neospazzy

Got home and my wife told me that a large box is waiting for me in the garage. Woo hoo!


The box. Man. How did they fit a bike in there?


Ahh ... so that is how it's done! Hmm ... is everything here?


Yep, it is a MTB all right. But is it the Fly Team?


Oh yeah! Hmm ... is it the frame titanium?


Yep, it sure is!


I got a long night ahead of me!


After several hours, a dinner break, and putting my girls to sleep, my bike is 99.9% complete! Swapped the cassette for a pair of XTR 11/34, changed the tires to WTB Velociraptors, got a longer DA/XTR 9sp chain, and added bottle cages and a frame pump.


I like it so far!


One more pic!

I wish I can give a ride report, but I don't have any pedals (being delivered tomorrow ... a set of new Egg Beater SL) and it is really late outside. Once I get the pedals in, I'll share my thoughts. So far, the bike is a beauty and really light in comparison to the 2007 Trek Fuel EX7 I used to own.

n00bL35

Holy crap. You don't skimp on the bike purchases huh? Congratulations on a cool looking bike (for a pretty killer price).

neospazzy

You only live once pal!

ed 

Nice ride neo...every time I see one, I get a little hungry...my hand hurts...and I pee myself a smidge.

ed 

Oh yeah...it needs to go in the 3.0 thread too

And how bout a ride report soon!

Face-Plant

Nice ride !!!

Re-Cycle

Yes ride report, in particular I want to know how well it climbs. I've been wanting one of the motobecane ti hardtails for a while now, this doesn't help

Can you confirm if the grips are foam or rubber? Also, I know you changed tires and cassette so its to late to do an actual weight comparison compared to what the web claims but could you weigh the bike at some point?

neospazzy

Once the pedals get here today, I'll try to get a ride report as well as the weight in this weekend.

jsigone

looks good, buddy has the same one and is very pleased with his. And a team mate just got the 29er version on monday.

Zan

hey!

congratulations. I was thinking 'bout getting a ride off bikesdirect. I assume that's where this came from? Let me know if everything works okay during your ride.

I'm just skeptical about buying things off the net. If you don't have any problems, perhaps that'll help convince me, eh?

neospazzy

I may come off as a shill here, but I have not had any issues with BikesDirect (which is where I got this bike from, yes). Free shipping and no sales tax (as long as you don't live in TX)! The fork alone retails for well over $500, the FSA K-Force Light crank retails for well over $600, and the MTB titanium frame usually retails about $1500 ... and I haven't even mentioned about the cost of the Shimano XTR groupset! The deal was too good to pass up and so far, it's quality! I have to get a ride report in once my Egg Beaters get here and then I can give you guys a fair review.

ed 

Going by those prices...my bike should be worth like $4000.

mikeetow

WTB Velociraptors my favorite set of tires! but you did not get Ti pedals? boo

neospazzy

The Egg Beater SL is only 30 grams heaver per pair than the TI version and only half the cost. I purchased a set from eBay for about $70 and the lowest end TI versions are selling on eBay for $150+.

born2bahick

Nice ride neo, don't bring it to Kansas, Ed will run over it. ........Unless you can outrun him? ( This is where you should challlenge him to a race)?

Drag

Very nice. So is the difference between the FLY Ti and the FLY TEAM in the tubing, and that the FLY Ti has straight gauge tubes whereas the FLY TEAM has double butted?

neospazzy

Ed will run me over in circles with the way I am riding that bike now.

Thanks. The Fly Ti tubing is Titanium and the Fly Team is Aluminum. Two very different metals. Also the Fly Ti has the FSA K-Force Light crankset and Avid Ultimate disc brakes. The Fly Team has the FSA Carbon Team Issue crankset and Avid Elixer CR disc brakes.

neospazzy

INITIAL RIDE REPORT!

After work and while my girls were in dance class, I took the Fly Ti out for her maiden voyage after mounting the Egg Beaters. I can tell you this, the bike handling is much more nimble and lot less "lethargic" than the old Fuel EX7. I went over tree roots, rocky and sandy roads, grassy hills, off curbs, etc. Shock absorption worked really well though I did go over a big tree root while seated. There I miss having the full suspension of the EX7. That said though, I climbed a small, but steep grassy hill in a park next to my home. I can tell you that the Fly Ti climbed like a goat! It was almost effortless to a point where I felt like I was cheating (then again, I heard HT climb better than FS anyway). Another thing I did notice is the loud "CLANK" of the rear drivetrain as I land from flying off of curbs. I guess this is normal on hardtails because I didn't remember the Fuel EX7 doing that.

Shifting performance was very good. Although not as smooth and buttery as my road bikes, but each shift was confident and reliable. My goal is to stay in the middle ring as often as possible.

Whatever the case, I had a blast with the bike and will be hitting an actual trail possibly this weekend. I still have to weigh it too so stay tuned!

HeyitsDave

Nice bike.

mtnbiker66

Will this bike be used for freeride or trails or XC or AM?

neospazzy

Confirmed weight = 23.25 lbs.

I purchased the Alpine Digital Scale at Performance today and weighed the Fly Ti. Now this weight includes the new XTR 11/34 cassette, pair of Velociraptor tires, pair of Tacx Tao bottle cages, a Topeak Master Blaster Micro Rocket Carbon pump, and the Egg Beater SL pedals. The size of the bike frame is an 18".

surreal

looks great...

is there clear-coat over the decals?

-rob

neospazzy

Thanks. While I did peel off the helmet warning label off the top tube near the stem/head tube, I can't peel off the Motobecane decals on it. I don't know if it is clear-coat, but something is protecting it where I can't just peel it off with my fingernails.

mystolenbikes

Wow nice bike, enjoy it!

garbear

I noticed you purchased a Motobecane FLY Team earlier this summer. I am giving serious consideration to buying either the fly or their new 29er coming out in Nov. I am here in the OC and I wonder if you and I might be able to chat about your bike as I want to pull the trigger pretty quickly. It's Sunday night and if you are interested we can exchange numbers. I would be very interested in getting your current thoughts on the bike now that you have had it a few months, and also how your dealings with BD went (they seem like a decent group but I always like to talk with someone to get their lowdown). Also if you have tried a 29er I would like to get your feedback on that too........I just demoed today in Big Bear the Trek/Gary Fishcer 29er ex1009 (sp?) and loved it,

thanks much
garbear