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I've had a rough couple of years and, while I'd said I'd keep my current bike til I'm 40 (4 years away), I thought I'd treat myself. Having been scammed once for my number 1 choice of an Evil Offering (and, mercifully, getting the money back), I found that Liam Moynihan from the Dudes of Hazzard was selling his 2024 Arc8 Extra for almost nothing. This was a bit of a dream bike for me, and it being secondhand keeps me in line with my policy of not buying anything new unless there's no alternative to keep my environmental footprint down.
Most of the bits weren't to my taste, so I scoured the classifieds for bits that were and have ended up with this.
The spec is-
Arc8 Extra Air frame (size L, 500mm reach)
Cane Creek Hellbender 70 headset (I hate changing headsets and these last forever - this is on its third bike)
Rockshox Lyrik Ultimate fork
Fox Float X shock
DT Swiss 240 hubs on EX471 rims
Continental Argotal tyres
GX AXS shifter and mech with Deore cassette and XTR chain (I prefer the faster shift with the Shimano cassette to that with a Transmission cassette, and I like Deore cassettes because grinding up mountains means I wear out aluminium 51t cogs in no time)
Actofive cranks, 165mm length, 32t chainring
Rideworks DUB BB
Formula Cura brakes (I don't know why these aren't on most bikes - they're amazing. These are over five years old and just work so well)
M530 SPDs
Chromag Fubars OSX bars and Easton Haven stem (rolled forward quite a bit for the feel I like. I have Arc8's Baselstab one piece bar and stem combo on my race bike and would have liked to have a set on this, but I already had the Chromag and Eastons and love the shape)
PNW Loam seatpost, 210mm drop
Bike Yoke saddle. This is ugly as sin but it came on the bike and I found it very, very comfortable and light.
It's set up as a mullet to keep the rear end short (I like a playful bike).
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The thing that drew me to these bikes in the first place was weight and I wasn't disappointed. It's a 160mm front/165mm rear bike that weighs 29.8lbs (with bell and pedals, but without the bottle cage). Which is about what this sort of bike should weigh in my mind.
I took it on a shakedown run on Friday then took it up the mountains yesterday and it's really good. Very different to the Evil Calling it replaces despite the short rear end. The front is much longer, so it's very confident on rough straight line stuff but more of a handful in the twisty techy stuff. It's also way less plush off the top, but that's the Evil's big strength. All told, it's a great bike - it feels very modern and it let me get away with stuff the Evil wouldn't have with its shorter wheelbase.
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Looks ace that. Great weight too given it’s not a weight weeny build by any stretch. Must admit despite thinking I’m clued up they’re not a brand I know anything about.
good looking bike too to my eyes!
Congratulations. That is an interesting bike. Hope it serves you well and that you enjoy it for a long time to come.
and sub 30lbs is light. I’m envious.
Also never heard of them but looks nice that. Hopefully takes your up plenty of mountains.
You may remember Arc8 from this event -
Thankfully that is an older bike and I suspect it'll be fine. Certainly handled three Munros on Monday just fine! And, god, it's so much easier to hike-a-bike.