SlimRider

Hey there Ed!

I've liked your spirit from the beginning!

...Say, at this point! I say just go ahead and make your own custom dream build. I'd just like to see the creative mind at work doing MTB artistry...I mean, that's really what custom build is all about...The human mind using a template upon which to create. This time, the bike is the template. That's all!

So, yeah!...456 Ti sounds great! ...Go for it!

- Slim

dminor 

My fantasy custom dream build would need a LOT larger budget. First off, I'd need to get Allen Millyard to take time out from building Viper-engined superbikes to fab me a frame:




. . . or maybe go a little more conventional and get an 'off-the-shelf' cast-aluminum Empire Cycles frame and go from there . . .

SlimRider

Wow!...I'd say, I'm impressed with those for sure...Beautiful!!!

Thanks, Dminor!

- Slim

cryptid01

Not on bikeforums, no.

SlimRider

It's no wonder, Sensei! You have no fear...Who could ever doubt your greatness, Sensei?

Thank you, your highness for taking time to address the likes of me, Oh merciful one!

- Slim

ed 

That makes sense.

ed 

Well...for the 456:

Fork: Argyle RCT
Headset: King Ti ('cause I can)
Crankset: Atlas AM (cause they're sexxy) 1x9 with blackguard and a Straitline bash
Cassette: XT 10spd (XT b/c I'm not gonna hang out with the white collar roadie crowd no matter what fantasy I'm building)
Chain: XT 10spd
RD: XT
Shifter: XT
Stem: X4
Bars: EA70
Post: GD
Saddle: WTB RV Ti
Wheelset: I9 Enduro
Brakes: Hope Evo


That's just off the top of my head for the 456 Ti...which is not my dream bike, but I'd ride it fo sho!!

A dream bike for me would probabaly be a 26" dually All'rounder of sorts...I'll have to get back c ya on that one.

SlimRider

Hey there Ed!

Now that's what I'm talkin' bout! Right there!...Yes!

Thanks!

- Slim

kenhill3

Really? I'm curious as to why you believe this.

Daspydyr 

The kid who first taught me to Mountain bike had me hike up a hill in New Mexico that looked down a mile of 15" wide single track with 50' drops down most of the sides. (Silver Bullet trail, Aztec, NM) Then the punk kid says, "Fear can either paralyze you or energize you, you decide which!" Then he left.

The only real hurts I've suffered is when the sphincter tightens up.

I would build that frame up with some DT Swiss Rims, Ritchey C/Fpost and bar, XT groupo and Fox RLC. I guess brakes would be good, but I might be outta money.

Daspydyr 

I need a definition of versatile on this one, is that a fair question? My F/S has lockouts and I like playing with lock outs.

LesterOfPuppets

Can I just go nuts and blow the whole $3K on wheels alone?

dsprehe89

Axel driven I assume? I didn't know axel driven bikes were on the market. Also single side swing and internal gear box to go with it. Just WOW. I just needs one of those lefty forks that cannon dale uses that is designed for DH.

Stuff like this is why I like to lurk around on threads like these, you just never know what you are going to see. Nice find D.

Just a quick question, about how much would one of the run you? "just for sng"

corvuscorvax

As somebody who actually owns a 100mm 26" Ti hardtail, here's what I did:

- Frame: Seven Verve
- Eccentric bottom bracket with a White ENO crankset
- Two wheelsets: (1) Rohloff / Schmidt SON, (2) CK singlespeed
- Brakes: Avid BB7
- Fork: Fox F100 RL
- Headset: King


I can't imagine ever wanting another mountain bike. (A bit over your $3K budget though.)

ed 

Actually, I think my All-Round dream bike would be a Parker with a slightly longer seat tube. 2:1 leverage ratio is the bomb. Throw a PIKE U-Turn on there, build it as a 30# AM rig, and call it a day.

sscyco

I have 2 Ti bikes along the same lines as your looking at - first the one my kid rides (i rode for the first 10 years) - Built in 1998, has easily 30000+ miles on it, right now about 24# (has beed 21), jumped, dropped and slammed numorous times. Still looks and rides as good as the day I got it. Here is my son racing it in the CCP100 earlier this year.


The one I ride - Bigger fork, tougher frame, slacker angles - better for an old guy. About the same weight @24#. Me in the same race. (ED - sorry about the spandex)

samburger

A minivan is more versatile than a Skyline...doesn't mean I'm going to do a fantasy build for one.

I'd sell the bike, use the money to start a new-ish life (job & home) in North GA, & finally be able to properly use the slightly overbuilt build I just finished on some real mountain trails.

But if I absolutely had to use that frame, I'd do a weight weenie build. What else are ya gonna do with such a quirky Ti frame?

corvuscorvax

LesterOfPuppets

Aerostar for life!

dminor 

I believe it's freehub driven - - the hub/freehub itself is a dishless unit designed and fabricated by Millyard. Internal 'gearbox' is actually a Nexus planetary hub.

More info on the bike here: https://www.pinkbike.com/news/allen-m...rt-1-2008.html
If you google Allen Millyard, you will see a ton of his wild motorcycle creations. Guy's a mad scientist.

As far as cost, I have no doubt that the frame/shock/rear hub combo would run towrad 10 grand. That's a lot of custom machining, welding and proprietary intellectual property by a guy whose day job is nuclear engineer. I'm sure his time would not come cheap.

SlimRider

I can commute to work on a hardtail and I won't feel or look weird doing it. Commuting to work on a FS DH racing bike might both look and feel a little strange. It could be done. However, in a large flat urban area, it might attract some unwanted attention. That goes double for urban bicycle messengers. It also would look strange trying to attached racks and panniers on, to make it a utility bicycle, as well. If you're doing a century or touring, you would most definitely lag behind the others, much more so, than a hardtail.

So in the strictest sense of the word versatile, meaning that it would have more applications, or serve more purposes, the FS suspension MTB is less versatile as a bicycle than a hardtail. We've all seen hardtails with racks carrying portables from one destination to another. We've all seen hardtails, being used as commuters in urban areas. OTOH, FS MTN bikes used as commuters are an unusual sight to behold and I'm certain must both look and feel slightly awkard doing commutes.

- Slim

PS.

I've seen bicycle messengers on just about every type of bicycle with the exception of a FS MTB. That would be a first!

dsprehe89

freehub? so it has a chain built into that thin rear swing arm? I figured having a solid axel going back would have been the more durable/longer lasting route.

Edit: Why did you choose to have the chain completely lubed, compared to a closed lubrication system with the chain running externally along the swingarm?
The chain on the 0001 bike is enclosed with the rear swinging arm, and is splash lubricated with about 50cc of oil. The 0002 bike uses ZX1 grease.

Ok, so it is chain driven. Thats must be tiny gears then to fit it all in their.

Zephyr11

Hm, well, a cyclocross bike is pretty versatile too. Almost as fast as a road bike, eats up fire roads, and can be used on easy mountain bike trails. But...I don't have any intention of buying one any time soon.

So I'm not chained to that frame anymore? Alright, here we go. I'd take this, eBay everything on there already, put some lighter components on it, make it into a weenie version of itself, and hopefully get a 24" trail bike: https://www.specialized.com/ca/en/bc/...9451&gold_ses=

140mm Float up front (although making it a little burlier and putting a 140mm Argyle is tempting too)
RP23 in back
X.9 RD
X.0 shifters
e.13 bash and guide
Elixir 9s
Dirty Dog rotors because they're frickin' cool. 160 in back, 185 up front.
Straitline platforms
Selle Italia SLR with the TLD design
ODI Yeti lock-ons
Easton Monkeybar riser, don't know how high without seeing the bike
Thomson stem, don't know how long without seeing the bike
CK headset
Some decent SRAM cassette...I don't really care hah
Truvativ Noir 175mm
Willing to wait for that Fox dropper post
Gonna need to find a custom wheel builder for decent wheels probably.
And maybe Nevegals? I don't even know what other decent trail tires are made that size.

Pretty sure $3000 won't cover that.

SlimRider

Great Response!

Thanks, Daspydyr!

- Slim

SlimRider

You've got excellent taste, Zephyr!

I'm lovin' it!

Thanks

- Slim