Big Bike Thread

Andelusion · 19 Jul 2011 at 08:45

weescott said:
There is loads more space the other way round but it doesn't look as good. I tried.

Can you manipulate the adjustment dials with it that way round?!

Big Chris · 19 Jul 2011 at 09:05

I've seen a Giant Trance frame going cheap with 5" out back. I've got Fox RL120's on my hardtail, will they be ok up front even though they're slightly shorter travel or should I be looking at something with ~140mm to balance things out?

RobotXander · 19 Jul 2011 at 09:05

Supercow said:
Turn it around you woofter.

Agreed

Thats a Cane Creek shock man! Give it the space it needs

andi · 19 Jul 2011 at 10:45

Big Chris said:
I've seen a Giant Trance frame going cheap with 5" out back. I've got Fox RL120's on my hardtail, will they be ok up front even though they're slightly shorter travel or should I be looking at something with ~140mm to balance things out?

Trance or Trance X? The X is 5" rear but up until this year came with a 120mm fork as standard, the Fox F120 is what I have on mine. They work really well with 140/150 forks as well though

Big Chris · 19 Jul 2011 at 10:59

andi said:
Trance or Trance X? The X is 5" rear but up until this year came with a 120mm fork as standard, the Fox F120 is what I have on mine. They work really well with 140/150 forks as well though

The chap has advertised it as a 2008 Trance frame with 5" travel via Fox Float rear shock.

Just had a respray...

booyaka · 19 Jul 2011 at 11:39

What are my options regards going from 3x9 to 2x9.

Bascially since I got the bike I have probably used the big front ring once in 4 months. Also after riding at Carron Valley yesterday and constantly getting loads of chain slap I would potentially like to loose the big ring (possibly replace with a bash guard) and go to a 2 x 9 and shorter/tighter(??) chain.

Would I need to change shifters if I lose the big ring? Should I replace the "middle" ring with something slighty bigger?

Sorry for all the questions!

6thElement · 19 Jul 2011 at 12:19

Take big ring off, put bash guard on, measure and remove a few links.

mistercrabb · 19 Jul 2011 at 12:28

Hmmm.. I'm thinking of building up a hardtail, but I'm not sure if it's going to be possible or not...

Basically I'm after a frame than can handle dirt jumps, light downhill, but it also needs to pedal to the top again

I was thinking a 4X frame like a Lapierre Rapt or Transition Bank with a decent 1x9 gear setup (my TR450 would climb pretty well if the suspension wasn't all squishy).
Maybe a telescoping seatpost?

Or am I being stupid?

I can see this costing me far too much money too..

andi · 19 Jul 2011 at 12:28

Big Chris said:
The chap has advertised it as a 2008 Trance frame with 5" travel via Fox Float rear shock.

Just had a respray...

I'd double check, in 2008 there was the Trance with 4.2" of travel, and the Trance X with 5". I don't know what the differences were on the frame so couldn't tell you from looking at it. You could try the Giant forums on MTBR.com

Either way though, your 120mm fork would be fine. The X came with one, and the Trance works well with one fitted.

Jim.Ow · 19 Jul 2011 at 12:31

What do you all think about the Carrera Kraken. I know it's Halfords, but it seems like a lot of bike for the money:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...uctId_810671_langId_-1_categoryId_165499#dtab

Deleted User 234324 · 19 Jul 2011 at 12:31

6thElement said:
Take big ring off, put bash guard on, measure and remove a few links.

Wish it was that easy on my bike (Trek Remedy 8), cant get roller lined up with chain on my E13 DRS which results in the chain rubbing against the bracket and if i line it up using spacers the roller bracket itselfs stops the cranks from turning :/

andi · 19 Jul 2011 at 12:35

Its that easy on any bike, unless you specifically want a chain guide too..

booyaka · 19 Jul 2011 at 12:38

6thElement said:
Take big ring off, put bash guard on, measure and remove a few links.

hmm - ok - thanks for that! will have a look and find a bash guard that fits/suits

Big Chris · 19 Jul 2011 at 12:40

andi said:
I'd double check, in 2008 there was the Trance with 4.2" of travel, and the Trance X with 5". I don't know what the differences were on the frame so couldn't tell you from looking at it. You could try the Giant forums on MTBR.com

Either way though, your 120mm fork would be fine. The X came with one, and the Trance works well with one fitted.

Cheers andi, I'm tempted by it now I know I can chuck all my bits on without having to buy new forks.

R0B75 · 19 Jul 2011 at 12:41

Jim.Ow said:
What do you all think about the Carrera Kraken. I know it's Halfords, but it seems like a lot of bike for the money:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...uctId_810671_langId_-1_categoryId_165499#dtab

Great bikes for the money. The 2009 version (grey) is even better value at £350 and pretty much the same bike with a different paint job. But if you're considering spending the money on the 2011 version then also consider the Decathlon Rockrider 2011

Nix · 19 Jul 2011 at 12:45

How did you go about sorting out a respray?

Jim.Ow · 19 Jul 2011 at 12:47

R0B75 said:
Great bikes for the money. The 2009 version (grey) is even better value at £350 and pretty much the same bike with a different paint job. But if you're considering spending the money on the 2011 version then also consider the Decathlon Rockrider 2011

Thanks,

I'm not fussed about what year it is as long as it's a good bike and comes in under £600.
The BTwin bike looks really good, will compare it to the carrera.

weescott · 19 Jul 2011 at 13:10

6thElement said:
I was about to suggest flipping it too. I'd rather do that than break something on a landing.

It comes like that as a stock upgrade. It's the way it's meant to be fitted.

Supercow said:
Turn it around you woofter.

Is that your way of making a pass at me? :|

Andelusion said:
Can you manipulate the adjustment dials with it that way round?!

Yes, but it isn't easy.

R0B75 · 19 Jul 2011 at 13:10

Jim.Ow said:
The BTwin bike looks really good, will compare it to the carrera.

Its much better spec than the Carrera. Better forks, brakes, shifters, chainset and rear mech.

Jim.Ow · 19 Jul 2011 at 13:15

R0B75 said:
Its much better spec than the Carrera. Better forks, brakes, shifters, chainset and rear mech.

Thanks for your help, really interested in it.

Only concern is that it looks quite thin, I'm 6"2 and 15.5 stone and will probably do a few jumps, the frame looks quite thin, but it could just be the images.