29er Buildup Questions

[Ogre]

Is anybody familiar with the Asylum OCD FS29 Frame?
It is a full suspension 29er built by Titus based on their
Racer.
http://www.speedgoat.com/images/spacer.gif

I'm thinking of this frame with the White Brothers 100mm travel fork.
Kinda spendy project, so I was hoping to find more info before making
up my mind.

I've heard the GF fs 29er, has cracking frame issues. I'm a clydesdale
so weak frames is an issue.

I'm kinda stuck on the idea of a full-suspension 29er. These are the only
2 I know of.

I have the Salsa cross rims and XT hubs on my commuter Karate Monkey.
Are there other/better options for 29er wheelsets?

[LightWeight]

Here's a couple more to look at:

http://www.ventanausa.com/frame_elcapitan.html

http://www.lenzsport.com/leviathan.html

Some day I too will have a FS 29er. Hopefully by the time I can afford one, there will be more options.

[bigwheel]

I've heard the GF fs 29er, has cracking frame issues. I'm a clydesdale
so weak frames is an issue.

I'm kinda stuck on the idea of a full-suspension 29er. These are the only
2 I know of.

I have the Salsa cross rims and XT hubs on my commuter Karate Monkey.
Are there other/better options for 29er wheelsets?

I'm the guy that keeps breaking GF frames. As far as I know (or have been told), I'm the only person in the world with this problem. Trek (makers of GF) says they will keep replacing my frames for free -- Forever. However, it is still a nuisance and can ruin a weekend (and the next week or two). For that reason, I built up a SS karate monkey as a spare.

Rims: Sun Rhyno Lite comes in the 29er size. I now have these on both of my bikes, and they appear to be very strong. I suggest going with 36-hole and straight gauge #14 spokes.

FYI, I've bent an XT axle in the past, and don't particularly like rebuilding Shimano hubs. My GF now has phil wood hubs, which are bulletproof. If you don't mind spending money, and plan to have your hubs outlast the rest of your bike, the Phil Wood are excellent. My karate monkey has Surly single speed hubs, which seem pretty nice, and much cheaper than Phil. I have not had any problems with them yet.

For frames and other 29er stuff, Sean (soupboy) has put together a spreadsheet. There are several FS 29ers to choose from. I'm keeping my eye on the Lenz Sport Behemoth, which is a 29er free ride bike with 5 1/2 inches suspension. It is only in prototype form now, but hopefully they'll start production soon. I'm thinking it might make a nice trail bike for a clydesdale that doesn't mind a couple extra pounds of frame.

[mcarples]

Why not go for the salsa dos-niner with the soft-tail??? I know I salivate every time I see one.

[Ogre]

>Why not go for the salsa dos-niner with the soft-tail???

Well if I have to tell, I have 3 hardtails already (AL, steel, and Ti)
The steel is a 29er Surly KM (although configured as a commuter
with skinny tires).
I also have a Thudbuster that I put on and off the Ti bike depending
on the trail and how long I plan to ride.

I don't see the Dos-niner as being that much different than if I put big
tires and the Thudbuster on the Karate Monkey?

I'm getting old and have torn ligaments in both knees and my left hip.
I also have 3 damaged vertibrates in my back. My main trail is LH which
leaves me feeling beat up after only a 2 hour ride. I often do 3-5 hour
road rides and my back feels fine, but 3-4 laps at LH and it is screaming.

I've never ridden a full suspension bike and after reading many reviews for years including the benefits of 29er wheels, I'm hoping that will give me much more time on rough trails.

A good buddy of mine moved to CO this year and says I must have a FS bike when I go out to ride his new trails.

I'm one of those grumpy old guys that loves smooth, twisty trails with lots of climbing and an occasional stunt thrown in.

Since that doesn't seem to be the preference or trend in new trails, I might as well try to smooth out my ride :D .

[hockeynut]

I think you're on the right track looking at 29ers if you're back/body feels rough riding a small wheeled HT. Have you tried big ole Exiwolf's on the KM? With a nice low pressure that could at least provide a little cush going over roots and rocks until you decide on the FS that's best for you.

I don't know that any of the FS designs are heads and tails above any of the other. There just aren't enough of them. I have read of more than just Bob breaking a Sugar, though it's not every frame... just I think if larger guys really ride them. And like Bob said, it seems that Fisher stands behind the product warranty wise. So getting a Sugar may be a quick solution. You could ride that, find out if a FS is for you, and then if (when) the frame breaks swap over all of the parts to a new FS frame.... just an idea and would get you rolling with a lot less down (time and money).

Component wise, I have a BW 1.0 (coil not air, and in 80 mm travel mode) and it's pretty stiff, but doesn't have a whole lot of adjustment that I can tell. Reba's seem to get just as good, or better reviews and might be had for a bit less coin.

Sorry for the long windedness...

Zac

[soupboy]

OK, here to spread the 9er Gospel according to Soupboy.



Asylum - great bike, Titus built, race oriented, strange sizing and (right now) hard to source as they're in between production runs. With a 100mm fork it is an awesome everyday bike. Run it with a 80mm if you're a flat back racerboy.
GF - I hate them. I don't trust pivots that don't have pivots. I also hate them. I do like their HTs though.
KM - My first 29er. Only run as a SS. Now with a Reba and Turdbuster. Great, great bike. Simply unbeatable from a value perspective. Will go back to rigid with skinnies, Mary bar and fixed gear when my FS 29er arrives.
Salsa Dos Niner - flexy POS IMO. 1" of travel is not worth the utter lack of set up range. All the hassle of suspension with none of the benis. Get a HT with a Turdbuster and you'll be far happier (and with more $ for other blingy bits)
Exis - great for dry stuff, especially at low PSI. Absolutely awful slippery tanks when it gets the least be damp. Simply can not clear mud. I've had my best luck with the old stand-bys - Mythos XCs and Motos.
I will have my new Ventana El Capitan this week. Expected to be built with a 1.0 air (or maybe my Reba in 100mm mode). I'll post pics when available. Very excited to see the Brown Santa later this week.
Email me (no PMs, please) for my Excel file containing data on all things 29er.

[soupboy]

finished the build and it started raining...

[LightWeight]

finished the build and it started raining...

I demand a bigger pic of that bad boy. What's the kit list?

[LightWeight]

Scratch that...

Saw your post on mtbr. Sweet bike!

[Tetreves]

Scratch that...

Saw your post on mtbr. Sweet bike!

Oh screw that noise, I don't want to dig around on MTBR for it, there's WAY too much on that site to dig through.

I want pics and specs!

Post it up! :etard:

[FSSS]

Oh screw that noise, I don't want to dig around on MTBR for it, there's WAY too much on that site to dig through.

I'm pretty sure he's 'soupboy' over there too.

[soupboy]

...http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=127318


Oh screw that noise, I don't want to dig around on MTBR for it, there's WAY too much on that site to dig through.

I want pics and specs!

Post it up! :etard:

[Tetreves]

...http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=127318

Sweet! Thanks! I enjoyed that. :D Happy riding!

How do you like the PUSH? I've heard some good things about those guys...

[soupboy]

I get some on trail QT...which looks like it will be a while...

How do you like the PUSH? I've heard some good things about those guys...

[Ogre]

Soupboy how's the Ventana?

I still haven't made up my mind which 29er FS frame to get.

I'm currently trying to compare the Buzz Bomb FS to the El Capitan.

[Tetreves]

Yeah. And how do you like the White fork?

That's on my short list of things to buy. I heard today that the 2006 models are coming out in October, I may have to wait til then...

[soupboy]

to be a relatively failed experiment. The numbers, price and otherwise, have proven to be to good to be true. I love my El Cap (so far).

If you want further insight feel free to email me offline (no PMs please as I rarely check them).

Sean

Soupboy how's the Ventana?

I still haven't made up my mind which 29er FS frame to get.

I'm currently trying to compare the Buzz Bomb FS to the El Capitan.

[stoneage]

Any updates on the new rage, 27 1/2'rs, for the riders out there between 5' 7" and 5' 10". I can't wait, because I need something besides a MTB and 29'rs make me look like I'm riding a recumbent. I already told my friends to knock me off and put a bullet in my head if they see me on one of those things, so you see my quandary. ;)