well after getting back into mountain biking last year after 20 years off I started with a few low end bikes, hardtail and full sus, like an old kona whatsamcalled and a gt i drive then in August I bought a trek 9.8 carbon elite hardtail with a mix of xtr and xt bits. I loved it and it weighed next to nothing compared to the old low end bikes that came before.
Over the last few months I have bought new bits for it when old have worn out or when I thought oooh got to have one of those. then about a week or so ago I decided to buy an old orange patriot frame and being impatient to build it up I swapped out all my lightweight xc parts from the trek to the orange frame. My verdict after a few rides was that I like the full sus but didnt like the weight and the clanky noise of the patriot. now sold the frame and put all parts back on trek frame, alls well or at least it seemed, that was until I glanced over the pages of flatout cycles and saw a gorgeous trek top fuel 9.9 SSL frame, I instantly fell in love and had to have it, but me being me couldnt just get the frame, I decided to look for some other parts too,wheels, mmmm dt swiss xrc 1250 carbon wheels to go with it and some time carbon pedals and some XTR drivetrain bits to compliment the bits I already have.
All in all its going to be a pretty lightweight full sus bike i think, the only thing stopping it from floating away will by my slightly overkill and heavy hope V4 brakes oh and my winter fat reserves.
The new bits should be arriving on wednesday and I will weigh stuff thye best I can during the build to get a weight but am hoping it will end up a sub 22 lbs full sus bike.
will post some pics once its built.
anyone got one of these they have built or bought from new and got anyt opinions on the frame or the wheels etc?
cheers
Great bikes! Got my Top Fuel down to 19.8lbs with sensible tyres and that.
Great bikes! Got my Top Fuel down to 19.8lbs with sensible tyres and that.
thats pretty light, I think I got a bargain, its a 2009 with the dt swiss carbon shock, got it for £490 with new remote lockout lever. the dt swiss xrc 1250 wheels were £350 so again an absolute bargain I think.
am going to be ruinning the frame with my rockshox reba world cup with carbon crown and steerer, remote lockout, so can turn it into a propper climbing beast at the flick of a switch when required, just need to work on my fitness now lol
Great price for the wheels certainly.
Watch out for linkages breaking and the seat mats cracking on the 2009 frames.
Watch out for linkages breaking and the seat mats cracking on the 2009 frames.
Really, is this common? i weigh about 13 stone frame is a large so shoul;dnt need the seatpost out too much, perhaps a crash diet is in order to get down to 10-11 stone
It's not common, there weren't many of them, but I know of a few occurrences. It was the first year they did the 'no cut' seat masts on them.
thanks, just wondered if you could tell me what press fit BB i need to order for the frame as it doesnt come with one,
thanks