someone post a link to a clamp on v brake - does anyone have it?

Or just get a different fork with V-brake mount, you can get the frame without the original fork.

The geometry is not very compact at all and you will be able to go as fast as on any other fixed gear/singlespeed assuming everything equal (wheels, tyres, gearing etc,.) The only oddity with geometry is the long TT which needs a short stem.
As an example of compactness, I am 5' 10" with 33" inside leg and this is how much seatpost is exposed so not exactly compact.

Is that saddle height set for proper, full leg extension riding yeah?

Kerley, is that a trick bike? I thought clipless pedals were not a good idea for tricks (but I have no experience of tricks, just something i've heard/read on here).

That looks like a lot of fun. My next bike'll be a chuckable street phykzee.

Is that saddle height set for proper, full leg extension riding yeah?

It most certainly is.

With a 170 crank and a high profile saddle which no doubt helps in needing less seatpost

Thats a really nice build Kerley - i am tempted by a Scissor for the same reasons you got one. Personally if you want a brake i would run a Disc with a hollow expander bolt cable routing through the headset/headtunbe, using these forks or similar:

http://corporate.marketplaceadvisor.channeladvisor.com/storefrontprofiles/processfeed.aspx?sfid=101713&i=69509886&mpid=86&dfid=1

It would look/work like the Disc Brake set up on my bike:

Unless it's there for a reason, I don't like that hole!

Most BMX forks have that. I think they hang them up to paint them in the factories. Might be wrong though.

Kerley, is that a trick bike? I thought clipless pedals were not a good idea for tricks (but I have no experience of tricks, just something i've heard/read on here).

I use it for general riding with a good mix of off road (singletrack/fire roads rather than rock gardens!) Clipless are fine for what I do (jumping over banks, off steps, hopping over things etc,.) but wouldn't want to go too mad!
I just wanted a tough frame that is a bit more fun to throw around than the track based frames I was riding before.
Turned out I got what I was after as it is great fun. Good for riding distances in comfort and much better for messing around on during those rides. It never really felt right jumping over things, wheelying off curbs etc,. on a track bike!