Cheez1ts profile

I've gotten into skinnies for the first time in my life since your scare yourself article, thanks Andrew!

That fork sounds brutal. I think I’d rather have no damper than an inconsistent one.

It would be nice if low end forks came with a high-end compatible chassis (I.e straight 32mm or 34mm stanchions). As you mentioned with finding an old Saint calliper for the brakes, you could probably find old high-end dampers and springs to upgrade the suspension from old forks with worn stanchions or leaky air-springs. Suntour could ship their fork with the double-springs and plastic top caps, and the buyer could easily find new internals from friends or the buy’n’sell. Suntour would get the added bonus of their name still being on the chassis too.

In my personal experience it doesn’t seem to matter how wide or firm a saddle is. When I move into a more aggressive position for a steep climb, I roll off my sit-bones. The narrower the saddle, the more upright I need to be to stay on my sit-bones.

The photos for this piece are perfect. Great job Andrew.

After seeing the price, I'm now curious why there's all this hype for the new Hayes? They're priced pretty close to the Code RSC, and far above the Code R.

Thank you for throwing the comparison in there AJ!

I've been calling the Trance my next bike since I rented one in Salt Lake City a couple of years ago, expecting to toodle about on XC trails, but ending up in bike parks and other non-xc terrain. That was the 27.5 version. I'm happy to see the new model get the nod from you.

I learned long ago on a Specialized Enduro that geometry isn't everything, if the suspensions platform doesn't jive with my riding style, I'd rather be on a hardtail.

I ran avid/code rotors, developed a leak in the rear code lever, pulled the TRPs off my enduro bike and put them on my DH bike. i didn’t like them so I swapped the TRP pads to Shimano. Then swapped both rotors to bigger Magura’s. then gave up and put the front code back on and am dealing with the rear. The TRPs were on Shimano rotors on the enduro, but they didn’t see too many rides and had the stock pads. The MT5s on the same Shimano rotors feel pretty good already even with the stock pads.

Yeah, I have Shimano pads front and back. I gave up on the front pretty quick though. I’m still running the TRP rear, but I put an old code on the front for the majority of this season.

I bought the TRPs. They’ll probably end up on my hard tail. 

Not enough power for my liking in the bike park, and I’m 180lbs. I even tried upping the rotor size to old Magura’s that were 210 (?) front and 203 rear. 

Someone in the lift line at whistler asked me about them, and I replied that I was actually wanting to ask the guy beside me who also happened to have them what he thought because I was finding they didn’t have enough power. Guy beside me in the lift line was offended and told me yeah he has to brake with two fingers sometimes, but they have ample power. Dude that asked me responded that yeah, his kid had them and found they didn’t have enough power either. 

I bought a set of the Magura MT5s for a good price from Germany. They’re feeling more powerful than the TRPs so far on the enduro bike, and they were cheaper. They’re also mineral oil and have the plastic lever for cold days.  I’ll have them on the downhill bike next season, but it was too big of a pain to do the internal cable routing at the end of the season, especially considering I’d like to have them back on the enduro bike this winter.

I bought the TRPs. They’ll probably end up on my hard tail. 

Not enough power for my liking in the bike park, and I’m 180lbs. I even tried upping the rotor size to old Magura’s that were 210 (?) front and 203 rear. 

Someone in the lift line at whistler asked me about them, and I replied that I was actually wanting to ask the guy beside me who also happened to have them what he thought because I was finding they didn’t have enough power. Guy beside me in the lift line was offended and told me yeah he has to brake with two fingers sometimes, but they have ample power. Dude that asked me responded that yeah, his kid had them and found they didn’t have enough power either. 

I bought a set of the Magura MT5s for a good price from Germany. They’re feeling more powerful than the TRPs so far on the enduro bike, and they were cheaper. They’re also mineral oil and have the plastic lever for cold days.  I’ll have them on the downhill bike next season, but it was too big of a pain to do the internal cable routing at the end of the season, especially considering I’d like to have them back on the enduro bike this winter.

This is my girlfriend's bike.

It was all I could do to find any sort of cheap mountain bike after her last one was stolen in December.

It started with a stock 2012 Marin East Peak 5.5 with broken spokes and no air in the shock and tires. After the initial fix, she was so happy to be on a full suspension bike for the first time ever. I took most of the parts off a Kona Steely that had become a commuter and made it even better.

She's so comfortable on it now that she's interested in trying Bobseld at Fromme, which is something I never thought she'd want to do.

I've always just bought a DHF. When my rear tire wears out, I swap the front to back and put the new one on the front.

At some point a couple of years ago I got a good deal on the 60A DHF that I've had in the shop for a long time. I didn't want to run that on the front so I have a shiny new DHF on the back in the photo.

First ride out today in a long time. I am no longer thinking about any other frame.

First day on the Box One drivetrain. I probably should have ordered two drivetrains, initial impressions are good.

I picked up a used coil shock to try out on the rear too, but it feels pretty good as is. Coil might make it feel exactly like my demo. Coil spring and avalanche damper up front on both bikes

I'm also on a 2015 Process 153 DL and noticed the Knolly frames would take all of my parts. 

I came across a 2015 XL On-One Codiene 27.5 on Facebook marketplace for $120 and have all of the original Process DL parts to put on it now (everything but the seat post will fit). I'll be able to see if I like a slightly longer frame for cheap, and have a nice bike to sell to one of my two tall buddies that are looking to upgrade from really old bikes this spring.

I have a charger damper from a 2015 160mm 27.5 Pike sitting in a box in my basement. I can possibly service it before selling as needed.

That said, I think the reason they're not for sale is that they were used until they needed service, and then replaced with an upgraded damper and stored. That is what I did. It seems lame to post a part that "needs service".

I did recently sell a charger damper for the Boxxer, but I bought it new and only put two rides on it. Didn't even open any of the oil that it came with. That damper I felt was worth something.

Regarding the Pinkbike buy and sell, I've started shipping items to buyers and it's made the whole process more painless. Haven't gotten scammed yet, and I liked it more than meeting people, even before they were likely to get me sick.

Maybe broaden your search to the whole country and you might find what you're looking for. I recently bought a shock from Edmonton and it was as easy as online shopping at 1/8th the price.

My boss is a triathlete and water skier and has had a lot of issues with his knees.

His personal trainer is Samira at Innovate Fitness located downtown Vancouver: www.innovativefitness.com

I know she's still doing remote training sessions during Covid.

2003 Kona Stuff Jr.

Posted by: Jabbi

2017 NS Eccentric Cromo, love this bike so much I sold my FS and decided against another, used the money to properly tart this up instead!

I didn’t see this image until I viewed on mobile. Very nice bike!

Posted by: AndrewMajor

This thing makes my palms sweaty. It doesn’t have the sliding drops though a la Honzo for running single speed!? Too bad.

Guessing it’s not a 44mm headtube but rather the older 34mm? Must know more!!!

No sliding dropouts, and a 34mm headtube are correct.

I do have another Kona Steely frame with a pike 454 coil u-turn that I’m planning to build into a commuter that’s tough enough to ride Burnaby mountain trails on.

Based on where I work, I ride SFU a fair bit. I barely make it up Cardiac Hill with gears. I can see myself walking more if I had a single-speed setup. I’ve walked my single-speed Kona Cowan up Cardiac Hill quite a few times, but it’s geared for dirt jumps.

I did the opposite of you with my hardtail michel:

• 2012 Kona Steely built with old DH and Enduro parts.
• Old coil-sprung boxxer cut to 135mm + a newer Charger damper.
• Mavic EX521 rims laced to Hope Pro 2s
• Shimano 1x10 with Zee shifter/derailleur
• Saint Cranks
• Specialized Hillbilly DH tires that are brutal for climbing but great for descending
• Currently running Code brakes with 1 Elixer lever, but will be putting TRPs DH brake on soon