Carrera Hardtail thread - owners pictures and spec's

shigllgetcha

Kowalski675 wrote:

I've just bought the same forks and done the same 120mm conversion - dead easy job. My scales say mine are 10g lighter than yours though, you must've put a few fingerprints on yours, lol. .

Haha I actually had to cut an extra few mms off the steerer so maybe that was the extra 10g

Kowalski675 wrote:

I haven't fitted mine yet, but even without the improved damping, dropping a kilo of weight from your forks must give a really noticeable difference. I'll be changing the OE tyres and tubes too , so should lose about another 40g unsprung weight there too. .

Do you mean 400g? I changed mine and dropped 500g per wheel

Hopefully my new brakes will come by friday so I can take the bike out for a quick run saturday, im not into this night time cycling

Kowalski675

Mine's 10g lighter with uncut steerer than your scales arte saying though - wipe the fingerprints off

Yes, I did mean 400g, not 40g (typo) - I'm not a weight weenie type.

Northwind

That's a stunner uptheswa- I've still got my kraken frame hanging from the garage roof, how much work was it to "raw" it?

The Rookie

Th silver frames (2006 and I'm not sure if it was 2005 or 2007, they used it for 2 years though) use a flexible plastic type coating and are a real beatch to get fully cleaned, the later painted ones (Blue then red) are much much easier to do.

Northwind

Cool, mine is an 09 I think. Thinking of selling my Soda and bringing the Kraken back into service, there's just something really nice about a bike that idiots assume will be rubbish

danchandler

So this is my updated fury, fresh brake disks and pads, DMR moto digger tyres, onza shindig 2 flat pedals, 60mm x 7' stem, tryall yourself replica trials bars, because I'm used to a trials bike and prefer the upsweep of trials bars. I know I'll probably get some stick for the brakes, but I prefer the power from a bigger rotor and sintered pads. For avids, they don't feel too bad, seem to have a nice solid feel without being pumped up. I recently treated it to a new shimano deore cassette and chain, and a new power spline bb until funds allow me to upgrade to deore thru axle cranks and bb. It rides amazingly well, I don't come home with aching wrists or a bad back, and the forks feel so plush and smooth in their action. I have the rebound adjuster in 1 turn form minimum, and they feel spot on. The DMR tyres roll really well, and have a decent amount of grip to be honest, until it gets really claggy. Overall riding it is an enjoyable experience

Kowalski675

The Rookie wrote:

Th silver frames (2006 and I'm not sure if it was 2005 or 2007, they used it for 2 years though) use a flexible plastic type coating and are a real beatch to get fully cleaned, the later painted ones (Blue then red) are much much easier to do.

In 2007 the Kraken was silver. IIRC the Vulcan was blue, but I couldn't swear to it.

The Rookie

The Vulcan was red after the silver, blue came later! But yes I always get a little confused on the exact change over years.

Kowalski675

I remember there being a red Vulcan in the shop when I bought my silver 07 Kraken, but can't remember if it was the discontinued 07 model or the new 08 (I bought mine dirt cheap as the 08 models had just hit the shops). I remember the 08 Kraken was black.

shigllgetcha

My new brakes are on, M615s. Alot stronger than the clarks and seem to be less on/off






I was hoping to get out today but the weather is really crappy and I feel like ive the cold, couch for me

SmellTheGlove

Hi one and all,
apologies for no picture first up; however I'm aiming to refurb my old Vulcan a little for my 10-y-o daughter, basically to convert to a single ring chainset and rigid fork and possibly tune out a couple of gears on the 8spd at the back. I'm looking for a single chainring around the 32t mark; has anyone out there attempted such a thing (and preferably survived)..?
Thanks all round. The Vulc has been short of love for too long, and I promise to set up some snaps when it's remotely presentable.
Cheers

Northwind

I run one of my bikes single 32T, I was about to say it might be too high for a kid's bike but then I remembered I rode everywhere on a BMX with a chainring the size of a pizza- different uses isn't it.

I've got a couple of spare rings actually if you want to give it a go...

The Rookie

Easiest way is to just lock the front mech off over the middle ring with the limit screws and then remove the front shifter and cable.

To go further you need to see if the rings are bolted on or rivetted, if it's the latter you need a new crankset with removeable rings, you could go single ring and no bash, but for a child a bash to protect legs and trousers from the chain/ring is a good idea, you'll still need a chain guide but again the front mech can do that.

Use the limit screws on the rear mech to limit cage travel if you want to tune gears out, but personally I wouldn't bother.

For a 10 year old a 32T may be a bit much on 26" wheels, maybe consider a 28T for the inner location. (A BMX has tiny wheels so needs a bigger ring!)

cavalierkev

hi this is my Carrera Vulcan its pretty much standard at the moment,however I would like to start upgrading a few things mainly the brakes has anybody got any advice on a decent set that doesn't cost the earth.

SmellTheGlove

Thanks Rookie and Northwind. On the chainring front, I was in my mind copying the Islabikes Beinn setup which has a 32. Well she's quite a hearty lass is Glove Junior but maybe the 32 will be a bit much given it's a bigger frame and all that. On plus side she'll have a nice pair of Salsa forks so no Suntour to lug about.
Cut her some slack for once..! And of course the tinkering is part of the fun.

The Rookie

Only you can tell if the 32 is too big or not, just lock the mech off on the stop to start with and see perhaps!

mathematics

This is my kraken. Think it's a 2004/5 frame can anyone confirm. The parts on it are for a Vulcan I'm refurbing for my wife, but while I'm prepping and painting that I built the kraken for use!!

The Rookie

The paint scheme is certainly older than 2006, although under the paint I think the frame is the same I believe, looks well looked after.

mathematics

Frame is in good nick everything else I had so put on it. Once the Vulcan is painted these parts will be making their way there as I upgrade the bits for the kraken.

1st up is a new headset, rock shox recon fork, and deore 615 brakes.

Corners R Us

What headset bearings do I need for my 2009 Vulcan? Standard 1 1/8 caged bearings top and bottom (haven't extracted them yet)? I think I recall them being different to standard caged bearings, more slimmer? They've gone a bit graunchy after regular winter use and cleaning. Best place to buy decent quality bearing set? Chain Reaction don't seem to list anything other than roller bearings or FSA Pig......



Cheers Corners

mathematics

I've just recieved a zero stack headset from superstar for my kraken - fitting tomorrow so I'll let you know if it fits.

Think kraken and Vulcan are same frame, I'm sure someone can 100% confirm

Chris

mathematics

Sorry corners just realised you only want bearings not a whole new headset - apologies

Corners R Us

No probs. I'm being a bit lazy and trying to identify what bearings I need before I disassemble the headset. Zero stack is my search term I presume......

Corners

mathematics

The superstar ones are enclosed. But the ones I have now are caged

Corners R Us

If I recall correctly they're a plastic cage with a funny bearing in them not round ball bearings. A trip to my LBS with the offending items in hand might be the best idea.....after tomorrows trailblazing!!

Corners

Corners R Us

Think these are what I'm after:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TWO-1-1-8-FSA-F ... 1188719743

Now to find a UK seller!!

Corners

mathematics

Corners R Us wrote:

Think these are what I'm after:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TWO-1-1-8-FSA-F ... 1188719743

Now to find a UK seller!!

Corners

Ah nothing like my original set. Happy hunting

Corners R Us

But I could be wrong! It been 12-months since I built this bike from a frame up. If it wasn't so cold in my garage and crammed full with 2012 Toyota Avensis front end parts (another project!!) I'd go have a look now....a post ride job for tomorrow in the sun hopefully!!

Corners

Northwind

Personally, I'd suggest just replacing the headset with a higher quality item, rather than feeding the cheap OEM one more parts.

Corners R Us

Its an option but its only my winter hack so I'm reasonably happy throwing bearings and bb's in it every winter and saving my nice bike for better weather and nice components......