Just built up a new bike. Is is basically the same as my old bike, but lighter!

Quite chuffed so far 🙂 Managed to get out on it 4 days in a row during the amazing weather last week. New bike + amazing weather = bliss!

More pics and a write up on my blog http://niksbikingblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/santa-cruz-carbon-highball-build.html

Proper nice. 😀
I’d be happy with that.

Looking good! Looks like you’ve struck a good balance of weight/ cost/ performance

Are we allowed bar ends again now? 😉

That’s a great looking bike. You could save a little more weight by ditching the bar ends.

Very good

apart from the bar ends, I always think they are a bit dangerous in any crash as they stick up like two prongs from the bars, but hey ride what you want – very nice bike

Nice bike,
I was thinking of buying/building a highball,

What travel up front have you opted for?

Looks good. I’d also be interested to hear your opinions on the fork.

I hope someone drives a lambo over it. 😀

Looks great fun! What a lovely looking thing.

if the Raven ever leaves I’d be worried

Thanks all, glad you are digging it!

Hah, well spotted! I think he was attracted to the shiny new bike 🙂

Lol, can be arraigned: http://www.thetoycabin.com/images/super/COR342-1-ME.jpg

It is a DT Swiss XMM 120, carbon steerer. This is the same fork that I have on my other Highball. I really like it a lot, love how I can drop it from 120mm to about 90mm, and lock it there for climbing, all with the small lever on the handlebars.

I am. You’re not.

😉

I find the bar ends hugely beneficial to my riding.

No more dangerous than any other part of the bike TBH. I understand why they aren’t as fashionable with mountain biking for joe-average norm moved away (in the UK at least I think) from XC and more toward AM / #enduro / GNAR 🙂

I bet that’s bloody fast.

And the colour coded bird is a nice touch.

“Never more!”

Nice build. DT swiss forks, much under rated fork if you ask me.

Not into XC but that looks nice. Looks like a skinny Spanish el matador type bull with those bar ends (if that makes any sense!? Lol)