A year ago, my wife wanted a smaller bike than the megatower to pedal on easy rides on the island. Instead of breaking the bank again, we picked up an end of season instinct c70. Simons in Vancouver hooked her up with a full XO1 build including the cassette, cranks etc and the bike came in at a respectable 26lbs. Despite a great build, she never jived with the bike. In the low positions, she found it shitty climbing. I could see her struggle on stuff that she cleans on her megatower. The high positions were better but she really never loved riding it. Today she took out a Tallboy S build demo and it was like she was a different rider. Cleaned everything effortlessly, pedaled like a demon, carved corners and rode a 30 foot rock face she had always struggled to find confidence to ride before. Long story short, she was smiling the entire ride - tough to argue with that. Also, she can't wait to ride again, which means more riding for me :)
Here are my questions - I am going to swap the parts over to the tallboy.
1) Her fork is 140mm, would you guys run it 140/120 or swap the airsprings to drop it to 130/120? I figure you could leave it in low position with the 140 and the bb would sit at the same height as in the high position and the STA would still be 76 deg.
2) Would any of you bother with the cc frame or stick with the c? I have heard the weight difference (especially in med) is really not a big deal. She is fine with the fox DPS performance shock the c frame comes with. She really doesn't make use of the compression damping options as they are always tuned way to firm for her 120lbs so I have to get the shocks custom valved for her anyways.
Everything else should swap over - except the stupid rockshox seatpost - I'm so angry they spec that one!
Final question - I have a spare set of XT single pot brakes, would you all keep the XT's for yourself or put them on the instinct when I sell it and keep the Guide R's off the tallboy?
Cheers,