Kyle's Hardtail Got Some Love

[mtbfreerider182]

Enough changes have gone on with my hardtail that I figured it's time for a new thread. That, combined with the fact that I actually cleaned her while I was volunteering at the shop, meant it was time for some pictures!

A few things to note:
+ New fork (added bonus: it matches my 521 very nicely)
+ New cable routing for barspins (although I can initially only spin right, unless I load it up and then unload by spinning left)
+ Canadian pride on the headtube
+ NorCal pride on the toptube
+ Finally, matching rotors!
+ I swapped the tires for more grip on the front and, more importantly, better color coordination.
- Yes, I know, I need lock-ons
- Yes, I also realize that there's wayyy too many spacers on the steerer tube, but Jenson said if I wanted to send it back then I couldn't cut it, so for now I just have to deal.
- My chain and cogs could use some love. And by love I mean replacement.
- I'm eventually going to replace the crappy silver skewer on the back with a nice black one to match the front.

[StratGuy]

Lower seat, get a new stem and lower your sherman and you got one mean street dj machine

[freerider4]

the fork defintly needs to be cut.

[KevBurns]

Something to consider:

In my experience, the more washers you have stacked on top of your headset, the more likely it is that your headset will come loose. A loose headset is a creaky headset, and once a headset starts to creak, it NEVER stops. No matter how tight you crank that starnut.

Option #1:

Cut it now while everything's clean and keep a tight cut fit.

Option #2:

Wait till you've bashed your knees on it a thousand times, then cut it.

[East Bay Rich]

nice fork : )
if you ever run across a kit to lower it, holla.
I kept my steerer long, too.
-Rich

[mtbfreerider182]

Originally Posted by StratGuy

Lower seat, get a new stem and lower your sherman and you got one mean street dj machine

The seat's fine, it works great for pinching on barspins and it doesn't get in the way for manuals and things like that. You're just not used to a lower seat; once you ride with them higher, you get used to it, and even for urban and things of that nature it becomes natural. Plus, I use this bike to ride around campus often, and there's no point in riding up a lot of hills and all over flat with your seat super low; you just cet unnecessarily tired. Looking at those pictures I realize it looks high, but it's really not that bad.

My stem isn't that bad. It's Titec, it's got a steep rise which is needed because my frame's head angle is really not that slack, and I don't really have a good reason to replace it.

My Sherman is lowered to 4 inches. I love 4 inches for street or DJ...3 would be fine too, but why spend the money for a difference I would barely notice and not care about? Plus when I set it to six inches it rakes the bike out hugely, which is fun for trails, although probably not necessary.

Originally Posted by freerider4

the fork defintly needs to be cut.

Like I mentioned above, I can't cut the steerer until I know for sure that I don't have to send it back to Jenson. Once I know, then I will cut it...it's not like I enjoy having my bike look that lame. This is the first and most solveable problem.

[StratGuy]

I meant permanantly lowering it, because if you jump it in the 4in mode it will get f'ed up, try riding Chris's then you will see what Im talking about. And about the stem, I say just spend 15 bux for a cnc'd stem, the welds just scare me.

[rogerhavoc]

Finally!

Get her done and let's ride Shells!!!!


Peace,

Roger

[mtbfreerider182]

Originally Posted by rogerhavoc

Finally!

Get her done and let's ride Shells!!!!


Peace,

Roger

I can probly do a sesh tomorrow (Friday), but then I gotta bring 'er to the Bike Works to get the oil done on the fork.

Tommy, how long did it take for Chris' fork to get messed up in 4"? If it's under a year, then I'll just get it warrantied, but yeah, I don't want that to happen. Can Chris' be fixed?