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Executive Summary- Skill compensator. 😆 But I don't care.
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Well, finally got this built (sort of) after a month or so of delays and frustration. This has to be the most irritating bike build I've ever done.
Many thanks once again to Mark and the folk at The Bike Chain (surely the best bike shop in the country [img] 
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I had a quick couple of hours with it yesterday afternoon , and first impressions are that it's quite a different beast to the regular Mojo. Unlike the regular Mojo, on which I just set the sag, tried propedal on and off, then blissfully rode it without any other adjustment, it seems like the HD will need some time setting up.
Usual caveats apply- it was the Surrey Hills, so no overly steep ups or downs, no rocks but lots of roots, front brake was weeping fluid, rider is hitting a half century etc etc. I've not ridden any of the direct competitors for this bike, or any post 2005 FS designs at all. The componentry came off my old Mojo, with a change of forks to 150mm Revs, and some old cobbled together brakes after I found the hoses on the other set weren't long enough.
Important stuff first. The colour is a perfect match for a tennis ball. It'll probably grow on me (I like bright colours) but I now think the naked carbon frame will look nicer. It's 140, not 160, cos it's my only mountain bike atm, has to be versatile, and being able to stick with 32 forks means it only weighs about three quarters of a pound more than the old bike.
While climbing, although there's no problem with grip, at really slow speeds (my norm) it can snag a bit more than the old bike on roots and the like, needing a bit more body english to get over obstacles, then settles well down into the travel, slackening off the seat angle a bit much. On the flat, similar story- not as sprightly, a bit more tiring to ride. Propedal improves thing, whereas it was superfluous on the old bike. Definitely not as good as the regular, but, as I said, I've not made any attempt to get the shock right.
Downhill, as to be expected, it's all go. The bike's a lot stiffer, goes where it's pointed, feels a lot more stable on takeoffs and landings at speed. The flex in the back end, when you landed out of shape, or hit a corner or berm wrong is now gone. It nails corners- it actually had me thinking 'damn, I'm good' for a bit. Leant over, the grip was fantastic- the old bike had a bit of tendency to skip up lips if it was bumpy- all gone now.
It now needs to be set up properly, a couple of the build issues sorted, and given a couple of good runs at a trail centre, and the Peak or Lakes to see what it's like in bigger territory- I suspect that the lighter build, and shorter travel will be more fun than the 160 setup.
Nobody's going to slate a bike like this when they've laid out cash for it, but I'm trying to be realistic in my assessment. For me this is a direct replacement for the regular Mojo, and as such will be used the same, winter and summer- two or three nights a week, with one or two trips away a month. I'm hopeful that with a bit more sorting time it'll be nearly as good on the bridleways as the previous bike, but with added downhill bliss.
Thanks for the report. What build issues did you come across (just so others might avoid them, not to point the finger at anyone)
Looking good Vince - any more pics?
Very interesting review - nice to see something so balanced...
I'm assuming you're coming from a standard (?) Mojo, if so, why the change? seriously considering a Mojo sl as the next bike but wondering what the benefits of the HD are in the real world (given that I'm really not that gnarrr)
Snap.....almost! Currently set up as 160mm but limbo chips are on the way. Forks are now BOS Deville and pedals a bit more tasteful, as is the saddle!
I also had an original Mojo and would concur with everything you say.
Mine also lives in the Surrey Hills - would be very interesting to compare 140mm vs 160mm back-to-back!!
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@Alex - a couple of the problems were due to errors in parts sent by suppliers, so presumably one offs -nobody's fault, just the shit that happens occasionally.
The bottom headset cup needed to be reduced to 1 1/8 to fit my forks- Cane Creek use the crown race to do this, and there's so much metal in there that my normal approach to fitting the race with a hammer and pipe wouldn't work- I needed to get a shop to fit it with a setting tool.
The cable run to the rear mech is very long, and enclosed- I found out that 2m of outer is not enough for both front and rear. After the shops had closed.
Similar for the rear brake- the convoluted run meant that I need to fit a new brake hose. And the swingarm needs to be dropped to get the caliper in place. Although that may be usual, when you're knackered, it's nearly midnight, and you realise this, it's a bit annoying
@tbc -sorry, no shiny pics- it didn't look great anyway with a load of used parts on it. I thought about taking some, then decided I'd rather ride. Reading back what I've written above it sounds like I'm a bit unsure about things- actually I'm happier than a pig in shit with it.
@meesterbond - a bit of pragmatism (regular Mojo is now finished, with all that entails- HD is at the start of it's lifecycle, a bit of (cross fingers), a bit of future proofing with new standards and more on-trend geometry :roll:, the possibility that the frame could be a lot better for the more fun aspects of riding, without compromising all the stuff that made the regular bike so good to live with. I don't need it for sure, but it's nice to have. There's a bit more differentiation in the lineup now though- the HD gives up a fair bit more weight to the SL. I had no interest in it in it's 160 incarnation, by the way- too much for me.
@heihei - I'd like to give that a go if you like. Drop me a mail and we can try and sort something out - probably not til the new year though.
Will sort out collection of normal Mojo this week if thats cool Vince? Think we will have better luck getting the buggers out to you in a van!
Gosh, that's rather bright isn't it? Sounds as though you are having fun. 🙂
I bought a standard frame from Classifieds a couple of months ago so still getting used to it. Struggling with the climbs though. Brilliant on the descents, it's pickup is so so fast and very narrowly avoided a high speed crash in a gully. 😯
Just wish I had some skill to justify it though ...
[i]Currently set up as 160mm...
Mine also lives in the Surrey Hills...[/i]
Overbiked?
Yes I was going to ask that. Does it not seem like overkill around here? Unless you session the few trails where it comes into it's own I'd have thought it'd be rather a chore to ride!
I'd like a go on an SL though!
HeiHei, what do you think of the Bos forks, we have some in the shop now and I'm about to fit them to my Blur LTC when it arrives, give me your opinion.
What sizes have you gone for... how tall are you?
Currently set up as 160mm...
Mine also lives in the Surrey Hills...Overbiked?
Undoubtedly, hence the appeal of also being able to run it at 140mm. However, to me it's more about the geometry: despite the travel, the HD does not feel you are perched on it like some longer-travel bikes I've tried, and the slackish front end gives you confidence to attack some of the nice steep switchback trails that have "appeared" in certain locations.
I would also note that at 28lbs it's no slouch uphill, and the weight plus how well the DW link allows the bike to get up to speed on singletrack makes me think I'm not really suffering too many downsides of the extra travel - aside from the accusations of being overbiked 😉
There's also some decent jumps around which are good to include in regular rides - for sure a decent rider could hit most of them on a shorter-travel bike, but at the wrong side of 40 I'm happy accepting a skill-compensator too!
Like most bikes (and riders) that live in Surrey, they also see other parts of the country too. In the last couple of months, it's seen use in Snowdonia, Dark Peaks, and at New Year I'm off to the Lakes, so it will cover a lot of bases.
HeiHei, what do you think of the Bos forks, we have some in the shop now and I'm about to fit them to my Blur LTC when it arrives, give me your opinion.
Nothing special in the car-park pumping stakes, or at slow speed, but once things get lively then the damping seems better able to cope than the Float 36's they replaced ('09) - a bit like the Push tuning of Pikes / older Fox forks. At the margin they are slightly less stiff, but not really noticeable on the trail. On my scales about 1/2lb lighter, and now also cheaper than Float 36's, so pretty pleased with them.
I would note that all the adjustments are of the "fine" variety!
What sizes have you gone for... how tall are you?
5'10" ish and on a medium with 50mm stem and lay-back post - fits very nicely. Interestingly my medium regular Mojo felt a bit too small.
Lovely bike and nice pic from Pitch..
Overbiked?/ Whenever I see that I wonder if any of the people who say it have actually ridden in the Surrey Hills. There is stuff over there that is pretty full on, it's not all BKB....
Hmmm, I'm 5'10" too.
Interesting that you've chosen to run it with a layback post though?
just on 6'. Large, 70mm stem. Feels a tiny bit smaller than the regular did, with the same setup.