Looks like a cotic vid.

On the Stans site Crests are 340g, whereas your WTB speed discs are 450g. Crests are really an XC rim.

The Zee mech is 1x specific I believe so if you do decide you want to go back to 2x you might prefer a xt/slx…

Currently running superstar top guide, pain to set up but works well with a shadow plus mech. Id also go for 32t, and 11-36 out back, currently on 34t and it is fine but could do with a little extra occasionally.

Other than that, its brill!

Id say Crests would be a little too lightweight on a five, depends what you do with the bike I guess. I run WTB I23s with hope hubs. Lovely wheelset, strong, light, and resonable price. and I believe they are based on Stans. Or you could get the I19s which are lighter still and similar to Arch Exs.

[/url] GRAPIL TRAIL[/url] by robbonzo[/url], on Flickr[/img]

DT Swiss hubs are pretty silent.

You can certainly buy the hope guide without the chainring/bash, and I reckon it would still work without, be interested to hear if someones tried it. Its run so close to the chain, it looks like it cant bounce off.. Also Ethirteen have a new top guide which is ISCG mounted.

Cheers Dino.

Do you usually have to bleed if you have to trim the line down?

Sektors.

Nice one Dave, I’d be interested to see how yours is looking once you’ve pimped it a bit. I think it would make a great bike for enduros too.

@Fathomer, drop the guys at plush hill cycles an email, I got mine from them and they were really helpful. They have a demo bike – in the shropshire area too.

Oh and with the changes it weighs 28.6 lbs. not too bad. :o

Only a quick blast so far, DaveH is probably better placed to comment, but it seemed to climb really well, just getting on with it. My other bike is a Morewood Shova single pivot with 135 QR, and it was very stiff compared to that, not surprising I guess.

Yeah pretty sure they’re the std folding ones, I haven’t tried them as went straight to mud tyres – the mud king on the back is excellent by the way. Tbh I had a Mountain king 2.4 folding on my other bike and I wasnt sure about it, I think you’ve got to go for the black chilli ones, and I really like the Protection casing on the mud king too. No punctures with that, and the casing seems to deflect hits really well.

Forgive me if im being dense but how does the reverb clip to the top mount, if the guide is only wide enough for one cable?

[/url] GRAPIL FRONT[/url] by robbonzo[/url], on Flickr[/img]

[/url] GRAPIL CLOSE UP[/url] by robbonzo[/url], on Flickr[/img]

New Grapil has been unboxed, tweaked and unfortunately not had much of a chance to ride despite of good weather at the weekend. I was moving house so basically had a quick blast down the road. First thoughts are good, and echo what you’ve said Dave, super stiff at the back, angles feel great and with the 740 bars fitted it feels like it will be great on the descents. i’ll get out for a proper ride at the weekend. My local trails round Brighton will be well suited to the bike I reckon. Oh and a Rock shox reverb will be here soon too although not sure how you route it as there seems to be only one guide on the top tube which usually takes the front mech? Ive changed it to 1×10 but may go back as I miss how quiet the bike was. Maybe my superstar guide needs tweaking? what you think?

[/url] Grapil 1[/url] by robbonzo[/url], on Flickr[/img]

No, I was just rather optimistic about delivery times! Ha. I will most definitely report back. Heading down to Dorset tomorrow so Im hopeful its reasonably dry and snow-less.

Grapil arrived today, minus the reverb which will be along in a week or so. I’ll be getting it built tonight and hopefully maiden voyage tomorrow. Pics to follow as im changing a few bits over, including mud tyres ;-)

nice

Yeah there seems to have been quite abit of building going on at friston. Lots of new DH runs. Managed to stack it off a jump In front of a Bunch of youths. Was dry and fun though. The singletrack in the woods was ace. Not going to put summer tyres on or anything…

Not South Downs way but friston forest was pretty much all dry, was great.

R is not the top Sektor, and it seems a slightly odd description in general. Id be paying on collection or walk away.

mountain kings with protection casing?

now that is a sorted 29er.

Grapil arrives at the Dealer on Thurs, hopefully Ill have it in time for some easter fun!

Cheers mate, thats what i feared.

Genesis alptitude too is worth a punt, lovely frame and designed for long travel forks.

I will indeed report back when it arrives, I won’t ask what you paid, lets just both stay happy.

I’ve just pulled the trigger Dave, its your fault if I don’t like it! ;-)

Ive gone for the Grapil 20, I think I will be swapping out the wheels for my WTB i23’s, going 1×10, and swapping over some XT bits from my other bike. I literally cant wait. Got a great deal.

Regarding the rubber queens, there’s an interesting thread today about them, seems that they need to be run at lower pressures to get the most out of them.

cheers for your insight Dave.

Wheelsize…

I hope it stays 26″… but gets a bit lighter…

Very interested to hear more Daveh, looks great. Im seriously considering one. I think they look good value at the new price too.

Does it ride light? Do you think you’d ever want to use a longer stroke shock on it or does it feel just right?

How is that ano finish in the flesh, some photos it looks great others a bit dull, I guess its understated stealth?!

if it’s like the proto Steve W was riding in Verbier, fancy multi-position-style shock mount and kinked rear end for heel clearance (so possibly wider axle format)?

with a raised chainstay on the Alpine, I wouldn’t have thought heel clearance would be an issue? any other changes you saw?

The Sterling silver one is real nice.

I once met Lionel Richie and David Hasslehoff in the space of 10 mins. One was a really nice guy, the other was a douchebag, can you tell which one?

Congrats PP, fair play for making a big change in life. How was the cytech course? I’m thinking of doing it myself, what level did you do?

Another vote for a salsa spearfish. seems to tick your boxes and they are cheap brand new.

Oh I’d also say Vinyl flooring is good for biking. Carpets will get ruined with mud, a quick washdown and it looks good as new.

My T4 is alot more basic than that T5, very nice by the way. Mine is more rustic charm…
I use mine for biking all the time. Its an L-shape seating arrangement which makes getting the bikes in and out a doddle.. The L turns into a full bed too. If you just want a seating area the L shape is great and plenty of room for mates to huddle round a pot noodle when the weather turns!
;-)
Plenty of storage for gear too. You can also get a gear loft which fixes to the roof for light items.

My girlfriends pair have just given up the ghost, she’s had them 14 yrs so a good innings.