Weight Weenie Posted July 25, 2009 Posted July 25, 2009 Hi guys Being true to my Weight Weenie ways, I've decided that disposable income is there for a reason, so thus lets spend it on the bike and lower the weight and get some better performance ! I'm currently running full 08 xt with xtr shifters and a 08 fox f100rl fork.I want to upgrade the deraillers, crankset, brakes and fork. I'm going with xtr deraillers, but the lbs says not durable. Sounds stupid to me, that the top of the line won't last. Any truth in this that I should stock to xt? And no I don't want sram or gripshift... Looking at the cranks, I think the Race Face Next carbon's are sh!t hot, but seeing that I tend to hit the cranks allot, I'm unsure of the durability of the carbon, afraid of 'chipping'. Any issues with these cranks? Pricing?Otherwise I can get an XTR crankset, would this be the best choice in a metal crank? I've heard the chainrings are expensive and it has a weird bolt setup, so any others from shimano that fit or aftermarket ones? Looking at the brakes, I'm unhappy with the xt's as the servo wave seems like total BS to me, can't get the pistons to retract. sticky perhaps? So there are so many brakes available, I don't know what to go for...My needs would be light weight with good feel and modulation taking precedence to power, I like silent fuss free brakes if there is such a thing. Adjustability like reach and pad contact is also a must for me. The lastly the fork. After having a RST, the fox is just amazing and real smooth. But there are lighter forks and they are also more adjustable. I'd like something lighter with a remote lockout, 32mm stanchions to lessen flex and more settings like compression. Obviously reliability, fork action and service intervals as well as local shops able to work on the fork are important so I need to keep that in mind as well, eish! like I've heard R7's aren't reliable. So please if you've used the products and have some experience please recommend stuff to me and tell me where I'll be wasting my money. Thanks,WW.
XTC OKE Posted July 25, 2009 Posted July 25, 2009 ive got my xtr derailleur for 2 years now m970 - as good as new Avid brakes are super go for juicys carbon or ultimate Rock shox is the best!
Reghard111 Posted July 25, 2009 Posted July 25, 2009 I need to replace my XTR chainrings now....OUCH! The BCD is the same as XT and others so i'm busy doing my homework on that. XTR derailers are still fine after many kays! Had a problem with one shifter thats worn but made a plan for now. The cranks are great but look a bit tatty once coating start to wear off. The fork is a problem, Fox is'nt the lightest but I love the plushness it gives you. Xtr brakes are great but pistons also gets sticky, fix with degreaser and hose, then a couple of drops of lube (Q20) on piston edge fixes it!I am now running a LX cluster.....I weigh everything (just like you) but cant justify the cost! XTR stuff is helluva expensive to maintain. I think XTR cranks replaced with XT chainrings (once they are worn) will be perfect if it works.
Weight Weenie Posted July 25, 2009 Author Posted July 25, 2009 Yep this is great, you guys are confirming what i thought/suspected. The xtr dr's will last, but the brakes will give me hassles and the juicy ulitmates are nice and I can get em in blue As i understand you can now run other blades on the xtr crank, pity bout the logo wearing off... I've got XT cluster and chain and I'll keep that til worn out and then replace with something. Won't be xtr, WAY to expensive and I want to start riding and training more so they won't last. The fork well ja, fox works great but aint very adjustable and is heavy looking at sub 1300g forks on the market.
PhilipV Posted July 26, 2009 Posted July 26, 2009 Take a look at the new SID. If weight is an issue it is either this or the Maitou R&. SID is apparently a bit stiffer and looks way cooler with the new thick stanchions. And I would also go for the Avid Juicy brakes.Pick the Ultimate for wieght/carbon/bragging rights, or the 7 if you want a solid brake and the forementioned don't matter as much as price. Enjoy the upgrades.
perp Posted July 26, 2009 Posted July 26, 2009 Hey WW I got the ultimates on my bike and they work great, if you really want to got light check out the Formula R1's which are supposed to be superlight but I dont know anyone who is riding them so I dont know anything about reliability or performance
Weight Weenie Posted July 26, 2009 Author Posted July 26, 2009 Hi Racer Running ZTR 355 rims laces to DT Swiss 240s hubs with DT Swiss Revolution spokes(AFIK), with blue SAPIM nipples to pimp them out hehe. Im really happy and got these 2nd hand from my uncle, so don't really want to upgrade them, AFIK these are quality components. Haven't weighed them though, might be heavy, dunno... Would love some ZTR 7000's, but I think they are way too expensive. Maybe in a month or two Weight Weenie2009-07-26 09:09:45
MoreTrails Posted July 26, 2009 Posted July 26, 2009 Hey WW, with regards to brakes I ride formula oro's (have 2 sets, K18 & K24's). From a performance point of view they are amazing, have sublime feel and huge power. They don't fade even when they have been burnt on a DH run. Apparently the R1's are even lighter and have the same power and feel...something to consider? I have a mate who wants to sell an out the box FSA K-Force crankset (takes a standard external bb, might even come with one?). Its Carbon, so in the lightweight stakes. Carbon cranks now-a-days are really super strong and flex free, maybe something more to consider? And I have seen thm last on some of the most mullet riders I know. As for deraillers - seen them last, seen them been turned inside out by a 1inch stick, so its luck of the draw. I think if you are in for light weight products then you know that performance is everything and therefore you service your bike regularly. So with regular service should come longevity. I run fox forks. I have a set of Terralogic 100's and they are great. I also have a pair of Manitou's but find that setting them to be supple enough is a ball ache. Fox are just much easier to service, set up and the performance I find is quite noticable. And servicing a set of Manitou's requires a trip for them to Jozi, but I see that ain't a problem for you. And Omnico for my Fox's are just up the road for me, so pretty much of a muchness I suppose. One thing I have noticed, the more weight is shaved the flexier the fork becomes (maybe the new forks are stiffer using better materials). But a flexi fork just ain't cool... Anyway, my 2c...good luck with the weight saving. PM if you interested in the cranks, otherwise check out: https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=55567&KW=&PID=841854#841854
Daxiet Posted July 26, 2009 Posted July 26, 2009 On the fork, I would say if you want more adjustments eg. Compression get the F100 RLC, the weight is worth it. I have been riding an F100RLC for the past 6 months and recently changed bikes and now have the lighter SID Race, it has less settings than the RLC and can't compare. SID's compression is set by use of the Postive and Negative Air chambers. The RLC you on the fly can set the compression and rebound on the top of the fork. Rebound on Rockshox are all at the bottom of the leg.
Weight Weenie Posted July 26, 2009 Author Posted July 26, 2009 Thanks for the info guys.Dax so on my fox I can set the fork on the fly, as I have done with the rebound before. But If you setup the fork corectly once then that should not be nessecary? How does the actual suspension action and stiffness compare? Trails yep the lighter ones become flexy I heard, but magura and sid now have 32mm stanchions like fox. Manitou and dt swiss 30mm? Have ridden some formulas, powerfull, but not enough modulation to my liking, are the R1's different? Read they require some tlc...
MoreTrails Posted July 26, 2009 Posted July 26, 2009 WW, the 32mm stanchions should definately stand them in good stead! I would be most interested in Magura forks as a new alternative. They receive pretty good reviews and really do strive for to save weight. Maybe DT Swiss at well with there carbon guys - but I have heard they are quite flexy. I haven't heard much about the R1's, mostly they are super light and still as powerful if not more then usual. My K24's have a decent modulation dial on them (the k18's are just straight as is, but with carbon lever blade which feels good and seems to fit a bit better). They are a little finiky to set up but once going they are superb. K24's are trail based brakes, but recieve some of the best reviews across the board from what I have read. There is also a pimped set, Oro Bianco's which Greg Minaar rode for a while on the Honda before the prototype 'The Ones' came out. So that says enough for someone like me for performance... I would guess that Juicy Ultimates are the best fit and forget light weights. If you looking for things purely based on weight you need to look at what Magura offer! They are always in the running for light weight high performance kit. And the exclusivety factor can't be ruled out either...
Weight Weenie Posted July 27, 2009 Author Posted July 27, 2009 I've looked at the weights on CRC quickly and they seem quite heavy to be honest, the Magura mag SL's. Anyone have any experience with hopes mono mini's or Hayes stroker gram/carbon?
WorcesterWheelers Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 Wanna play around with upgrades and comparingvarious weigths, here are my favourite two websites..... http://www.competitivecyclist.com/ http://www.wrenchscience.com/ Go play around with various bike builds and compare various components. Wont give you any reviews, but nice info on comparing various weight options.
WorcesterWheelers Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 As for the lightest brakes..... A good old fashioned set of V-brakes Custom built my Merida to come in over just above 9.5kg And for racing on hardpack with lightweight tyres .... its about 8.5kg AND, I weigh around 85kg (well before my crash any way) so no stupid "Weigth weenie" parts only allowed for riders below 70kg's.... This is the bike I had my terrible crash with, and amazingly the bike has not even a scratch.(My helmet and left elbow are both write-off's though)
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