what would you upgrade if this was your bike?

andy46

Hi guys

as the title says if this was your bike what would you be looking at changing?

I've had the Spark a couple of years now and i've only really changed a few little things, mainly comfort wise and cosmetic.
I'm interested to hear what people see as 'weak spots' in the spec. I have thought about wheels with red Hope hubs, but then i got thinking forks, XT or SLX cranks, XT front mech, rear shock etc etc

this will give me something to think about so thanks in advance for any replies, here's a link with the bikes spec
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/sco ... e-ec016228

only things i have changed so far-

Selle Italia c2 saddle
red Hope q/r skewers and seat post clamp
Peaty Lizard Skin grips
Continental Race King Supersonic tyres

Heres a pic of it

thanks again for any input

Andy B

Chainset.

sharky1029

Crankset as you said.
Rear shock to a Fox
I'd put SPD's on it too but that is personal I guess.

andy46

Andy B wrote:

Chainset.

any suggestions, i was thinking XT or SLX :?

Andy B

andy46 wrote:

Andy B wrote:

Chainset.

any suggestions, i was thinking XT or SLX :?

Whichever is in your budget from those two

cooldad

What needs replacing?

thel33ter

I'd say either wheels unless the chainrings/bb need replacing, then either fork or rear shock, unless you are happy with both of them, in whick case just wait till one of them dies.

Wheels - Stans Crest or Olympic on Hope
Cranks - SLX or XT as above, or one of the new Sram ones.
Forks - Reba, SID, or a Magura Durin
Rear Shock - Fox RP2/RP23

john74

nothing. until it breaks. Its alot better than mine and i still have fun.

pastey_boy

if it was my bike i would probably keep the seatpost clamp and change everything else.

Monst

Forget upgrades to the bike...it's lovely as it is.

Just replace stuff as it wears.. but be smart... for example...a Deore 2011 chainset is better than a 'Bargain' 2009 XT chainset...it' will be harder and take more abuse.

What I would spend your money on is spd pedals and good shoes...you will be amazed as to the difference!!

Have fun..

nicklouse

cooldad wrote:

What needs replacing?

+1

RevellRider

pastey_boy wrote:

if it was my bike i would probably keep the seatpost clamp and change everything else.

I ditched my Hope seatclamp, it kept slipping. The bolted one I replaced it with weighs less and hasn't slipped once

As for what I'd change, I'd probably upgrade the wheels first. That'll make the biggest change in how the bike feels

ride_whenever

I'd go for wheels first, something like the hope SP3-XC crest wheelset (not available in red) or something handbuilt on red.

Then I'd do the rear shock, but you'll stuggle to find something that fits and takes the lockout, which you need on the sparks.

Then I'd weigh all the finishing kit and replace it with stuff thats light and cheap, probably the exotic carbon stuff which is great VFM and pretty light.

I'd slap on some foam grips and mg-1/superstar nanos (pedals)

Brakes, if you don't like them, then go for some formula ones.


I'd do the groupset as it wear out

andy46

nicklouse wrote:

cooldad wrote:

What needs replacing?

+1

nothing 'needs' replacing really, just looking at ways to improve the bike.

it's my first and only full sus bike and with it not being at the higher end of the Spark range i was just wondering what parts had been put on as a comprise.

cooldad

Sods law says you'll spend your money on bling and then break something else.

Unless you are more capable than the bike (I know I'm not) I vote for blow and hookers.

But welcome to the slippery slope.

wordnumb

I'd remove the plastic thing from the cassette, immediate weight saving. Maybe paint the shed.

nicklouse

andy46 wrote:

nicklouse wrote:

cooldad wrote:

What needs replacing?

+1

nothing 'needs' replacing really, just looking at ways to improve the bike.

it's my first and only full sus bike and with it not being at the higher end of the Spark range i was just wondering what parts had been put on as a comprise.

all I would change before they are worn out are the Hope Qrs.

but back to your bike. run it for this season dont forget the first service as things will need adjusting...

and look to spend next winter. as you could well need new wheels by then.

Anonymous

andy46 wrote:

as the title says if this was your bike what would you be looking at changing? )

What does it matter what we think? It's your bike. Change whatever you feel is lacking in it. If it doesn't feel lacking, leave it alone.

cee

i'd agree with nick...ditch the hope qr's and seatpost clamp and get some decent shimano ones. The hope stuff you put on was an error, done totally on looks.

I like hope products (specifically, brakes and hubs from 5+ years ago! I still have a set of wheels with almost 10 years old bulbs on them, and a set of original minis...all running better than much newer stuff i have removed from other bikes)....but not their cams in the skewers and clamps. they are poo.

if you do the cranks....I'd go slx....can hardly feel any difference between them and xt...diminishing returns....and the BB is exactly the same, however...never underestimate a plain deore external BB....deore front mechs do everything you want as well. no need for XT in these places.

Oh...and I would ditch the conti tyres....I hate 'em, but thats based entirely on the Mountain Kings which felt like they were made of plastic and offered no grip...anywhere.

but hey...you asked for personal opinions right?

dan shard

Id go for SLX. The XT design hasnt changed in a few years whereas the SLX has so probably more advanced than the more expensive XT


Would also change the tyres, but thats just my preference

miss notax

I went for SLX cranks (the rest XT) and i'm very happy with them. They look great, feel very robust and I can't honestly notice anything negative vs the XT cranks that I used to have....

andy46

thanks for all the replies, it seems wheels and chainset would be the most popular changes though i'll probably wait for the chainset to wear out. might as well get my moneys worth out of it

i'd best get researching some wheels then, so many choices.

just out of interest, whats wrong with the hope q/r's and seat clamp? they seem well made and do their job :?

as for the tyres the Race Kings only get used in the dry, when it's wet i have a set of Mountain Kings but these are quite worn now.

cee

andy46 wrote:

just out of interest, whats wrong with the hope q/r's and seat clamp? they seem well made and do their job :?

The cams seem to be of very variable perfromance...some folk use them with no issues, others can't finish a ride without them coming undone....

There is an apparent set of 'golden rules' which some people say means they always work...

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... sc&start=0

One of these golden rules is keep them dry and clean. I don't know about you...but I can't remeber the last ride I had that was either dry, or clean!

But as said in other places...Shimano Deore skewerss just work without any 'golden rules'...and are bombproof.

As for Conti Mountain Kings....I got a set on my Orange Crush last year....after as few as 6 rides....I relegated them to my girlfriends bike and stole the Panaracers that were on that....I could not find a condition where the MK's gave me any trust in their perfromance other than riding on the road...and even then, over cobble in the wet, I had the front wheel wash out on me twice. To be honest, I was lucky to slap a foot down to stop me hitting the deck on one of those occasions.

Speaking to the guys at Orange, they agreed. Ditch the MK's as soon as you get the bike and get some rubber that works, although I have heard different things about the supersonic versions.

cee

oodboo

I'd change the gear cables (inners and outers) and use full length outers. A new set of cables can make a big difference and make the bike feel new again.

beany123

chainset xt all the way.....

NatoED

wheels , brakes (maugras are a good choice) and control points ergo grips are nice.

weescott

The Race King SS are a good choice of tyre. I have the 2" versions on the Blur. The MK SS are great tyres too. Don't change a thing there. But as an alternative try the Schwalbe RR.

I agree with the Hope QR parts. I went for a Halo bolt on skewer for the rear wheel of my Blur. lighter and stiffer.


Chainset: SLX cranks with XT rings. Best of both. :P

Brakes: Formula R1's are very light. Magura's feel good until you need them, then they feel wooden.