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So after my curiosity was piqued by Sannys world exclusive review last year, and further reinforced after a demo in May, this arrived 😆
Deviate Guide. 160mm, 27.5” pinion C1.12 gearbox, Fox DPX2. Frame inc GB, cranks, shifter, shock weighs prettty much bang on 15lbs, so anything else I hang off it is damage limitation on the weight front!
Other bits have started to arrive, not least this...
Fox 36 Factory 180mm (its come with a Kabolt, I assume there is no issue using a QR thru axle?)
Other, not photo’ed, bits that have arrived are a 170mm reverb, WTB Volt Carbon, 2x 203mm rotors and an Intend Corona seat clamp.
Stuff that’s ordered/being built/on back order is:
Santa Cruz Reserve 30mm rims, built onto Chris King hubs, Maxxis DHF 2.5WT/DHR2 2.4WT
Invisiframe + frame graphics to match the forks (I know, I’m a tart...)
King Headset, Enve M7 35x35mm stem, 25mm rise, 800mm wide bars (will give them a go, might trim to 780/760ish) Ergon GA2 gripshift grips.
Trickstuff Direttissima brakes, see my other thread on that. Might put some zees on in the interim 6 months...
That’s it I think, general idea is to build a mini DH smasher, that can be winched back to the top if no uplift.
Will post more as more stuff arrives, can’t wait 😁
My mate has one. He uses it as an all round bike for the peaks and Wales.
It goes well, he goes well on it.he had a bit of trouble changing the cables on the shifter after a season. I think he resolved it by using a great deal of time and patience cutting them.
Hope you enjoy it 🙂
Looks like it's going to be a beast when it's finished.👍🏻
Jesus, that's some build... and some £££ I imagine as well.
Looks sweet though - put some pics up when it's done.
My mate has one. He uses it as an all round bike for the peaks and Wales.
Demo ride was in the peaks, biblical weather so essentially rode down a really rocky river. Bike performed perfectly!
I could say you have more money than sense, but that looks like a very sensible way to spend your money! I'd imagine it's going to look absolutely amazing once fully assembled. Very interested in gearbox driven bikes, read mixed reviews, but love the look of them.
I get the impression that Tom knows how yo ride a beadt such as this 👍
Some friends of mine were talking to a chap on one of those today at Afan.
Lovely looking bit of kit.
Damn that's pretty much my 'lotto win' build.......
I get the impression that Tom knows how yo ride a beadt such as this.
HA! What on earth gives you that idea?! 😂
Suppose going on your previous posts.
just get the feeling you’re gonna give it justice on demanding trails that all will come alive and dirt flicking up at all angles sliding it sideways and sending it... 👍😉
now all I require is a video of your initial outing bedding it in.
A proper Super Bike Build there mate.
Very nice! 👍
Nice!
That is some build for sure.
keep us updated on progress and first rides.
Sadly, the first proper, non up and down the street ride will be a while off, due to what looks like entry/exit wounds in my foot after surgery. This has just been a bit of retail therapy to try and speed the recovery...
Well, my impatience to get this build finished in less than 6 months has got the better of me. 4 pot Deore brakes ordered. Only slight worry is that they'll be ace, and show up the direttissimas :-/
Frame is now getting invisframed/stickered up, bars and stem are in, just waiting on the wheel build.
Very nice, looks like it'll be an animal 😎
Very nice! How long are your legs? It looks like you can’t insert the post that far due to the pivot through the seat tube (common problem, either that or a bend) and a 170mm Reverb is long!
No idea how long my legs are (I’m 6’1”), but it’s the same effective ST as my Pivot, and I fit that with a 170mm Reverb. Post goes all the way in too, so no issue there *crosses fingers*
Nice. But I'm bias for sure! Where did you get the sticker kit made up? Looks proper trick that.
Neil.
Invisiframe did them, along with a full kit for the bike. They are on top of the regular wrap, so if I get bored/want to change back or to another colour, just peel off. Really happy with how they’ve turned out!
How are you getting on with yours, Neil?
On the one hand, it's awesome. On the other hand it has a massive rectangular frame sticker made of massive jaggy letters on a massive curvy downtube on a generally swoopy bike, so it loses at least 3 points for that.
I assume you'll also be fitting those colour-matched tyres in the background?
Even if it's just for a photo and a laugh!
Sadly, the tyres you refer to are 20” bmx ones. Totally would have otherwise!
On the other hand it has a massive rectangular frame sticker made of massive jaggy letters on a massive curvy downtube on a generally swoopy bike
I've just noticed the final 'E' in relation to the downtube - that's playing havoc with my OCD... 😉
that’s playing havoc with my OCD…
Youve not twigged about the chevrons though? Weird...
Good thanks. I got on with it real well off the bat, that’s why I got it, but it really has opened up with a what’s now around 8 months on it. The high pivot on a trial bike, coupled with the gear box has taken a while for me to fully appreciate the differences to a conventional set up and get to grips with benefits.
God knows it ploughs the rough! Off camber grip is amazing too. Such a great bike to be on when you are pushing on!
In short, real happy.
Neil
What's wrong with the "E" on sticker? I don't get it?
Due it it curving over the down tube a little? Looks fine to me like that and I'm usually really picky.lol
What’s wrong with the “E” on sticker? I don’t get it?
The whole word is straight, but the downtube curves at the top. The word doesn’t curve with the tube, so it looks like the E, and the D on the other side, are wrapping round the DT
Doesn’t bother me...
Been watching BKXC (Patreon channel) screaming around Italy on one of these bikes with Ben Jones - he seems to rate it very highly for it's suspension action - only issues he mentions is a pig for hike a bike and some issues with the effort required for gear changing.
Tom, you're a man after my own heart - running a high pivot bike here as well - a Commencal Supreme SX. That is a nice bike mate.
My build -
Large Orange Commencal Supreme SX
Fo3 36s 170mm with the ACS-3
Codes
Flow MK3s laced with Cx-Rays
DHX2
Fox Transfer
My experience with high pivot idler pulley bikes is the same as the experiences posted above, they simply blow away all of the other designs for flat pedal riders. You can straightline stuff with a careless ease that would rip your feet off the pedals on other bikes.
Oh I know. This isn’t my first rodeo on a high pivot/idler/gearbox bike. Some 8 years ago I was the custodian of this...
Rode incredibly. My hope for this one is it’s similar, but longer, lower, slacker and about 20lbs lighter!
Bit blingier, too... 😉
Old school is the new new school. 180mm of travel, full coil again and idler pulleys! Who the **** would have guessed id be on that in 2018! After 150mm airshock bikes and flexy Giant horst links - I suddenly remembered what traction and stiffness felt like.
Sick bikes are another company with the right idea.
Enjoy your new ride!
Oooooh, shiny shiny buzz buzz....
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and progress so far...
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4891/44108176430_4d895411bc_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4891/44108176430_4d895411bc_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2acFW9w ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/92694523@N06/ ]tom.howard.562[/url], on Flickr
Currently mulling over whether to make the Enve logos orange too, too much?
Seriously Tom, why would you buy such a nice frame then hang such cheap parts off it...couldn't you at least push the boat out a bit ? 😉
Joking aside....that is going to be some build when finished!
Seriously Tom, why would you buy such a nice frame then hang such cheap parts off it…
I know, but then I though I'd splash out and get Deore brakes cuz, y'know, I'm worth it 😉
You are certainly a man who isn't shy of shelling out on some awesome kit, I've noticed that over the past few years!
And why not if you can afford it, if I had the cash I'd do exactly the same. You have some of the blingest builds on here without a doubt, and this one looks equally nice, albeit I'm not sure I'd get a gearbox bike myself. (caveat - never tried one - just read about them). Looking forward to seeing the final build and hearing how it rides.
So, here she is...
Quick shakedown ride in the park with dog, pretty extreme, there were 2 stairs in a row at one point....
for those interested, the all up weight was 36lbs flat, slightly more than the stock builds, I guess due to the beefy forks, the solid, if not super svelte wheels, and the brakes, but they will be changed in due course, hopefully pinion will ge round to making carbon cranks too, as there is a lot of weight to be saved there!
Right, after months of waiting due to my gammy foot, I've finally managed to ride the thing! Not quite the alpine epic it was designed for, but a loop round Leeds Urban Bike Park red route. (that was plenty, as the last time I rode more than a mile in one go was 4 months ago, and then 3 months before that for any great distance...)
Riding the gearbox took about 10 mins to get used to. What I've found is you have to properly back off to switch to easier gears, but if you are going to the harder/faster ones, not so much. very much like shifting in a car with no clutch. I've not suddenly become a gripshift convert overnight either, as you have to concentrate on your hand position, both for where it is on the grip, and where you move it to when shifting. Basically, as soon as a trigger option becomes available, this is going in the bin. There does feel to be a little drag in the system, for a given speed i guess you feel like you are in a gear higher than you speed indicates for the effort you are putting in, but once the GB has bedded in, I can see this easing up. what did feel good was the shifting performance was the same at the end of the ride as it was at the start, despite the bike looking like this at the end...
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4895/31506426377_02107c88d0_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4895/31506426377_02107c88d0_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Q17ETT ]1st ride[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/92694523@N06/ ]tom.howard.562[/url], on Flickr
One thing to note re the scuffs on the the swingarm. The crank gets VERY close to it, so they are from heel rub, so am looking at getting some cranks made to increase the Q-factor, as well as drop a good bit of weight off too.
There aren't a whole lot of rocky, techy descents at the park either, what there was it seemed to get through without fuss, but the main observation was how planted it is in corners, especially given how sloppy it is at the moment (a thin layer of mud over hardpack that is getting looser by the day) it didn't matter how quickly I hit them, it just gripped. I'm sure this is in part due to the weight being low in the frame, but also further forward, giving the front tyre more grip than a more conventional set up. Due to the weight distribution change, my usual jump technique needs a little tweaking i think, as was nosing a lot of jumps, though could just be in my head.
Speaking of weight, I know its no lightweight, and will never win a hillclimb but once up to speed on trail, it's not a consideration, it doesn't feel lumpen, you just plough through stuff.
Forks felt good too, again, this was no real test for them so will keep an eye on them, but standard settings seem pretty good so will see how they do on rougher stuff (gonna do a proper test at Stainburn I think)
Brakes did the job, squealed a bit to begin with, but after a couple of big stops quietened down. Again not a huge effort for them, but they seem comparable to XT 785 and XTR 985 in terms of power and feel. My only niggle is that the levers are a touch short for use with gripshift imo (or the gripshifter is too long...) the new brakes have a longer lever though, so I'm not too concerned.
Cockpit feels good, its the shortest stem/widest bar combo I've used, but I like it and don't think I'll trim them down, though this may change after riding on trails with more densely packed trees.... Was a bit worries by the reports of how stiff the bars were, but I wasn't getting that, yes the do feel stiff, but not jarring at all.
Wheels were pleasingly uneventful, roll beautifully, the CK buzz is more of a hum, and don't feel as stiff as Enve ones. This is A Good Thing. Tyres were great too, despite the aforementioned slop, and only struggled when the mud was properly treaclesque.
So pretty happy really! Just waiting for the shiny brakes and lighter cranks and she'll be perfect!
Where are you going to get the cranks made? Makes me wonder whether the bike was designed around the P.12 gearbox which is a touch wider, 174mm Q factor rather than the 166mm of the C.12
Re shifting, my gearbox has done 1,400 miles now. Maybe it has run in or maybe I have just become accustomed to it but I barely notice any resistance shifting to easier gears except the major (to the gearbox at least) shifts from 5 to 4 and from 9 to 8. Those need a very deliberate easing off
These chaps http://www.carbonwasp.com/ are local to me, and seem up for it, so gonna give them a go & will report back. The P vs C seems to be it, there is only 1-2mm of clearance at the end of the crank, so not great, and extra few mm would certainly help.
Makes me wonder whether the bike was designed around the P.12 gearbox which is a touch wider, 174mm Q factor rather than the 166mm of the C.12
Pretty sure the lad said (is it Chris) they designed it with c line in mind nearly bought one myself as we have a spare p series box sat here with nothing to do
Don't want to spoil the fun, nice new bike and glad you got to use it after a while off but that's quite bad scuffage and rub for one ride. I'm really surprised. I'd wrap it or so something else it'll look pretty used pretty quick.
It’s invisiframed, and won’t be ridden for a while (prob til the new cranks go on) as I don’t think my foot’s going to be up for much in the way of riding, given the state of it after the colossal 4 mile loop...
Interestingly, none of the others I’ve seen have the rub marks, including the one that’s being dragged up and down all the Munro’s currently 🤔
Tom, let me know if / when you get on with the cranks as I’d def take a set. I’ve tried praxis, goldtech, riderworks and some others but no. Want to do some short run stuff.
All I want is a ally ~400g set of cranks for this. Would save a massive chunk of weight.
Will do Neil, do you have the same clearance issue with yours? We’re looking at doing an alu insert wrapped in carbon. Will be starting early in the new year, hoping to be ready in March (as they are stacked at the minute) so will drop you a pm when I’ve got a few more details.
Same goes for anyone else interested, either comment here or send me a pm
That's odd with the clearance issue.
I'd be inclined to contact the manufacturers just to see what they reckon?
I'm interested to hear how you get on with the cranks but suspect the price will put me off.
spare p series box sat here with nothing to do
How does that happen? Abandoned project? Broken frame?