[Closed] 2008 SC Heckler - ways to bring it up to 2020 spec?

Just ride it. After ensuring it goes and stops ok. It may be worth a quick fork and shock service.

2020 spec involves different wheel sizes etc. and that is not a problem you can solve without a new bike.

Quick google suggests 1 1/8 external headset for that model which is going to count you out of tapered forks and head angle slackerising headsets, so it's going to be a struggle to be honest.

Can't see any reason why you couldn't go 1x12. Though to keep things cheaper you could look at wider range 1x10 or 1x11 options

No reason you can't put a newer drivetrain on it, 1x11 or 1x12 will go on there just fine

There's plenty of things you could do but beyond

Just ride it. After ensuring it goes and stops ok. It may be worth a quick fork and shock service.

There's nothing you should do IMO.

If it works as is, use it, if not, maybe fix it but on an 08 model that's sat unloved for 6 years any more than absolutely necessary is unlikely to be money well spent.

Get out on it, ride it, enjoy it, and if in 6 months time it's not back to gathering dust, maybe look at what can be done with it.

It'll need a motor to make it 2020 spec too.

I know things have moved on in design terms in that time so can it be brought up to date with a newer fork, tubeless wheels, 1×12 (I presume not?) or should I just ride it?

fork - straight steerer and 26 inch wheel means you'll struggle to get anything modern and high end to fit

tubeless wheels - depends on the rim but a good bit of taping and some tubeless tyres could work , no need for a new rim

you didnt ask, but tyres - have improved a lot, even if yours havent deteriorated in 12 years. Buy some. probably stay 2.2 to 2.4 width as your rims wont be huge.

1x12 - requires a different free hub body. depending on the wheels, this is either a cheap change or impossible. 1x10 from any brand and 1x11 shimano use the "standard" free hub. If the front was a triple, no need for new cranks, just a narrow wide chainring bolted in the middle spot.

brakes - if your current brakes say AVID on them, bin them. Any other brand they could be OK. If they are shagged, the cheapest current shimanos are better than anything that existed in 2008, and probably cost less than shop serviceing.

seatpost - droppers are now cheap and reliable. If your seat tube is 27.2 there are fewer choices. In most cases I'd rather have a hardtail with a dropper than a full susser without.

1x would require new freehub body at least?

I doubt those changes would.jistofy their cost (would be interesting to know!) unless stuff is worn and needs replacing anyway.

1×12 – requires a different free hub body.

No it doesn’t.

Sunrace do a 12 speed cassette that fits a standard shimano freehub body
You can get a Works Components slack set that'll work with an oldschool steerer tube.
I'd not bother though as it'll still be to steep, not long enough and the wheels will be to small.😉

Sunrace do a 12 speed cassette that fits a standard shimano freehub body

As do SRAM. NX and SX.

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No, but that’s not what was asked.

I did exactly this a few years ago to a Heckler
1 x 10 with narrow/wide, Zee clutch mech
Shorter stem
Fatbar light bars

brakes – if your current brakes say AVID on them, bin them

Or not. If they didn't kill you on 2014 they're likely one of the leaky elixir. Nothing wrong with avid brakes at all beyond those that were crap out of the box.

Honestly, the best thing you could possibly do to that bike is ride it.

All the upgrades in the world won't change what ever had you ignoring it for 6 years but will cost you several hundred quid and achieve little more than carpark cachet.

Go out on it and save the money you would have spent on upgrades to either spaff on those same upgrades* next year or curry and beer if your bike goes back in the garage.

*or put it towards a new bike, a bossnut won't say santa schmooze but this years will be vastly more upto date than you'll ever get the heckler even for the same money.

I had an Angleset on a 2011 heckler, also non tapered. When I ran it with a 160 fork the head angle was about 66.5 so slack enough. Ran with a 60 mm stem and wider bars. Fely noy a million miles away from my 2015 trance which I still have

Angle set would be the first mod for me. slacker head angle is probably the most dramatic change to bikes in the past few years imo (other than wheel size - but there’s not much you can do about that!).

And perhaps a shorter stem if you can?

Thanks for all the replies.

It was my brother’s old bike. I already have a SC Superlight and a singlespeed Inbred that I now use regularly.

Be nice to have use of something a bit more ‘rugged’ for some bigger days out so keen to get it up and running.

I can’t remember the exact spec of it so not sure what hubs it has, or stem?

I know he transferred most of the kit over from a Cove Stiffee but until I get it back off my ‘shielding’ parents I can’t check.

I know it’s a 1 1/8” steerer - any suggestions on a fork as I think it has some sort of Magura fork on it??

An old Pike 454 maybe?

If you're really set on a new fork RSF can press an 1 1/8 straight steerer into any modern fork.

Service it and if all is well ride it as it is.

In terms of improving its all round versatility then an externally hose dropper would be a good point to spend some money on and as already stated look at a fresh set of tyres (and set them up tubeless) and you’re more than good to go.

If it then floats your boat after you’ve ridden it then you could stick a 1x Shimano setup which with the right choice of chainring will give you any gear you (really) need with plenty of people no doubt still happily riding 1x10.

It's a good bike.just ride it as it is.still got my 06 one.i run old piles on it.magura forks are very good.i would not even bother with a fork or shock service unless they need it.just lube it up pump the shock up and ride it.

Do any servicing that needs doing (bleed brakes, service forks, clean and lube drivetrain, check and replace bearings if needed, check and replace tyres, etc) and then ride it.

Then if you want to start upgrading I would start with the contact points. Consider wider bars (assuming they are around 680mm wide) and a shorter stem. Replace the tyres and go with a ghetto tubeless set up. Also consider a dropper post.

That's about as far as I would go with upgrades I reckon. Assuming it's not knackered I would just stick with the Drivetrain as it is.

The deal breaker is going to be the front fork. If that is knackered then you have to ask yourself if it's worth keeping the bike going. It's the sad state of the MTB industry that if your fork is knackered on an old full suspension bike then it's more than half way to being written off.

Clean it up and stick it on ebay.

Bikes are going for ridiculous money at the moment as new bikes are sold out.

A cool brand like santa cruz and you will get way over the odds for it.

Bank the money till autumn when 2021 bikes come into stock and buy a new one.

You can get perfectly good manitou in 1 1/8 straight for not much money, better than fox of ten years ago.

How did we get so far in without anyone saying dropper. Yes it's been said now but its worth repeating

Patience would yield a used fork. Just make sure the steerer is long enough. That and that it is serviceable. Is their anything wrong with the fork?

what wzzzz says. Sell it now and put the cash towards something when the world calms down.

I sold a 2006 Nomad recently, was in decent working order, but really needed fork and shock service and fairly beaten up cosmetically. Put in on fleabay with a really honest description and got the best part of £1k for it. Pre covid I reckoned I might have got £200 for it so was about to hand it into the bike station charity.

I put the money towards a new bike instead and will hand in all my old 26" tyres to the charity instead

Anyone suggest a dropper?

I doubt there’s anything wrong with the fork other than no use for years? Might just need a service. Not sure of the travel on it - is there a better travel that suits a Heckler?

Tyres - yes, could certainly investigate that and try going tubeless.

And could look at wider bars and a shorter stem.

Works headset will give you 1deg, offset bushings another 1.

I managed to find a brand new set of Sektors a year back, not the best but internals can be upgraded. Definitely not a write off component.

A set of Hopes from 2008 will be fine for servicing, anything else - good luck.

But as said that's all expensive and unless it's a labour of love best being sold for something better or run as is. Do as I say, not as I do. (got a Pitch I've upgraded in a similarly pointless way)

I'd try the 1 degree headset too.
I might have some forks if you're interested but I'll need to check.
msg me if you are.

Seriously don't spend a penny on it.

Flog it as soon as you can on ebay or Facebook marketplace, put a ridiculous price on it and you will probs get it.

I've cleared out my garage of stuff I kept because it was worthless and might come in for astronomical sums of money, like thousands when 4 months ago it was worth a few hundred.

It won't last forever as new bikes come back into stock / the weather turns.