So, after Much umming and ahing, I’ve chosen my next bike.

Now I need help to spec the build! So bike Tarts/Gurus/Fashion victims ( delete as appr) here’s your chance!

Only fixed thing is the frame, and that will be a 2016 Mondraker Dune XR

No budget restrictions, but value for money and Substance over style will be considered.

So, ready….. Steady……….,.. GO!!

If Chris King make one, get that.
Easton carbon bars
Bel air saddle
Pikes in what ever flavour travel suits
Reverb
Shimano brakes (no budget? Xtr)
Xx1 (or at least sram 1×11)
Race face sixc cranks
Carbon rims, enve if you’re a tart, LB if not
Maxxis tyres to suit conditions
Race face atlas pedals if running flats, XT trail if not

Those are my default choices for any mtb build…

Reverb is a given, as are a set of saint stoppers. Currently xx1 cranks are fav ( having been flawless for 3 years on my current bike) but some Pimp Hope cranks could oust them maybe!!

Difficult choice is for wheelset and forks, I’d like to try a long single crown of say 170mm ( not sure what max for frame is tbh)

Di2 cog swapping would be pimp, but is probably a step too far in terms of simplicity

Most of my build has just been delivered.
Pike fork
Bel Air 2 ti saddle
Thomson covert post
Haven 35 stem
Havoc 35 carbon bar
Hope e4 brakes
Hope pro 4 hubs
Light bicycle rims
Hope bottom bracket
Sixc cinch cranks
XTR mech/shifter
XX1 cassette
Trail king tyres
ODI lock ons
Race Face Atlas pedals
(fsa headset come with the frame).

If I had a bike specced like that Onza I would be a very happy man. Would run Maxxis rubber though.

What frame?

Gives you something interesting to do on Boxing Day Onza!!

🙂

I’d start with something a bit different with the frame 😉

170mm Fox 36 fork with Avalanche cartridge.
Float X2/Push 11-6/EXT Storia/DHX2
DT Swiss EX471’s on 240’s with Revolution spokes
XX1 cassette XTR Di2
XTR cranks
Saint calipers, XTR race levers
Hope BB
Enve DH bars
Enve stem
Reverb
Specialized romin evo carbon saddle
DMR Vaults

Forks: pikes
Headset: Chris King
Stem: race face 35mm
Bar: raceface next 35mm
Seatpost: raceface dropper
Saddle: what ever fits your bum best
Chain set: race face next with suitable size ring for your area/riding style.
Gears: xt/xtr mix or sram x0 (what ever your preferance)
Brakes: xtr race
Pedals: your preferance
Grips: your preferance
Wheels: Chris King hubs on enve rims
Tyres: your preferance

It’s an RFX. Still waiting on a few bits and need to build the wheels. Also, I’m going to get the frame wrapped which will slow the process.

Agree with hob nob about the avalanche cartridge. One thing I looked into with this bike was whether both ends could be tweaked by Craig. The choice of pike was because it’s a cheap/light/stiff chassis that I can put avalanche guts into.

My new frames getting built up as follows (I think):

Forks: Pikes
Headset/BB: Hope
Stem: Haven 35mm
Bar: Raceface Next 35mm
Seatpost: Reverb
Saddle: Fabric Scoop
Chain set: Raceface Next SL
Gears: XT 11 speed (may go GX cassette)
Pedals: XTR Trail
Brakes: XT M8000
Wheels: LB Rims, DT Swiss 240 rear, 350 front
Tyres: Undecided (Minions maybe)

Hopefully pretty light but robust!

I have the new 2016 fox 36 rc2 in 170mm and they are far better than any other fork I have tried. I bought them thinking I would drop them down to 160mm but the bike seems even better at 170mm. If you are anywhere near the West Midlands you are more than welcome to try them out.

Crossmax xl wheels.
Xt 11sp transmission.
race face sixc bar
Tyres to suit your locale
Pike or lyrik, depending on your needs.

Not the most expensive or lightest of everything, but the best balance of price, performance and reliability IMO.

Further to my post above about trying the fox 36’s my bike also has

Race face sixC Carbon bars and cranks.
Shimano XTR 1×11
Light bicycle 35mm rims on hope pro2 hubs
Hope e4 brakes with braided hoses
Hope f20 pedals
Magic Mary front hans dampf rear tyres
Sdg circuit ti saddle

If you fancy trying any of those out too.

Wouldn’t start with a Dune frame myself, would go for the Evil Insurgent over it, but…

Fork: MRP Stage
Wheels: DT Swiss 240s on DT EX471 rims (not convinced by carbon rims on smaller wheels than 29er myself)
Crank: Raceface Next SL with 32T direct mount
Mech/shifter/cassette: SRAM X01
Bar: Raceface Next SL 35/760mm
Stem: Easton Haven 35/32m
Seatpost: Reverb Stealth
Saddle: PRO Turnix 142 anatomical
Grips: ODI Rogue lockon
Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR2
Brakes: SRAM Guide RS 200/180
Pedals: Shimano XT trail
BB & Headset: Hope

Right now the Fox 36 looks like the go to option for 170mm of travel. Whilst there are some more left field options (DVO etc) I’m not convinced they are mature enough a product?

The Fox chassis is better than the RS IMO. Although the Lyrik does have a bit more meat on it, so might not suffer the creaking issues like the Pike.

I’m not a fan of the damper in them though, could never get it set up right, and it was the most unreliable fork i’ve owned.

But them I don’t think i’m much of a fan of closed damper system forks, they all seam to have niggles in performance, to chase ever lighter goals. Personally I think if the Lyrik chassis proves to be tough, an open bath, proper tunable damper in it (like an Avalanche) would be the best choice. Until people get some miles in it & it proves itself, I would stick with the 26 & do the same.

If you want an off the shelf fork, i’d rather have a Lyrik over a 36, having replaced the latter with the former.

The new BOS fork is coming out soon in 170mm if you want something leftfield?

Shiny New very Pink Bronson CC awaits me to return to UK after a month at work,

XX1 Cassette, Shifter, Rear Mech all removed of old bike, Brand New spider less XX1 crank
XTR brakes 9020 New
Roval Fatties SL Carbon wheels which are superb, removed of last years Bronson 7 months old & highly recommend them.
Santa Cruz Carbon bars New
Easton 35mm stem Of old bike
Santa Cruz Palm Dale Grips New
HOPE Ceramic BB New
XTR pedals. Of old bke
SDG MTN Circuit saddle New
Invisi Kit for Frame & Crank.
Cane Creek Head Set. of old bike
2016 Fox Fit 4 Forks 4 months old, was going to put RC2 36’s in I’ve been running but the new fit 4’s are very good nothing like the old ctd, then there’s nowt no more bike goodies this year

Then it’s take it out & rag it in the great British winter early Jan.

Whilst these new spider less cranks might save 20g, for a 1by set up they come with the penalty of requiring crank removal to change overall drive ratio.

On my current xx1 with hand spider, I keep a 32,30,28 ring in my bike bag, and can throw the appropriate ratio on for the days riding in about 1 min.

maxtorque, It’s not a weight thing for me, it was very cheap & I removed the standard xx1 from a Bronson frame I sold, with the intention of putting it in the new frame, have spare chain rings & changed them in situ (superb) but new one was a steal, so now the RF Turbine complete unit is coming out of my lads bike & used xx1 going in.

So Rf Turbine cinch with 32t ring going cheap very soon.

Anyone on here with this frame/bike? I would be interested in a real life feedback.