Bike Upgrades Advice.

[Alastair_S1D]

Hi there. Just wanted some quick advice regarding upgrades to both my MTB and my road bike. Hoping to breath new life into my bikes. 

 

My current road bike is a 2010 KTM Strada LC 5000. 

Frame and Fork: KTM 4AT Carbon

Wheelset: 2010 Mavic Ksyrium Elite.

Rear Derailleur: Dura Ace 7900

Front Derailleur: Dura Ace 7900

Crankset: Ultegra 6700 50/34

Cassette: Dura Ace 7900 10sp 12T-28T

Chain: Ultegra.

Breaks: Ultegra 6700

Levers: Ultegra 6700

Handlebar: Easton EC70

Stem: Ryder 100mm alloy 

Seatpost: Ritchey WCS Alloy

Saddle Selle Italia SL

Tires: Currently Kenda Kriterium 23c. 

 

Weight: 7.7KG. 

 

I had planned to switch over to Ultegra 6800 11sp components with mid-compact 52/36 rings or full size 53/39. I have also had issues with my Kyserium wheels. I have had them trued a lot lately and just seem to be having issues. 

 

Now I dunno. Been thinking, is it worth it to upgrade this bike, or shall I sell it or part it out and maybe do something with a newer frame with some of these new aero features that they have. I do already have a 6800 11T-25T cassette that I bought a while ago. 

 

And on my MTB. Lots of question marks around it at the moment as it a may be cracked. 

 

2013 Merida Big.Nine 3000

Fork: Fox Float F32 Evo 100mm CTD. 

Groupset: Full Shimano Deore XT M785 parts. Triple Ring and 11T-36T cassette. 

Wheelset: American Classic Race 29's. 

Seatpost: FSA K-Force 25mm set back

Stem: Procraft Racing Components 80mm stem

Handlebars: Procraft Carbon Straightbar at 640mm

Sadddle; Selle Italia SLR XC Flow

Tires: Race King Protection 2.2 Rear and Mountain King Protection 2.2 Front

Weight: 10.5KG. 

 

Now I dunno if it is cracked but if it is then the upgrade plans may be scrapped. If not I had planned to start putting XT M8000 parts with a double ring 38T-28T and maybe a different fork. And if the frame is cracked, I may part her out. 

 

 

Both these bikes have done me proud over the years. But ever since the massive crash I had that damaged my Merida, I suddenly got the upgrade itch. 

 

Any advice? Suggestions? Leave as is? 

[Spirog]

On the road bike:

 

Wheels, wheels, wheels!!!!

[Alastair_S1D]

On the road bike:

 

Wheels, wheels, wheels!!!!

recommendations?

[Veebee]

recommendations?

 

AC Aero 420's ? And you can upgrade handlebar and seat post to carbon and save more weight. 

[Thomo]

I'd like to know the weight of the KTM frame and whether that warrants upgrade.

The bike isn't badly specced.

Ksyrium Elites aren't the lightest wheels, but anything else (reasonably priced) is probably only going the be +-200g lighter.

Likewise with the other minor cockpit bits.

[Alastair_S1D]

AC Aero 420's ? And you can upgrade handlebar and seat post to carbon and save more weight. 

 

Handle bar is already carbon with Easton EC70 Aero at ~230g. Probably carbon stem and seatpost? I will look into the AC's. I assume 420's are 42mm deep. I was looking at something a little shallower. A "can do it all" wheelset. Aero and still manageable in the crosswinds. Maybe something around 30mm?

I'd like to know the weight of the KTM frame and whether that warrants upgrade.

The bike isn't badly specced.

Ksyrium Elites aren't the lightest wheels, but anything else (reasonably priced) is probably only going the be +-200g lighter.

Likewise with the other minor cockpit bits.

I can't seem to find anything on what the 4AT frame and fork weigh. But I know it isn't a monocoque design. The KTM Revelator Master of the same model year, with similar spec weighed in at just 7KG. I am wondering if that is cause of a lighter frame?

 

I originally wanted to start with the gears as I seem to often run out of gears with the 50/36 and 12-28 combination in races. But since the wheels have started giving me issues, I am looking at doing wheels first. Assuming of course it is worth it to upgrade the frame. 

[Veebee]

The Aero 420s are 34mm deep so you won't have issues in cross wind. 

[Alastair_S1D]

The Aero 420s are 34mm deep so you won't have issues in cross wind. 

Ah! Thank yee! I will look into them. Still think my KTM frame is worth the effort?

[Veebee]

Ah! Thank yee! I will look into them. Still think my KTM frame is worth the effort?

 

That's really for you to decide hey. A new carbon ultegra machine with good wheels is going go cost you upwards of r40k. The upgrades would be half of that.

[Paul Ruinaard]

Sounds like you want to buy something mate and you got budget.

 

Everything you spend on upgrades is going to cost you more in the long run versus buying a whole bike new.

 

What are you trying to achieve by doing the upgrades? UNless you are an elite class rider an aero frame wont really make a huge difference.

 

Wheels are always a good idea but those aren't shabby wheels.

 

If you want to go faster spend the money on a power meter and training plans....

 

If you want a more bling bike then be prepared to spend for very little gain other than boasting rights....

[Alastair_S1D]

Sounds like you want to buy something mate and you got budget.

 

Everything you spend on upgrades is going to cost you more in the long run versus buying a whole bike new.

 

What are you trying to achieve by doing the upgrades? UNless you are an elite class rider an aero frame wont really make a huge difference.

 

Wheels are always a good idea but those aren't shabby wheels.

 

If you want to go faster spend the money on a power meter and training plans....

 

If you want a more bling bike then be prepared to spend for very little gain other than boasting rights....

with my road bike first problem I had is the range of gears it has. I find myself running out of gears with a 28-12 cassette paired with a 50/36 crank. When the speed goes up I have difficulty keeping up as my gears max out at around 65KPH. And so I couldn't find any aftermarket rings available for the 6700 ultegra with the 110 BCD. So I figured I would upgrade that to 6800. Which used the 110 BCD across all its cranks. But it seems the 6800 stuff is now 11 speed so I figured I might as well do the rest of the groupset as well.

 

But then my wheels started giving me issues. I've had them trued 3 times in three weeks. And it's getting rather irritating. And they are flexing as well. So that prompted me to start looking into wheels.

 

What sort of resale value could I ask for my Dura Ace 7900 derailleurs and cassette and my 6700 crank, shifters and breaks? Cause maybe the resale value can offset the cost of the upgrades somewhat.

[VolkAdik]

Wheels are the biggest upgrade right now for you, as for running out of gears, cassette with 11 tooth will make a difference. 

 

Im running Ultegra 6800 50/34, 11-28 and am able to sit with guys running standard and 12 - 25 / 12 - 28, I spin out at like 72kph

[VolkAdik]

To add, you can get the AC 420 aero, or just one time get the AC Argents.

[Alastair_S1D]

To add, you can get the AC 420 aero, or just one time get the AC Argents.

I was looking at the Argents. however I am also wondering if I can find a way to simply lace new rims to the Ksyrium hubs and spokes.

[VolkAdik]

Well the ksyrium elites use proprietary spokes which in turn use a specific rim to bolt to, you can try to find Ksyrium elite rims, but my vote is to just Upgrade.

 

You will be grateful for it, promise  

[Alastair_S1D]

This is true. I think doing the wheels and maybe a new chain and new 25-11 or 28-11 cassette for the road bike will be in order. It seems that we have reached a point of diminishing returns. it seems component manufacturers can't really shave off any more weight it seemsm. I worked out that a full conversion to Ultegra 6800 will add an ENTIRE 30g to my bike (sarcasm). Cause even the old series Dura Ace derailleurs are SLIGHTLY lighter than the current series Ultegra. And with the release of the new Dura Ace that's just happened it means that the new Ultegra 6900 will be following in abouts a year or so. so I think on the drivetrain front of the road bike,I will wait.

 

the only thing I do miss on my current 6700 groupset vs. the older 6600 I had was the ability to up shift 3 gears at a time which I had hoped 6800 or the new 6900 will rectify.

 

on the mountain bike. it's even harder.

 

after a few days of research I have managed to find that all in, my 3x10 M780 groupset is actually 33g lighter on average than XT M8000 2x11. and I still have a far wider range of gears. The margins grow to nearly 100g if I simply change my triple out to a 2 ring crank. also they didn't really improve much on the 780 breaks on the new M8000 breaks. The breaks seem identical and seem to have similar weights between them. so that hardly seems worth the effort.

 

But I am still looking try and find ways to shave weight off my MTB. I can't seem to change anything on the drive train without going to XTR. At least on the Shimano sides of things. I've already shaved 300g of the wheels. which has made a marked improvement on the bikes behaviour. But I can't see where else to save weight. Maybe the fork? I have a Fox Float evolution on my bike. Think I can shave some weight there?

 

I have been looking at the SRAM side of things for the MTB. Maybe X0 2x10. Has the 2x10 X0 recieved any updates? Or is XO still current and in production? Or has SRAMs 2x10 offerings been left forgotten in the wake of SRAMS 11X1 and 12x1 groupsets and is now EOL?

 

and can anyone explain the benefits of a 1x11 system to me? from the figures I have managed to gather. it isn't really any lighter than a 2x10 and you don't really have the same range of gears anyway?