NSMB - 2012 Light AM Hard Tail build off 4-7"

This.
29er
No idea on the weight

Highlights include:
Uppy downy post
Uppy downy fork
Wagon wheels (rear tubeless/front tube)

scrublover: so that's the updated kamui? looks like they're sticking with 27.2" seat posts. any other changes besides the head tube? swoopy downtubes on all models or is that just for fork-crown clearance on (what i am assuming is) a size small frame? edit: nice build, but i'm not digging the new down tube

This.
29er
No idea on the weight

Highlights include:
Uppy downy post
Uppy downy fork
Wagon wheels (rear tubeless/front tube)

Fasia of 2012??

Also picked up a new Kamui from Chromag a couple of weeks ago - 44 mm headtube and bent down tube are the only major changes. Also has a cable guide for a dropper post. Angles with the Revelation set at 120 mm are as advertised on their website, 72 seat and 68 head angle.

scrublover: so that's the updated kamui? looks like they're sticking with 27.2" seat posts. any other changes besides the head tube? swoopy downtubes on all models or is that just for fork-crown clearance on (what i am assuming is) a size small frame? edit: nice build, but i'm not digging the new down tube

yep, size small. very, very comfortable and needed little mid-ride tweaking yesterday. handles beautifully, as i expected it would.

i wasn't aware they were altering the DT that way, just thought it was getting the larger HT. not digging it myself, but the bike feels fantastic, so whatever. not sure if my fork would have needed it otherwise, but i'll trust their judgement on it i guess. no idea if on all the other models or not. assuming they did it for people wanting to run internal headsets that then give your fork bits potentially less clearance.

only other niggle is i had asked about getting the shifting cable stops to be the zip tie style,like the rear brake guides, and they used the regular style anyhow. meh. running all the rear cables zip tied together anyhow. there reasoning seems to be shifting performance of broken up housing vs. full runs. i prefer full, particularly living and riding someplace that tends to get wet and be mucky. have never really noticed a decrease in shift performance by doing so.

24.8# on the local shop scale, but no pic - claimer only. Handles beautifully! Felt immediately comfortable,and required very little tweaking mid-ride this afternoon.

Revelation Dual Air, 20mm, at 150mm - may drop it down to 130-140 and see how things feel.

30 x 11-36 drive. XX brakes. ADvantage UST 2.1 rear, Minion DHF 2.35 front. Gravity dropper. Assorted mish-mash of other stuff. . Really, really happy with the bike! The TransAM was nice, but this feels even better. Only new parts are the seat-clamp and headset bits. And not having to run a shim for the post. 10mm Hadley bolted rear.

That's a sweet bike, sir. Well done.

swoopy downtubes on all models or is that just for fork-crown clearance on (what i am assuming is) a size small frame? edit: nice build, but i'm not digging the new down tube

Swoopy??? Really you are calling that little bend at the head tube swoopy?

I think it looks perfect. I much prefer the slight bend to give the tube a better profile at the headtube vs it butting at an odd angle then being moved up to make room for fork clearance.

Swoopy??? Really you are calling that little bend at the head tube swoopy?

yeah, i am. personally, aesthetically, i don't like it - one of the (many) appeals of steel hardtails to me is the nice straight lines… that little bend kills it for me

that said those kamuis are both super sweet looking rigs. makes me wonder (beyond being a 26" hardtail), is the samurai obsolete: would anyone opt for one when the kamui can take a long-travel fork in a more svelt package? maybe the sam's back end is stiffer with those box stays, or intended to weather dorps better. mine's given me 6 great years but i'd be curious how the model is doing for chromag, saleswise

Fasia of 2012??

Seriously? :deadhorse:

:lol:

yeah, i am. personally, aesthetically, i don't like it - one of the (many) appeals of steel hardtails to me is the nice straight lines… that little bend kills it for me

that said those kamuis are both super sweet looking rigs. makes me wonder (beyond being a 26" hardtail), is the samurai obsolete: would anyone opt for one when the kamui can take a long-travel fork in a more svelt package? maybe the sam's back end is stiffer with those box stays, or intended to weather dorps better. mine's given me 6 great years but i'd be curious how the model is doing for chromag, saleswise

Agreed. I really don't dig the DT bend. The bike rides sweetly enough that it's okay though. Had I known it would be that way, I'd have maybe asked about htem doing one with a straight tube, or just gone with another builder even.

I wouldn't think the bigger bikes are obsolete. The TansAM this frame replaced is in another realm of burly, like the Samurai. Stick a 160mm fork on it and beat on it like mad. I'm sure the Kamui can take what I can dish, but there are plenty of riders who want and can put a burlier frame to good use.

If I were still out west, with far longer descents than here, I'd have likely gone for the tougher frame, or just kept the TransAM with bigger fork and stouter wheels.

I wouldn't think the bigger bikes are obsolete.

that's the thing/my point: the samurai isn't a bigger bike than the kamui, only a bit burlier. if you wanted a chromag frame to put a 6" fork on, you'd get a stylus, no? ian recommended against running a 6" fork to me, though that was a few years back - the samurai is intended to be run with a fork the same size as the kamui, but has a burlier back end. today, does anyone take the ~1lb hit for the beefier stays on a 5" bike?

that's the thing/my point: the samurai isn't a bigger bike than the kamui, only a bit burlier. if you wanted a chromag frame to put a 6" fork on, you'd get a stylus, no? ian recommended against running a 6" fork to me, though that was a few years back - the samurai is intended to be run with a fork the same size as the kamui, but has a burlier back end. today, does anyone take the ~1lb hit for the beefier stays on a 5" bike?

Gotcha. Guess it depends on how big one is going on said bike, and how smooth one might be. I only mean "bigger" in the sense that is is built burlier/heavier duty overall. I'd feel okay putting my Lyrik 160mm on the Stylus, but not the Kamui.

I'm fairly smooth (or would like to think so) and don't do much bit stuff, or with horrible landings, so figured the Kamui to suit me nicely for where I am in my riding. Why lug around the extra heft if not needed? Plus, yes, the Kamui is certainly a more refined looker in comparison to the TransAM.

As to if the market will be able to support such bikes in the future, I don't know. Hope so though, as the variety is nice. I went for the Kamui after an experience with a local custom dude to make more or less the same (lighter, refined TransAM) left a bad taste in my mouth. Very glad this one seems to be working out.

Bottom line: ridin' bikes is fun.

that's the thing/my point: the samurai isn't a bigger bike than the kamui, only a bit burlier. if you wanted a chromag frame to put a 6" fork on, you'd get a stylus, no? ian recommended against running a 6" fork to me, though that was a few years back - the samurai is intended to be run with a fork the same size as the kamui, but has a burlier back end. today, does anyone take the ~1lb hit for the beefier stays on a 5" bike?

Other than the stiffness of the rear triangle, the Samurai rear end also has more tire clearance. With the Kamui and 2.2 Purgatory tires, there is about 5 mm of clearance to the stays. So some popular AM tires like the Hans Dampf may not fit.