[Closed] Flare Max & Slackset

I also own a FlareMax and have been looking into the same thing. I'll probably go experiment with offset bushings as there cheaper to experiment with.

I happen to have a slack set , sitting on a work bench - so it will cost nothing. Both that the pain of having to fit it!!
When I talked to Cy about off set bushing, he told me off ....

I always think a slackset is a better option than offset bushings as the bushings slacken the seat tube angle which is already too slack IMO

I’ve put -2 deg anglesets into two bikes, one of them as slack as the FlareMAX and they helped more down hill than they hindered uphill. Modern MTBs are quite wandery uphill anyway, so we’re used to handling that and when made slacker still seem to be better at climbing over rough stuff.

I know it should make it more stable coming down hill – but will it wander from side to side up hill, like a drunken pig?

Are you shortening the stem, and/or widening the bars as well? Can you shift your saddle forward at all? You'll find changes are needed, to your position and riding style, with a 2deg change. I'd try it though... not hard to go back if you don't gel with it.

When I talked to Cy about off set bushing, he told me off ….

Using the same length+stroke shock with offset bushings can end up with things hitting things that shouldn't.

Kelvin,

I would stick with the same bars and stem. Certainly don’t want wider bars ... trees any closer than 2 m apart already worry me...
But as you say - may as well try . I am not riding the moment due to a shoulder injury, so might as well!
Bushing - yes, that was his point ( he had accidentally linked me to an offset bearing site, when replacing CC bushing)

I put a -2 in my Flaremax.

Better going down, no impact going up - did over 10,000m for the December Strava challenge 🙂

I thought I might need to change stem etc, but all I did was roll the bars slight to take into account the slacker front end.

Intheborders...
Thanks

All done this morning. Hopefully test riding tomorrow...
Will report back

No you won't die! Hope you enjoy it. Slackset is the only way to alter the geo on Cotic bikes safely. Offset bushings definite no-no.

By the way, because the slackset swings the wheel up and away, you don't end up with the full 2 deg. What actually happens is roughly 1.5 slacker head angle, 0.5 steeper seat angle, 4mm lower BB.

I've got a Sonder Cortex which I fitted a 10mm longer fork and a 2.0 slackset. That started at 66deg and now is somewhere around the 63.5deg and tbh, I also can't really note that it's any worse at climbing. It descends like a beast and the steering perhaps feels a little slower in the 'car park' but the rest of the time I can't notice any downsides. I might at some point re-fit the standard headset to see if I can notice a difference going back but not sure there is any point?!

Go for it.

“I might at some point re-fit the standard headset to see if I can notice a difference going back but not sure there is any point?!”

On my Zero AM I’ve done:

130mm fork & -2 deg headset
140mm fork & -0.5deg headset
150mm fork & 0 deg headset (as designed)
150mm fork & -2 deg headset

No plans for further experimentation, the last one is the most awesome configuration!

Thank you Chiefgrooveguru, you've saved me time and effort as this is what I expected too! 😀

I've got a 66degree spesh and a 63degree Hello Dave, the only negative I've found is getting through the anti-bike railings at the end of my lane, do it!!!!

Just resurrecting this thread - fitted the slackset and it has worked well. But it does make the bike "long" - I am on an XL already.

That said - and now the weather is better , I will put the Hope normal headset in after tomorrow ride just to see if is better or worse.

Unless someone stops me - as fitting the slackset and getting it precisely in the right place was true PITA.

As Cy says it dissent do a whole 2 degrees - that means I probably at 64 degrees or just over , rather that the under 64 I thought it was ....

I have a mark 1 flare max and I'm thinking of doing something similar.

another ride, another 43k.
The slackset (actually a Superstar angle head set) will stay

Measuring it with an iPhone says 65 or 66% degrees - which seems good.

Good good. Don't bother swapping back to compare. The longer wheelbase and front centre will seem very normal, very quickly. I still find pairing with a slightly shorter stem works best, but not essential.

Unless someone stops me – as fitting the slackset and getting it precisely in the right place was true PITA.

Difficult trying to line up dead-centre?

I did have a couple of go's to get mine (near) perfect, luckily I could borrow a headset press.