stinkyonions

so i am going to be building up a new rig. it will pretty much be my do everything thrash around campus, trail riding and beginning freeride. i want to start riding more aggressively for a few reasons.

a) my old bike is realllllyy old for what i am riding now
b) adrenaline rush
c) challenge myself

so far i am leaning towards getting a cove stiffee fr since it seems to fit the bill for being able to cover more styles of riding rather than being super specific. it also is a fairly light frame i think so i wouldn't have to bust my butt riding up hills. it doesn't seem super slack either. i checked out the frames on unrealcycles, but they seem to be too slack to be used for trail riding and more towards dirt jumping and hardcore urban riding. i also was looking at the craftworks rail since it is in the same price range. as for the parts ....

thankfully our the collegiate team i am on gets insane deals on parts. so most of the stuff will probably be from the distrobution catalog minus a few things i'll have to pay full price for.

fork: marzocchi dj series ( ii or i. how hard is it to adjust the travel on them if i wanted it to the 110mm? reduced setting?)
drivetrain: xt (probably 2002 stuff since its extremely cheap-er)
brakes: disc of some sorta (i have read only positive stuff about avid mechs. i was thinking either the 185mm or 203mm rotors. they seem to be less of a hassle maintenance wise. i could also get hydros (hayes or hope) if i decided to go that route.)
bb: no idea
seatpost: thomson of some sort
wheels: no idea either. disc compatible.
seat: i saw azonic ones in our catalog
stem: ??
headset: ??
pedals: cranks brothers mallet c (they look soooo cool. anyone have them?)
cranks: race face most likely
tires: maxxis of some sort??

i know i probably left stuff off since i have never built up a bike completely before. so if you think of anything i should know, just let me know. any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED since all my experience lies in xc and road. and don't worry, i'll post pictures when it is all built up too! just pretend like you are spending my cash to build your bike, but doing it on a college budget!!

Dannihilator

Frame:Cove Stiffee FR:Evil Imperial

fork: marzocchi dj series ( ii or i. how hard is it to adjust the travel on them if i wanted it to the 110mm? reduced setting?)Z150
drivetrain: xt (probably 2002 stuff since its extremely cheap-er) ok
brakes: disc of some sorta (i have read only positive stuff about avid mechs. i was thinking either the 185mm or 203mm rotors. they seem to be less of a hassle maintenance wise. i could also get hydros (hayes or hope) if i decided to go that route.) Hopes
bb: no idea-Race Face Isis
seatpost: thomson of some sort good enough.
wheels: no idea either. disc compatible. Atomic Labs trail pimps
seat: i saw azonic ones in our catalog,good enough.
stem: Race face diabolous
headset: ?? No debate Chris King
pedals: cranks brothers mallet c (they look soooo cool. anyone have them?) No clipless for this thing, BMW shinburgers
cranks: race face most likely Race face Northshore's.
tires: maxxis of some sort?? Michelin Comp 32's.

That's what I'd go with.

stinkyonions

i LOVE the evil imperial frame, but the geometry doesn't seem like it would work that well for trail riding. but then again, i could be completely wrong. the planet x frames look sweet too. do you know if that marzocchi fork is reducable? i don't remember from the website and it seems to be down right now. i just want something that would be reduced and make my machine more xc friendly when need be. thanks for the suggestions though!

Dannihilator

Looks decieve, frame wise. The Z150 is not reduceable, and it doesn't need to be, the imperial can handle it.

MichaelW

If you are on a budget, then the place to cut back is on the "finishing kit". High quality, strong, reliable parts are avialable from mid-range suppliers (like 3TTT), at a fraction of the price of the high-end, ultra-light premium brands like Thompson. Put your money where it counts, wheels and other bearing components.

Is this bike going to be locked up on campus? Thats a lot of bike to leave around.

stinkyonions

Nah, it won't be locked up on campus, but locked to the bed in my room with my road bike. Building up an old bike as a fixie is the next project. The reason I said Thomson for some parts are ONLY because they are in our sponsors distro catalog. So it's pretty much on a budget, but getting good prices I guess. Good ole' KHS being a distributor too. So our team gets INSANE deals on stuff that they carry in it. Mainly Marzocchi, Shimano and a bunch of others companies. It just doesn't carry everything and I forget what it has from the last time I saw it.

a2psyklnut

Nice frame, also suggest a .243 if on a budget
Just get the 20mm thru axle whichever you choose!
Good Choice, new Sram Triggers look promising as well! X.7's!
I like Hayes, but if you need to save some $ Avid's are the ONLY mechanical I would consider.
see cranks Below
I only use Thomson's, so Good Choice.
Atom Lab's if going super hard core, Chris King hubs lased to Mavic F519 for a lighter wheelset that's still strong, or D321 if you want a DH duty wheelset.
Seats are a personal choice, I like my WTB Speed V.
Race Face Diablous, or Thomson.
No Bout a Doubt it! Chris King.
Atom Lab Trail Pimps, or Ballistics.
Profile Racing Tubular Chromoly with 48 splined bottom bracket. Super hardcore and indestructible!
Depends on your terrain. I like WTB's, Maxxis, Intense, and a few others(in that order).

You forgot a chain guide: Evil with the dual capability and the clear lexan bash guard.

Handlebars? I like Easton's, or Azonic's.

L8R

stinkyonions

sooooo many choices now. well i am going to be ordering all the parts tonight minus a few things that i will buy once i know what frame i am getting.

a2psyklnut,
i am also looking at the .243. pretty much, i have no idea what frame i want to get now. i could splurg and get a banshee morphine or the evil imperial. but i think that might be too much bike for me. there are some nice planet x frames on unrealcycles. it's just hard deciding on a frame without personally seeing them nor riding an extremely different style either. i'm sure i'll be happy with whatever i purchase, but until then the quest to find a frame is on. i guess it all depends how much i spend on parts and what not. i just don't really want to drop $2k. $1300-$1500 i could live with. it's funny how 2 months ago i reallllyyy wanted a p2, and now i could buy two instead of a custom rig. i might get hope hydro's now since i know those a brand i can get cheaper and someone on our downhill team recommended them to me. i'm waiting on a chain guide too since i think (not too sure) it will depend a lot on the frame i end up with.

thanks for all the help so far guys.

stinkyonions

i thought i'd do a quick update for anyone who happens to be interested. here is everything i have ordered so far.

marzocchi dj ii
fsa pig dh pro headset
azonic world force riser bar
yeti hardcore grips
azonic hot seat
avid mechanical discs (203mm)
avid speed dial ti levers
truvativ team dh bb
sun rhyno lite xl laced to xt hubs
wtb moto raptors (2.4)
xt rear derailleur (long cage)
xt right shifter
xt 9 speed cassette
free agent team platform pedals
mrp bash guard
xtr chain
thomson elite seatpost
xtr front derailleur
avid flak jacket cables
dinosaur squeeze horn!!!

i'm an idiot and only bought one shifter pod instead of the set. why? i have no idea. but i think i am going to go with the planet x new jack flash frame now. i am still toying around with the idea of others, but it seems like a slick variable geometry frame. now i just need to get a stem, crankset and probably tons of other stuff once all the parts get in.