If it’s a performance fork with the GRIP damper then you will need fox 5wt teflon oil for the damper side and 20wt gold oil for the airshaft side, apart from that it’s just an easy airshaft swap.

No import duty but might just have been lucky, I’ve heard it can be hit and miss with goods from the states whether you end up paying or not

I’ve used these on my specialized fatboy and they’ve worked a treat, had previously converted to tubeless using the split tube method but thought I’d try these out when it was time to change the sealant. The fatboy rims look quite similar to the dt rims so you shouldn’t have any problems, I used surly rim strips to cover the cutouts then the fatty strips. You have to be careful not to tear the fatty strips as their quite thin but you can save a decent amount of weight even compared to the split tube method. I had to order from the states as there’s no uk distributer but delivery was only took around a week.

If it’s a 2017 model then you might be ok, I’ve got a 2.3 maxxis dhr2 on mine with room to spare but not sure how big a 2.35 rock razor is as I’ve never used schwalbe tyres. If it’s a 2016 or before you’ve no chance.

I’ve had my 2017 T129 RS for a few months now and it’s fantastic, previous bike was a stumpy 29er that had more travel but the Whyte feels more capable thanks to the better geometry. Rear tyre clearance is much improved this year and I’ve been running a 2.3 dhr2 through the mud this year with no issues, the poor tyre clearance on the 2016 was the only reason I didn’t buy one sooner.

I swapped the carbon fork for blutos on my fatboy and really like them, best upgrade imo. Sure their a bit heavier but the difference on technical trails is fantastic and can easily keep up with mates on full sus bikes. They can be locked out as well so you’ve got the option to keep them rigid but I hardly ever bother. I had to get a new front hub as the blutos 150x15mm axle versus 135mm qr on the carbon fork but Specialized should sort you out if their offering the fork.

If you fancy a curry then head along to Innerleithen, had the best curry I’ve ever had a wee place called Saffron. Best to book early as they’ve only got 6 or 7 tables but well worth the visit.

I’ve had the same happen with the 11-42 cassette on my old bike, the chain would drop onto the second sprocket when backpedelling. I think it must be chainline related as I’ve just bought a Whyte t129 with a 11-46 cassette and it doesn’t do this but it has a single ring chainset while the old bike had the single ring mounted on the outer tabs of a double chainset. It does get better once the chain has worn in a bit though.

I’d be interested in a swap for my specialized henge, already have a scoop on another bike and the green would be a good colour match on my stumpy. Email in profile if your interested.

The rims on my fatboy have taken a decent amount of abuse with no issues so far, not sure if specialized sell the rim only though. How do you find the bluto on the front, was thinking of upgrading but not sure its worth the cost as I’d need to rebuild the front wheel to a new hub as well.

I stripped the hub and used a flat head screwdriver to carefully tap the bearing out, socket worked fine to push it back in . If you got them from a shop just take them back and get it done under warranty, I got mine online so couldn’t be bothered with the hassle of sending them away but it depends how confident you are to do the work yourself.

I had a similar issue with my st wheels that I think use the same hub, turned out the disc side bearing was installed the wrong way round. If you look at the mavic hub pdf docs it shows the red bearing seal side should face inwards but mine was the other way around. This causes drag on the freehub even when the bearing preload is wound off. Once I’d carefully drifted out the bearing and swapped it round the hub worked fine. Hope this helps

Finally got round to a test drive of the transit connect yesterday, was so impressed I’ve put down a deposit for a brand new 15 plate van in metallic blue. There was some cracking deals on brand new white and red vans that really temped me but I knew I’d regret not paying the extra for the nice paint. Just have to wait 2 weeks for delivery.
Lunar i was thinking about your transporter but mrs duke says there’s no way she’s sleeping in a van, good luck with the sale though

That was my impression of the combo as well, drives nice enough but feels cheap inside. The transits definitely a nicer place to be, also had a quick look at the smaller courier but I’m not sure if it’s big enough. I’ve just sold a citroen nemo that was just too small for 2 bikes without taking both wheels off so want to make sure the new van is big enough, don’t mind taking the front wheel out though. I’ll try the bike for size when I get a test drive on monday. The connect I looked at today had the 3 front seats with the small bulkhead hatch but I couldn’t see the point expecially as the middle seat was tiny, I’d be getting a 2 seat version anyway.

Just been to see the transit connect at the ford garage, can’t get a test drive until monday but very impressed. Don’t really need anything bigger as have no plans to sleep in it, what’s nice about the transit is it feels very car like compared to the combo.

Would be planning on keeping the van for long time so want to make sure i get the right one, not considered the doblo as the wife’s just bought a new corsa and the vauxhall dealer’s doing a good deal on the combo.It’s only got to fit 2 bikes and some camping gear so a full size transits probably too big. The transits a nicer colour too.

There’s a company in Sheffield called Linbrooke that has various rail vacancies including trackwork, might be worth a look if has done his PTS.

Try turning the freehub anti clockwise as you pull it towards you, should help to disengage the pawls.

I can get a new spank rim for £55 so will probably just replace that and see how it goes. I suppose it would be cheaper to buy a new wheel than to replace spokes as well, I could just run it as is but I’m away to Aviemore on Saturday for a weeks biking and want to be confident it’ll not give me any problems.

Cheers scotroutes, I’d probably just post ahead some luggage as I’m planning on going for at least 2 to 3 days. Was more interested in how long each route would take as I’ve got to fit in with train times but if there both around 3 hours I could go either way. Has anyone who has stayed at the torridon youth hostel know if it has a secure bike store?

Had the same happen yesterday with a maxxis ardent 2.4 on a spank oozy rim. Was standing right beside it when it blew and pretty sure I was still half deaf a few hours later. Tyre had been used previously so I’m assuming the bead has stretched slightly. Spent most of last night cleaning the sealant mess from the every corner of the shed!

It does it more when starting from cold but not always as it happened earlier when the engine was warm after filling up at the garage. I’ve been keeping an eye on the dipstick but it doesn’t appear to be burning oil despite the smoke issue. Might try changing the glowplugs but would a diagnostic test be able to show up a dodgy injector?

Will be taking the mountain bike, it’s always fun exploring new areas

Cheers nobeer, I was planning on heading to kirroughtree anyway, just wondering if there was any good riding closer by. Working at hadyard hill wind farm for the week.

Will be there with the missus, are you still meeting at loch leven lodges at 10?

Sound similar to how mine feels on rocky sections. I keep it in trail setting most of the time as decend mode blows through the travel far too quickly, have tried a volume spacer which helped slightly with diving but still feels a bit harsh. I could send it for a re-tune but might just go for a new shock as I think its the basic evolution damper thats the problem.

I have a 2013 zesty with a fox ctd shock, rebound and compression are both medium but it’s the basic evolution damping. Thinking of upgrading the shock as it doesn’t feel as good since I put a pike fork up front. I thought about a push tune but it can’t be done on the ctd shocks.

I’ve got some tf tuned lower leg lube in the shed, would this be ok until I can get the proper rockshox oil?

I need to do mine as well but can’t find the rockshox 0w30 oil anywhere. Tried loco and tf tuned but none due in stock for another month, anyone know where I can get some?

I’ve been using an oozy wheelset for around 6 months now, have been faultless so far and both hubs have a quality feel to them. Have previously used hope pro2’s and mavic crossmax and these are as good if not better imo.

Quick update for anyone interested, I thought I’d try and fix it myself instead of having the hassle of sending it away. So I carefully drifted out the disc side bearing and reinstalled it the right way round, reassembled the hub and it’s fine, spins so much better now. Just a bit annoying on a wheelset that retails at over £600 but at least it was a quick fix.

Think I’ve found the problem, the disc side hub bearing appears to have been installed the wrong way round according to the mavic tech document. The red bearing seal should be fitted towards the centre of the hub and the preload side towards the disc but it’s the opposite. The tech manual says that to achieve a perfect freehub seal the bearing must be fitted the right way round. At least it’s still under warranty so will be going back for a rebuild. Cheers guys for all the advise.

Just tried it without the freehub seal and it’s much better so might order a new seal although there’s nothing obviously wrong with mine. Will any light mineral oil work or should I buy the proper mavic stuff?

Ok so I’ve had the hub apart again this afternoon, all the bearings are smooth and it was very clean inside with a light coating of mineral oil on most parts. I took the preload adjuster right off and it made no difference, everything feels smooth until the freehub is pushed fully home then it goes draggy again. Freehub seal is the right way round, not sure what else it could be.

That’s what I thought, the pro2 on the wife’s bike spin for ages compared to my mavic. Might strip the hub and have another look.

Cheers, just used to buy a shifter and chainring

I’ve been using an absolute black ring with kmc chain with no issues for months now, I’d never heard they weren’t recommended together but I’ve never dropped the chain yet

Thanks for the write up, I pass the trail markers on the road out of Alyth when I’m driving to work at the windfarm and always wondered what it would be like, might have to give it a go soon

I’ve added float fluid to the air chamber, add about 5cc at a time and see how it feels. I’m at around 15cc so far and the fork feels much better not blowing through all the travel when set with the correct sag

I had a 2.4 ardent that was huge and still had decent mud clearance