Paint stripped to bare aluminium, etch primed then roller painted (coat of paint/flatten/coat of paint/flatten etc) Kawasaki green.
New bearings. DHX air shock DIY rebuild with IFP mods to make bleeding easier, glassbead blasted the adjuster knobs to bare aluminium.
Converted my existing rear Shimano hub to homemade T45 axle with titanium nuts to help stiffen the back end a little.
Cheapo CRC crankbrothers seatpost with bead blasted components.
All other parts from my Evil Sovereign- Marzocchi 55CR’s, 50mm Thomson stem, uncut Renthals, SLX cranks with Middleburn 32t NW, Zee+Saint shifting, SLX/Goodridge 200/180mm brakes, Hope F/Shimano R (with solid axle and grease nipple lube mod), 2.3 Minion F, Highroller R.
I can’t decide if I like the colour or not (like you care), always thought I’d like to have had mine done in the matt green like my gemini.
Good fun bikes though, enjoy!
I can’t decide if I like the colour or not (like you care), always thought I’d like to have had mine done in the matt green like my gemini.
Good fun bikes though, enjoy!
epic bikes, ive got a small frame in the shed that i carnt bring myself to sell rode everything on it from all day xc to antur stinog.
my advice would be to keep an eye out for a xfusion hilo dropper. i keep thinking of building mine back up with some 650b wheels and see if it feels more alive lol
Quick update to say – wow this frame is good! long, low, and slack, never had so many pedal strikes but corners really well. Fox DHX shock is a good fitment as it helps control the bottom out these frames are renowned for.
Added a rock guard as I ride Cragg/Lee quarrys a lot. Used the down tube water mounts to bolt on a modified (drilled a few holes) Zefal down tube guard (£8). Has saved the downtube a few times already from rocks being flicked up.
Off to ‘Degla with it tomorrow.
Fancy Ti nuts and T45 axle help stiffen the back end image upload
yeah Cannondale really did get it right when they designed it (10years ago IIRC) – they only thing they didn’t foresee was different wheelsizes (although you can fit 27.5 in the XC shock position) and dropper posts.
OP That looks ace, I built one up as a stop gap whilst I test rode all the modern full suspension bikes but I love it so much I’m just going to keep it until it dies. I’ve got a x-fusion hi-lo on mine which makes a big difference. The problem with mine is the powder coat is 3 inches thick. Might strip it and do it the same colour as yours.
The pedal strikes take a bit of getting used to and its a nightmare when riding really narrow singletrack that cut into the ground as the bb is so low.
Had a medium chocolate colour one for a few years, bought in the sale from royles cycles for about £800 which was less than half price if i remember correctly. Absolute bargain at the time. Just thought about it when i read this post and realised that it was by far the quickest bike ive ever owned around marin, penmachno and coed y brenin, it aint just nostalga, at the time i thought i was going way too quick and gonna do myself some damage. Brilliant bikes!
For the axle I machined a solid axle myself (although you can buy them off the shelf) and replaced the standard Shimano QR/hollow axle. The solid ones are slightly stiffer (in theory). Running it with titanium nuts. I chopped a 14mm spanner in half and that lives in my rucksack for trail side wheel removal.
It also makes bearing adjustment easier as you don’t have the QR/hollow axle compression to compensate for with a nutted axle- when you tighten the nuts it only ‘stretches’ the length of axle between the hub outer locknut and the axle nut that your tightening. It doesn’t affect the axle between the cones. If you know what I mean?
Northwind – Member
Really good that! How long did it take to cut the paint back?
Took a week to paint it but that was doing an hour max per day. Spraying is easier and quicker! Roller or use a piece of fine cell foam to dapple the paint on, let dry, 1500 grit to flatten, repeat until bored/enough coats then final 1500 then T-Cut.
Bars and stem have been changed for new Cannondale items (ex Jekyll) and DX -Spd pedals fitted.
Spec is;
20″ frame – loads of standover clearance and the XL gives a nice modern front centre length.
Marzocchi 55 CR’s
DHX 5 with new at time of build Kashima air can, air seals, HD bushes and mounting hardware.
SLX cranks with 32t Blackspire NW ring.
DX Spd pedals
Thomson seat clamp
SDG seat
Crank Brother post
SLX brakes with 203&180 floating Shimano rotors, fitted with braided hoses.
New Cannondale bars & Stem ex Jekyll
Saint shifter with Zee rear mech, 10 speed, XT cassette
Hope front hub on Mavic (cant remember the rim model)
Shimano XT rear with grease nipple mod and solid botl on axle.