Some of those old timeless questions

jhoyle

Right, i have a DMR sidekick frame that i cannot discern the age of. Currently i have a pair of cheap wheels on it, deore V-brakes, acera drivetrain, DMR chainset, and an RST Omega fork.

I am trying to decide whether it is worth fixing the many problems with the bike, the parts listed above all require replacing (disc brakes instead of V-brakes being the only change), or whether it would be better just breaking it and selling for spares then buying new.

If i were to keep it, i have a few dilemmas.

1. Is it worth going for 120mm fork travel for mostly XC riding?
2. Is it worth going for QR15 rather than 9mm?
3. Is it worth having a double or triple chainring up front? (have always had just the 8 gears)
4. Is it worth having remote lockout?
5. Is the frame even worth the metal it's made from nowadays?

any replies may resolve my confusedness slightly.

Cheers, Jamie

tom_howard

1. Is it worth going for 120mm fork travel for mostly XC riding? Yeah, as the quality of forks has come on a fair bit over the last 10 years if the frame will take it (wasnt the sidekick DMRs trials offering? thus have way steep angles?)
2. Is it worth going for QR15 rather than 9mm? if you're replacing the fork and front wheel anyway, sure why not?
3. Is it worth having a double or triple chainring up front? (have always had just the 8 gears) are you running out of gears? if not then keep as you are, youll save weight over a double or triple.
4. Is it worth having remote lockout? personally id say no if you have to pay much extra for it (i have lockdown on my shivers (not remote though) and i do use it, but i dont think id miss it)
5. Is the frame even worth the metal it's made from nowadays? depends on condition/age etc but probably not tbh

As for whether to 'do up' or buy new, kinda depends on your budget?

1mancity2

With what your looking at replacing and the amount it would cost you, I bet you could buy a new bike for the same money.

bluechair84

The sidekick isn't really a trail bike, but better for dirt jumps or trials (hoping off bus shelters). A lad I know used to ride DJs and trials on a sidekick and it is his favourite of all time for that kind of riding. I had the Trailstar which is trail orientated and was fantastic.
If you're looking at 120mm forks with lockout and triple chainsets, you might be better off with a frame designed for them. Sounds like you aren't going to be attempting tailwhips over a six pack :P

jhoyle

thanks for the replys. i usually ride jumps at home but i'm moving to uni and don't know of any good jumps there, so i figured it'd be easier to go more XC and find small wooded areas to run around in.

although that being said the last tailwhip i attempted ended fairly disasterously resulting in the dent in my wheel so maybe i should just give up on that and stick to road cycling :P

bluechair84

hell no, tailwhips are awesome no matter how they turn out! Only revert to road bike if you promise to tailwhip it from time to time.

jhoyle

not so awesome if you need a new rear wheel every time though gives me an excuse to upgrade to disc brakes though