My New DOWNTUBE FS 9 Speed
02-16-08 | 09:39 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Gak! Wud's dat smell???
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: The Serene City of Scarborough, Ontario :D
Bikes: SmartCog KOMA 3 Speed Folder
My New DOWNTUBE FS 9 Speed
Hey All!
Got my Downtube FS 9 Speed a few weeks ago but haven't really had the opportunity to ride quite yet. All on account of snow and ice. Figure I would wait till more Spring like weather to break this new girl in. But what's a guy to do till then?
Well, aside from surfing this forum for anything and all about Downtube bikes and Ebay for upgrade goodies I started some simple add-ons.
Carbon Road Seatpost, Rear LED light....
Front LED light and a Planet Bike Protege 9.0 Computer...
...and some Carbon Fiber Bar Ends.....for now...
I'll be back with more in a few short weeks....stay tuned
Norman
Got my Downtube FS 9 Speed a few weeks ago but haven't really had the opportunity to ride quite yet. All on account of snow and ice. Figure I would wait till more Spring like weather to break this new girl in. But what's a guy to do till then?
Well, aside from surfing this forum for anything and all about Downtube bikes and Ebay for upgrade goodies I started some simple add-ons.
Carbon Road Seatpost, Rear LED light....
Front LED light and a Planet Bike Protege 9.0 Computer...
...and some Carbon Fiber Bar Ends.....for now...
I'll be back with more in a few short weeks....stay tuned
Norman
Last edited by Archer-ca; 02-16-08 at 09:49 PM.
02-16-08 | 09:49 PM
#2
Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Central Missouri
Bikes: Surly Crosscheck, Nishiki mixte, Specialized Myka, Giant Option
Nice pics! I ordered a downtube, front suspension and it will be here Monday. Snow in the forecast here, too, so I may have to wait also.
02-17-08 | 09:07 AM
#5
Eschew Obfuscation
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,845
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco Bay Area
Bikes: 2005 Fuji Professional, 2002 Lemond Zurich, Folders - Strida, Merc, Dahon, Downtube, Recumbent folder
Nice looking bike. Hope you have tons of fun on it. It's a great bike.
02-17-08 | 11:20 AM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 120
Likes: 1
This never really got answered in my post, but does your stem have some play at the folding part when tightened down? I found that the bolt holding both parts is smaller then the hole by only a few thousandths, but enough to be noticiable. This is not the same as flexing. I limited the movement by putting a brass shim around that bolt to take up the slack. Just curious as the Downtube 9 is my first folder too.
02-17-08 | 01:00 PM
#7
Thread Starter
Gak! Wud's dat smell???
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: The Serene City of Scarborough, Ontario :D
Bikes: SmartCog KOMA 3 Speed Folder
This never really got answered in my post, but does your stem have some play at the folding part when tightened down? I found that the bolt holding both parts is smaller then the hole by only a few thousandths, but enough to be noticiable. This is not the same as flexing. I limited the movement by putting a brass shim around that bolt to take up the slack. Just curious as the Downtube 9 is my first folder too.
I've found a bit of play in both hinge when unfolded. However if I was to crank down on the bolts it tends to bind the hinge, making it not so smooth to fold. With the securing clamp it's all solid, no play. I suppose the wee bit of play if needed for smooth and easy folding.
Norman
02-17-08 | 03:37 PM
#8
The Metropolis, UK
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,353
Likes: 2
Have the black one. Wonderful ride you will love it. It's the best folder I've ever seen and used at its pricing point. I love your mods, simple but tasteful and sophisticated. Carbon Road Seatpost looks fantastic, very smart acquisition.
02-17-08 | 05:38 PM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 120
Likes: 1
Hey YOUTHCOM.
I've found a bit of play in both hinge when unfolded. However if I was to crank down on the bolts it tends to bind the hinge, making it not so smooth to fold. With the securing clamp it's all solid, no play. I suppose the wee bit of play if needed for smooth and easy folding.
Norman
I've found a bit of play in both hinge when unfolded. However if I was to crank down on the bolts it tends to bind the hinge, making it not so smooth to fold. With the securing clamp it's all solid, no play. I suppose the wee bit of play if needed for smooth and easy folding.
Norman
Hmm maybe yours is a bit different. I find on mind that you can't really overtighten that bolt because it's not like a screw & nut, but rather a fixed length pin with an internal thread. I can't tighten mine enough to bind it as it just bottoms out at the head & the pin is about the width of the hinge. Pictured is the shim inserted to take away some of the play I mentioned.
Btw, have you done a before & after weight comparisons with your upgrades so far? Looks like at least a 1lb savings there.
02-17-08 | 10:00 PM
#11
Thread Starter
Gak! Wud's dat smell???
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: The Serene City of Scarborough, Ontario :D
Bikes: SmartCog KOMA 3 Speed Folder
Hmm maybe yours is a bit different. I find on mind that you can't really overtighten that bolt because it's not like a screw & nut, but rather a fixed length pin with an internal thread. I can't tighten mine enough to bind it as it just bottoms out at the head & the pin is about the width of the hinge. Pictured is the shim inserted to take away some of the play I mentioned.
Btw, have you done a before & after weight comparisons with your upgrades so far? Looks like at least a 1lb savings there.
Btw, have you done a before & after weight comparisons with your upgrades so far? Looks like at least a 1lb savings there.
I never unscrewed the bolt out till I saw your Pic. This is what mine looks like....
I guess it's just like yours with the exception of no noticeable play when locke down. Maybe a change of tooling during production? But you've came up with a nice and clean solution.
No, I haven't weighed the bike since the carbon fiber upgrade. I don't think I've really reduced much. Especially with the new stuff I will be adding later. That will more than make up what little the CF stuff has taken away.
Norman
02-17-08 | 10:10 PM
#12
Thread Starter
Gak! Wud's dat smell???
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: The Serene City of Scarborough, Ontario :D
Bikes: SmartCog KOMA 3 Speed Folder
The Downtube FS seatpost is marked 30.4mm. My Carbon Seatpost is a 27mm. I shimmed it with a 27 to 30mm shim.
HTH.
Norman
02-18-08 | 11:15 AM
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Bikes: 2009 Brompton S6R-X, 2001 RM Birdy Silver
Nice bike Archer, there are now 4 DT owners in our Area. I have the previous FS and am seriously jonesing for some riding again.
If you are downtown, drop me an line, we can ride our twins (mine is also orange). If we can get KABIR down from Kitchener we can all take a ride together!?
If you are downtown, drop me an line, we can ride our twins (mine is also orange). If we can get KABIR down from Kitchener we can all take a ride together!?
02-18-08 | 11:25 AM
#15
Thread Starter
Gak! Wud's dat smell???
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: The Serene City of Scarborough, Ontario :D
Bikes: SmartCog KOMA 3 Speed Folder
Awesome!! Sounds like a plan PYSKOOCYCLE. But give me a bit of time to get back into shape
I haven't ridden since last summer and all those late night Nacho Binges have taken their toll. Now we all know why I gotta sell the SmartCog KOMA 3 Speed. Pray I don't exceed the weight limit on the DT, too
We'll get in touch when the weather warms up!
Cheers,
Norman
I haven't ridden since last summer and all those late night Nacho Binges have taken their toll. Now we all know why I gotta sell the SmartCog KOMA 3 Speed. Pray I don't exceed the weight limit on the DT, tooWe'll get in touch when the weather warms up!
Cheers,
Norman
02-18-08 | 11:34 AM
#16
Part-time epistemologist
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,870
Likes: 3
From: Washington, DC
Bikes: Jamis Nova, Bike Friday triplet, Bike Friday NWT, STRIDA, Austro Daimler Vent Noir, Hollands Tourer
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
A narrative on bicycle driving.
02-18-08 | 12:42 PM
#17
Thread Starter
Gak! Wud's dat smell???
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: The Serene City of Scarborough, Ontario :D
Bikes: SmartCog KOMA 3 Speed Folder
