My Top Fuel 9.9, updated and now under 20lbs
Comments
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Top thing I'm expecting to break is freehub body! The reports aren't favourable, but they're light, and cheap, so I was prepared to take a punt! Everything else should be alright, nothing on there's particularly flimsy (for my riding anyway!), it's not going to see drops/jumps of more than a couple of feet!0
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It's the rocks locally to me that destroy bits. Particularly wheels if you descend with speed.
But you would hope that anything sold for the MTB industry is reasonaly tough
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I'd have no qualms doing the Cwmcarn DH course on it (except maybe the road gap!), my skill would be the limiting factor!
Most kit's not that fragile really. I've got some Hope Hoops on Crests for when I'm not racing, probably put some fatter tyres on those, be a great trail bike then!0 -
Gorgeous !0
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I have the same bike but 2009 kitted out and I have hammered it down Cwmcarn several times, awsome bike.. beutifully fast and a nice climber.0
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jealous much
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I have to say I am a bit skeptical on that weight. My Hardtail XTR Cove Hummer weighs only slightly less than that and thats a Titanium hardtail. I would check your scales because 20lbs for that bike seems unlikely, maybe with carbon rims but. . .
Then again I have a friend with a Santa Cruz Blur Carbon and kitted it out with super components (cost him $15,000) and he got it down to 18.5lbs (Carbon rims, etc).
Sooooo . . . possible but unlikely.“Don’t buy upgrades, ride up grades.”
Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod Mk.2
Specialized S-Works Enduro 29
Santa Cruz Blur TRc
Santa Cruz Tallboy
Omega Alchemy0 -
DT Carbon rims weigh c330g, those Podiums weigh 291g and 293g. unless you're talking tubs or Innolites carbon rims aren't lighter.
Without seeing your Cove I doubt it's lighter, and I'd check your scales. Your frame is 4lbs, mine is 4.25, add the seatpost and that's reduced, so where are you saving the weight over mine? :-)
Like I said, it's going to be at lots of events this year, you're welcome to come and have a look, but I'm extremely confident in the weight because I'm an arrogant so and so like that :-)0 -
Personally I couldn't give a toss about the weight, I think it looks great :shock: 0
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Thank you good sir! It's certainly very quick!0
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Looks very nice indeed Mr Njee
Not sold on the seat tube design, but maybe only as it is different from the norm.
I'm a world away from racing fitness at the mo (by about 4 stone... oops) , but I can appreciate the difference a set of strong light wheels makes.
I've got Pro2/Stans 355 on mine and they feel quick and light compared to all the bikes in the house, but to go even lighter must feel awesome.
Instant acceleration-nous a plenty.0 -
Yeah I was surprised by the difference it made. My Hope Hoops are 1585g, and the podiums are 1246g, it really changes how the bike rides, I was surprised how well the Podiums handle too, thought they'd feel really flexy.
Like I say I can see the merit in the seat mast design on a bike like this, it certainly saves weight. Wouldn't want it on a trail bike though, as you do compromise versatility.0 -
Nice to meet you today Nick
I can confirm that this bike is chuffin lovely! Nicks a top bloke too! The homemade chainguide doesn't look too bad in real life either!
How did you get on? I got an absolute stormer of a start, having been gridded 3rd last! That was about the highlight really-just went backwards from then on! I wasn't last but not too far off! Really enjoyed it though 0 -
Good to meet you too Tom, I'll try and be more chatty next time, always nervous before a race, particularly the first one of the year!
I finished 24th in the end, bit disappointed, but it was good fun! Did you enjoy yourself?0 -
njee20 wrote:Good to meet you too Tom, I'll try and be more chatty next time, always nervous before a race, particularly the first one of the year!
I finished 24th in the end, bit disappointed, but it was good fun! Did you enjoy yourself?
24th sounds like a very good effort in a very competitive category Nick!....I loved it yeah more training required though :shock:
Thought you were pretty chatty tbh!0 -
That's good then, obviously masked my nerves haha! Be nice to have some hills in the next round, hopefully go better then! May see you at some of the Midlands races later in the year.0
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Man that thing is lovely, and crazy light!
Wish I had a bike like that for general trail use, although not too sure of strength with that seattube. Could imagine a few serious knocks and it would snap!0 -
I think there were some problems with the seat masts cracking on the very first ones, but I've not heard any first hand reports, they've been doing it for 3 years now after all.
You certainly don't feel any give it it at all, should be plenty tough enough!
Incidentally, I fitted a Furious Fred to the back for racing on Sunday, which brought it down below 20.2lbs with a couple of other little changes. Also got my carbon chain guide now, which looks a lot less Heath Robinson and should weigh less!0 -
Looks like a solid fast ride. 8) Thought it would be lighter. Love the XTR crank but its ashamed that they don't do BB30. Also why the green bolts.? Any plans to change more of the components?Vodka anyone? "Honk"
Santa Cruz Nomad Carbon
Cannondale Hooligan 9
Cannondale Flash Ultimate 2010
Cannondale Scalpel Factory Team 2010
Cannondale Scalpel Factory Team 20090 -
Had the green bolts kicking about, and liked the theory, the fact they're harder to come by and don't really go means I'll change them when I get round to it!
Got the new chain guide now, need a few more alu bolts, and want new pedals. Can't decide between some old Ti Egg Beaters, some new 3s with ti axles, or just going the whole hog to 11s! Probably not gonna change much else. Was thinking of an XX cassette, prob get an X10SL chain when I get around to replacing the XTR one, maybe some ceramic bearings in the hubs and BB. Otherwise I'll see what breaks, my money's on the freehub first!
Re the weight I blame my scales, they seem to add at least a pound to everyones 'predicted' weights!0 -
njee, thats pretty awesome, one of the best looking XC bikes I have seen for a long time, would love to hit some twisty singletrack on that, looks like a bloody rocket!!! :shock: 8)0
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Cheers man, it's certainly better than me haha! Bring yours up to the Surrey Hills and you're welcome to a spin!0
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Stunning looking bike, although as others have said, not too sure about the seat tube design. As to the weight, I'd say your scales were reasonably accurate. My NRS isn't far off that weight and I'm running 3 rings, front mech & shifter.
Out of interest, who made your custom chain ring?0 -
Well got around to taking some new pictures today after cleaning it! Wanted to get sub 20lbs with proper tyres (Furious Freds would get it down below 19.5, but as they're only useful in a few places it doesn't seem fair!).
A few bits have changed, and a few more still to change!
Slightly less bodged chain guide now, using a small piece of carbon rather than the rack stays I was using before! Want to make a full guide out of carbon with some alu hardware, just not got around to it yet! I did have a proto one which mounted on the BB protector, but it just wasn't stiff enough, just pedalling out of the saddle on rough terrain was enough to drop the chain, I've never lost it on mine, even if it's a few grammes heavier.
Still a few steel bolts to replace in the mech and the rear brake, got some aluminium rotor bolts on order too. Thinking of replacing the lockout cable with I-links, not bothered to have a look at how it's connected at the fork end. I never really use it, would actually swap with a crown mounted lockout lever, but I don't think it's an easy swap like RS forks.
The Mt Zoom bars seem really nice, only a very slight rise, but a good shape and really light. Ditto their ti bottle cage, doesn't scuff bottles as much and weighs less than the Bontrager Race X Lite Carbon it replaced.
Absolutely love the XTR brakes, they're just fantastic, great power and amazing feel, can't recommend them highly enough.
The wheels have held up to racing so far, in fact I'm really really impressed with them. The poor sealing in the hubs means there's very very little rolling resistance, less than any other hubs I've seen. They also feel no flexier in use than my Hope Hoops I use for playing around on. In fact I prefer the weigh the bike feels with the Podiums, very 'sprightly'.
The only bit I'm not particularly happy with is the KCNC skewer on the back, despite being specifically designed for Trek ABP bikes it's too long - there's not enough thread to use the neat captive nut, so you have to run it all the way through and use the supplied end nut with loads of thread hanging out. I'm in 2 minds about cutting a few extra threads and then cutting the end off - anyone tried it on a ti skewer?
The bike rides fantastically, I've had a lot of top end race bikes, and this is the best one. Just a shame about me really, can't seem to get out of middle of Expert mediocrity to give it the thrashing it deserves! It'll be at Mayhem with my scales, so anyone who's dubious is more than welcome to come and have a heft and weigh your bike on the same scales!Out of interest, who made your custom chain ring?
Apologies for the late reply El Cap, it was Mattias Helore, highly recommended. I did have a chainring bolt snap as I sprinted out of a junction and the ring got quite bent, a large adjustable sorted it thankfully, and it seems to be wearing very well.
More images here0 -
I would be interested to find out how you get on if you change to a fork mounted lockout as i would like to remove my bar lockout lever on my fox forks.
Also i have bought some XTR brakes on the back of your recommendation!0 -
Yeah I've not even spoken to Mojo yet - like I say though, not sure it'll be that straight forward.
Good shout on the XTR brakes, really love mine, just been faultless! Days and nights better than the XX's.0 -
Everyone I know who's tried the XTRs are absolutely blown away with them.0
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i bet thats very fast, but i just think those frames look silly. i rode a fuel 9.9 -i think- and did enjoy it, but im not fully function really and i really dont like how those ones look. dont even mind the paint job too much0
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Certainly the seat mast divides opinion, as evidenced by comments here! I can't say it bothers me, definitely saves weight.
The paint on this one is a sort of satin finish, presumably to save weight, and it scuffs really really easily, my one complaint really.Everyone I know who's tried the XTRs are absolutely blown away with them.
It'll be interesting to see if they make the new XTs as good, if so that'll be the 'workhorse' brake I reckon!0 -
To be fair, the XT brakes were great anyway, but I see where you're coming from.0
