Garage Takai

Was going to wait until i had all of the bits and built it up to start the thread, but I’m sitting here with a glass of wine and meh. For about 7 or 8 years now i have had a Giant Reign as my mid travel trail bike. Build thread here: [url]http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/showthread.php?150496-Spooky-is-bringing-the-Reign[/url] Admittedly it didn’t get much use with the Cove being taken for DH runs and the Scott for DJ/4X stuff. But since moving to Melbourne i have been riding more XC/AM sort of stuff, and so i pulled out the Giant again. Now its certainly not a bad bike, but it has its limitations. First of all its a 6″ trail bike with geo from 2005, and then slackened out with 36s at the front for ~67ish deg head angle. Kind of means it wallows around a bit. Plus the HV shock just blows through its travel. Still i quite like it, and ill probably keep it around with the forks for kicks.

But in the end I wanted to upgrade to some newer gear, something that is designed around a 160mm fork rather than being forced to use one etc, and with some of the new standards like ISCG tabs and tapered steerer. Plus I figured that this might be a last hurrah for 26″ so i may as well get in on the act.

I had a few $$$ around in the kitty, and this had been on the forums for a while, so i made an offer and had it sent down:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36282-5/20140908-223048-iPhone.JPG[/img]

Its in pretty good nick, few scratches here and there but nothing major. Weighed it tonight though, and when people say that the Polygons are a little heavier, they aren’t wrong:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36287-2/20140908-223048-iPhone_001.JPG[/img]

Thats with the RP23 shock, and a Shimano rear axle. No headset. 4.26kg… ouch. The Reign frameset looks light at 3.45kg with shock and headset.

Ill be transferring all of the gear over from the Reign, although i may be getting new forks, just need to see how that pans out. Need to wait on the new headset and the axle adapters for the Hopes from the UK.
Thats about it for now, will update when stuff comes in etc.

P.s. Knuckles, this was that ’13.

[quote=”pink poodle, post: 2867595″]

I doubt you will be disappointed by the choice. From what I can tell they are pretty strong too and plenty smooth on easy going DH tracks like the one at Ourimba. Not sure how they would handle a serious rock garden or significant drop/case, but from my experience with them over the last 6 months they are a good performer.[/QUOTE]

Sounds like it will be fun then.

The next piece of the puzzle came today:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36308-2/20140912-145502-iPhone.JPG[/img]

Had a slight confusion with a friend who wanted some Pikes, I thought he wanted me to order them, and he thought he was ordering them. So we ended up getting 2 pairs, so im just keeping one for myself. 160/130 DPA RCT3s. Should be a good match with the frameset, and luckily with a quick swap with my mate they are the right colour for the frame.
Plus the rear axle adapters arrived from CRC this morning courtesy of a 2.2kg tub of High5 meaning the parcel was sent DHL not RM. Along with the axle adapters was this little guy:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36297-2/20140912-115726-iPhone.JPG[/img]

76g worth of chainring protection.

Now the only thing left to come is the headset, because i had to go the blingy one didnt i….

[quote=”Knuckles, post: 2869086″]

Hehehe, yeah……probably Neezy’s cousin.

Was having a cruise of Pushys the other day, looks like they cleared out most of their stock with that sale. Hopefully they’ll top up again soon.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, i struggled to make the $30 freeship threshold a few weeks ago. Ended up topping it up with a BBall inflating needle of all things.

Anyway, was in the garage tonight fixing up the XTC and couldnt help but do this:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36318-2/20140912-215242-iPhone.JPG[/img]

Slight update, picked up a cheap set of XT brakes and IspecB shifters, so fitted those up a couple of weeks ago. Currently my usual bike for Lysterfield:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36242-2/20140906-222836-iPhone_001.JPG[/img]

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36257-2/20140906-222835-iPhone_001.JPG[/img]

Rides pretty well with the shorter stem, but i think i need to tune the tyre pressures a bit, some of the climbs get a bit squirrelly. Will have to learn to climb properly I think.

Got around to weighing it in the current incarnation:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36292-2/20140909-123516-iPhone.JPG[/img]

11.6kg, so a bit heavier than i thought it would be, albeit with heavier Airwave tubes, pedals and bottle cage.

Starting to consider weenieing it out a bit more too. First thing to go will the the big ring, and just go 2x up front. I don’t find myself using the 44T for my type of riding anyway.
The Jetblack Rockets arent tubeless atm, would need rim strips etc, so i won’t do that just yet, although ill consider it if i find a set of 26″ rim strips cheap.

Any other suggestions for cheap and easy weenie?

Bit of a thread resurrection:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/35752-2/20140619-002005-iPhone.JPG[/img]

Brought the bike out of storage at the start of the year, and stripped it back to rebuild it as a Trail/Enduro bike.

Big changes are the Hope/Stans wheelset, 1×10 XT drivetrain and brakes. Almost the only things that remained were the Hone cranks, 36s and the frame.

Rides pretty well as a trail bike, and i havnt found much reason to upgrade to a newer frame yet (as much as i want to). Certainly doesnt bomb DH like the Cove Shocker i had in between, and doesnt climb like my mates Trek Gary Fisher Paragon, but its a good trail bike, mainly needs tweaking of pressures to get a bit better.

Fitted the OneUp 42T and RAD cage tonight:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36121-2/20140821-220909-iPhone_003.JPG[/img]

Plus cut down a e13 TRS backing plate to make a taco only bash guard:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36116-2/20140821-220909-iPhone_002.JPG[/img]

Will see how it all goes on the weekend, but seems to be shifting well on the stand.

Long story, but I have always wanted an older Demo, now i know that the geo isnt all the rage these days, and that some of the early ones had to deal with cracking issues in the shock cage, but ever since I saw the Collective guys railing them in The Collective and ROAM, i knew I wanted one. So about 6 years ago i bought one, but never did anything with it, and sold it off to buy a Cove Shocker, which found a miserable end at Thredbo.
However, recently ive been able to pick up an old 2006/7 Demo 9 frame off a friend who was splitting his bike out. So here i am building it up in a bit of a haphazard way, but really trying to build the bike that i wanted from 2006.

The core of it of course is an old Specialized Demo 9 DH frame:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/35942-2/20140730-103628-iPhone_001.JPG[/img]

I have paired it up with some 2010 Fox 40s from on here:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/35861-2/20140718-181641-iPhone.JPG[/img]

The rest of the bike is still coming together, although most of it will be the M810 Saint gear from the Cove, plus part of a DeeMax wheelset that I have had lying around for ages. Only problem with that is its a 135mm rear end, and im needing 150mm for the Demo. Until i find an old Silver/Yellow 2006 150mm DeeMax i have picked up a cheap Gravity rear wheel for the build to get it going.

Will post up more photos of gear as it comes in and goes together.

Some parts came in for this in the last week and i had a chance tonight to go screw some of it together:

FSA Gravity guide, with my old Hone cranks and an E13 guide ring:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/35976-2/20140804-204700-iPhone_003.JPG[/img]

Plus mounted up the seat post and saddle and the Saint mech with the new jockey wheels.

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/35981-2/20140804-204700-iPhone_004.JPG[/img]

Decided to go the old IGA Black and Gold colour scheme 🙂

Headset arrived today, so i pulled out my hugely expensive headset press and went to town:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36036-2/20140808-211010-iPhone_001.JPG[/img]

Then i just assembled the front end:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36048-2/20140808-211010-iPhone_003.JPG[/img]

Funn Fatboy bars with RSX Light stem, M810 brakes, and Jet Black grips.

Had to run back upstairs, so it went back on the wall for now:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36063-2/20140808-212530-iPhone.JPG[/img]

Still waiting on the gold end caps for the shifter cable, and then i can get started on the last few little bits and pieces.

Rode into work via the Yarra trails today:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/35996-2/20140805-112737-iPhone_001.JPG[/img]

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/35991-2/20140805-112737-iPhone.JPG[/img]

Seatpost bolt gave up the ghost too, so i finished off the ride with just the sheared end holding it together….

So i needed a new seat post, and i grabbed one cheap from T7:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36067-2/20140812-214429-iPhone.JPG[/img]

Couldn’t resist more red anodising.

Plus i grabbed another stem while they were on sale, as the Crank Bros just didn’t quite feel right, so I’m experimenting with a 65mm rather than 80mm reach; as a slight bonus its 38g lighter. Just astounds me how light these stems are for such a chunky item.

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36072-2/20140812-214429-iPhone_001.JPG[/img]

Mmm billet aluminium:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/36082-2/20140812-214428-iPhone.JPG[/img]

Massive steerer stack for now as i decide whether ill stay with that length or not.

So i was resisting the temptation to weenie out, but it appears that Chops’ influence is too great.

I needed new discs anyway and so i grabbed Ashimas from Pushys cheaply to both fulfil the new disc part of the equation, and to shed a few grams:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/35966-2/20140804-204700-iPhone_001.JPG[/img]

Had a spare 160mm front IS adapter lying around too so i got 140mm for the rear to see how it would go:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/35961-2/20140804-204700-iPhone.JPG[/img]

Now 10.5kg.

Since im now living in Melbourne, and the closest trails (Yarra and Lysterfield) just dont warrant a 6″ trail bike all the time, i decided to build up an XC oriented hard tail, rather than nicking my wife’s Yukon or trying to XC on a DJ/4X bike.

Built this up on a tight budget:

[img]http://gallery2.plebeians.net/d/35916-2/20140726-163000-iPhone.JPG[/img]

Its an absolute hoot, pretty light, rolls well, jumps reasonably and can climb better than I can.

Specs:
2006/07ish Giant XTC3 frame
Fox 32 100mm CTD Evo
Jetblack Rocket wheelset (High Roller & Larsen TT)
M770 XT drivetrain bar the SLX shifters
M615 Deore brakes
Giant composite bars, Crankbros Iodine 1 stem, JB Lockon grips.

Pretty basic build really, but has come in under $500 with some judicious Farkin trawling, and picking up various bits around the country. Wasnt really trying to make a light build either, but it weighs in at 10.7kg with the M540 pedals and cheapo Airwave tubes. Could be lighter if i weeny out, but dont think i can really be bothered too much.
Its an enjoyable bike for my first XC hard tail, and should be good fun to come.