TheV

What's an "Epic", I've never heard of it? 1. Servicing a "Brain" is just as much a pain in the ass as looking after a "Lefty". 2. The Pro's of the lefty (weight, stiffness, response, etc.) is way more prominent than the "FSR/Brain" suspension and can be felt, it's not placebo. 3. IMHO the Scalpel rides/handles just so so much bette than the Spaz 4. The epic might feel faster, or actually be slightly faster 5. If you ride/race both bikes over the same course, the smile factor on the Scalpel will be better than that of the Spaz. (Stumpjumper FSR is another story.... totally). 6. I think on a downhill the Scalpel is much faster, on a climb/flats the Epic will be better 7. The Scalpel is a bit more versatile than than the pure race ready Epic. just my couple of cents.... "GOOD wheelset choices are a pain in the ass and limited on the lefty hub, but changing a front flat is so easy on the front with the lefty cuz you don't have to remove the wheel... "

Hi Ruan, the BB is not going to be a problem, but unfortunately the steerer will be. Current bike/forks is std. straight and new frame is tapered. So if you want to run current forks you need a reducer headset, will cost a couple hundreds, so maybe look for another frame, a new forks, cuz spending bucks on a headset is a bit of a dead investment in what you are trying to do.

Yup +1- agree with Mayhem. Get the SLX, these days they are virtually the exact same as XT, mostly finish/material that differs, braking power the same. Rather spend the extra bucks on a set of IceTec rotors, it makes a huge difference. But to start off you can use your current rotors, no problem, Shimano brakes are not fussy with rotor/alignment/setup, they just work. Best thing to do if you are fitting yourself is to measure current hoses with a string and then get the shop/someone to cut and bleed the new brakes the same length. If you are lucky (most cases) you can route the caliper along the frame without having to disconnect a hose.

This is a design issue, and some frames suffer more than others, some don't have this issue at all. You will find that the BMC's are often scratched in the workshop or oven on the shop floor because of this. The KTM'S also have this problem. It's not a fall that's going to scratch your bike/damage, it's going to happen from loading/storing/etc. Not much you can do about it, except for grip shifters and a good frame protection film.

99.9999999999999% of cycle shops will offer you a free service plan - 99.999999999999% of these plans have a set time limit/fine print. T&C's are part of life, don't be a sourpuss

So sad for you.... real soppy story, almost made me cry.

They had a production issue with these, you need an insert, or just use a piece of steel hose clamp cut to wrap around your post and inside the frame. Also, you have to perform a bit of nasty cable routing around the BB as they never really planned for the rear derailleur cable routing. It rides very very nicely, but it needed a couple of mods & updates to iron out little design/production issues. Was very light. Sorry I sold mine.

*Disclaimer: "just" over 100kg's fluctuates depending on how many pies he's eaten the week prior. = check out this video, it should give you some tips! You need to re-check your pressure after making settings to the volume and boost settings. http://www.pinkbike.com/news/technical-tuesday-fox-dhx-setup-2010.html

Can't go wrong with Merida as your first MTB bike.

If you are after best mix of weight/performance/budget within your stated budget, I would suggest you buy a stock standard ALU Scalpel 4 (2014) for the Frame and Lefty. It comes with SLX i/spec shifters, Deore Brakes, etc. all good enough to ride while you upgrade, or strip and sell off. Cost you around 30k. then you spend your remaining budget on a new X01 groupset and carbon hoops and finishing kit such as carbon bars, post, saddle, etc... cost you less than 65k after recovering the bits and bobs from sold off components.

I'm also done with this thread. Talk about flogging a dead horse (alternatively beating a dead Dogma). Last comments from me: 1. Nice response from ASG - keep up the good work guys. 2. We never did get to see a picture of the "REAL" Dogma, or did we? 3. Looking back at the picture in the very first post, what's up with the stack/steerer/spacer/stem/setup?

Didn't know that ? I'd be very disappointed if they drop the ball now. Such a great product, hope they keep up their reputation.

Buy a Yeti, put anything Shimano (XT or XTR pref) on it, ride on Easton wheels.... and Fox suspensions and you ain't never gonna need no warranty... On a more serious note, I think the BEST company in SA/World to deal with regards to warranty must be GARMIN - they don't mess you around, they honour even "Grey" imports, and they are super awesome and take complete ownership with their products.

Serious? That's unfortunate! Don't think you'd wanna be seen with me , might just be career limiting.

Depends if high modulus carbon = Cannondale?

There are probably as many "NOT fake" but real Spez S-Works Epic's on the road as there are fake Pina's. Yoh, you see so many S-Works Epic's these days, or am I wrong?

Continental X-King front, Race-King rear.

If it's making the same noises in the front and back: 1. then clean the both rotors with isopropyl alcohol. 2. take the pads out, clean with isopropyl alcohol, sand them lightly to remove any gunk, clean again with the isopropyl alcohol. 3. double check your rotors are torqued correctly and not loose.

Very, very nice!

Anything changed lately, like you washed the bike and maybe got some oil/cleaner/lube,etc on the rotors? Muddy and wet ride? Making the same noise both front and back?

Hello, what Rotors are you running? New? Existing setup, or a new setup with used parts?

Chris, the OP never mentioned the fact that the bike was sprayed, only after it was disclosed in the "legal" response from the other side did he come clean and said he asked for black on black. Still doesn't really answer your question really. All we know now is that the frame was sprayed, and therefore obviously not on display in full DOGMA guise....

So after a couple of us were torched for simply suggesting that ("maybe") there are some undisclosed aspects to this entire sage.... it now "seems" that the OP is probably not as squeaky clean as others would have suggested. 1. Did he know he was getting a "Replica" - and did he actually ask for a Replica? Because it does change things if they sold him an unbranded frame, and then he commissioned the replica paint and decals. 2. This does make one wonder why, if he actually was sold a FAKE (100% unbeknownst to him), why would he be happy to keep the group set and some bits and settle for just returning the frame and some other parts? 3. Also... was the invoice specifically requested by the OP to state "DOGMA", perhaps so that he can have insurance cover, etc? Who knows? 4. Just a comment for interest sake - even though ASG might be appointed as the exclusive distri for the territory, they cannot simply act on behalf of Pina without explicit instruction and powers to protect their IP/Brand/Trademarks, etc. The original owner has to act or explicitly cede this to the distributor. 5. I mentioned in one of my posts that the OP simply registered on thehub the day of the first post - who knows, maybe he was advised or it was suggested to him by someone or a company or another party, who might have a vested interest in the saga to do so? 6. It's funny to me that the OP actually now owns a Fake and a Grey, because strictly speaking the bike he purchased in Aus would be considered grey here? 7. Lastly, it's really funny to me how many people on this thread have A LOT to say about counterfeit aspect, but how many of them actually download/share movie and series without even blinking an eye or thinking twice. There is no difference to this, piracy and counterfeit is rather close in my opinion. 8. You see many people taking off the 318i/320i badge of their shiney new BMW and put a kit/mags/options etc on, and then sticking on a M-bage, etc. Also similar in my books, it's FAKE, isn't it? * AND JUST SO THAT WE ARE CLEAR: I don't know the OP, I don't know the SHOP, I have absolute no connection or involvement in this matter. I don't have replica frames or bikes, I don't sell them or promote them. I've simply just from the start wondered about the OP's agenda and what other aspects there are to the saga... Just personal opinion, you don't have to like it.

Ja, jislaaikit. Even the wheels and everything was fake... The seat post, the handlebar tape was not even made from real cork , we suspect it wasn't even a real handlebar. The only thing that was legit was the Shimanie Dhjura Eish group set. PS> just by the way, if you buy a Dogma without ever having visited their official website which actually warns you about fake frames, then what? http://www.pinarello.com/en/bike2014/road/dogma-65-1-world-champion

Absolute conjecture on your part lady, how can you make such bold assumptions, who said we were married?! LOL. Note to you, please don't buy any Miss Me jeans from your local pharmacy. Also, don't buy your GHD from the cash and carry no matter if it's grey or fake or whatever.