'05 Kona Coiler
Comments
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The bike will have its last outing today on the Jnr T's, after which they'll be on their way to their new owner. My 66 RC's are in the post and should have them tomorrow. So, fingers crossed, the first ride out on them will be on Friday.
I'm also going to ditch the large front ring as it's not been used. Also tempted to ditch the small front ring, but going to see if I use it before fighting on with just the 32T ring on the front.
Been doing a bit of window shopping for a new rear wheel and a new chainset, as I feel these are two main 'let downs' of the bike as it stands. Can't stretch to a Hope rear wheel, so thinking XT hub and a Mavic EX325 rim? Works out at approx £71 posted, bargain in my eyes. As for a chainset, thinking of an LX one or maybe the Race Face Ride XC that Merlin have on offer (£60). Think both items would make a bit of difference to the bike for not a great deal of cash. What do you think?0 -
hi mate, check your messages
as for the other bits, get a set of used raceface evolve DH cranks, you can get them used for £50-£60 and they're much beefier and better looking than the ride series and SLX, i have a set and i'd reccommend them.
If you ditch the other rings and front derailleur too you'll need a chain guide, superstar do one for £30 here. I just bought one in view of doing the same thing.0 -
Unbelievably, bash guard arrived today (after being posted yesterday!). This was promptly fitted:
Just need to drop front mech now and adjust mech so it's limited.
Junior T's now removed and ready for the courier to collect tomorrow. Hopefully new forks will arrive tomorrow
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very nice mate0
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Royal Mail are doing me proud at the moment - new forks arrived today
I'm really happy with them. I was impressed with how plush the Jnr T's were, but these are another level. The bike has shed a few grams too. Just need to take them down from 170mm of travel to 150mm, then can cut the steerer to size and the jobs a good one.0 -
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First proper ride completed this morning. Really impressed with it, the new forks have made the bike feel a lot better. Love the 'floating' feeling of a full suspension bike, which still seems to climb ok too. Just need to tweak the suspension settings a bit, but apart from that I'm well impressed 0
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nice looks good, i'd definitely say lower to 150mm, the head angle looks a little slack there and the BB a little high, so with lower forks it should be more stable and handle better at slower speeds. 0
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Just found the diagrams to drop the travel down from 170 to 150mm's. Got next week off work so might give it a go then, just need to pick some oil up before opening them up. Got a problem with adjusting the rebound on them, i.e. I can't. The adjuster doesn't seem to do anything, which is annoying as they are rebounding too quickly. Need to investigate as the previous owner says they were ok when they left him...0
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Hmm, they can stop working, do you know when was the last time they were serviced? If they're due for a service soon, then get that fixed when you send them in. Unfortunately i don't know a whole lot about the inner workings of forks, sorry!0
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No idea about the service, but they'll no doubt be due one. I'll pick up some oil and strip them down and see if I can spot anything obvious. Don't really fancy spending £80 on getting them serviced when I should be able to tackle most bits myself. Plus the forks were only £110.0
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Hopefully should have the oil tomorrow, so the travel on the forks can be reduced by 20mm's. Will hopefully be able to sort my rebound problem out at the same time...
Decided the chain ring guard didn't go with the colour scheme, so it's come back off and been replaced by the original 42t ring. It won't go to waste though as it'll match another bike I'm hoping to build up.
Got a slight knock from what appears to be the larger bearing on the frame. Bearing kits seem reasonably priced on eBay so just got to figure out how to swop them over now. Will also re-paint the frame at the same time. Thinking of a White main triangle and black rear. Then bits of Red anodised bits here and there.0 -
sounds good i'd reccommend getting a chain guide, as i doubt you'll be using the big ring or the granny ring much? superstar do a good one for £30, i just bought one, well worth the money. 0
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Good old CRC, ordered oil on Sunday and it arrived today. Job on!
Following an on-line service guide for the 66's, stripped them down, changed them down to 150mm travel and put new oil in. Also discovered why rebound adjuster wasn't working, adjuster knob wasn't securely tight against the rod inside. All sorted now and the forks rebound a bit slower. Wasn't bad at all to do, £6 well spent (on oil)
Bike now sits a bit lower on the front, which has improved my position on the bike. Just need to get out for a blast now and set the forks up to suit me properly.0 -
looking smart0
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Thanks! I'll get there with it, the project is part of the enjoyment 0
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I'm not bored with being off work, honestly!
Grips and headset spacers changed to black ones, matching the rest of the colour scheme
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that's coming along nicely, looks like it should now with 150mm travel 0
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Little bit more progress. Got a set of Crank Bros pedals cheap off CRC, which worked out only a few £ more than putting bearings in my old pedals. They also came with Blue inserts, which was a bonus. Also got a new riser bar for a mere £12 from CRC. This bar is 110g lighter than the old bar, so not bad for the money.
Just need to fit a new stem, then I can cut the steerer tube down to size. Next upgrade...who knows?!0 -
Finally ditched the old stem and fitted a 70mm stem from my Dad's Rockhopper. The bars seem to sit a bit better now. Just need to put a ride in on it and if it works then I'll buy a stem of the same dimensions and cut the steerer tube down a tad. Back wheel will be next after that, might have one sorted in the next month or so.
Will post some pics up from Whinlatter tomorrow 0 -
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Whinlatter is still partially closed due to snow thawing, but managed to get a couple of loops in of the Blue route (which was suprisingly impressive).
Found the bike to do the job really well. Could have done with a bit more air in the rear shock - or the forks a bit softer. Apart from that it was brilliant
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i'm jealous that you live so close to whinlatter
seriously
as an aside, putting more air in the rear shock won't change the spring rate, you have to actually change the coil.0 -
It's good living near the Lake District, so much mountain biking to be had only 30 minutes away. It's easy to get bored of Whinlatter. As good as it can be, I still prefer the 7Stanes. Whinlatter is good for a quick hour blast on some man-made stuff.
I've had more air in the rear shock and it helps with the pro-pedal. It wasn't so much that the back end was too soft (for having 6" of travel), just that it was bobbing a bit. However, I think if I had the fork a little softer, then the it might balance out the rear shock better.
It's a greta bike though, I'm really happy with it
Going to start building a Saracen frame I have in to a SS rigid bike. Means I might be able to bike to work without some little scroat trying to steal it!0 -
how much sag are you getting? you should be aiming for 20% or so0
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Well, the bearings definitely need changed now. So I think it'll be getting stripped down after today's ride out. I'll swop everything I can back to the Mantra frame I have. Going to do the Whinlatter Challenge in March, and not too sure whether to use the Coiler or run the Mantra with rigid forks. Think riding full rigid might be more entertaining? Was tempted to SS it too, but might just go 1x9 for Whinlatter.0
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It's still going strong! Just replaced the front hub bearings on the Bulb as it was feeling a bit rough. £5 from ebay for some bearings, 10 mins to fit - job done. Really got used to riding a longish travel full suss bike now. Glad i bought it now, it's brilliant.
Quick pic from a ride out on Sunday:
Bit short of cash at the moment, but still looking to replace a few bits on the bike: Rear wheel, saddle, chainset and r.mech and shifters.0 -
Well, time for a change I think. The frame, forks and front wheel will be up for sale shortly. The other parts will be transferred back on to my hardtail frame until June when I hope to purchase a 2010 Kona One 20 Deluxe 0
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Nice bike. I was very tempted to get one in 2006, but ended up getting a 2004 Dee-Lux instead. They are one of the most versatile bikes I know.0
