Jenkins5 profile

PNW droppers are nice but hardly boutique. Pretty much re-branded Trans-X. Boutique would be a Bike Yoke.

Specs list at the start of the article says DVO shock. Was that a typo? I'd personally prefer the DVO Jade X to the Hazzard....

My little ripper has been loving the SDG Slater pedals. They are half the cost of the Chromag so a price is bit easier to swallow for sure! The entire SDG Jr Pro Kit (pedals, bar, saddle and grips) is fantastic to be honest. 

https://sdgcomponents.com/products/slater-pedals?variant=32333061750889

https://sdgcomponents.com/products/jr-pro-kit?variant=32333056409705

Nice review. This fork was interesting to me for sure (Price was too good to pass up) but in the end I wanted/needed 160mm. Ended up grabbing a DVO Diamond D1. Was $325 more ($999 CAD) but it feels way better than my last Fox 36 Grip damper for sure....I am interested to try a coil again at some point though!

Higher end rims (like ARC, DT 1700, e13 Plus) are made of welded 6069 aluminum where the lower end rims are typically made of softer sleeved 6061. I've killed an AR rim pretty quickly but have had ARC and e13 Plus last multiple seasons....I agree with your hub comment too though. Should be at least a 350 at this price!

Funny I feel the exact opposite. Had some OneUp's for a while but the convex just didn't work for me. It was OK, but concave locks my foot in way more and I too have stiff Impact Pro's. Different strokes for different folks I guess!

Seems to be a trend for all bike companies not just Rocky. Using a component company's lowest end rim on such a high end bike isn't fair to the end consumer or the component company, since you get less than stellar reviews on a softer aluminum sleeved rim....IMHO they could throw on an SLX or Aeffect crank and change the rims to something welded higher end alloy and still make the same amount of profit...

Nice review. I’ve been in a Vario for a couple of months  now and thought it was a bit smoother and returned faster than my buddy’s One Up. It definitely returns faster than the previous Transfer I had! Never tried a Highline 7 but it’s a lot pricier so makes sense it might have a slightly higher end cartridge. I’m pretty happy with my post!

I’m using the e13 12 speed 9-50 version with XTR on one bike and it works great. Maybe not as smooth as an XTR cassette, but about as light and waaaay cheaper (picked it-up for $195 USD) plus I didn’t  have to get a new driver for my carbon wheels. I’m still on the 9-46 11 speed on my other bike and never had issues. I’m a fan of the e13 cassettes.

I agree about the hub. The 370 engagement is pretty poor.... The only other place I'd like to see some slight improvement is the  AR rims (should be the welded and stronger ARC rims). I haven't had good luck with the AR rims in the past but that's just me...Other than those, the spec is pretty solid for sure!

Another vote for DVO. After 2 creaky 36's in a season (my buddy also had a 38 that started creaking after a month of riding) I'm now on an Onyx SC and it's been super plush and creak free for over a year....

Posted by: shoreboy

Posted by: Endur-Bro

Posted by: Jenkins5

Grab an e13 TRS+ 9-46 11 speed cassette, and when the 46 wears out you can replace it no problem....They also make a 9-42...

This likely will be the option I'm going to go with.  Looking at the X.01 jockey wheels need to be replaced as well so I doubt I'll be getting parts for it this season

There is also the SunRace option if you can find one.

https://www.sunrace.com/en/products/detail/csmx9x

Sunrace doesn't solve his problem/want of replacing just the largest cog when it wears out. e13 does. Plus Sunrace is over 100g heavier. It is cheap tho....

Grab an e13 TRS+ 9-46 11 speed cassette, and when the 46 wears out you can replace it no problem....They also make a 9-42...

I've been running the TRS Mopo front and LG1 EN Mopo rear for a while now. They have been really good on the Shore, Squamish and Pemby (wet and dry). They wear better than a Maxxis MaxxGrip compound and are just as grippy. The dual ply LG1 EN rear is similar to a Maxxis DD casing but a bit (about 50g) lighter. I didn't notice a difference in rolling resistance compared to a Maxxix DHR 2. After getting a bunch of Maxxis wobbly casings the e13 are my new go to tires...

Started using the new e13 Helix R cassette with a 12 speed XT derailleur and shifter about a month ago....So far I'm impressed. Shifting is super smooth (feels as smooth as my buddy's full Shimano setup) and I didn't have to spring for a new Microspline driver for my carbon wheels...The e13 cassette is pricier than XT, but I saved on the driver update, and saved 120g compared to the XT 12 speed cassette, so all's well that ends well! Plus, when the 2 alu cogs wear out on the e13 I can replace just them....

I see a lot of FR560's in the bike park on rental bikes so I imagine they are a good amount tougher. 60g more is a lot for one rim.

I've been on a 9-46 e13 TRS+ cassette for a few years on one bike and pair it with a 28T front ring to take the sting out of the local steep climbs! It's been awesome. I had an older version a few years back that creaked if it was't lubed correctly, but the new version has been trouble free for well over a year...Nice plus about the e13 is you can replace just the alu cogs when they wear out. Thought about doing a Sunrace cassette but didn't want the extra weight. That and I actually like using the 9T when I dip into the bike park for a day or two a season. The e13 TRS+ is 390g, and the new e13 Helix R 9-46 is like 330g or something...Damn light. Plus the Helix comes in pretty colours!

I used to use RF Indy and am now on Dakine Slayer for the past year. I find the Slayer more comfortable for pedalling. Get the Slayer Pro is you want/need a bit of extra protection and fit adjustment...

This is why I stopped riding Maxxis. Only tire I've ever had to warranty....

Posted by: ReductiMat

Hubs first for sure, then a carbon rim that has a lifetime warranty.

e*13 gets shit on a lot, but where I'd go through three or four 570's a season I'm now down to one LG1r.

As for hubs, the i9's have lasted way longer than cheaper ones (funnily enough, like the e*13 hubs, which aren't that good).

I second your comment on the e13 carbon rims. Mine have been bomb proof for about 2 years now. My hub has also been rock solid. It has a bit less engagement than an I9 but hasn’t given me any issues either so no need to replace it. My buddy (over 200 lbs and rips) hasn’t had any issues with his e13 LG1 Plus wheelset either. He had bad luck with his DT1900 wheelset but that’s a lower end DT product.