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dsmiff
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
Posts: 553
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 Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 10:47 am |
I currently have a GT i-drive XCR and ride 2/3 times a week at llandegla (black) and occasionally the Marin and Penmachno.
I brought the bike 3 years ago on Halfords cycle scheme (supersonic's fault!). Question is do I take the plunge again or should I just upgrade a few parts.
As I am stuck with £1000 and I don't think I'm going to get anything more better.
I have already swapped the wheels (XT / 717), cranks (Evolve), shifters (XT), new rear mech (XT) cassette / chain and bars, stem and saddle!! All that is standard is the front fork, rear shock, seat tube and frame!
Is it worth just swapping the shock (Ario 2.1) to a Monarch 4.2 (which I can get for £180) - My problem is this is my first and only Full suspension bike and I have no idea if the shock I have is any good, but from reading reviews of bikes that have it fitted it is constantly slated, I did ride a mates Comencal meta 5.2 briefly at a downhill track and it seems loads smoother than mine at the back, mine feels quite bumpy by comparison?
One more question the shock I need is 190 x 50 – However I’m looking at 190 x 51 and it is available in normal or high volume – what is the difference (other than for some reason the HV is cheaper) ???
Or should I
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bomberesque
Joined: 18 Jul 2008
Posts: 1139
Location: Belgium, where rain is typical
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dsmiff
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
Posts: 553
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 11:53 am |
I've got £1000 to send on a complete new bike if I go through the cyclesheme, if I don't go with the scheme I'll only spend a couple of hundred pounds unless I can get a great deal on a fork (currently has a recon U turn 130 - 100mm coil which seems OK?) I will only look to swap the shock.
It would be nice if I could use the money just for Forks and Shock (think the frame is pretty decent), but I don't think I can do this on the scheme - unless I buy a really cheap bike and claim the fork and shock as accessories???
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My Photo\'s
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My Video\'s
http://www.youtube.com/dnsmiff |
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dsmiff
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
Posts: 553
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 12:05 pm |
I could also pick up some Rockshox Revelation 409 dual air - RockShox Suspension Forks for £230, so it is bestfor me to spend £410 on up-grades of £1000 (tax free) so about £600 on new bike? To be honest I think I no the answer (upgrade!).
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My Photo\'s
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98234388@N00
My Video\'s
http://www.youtube.com/dnsmiff |
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supersonicLives Here
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Posts: 48007
Location: Chapeltown, Sheffield
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dsmiff
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
Posts: 553
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 1:05 pm |
Don't tell me that! I'm getting all excited now - Phoned the Mr's and she has given me the go-ahead!
I guess other than the weight saving (just over 1lb lighter) not too much diff between the Recon coil and a Revelation Air (But it's new and shiny!), the old fork is 3 years old and has a few thousand miles on it - wouldn't it be worth swapping anyway?
Plus I never seem to use the full travel of the fork - I guess the spring rate could be too high, or I'm just a wuss going downhill!
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My Photo\'s
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98234388@N00
My Video\'s
http://www.youtube.com/dnsmiff |
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bomberesque
Joined: 18 Jul 2008
Posts: 1139
Location: Belgium, where rain is typical
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 1:18 pm |
Recon coil is a decent fork although at 3 years old, probably worth a service and check the spring, how heavy are you? RS standard springs are reputed to be a bit on the light side so it's surprising to hear someone say they're not getting the full travel (more often the opposite)
Everything in moderation ... except beer
Beer in moderation ... is a waste of beer
If riding an XC race bike is like touching the trail,
then riding a rigid singlespeed is like licking it
... or being punched by it, depending on the day |
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dsmiff
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
Posts: 553
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jake_tenfloors
Joined: 15 Jul 2009
Posts: 115
Location: Huddersfield
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 1:53 pm |
Where is your voucher for??
Because you can use the halfords voucher on anything bike related.
So you can get your forks & shock through halfords with the voucher. There's two types though, bike&accesories or just a £1000 voucher.
Just go and speak to your local store.
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Northwind
Joined: 06 Sep 2008
Posts: 4560
Location: Edinburgh
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supersonicLives Here
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Posts: 48007
Location: Chapeltown, Sheffield
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 2:03 pm |
The Ario when tested at WMB tended to spike and stick a bit. Idrive runs about a 1:2.7 shock ratio, so nothing out of the ordianry with pressures, but seems to work best at the standard 25% sag.
I think the Monarch would be a good choice as has the motion control compression adjustment.
Zaskar LE 1996
Zaskar Carbon Team
MYSPACE |
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dsmiff
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
Posts: 553
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Northwind
Joined: 06 Sep 2008
Posts: 4560
Location: Edinburgh
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:36 am |
| supersonic wrote: | The Ario when tested at WMB tended to spike and stick a bit. Idrive runs about a 1:2.7 shock ratio, so nothing out of the ordianry with pressures, but seems to work best at the standard 25% sag.
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Mmm, fair enough, I'm running mine at 70psi which seems pretty low, but maybe I'm not current with the averages out there.
We still do it because we're forever chasing what we've already found |
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supersonicLives Here
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Posts: 48007
Location: Chapeltown, Sheffield
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lancj1
Joined: 24 Oct 2009
Posts: 4
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 8:27 am |
| dsmiff wrote: |
It would be nice if I could use the money just for Forks and Shock (think the frame is pretty decent), but I don't think I can do this on the scheme - unless I buy a really cheap bike and claim the fork and shock as accessories??? |
why not do what the mobile phone folks do on ebay. Get the best bike for the grand and flog it, then with the proceeds, do the upgrade and keep a small nest egg.
Not sure if thats strictly within the rules, but thats for your conscience 
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FSR_XC
Joined: 29 Sep 2007
Posts: 1533
Location: Cornwall
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 9:22 am |
Get a £500 hardtail (or a roadie) on cycle to work, with £500 worth of accessories for the GT.
You get a second bike (it could even be the right size for your miss's) and save money on your upgrades.
In between working and riding, I try to find some time to take photo's
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sheepsteeth
Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 5472
Location: kent
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Northwind
Joined: 06 Sep 2008
Posts: 4560
Location: Edinburgh
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 1:32 pm |
| supersonic wrote: | | That does strike me as low, maybe stiction is propping the shock up. |
Don't think so, it's pretty fluid in motion. I'm running a wee bit more sag than usual but stil. The shock travel:suspension travel ratio is pretty standard but there;s more to it than that, but then the leverage doesn't seem that different from plenty of other frames either.
We still do it because we're forever chasing what we've already found |
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dsmiff
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
Posts: 553
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supersonicLives Here
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Posts: 48007
Location: Chapeltown, Sheffield
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Posted Mon Nov 9, 2009 3:47 pm |
The top one looks like an older version and maybe be fixed at 130mm.
426 has external floodgate (no big deal) and poploc (no big deal).
Zaskar LE 1996
Zaskar Carbon Team
MYSPACE |
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