Can I make my bike into this type of bike? And other stuff

benji258

Hi guys, just recieved my Giant Yukon FX3 yesterday and its really good, I have a couple queries though (first of many! )

1. Can I make into this http://www.tredzblog.co.uk/2008/08/giant-yukon-fx3.html able to do this http://www.vimeo.com/groups/14312/videos/4207784 ? Perhaps not quite as extreme but I hope you get the jist of it.

2. I took my bike on a ride yesterday for the first time and there was some sort of squeeking when I was going slowly from the centre of the bike, is this just teething problems or should I have a look at it? I have no technical no-how but am learning!

3. I seriously also think the chain is too long! It's quite slack and even rubs against the chain guard, and slips off if I go into the lowest gear on the front gear wheel 'thing' if I'm not careful. Is it a good idea to try and take a few links out? What impact does this have?

4. Finally, and for peace of mind more than anything sicne it's bought already... does anyone else have this bike? What are their experiences with it for simple jaunts but also longer and harsher trips. Would just like to hear opinions from felow budget bikers.

edit

5. Could I also compete wit this kind of bike in competitions, DH looks fun but I'd like a bit of XC too as well. Thanks guys, any input really appreciated.

Cheers,
Ben

geordiefreerider

My brother bought an FX1 a few weeks ago, there very much an XC oriented bike and I wouldnt be attempting anything too extreme but 2-3 foot drop offs should be ok.

Anyhoo, he's very happy with it as it's his first proper bike he doesnt know any better but me being his mechanic it's my prerogative to be able to ride it after i've worked on it and I like it - sort of - the ride is nice it pedals well but I didnt like the stem and bars they felt cheap and slow speed control was terrible with the long stem so I would change those first but thats my personal preference.

I'm not certain what spec yours came with but his has shimano discs which were ok and tora 302 forks which again felt a bit lifeless but that could be coz there not worn in properly.

But im nit picking, he only paid £578 it was meant to retail at just under a grand - all in all a fairly decent ride and I was impressed with the rear suspension set up using giants own brand shock, like I say with a few small upgrades over the giant own brand bars/stem etc it will do the business.

2 - check all the bolts in the suspension linkage sometimes there not done up properly on there first build, otheriws it could just need "wearing in" if its new.
3 - take it to the bike shop if your having to ask this in the first place then no offence but you will be better off with a pro behind the job mate.

Raymondavalon

1 - No, Danny McAskill uses a DJ or Dirt Jump bike, you have an entry level FS or Full Suspension bike, also he's an insanely brilliant rider. Are you?

2 - Get in for a service, when a bike is new all the parts are bedding in, most bike shops will tension everything up at no costs after you've owned/ridden it after a few weeks

3 - Chain guard? leave the chain as it is, Giant determined the chain length and that should not be changed/altered or modified

4 - The Yukon offers a lot of bike for the money, a good friend of mine was looking at one and it offers good bang for buck.
The Yukon is an ideal starting point XC bike, the specification is good and in time you can fit hydraulic brakes and improved components like bars, rims, seatpost etc. to suit you

5 - it would be ideal for XC and some mild DH, but one thing it is not is a Downhill bike.

Enjoy it!

geordiefreerider

Also make sure the frame is protected where all the cables rub as the paint finish is a little on the thin side and they scuff/scratch easily so if you want to keep it looking new then fit some pads.

RealMan

1 - No, Danny McAskill uses a DJ or Dirt Jump bike, you have an entry level FS or Full Suspension bike, also he's an insanely brilliant rider. Are you?

Agreed, but you could still attempt it. Make sure your mates are filming.

benji258

benji258 wrote:

Perhaps not quite as extreme but I hope you get the jist of it.

Ok guys thanks for the advice, pretty helpful. So my bike can't be tinkered with to have the single gear and front/back pedal kind of motion? Ah well, thats not the main reason I bought it anyway.

@Geordie - Thanks, good advice mate. Not sure which part the stem actually is yet (lol) but I've already been checking out some different handlebars, I'd like a bit of raise in them.

geordiefreerider

the stem is the bit that joins your handlebars to the forks mate they can come in different lengths to adjust your reach to the bars and come in different rises so you can adjust your bar height that way as well, yeah now you mention it my brothers came with almost flat bars on, I bought this stem for 20 quid coz mine was too long i was leaning too far forward whiich gave me a bad back on long rides http://www.raceface.com/components/stems/22/ and this bar http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Race-Face-Ride-Al ... dZViewItem - these are just examples there both fairly cheap but decent items you could have them both for 40 quid, if your gonna be attempting any drop offs it would pay to buy stronger bars and stem !

benji258

Just finished working my way through the manual, answered a lot of techinical queries lol...

Geordie thats extremely helpful as I am 6"4' and also find this. Spent enough cash for now but next pay I think I'll look into a shorter stem and some handlebars with more rise in them.

Is there anyway to fiddle with the gears so that I only have the 1 gear and can pedal backwards and forwards? Still not 100% sure if this is possible, but it'd be ncie to know even if I don't do such things.

Thanks

geordiefreerider

Yeah you can, a lot of the "kids " these days seem to do it, it involves a bit of effort and cost and I personally dont see the point, we used to call those bikes bmx's

I think your trying to run before you can walk, dont take this the wrong way, what I mean is get out on your new bike, ride it and enjoy it.

You wont know what upgrades or changes you want/need until you have spent a bit of time on the bike and see how it rides over various terrain

benji258

Think your right, cheers.

Northwind

BTW, when he pedals backwards he's not actually "pedalling", he's just spinning backwards so that the bike will roll backwards under its own steam- there's no drive but if his feet stop, the bike will too.

Fridge-Seal

Also Benji258 you may be referring to a "fixie" bike, which has a special type of fixed hub, and that will allow you to go singlespeed + pedal backwards...BUT...be warned unlike other bikes, with a fixed rear wheel if the bike is going forwards or backwards, and you stop pedalling, then the cranks and pedals will keep going around, not a great thing on a mountain bike, especially if your in a techincal bit adn you really don't want to keep samshing your pedals into the rocks/roots/ground in general

But have fun whatever you do!