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muggygunner
muggygunner Posts: 29
edited January 2008 in MTB workshop & tech
Having been persuaded to stay with my specialized epic by you guys i need some advice as i need to updat a few things........My bike is the 2004 and has fox float 80 rl's , can i upgrade to something with 1oo mm travel without ruing the geometry of the bike too much? also the cranks and chainrings have seen better days can anyone suggest the best replacments for them?

Comments

  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    You can change the forks to 100mm no worries - just nothing larger.

    Decent deals on 07 XT kit (the M97) series which I have always found to be reliable.

    The new CT is gorgeous and a little more pricey.

    Check out merlin or CRC for cheap drivetrain.

    How much were you thinking of spending on each?

    CRC are doing this:

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=1838

    Which is great (I have one) totally fluid set and IMHO looks better than the 07 (although the rings aren't as good)

    :wink:
  • muggygunner
    muggygunner Posts: 29
    What is the new CT? Erm dont really know on what to spend have just heard odd things about buying the wrong crankset for the bottom bracket position etc etc ???? thats why i posted. Plus i am thinking shifters and rear deraliuer??? your thoughts ?
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    Actually for the 08' xt drivetrain wiggle with the -10% (if they are still doing it) are the cheapest on all apart from the crankset, which is £1 more than merlin.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    Sorry - I meant the new XT (2008) :wink:
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    I'd just buy a set of xt parts from wiggle, real easy, but fitting might be an issue...
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • muggygunner
    muggygunner Posts: 29
    i had a try on some s ram recently and liked them and i understand the shifters are really good value compared to the xt but can i run them with shimano drivetrain?
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    Nope you can't, and they aren't good value, they are more expensive than their equivalent shimano parts. However some people prefer them, they are easier to set up and more mud tolerant. But, both systems work well and you'll use whatever you have so it's a case of swings and roundabouts really.

    As a rule of thumb sram and shimano are not compatible, barring front mechs (both work with both so use shimano!) and the sram attack and rocket shifters work with shimano mechs.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • muggygunner
    muggygunner Posts: 29
    So basically your saying stick to shimano?! i have always had shimano and they are reliable and as you say compatible but why did you say about xt chainset being tricky to fit???
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    I'm saying that it doesn't really matter, if you're used to shimano might as well stick to it. Plus it is cheaper...

    Well it is a piece of piss really, but you'll probably need to get the bb shell faced at your lbs and you'll need a hollowtech II tool, i like the ones that combine the bearing tightener (technical i know) and the preload adjuster. Much harder to loose the preload adjuster which is a sneaky little bu**er
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • muggygunner
    muggygunner Posts: 29
    Oh its all too technical for me i need someone to show me how to do everything in the mean time i have to use my lbs , i think im just going to go for xtr throughout obviously bit by biy as not enough cash......plus i want to upgrade those forks thats gonna be expensive .......is it all worth it??!!!
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    XTR is excellent kit BUT is fiddly and requires (in some cases) a lot of constant fettling to keep it running smoothly.

    Unless you have a top of the range lightweight racebike I really don't see any point in getting it as it ends up costing a lot and sometimes more than the frames worth

    The 'old' XTR (2003) can be picked up quite cheaply and those cranks that I provided a linky for are great but not totally necessary considering you can get an M760 XT set for about £70 now which is a great chainset (but the rings do wear quickly if not looked after)

    For general trail riding in UK conditions I don't think you can beat XT (and lots of people will agree with that) or even slightly cheaper (but slightly stiffer) is LX which is always good.
  • muggygunner
    muggygunner Posts: 29
    Yeah i see what your saying and the price is important to me , i have an xt rapid rise rear and it brilliant all the time . what about the shifters?
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    I would go for full 2008 XT if you can afford it:

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=20699

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=20701

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=20684

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=20679

    The older XT isn't that much cheaper after doing some research.

    If this is too much I would go for LX which should only cost you about <£140 for the lot

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