Carrera Hardtail thread - owners pictures and spec's

mathematics

RideOnTime wrote:

mathematics wrote:

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!!

like that...

Thank you. New (to me) forks on now

poah

got new wheels which took a bit of weight off - 22.78lb



forks - RST F1RST air 24
Brakes - avid elixir 3 160mm rotors
Crank - Thorn 150mm + RF NW 30t
Pedals - DH sport direct from china
Chain - KMC X10 93
cassette - XT 10sp
Rmech - SLX shadow + medium
shifter - zee 10sp
Wheels - superstar switch evo (rebadged Novatec D881SB front and D882SB) laced to Alex ACE 20 rims with sapim race DB spokes. titanium QRs
tyres - schwalbe rocker ron set up tubeless
saddle/seatpost - SDG bel air & Kore T-Rail post
bar - eXotic Scandium Riser Handlebar 620mm
stem - standard
grips - uberbike lockons

felix.london

Good stuff! How old's the lad?

The Rookie

Nice, now he needs to take care of it!

poah

felix.london wrote:

Good stuff! How old's the lad?

9

Bsjkc11

Hi new to mtb and not had a bike for over 20 years. I've had my carrera Vulcan approx 6 weeks. Must say I'm loving my new hobby and getting fit in the process. Would appreciate any advice on mods I could make to the bike, to get the most out of it. I'm mainly riding xc through Sherwood pines forest red and blue tracks. Would upload a pic if I could work out how to.

buddy_club

Tyres were the first thing I changed when I bought mine, the stock ones are pretty hefty tbh, and also long on grips, Planet X/on one do some cheap grips if your on a budget - lock-ons make a big difference to when riding in the wet. You might like a shorter stem and wider bars at some point, but it's up to you good to hear your enjoying the new bike

Bsjkc11

Thanks for your input. Grips I am definitely changing ASAP. I'm also looking for some better pedals. Will new tyres make much of a difference. Also not sure what a shorter stem and wide bars will give me. As for the budget I'd rather get decent spec and build it slow than buy cheap. Any more input will be gratefully received. I'm a total novice and willing to take advice

AndyPatio

Bsjkc11 wrote:

Hi new to mtb and not had a bike for over 20 years. I've had my carrera Vulcan approx 6 weeks. Must say I'm loving my new hobby and getting fit in the process. Would appreciate any advice on mods I could make to the bike, to get the most out of it. I'm mainly riding xc through Sherwood pines forest red and blue tracks. Would upload a pic if I could work out how to.

I got the Vulcan roughly 6-7 weeks ago and I absolutely love it as well. Really good bike, I just find the seat a bit uncomfortable after 10+ miles.

Bsjkc11

I'm the same with my seat. I am currently looking for a more comfortable seat that's also light. Reading all the other posts I get the idea of making the bike lighter. But as it stands I love the bike.

mattrixdesign2

Have a look at the Charge Spoon seats, comfy, cheap, light weight!

3 of my 4 bikes have Charge seats, dead comfy.

The Rookie

2 of my 4 are on Spoons, you'll save about 100g on a stock Carrera perch (Spoon with Cro-Mo rales), I find it a lot nicer, although the stock Carrera one isn't bad.

mattrixdesign2

I have Spoon with Cromo rails, one with Ti rails and the other is actually a Charge Scoop(?) like the Spoon, but with a kind of solid plastic base, more flexible and a bit lighter I think. Good for mud as it can easily be hosed down. All of them are good.

Monty85

My Krachen. Total standard as far as I know. Bought it a few years ago second hand, but only started using it. Anyone know how I can find out its age? Sure I can see a date on the rear mech of 2005, but don't know if it's original or not! Look forward to future upgrades!

dirkpitt74

Picked up my Carrera Fury earlier this evening.
Took it out for a few miles shakedown over the Chase.







Really nice to ride - seems streets ahead of my Saracen.
No major mods planned - toe clips and reflectors removed.
Might change the pedals for something a bit more grippy.


Update 25-07-2014
Been around the bike with the spanners and alan keys today.
Nipped everything up and tightened the head set which had developed a couple of mm play.


Update 10-08-2014
New Exotic pedals fitted today:


Update 07-12-2014
Enduroguard fitted to save cleaning crud out of the steerer and my fork seals:


QR seat clamp fitted for various reasons;


Big shiney cage bolts replaced with low profile nylon versions which look less obtrusive:



Update: 22-01-2015

Current weight is 13.4kg
Couple of mods planned:
760mm NukeProof bars
Carbon seat post
Superstar grips

Update: 16-06-2015


Old seat post


Carbon seat post


Mavic Crossride wheel set

Current weight is 12.9kg
Boardman Carbon seat post fitted (no weight saving lol!)
Mavic Crossride wheel set fitted
New Shimano brake discs fitted
Nukeproof 720mm bars fitted

Still to fit:
KS eTen remote dropper post

The Rookie

Monty85 wrote:

Bought it a few years ago second hand, but only started using it. Anyone know how I can find out its age?

Can't see the photo through the Co firewall, but the year is the third digit (first number) of the frame number (found under the bottom bracket).

Monty85

The Rookie wrote:

Monty85 wrote:

Bought it a few years ago second hand, but only started using it. Anyone know how I can find out its age?

Can't see the photo through the Co firewall, but the year is the third digit (first number) of the frame number (found under the bottom bracket).

Thanks, looks like I was right it is a 2005. First upgrade purchased today, quick release seat post clamp! Lol

The Rookie

That's not a 2005, that's the new frame style with the brace to the seat tube, came in from about 2010, they must have changed the numbering from my 2006 bikes!

Monty85

The Rookie wrote:

That's not a 2005, that's the new frame style with the brace to the seat tube, came in from about 2010, they must have changed the numbering from my 2006 bikes!

Your looking at the wrong pics mate! ;-)

The Rookie

Oops, yes, that is indeed and 05 or 06 from the powder coating, same as mine was before it was stripped (link in sig).

jamieblackford

Here's my 2014 Kraken I purchased a few weeks ago. Only recently got into mountain biking and didn't want anything too expensive. Overall I'm really pleased with the bike. Will be looking to upgrade a few parts when things start to fail but for now it's stock. Visited Cannock Chase for the first time last weekend and rode it around the dog trail and it performed very well, although since I'm new I have nothing to compare it to.

Monty85

The Rookie wrote:

Oops, yes, that is indeed and 05 or 06 from the powder coating, same as mine was before it was stripped (link in sig).

Any advice on upgrades? Not wanting to go nuts as looking to replace it in the spring time. Thinking the brakes could do with some work!

jamieblackford wrote:

Here's my 2014 Kraken I purchased a few weeks ago. Only recently got into mountain biking and didn't want anything too expensive. Overall I'm really pleased with the bike. Will be looking to upgrade a few parts when things start to fail but for now it's stock. Visited Cannock Chase for the first time last weekend and rode it around the dog trail and it performed very well, although since I'm new I have nothing to compare it to.

My little brother just picked his one like this up today, looking forward to getting a shot! Looks braw!

The Rookie

Monty85 wrote:

The Rookie wrote:

Oops, yes, that is indeed and 05 or 06 from the powder coating, same as mine was before it was stripped (link in sig).

Any advice on upgrades? Not wanting to go nuts as looking to replace it in the spring time. Thinking the brakes could do with some work!

Fix what needs fixing first, after that, and bearing in mind you may be changing your bike, I'd look at a good set of wheels or better forks that you can then swap onto your new bike as an instant upgrade.

Old brakes don't have to be bad, I have 2006 brakes on mine (OK they are Shimano XT), in fact my daughter also has the same age/model brakes and the Sons are even older (2004 Deores) all work just as well as modern brakes and have been just as reliable.

Monty85

How do I find out the max fork travel that the frame can handle?
Also excuse the noob terminology, but where the forks attach to the frame ( headset??? ) are they all a standard size?

asdfhjkl

Headsets come in a variety of styles and standards. Your 05 Kraken will take a "semi-integrated"/"zero stack" headset designed for a straight (untapered) steerer. There's a guide here for measuring and finding what headset you need: http://www.canecreek.com/headset-fit-finder. I have a Carrera frame from a similar era and I bought Superstar's "Integrato" headset. Headsets have different heights, so if you're not changing the fork make sure your new headset isn't going to be too big for your steerer (unless you have spacers to remove).

paul.skibum

DirkPitt74 wrote:

Picked up my Carrera Fury earlier this evening.
Took it out for a few miles shakedown over the Chase.

You might want to consider moving the controls in a bit on the bars - with your hands on the grips your index finger (all you need for braking) should fall on the end of the brake lever - with them pushed up against the grips like that you aren't able to hold the brakes effectively and efficiently. I'd probably angle them down a little more too but its trickier to tell from those pics. Just a thought.

Same for jamieblackford based on his pic.

The Rookie

Monty85 wrote:

How do I find out the max fork travel that the frame can handle?
Also excuse the noob terminology, but where the forks attach to the frame ( headset??? ) are they all a standard size?

Max travel for that frame is 120mm

paul.skibum

The Rookie wrote:

Monty85 wrote:

How do I find out the max fork travel that the frame can handle?
Also excuse the noob terminology, but where the forks attach to the frame ( headset??? ) are they all a standard size?

Max travel for that frame is 120mm

And to answer the second question, not all forks are made the same - there are two steerer types - straight steerer and tapered. The Carrera has a straight 1 & 1/8 inch steerer. You currently also have 9mm QR front wheels which limits your choice of fork further unless you plan to upgrade your front wheel to a 15mm through axle at the same time.

If you can find the 26" wheel, QR only, 100 or 120mm travel straight steerer model then the Reba is a good fork to choose.

dirkpitt74

paul.skibum wrote:

You might want to consider moving the controls in a bit on the bars - with your hands on the grips your index finger (all you need for braking) should fall on the end of the brake lever - with them pushed up against the grips like that you aren't able to hold the brakes effectively and efficiently. I'd probably angle them down a little more too but its trickier to tell from those pics. Just a thought.

Same for jamieblackford based on his pic.

Thanks for the info and advice.
Was thinking about moving the shifters as the angle they are at the moment makes them a bit awkward.

Might swap brakes and shifters to see if that helps.

paul.skibum

DirkPitt74 wrote:

paul.skibum wrote:

You might want to consider moving the controls in a bit on the bars - with your hands on the grips your index finger (all you need for braking) should fall on the end of the brake lever - with them pushed up against the grips like that you aren't able to hold the brakes effectively and efficiently. I'd probably angle them down a little more too but its trickier to tell from those pics. Just a thought.

Same for jamieblackford based on his pic.

Thanks for the info and advice.
Was thinking about moving the shifters as the angle they are at the moment makes them a bit awkward.

Might swap brakes and shifters to see if that helps.

I was going to post a link to a video but the only one I found was this one by Evans Cycles (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTVoom62TaI) - which talks about two finger braking because evans cycles is staffed by f*ck wits apparently. One finger braking only so move stuff a bit further in but the angle stuff is ok. The gears inboard or outboard of the brakes is personal pref.