08 Commencal 5.5 build

strak

Hi there,
Im looking to build up an 08 5.5, hoping for some feedback on myu proposed spec...
Will be mainly 4 Lake District all day rides (rocky & muddy) & some Alps singletrack so gnarly and lots of climbing, with some hooning mixed in 3/4 ft drops etc

So really im wanting AM performance but to keep it a decent climber and sub 30lb
Can you cast opinion of this spec im thinking:

PIKE 454 U turn maxle (4 UK), maybe Lyrics/36 for Alps duty
XT cranks hollowtech BB and front mech, (raceface poor seals 4 uk?)
E13 DRS (probably)
SRAM X9 shifter and rear mech
RP23
thomson X4 stem (~not sure stem length 70/90?) and post
EA70/ Atlas bar 27inch. CNT should i trust carbon4 crashes?
321s on Hope2s - any better alternatives as strong & light - EX5.1 etc?
185 juicy 7s

Opinions appreciated

Splasher

I've just built a very similar bike and here's what I would do:

I'd go for a Pike dual air. There's no need for U-turn if the fork is going on a bike adjusted for the geometry and the dual air is lighter and better performing.

I'd go for the ProII wheels but I'd lace them into XM819s. I'm nearly 100kg and I haven't even put a wobble in mine. Then I'd fit tubeless tyres with Stans sealant- Ignitor 2.35 LUSTs for the UK and Minion UST 2.5s for the Alps.

I'd fit a standard 3 ring set-up and I'd go with a Shimano Shadow medium cage mech to keep the chain under control.

My bike came up at 30.2lbs with a large frame and Fox 36s, you should be able to get below 29lbs with that spec!

dave_s

Nice spec but why do you need an E13 DRS for AM riding ?
What's wrong with a triple or double with a bashguard ?

Not sure about carbon bars but EA70s are very light and strong and judging by the rest of the build there's little point in gramme shaving on the bars if you're doing a few drops.

stevebrock

Think you should probably go for a coil fork over an air fork! Someone i know went to the Alps this year and a lot of people were losing air out of there forks on the downhills, my mate's coil fork/air rear shock was flawless.

The Pike Coil U-turn is a great fork, when climbing turn the fork down to 95mm and it climbs like a HT. Bombproof as well!

ride_whenever

EA70 are bombproof, but so are the easton CNT downhill bars, so it is just a matter of cost really. I'd mirror the 819 as well, get them built up by merlin or stiff for a really strong pair, my 719 from merlin were totally indestructible.

strak

cheers guys,
Im not sure about going PIKE coil - more difficulty in adjusting preload.. but ive heard the stories on leaking chmabers losing travel - has this been resolved on newer models??

I was thinking DRS as im always losing the chain on rocky Lakes descents on my stumpy - id only use it Alps though i think with uplift assistance! A bashring doesnt help chain stay on does it!?

819s? ill have to research my latest plan is EX721 on Pro2s for AM security - only 20g more than 321s

Worth going axle rear over QR? comes with 10mm droput option on frame, but not seen many 10mm axles about hmm

strak

Is the U turn just a dual air model with the extra travel adjust or is it a different setup - when you save imprive performance is that just through less weoight or differnt chambers setup to the U turn??
cheers

stevebrock

strak wrote:

Is the U turn just a dual air model with the extra travel adjust or is it a different setup - when you save imprive performance is that just through less weoight or differnt chambers setup to the U turn??
cheers

I was referring to the Coil U Turn.

If you can afford Lyrics then go for them!