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Any recent owners of a Big Dog out there?
I recently bought a GX spec one - the spec is amazing for the money but man the bike is heavy!
Has anyone made any quick changes to reduce the weight a bit?
I've got some tubeless Nobby Nics on order which may not help the weight but should help it roll along better - but any tips on changing out some components? (I've got an older 10 spd XTR groupset kicking about as a result of a frame break, which is why I bought the BD, so I might chuck on to see if it saves a bit - but GX isn't heavy - although I guess that lump of a 12 speed cassette is carrying some heft!)
Came here expecting a discussion about an overweight greyhound, nearly left disappointed, but figured I'd try and help anyway 🙂
Looking at the spec you are not going to get huge savings unless you are willing to swap the fork out. The rockshox 35 gold is nearly half a kilo over an equivalent pike.
What sort of weight are the wheels - and indeed the current tyres? I shaved near on half a kilo of my bike going from the OEM wheelset to something better.
GX cassette is 454g, so you can see how much less the XTR weighs... but I would accept the extra weight as a tradeoff for the capabilities the 12s offers with that massive dinner plate.
You would probably save a bit and gain some comfort by switching to https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/HBSECRFH/selcof-carbon-riser-handlebar#HBSECRFH-740 and https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/BTOOFLOG/on-one-half-bob-lock-on-foam-grips#BTOOFLOG-BLK which are in the PXBANK15 sale.
Carbon seat post, but then finding one 400mmmight be tricky if you need the length and I've no idea if carbon posts are considered a risk on mtbs for gnarlier offroad.
The two heavy bits in the spec are the fork and the back wheel. It's not a GX cassette, so you can shed almost half a pound by either finding a XD driver for the formula hub, and getting a GX cassette from R2 where they're <£100 at the moment, or just upgrading the whole rear wheel.
It's that or the fork for the big wins.
Probably overkill, but IME stiff forks don't add much to hardtails, so even a SID might be a good fork choice. Would definitely need lighter (carbon?) wheels and drivechain upgrade to make it worthwhile though if spending that much.
I've got the slightly earlier spec scandal when they were still doing them with fulcrum wheels and GX cassette. I'd like to shed a bit of weight from it, but unlike some companies there's isn't a glaring hole in the spec that's worth upgrading which means everything is £££ for marginal gains 🤷
If you don't use the 10sp XTR stuff I would be interested in buying a couple of bits?
Rear shifter if it's a normal clamp type, not i-spec, and if its unused, the cassette.
PM me if interested
If you agree with "The rockshox 35 gold is nearly half a kilo over an equivalent pike."
They're currently 700£ from 920£ minus an extra 15% until 24:00 (PXBANK15).
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FORS29P150U/rockshox-pike-ultimate-rc2-29er-130mm-42mm-offset-travel-suspension-fork#FORS29P150U
I would but...out of budget already 😉
It’s a very long low slack seriously overbuilt hardtail gas pipe frame 🤷♂️ Yes it’s very heavy !
I built mine up from frame only with a 130mm reba, 11 speed SLX with Sunrace 11-50 cassette, sunringle duroc 35 wheels and a brand x dropper. So not a really light build. It does feel heavy to pick up but I find it rides light depending on tyre choice. It flies along on a pair of 2.6 mezcals.
So Wheels/tyres first, then fork maybe if you’re still struggling.
If you agree with “The rockshox 35 gold is nearly half a kilo over an equivalent pike.”
They’re currently 700£ from 920£ minus an extra 15% until 24:00 (PXBANK15).
It's more like 400g (2280g Vs 1890g).
A LOT cheaper on CRC (and if you can compromise on bells and whistles the Revelation is a lot cheaper again).
I think if that was the budget (~£450) then you could probably save the same weight whether you changed wheels and cassette or the fork. The wheels might make it feel livelier?
Thanks for all the comments and insights - I'm about to list a ruck of stuff in the classifieds to justify further "investment"
I’m about to list a ruck of stuff in the classifieds to justify further “investment”
Sell the whole thing and buy a scandal or vandal and go for a rigid carbon fork!
Once you put 2.6 inch 29er tyres on you can't tell steel is real anyway unless the frame was 10 times the price.
If you want to really lose weight you've got to know exactly where the weight is- strip it down and get all the bits on the scales, grams can hide in really unexpected places in OE specs.
The frame is going to have quite a bit of weight in it - my Marino hardtail (Reynolds 725) is 3.1kgs with rear axle and seat clamp. Overall my bike comes in a squeak under 30lbs.
That has Pike Ultimates on it, carbon Dub descendant cranks with alloy ring, carbon brand x bars, light dmr defy stem, Erase components hubs (nearly as light as you can get but they've proven to be terribly sealed in muddy conditions), XM421 rims, GX eagle mech / cassette / shifter etc.
So fairly light bits without going mental bling (apart from the Hubs).
For you I’d leave all the gx on there as it’s decent and light. But get that cassette swapped out as it’s ludicrously heavy - I’d get an 10-50 GX one to replace it - but you’ll need an xd driver rear freehub for that. You have generic formula Hubs so I’d take the opportunity to swap for a Bitex rear hub which is more durable and lighter - you could either build it into your i30 rim or better off build it onto a DT Swiss XM481 rim using alloy squorx and aci double butted spokes. Along with your tyre switch I’d think that would make it feel more rapid.
Forks are heavy but are an expensive switch - a pike select plus or ultimate would be lighter and be better damped / spring. But £££
The tyres and tubes supplied with my old Whippet were mega heavy so going tubeless and changing the rubber could make a big difference.
Modern, steel HT's do tend to be hefty though.