Dressing up a pig.
#1
Te mortuo heres tibi sim?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: East coast
Posts: 3,486
Bikes: hardtail, squishy, fixed roadie, fixed crosser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Dressing up a pig.
The new donor bike showed up a day early, so I started swapping parts. Smooth install. Everything slid/bolted/threaded right up beautifully. Got a buyer lined up for the old frame, and the stock bike parts pulled of this thing are being sold on local forums. Even getting a few new shiny bits for this bike, I'll at the least break even, and may even come out a bit ahead.
To do: awaiting the 8.5" x 2.5" DHX 5.0 Air to go on, and a King 1.5 reducer headset. You can probably guess what color was ordered on that one. Spendy, but nice, and gives the option to easily run a 1.5 fork if wanted later. That'll take a 1/4 pound of the front right away. The FSA Pik reducer set is a freakin' tank.
The shorter shock will slacken things and drop things a bit. I'm estimating about another half degree at the head angle, and about a half inch at the BB height. Cheapo angle finder says 67* right now. Wheelbase just a touch as well; it's spot on 43" right now. BB height is about 14.5" now, unsagged. Wish someone made a 8.25" x 2.25" decent air shock that wasn't a custom arm and a leg cost. Either that or I have to look into having a shuttle made to run a 7.875" x 2.25" on here - that'd take the back down to 5.7". Hmmm... The DHX shock should be about a half pound less, if not more. I've no problems running an air shock.
Yes, the bars are up there. Likely will get rid of a bit more steer tube/spacer stack eventually too (there is a 10mm spacer on now) but wanted to leave it as is until getting some ride time in. Feels good, though all I was able to do was zip around a little bit on some pavement stuff this afternoon. The fit and feel stuff I didn't like about the Preston it felt like won't be an issue at all on this one. I like tall front ends. to keep the slackness and drop more height, I could always run a flush upper headset cup setup, though doubt I'll want to.
Huuuuge tire clearance in back. Slacker, lower with the upcoming shock - that'll give me about 6.3" rear travel. 180mm dropping down to 140mm up front for climbing when needed; something not used much on my rides, but a feature I like to have for those times when needed. Probably giving up a bit of rear end stiffness from the Preston, but that is less an issue at my size, and I feel the fit/geometry is more important anyhow.
To do: awaiting the 8.5" x 2.5" DHX 5.0 Air to go on, and a King 1.5 reducer headset. You can probably guess what color was ordered on that one. Spendy, but nice, and gives the option to easily run a 1.5 fork if wanted later. That'll take a 1/4 pound of the front right away. The FSA Pik reducer set is a freakin' tank.
The shorter shock will slacken things and drop things a bit. I'm estimating about another half degree at the head angle, and about a half inch at the BB height. Cheapo angle finder says 67* right now. Wheelbase just a touch as well; it's spot on 43" right now. BB height is about 14.5" now, unsagged. Wish someone made a 8.25" x 2.25" decent air shock that wasn't a custom arm and a leg cost. Either that or I have to look into having a shuttle made to run a 7.875" x 2.25" on here - that'd take the back down to 5.7". Hmmm... The DHX shock should be about a half pound less, if not more. I've no problems running an air shock.
Yes, the bars are up there. Likely will get rid of a bit more steer tube/spacer stack eventually too (there is a 10mm spacer on now) but wanted to leave it as is until getting some ride time in. Feels good, though all I was able to do was zip around a little bit on some pavement stuff this afternoon. The fit and feel stuff I didn't like about the Preston it felt like won't be an issue at all on this one. I like tall front ends. to keep the slackness and drop more height, I could always run a flush upper headset cup setup, though doubt I'll want to.
Huuuuge tire clearance in back. Slacker, lower with the upcoming shock - that'll give me about 6.3" rear travel. 180mm dropping down to 140mm up front for climbing when needed; something not used much on my rides, but a feature I like to have for those times when needed. Probably giving up a bit of rear end stiffness from the Preston, but that is less an issue at my size, and I feel the fit/geometry is more important anyhow.
#2
Banned.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,569
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The new donor bike showed up a day early, so I started swapping parts. Smooth install. Everything slid/bolted/threaded right up beautifully. Got a buyer lined up for the old frame, and the stock bike parts pulled of this thing are being sold on local forums. Even getting a few new shiny bits for this bike, I'll at the least break even, and may even come out a bit ahead.
To do: awaiting the 8.5" x 2.5" DHX 5.0 Air to go on, and a King 1.5 reducer headset. You can probably guess what color was ordered on that one. Spendy, but nice, and gives the option to easily run a 1.5 fork if wanted later. That'll take a 1/4 pound of the front right away. The FSA Pik reducer set is a freakin' tank.
The shorter shock will slacken things and drop things a bit. I'm estimating about another half degree at the head angle, and about a half inch at the BB height. Cheapo angle finder says 67* right now. Wheelbase just a touch as well; it's spot on 43" right now. BB height is about 14.5" now, unsagged. Wish someone made a 8.25" x 2.25" decent air shock that wasn't a custom arm and a leg cost. Either that or I have to look into having a shuttle made to run a 7.875" x 2.25" on here - that'd take the back down to 5.7". Hmmm... The DHX shock should be about a half pound less, if not more. I've no problems running an air shock.
Yes, the bars are up there. Likely will get rid of a bit more steer tube/spacer stack eventually too (there is a 10mm spacer on now) but wanted to leave it as is until getting some ride time in. Feels good, though all I was able to do was zip around a little bit on some pavement stuff this afternoon. The fit and feel stuff I didn't like about the Preston it felt like won't be an issue at all on this one. I like tall front ends. to keep the slackness and drop more height, I could always run a flush upper headset cup setup, though doubt I'll want to.
Huuuuge tire clearance in back. Slacker, lower with the upcoming shock - that'll give me about 6.3" rear travel. 180mm dropping down to 140mm up front for climbing when needed; something not used much on my rides, but a feature I like to have for those times when needed. Probably giving up a bit of rear end stiffness from the Preston, but that is less an issue at my size, and I feel the fit/geometry is more important anyhow.
To do: awaiting the 8.5" x 2.5" DHX 5.0 Air to go on, and a King 1.5 reducer headset. You can probably guess what color was ordered on that one. Spendy, but nice, and gives the option to easily run a 1.5 fork if wanted later. That'll take a 1/4 pound of the front right away. The FSA Pik reducer set is a freakin' tank.
The shorter shock will slacken things and drop things a bit. I'm estimating about another half degree at the head angle, and about a half inch at the BB height. Cheapo angle finder says 67* right now. Wheelbase just a touch as well; it's spot on 43" right now. BB height is about 14.5" now, unsagged. Wish someone made a 8.25" x 2.25" decent air shock that wasn't a custom arm and a leg cost. Either that or I have to look into having a shuttle made to run a 7.875" x 2.25" on here - that'd take the back down to 5.7". Hmmm... The DHX shock should be about a half pound less, if not more. I've no problems running an air shock.
Yes, the bars are up there. Likely will get rid of a bit more steer tube/spacer stack eventually too (there is a 10mm spacer on now) but wanted to leave it as is until getting some ride time in. Feels good, though all I was able to do was zip around a little bit on some pavement stuff this afternoon. The fit and feel stuff I didn't like about the Preston it felt like won't be an issue at all on this one. I like tall front ends. to keep the slackness and drop more height, I could always run a flush upper headset cup setup, though doubt I'll want to.
Huuuuge tire clearance in back. Slacker, lower with the upcoming shock - that'll give me about 6.3" rear travel. 180mm dropping down to 140mm up front for climbing when needed; something not used much on my rides, but a feature I like to have for those times when needed. Probably giving up a bit of rear end stiffness from the Preston, but that is less an issue at my size, and I feel the fit/geometry is more important anyhow.
#3
Old School Rad
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: The old Mountains
Posts: 8,206
Bikes: Blur LT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thats nice. How much travel on that frame?
edit....oh 7"..duh
edit....oh 7"..duh
__________________
Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
Last edited by mtnbiker66; 03-05-08 at 06:56 PM.
#4
Still kicking.
Nice.
__________________
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
#5
Te mortuo heres tibi sim?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: East coast
Posts: 3,486
Bikes: hardtail, squishy, fixed roadie, fixed crosser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
yep. i'm pretty much back where i started with my first fully, another bullit clone. i'm totally down with the simple single pivot thing; IMO, the sizing and geometry is way more important than having the latest and greatest whiz bang suspension design. wanted something simple and easy. 6-7" of travel, but with a shortish rear end, and not crazy long wheelbase. makes for a more fun woods bike for me. the custom shock shuttle to allow me to run the 7.875" x 2.25" shock may have to be looked into. that setup with 5.7" of travel, and the fork lowered down to 150-160mm (or a lyrik solo air!) would rock.
heckler? not quite right. bullit? in between small and medium on what i want with the sizing. looked really hard at the 07 kona coiler/coilair frames, but couldn't find a small frame new, or used in decent shape. and all the completes i saw were more than i wanted to shell out. also eyeballed the 07 iron horse 6point series, but again - stuck between the small and medium.
the custom thing was all set for what i wanted, but having the framebuilder die puts a damper on that. never met steve, but he seemed a pretty cool guy when i spoke with him on the phone about a frame. sorry to hear of his passing, and my best wishes go out to his family and friends. the framebuilding business may go on, but i'm betting not for quite some time.
heckler? not quite right. bullit? in between small and medium on what i want with the sizing. looked really hard at the 07 kona coiler/coilair frames, but couldn't find a small frame new, or used in decent shape. and all the completes i saw were more than i wanted to shell out. also eyeballed the 07 iron horse 6point series, but again - stuck between the small and medium.
the custom thing was all set for what i wanted, but having the framebuilder die puts a damper on that. never met steve, but he seemed a pretty cool guy when i spoke with him on the phone about a frame. sorry to hear of his passing, and my best wishes go out to his family and friends. the framebuilding business may go on, but i'm betting not for quite some time.
#7
Moar cowbell
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: The 509
Posts: 12,481
Bikes: Bike list is not a resume. Nobody cares.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
Bears a strong resemblance to the short-lived but wildly popular Weyless 67 frame. Good to see solid, simple single-pivots still doing their bread-and-butter thing.
__________________
RST Suspension | Canfield Bikes | 7iDP Protection | Maxxis | Renthal | Hayes | VonZipper Optics | GoPro
Originally Posted by Mark Twain
"Don't argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
#8
Te mortuo heres tibi sim?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: East coast
Posts: 3,486
Bikes: hardtail, squishy, fixed roadie, fixed crosser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
hmmm. just saw santa cruz has old style bullit shock shuttles for $23. have to check the width; if it's at all useable/adaptable/dremelable, i'd be able to use that to really fine tune things with the rear shocks/geometry...
#9
Writin' stuff
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Durango, CO
Posts: 3,784
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
4 Posts
Do I see gripshift on that bad boy? And what looks like it might be a Paul thumbie (based on the reflection in your computer screen)?
Nice. You don't see that too often outside of XC rigs. But why go thumbie for the front mech? Matching gripshift gives you the same microadjust/friction shifting. I guess it's still technically "indexed" but for all intensive purposes, it functions like a friction shifter.
Either way, many excellent component choices there. 100% stock bikes are so unoriginal!
Nice. You don't see that too often outside of XC rigs. But why go thumbie for the front mech? Matching gripshift gives you the same microadjust/friction shifting. I guess it's still technically "indexed" but for all intensive purposes, it functions like a friction shifter.
Either way, many excellent component choices there. 100% stock bikes are so unoriginal!
#10
Te mortuo heres tibi sim?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: East coast
Posts: 3,486
Bikes: hardtail, squishy, fixed roadie, fixed crosser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Do I see gripshift on that bad boy? And what looks like it might be a Paul thumbie (based on the reflection in your computer screen)?
Nice. You don't see that too often outside of XC rigs. But why go thumbie for the front mech? Matching gripshift gives you the same microadjust/friction shifting. I guess it's still technically "indexed" but for all intensive purposes, it functions like a friction shifter.
Either way, many excellent component choices there. 100% stock bikes are so unoriginal!
Nice. You don't see that too often outside of XC rigs. But why go thumbie for the front mech? Matching gripshift gives you the same microadjust/friction shifting. I guess it's still technically "indexed" but for all intensive purposes, it functions like a friction shifter.
Either way, many excellent component choices there. 100% stock bikes are so unoriginal!
It's all stuff swapped from my prior frame. Actually, most of this stuff has been around a while for me. just with replacements when stuff wears out. If it ain't broken, I don't fix it.
#11
Still kicking.
No excuse at all not to use a friction shifter up front since, front deraillieurs are still somewhat based on friction.
__________________
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
#12
Writin' stuff
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Durango, CO
Posts: 3,784
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
4 Posts
Friction really is the way to go for the front I think. I'm in the process of taking apart one of my old gripshifts and doing some dremel work/inserting some extra material to try to turn it into a friction only shifter, with no indexes. If I can make it work on the old one I may do the same to my x.o gripshift. The issue is providing enough friction to overcome the pull of the derailleur without using the index notches. I'm thinking I may have to add some tacky compound. Maybe a silicon compound of some kind.
Anywho, sweet bike. I really wish I didn't have to spend all my money on racing bikes so I could build something like that, just to have fun on. Racing multiple disciplines (road, TT, xc mtb) has a way of sapping one's budget.
Anywho, sweet bike. I really wish I didn't have to spend all my money on racing bikes so I could build something like that, just to have fun on. Racing multiple disciplines (road, TT, xc mtb) has a way of sapping one's budget.
#13
Moar cowbell
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: The 509
Posts: 12,481
Bikes: Bike list is not a resume. Nobody cares.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
That's why I don't - - and won't for the foreseeable future - - have a nice XC race bike: plowing too much resources into gravity weapons.
__________________
RST Suspension | Canfield Bikes | 7iDP Protection | Maxxis | Renthal | Hayes | VonZipper Optics | GoPro
Originally Posted by Mark Twain
"Don't argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
#14
Writin' stuff
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Durango, CO
Posts: 3,784
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
4 Posts
These days things are looking up in the getting free bikes department, but it's still pricey to have 3 raceable bikes, and have to maintain them.
#16
Te mortuo heres tibi sim?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: East coast
Posts: 3,486
Bikes: hardtail, squishy, fixed roadie, fixed crosser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks. Stuff is still sloppy around here, trail wise. But I might be able to squeak in a little bit of dry trail Sunday-Monday-Tuesday. Have to see how much things dry up before then.
Whoa. Looking at specs online (assuming they are at all accurate) the swap to the DHX air and the King headset will end up dropping nearly a pound and a half of weight. Nice! C'mon brown Santa, bring me those parts! Got a couple spare hangers coming in the mail, and am working on the local Iron Horse dealer to round me up a spare pivot shaft to have kicking around. The bearings are a nice standard/easy to get size.
Other stuff in the works: the upper half of a Cane Creek XXC Flush headset on the way. Then I can play with still having things nice and slack, but reduce the stack on the front end a little bit.
S.C. Bullit (old style) shock shuttle on the way ($23 on their site) - should fit with little modification other than another set of mount holes tapped into the very large mount plate on the downtube. That'll let me screw around with different shock sizes and geometry even more.
This is all towards the end goal of someday having that custom squishy frame built.
(15" seat tube 22.5" top tube. 43" wheelbase. 16.5" stays. 5.5" single pivot travel, built around one beefy ass set of bearings. 66* head angle built around a 160mm fork. 14" bb height (unsagged) 70* seat tube. 4.5" headtube. low, low, low dropped and braced to the seat tube top tube. zip tie cable/hose guides, iscg 05 mount, one set of bottle bosses on the downtube (think night riding - battery mount) and a chain hanger just because i can. steel, of course.)
Whoa. Looking at specs online (assuming they are at all accurate) the swap to the DHX air and the King headset will end up dropping nearly a pound and a half of weight. Nice! C'mon brown Santa, bring me those parts! Got a couple spare hangers coming in the mail, and am working on the local Iron Horse dealer to round me up a spare pivot shaft to have kicking around. The bearings are a nice standard/easy to get size.
Other stuff in the works: the upper half of a Cane Creek XXC Flush headset on the way. Then I can play with still having things nice and slack, but reduce the stack on the front end a little bit.
S.C. Bullit (old style) shock shuttle on the way ($23 on their site) - should fit with little modification other than another set of mount holes tapped into the very large mount plate on the downtube. That'll let me screw around with different shock sizes and geometry even more.
This is all towards the end goal of someday having that custom squishy frame built.
(15" seat tube 22.5" top tube. 43" wheelbase. 16.5" stays. 5.5" single pivot travel, built around one beefy ass set of bearings. 66* head angle built around a 160mm fork. 14" bb height (unsagged) 70* seat tube. 4.5" headtube. low, low, low dropped and braced to the seat tube top tube. zip tie cable/hose guides, iscg 05 mount, one set of bottle bosses on the downtube (think night riding - battery mount) and a chain hanger just because i can. steel, of course.)
#17
Old School Rad
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: The old Mountains
Posts: 8,206
Bikes: Blur LT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
So........we won't be seeing any "which bike should I buy" threads from you?
__________________
Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
#19
Moar cowbell
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: The 509
Posts: 12,481
Bikes: Bike list is not a resume. Nobody cares.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
I think he and Smashy are having a contest.
__________________
RST Suspension | Canfield Bikes | 7iDP Protection | Maxxis | Renthal | Hayes | VonZipper Optics | GoPro
Originally Posted by Mark Twain
"Don't argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
#20
Te mortuo heres tibi sim?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: East coast
Posts: 3,486
Bikes: hardtail, squishy, fixed roadie, fixed crosser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
it'll be a bit longer. we're starting to house shop...
mocking things up, with the shorter i2i/stroke shock that i'm wanting to throw on there, the geo numbers change spot on to what my end goal was. sweet! 14" unsagged bb height, 66° head angle with the fork at 180mm. combined with the rest of the sizing, this one should be fun. it's really easy to toss the bike around, with the shorter wheelbase and stays than the preston - something i really like in a bike.
#21
Official Website Waterboy
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,271
Bikes: a lot
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#22
Old School Rad
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: The old Mountains
Posts: 8,206
Bikes: Blur LT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I like reading about what Scrub is doing.It really shows how riding a number of bikes and lots of time on trails really help you decide on what you want from a bike. I run my Bullit in the steeper head angle setting.I like the quicker handling.It seemed that the slacker setting made the bike steer to slow for my taste.
__________________
Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
#23
Te mortuo heres tibi sim?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: East coast
Posts: 3,486
Bikes: hardtail, squishy, fixed roadie, fixed crosser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I like reading about what Scrub is doing.It really shows how riding a number of bikes and lots of time on trails really help you decide on what you want from a bike. I run my Bullit in the steeper head angle setting.I like the quicker handling.It seemed that the slacker setting made the bike steer to slow for my taste.
things just starting to dry up a bit around here, and more rain coming tonight, of course. crap!
#24
Old School Rad
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: The old Mountains
Posts: 8,206
Bikes: Blur LT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i've come to like slacker angles, just in general. the hardtail has settled on a 67° setup, and i wanted the squishy a bit slacker. and for those times when i've got to earn my turns, dropping the fork down will steepen it to about 68°.
things just starting to dry up a bit around here, and more rain coming tonight, of course. crap!
things just starting to dry up a bit around here, and more rain coming tonight, of course. crap!
__________________
Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
#25
Te mortuo heres tibi sim?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: East coast
Posts: 3,486
Bikes: hardtail, squishy, fixed roadie, fixed crosser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
slack angles for steep stuff, but a shorter overall bike that is still easy to toss around in the tight twisty woodsy technical stuff around me was the end goal. and a bike slack and burly enough to take to the resorts a couple times during the summer as well.