Shaved 6.25lbs off my bike today!
 

Well, I did some soul-searching and re-hashed where I normally ride. I spend 99% of my riding time at a local trail that is peppered with short/steepish climbs with very little extended DH reward. I think I'm just tired of wasting myself on my XLT on the climbs. I decided to build a "burly" XC hardtail. There just happened to be some Jamis Komodo Team frames on sale from 2004 at Jenson. The thing that appealed to me about the 2004 is the fact that it's a burly hardtail frame with XC geometry. It's not "freeride burly" like the newer Komodo, but it looks to me to be a great "All Mountain Hardtail" frame. I called Jenson and Jamis and they both described the 2004 Komodo as a DJ / AM frame. The tubes are pretty freakin' big and the gussets are nice.

Here's what I had: (Jamis XLT 32lbs)
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2...e/DSC09311.jpg

Here's what I built: (Jamis Komodo 25lbs 12oz)
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2...e/DSC01028.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2...e/DSC01026.jpg
Nice gusseted headtube-downtube jctn:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2...e/DSC01027.jpg

I built it as a 1x9 b/c I don't need a granny with a freakin' light bike. I ordered a Blackspire Blackguard inner-guide ring in hopes that I can keep running a 1x9 w/o dropping the chain. The only issue is that this frame is obviously not a Turner or Yeti in that I believe the chainline is a couple mm off to the left. I moved one of the spacers on the Hone crankset from the right side to the left side to compensate for the chainline. It feels fine, but won't leave a ton of room for an inner guide ring.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2...e/DSC01029.jpg
If the Blackguard doesn't work, I'll either do a full-on chainguide or just put a freakin' front derailleur and granny back on it though I hate to do all that crap when I can climb just fine with a 32t.

I wanted to add that I'm really not a weight weenie. I was actually thinking that Jenson was fullocrap for saying that this frame weighed 3.9lbs. I was expecting a finished build around 30lbs. I figured my XLT frame weighed 8lbs and this would be 6. The XLT was actually 9lbs 2oz and this one was 3lbs 14oz. Dropping the front derailleur, granny, shifter, and cable must have dropped a bit too.

Either way...I just basically wanted a tough XC bike that I can climb some hills with.

So...here's my Burly XC hardtail. Hopefully I won't break it.

P.S.

I ran outta black zip-ties so the blue is just temporary until I get black ones tomorrow or whenever.

Oh yeah...the build:

2004 Jamis Komodo Team Frame
2005 Fox Vanilla R130 PUSH'd in '07
Thomson Elite Stem 90x0'
Thomson Elite layback post
WTB Rocket V Team Ti saddle
Easton EA70 HiRise Monkeybars
Avid Juicy 5's 185f / 160r
LX 9speed shifter pod
Shimano Hone Crankset with Raceface Team 32t middle ring
Soon to be Blackspire Blackguard inner guide ring
Shimano XT 11-34 cassette
SRAM PC971 chain
Hope ProII hubs / DT EX 5.1D rims / DT Comp spokes / Salsa Skewers
Kenda Nevegal 2.35 DTC's
CB Candy Pedals

25.75lbs

Looks great! As an alternative you can skip the granny but bolt the FD on and use it as a chain guide. Not very clean, but a lot of'crossers do it and it seems to get the job done.

Nice build! So what's going to happen to the XLT?

Yeah...I thought about that, but if I'm gonna do a derailleur...I'll just do a guide. It's not a $$$ issue. I'm just seeking simplicity after that freakin' multi-pivot XLT. Don't get me wrong, I loved the XLT more than any bike I've ever had and would have kept it had I lived in Colorado-type terrain...I just need a simple bike that climbs well and won't break on me.

My Fisher HKEK broke. I got it warranty'd but sold it when I got the replacement. It was just too dang spindly.

Frame's been sold. I got the $$$ for it. The buyer doesn't know anything about bikes and got in over his head. He asked me to relist it for him and send him the money if I can sell it to someone else. I actually offered to do that for him. If it doesn't sell, I'll just ship him the frame and be done with it.

I did finally find that squeak noise on it, haha. Coil spring rubbing on itself where the last turn wraps around.

At least you have the cash in hand. Buyers....

Yeah...I really felt bad about it at first. If I hadn't already ordered the frame, chain, chainring, and cables...I would have given the guy more of a break.

I still think I'm being pretty cool about it all by listing it and shipping it for the guy.(if it sells)

Yep. Most people probably wouldn't even do that much.

All right Ed! Hell you can do road bike rides with a light weight setup like that!

nice weight and I forgot the Komodo does take a 130mm fork to boot.

HOLY CRAP!!! RUTNICK IS IN THE HOUSE!! Whaddup dude?!:D

Just trying to keep up with the fast old guys that I ride with.;)

BROKE my XC race frame doing a preride on Saturday for a race. Raced my Salsa Ala Carte on Sunday and won.

Looking for a new XC bike and thinking Stumpjumper FSR.

Congrat's on the win.

I'd say your two choices are quite solid. You can't go wrong with either.

use one of these to solve your 1x9 troubles:

http://www.gvtc.com/~ngear/

lighter, cheaper, less clunky, less hassle, more adjustable than an inner guide. plus it works very well.

the new ride looks good, btw. i predict you're going to dig it.

I was going to recommend this:
http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/bike...ch1-400-90.jpg
But both will do the trick.

Thanx scrublover and ZeCanon...I just may try that. I can't decide which I like better though. The Stainless one looks like it has a bigger "barrier" and may work better. Any experience with either one of these?

Actually, this would be perfect, but it doesn't look like it's big enough for a 32t.

I think that if the inner plate doesn't work, I'll do the N-GEAR guide. I don't care about weight...heck I lost over 6lbs, hehe.

Totally agree...I'dgo for the "32 Special" b/c it would fit my 32t setup better.

Get the Jump Stop. The Deda Dog Fang thing sucks - does not work nearly as well.

Well, it's official...this thing is silly-light for a do-it-all-er.

I feel like there's nothing there. There's an added security for some reason (for me) in having a heavy bike. It feels tough. I'm sure it will take me a couple weeks to learn to trust this thing...but one thing is certain, it's fast! Up AND down.

Leaving the Vanilla set at 5" is pretty dang smooth too.

Very happy so far. :)

First "trail ride" report!

I rode the Lawrence River Trail today. It is a very fast / swoopy trail with very little climbing. The last time I rode it on the XLT, I got passed by every rigid hardtail in KS, hehe.

Holy crap...today, I felt freakin' fast and had enough energy to jump off anything with a lip. (and even tweak iit out)

I have forgotten all about the XLT already. No lookin' back.