Logic
Likes Dirt
mint bike mate! Didn't know you that was you on RB untill I saw those cressy photos!
I'm that kid with the Nukeproof Mega and BOS suspension.
Is there anything on the bike that is stock anymore? lol
[AM] 2016 Giant Reign Advanced 1
- Thread starter teK--
- Start date
I'm that kid with the Nukeproof Mega and BOS suspension.
Is there anything on the bike that is stock anymore? lol
teK--
Eats Squid
Cheers bud was nice to meet you.
Only stock parts left are the frame and drivetrain lol.
Logic
Likes Dirt
Haha I think I can see another upgrade shortly :bounce:
teK--
Eats Squid
Heh the frame and I get along well. Plus with all the changes to boost etc it would be mega pain to swap only the frame.
In the end... Upgradeitis wins though
Logic
Likes Dirt
As always haha
teK--
Eats Squid
Been too busy working and riding as of late, to post any updates. So here is a mega update!
1. Did some fork shimstack mods.
Full details here: http://forums.mtbr.com/shocks-suspension/dvo-diamond-936949.html from post #370 onwards.
Very easy to do once you've done it once and you don't even need to fully bleed the damper afterwards if you are careful. Maybe 30mins if you take your time?
The mods can be categorised into two:
1) Flip the piston in the compression shimstack. Lowers the transition point (the knee) from LSC into HSC. This helps reduce spiking as the Low Speed is controlled by a bleed needle, but the High speed is controlled by a shimstack. Good for light riders (say 60-75kg).
2) Remove HSC preload shims . This changes the High Speed compression curve from digressive to linear. Makes it plush and without spiking at top of the travel, which is useful if you aren't riding at mach 5 all the time. Additionally, you can also remove 2 of the end shims which softens the whole curve a little bit as well.
What does this all mean?
The fork in stock configuration I found nice and supportive but for my weight it was spiking on tree roots and rock gardens if not hitting them fast enough. It wasn't as bad as my old Pike RC but it still wasn't ideal for me.
After doing both mods (but without the optional removal of the 2 end shims), now it is plush all the time whether riding moderately or fast, and allows more travel to be used without blowing through too much of it.
Since it is very easy to make the changes you can try one, some, or all 3 of the mods in any combination to see how it suits you.
I used Motorex 2.5W cartridge fork oil, which is widely available at moto shops and one of the oils recommended by DVO.
2. Removed the Huck Norris from rear tyre
I haven't had a pinch flat or rim dent despite hitting some very rough trails in the last 6 months. Also have not burped any air. I was however still running the same rear pressure as previous (26psi) compared to when I didn't have a HN since I want maximum rim and rollover protection.
The velcro strap had came apart. So I recommend either using a zip tie, or do what I did and not run anything at all so that the HN can move around more freely inside the tyre.
Here are some pics of some of the 12 or so areas where impacts had caused the rim to cut right through the HN. Overall very happy and can recommend, but after hearing some first hand reviews of the Cushcore I was keen to give it a shot.
3. Fitted Cushcore to the rear tyre
In terms of fitment I found it quite easy. I left one side of the tyre mounted, fitted the Cushcore and then got the other side of the tyre on using a gentle pry from a lever for the final couple of inches. The ease was rather an anticlimax as I was preparing for a 30 minute long round in a cage fight.
BTW I weighed the Huck Norris at this point and it had increased from 80g to 120g as result of all the sealant absorbed onto/into it.
I am now running 4psi less than with the Huck Norris and not feeling excessive squirm. The first few runs I kept thinking I had a flat tyre because the back felt kinda "dead". After I got used to it, that feeling translated only into very high levels of grip.
It was a case of re-learning what lines I could take and at what speed, as the rear would no longer ping off stuff and bounce me off line. I'd have to say the feeling is like when you first fit a coil shock. I also lowered my front tyre by 2psi as well to even it up a bit (not running any sort of protecftive strip). So front is 20psi, rear is 22psi now, 69kg ready to ride.
Didn't really notice the extra 130g over the Huck Norris to be honest. I imagine if you are riding a very light bike or doing a lot of mileage it might be a different story.
I think both products fill their respective niche well. Choose HN if you want a reasonable amount of protection for the rim and sidewall but with minimal weight and cost. Cushcore if you want to be able to run very low pressures, have a nice damped feel to the tyre, and very high level of rim/tyre protection, but can cope with the extra 120-160g (compared to the HN) and about double the cost.
4. SQ Labs Ergowave Active saddle
Saddle reviews are usually pretty boring, but this is not your usual saddle.
I get lower back pain at times. This used to be more frequent but I since shed a lot of junk out of the backpack and also started using an USWE pack which helped a lot since it sits very stable.
The other area of improvement was probably my posture so I put an extra spacer under the stem. And maybe one of these fancy saddles that has built-in flex. It is meant to take pressure off your lower back, and also compensate for if one leg is slightly longer than the other (apparently quite common?).
You can see it is quite oddly shaped; it's high at the back, low at the front, a big scoop missing out of the middle, with a long nose for climbing and bike control with your thighs when the dropper post is all the way down. Choice of 3 different firmness rubber inserts depending how much flex you want.
The shape works bloody well, to take pressure off your man bits, and also stop your spine getting too much stress if your form isn't great.
It is taking a lot of trial and error to get the saddle height, angle, and setback correct. due to it not being like your usual shaped saddle. Just gotta read the instructions and experiment.
Back pain has been helped but I will have a bit more fine tuning as now I have sore knees lol.
6. Fox Proframe helmet
This is part gear review and part JRA story. After doing a great job at protecting my melon every weekend and keeping it very cool over Summer, it likely prevented a very serious injury. I misjudged the wall ride at Mt Buller International track, went OTB and basically lawn darted into the ground, landing on my temple then rolling onto my back. The way I impacted probably made really good use of the MIPS feature.
Walked away with a minor concussion, very sore neck, and a snapped dropper lever. Considered myself very lucky as the helmet split all the way through from the temple up to the crown of my head. Wolf Tooth also designed their dropper lever with a breakaway part which is easily replaced for $10 which was good.
Once I felt a bit better that day the first thing I did was order the same helmet as a replacement. Fully rate this helmet for year-round use, as I never took the chin piece off my Bell 2R and the Fox just feels like so much more protection but ventilates way better.
That's about it for now. Thanks for reading!
1. Did some fork shimstack mods.
Full details here: http://forums.mtbr.com/shocks-suspension/dvo-diamond-936949.html from post #370 onwards.
Very easy to do once you've done it once and you don't even need to fully bleed the damper afterwards if you are careful. Maybe 30mins if you take your time?
The mods can be categorised into two:
1) Flip the piston in the compression shimstack. Lowers the transition point (the knee) from LSC into HSC. This helps reduce spiking as the Low Speed is controlled by a bleed needle, but the High speed is controlled by a shimstack. Good for light riders (say 60-75kg).
2) Remove HSC preload shims . This changes the High Speed compression curve from digressive to linear. Makes it plush and without spiking at top of the travel, which is useful if you aren't riding at mach 5 all the time. Additionally, you can also remove 2 of the end shims which softens the whole curve a little bit as well.
What does this all mean?
The fork in stock configuration I found nice and supportive but for my weight it was spiking on tree roots and rock gardens if not hitting them fast enough. It wasn't as bad as my old Pike RC but it still wasn't ideal for me.
After doing both mods (but without the optional removal of the 2 end shims), now it is plush all the time whether riding moderately or fast, and allows more travel to be used without blowing through too much of it.
Since it is very easy to make the changes you can try one, some, or all 3 of the mods in any combination to see how it suits you.
I used Motorex 2.5W cartridge fork oil, which is widely available at moto shops and one of the oils recommended by DVO.
2. Removed the Huck Norris from rear tyre
I haven't had a pinch flat or rim dent despite hitting some very rough trails in the last 6 months. Also have not burped any air. I was however still running the same rear pressure as previous (26psi) compared to when I didn't have a HN since I want maximum rim and rollover protection.
The velcro strap had came apart. So I recommend either using a zip tie, or do what I did and not run anything at all so that the HN can move around more freely inside the tyre.
Here are some pics of some of the 12 or so areas where impacts had caused the rim to cut right through the HN. Overall very happy and can recommend, but after hearing some first hand reviews of the Cushcore I was keen to give it a shot.
3. Fitted Cushcore to the rear tyre
In terms of fitment I found it quite easy. I left one side of the tyre mounted, fitted the Cushcore and then got the other side of the tyre on using a gentle pry from a lever for the final couple of inches. The ease was rather an anticlimax as I was preparing for a 30 minute long round in a cage fight.
BTW I weighed the Huck Norris at this point and it had increased from 80g to 120g as result of all the sealant absorbed onto/into it.
I am now running 4psi less than with the Huck Norris and not feeling excessive squirm. The first few runs I kept thinking I had a flat tyre because the back felt kinda "dead". After I got used to it, that feeling translated only into very high levels of grip.
It was a case of re-learning what lines I could take and at what speed, as the rear would no longer ping off stuff and bounce me off line. I'd have to say the feeling is like when you first fit a coil shock. I also lowered my front tyre by 2psi as well to even it up a bit (not running any sort of protecftive strip). So front is 20psi, rear is 22psi now, 69kg ready to ride.
Didn't really notice the extra 130g over the Huck Norris to be honest. I imagine if you are riding a very light bike or doing a lot of mileage it might be a different story.
I think both products fill their respective niche well. Choose HN if you want a reasonable amount of protection for the rim and sidewall but with minimal weight and cost. Cushcore if you want to be able to run very low pressures, have a nice damped feel to the tyre, and very high level of rim/tyre protection, but can cope with the extra 120-160g (compared to the HN) and about double the cost.
4. SQ Labs Ergowave Active saddle
Saddle reviews are usually pretty boring, but this is not your usual saddle.
I get lower back pain at times. This used to be more frequent but I since shed a lot of junk out of the backpack and also started using an USWE pack which helped a lot since it sits very stable.
The other area of improvement was probably my posture so I put an extra spacer under the stem. And maybe one of these fancy saddles that has built-in flex. It is meant to take pressure off your lower back, and also compensate for if one leg is slightly longer than the other (apparently quite common?).
You can see it is quite oddly shaped; it's high at the back, low at the front, a big scoop missing out of the middle, with a long nose for climbing and bike control with your thighs when the dropper post is all the way down. Choice of 3 different firmness rubber inserts depending how much flex you want.
The shape works bloody well, to take pressure off your man bits, and also stop your spine getting too much stress if your form isn't great.
It is taking a lot of trial and error to get the saddle height, angle, and setback correct. due to it not being like your usual shaped saddle. Just gotta read the instructions and experiment.
Back pain has been helped but I will have a bit more fine tuning as now I have sore knees lol.
6. Fox Proframe helmet
This is part gear review and part JRA story. After doing a great job at protecting my melon every weekend and keeping it very cool over Summer, it likely prevented a very serious injury. I misjudged the wall ride at Mt Buller International track, went OTB and basically lawn darted into the ground, landing on my temple then rolling onto my back. The way I impacted probably made really good use of the MIPS feature.
Walked away with a minor concussion, very sore neck, and a snapped dropper lever. Considered myself very lucky as the helmet split all the way through from the temple up to the crown of my head. Wolf Tooth also designed their dropper lever with a breakaway part which is easily replaced for $10 which was good.
Once I felt a bit better that day the first thing I did was order the same helmet as a replacement. Fully rate this helmet for year-round use, as I never took the chin piece off my Bell 2R and the Fox just feels like so much more protection but ventilates way better.
That's about it for now. Thanks for reading!
hifiandmtb
Sphincter beanie
Tops update - hope you have healed up ok.
teK--
Eats Squid
That's the thing about concussion, ive had it a few times and the only way I have to gauge it's severity is how loud and long that "ringing" went for compared to the other times.
I'd say this time probably on par with the others.
More scary was the way I landed head first. It was one of those moments where I realise it could have become a spinal injury. That really made me think about how my whole life could have changed in an instant.
Found some various cuts and and bruises later and brain felt a little slow at work on Monday but have since made a full recovery. Cheers mate.
