Carerra Fury - update

SpeedWeasel

As promised in another thread, here is my new Carerra Fury. Yet to turn a wheel in anger but now sporting a homemade chainstay guard and new, white SPDs...

When it came...


With new 'bling' SPDs (£19.95 from Merlin, next day delivery) 8)


Rest of spec as standard (for now!)

Itching to get out into the peaks!

Updates as and when along with first ride impressions...

jpstar

looks great in white mate, you should get some nobby nics would set off the white just perfect.
Hope it rides well

Joe

Andy

Nice work! Loving the white pedals. I reckon a white saddle now would set that off nice!

The Big Cheese

That bike just cannot be beat for the money... really nice. As Ady said a white saddle then shes done

jmillen

I had an '08 Fury and liked that....they've upped their game again, very nice

Flynny2010

That looks stunning in White! Great bike at a great price!

SpeedWeasel

During the first ride...



How typical, the first time I can go out and we have a load of snow. Can't let that put us off though can we?

We set off from Glossop up and then down into Hayfield - i didn't really know the actual routes and I was guided by three vastly more knowledgeable people than myself. Wow, there are some proper hills around here - not like back in and around Leicester! At first, the fact I was riding a Carrera in the company of a Kona Kula, a heavily modified Specialised FSR and a Pace RC405 did make me feel like was riding something not worthy.

So first ride impressions...good, no great! Even though I am an experienced ex-MTBer this bike clearly has much more ability than me at the moment (maybe the snow didn't help there :shock: ).

The bike rides well, the forks are plush and with nothing else to compare to the brakes are great. After reading the review on here I was expecting a less comfortable ride than I got. I have been mulling over some sort of colour coordinated saddle but the standard fit one is easily as comfortable - if not more so - than my old Flite titanium.

Now for the niggles - I did have some shifting issues that at first I put down to cables stretching and settling in. After failing to improve the issue we had the bike over on it's saddle for a closer inspection. It appeared that the cranks had started to work lose! Now, one of the first things I did when I had originally got the bike home from the big 'H' was go over all the nuts and bolts on the bike. However, I couldn't remember checking the cranks. Still, this should not have happened. We also found a stiff link in the chain, but we overcame this issue as well. Luckily no harm was done and soon we were on our way again - although by that time my legs were shot

First impressions then are all positive in the main, pity about the crank as it doesn't do the retailers rep any good. Am I pleased with my purchase? Yes, definitely. Any notions of it being a lowly Carerra wore off after the first fast descent...there were a few approving nods all round.

Thanks to David, John and Will. Can't wait for the next ride.

flybywire

nice bike ..

Would you like these for the colour scheme & riding style ? - http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/i ... CMAWH.html (bargain )

Catfish

"It appeared that the cranks had started to work lose! Now, one of the first things I did when I had originally got the bike home from the big 'H' was go over all the nuts and bolts on the bike. However, I couldn't remember checking the cranks".

Funny you should say that i haad the very same problem with my "Fury", the drive side crank bolt came loose after my first proper ride.

dr.a

That's a great purchase! Although I must confess. . . My chainring crank bolt came loose after the first ride too. Strange

Dr.A

tptvmbircn

I like it, carrera has always had a soft spot on design for me.

Good Stuff

Terry

SpeedWeasel

Some unnecessary upgrades (I blame this forum )

First up, new Kore stem. I have to admit this is functional as I've bought a shorter one in order to quicken up the steering a touch...



Then, completely unnecessary but it was a) a bit of a bargain and b) saves a bit of weight and c) ok I admit it, white 8) :oops:



And here they are on the bike before this mornings ride.



The bike was great again. Did 18ish miles with just over 3000ft of climbing. No more changes for a bit as I really should be buying some new SPD shoes and a few other bits and bobs of cycling clothing...

blister pus

you've done well there with those last two pur-chases. Looks very nice.

tptvmbircn

+1 I was actually going to invest in the white post, got full carbon ones with matching bars in the end though... very nice upgrades

spongtastic

get rid of the chainset as it's a complete nightmare and get a deore 590 instead.

I had the same with the one fitted to my 08 fury, non drive side came off. I fitted 520's as well and the thread stripped whilst out on a ride. The BB wasn't greased either before they'd put it in. It meant I had to clamp the BB and turn the bike to get enough leverage.

Dubzy

I love the look and spec of the Fury - the white stem is a killer, but it's sad to hear that there is a history of teething problems with new Carreras which tarnishes the image and the thought of buying one. I've been looking at hardtails in the £550 to £700 range and naturally have checked one out in Halfords. The bike seems excellent value but cranks and chain problems put the build quality etc in question.

Any tales of problem free Furys?

spongtastic

Although I had problems and many others have with the build I'd still buy one without thinking about it. The spec is amazing and it rides really well. Get it when it's on offer, change the chainset to a deore or slx and you'll have a great bike, just make sure all the bolts are tight and everything is properly adjusted.

They make great donor bikes too, all the parts from mine are now on an Inbred.

specialeyes

Thats a nice looking bike! My last bike was a carerra kraken and i had it for 10 years i think, rode it to death!

What are those forks like on the trail?

scottbowlby

specialeyes wrote:

Thats a nice looking bike! My last bike was a carerra kraken and i had it for 10 years i think, rode it to death!

What are those forks like on the trail?

Haha snap mine was a Carrera Kraken too first had the Blue and Yellow model until that got stolen when i then got the Silver and Blue one, cant remember years of them

Back on topic love your Fury looks really tasteful and clean

SpeedWeasel

specialeyes wrote:

What are those forks like on the trail?

So far so good, but you have to remember that the last set of forks I had were Pace RC35s with about 50mm of travel so obviously I have nothing more modern to compare them with.

It's hard to say if the 15mm axle makes any difference but they do track well with little noticeable flexibility. I'm still messing around with the rebound and given the rocky peak district riding I've been doing these past few weeks I'm glad I've got 120mm of travel.

SpeedWeasel

I bought some Haribo off the internet and look what came free in the jiffy bag...





I'll post pics when they're fitted.

I was gonna go for white grips with red clamps but that would have started a whole avalanche of colour co-ordinating . Plus, I doubt they would have been white for long...

The standard grips are OK but a bit thin - I'll let you know how I get on with these.

The bike is still holding up well and I can feel a big change in my fitness. I've been out on it every Sunday into the peak district since I got it. After a long break I'm loving mountain biking again.

If anyone is considering getting into MTBing or like me is returning to it, you really can't go far wrong with this bike in this price range (especially if you bag the 20% discount like I did )

scottbowlby

Love the white theme going on cant beat a white bike! Carrera's are seriously underrated in my opinion don't know if its because Halfords sell them and they don't have the best rep or what but value for money cant be beaten!

jayson

Thats a really nice clean look u got goin on there, very impressed

piker

Put some pics up with the grips fitted ,i want some.

SpeedWeasel

piker wrote:

Put some pics up with the grips fitted ,i want some.

Sorry it took a while...





and from yesterdays ride...

RockingDad

SpeedWeasel wrote:

specialeyes wrote:

What are those forks like on the trail?

So far so good, but you have to remember that the last set of forks I had were Pace RC35s with about 50mm of travel so obviously I have nothing more modern to compare them with.

It's hard to say if the 15mm axle makes any difference but they do track well with little noticeable flexibility. I'm still messing around with the rebound and given the rocky peak district riding I've been doing these past few weeks I'm glad I've got 120mm of travel.

What pressure are you running them at currently?

SpeedWeasel

RockingDad wrote:

What pressure are you running them at currently?

Sorry it took so long to get back to you.

I run them at about 90psi. This gives me 15% sag without kit and around 20% with full riding kit. I guess this is dependant on rider weight - I'm about 84kg in civvies

SpeedWeasel

It's been a while so I thought I'd post an update.

The Fury is still going strong and continues to take the abuse that I deal out to it in the Peak District. For anyone considering a Fury as their first/next bike I can highly recommend it.

There have been two mechanical problems recently, both of which have been self-inflicted. I managed to severely twist the rear mech hanger. Fortunately my next-door neighbour works for Evans so he took the twisted one in and matched it up with one from their spares drawer. Plus he got staff discount so instead of £15 it cost me £7 - result! I sent him back to get another as a spare

The other involves me losing a spring from the front screw-through axle. Took me ages to actually figure out what was wrong. I took the bike back to Halfords and one of the guys there (clearly their main bike guy) was brilliant and ordered an entire new axle on warranty and had the bike back to me within 24 hours. Top service! I think this outlines the key to using Halfords - you have to be able to identify the one who knows what they're on about. I took the bike in originally during normal work hours. When I picked the bike up it was around 6.30ish and it was clearly part-time staff - I'm not sure any of them could ride a bike let alone fix one

In other news I completely wrecked the Carerra branded saddle. The result of many crashes and possibly due to it being a bit poor quality. I mentioned it to a work colleague (and fellow MTBer) and he said he had a brand new Charge Spoon in brown that I could have for a tenner - nice! I matched it up with some matching Superstar grips and I think the end result looks great - might need a Charge chainstay protector in brown to match.

So here she is with brown bits attached...


Superstar really are a brilliant company to deal with. The grips got lost in the post but they sorted it out fairly and quickly.

Yesterday I went down to Cannock Chase for my first experience of a trail centre. Had an awesome day did Follow the Dog and the Monkey Trail and then some favourite bits again. I loved it, great weather and completely knackered at the end. Have to say though, some of those trails are really suffering in this dry weather.

Here's a couple of post Cannock shots of the bike...




Sorry for the long post, but I always said that after the great help I got on this forum before buying the bike I would try and keep this updated for anyone in the same position of looking to buy a ~£500 MTB to read about the experiences of someone who has already done the same....

ellsbells1973

love the white, i have pimped my fury with white bits as well, inc bars and bash guard and some with grips

Bill-87

I love the whole white thing, I'm actually craving a white bike but will make do with white "bits". Love it! :P

delta5

Catfish wrote:

"It appeared that the cranks had started to work lose! Now, one of the first things I did when I had originally got the bike home from the big 'H' was go over all the nuts and bolts on the bike. However, I couldn't remember checking the cranks".

Funny you should say that i haad the very same problem with my "Fury", the drive side crank bolt came loose after my first proper ride.

Same here . . . :?

But I agree its a great bike for the money. The design and construction of the frame is very good, and the components are really not bad at the price - especially the forks. The problems with the Fury seem to be mainly just poor shop assembly (no surprises there), nothing too serious and mostly easy enough to sort out if you give the bike a good once-over after taking delivery. Then you have a very decent bike that would probably have cost you £700+ from any of the big names. At £500 you can also have lots of fun doing upgrades and pimping it without feeling you should have got it all as standard.

And the white '09 . . . very cool! Hmm . .