Specialized Enduro Expert Build

christurbo

I thought that I would document and post a thread on my bike build.

I have a Spec XC FSR Expert 2009 and I am transferring all bits and bobs over to my Specialized Enduro Expert frame.

Why? I LOVE the Enduro frame eventhough it may look a bit retro. The shock is in top condition holding onto the air and lockout working good. Frame bearings are also tight.

Here she is, I just fitted the Spesh Enduro Mud Guard to look after the shock.

Ray gun!



Fox Float



Itch Switch



It weighs 2.8kg but for some reason I couldnt balance it right.



They are both medium however as you can see the geometry is much shorter on the Enduro.





I started work on the XC but came stuck on the cranks, do NOT buy a SuperB handle style - I got sent it by mistake and it bent straight away at the handle>extractor joint. I ordered a heavy duty spanner/socket style tool now [BBB].

Poo:



Stuck crank! soaking in WD40 until tool arrives.





Dont mind the stains - its my training room/workshop so a lot of water and oil gets spilled!



Next = cranks, BB, Headset, and cabling.

christurbo

All hail the Enduro 2004:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngtwf8qfF2c

8)

christurbo

I spent a whole day building the Enduro today. It was very testing! [Im a newbie] I can build cars but bikes are surprisingly difficult.

Right this is pic heavy!

Crank bolts removed with a decent tool:









Crank removed - BB exposed:









The BB non drive was easy to remove, but the drive side was seized.







A bit of persuading still didnt work, I had to get it on a vice and use the frame to leaver it off



BB finally removed! It looks like Specialized use threadlock and NO lube! Doh!!!!



Headset removed

christurbo

Closer!







I installed some protection in the form of Carbon Fibre 3M Weave Vinyl, protects from cable rub, stone chips, etc, and looks good! It is textured like bare carbon weave.





















Controls installed



Some cables routed





Brake callipers installed



Rear derailleur installed



Front mech installed



More cabling!



Chain on and configuring the dreaded gears - I HATE THIS JOB!!!!!!!











Some sneaky pics of it just finished! I will post some decent pics up tomorrow.

MountainMonster

Oh my goodness that is turning out lovely, loving the detailed carbon on there!

What you doing with the FSR XC?

christurbo

Thanks. It's going to be up for sale, however it is so beautiful my heart strings are saying Keep It!

christurbo

Finished setting it up. I have set the geometry to 70.5 degrees which is a high BB and aggressive stance [aimed at freeride]. I have also set the Fox float to 132 psi after adjusting for sag.

She is all lubed up ready for the first ride. I need to install my old flats which are a bit bashed, however I might order some new ones up. Suggestions?


Anyone notice an obvious mistake in this pic? [I was tired!]

christurbo

All finished, I finished tweaking the gears, set the sag, and gave it a little test [and jump but thats for another thread!]. I am very pleased with it, especially the flip flop linkage. Once my injury has recovered I will be hitting the dog to test it.

Spec sheet:

Frame:A1 Premium Aluminum TransForm Monocoque FSR frame, ORE technology DT, sealed cartridge bearings, ITch Switch 100/130mm on-the-fly adjustable travel, replaceable derailleur hanger.
Shock:Fox Float RL with ProPedal damping, air spring and rebound adjust, compression lockout, travel adjust ITch Switch, 7.625" x 2.0"
Fork:RockShox Recon 335 SL, 120mm travel, 32mm alloy stanchions, Alloy steerer, Disc only, Turn Key damper, Rebound adjust with LO, Air spring
Front Derailleur:Shimano Deore, 34.9mm clamp, Top swing, Bottom pull
Rear Derailleur:Shimano RD-M772 Deore XT Shadow, Long cage
Shifters:Shimano SL-M531 Deore, Trigger
Chainset:Shimano FC-M521, Hollowtech, Octalink spline, Replaceable rings with alloy outer, 170mm
Chainrings:Shimano 22/32/44 Tooth Chainrings
Bottom Bracket:Shimano BB-ES25, Octalink spline, 68mm x 121mm
Cassette:Shimano HG-50, 9-speed, 11-34 Tooth Range
Chain:KMC X9, 9-speed with reusable Missing Link
Pedals:DMC V8
Front Brake:Avid Juicy 4 RSL Hydraulic Disc Brake, Alloy backed organic brake pads, Tool-less reach adjust, Cleansweep rotor: 203mm rotor
Rear Brake:Avid Juicy 4 RSL Hydraulic Disc Brake, Alloy backed organic brake pads, Tool-less reach adjust, Cleansweep rotor:185mm rotor
Brake Levers:Avid Juicy 4RSL Hydraulic
Handlebars:Specialized XC low rise, butted alloy, 640mm wide, 8 degree up, 8 degree backsweep
Stem:Specialized 3D forged adjustable rise, 31.8mm clamp, 3D forged 105mmHeadset:1-1/8 inch Threadless, Loose ball bearings with seals, Black steel cups
Grips:Specialized thin lock on grip
Rims:DT Swiss 445D, disc, 24mm, Double wall, Pin joint, Eyelets, 32 hole
Front Hub:Specialized Hi Lo disc, CNC flange, QR, 32 hole
Rear Hub:Specialized disc, Sealed cartridge bearing, High/low flange with OS contact side, 32 holeSpokes:1.8mm (15g) stainless, Black, Alloy nipples
Front Tyre:Specialized Pro Chunder, 26x2.2 inch, 60 TPI, wire bead
Rear Tyre:Specialized The Captain Sport, 26x2.0 inch, 60 TPI, wire beadTubes:Specialized Ultralight 26x2.0 inch, Presta
Saddle:Specialized MTB, 7mm cromo rails, 143m
Seatpost:Specialized 6061 alloy, Black, 30.9x350/400mm, Setback head, 2-bolt micro adjustSeat Binder:Alloy collar with QR, 34.9mm clamp ID

Anonymous

fantastic looking bike, im very jealous!

MountainMonster

Lookin real nice.

Hope you heal up from your mishap soon enough, so you can go bring us some nice dirty pictures of her.

christurbo

Will do, my plan was to take her over the chase for some dog action on Wednesday because I have the morning off - looks unlikely now though! Poor thing is begging for some action!

thecremeegg

I have the S-works version of this frame and I love it Needs new decals though, do Specialized still sell them?

joshtp

Thats lovely mate! what travel are the forks though? it sounds quite steep.....

thecremeegg

joshtp wrote:

Thats lovely mate! what travel are the forks though? it sounds quite steep.....

Says on the spec list that they're 120mm which is what I think it came with originally

christurbo

Original was 110-130, mine are 120.

You can change the geometry by swapping the ich switch around.

Specialized don't sell decals due to fraud.

joshtp

ah, shouldn't be too bad then.... looks like a really lush bike mate! enjoy it!

thecremeegg

What's the ich switch?

christurbo

Thanks Josh.

The itch switch is a linkage that when is swapped around changes the geometry of the bike, i.e. for more of a freeride bike [like I have it] or more of an XC bike.

You can see it connecting the seat stay to the shock [with writing on it].

christurbo

My injury is healing fast so I decided to take the Enduro out for its first ride. I had to stop 10 mins in because the front mech caught on the middle ring, 5 mins later and it was perfect.


I got a decent pace on but couldnt spice things up due to my poorly leg. Its a very nice ride though, and I cannot wait until I get to test it on the dog.

EarlofBarnet

Looks really nice that. I've just bought an older style enduro frame in the same style as yours. Quite looking forward to building it up.

christurbo

Thanks - you wont regret it.


So.. Today I hit the dog - first time since my injury and and since building the Enduro.

I am in love...

The Enduro is simply amazing. The freeride geometry that I have set it to suits my trails on the chase brilliantly. It felt very stable, yet agile, and I found it easier to launch it off drops because the weight distribution is better suited to my style.

The gears are now like butter after me setting it up on the blue route on Wednesday. Saddle is in a perfect position so that it slips between the legs when I am performing drops such as the Werewolf.

A cannot be more happy with it - the FOX shock is in great condition, it must have been recently serviced. After the winter I will give it a DIY service using the Fox service kit.

I am not happy with my rear tyre though. I have Spesh Pro Chunder 2.2s on the front which grip like no-ones business however the std Spesh lightweight Captain Sports 2.0 are awful on wet/damp pebbly trails sending the back end out a handful of times on the twisty sections.

I have therefore ordered some Spesh Clutch SX 2.3s. They are rated very highly sharing properties from the Maxxis Hi Rollers. I will but the Chunders on the rear and the Clutch on the front.

Here is a nice review from Pinbike:

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/specialize ... -2010.html





I have also sorted out pedals, I am either getting Superstar Nanos or Kona Wah Wahs.

SDK2007

I run Clutch tyres for DH stuff and did all of the 7Stanes trails in Scotland last year on them. Expect them to be draggy and probably slight over kill for the chase.

langster

I have also just bought the same frame and and doing up a build, will put my final results here soon.

christurbo

SDK thanks for the feedback - I gathered that would be the case, fitness will be a true test on them then!

Langster - good luck, the front mech is a pain to get perfectly aligned unless you have a very long one.

Anonymous

christurbo wrote:

unless you have a very long one.

oh Hai!!

christurbo

I have finally got the Clutches fitted to the front and the Chunders fitted to the rear - it looks like a monster bike. I will certainly be testing my fitness as I am sure they will drag!!!

The Clutches are very sticky and I am sure that they will never let go, I will have to wait until the weekend to test.

I also got the Kona Wah Wahs fitted - aweome pedal. Very thin at 17mm fullest, and they do not spin so no slippage injuries. Very light to boot.

I made a boo boo though, after refitting the rear wheel I noticed my caliper was rubbing, so I recalibrated it by adjusting the bolts. I even took the caliper off for a clean. When I refitted the mounting bolts I torqued one too tight and the head pinged off! Ooops. £1.99 from CRC and I should have some new ones tomorrow.


Clutch vs The Captain:









Kona Vs DMR V8

kagefisk

Man, that clutch tyre look beefy.

christurbo

It is! I had a quick run on it today and it is very sticky, not good on tarmac - good job I dont ride on the stuff!

Here she is today with fat rubber and Kona Wah Wahs on:

christurbo

I did the dog today in very wet and very muddy conditions, and the new tyre combo rocked! They stuck to the ground on all terrain and at various speeds [I pushed it] giving me confidence in certain sections that I held back before due to it giving away.

I was also surprised at the lack of drag, It climbed no problems. I noticed no real difference in rolling on the rough stuff and that was at 35psi.

On a different note it looks like I need a new chain as it got very noisy when muddy. I think that due to it being loose over time the silt gets in making it noisy. Might need a new cassette to go with it. I also need some new pads!

Some more pics of it muddy and cleaned up

christurbo

I tested the new rubber on the Monkey trail today. My first time!

I started behind some seasoned MTBers and decided to join their pack, even though they knew it well and enjoyed big air on some of the downhills! There was 2 x Orange fives and another 2004 Enduro S-Works!

This trail is a monster. your do FTD until halfway around then depart onto the Monkey which has very steep and technical climbs with switchbacks, and two big downhill sections with some hairy sections.

Then you join FTD where you left it and finish on it.

I am a fit lad and it took its toll on me, mainly because I didn't fuel myself properly for the trail [thinking that it was a smaller extended section of FTD.

The Enduro was awesome. :twisted:

SDK2007

How have you been riding @ Cannock without checkiing out the full trail for this long !!!

I use FtD and Monkey as training for my XC Races - Midlands XC and Nationals.
Usually I do two non stop laps; my current best time is 2hrs 41mins : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/37543679