Question for those who shelled out to upgrade a v1 to a v2 - was it worth it? Love my v1 but bolt through hubs and true 650b compatibility are appealing.
Going to try asking this here in the hope someone may have built one up like this at some point. Has anyone managed to fit a dual sided Stages or 4iiii power meter to a Tripster AT? It looks like there ma just be sufficient clearance, but it is touch and go. Thanks
not sure bolt through hubs are any type of a draw as I have DT RWS 9 and 10mm thru skewers but 650b might be nice.
I destickered my V1 the other day 🙂
Had my V1 warranty replaced for a V2, cant really tell the difference.
@kilauea - I’ve got both a 57cm Tripster ATR and a dual-sided power meter (which fits) for sale in the classifieds if interested. Happy to do a deal on both
Sorry another sizing question, I'm 6' 1" or 185.5cm, with a slightly longer body/arms, inside leg 31.5" or 80cm. Right now in the absence of a test ride I don't know whether to go 55.5cm or 57cm. Any advice most welcome. ps my mountain bikes are large size with short stems and my old road bike 2007 Spesh Roubaix is/was a 58 or 59cm frame.
With such a long torso/arms, you’ll want the reach on 57cm. I’m 6’ on a good day and have the 55.5 and am running a 100mm stem and an 10mm layback post. I wouldn’t want to be any bigger on this frame size.
Cheers Daffy, I am still crunching the numbers to see how much the final build will cost and what I will have to sell to balance the books but I am determined to get one and jump on a plane/boat and start to live a more interesting life.
I have taken the plunge and ordered a V2 frame and forks. I am giving a lot of thought to fitting Jones carbon H bar (yes I know it's going to look odd) Has any one else used Jones H bars on a Tripster or other long distance bike packing rig. All advise/thoughts welcome, thnx Paul
I've been following this thread for a while now and noticed the frequency of posts tailing off a bit, of late. I'm considering building a Tripster ATR, - based on a V2 frame - but I think it's fair to say this bike looks less value for money than it used to be considering you need to spend £2k just for the frame and forks alone.
I see a few V1 frames have failed within the warranty period. Do we know if any V2 frames have failed yet?
Other manufacturers seem to offer more comprehensive warranties than Kinesis. J. Guillem offer a 100 year warranty on their bikes (granted, they are a tad more expensive to buy upfront, but a Ti frame is still a Ti frame).
What are people's thoughts on this bike now? Is it still one of the best gravel/adventure bikes out there? Or are there better alternatives these days?
Is there anybody in the Southampton/Winchester area that has a 54cm ATR I might be able to try for size, please?
Thanks,
Steve
I see a few V1 frames have failed within the warranty period
Mine hasn't! It's still wonderful.
I'm just south of Petersfield, if you wanted to check it out (but, yeah it's a V1)
I'm on my 3rd frame but...
My first V1 frame cracked on the downtube welds of the cable stops, the crack almost made it all the way round the tube. It was just 2 years old, they replaced it very quickly without question with another V1.
My second V1 lasted about a year and half before I spotted a crack in exactly the same place as my first one.
I was about 6 months out of warranty with the second frame but Upgrade replaced it with a V2 frame for free within a week despite being out of warranty. Thats very good in my book and Kinesis would get my money again because of it.
The V2 frame has a "strengthened" larger guage downtube and no cable stops....
Just north of Andover, another 54cm v1 if you wanted a look.
I am considering selling it as I think a cheap carbon road bike and cheap cross 'racer' (1x, ideally disks but not necessarily) would suit what I do these days better. It's a bit too nice for racing and the chainset doesn't work (its 50/34, neither being optimal), but I like to be able to get out for road ride over winter too.. so spltting out again might be better for me. Still love it as a bike everytime I ride it though, and for a more touring / long days out bike its perfect.
I had a v1 crack - under a cable stop on the top tube, Kinesis sorted it quickly and professionally and would also get my money again on this basis - you see the worth of a company when stuff goes wrong IMHO.
Thanks for the replies so far.
Completely agree that you see the worth of a company when stuff goes wrong, brassneck. It sounds like Upgrade/Kinesis treat customers fairly, which is encouraging to hear. I suspect the negative press associated with not replacing a single faulty frame would cost them several new frame sales so it's a relatively small price to pay to retain customer loyalty and provide a good customer experience.
Doesn't sound like anybody has had any major issues with the V2 frame yet?
I'm interested in why the compact chainset doesn't work? Guessing the chainrings are too big for trails/gravel? I should imagine it's fine for eating up the miles on tarmac, though?
A 50/34 compact is fine for general gravel stuff (with 11-32), and wasn't too bad on camping etc. - where it falls down (for me) is racing. 34 is OK but often you need to change up to the big ring which is a tough call for my puny legs within about 10 seconds of hitting the next twisty bit - so a lot of front mech shifting, which is slow and can be troublesome once it gets muddy (tbh - I stay in 34 99% of the time).
50/34 is perfect on road, 11-28 out back. That combo is also fine for most trails without excessive luggage.
A single 38 or 40 or 46/36 double would be a much better combo for me for racing - YMMV - but I can't be bothered to switch around every winter and would lose the better road setup too.
just built a 48cm ATR for a customer, some nice XTR Di2, enve and CK jewelry on it. weighs 8.8kg
Sounds great, rOcKeTdOg.
Assuming the CK jewellery is BB/hubs only? There is no CK headset that fits the ATR?
8.8kg is impressive!
Yea hubs & BB, Ritchey carbon finishing kit but it's the enve gravel rims thst are scary light
Still looking for somebody in the Southampton/Winchester area with either a 51cm or 54cm V2 that I could try for size, please.
Thanks!
I have been lurking n this thread for quite a while
...Just finished mine, custom shortened cranks for my amputated leg
Cracking ride; chuffed I took this path
Fyxation sparta
DT swiss E1700 spline2 27.5
Ultegra RX800
11 speed 11-34T
Shimano SLR700 gear levers BL600 RS600 brake levers
Shimano RS505 hydraulic 160mm rotors
Selle Italia flight
Specialized SW carboin mini riser bar
C-Bear cyclocross BB
Magped pedals not keep prosthetic attached (not in pic)
USE Duro Ti seat post
Panaracer Gravelking SK
SRAM GXP compact shortened cranks 113mm and 150mm by Highpath engineering
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4881/46342228861_d2aeb6f62b_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4881/46342228861_d2aeb6f62b_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2dB736T ]tripster[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/10329693@N03/ ]dfem800[/url], on Flickr
Mine 2 years old now (V1), love it. It is a great commuter/winter bike, guards off and 40mm rubber on and its Gravel/CX, then just add some panniers on it and your touring 🙂
So comfy and smooth, one of the bets purchases I have made.
.
There is a 54cm mk1 tripster in classified if anyone is interested ?
Dc
There is no CK headset that fits the ATR?
Chris King now do a dropset that fits the Tripster. 18 bikes have them in stock.
Chris King now do a dropset that fits the Tripster
Bit pointless seeing as the FSA has been in my Tripster since new (3 years?) and is still smooth. (Said he, with Dura Ace parts all over it 😀 )
waspzapper - I'm 25 mins north of Winchester - too far I guess, but if you get really close to buying and want a check, the offers there.
Anyone got a cheap source of 46/36 chainsets for HT2 BBs? Had an epiphany and realised that as I'm of weak and feeble leg, a 46 would mean I'd use more (or more evenly) the cassette so it's probably going to be just fine over winter road rides. Get another cheap 11-32 cassette and done, will try the 28 first though as there isn't that much that steep round here.
Thanks for the offer, brassneck. Can't help you with the 46/36 HT2 chainset but I assume you've already considered just swapping out the chainrings?
Upgrade won't be getting any new stock of Tripster ATRs until March 2019 so my interest has turned to the Enigma Escape instead. They seem to have more confidence in their product and offer a 10 year warranty instead of the paltry 2 years (?) that Kinesis currently offer on the ATR. Titanium is for life not just for Christmas, and that.
Only speculating, but I'm guessing it may be a revised ATR that we see in March 2019 and anticipate it will be just as good - if not better - than previous versions. And more expensive.
Yeah, swapping the chainset is a 5 minute job though, chainrings 10 mins - a lifetime depending on how seized they are .. could just fit a 46 outside thinking about it that's not a bad shout, think they may bolt in to the spider, I have those awful chain ring bolt tools stuck in my thikning.
Escape is lovely, but about 1K more than I paid for my Tripster (sometime ago admittedly, and not without a lot of hassle). I'd be inclined to look at 46/36 though if buying new and intending a decent amount of offroad use.
Tripster ATR frame only is now £1850. ATR forks are £280. Discounts on this price to be had from various retailers. Winstanleys appear to be offering 20% off the frame at the moment but, if there's no UK stock, then you have a long wait ahead. Currently only available to pre-order.
Enigma Escape frame and forks is £2185 including headset.
Not much in it these days, apart from a better warranty.
I saw these and thought of you, brassneck:
Suspect you will have to drop the front mech slightly?
Cheers! If I ever get into the garage going to check if just changing the outer (5800 105) is actually an easier option after all. Not sure about the mech, not moving that was also an aim I reckon it'll be good as I have a pretty high tolerance for drive chain noise as my Campag owning friends will attest too.
Hadn't realised 1850 was frame only - if I remember right I paid 1250 F+F from a now defunct online store. At that price I'd have the Enigma, was very very close to buying one of their road bikes when the Tripster was released, and I hoped to reduce the bike count by one or two. That didn't work out so well 😀
I actually have some uncut ATR forks (post mount, v2 I think) I should put on classifieds when I figure out what they'd be worth.
Does anyone use a different fork to the factory option on their AT?
I've seen photos of ATRs with Lauf Grit forks fitted:
https://www.laufcycling.com/product/lauf-grit
Not sure about ATs.
Yes indeed FYXATION Sparta see above.
Only a few miles nice ride soaks up the bumps - lots of pannier/rack mounting options
I note that the tripster is now offered as a full bike with a different fork to the previous bendy one. Paint job looks pretty rad! I don't find the bendy forks very appealing to look at, leading to my earlier question, so this is much preferable. I hope that they start offering the frame set in this configuration too.
https://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/Catalogue/Models/Adventure/Tripster-AT-BIKE
That is a groovy paintjob 😀
"Bendy fork"? Like, curved? Looks like they've specced a non Kinesis fork for some reason.
Gawd their website is terrible
*chuckle* Yes, like curved. I'm just enjoying the word 'bendy' today.
Anyway... How did a rigid aluminium bike become over £2grand...?! With half the number of shifters and mechs.. bonkers.
The orange and green frames will come with the new fork from August apparently.
Has anyone got experience of how the Genesis CDF Ti compares to the Tripster?
Love my mk1 fugio but am looking for something more versatile for the longer term.
I should have said Croix de Fer Ti as CDF is a different model.
Morning all! The headset bearings on my V1 ATR need replacing (they have for a while, I’ve just been quietly ignoring it). The top is still smooth, the bottom is fair from that and is leaking a lovely orangey ooze. Time for new. Can anyone tell me what bearings I need to get please? The top one has measurements written on the side but the bottom is too corroded to tell. Thanks in advance!
Here ya go
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F192875838199
Thanks DezB! Much appreciated!
Considering selling my Tripster 55.5 V1 for a V2. Nothing whatsoever wrong with it, just built an AT for a friend and despite hating the internal routing it has merits when using a frame bag.
Any sage on used pricing. Frame and Fork, both perfect and mint. Steerer full length as spacers on top don't offend me!
If its not half reasonable I'll just get some post mount RX4s...
badstoob
Member
The orange and green frames will come with the new fork from August apparently.
Could explain why Merlin in particular are selling off frames pretty cheaply at present?
Also, the geometrygeeks site has a 2019 tripster listed with an accompanying image seemingly showing the new frame/fork combo:
https://geometrygeeks.bike/bike/kinesis-tripster-at-2019/
If the fork is the same as for the straight pronged full bike version of the tripster they're doing then it seems to offer an advantage in tyre clearance, on paper at least, as it will supposedly give 47mm over the 45mm of Kinesis's own curved fork.
Sorry, I meant to write clearance for 47/45mm tyres, as I'm sure you've all guessed.
Are the merlin frames V2?
treated my V1 to some tanwall tyres
Is it the AT or ATR that have a propensity for cracking? And early versions only?
Took my V1 - and from recollection, it was one of the first to arrive - past 14,000 miles this week. Nice little gravel / lanes tour around the Lakes. Still absolutely love riding it, it’s ridiculously capable, fun and reliable. It’s still on its original headset, though had mudguards on from day one. Currently sporting Hope RX4s, 38mm Specialized tyres on Hope 20Five wheels, Ultegra / XT mix with a Roadlink helping the 11-40T cassette.
So the Tripster ATR V3 has been launched this weekend. Looks good. Not sure radically different to the V2 apart from around the seat tube/ seat stay/ top tube interface and that fork which has now got the flexibility in terms of use that the frame should have always had. Price makes my eyes water more than a little but I might (might) reward myself for getting out on the bike and back into shape again (when the job is done).
So.....if this was your only drop bar bike (with a FS mtb and a heavyweight world traveller flat bar tourer also in the shed) that you would use for every kind of road riding save racing and every kind of off road riding (inc bike packing) you'd expect to use a gravel bike on.....what would be your ultimate drive train be? And then the 'championship' priced version rather than premier league version. Not ventured into 1X or electronic gearing yet but more than happy to thing this is way ahead. My current bike that does the same kind of job is 3X9 with an xt trekking chainset with is soooo turn of the millennium darrrling.
Trying to work out what my dream bike for the foreseeable will cost. And the last bike I buy before I drop many leagues in disposable income (but get promoted many leagues in disposable time, geography and lifestyle).
No love for the Tripster any more?
Certainly still loving my V1... just about to go for a ride on it 🙂
Oh, I see the photo of the V3 now. Looks lovely. Big fat ol tyres and a non-embossed head badge eh... could never afford one now, but at least I don't need to dream too hard 🙂
went out this weekend twice on my V1 - haven't ridden for ages because of niggly knee issues.
Also first ride since I destickered the frame, looks much nicer 🙂
Need to change the drivetrain I think - it's a CX 46/36 front which is OK but the back is a wide ratio cassette with an XTR deraileur and smaller jockey wheels which is a bit fiddly to dial in right.
Maybe the cables could do with some lube as well.
No love for the Tripster any more?
I enjoyed mine while I had it but moving from the Tripster to a Bokeh was a huge step up in enjoyment. The newer Tripster looks good but I’m guessing it’s pretty expensive for a frameset?
I know they’re Ti frames but I can honestly say that I’ve never noticed any difference between Ti, steel or Ali frames so paying a premium for a Ti frame is pointless for me.
noticed any difference between Ti, steel or Ali frames so paying a premium for a Ti frame is pointless for me
I presume you're talking about the ride... cos there are other things different you know. Like how perty they are 🙂
Purdy is good .. still love mine. Just about to get the 46/36 chainset and cross wheelset 'winter mode' on.
What stem length are you guys running on a 54cm ATR frame please? Seem to remember hearing/reading that it benefits from having a shorter one (70mm??)
100mm on mine.
I still love my Mk1
I`ll check stem length later
With my new Tripster ATR V3 built up a month ago now I thought I'd share my thoughts. It has moved on quite a bit from the V2 and solved all the small niggling issues the V2 had. I've been very impressed and super pleased with the build I went with and the new longer geo lets you run a shorter stem to help it off road. Have a read of the blog here
Great write up and a fantastic looking build. Normally find 60cm bikes look somewhat ungainly and untidy, but yours is spot on.
Just need to win the lottery and get one myself!
My V2 is still going strong... it had been locked up in the ex's garage for a year or so, but finally got the space to get her back... Lovely getting back on a nice light rapid road bike!
Stuck the aero bars on it for a different position as want to get some longer rides under my belt - feel pretty good TBH.
Can't wait for the summer 🙂
DrP
I think it just about looks OK in 60cm with these 650b but certianly 700c makes it look properly proportioned in a larger size! Love the fact a Tripster can hit a red MTB trail like the ride in my pic or just as comfortable on road with aero bars!
My V2 is still going strong
I should bloody hope so. My V1 is!
(ps. there's a v3?!)
hmm.. my V1 died.
My FIRST V2 had poor QC...
So V2V2 is still going strong 🙂
DrP
A combination of too much time and some cheap RS785 Di2 shifters meant that I've treated my V1 tripster to electronic shifting.
After much research I managed to figure a way to hide the battery in the headtube so it looks fairly unobstrusive even without internal cable routing.
Nicely done.
Thumbs up to that :-), looks great
Nice bit of work on making the Di2 integration look neat
I have had my ATR V3 for 2 months now and loving it - mixing it up with both road miles and plenty of byway and bridleway action. Lovely ride and really versatile. Built mine with GRX 810/600 mix and Hunt wheels
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hoping the tripster hive-mind can help...
Building up a v2 and waiting on wheels arriving. Have choice of post mount or flat mount brakes-would probably prefer to use the post mount ones with converter.
So my question is... Does this mean I'd need 160mm rotors vs 140mm for the flat mount?
the parts list says its a 160mm adaptor
TRIPSTER-ATR-V2-FRAME-PARTS.pdf (kinesisbikes.co.uk)
no bad thing having 160mm rotors on the tripster
brilliant, thanks very much! some contradictory posts out there saying flat mount is either 140 or 160 so wasn't sure.
Could try on the FB owners group?
apologies to revive the thread.
back on my V1 Tripster ATR, been running excellent Panaracer 700x38c GravelKings.
can anyone advise maximum tyre width successfully used on their V1 ?
tia.
I run WTB Nano's @ 40mm and they JUST fit, I would run a 35 - 38mm tyre for more mud room this time of year TBH
Max I've run is 43mm Bontrager GR1. Really like these tyres for summer but a bit tight for mud in winter, would agree Nano's in 40 are fine.
I'm running 42 resolutes right now and there's still plenty of clearance.
@slackboy; is that a V1 ATR ?
Does anyone know if these tyres will fit in a Tripster v1?
