NSMB - 2020 - Hardtail Thread

Here is my Kona Explosif, size XL. It's a 2017 model but has taken me a few years to get to this point.

I recently installed a Marzocchi Bomber Z2 and some gorgeous TRP G-Spec DH brakes. Running a 2.8" in the front for maximum fun.

This will be my first season riding the new Bomber fork.

I'm getting the 27.5+ setup out for a few trial runs.  Been pretty fun and different from the 29er setup so far, I need some more aggressive tires to get the most of this but the reduced rolling resistance is nice..  Got a deal on a used set of Enve carbon rims on DT350 hubs, pretty nice set of wheels for what I want to use them for (even nicer now that the front decals have also been removed..).

Posted by: gdharries

Here is my Kona Explosif, size XL. It's a 2017 model but has taken me a few years to get to this point.

I recently installed a Marzocchi Bomber Z2 and some gorgeous TRP G-Spec DH brakes. Running a 2.8" in the front for maximum fun.

This will be my first season riding the new Bomber fork.

That look like a fun little shredder!  I'd highly suggest getting a dropper on that, it makes such a huge difference..

Posted by: michel77

Posted by: gdharries

Here is my Kona Explosif, size XL. It's a 2017 model but has taken me a few years to get to this point.

I recently installed a Marzocchi Bomber Z2 and some gorgeous TRP G-Spec DH brakes. Running a 2.8" in the front for maximum fun.

This will be my first season riding the new Bomber fork.

That look like a fun little shredder!  I'd highly suggest getting a dropper on that, it makes such a huge difference..

Thompson makes a decent 27.2 dropper.

I actually used a dropper post for a couple of years, but went back to a rigid post for simplicity's sake.

Where I live (Whitehorse, Yukon) and what I like to ride has a lot of climbing and descending so I don't feel a dropper post is worth it. I know I'm a weirdo as everyone has droppers these days. I guess my old man mountain bike habits formed after almost 30 years are showing.

If I'm doing a lot of descending, I'll just get off my bike and lower the saddle. I'm not in a rush anymore.

Finally!!!

It feels very anticlimactic given what’s happening in the world but my forward geo Naked is finally in hand. 29+. 12sp XT. Cushcore. Sweet 9.8 and i9 bling all over it (hydra hubs!)... coloured spokes. New 36 grip 2, DH boost in the back  This bike is loooonnnggg.

It’s been a couple decades since I last hit the trails on a hardtail. Looking forward to a new experience. I still love love love my Slayer but I’m hoping that this will become a special bike for me - this bike screams BC to me and I’m hoping it will turn into a lifetime bike for me that will always remind me of this wonderful time in my life (excluding that Covid POS that’s happening now).

Holy Smokes.

🍻Ddean you've done it lad.

Are those 29x3 or 29x2.8?

Posted by: craw

Are those 29x3 or 29x2.8?

If you zoom in, the front is 3.0

Yes they’re 3 front and rear. My discussions on that topic has suggested that, with a 36 up front a 3.0 might be a bit much and a 3.0 is probably better mated with a fox 34.  So maybe I’ll end up with a smaller tire - I thought that this was a good place to start tho, I’ll go from there.

Posted by: Vikb

I don't use a chain guide, but I do have a taco bash on all my bikes and it gets used every ride by slamming into rocks.

Chromag is discounting the few remaining 2019 Rootdowns they have so who knows maybe the 2020 model will come with a threaded BB?

Vik, not a threaded BB but they went with this style of BB.

https://wheelsmfg.com/bottom-brackets/bb86-92/bb86-92-outboard-abec-3-bb-for-24mm-shimano-cranks-black.html

Bling bike, very cool!

What kind of 36 fits a 29x3.0" tire - is that a regular 29" 36 or is there such a thing as a dedicated 29+ 36?

That tire looks massive!

Can we talk about that chainstay length? That looks incredibly short.

Looks short because it is.

410! With a 3.0 29r tire back there. No contact obviously. It is a bit adjustable and it’s in the middle position currently, so maybe it’s slightly longer as it sits this second, but geo spec shows 410

This bike has rad geo. I now have the concern that I’ll have to ride it more differently (from my Slayer and my habits) than I expected. It’s forward geo seems to demand more weight further forward than I’m used to. Riding on wet roots yesterday the front was getting redirected more than I’m used to. I think I need to be further forward - this bike is long. Hope that going back and forth with the Slayer doesn’t leave my head spinning!!!