carsonulrich

I have done many searches and read much on this forum and decided to buy my first MTN Bike. I have two road bikes, but have wanted a MTN bike for a while. I bought the 2010 Shimano XTR Motobecane FLY Ti Titanium frame with SID RACE 100mm. Any advice on assembling it would be much appreciated. Installing/bleeding the brakes has me a bit concerned as well as adjusting the Sid Race Forks. Do I need to purchase an Avid Bleed kit or will it come with what I need to install it? Should I do it myself or take it to my LBS?

JonnyV

you shouldn't need to bleed it but if they feel a bit soft, take it to a shop and have them do it. That's not something you want to fail on you out on the trails. As far as assembly, it's pretty straight forward. You'll need to install the seat/seat post, handlebars (grips, shifters and brake levers are already on the bars), stem...you might need to install the fork and headset first, depending on how they pack it. Then the front brake will need installed, just loosely bolt the caliper to the fork. Put the front wheel on, now you can tighten/adjust the front brake. What I like to is leave the caliper loose, hold the front brake lever (this will basically center the caliper and make adjusting it very simple) you may still need to do some slight adjustments after this but it'll get you in the ballpark. Install the pedals and tune it up. You'll need a 4mm, 5mm, 6mm and maybe an 8mm allen wrench. If you have to install the brake disc on the wheels you'll either need a T25 torx bit or a Shimano free hub tool, I forget the exact model number. Inflate tires and go test it out.

JonnyV

I forgot to mention, this is just a generalization. I know there are a couple guys here riding the Fly Ti so hopefully they can paint a clearer picture for you. If you never worked on a bike before it might be a good idea to go get Zinn's Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance. It's pretty thorough and will help you with assembly and other issues that pop up over time. Good luck and come back if you run into a problem, we'll get you straightened out.

carsonulrich

Thanks for the reply. I work on my road bikes all the time....but never on a bike with Hydraulic disc brakes. So to put it together, it will already have the fluid in the lines and I just mount the wheel? I guess that I will see when it gets here. I was asking so that I could pick up a bleed kit now so that I would be ready to put it together when it arrives Monday.

JonnyV

ooh ok. yeah, the brakes are ready to go, just mount them and do some minor adjusting so they're not rubbing and you're ready to roll.

carsonulrich

That is a big concern I had gone...thanks....
What about adjusting the Fork shocks....should I start out a bit stiffer and gradually increase the travel?

JonnyV

You'll need a shock pump for this. If you don't have one a shop definitely will and it wouldn't be a bad thing to own. There's a scale on the left leg of the shock that will tell you how much pressure to put in, depending on your weight.

Svr

I've assembled a few of the bikes from Bikes Direct, and I'd describe them as 90% assembled, 10% adjusted. Be prepared to tune everything. A suspension pump might be included with the bike.

Fam

The brakes are pre-bled. You'll only need the kit if you shorten the cables and introduce air into the system.

On the other hand buying a shock pump is must if the bike does not come with one. I just bought a Fantom 29 Pro SL and mine did not come with one. Here's a guide to setting up the Reba on my bike. It may or may not be applicable to the SID that comes with yours.
https://forums.mtbr.com/blog.php?do=s...&e=1646&enum=1

carsonulrich

I doubt it comes with a shock pump....any suggestions on which to buy or are they all really the same...

How about this one?
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Produc...2_203918_-1___

Svr

ebay sellers have some good deals on pumps: https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TOPEAK-FORK-...item518dc8d614

carsonulrich

thanks all

Fam

I picked this one up from Dick's Sports for $30.
https://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Shock-G.../dp/B00165Q912

From what I read they're all comparable to one another. One thing I did read is to make sure that the pump goes up to 300PSI.