Mountain Biking - New Bike Spec--Your opinion needed

First let me say that I’m a 130lb rider who occasionally takes the expert section. I’ll be using it for single track and 24 hour racing in Minnesota. Because I have credit with a specific bike shop, a Giant or KHS are the only frame brands available to me but the rest of the spec is up for grabs.


’04 Giant NRS Air or ’04 KHS 904r (both spec Fox AVA rear shock)
Fox 100RLT fork (4”)
Sram X.0 Derailleur, Shifters, Cassette and Chain
Magura Marta SL Discs
XT Front Derailleur
Light Crankset (FSA Carbon Cranks, Raceface Next LP, Truvativ Stylo?)
Carbon Flat bar (LP, AlphaQ, FSA or Easton?)
Disc Wheels (WTB Laser Disc, Speed Dreams or Mavic 517s)
Stans No Tubes

Any experience with these components? Thanks!

I believe the 517 is a V brake wheel and the 317 is the disc wheel. Anyone confirm?

Yeah trey, that's correct.

I am running the Magura Pro XC wheels with my Magura Marta SL's and I am very happy with them. They are Hugi 240 disc hubs with 317 rims. You could check those out too.

All of your choices look great. However, between the frames I would have to lean towards the Giant. Everyone I have talked to with that bike loves it.

Just my 1 1/2 pennies.

’04 Giant NRS Air or ’04 KHS 904r (both spec Fox AVA rear shock) It's a toss up, both are good frames, however, I would probably choose the Giant for a light weight XC rider.

Fox 100RLT fork (4”) Lots of choices for a fork, The FOX is a good one, however, why not go with the TerraLogic?

Sram X.0 Derailleur, Shifters, Cassette and Chain Can't go wrong with X.0

Magura Marta SL Discs Some of the lightest on the market, good choice.

XT Front Derailleur Strong, Reliable, Light, and Cheap. Why choose anything else?

Light Crankset (FSA Carbon Cranks, Raceface Next LP, Truvativ Stylo?) I personally like Race Face products, so the Next LP's would get my vote.

Carbon Flat bar (LP, AlphaQ, FSA or Easton?) Get no others except Easton's. They are the standard by which everyone else judges their product. Get the Easton's and you'll have the best.

Disc Wheels (WTB Laser Disc, Speed Dreams or Mavic 517s) All good choices, I'd build a set with some Chris King hubs, and Mavic X317 or X3.1 if you want to go tubeless.

Stans No Tubes get the x3.1 rims, run tubeless and add the Stan's sealer and you have a bombproof set-up.


Any experience with these components? Thanks!

Good choices so far. I'd add a Thomson Elite seatpost, and a Race Face Deus stem, Chris King headset, to round out the package.

L8R

That would be one expensive bike, but I would also love to own it. I hope you enjoy it Spexy.

First let me say that I’m a 130lb rider who occasionally takes the expert section. I’ll be using it for single track and 24 hour racing in Minnesota. Because I have credit with a specific bike shop, a Giant or KHS are the only frame brands available to me but the rest of the spec is up for grabs.


’04 Giant NRS Air or ’04 KHS 904r (both spec Fox AVA rear shock)
Fox 100RLT fork (4”)
Sram X.0 Derailleur, Shifters, Cassette and Chain
Magura Marta SL Discs
XT Front Derailleur
Light Crankset (FSA Carbon Cranks, Raceface Next LP, Truvativ Stylo?)
Carbon Flat bar (LP, AlphaQ, FSA or Easton?)
Disc Wheels (WTB Laser Disc, Speed Dreams or Mavic 517s)
Stans No Tubes

Any experience with these components? Thanks!

Frame-04 NRS Air
Fork-Sid World Cup
X.0 is good.
Magura or hope mini's.
xt front deraillieur is fine.
Next LP's
Easton
Mavic X317's laced to king hubs.
Stem-Race Face Deus
Thomson Elite post
King Headset
2004 Time Attacks.

You guys are great.

Trey, thanks for the 317 heads up. Didn't realize.

Danka, the only thing I'm wary about is the SID. Mine is a flexy nightmare climbing, descending, cornering, braking etc. I've heard so many good things about the Fox Forx that I'm willing to take the weight gain. Also, I am greatly anticipating that extra inch of travel up front.

a2psyklnut, I guess I thought the 100rlt had the same technology but maybe not. The site could use more detail, as a matter of fact I don't even think they have the 100rlt listed for 2004 yet, just the 80.

Great advice on the additional components but I have a bunch of odds and ends and have to use them or I will go bankrupt! :-p

Hopefully I'll be able to post a photo by spring.