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Looking for a new frame for a growing son I came across a 2011 Titus X Carbon at a price too good to refuse. It's really more XC than I intended but I thought I'd give it a try and swap parts over from current bike.
Those parts include:
Pike 454 air U-turn (110-140) mm
Hope Pro2 + Arch EX + Chunky Monkey 2.4
Formula Oro K18 brakes (203+180 rotors)
55 mm On One stem and 740 mm Raceface Atlas riser bars
Fairly light non-dropper seat combo
1x9 XT-ish drivetrain
What do you think, will this turn into a hopelessly mismatched pile of parts good at nothing or somehow make a reasonably enjoyable trail bike? Any hints or tips for putting it together are most welcome.
It seems really light and nice but there is no getting around that steep HA and jacking up the fork only gets you that far. I guess things will be getting increasingly weird past 120 mm. Unfortunately using an angle set is not an option and I think I can just use one offset shock mount (really not much room for moving the upper mount).
But if all goes well and the little biker likes it I might look into getting a lighter fork down the road. If not, I'll put the X up for sale and keep looking for that Stumpjumper or Zesty 🙂
Cheers from Sweden
/Johan
I choose to interpret the silence as a slightly sceptical consent. Will report back as I go 🙂
/johan
I'd say at 140mm the front end will be a bit vague but turned down a click or two it'll be good. I had a Giant Trance in a similar spec for a while and it was good fun downhill and capable uphill.
Thanks. 120 mm fork seems to be a popular "mod" with this frame but I've not come across any reports going above that so it's probably not a good idea.
Here's a pic of current outgrown and colour-uncoordinated build:
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1720/24400174211_9f35ef0157_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1720/24400174211_9f35ef0157_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/DbagGP ]IMG_0454[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/136767550@N05/ ]Johan Modig[/url], on Flickr
/Johan
OK, finally came around to putting the parts together. It's sort of preliminary and little things like sorting hose routing and stuff remains but at least it looks like a bike.
First parking lot test done and it actually felt quite nice but that doesen´t necessarily translate to decent trail manners of course 🙂
Will hopefully find the time to take it out soon and of course have my son try it out and have his say.
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/Johan
Looks good to me 🙂
Looks good to me
Thanks 🙂
Couldn´t resist taking it for a short spin, in spite of its' unfinished state and quite horrible weather.
Ran the U-Turn forks at 130-ish mm and it felt really nice geometry-wise but I didn't get on with the rear suspension. Maybe I'm just not used to XC-style but the Monarch RT3 felt over-dampened in spite of being a L/L tune. Almost like riding a hardtail. Further testing needed 🙂
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/Johan
OK, one last post to follow up. Got the bike sorted (hose/cable routing, fork service).
Did som lab testing today (sorry, I know)
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A bit small for me (as intended) but seems decent enough for general trailriding.
A dropper post and a lighter fork would be nice additions but I'll leave that for later.
EDIT: can't for the life of me get the Vimeo clip to embed. I give up.
/Johan
Nice happymtb stay protector . I'll Look out for the bike on the trails