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@ajantom
So where are we?
I just got a small trailstar for Jnr (and me) on a deal.
£300 ex display with a further 5% off... and the aim is to keep the complete build under £300 from the spares bin.
1st Q is having put on the swapouts I seem to have 2 thick washers spare - these would fit the chainring bolts that attach the swapouts but where?
2nd Q is headset ... I had all the bits lying about stuck a 37d crown race and fitted the lower bearing no probs. The upper I used a bearing that should fit according to the codes on the bearings from DMR and some spare bits from old FSA headsets. The main thing is there is 2mm of bearing above the top .. and fitting the various parts its left sticking out. The frame has a very slight scratch on the steerer tube but as far as I can see that isn't what's making the difference...I'm wondering if the Integrated one simply has a longer coverage?? It's all fitted and snug with no play... just a gap for water.
3rd Q .. yeah fork travel... I have 140 or 160 shafts for the spare A1 pike. (I ordered a 150mm but Wiggle sent the wrong one then went out of stock and for a fiver can't be arsed returning one item. Aim was to swap the Luftkappa over to the 150 shaft but as they sent the wrong one it's either 140 or 160 or pay full price for a 150.
Given this is a small so short for me to ride I'm thinking of setting it at 140... but I'll probably use it when Jnr uses the DJ and he's the one more likely to be pedalling it.
Trailstar owner here
i also had the 2 thick washers, i spoke to DMR direct.. they couldnt tell me what they were for
forks
i started on 170 (160 equivalent) went to 160/130 DP pikes... then finally converted the pikes to 140mm coil... i feel it was entirely the right thing to do, the bike doesnt descend any differently.. but its just nicer all round
alan1977
Many thanks ... I thought I was a bit thick with the washers.
I'm going to go and take it for a spin .. though it's got insanely short bars on even for the 11yr old until I get some delivered. (scrap that.. just delivered 😉 )
I reckon we'll end up on 140 then...
He announced his intention to do some mini-DH races on it but he can always use his other forks if he wants 160mm.... it's only 5 mins to swap and the CC crownrace should be fine.
Still no idea on that headset but it's firm enough to go ride.
with the 160mm fork is was all floppy for me on climbs... and steepening it u pa little seemed to really help give it a little pep when on the pedals, i did debate going 150, but so far with the 140mm ACS3 ive been happy
Hi, bin working innit 😉
Not sure about the 2 thick washers - don't remember mine coming with those, or the spare set of SS swopouts I bought.
Fork length - I started on 160mm Marz CR360s, then dropped them to 140mm, and now have some X-Fusion somethings on there with 150mm travel. Bit nicer cross-country on the 140mm forks, but better on the downs with 150/160s.
Headset - I bought one of these https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/brand-x-headset-integrated-tapered-steerer/rp-prod130924 and its been good for the last 3+ years. Grease it once or twice a year.
Just looked and CR/Wiggle seem to be out of stock.
These say they've got them in stock:
https://www.thedogswheels.co.uk/products/brand-x-fully-integrated-tapered-headset-1-1-8-1-5-sealed-bearings-42mm-52mm
Ha, can't beat that for £13
Gotta say took it for a quick run today and considering it had stiff carbon rims (what was free) and a 2.3 DHR on the back that was pretty hard it felt amazingly supple. Just the local XC type route but its straight from the house.
Pretty much forgot I was riding a HT until I tried to pre-load the shock...
Considering its a small and @150mm the climbs (not real ones) were not to bad but did feel it dragging out the flats a bit .. not horrible at all but I felt less inclined to go quickly than on the XC HT or perhaps it felt slower as well. Komoot says average of 15.8 km/h where I usually do 18 (or if I'm pushing 20)
^ umm @160mm
It's not a fast xc bike for sure, but it's a hoot for longish days out with lots of descents.
Got mine set up with 3.0 front and 2.8 rear on Stan's Baron wheels, and it's a proper monster truck.
I'm on an XL, so probably even more give than a small, and they are very comfortable frames even on really rough downs.
Did quite a lot of the Quantocks DH/Triscombe trails on it over the summer. The other riders I was with were all on 160-180 travel full-sussers and I wasn't struggling to keep up.
This is awesome ... now I'm wishing I'd got one in my size as well.
Took it to Rogate last week then Surrey Hills Friday, Rogate Sunday and Swinley today...
Rogate was awesome....
First trip it took me a while to do a larger drop just knowing it was a HT. When I did it was of course fine. Chucked it down the all the tech and dropped the 170mm Kenevo by a mile... next time I stuck my EX511's with a rim insert (due to my poor riding) and chucked it down everything except the pro line. [complicated reason but Jnr wasn't wearing any body armour at all and I need him to tow me in but as a parent can't send him down the proline with just a helmet - can I ??]
Had a feature I've been not doing since I broke my wrist... and did that the 2nd on were clean. (Got the nipper to tow me in)
What an absolute blast.... the FS was in the car on both Rogate trips but didn't get taken out.
Stoked to see a relatively old frame getting such love
I must admit.. i jump of my bird and onto the DMR and get a grin.. havent ridden it in a bit as i need top make time to chuck some winter tyres and swap chain rings...
mines been to rogate.. but i was very fresh at the time.. i remember leaving it against the fence and some kids went by and made a big deal about a DMR... being hardtail i didnt think it would get a second look
also taken mine on a southdowns XC loop one eve this year.. no problem putting the miles in
and yer, been to swinley.. and i actually wished i had a fS there just because of the amount of distance and needing to be sat down....might be different with a bigger rear tyre.... a little comfort when seated...
im kinda looking forward to the winter night rides around QE which it saw me through last year...
Stoked to see a relatively old frame getting such love
Because, IMO, they got a lot right with it....
Slack enough, long enough, built to last and not too expensive. 142 rear end (though you can SS it with swopouts) and it'll easily take 27.5+/29 wheels.
To be fair, I'm a bit of a DMR fanboy though. The wife has a original DMR trailstar that I built up for her, and I've got a DMR Bolt long too.
alan, it's so worth taking.
I was really looking for a Zero pre-boost (as Jnr is in love with them) but both trips to Rogate my MK1.5 stayed in the car. First time I was nervous on some drops and I bypassed the mainline top one 2-3 times and said I'd do it after lunch on the Bird. (Now the parking is at the top)
In the end I didn't get the Bird out of the car and just sent it... (well went off it anyway .. maybe not max steez as the kids say) then the next time I got talked into doing the whale tail by my kid which has freaked me out since I broke my wrist on it. I had a EX511 with ARD on the back .(usually on the bird).. which was a good idea as my first try I cased but made it. It really wasn't so bad at casing as I'd expected.
might be different with a bigger rear tyre…. a little comfort when seated…
I feel I have a big possibility top destroy wheels ... but that's mainly due to me being a bit crap but does lead nicely to the other side.
I was out on a very weird "no drop" group ride at Swinley... weird because despite the "no drop emphasis" I was the only one other than the organiser that wasn't dropped and I was the one kept waiting to prevent the others getting lost. [including the poor bloke who'd cycled 10 miles to get there before we started] I can't help thinking that a combination of the Trailstar and my dress sense and sense of humour may have been partly to blame. (Swinley is jeans, t-shirt and helmet time) vs the organiser who was full on Enduro - bike and armour... my concession to trail wear/protection was gloves and waterproof socks. [I drove over as I had an appointment before but usually now I ride so I'm not in a push when I get there]
Anyway ... I had my light wheels on with skinny tyres... and I did notice the bike was bouncing about a bit compared to the FS Enduro Race bike... and though I'm not competitive (don't bother with Strava type stuff) my sense of humour dictates by irony so I just ended up out of the saddle more and bouncing about to calls of "Faster faster" until I dropped him then waited at the next convenient junction for the others to catch up.
Downhill and uphill it totally rocked... the only real place I felt it was on the flatter bouncy sections TBH. Usually (being a lazy sod) I will just pump these... having to maintain a pace pedalling over rooty was not the comfiest experience.
AJ
Because, IMO, they got a lot right with it….
.
I think this just added to my love for this bike ... it's like a stealth sleeper car.
I'm a decidedly average rider (and my 11yr old would say that's being kind) but the Trailstar is freakishly capable.