Carrera Kraken *Update Page 5

Greer_

Sounds good! Would love to see a few more well built up carreras! I'd still love mine to be a bit lighter but I'm not sure where to start - bars/stem/seatpost probably so I'm on the eye out for bargains, a tubeless kit is now on order too how have you managed such a big weight difference compared to mine?! I believe your forks are around 1300g but its still a fair difference!

The Rookie

All in the detail!
Post Christmas I'll have an XTR rear mech with ally Jockey wheels, STi right hand shifter (1x9) all XT brakes, bars and stem can be a good saving, I have a Superstar stem and Syntace duraflyte bars which probably together weigh less than the standard bars.
I have all the components off my bike weighed (helps when you've built it up to the last nut and bolt) and so know exactly what a new part has to weigh to be a saving! We're allways playing with bikes at home, so any parts that may be lighter get checked....just bought a 2006 Vulcan which had an aftermarket seatpost clamp 3g lighter than the GT one I had on there and that was 4g lighter than the one I built it with!

Greer_

Haha wow :shock: I'm a bit of a weight weenie but not for 3 or 4 grams!

The Rookie

Running 1x9 means I can replace the under BB cable guide with a single specific, they are about 4g lighter as well ;-), It's not like a went and bought it, it was there, I weighed it, it fits, sorted!

paulneenan76

Cocked the link up. Hopefully this works.

The Carrera thread would be good with one post a piece. No idea on weight of mine though.

The Rookie

Carrera thread started, please add yours!

Just spotted the weight of your shifters Greer....OUCH, my X7/Rocket combo was 256g for the pair!

Greer_

Will do! Yeah it does seem quite heavy ... i'll have another check at some point. Was just about to order a new X9 shifter off evans until the discount code stopped working. Raging! I really want to get this dispute on ebay over some X7 shifters sorted though so I can get my moneys back.

The Rookie

My Son has the latest X9 on his RC-20 (see second link in my sig) 115g each.....My commuter uses an X0 twister - 87g! (and cheaper new than triggers!).

Greer_

Maybe a new shifter will save some weight then! I was never a fan of twist shifts, I far prefer triggers, but I have seen them very cheap compared to triggers.

The Rookie

I use the twist shift on my commuter as it declutters the bar and is lighter, I'm not 100% convinced for MTB use, although some of the WC XC riders use them and Doddy has them on his bike in MBUK (cut down so he can run full length grips!)

Greer_

Well I had my first night ride last night .... scary stuff! And I wasn't even brave enough to try any trails, stayed on the towpath! The light is rather bright though, had to slow down to a crawl and tilt my head so I didn't blind anyone when passing.

How bright is too bright for use on paths/roads etc?!

jfry94

Nice wheel's how are your's holding up. I can decide between the crest or the flow for next month's upgrade. getting some rockshox sid's this month.

paulneenan76

Greer_ wrote:

Well I had my first night ride last night .... scary stuff! And I wasn't even brave enough to try any trails, stayed on the towpath! The light is rather bright though, had to slow down to a crawl and tilt my head so I didn't blind anyone when passing.

How bright is too bright for use on paths/roads etc?!

I do one night ride a week - you've go to get on the trails, it's such a rewarding ride with familiar trails becoming completely unknown, wildlife popping out everywhere and farmers escorting you off their land it really helps your skills and you find yourself attempting stuff which you might not in daylight!

I tend to run two lights, fairly powerful at 1200 lumens, but not like floods at a football stadium, and I'd say that when you're on a main road, turn it down so that you can be seen but not annoy the driver/s. then turn it back up on the trails. Still get flashed every now and again though but not often.

Greer_

I'm very pleased! The quicker acceleration is a feeling I'm still getting used too! The crests should be bombproof enough for XC/trail riding. It's more about build quality than components!

Lovely upgrade - part of me wishes I'd waited and saved up more for Rebas/Sids but too late now! I'll probably sell these on at some point and get a pair!

Greer_

paulneenan76 wrote:

I do one night ride a week - you've go to get on the trails, it's such a rewarding ride with familiar trails becoming completely unknown, wildlife popping out everywhere and farmers escorting you off their land it really helps your skills and you find yourself attempting stuff which you might not in daylight!

I tend to run two lights, fairly powerful at 1200 lumens, but not like floods at a football stadium, and I'd say that when you're on a main road, turn it down so that you can be seen but not annoy the driver/s. then turn it back up on the trails. Still get flashed every now and again though but not often.

Its more the yobs around here I worry about! I had a few incidents on the road with silly chavs running over swearing etc, its just lucky I can go faster! But I'll try and get out in a group sometime soon so I can actually enjoy it!

I don't fancy blinding the drivers, but at the same time, I really like knowing they've seen me! Bit of a predicament! It's useful for blinding said chavs though!

jfry94

After a year out its finaly time to get riding again so alot of upgrade's will be happening. i will post in the carrera thread when i get time.

Greer_

What else do you have planned? Wheels and forks are the important bits!

jfry94

everything... the frame is the only thing that will be from halfords by the time im finished, but even theen i plan to move the parts onto a new frame.

jfry94

i plan on changing everything to a combination of xt and x0-xx

paulneenan76

jfry94 wrote:

i plan on changing everything to a combination of xt and x0-xx

Unless you're going for used parts or super sale prices, your plan is going to be a very expensive one. Still, it's your money and a very nice non-problem to have - a no expense spared Carrera upgrade - I like it

What's the current spec of your bike as it stands? Some of it could be worth keeping unless its FUBAR'd.

Greer_

paulneenan76 wrote:

Some of it could be worth keeping unless its FUBAR'd.

Or sold on!

jfry94

im sorry for hijacking your thread a little greer, after a minimum of 7.5k miles in 2 years and only 1 replacement part everything is worn out, (main reason ive been out for a year having no money to replace it i didnt want to wreck it, that and finaly having money i built a £1.2k gaming pc.) I have only one bill to pay to my mum per month (10% of that months earnings) and as much overtime as i can do at work money isnt realy an issue. i also cba to save for 4-5 months and buy a brand new bike. i would rather see something progress each month, the main plan is to build a dh bike using an orange frame. once the carrera is finished the frame will be swapped out to something like a on one whippet.... wish me luck.

Greer_

I'd far prefer to build a bike! More fun and satisfaction! I'm considering an on-one whippet too at some point, but as I'm at uni, money is an issue!

jfry94

Im at college 3 days a week so most of the time i work the other 4 in primark.

what are you studying at uni i do carpentry and joinery at college?

Greer_

There aren't many jobs going round here ... I missed out at the start of term But i'm doing Chemistry with Forensics. I'm enjoying it bar the silly engineering module I have to do this year.

The Rookie

I'm at work - money is still an issue!

Jfry, feel free to post your bike in the combined Carrera Thread Greer and I both link to.

Greer_

This arrived, and is now fitted!



It was a doddle to fit, and went up no problems with a track pump! The hardest bit was putting on the tape (and I can confirm that the 25mm tape does fit the 21mm rim, gives a much better seal IMO).

I found a loose spoke, which I then tightened up, but I'm not best pleased with the build. There also seems to be a bit of knocking in the hub, but I'm not sure if its just the QR adaptor that's loose .... :? Reckon its worth an email to SS? I don't want to have to send the wheels back now after all this :evil:

I have some X9 shifters on the way to me. I'm on the look out for cheap yet light finishing kit if anyone sees anything! (And if anyone is after a set of X5 or X7 shifters, PM me!)

Greer_

Well the wheels are now being sent back to superstar this weekend. I noticed one loose spoke .... then two .... then a trip to the LBS today told me the wheels were falling apart on me. What a ball ache! :evil: Means I'll be without a bike for another week, and also I'll be out of pocket as I'll have to buy more sealant etc :evil: Here's to hoping they come back okay.

mrmonkfinger

Greer_ wrote:

Well the wheels are now being sent back to superstar this weekend. I noticed one loose spoke .... then two .... then a trip to the LBS today told me the wheels were falling apart on me. What a ball ache! :evil: Means I'll be without a bike for another week, and also I'll be out of pocket as I'll have to buy more sealant etc :evil: Here's to hoping they come back okay.

nightmare, sounds like you've been landed with a friday afternoon build

I've normally found most of the sealant can be saved if you're taking the tyres off.

Greer_

mrmonkfinger wrote:

nightmare, sounds like you've been landed with a friday afternoon build

I've normally found most of the sealant can be saved if you're taking the tyres off.

I was hoping that would be the case! Cheers!