ps, i really like the Morewood, if i wasn't the Chumba Distributor that's what i would be riding!

AlexSimon, point well made, thanks!

The town in SA where Morewoods are made (Pietermaritzburg) is the same place that the metal is mined out of ground and then turned into tubes etc.

Top fact, i like that!

Just out of interest, why does it matter to you if the frame is made in SA or not?

I wonder what the true factory gate prices are???

Not as low as you would think. I think one of the main reasons behind using Taiwanese factories is the expertise the Taiwanese now have with all sorts of tube manipulation and welding, no where else comes close to being able to offer the manufactures what they want/need.

I could be wrong, but i would say most non Taiwanese made frames have a distinct lack of hydroformed type tubes (for good or bad) and tend to stick with off the shelf type tube sets such as Easton etc.

Chumba frames are mainly made in Taiwan, though custom stuff is made in the US factory by Ted Tanouye, the original Chumba owner/founder. Ted reckons the Taiwanese work is among the best in the world.

I have used the older Joplin with no issues at all. Just ordered a couple of the new Joplin 4 remote posts and will stick one on a demo bike to see how it goes!

Si – Please can you tell me more about the Chumba? Especially about the weight and how it compares against the zesty and meta 55?

The XCL is Chumba's do it all type bike. 5" rear travel, will take 6" up front but 140mm is the sweet spot for UK stuff. Builds vary in weight but typically 28-30Lb with sensible kit is about right.

As far as comparing to the others you mentioned it is a similar design to the Zesty in so much as its a 4 bar suspension design, but quite different to the Meta which is a linkage activated single pivot. The 4 bar design is well proven and is executed very well on the XCL. With minimal pedal bob and very remaining plush throughout it's travel. One thing Chumba try to achieve is a linear suspension curve, meaning all the suspension is usable.

The XCL is a tough little frame, and beautifully made, when you see the frame in the flesh you will be pleasantly surprised.

If you want any more info drop me a line at info@progressive-bikes.co.uk

Si

Chumba XCL, tough, pretty light, good angles and very versatile.

http://www.progressive-bikes.co.uk/xcl_build_kits.html

I am more than happy to help with a bike if I have anything suitable fir what you need! I don't want the publicity just use whatever I have foc. If I don't have a bike suitable for what you need I'll help with a good donation and or kit.

Only just started to read the thread and have to say you are a great inspiration, keep up the good fight!

Sorry to drag this thread back, but check out this VF2, built for speed and the owner is running a shorter shock to make it slacker and lower to good effect and great race results! 25lbs as is.

XCL build kit should be XCL frame in choice of finshes, Fox Van RLC Qr15, Hope hoops, Thomson stem and seat post, Chumba saddle and lock on grips, however Fox Van's are out of stock so will ship with the Floats for an additional £100, total £1799, bargain 🙂

Anodised finish on that frame 🙂

xcl build kit is £1699

When the mech was installed and bolted to the frame did you insert the little spacer between bolt and mech?

Looking nice! Did you notice a difference with the new large air can/boost valve?

My full susser

Wifes FS

HT

And i really want one of these 🙂

I suppose it is part of the market research, though i suspect that most STW users are not your typical Canfield customers. Canfield bros claim that the The One pedals very well so maybe it could be a true all rounder?

lol, thanks! keep crawling, or drop me an email if you want an F5? 🙂

Why, are you about to start flogging/bigging up these things at every opportunity as well as chumba?

I presume that annoys you?

🙂

That XCL was from around 2005, since updated and only one of a very small few that actually snapped. I have not seen an XCL snap since that batch of frames.

Chumba warranty is also very good and swift.

Pictures don't do it justice, the finsih is a bit brighter than these images make out.

As mentioned you need to have a very clear way to Market. Buying the stuff is easy as long as you have got a bit of money, it's the large amounts of money and unpaid time you will throw at the brand just to get people to notice, and don't expect any sort of profit for a good time, unless you are buying an established brand that already has a good route into the market.

Have you noticed the Chumba advert above? Chumba VF2 frame, fox float qr15 fork, hope wheels, thomson stem and post and Chumba saddle and lock on grips for £1950, bargain 🙂

I prefer the 5 myself, for no other reason than it looks nicer. Though of course what you really want/need is a Chumba VF2, like a Zesty only better 🙂

lol, so the big boss man had to tell them to repay legal aid for defending their case against stealing from the tax payer, class!

talkemada, what a load of rubbish, are people not allowed to debate unless they have a certain level of knowledge? maybe you could come up with a sticky so the mods can put it to the top of the site explaining the level of knowledge needed before commenting on threads?

so how much is the legal aid costing, do you know?

Bikingcatastrophe, a well put balanced argument 🙂

Not everyone is capable of this tho'

why not? I'm not talking about the unfornuate few who CAN'T work, and of course they need to be protected, i'm talking about the thousands who can work and choose not to and live a reasonable life at the expense of others, how is that fair? I never mentioned taking away social security either, but i do feel the balance has tipped in the favour of certain types/groups of people feeling all to comfortable on social security and not looking for or taking work.

I also smile to myself who say they come from post WWII working class backgrounds and don't see how the welfare state (healthcare and education) might just have contributed to their upward mobility. But then I guess actual history doesn't matter if you're sitting pretty now and just want the biggest slice of the pie you can get.

How presumptious of you! My education was poor to say the least, left school with very little, had a stint at a local college and had to work hard to get to the point in life where i am now, and by no means is it plain sailing.

I was raised in a very working class family, but you know what i can't stand the Labour party.

People moan about the Tory party and the fact that they look after their own, you don't think Labour do or did that? They hide behind the social fairness card and i don't believe a word of it. My wife and i work very hard, ask for nothing from the state other than a safe and clean place to live and all i seem to see is my tax revenues and others like me being given away to 'less fortunate' people than us, how is that fair?

I don't see any issue in making people stand on their own two feet, and i wonder which party will try to make that happen, certainly not labour.

TJ, to think that Labour would not have wasted billions of £ if they were in power in the Thatcher years is a joke. The unions would have run riot and got bigger and bigger and choked the economy, maybe less so than the wasted oil money, but at least we dont have hugely powerful unions throwing their weight around.

Should have got the forks from me 😉

I've got one! 😉

18 Bikes are having a wee look at Chumba see what sort of reaction they get in the shop, glad you like the frame!

I still think Fox are better in the damping dept but there is not much in it really

Justa, if you fancy a good quote on the Floats drop me an email, i may even be able to make 15QR's cheap enough for you to buy a new wheel 🙂

http://www.progressive-bikes.co.uk/xcl_build_kits.html 🙂

Grumpystevo, no plans to do the hardtail frames at all i'm afraid due to very low stocks!

kevin, the £1699 deal is for the rolling chassis deal, however Fox are out of Van 32's at the moment so it's either a 3-4 week wait for the fork, or an upgrade to a Float for an upcharge (around £100-£150)

Higgo, the Vf2 will take 160mm, but does climb nicer with 140mm.

momo, 127 mm 🙂

Kevin, where are you based, might be able to sort you a test ride?

The VF2 and XCL share the same angles with a 140mm fork and 5" travel, but the VF2 is lighter and has a full carbon rear end. The XCL is capable of taking more abuse, not to say that the VF2 is not versatile, i run mine with CCDB and Van 32's.

oops,

http://www.progressive-bikes.co.uk/xcl_build_kits.html