We are working on a "Doitall Hardtail Build" and we ned your sugestions
So here is the poop, we got a 2008 Santa Cruz chameleon ­frame­, a set of DT Swiss Wheels/EX-wheels/E-2200, a set of RaceFace Ride DH cranks and BB, and a 454 Air U Turn PIKE.
now keep this in mind we picked the chameleon because is a versatile ­frame­ capable of being build as anytipe and can take from 80 to 160 mm of travel (wow that would make a awesome fork 80 to 160? ) anywho we want to use only one ring out front so the first question is 34 or 36? second 8 or nine speed
and what components would you chose for the rest

Brakes:
headset:
stem:
bars:
shifter:
derailleur:
cassette:
tires:
pedals:
seatpost:
saddle:
grips:

please comment but don't post any pics, we will post the pics of parts that we are going to use as we get them.
if you are wondering about this new cranks see them here.
http://raceface.com/components/cranks/8/

this is the 07 ­frame­ we are getting the 08 with vertical dropouts

DT wheels

.

pike

well i will start off for the brakes and the stem, in my opinion if your looking for a strong light build without a budget i would probably go with a avid juicy ultimates w/180mm discs and for a stem i would go for a thompson elite! light strong and most of all reliable!

id say 34 with a nice light guid like the lg 1 have some versital stoppers like the jucy 5s or 7s 9 speed sram xo

You’ve got all the main parts covered already, everything else is really just icing on the cake.
I like 8 speed, its easier to bend by hand to get the gears working again after a crash. but good 8 speed parts are harder to find.
34 tooth up front.
Oh and a good chain guide is a must.

When I build a bike I choose parts ­base­d on what extra parts I have in my garage, what leftovers my friends have in their garages, what is on sale & what is listed for sale on websites… Every time I order parts I blow my budget…

^Blowing budgets is where i master. lol so:

Brakes: I would say shimano's because im a shimano brake guy (and i can bleed them well)
Headset: Um, a King is not a must, so maybe a Pig or something
Stem: Thomson reg size
Bars: Easton EA's reg size
(I saw regular size because oversized is not necessary for a do-it-all hardtail)
Shifter: Once again, im a shimano guy.
R/D (no front): Shimano roadie (whichever, hell my Tioga works fine)
Cassette: Whatever
Tires: Kenda small block 8's
Pedals: Don't know
Seat post: "
Saddle: I like my macneil, but again, anything will do
Grips: I swear by my zoomers

All things said are personal opinion on what ive tried and tested so basically things that I like.

P.S. 32tooth and 9speed

get 50/50 pedals, there amazing, deity stem/bars

Brakes: Formula K24 Puro
headset: Chris King
stem: Sunline V-one All MTB Stem
bars: Sunline V-one OS Bar
shifter: XT
derailleur: XT shadow
cassette: XT
tires: 2.35 Highrollers
pedals: Kona WahWah
seatpost: Thompson Masterpiece
saddle: Sunline V-one Saddle
grips: Sunline Thin

Well we got a veredict on the pedals check this one
i like the deity idea, i'll look in to that.

Terry tells me those pedals are pretty ballin.

everything that uve picked out so far is looking very good. im gonna have to agree wiht matt on the drive train, shimano road, 105 or possibly ultegra?
has anybody had any experience wiht the new hayes stroker, i myself prefer avid over say hayes nines, but the stroker might be something to look into.

also like matt said the zoomers are really nice grips, but probably not the best chocice if you are running a shifter, i beleive odi launched a bunch of different lock on grips this year.

I like shimano stuff but they refused to participate, so we'll have to do with something else

lol alrighty then moving on......sram xo carbon?

ooooo oooo and sram xo carbon shifters hahaha

i can allways buy a shimano part i'm not against the quality, i just had to mention that i call it some people that said no outright and i got not problems with that. it's just the bitching about the other guys what gets me going, lol.
what about brakes?