2021 - Full Suspension Bike Thread

Posted by: olaa

So, finally it's NBD! A Crossworx Dash 29 xl showed up.

Awesome. Can you show some photos of how the linkage works?

Posted by: gdharries

Nice! Is that a Giant Trance?

alu trance x 1

Posted by: craw

Posted by: olaa

So, finally it's NBD! A Crossworx Dash 29 xl showed up.

Awesome. Can you show some photos of how the linkage works?

It's not the easiest thing to show that, it is all very compact in there. But in the image you can see how the swingarm is attached to the forward connection of a linkage that rotates around the middle pivot. The shock is then attached at the rearmost connection of that linkage. Essentially the same type of set-up as Ancilotti and a bunch of motorcycles use. 

Short ride impression after a first spin: The bike feels poppy, responsive and very solid. It's a bike that you can go sideways into a corner with at speed and just feel comfortable with, you basicly know where the bike is. Compared to the G16 that i had previously the frame has a much more solid feel, the rear end of the g16 would load up quite a bit more. The suspension is very supple off the top, but has very pronounced support around the sag point. 

The ride feel of the bike is certainly influenced by the build, with nice light wheels and that big 38 up front. 

Geometry-wise, the seat angle is perfectly fine, even on flatter trails. I need to tune the handlebar height a bit, not being used to such a high stack. It is really about 2 cm taller in the front compared to the g16, which is noticeable but not bad. The head angle is a full 2 degrees steeper than the g16 so that is also pretty different, we'll see how that feels on the steep trails. But my feel is that due to the softer suspension off the top, the actual head angle when riding is a bit slacker than anticipated. 

So those were a few thoughts after an easy first ride, we'll see how it works after i heal up from the crash i had the other day and can get riding properly again :)

Also, the build quality is pretty amazing! And that is compared to a Nicolai, which are also pretty spotless.

Nice looking bike! have a G16 currently. Enjoy the comparison.

I could totally see that about the G16. My XL G16 was definitely capable of being loaded. The G1 is a lot sturdier and rides accordingly.

Here's a video of the Crossworx suspension for anyone who still doesn't get it: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1092755871082632

What was the frame weight like compared to the Geometron?

Posted by: craw

I could totally see that about the G16. My XL G16 was definitely capable of being loaded. The G1 is a lot sturdier and rides accordingly.

Here's a video of the Crossworx suspension for anyone who still doesn't get it: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1092755871082632

What was the frame weight like compared to the Geometron?

That video is so much better at explaining how it works :)

The G1 was definitely an option, but full builds were a lot more expensive, and i kinda wanted to try something else. 

It came mostly built up, so i don't have a frame weight. But it should be some 400g heavier than the Geometron, but with most of the weight down low.

Posted by: olaa

Posted by: craw

I could totally see that about the G16. My XL G16 was definitely capable of being loaded. The G1 is a lot sturdier and rides accordingly.

Here's a video of the Crossworx suspension for anyone who still doesn't get it: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1092755871082632

What was the frame weight like compared to the Geometron?

That video is so much better at explaining how it works :)

The G1 was definitely an option, but full builds were a lot more expensive, and i kinda wanted to try something else. 

It came mostly built up, so i don't have a frame weight. But it should be some 400g heavier than the Geometron, but with most of the weight down low.

Interesting. I did a little digging and found that with an air shock the Dash 29 would weigh <9lbs, which would definitely put it lighter than my G1 with EXT coil.

That makes sense, i compared it to my L g16 which is quite a bit lighter than the g1.

And size-wise i would say that an L geometron is comparable to an xl Crossworx.

Warning, Bike nerd rant.

This is the bike of mine which has benefited the most from the NSMB hive, and the Followers of DrewM. (new band name, calling it). 

Banshee Spitfire v2. Frame owned since 2015, parts from far and wide. 

Stock it's 140r 150f, with the dropout chip giving 67°/66.5°/66°, and 430mm stays for a 26" wheel. In an effort to buy the bike I already own, I swapped for the 27.5 dropouts - 440mm, and fitted a Works Components - 2° headset. With the 160mm fork this means the flip chips roughly give 64.5°/64°/63.5° HA. 

The front got lower when I fitted the headset, hence the 40mm riser bar, which I'm trialling trimming to 765mm by moving the controls inboard (feels good so far). 

I refer to the colour scheme as "arsehole detector" since folks with a negative opinion seem unable to keep it to themselves... Purple front hub, orange rear (Pro 4), laced to red rims (Spank Spike race 33, fading to pink). Green Boomslang pedals and One Up guide (dremeled to clear the bashring). Two tone Straitline SSC Stem, in fetching orange and blue. Blue and white custom mudguard (just to keep crap out of the links, not off me). White bashring, blue saddle graphics... 

Shock is a classic DHX 5.0, with the shock pump adjustable boost valve and volume for bottom out. After testing 450,480 & 500lb springs I was unhappy with having to wind in a brick wall of volume reduction to keep the end stroke clank away. A 500+lb MRP progressive spring means I could open up the bottom out volume and still never hit that. 

The OG Lyrik (with 20mm axle!) has a Firm (blue) 170mm spring, preloaded with a 10mm travel spacer for 160mm stroke. It was originally a U-turn R model, so I moved the blank damper cap across and added a MiCo damper from the Recyclery.

The 210mm One Up dropper has been shimmed down to 200mm, and is controlled by a Wolftooth remote. Also using their Goatlink to help the 10spd SLX derailleur to clear the 42t Sunrace cassette. Giving the instructions is an XTR shifter, mounted to the Saint lever with a slightly drilled I-spec unit. 

Other miscallany - 980 crankset is 104BCD with no weird standards, E13 bash, WTB Volt saddle is helping on the journey to the Iron T'aint, Race Face BB bearings replaced with Enduro. 

TL;DR old guy justifies obsolete bike.

I love this level of bike nerdery! How do you like the ride with all these mods?

Velocipedestrian, that is really cool! I love seeing this kind of customization!

Now that's a solid mishmash of everything. A bunch of different eras, so many colours, so many memories. Is it weird that I can smell the DrewM on that bike from here?

Very cool bike velocipedestrian!

I love a “asshole detector” colour scheme - I have no idea how assholes don’t realize that the guy with a non-existent colour scheme is the last person that’s gunna be interested in their opinion of the colour scheme.

Posted by: Znarf

I love this level of bike nerdery! How do you like the ride with all these mods?

I love it. Each change brought an improvement in the ride, mostly  with an increase in weight. 

Craw, most of the DrewM things about this had happened before Meat Engines launched, and the similar articles here. I was pleasantly surprised to find an encouraging voice from my end of the bike spectrum, which lead to the rabbit hole getting deeper.