BB height - Is it too high?

Jpez

Jpez

Down on the left!
A good exercise which I used to learn manuals( all right I can’t manual) is to do the butt buzz. Take your bike out into the street and hang back until your but just buzzes the wheel.
You’ll be surprised just how far back you can actually get on your bike. It’s also a good foundation for manuals , bunny hops etc.
Whenever I went OTB usually In Rock gardens was because I didn’t commit to my line, late braked, lost my momentum, and the fork dived in a rock hole and over I went.
Keeping the speed up, keeping weight back but still balanced in the bike and staying off those bloody brakes was the best thing for me.
 
M

madstace

Likes Dirt
I hate to be that guy but after trying to make an 08 Reign something it wasn't, I was resigned to the fact it was never going to be the best handling bike. Not sure how the 05 models were specced as standard but the 08 came with a 140mm QR which I swapped out for a 160mm 20mm TA. This helped the bike track properly through the rough and could be quite the bomber, but it also made an already average handling bike that much worse. I never enjoyed cornering on it and it always felt like an OTB could (and did) happen on steeper stuff. Yes there was also the element of a lack of talent, but that's beside the point!

It was only once I'd bought my SB66 that it dawned on me that the geo on the Reign just never fit its intent. What was scary on the Giant is just downright fun on the Yeti, and cornering is brilliant. The other issue was the tuning of the rear shock. With a 3:1 compression ratio, you had to get the pressure spot on else it was either a dog to pedal or way too stiff to be effective. So to answer your question, N+1!
 
Cyclomaniac

Cyclomaniac

Likes Dirt
I hope you are right madstace, I look forward to the day when I buy a new bike and suddenly become a slightly better rider. I know exactly what you mean about the rear shock. I bought a new shock and had to get it retuned and put in the biggest volume spacer I could fit in (old 4x4 body lift kit block shaped using a drill in a vice as a lathe). Works well now.
pink poodle and Jpez, I have been working on getting my ass back to the rear wheel, it helps a lot but it's not my butt that gets buzzed by the Kenda :confused:
Also I am realising that I am not holding my position on the bike. I rode down some steep steps the other day and found by the bottom I had been jolted forward, could explain a lot.
And Ultra Lord, my 6 year old daughter asked me what a dick butt was the other day! I had no explanation, I just laughed.
 
Flow-Rider

Flow-Rider

Burner
Have a look at these Pro riders from the EWS descend, they get right back and their arms work like extra springs. The trails are a lot steeper than what the video portrays also.


 
pink poodle

pink poodle

気が狂っている男
Wear some underwear. This will reduce the incidence of your balls and cock slapping on the rear tyre.
 
Ultra Lord

Ultra Lord

Hurts. Requires Money. And is nerdy.
be honest, did you come here looking for enablers?

I’m actually surprised with the amount of “ride more, its not the bike” posts.

Buying a new bike is deffinately going to be a good thing, and it’ll help motivate you to ride more so it’s a win-win!

have you looked at transition mate? They have some ace promo vids, and I can vouch for their bikes making you 34% more rad. Sell some organs, it’s worth it
 
Cyclomaniac

Cyclomaniac

Likes Dirt
Ha, so true.

Honestly though, no enablers needed. It's just a matter of time before an upgrade. After reading the above posts I will probably hold on to the Reign a bit longer and then make a bigger upgrade later. I do like the bike for most of my riding and I don't think I have any more organs to sell.
 
Cyclomaniac

Cyclomaniac

Likes Dirt
Well it's been over five months since I last went otb. I have taken the above comments on board and have learnt much so I will answer my own question in the hope of helping out others in the same boat.

It turns out that it was mostly me, not the bike. I rode more and worked on keeping my weight back and holding it back when things got rough. I also started to maintain momentum more to just mash through and make the suspension work for me. I joined strava and discovered how pathetically slow my riding was. So I started to push myself more and realised the bike loved being thrown down hill. So did I and soon had a few koms on the local fire trails. Take that you young kids! Anyway stepping things up helped a lot.

Then I picked up a Process 153 for a good price. The lower BB height helped but biggest difference was the sizing. The Reign was a medium and the Process is a large. It just fits better and the longer reach gives more room to shift body weight. At high speed they are much the same, the Process climbs a bit better but at low speed techy stuff the Process is much better. Having the bars and front wheel further out in front of you could be just psychological but it helps. The another difference is how they jump. The Process pops off everything and the Reign liked to stay glued to the ground. It was worth the upgrade for that alone. The Reign was good but the newer bike suits my height and riding style better.
So thanks again for all the advice.
 
pink poodle

pink poodle

気が狂っている男
You come here like this and don't go e us any porn? I'm so hurt right now...


Good outcome man. Keep pushing it. Get us some pics of the bike in the air! It makes life easier.


What happened to the reign?
 
Ultra Lord

Ultra Lord

Hurts. Requires Money. And is nerdy.
Yeah it’s WAAAAAY too moist for work :rolleyes:

I love those process’s. Such great no nonsense bikes. Great upgrade from the reign!
 
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