Carrera Hardtail thread - owners pictures and spec's

asdfhjkl

Tyre sizes vary across brands and even across models within a brand. Also tyres change size and shape depending on your rims. Basically, it's difficult to say. Especially when you give a frame name but no more info Try some larger sizes out and see if they fit. If not, put on front!

The Rookie

The rear triangle has changed very little across all the Carrera HT's, I run a 2.25 Schwalbe on relatively narrow rims and that has stacks of clearance so I think most 2.25" would be fine, but as he says, they can vary a lot.

bass1979

Tnx for replies, was in bike park other day. They had special offer High rollers 2.35 ( tubless version) 2 for 50 euro. Tri it and it worked just perfect. I was told, that if I want to go more, than I need to change rims.

EarlofBarnet

Thought I'd add a quick picture of my Carrera Zelos. Think it'll be a '00 model? Frame has Merida etched in to it and weighs just under 1.7Kg. Quite enjoying it, can't really fault it. Built it up on a budget.

Skajme

Got my new forks on, had just got back and given it all a good clean when I took this picture.



Cut and fitted the forks myself, never done it before so it was tricky but straight forward enough in the end!
Feels so much better now. The new forks are about 1.1kg lighter than the old ones and so much smoother!
Just got to shorten the Brake cables at some point and I think I'm about done...for now, ha.

bass1979

Skajme wrote:

Got my new forks on, had just got back and given it all a good clean when I took this picture.



Cut and fitted the forks myself, never done it before so it was tricky but straight forward enough in the end!
Feels so much better now. The new forks are about 1.1kg lighter than the old ones and so much smoother!
Just got to shorten the Brake cables at some point and I think I'm about done...for now, ha.

Nice!! Have mine fork changed as well. Big difference.

step83

Popped some new forks on mine today as well, whopping 1.3Kg drop in weight. Have to say I'm very impressed with them and thanks Rookie for recommending them.
Only had a quick roll around as I need to decide how high I want the stack although 20mm felt quite comfortable. Pleasant surprise was the brake mounting is designed for a 160mm rotor which was already fitted,much less faffing.



Photo reminds me I need to chop that rear brake hose down as well

bensonboo

Here's my Vulcan, had it from new, not much is original anymore.

bensonboo

And here's my Subway, changed a few bits on this one too.

The Rookie

Nice pair of Carreras I presume the Subway is used for commuting duties? I'm using a Carrera Gryphon for that although the frame is actually heavier than the Kraken's (by 100g), it was bought as a bare frame and weighs in at just 9.5Kg before adding rack and guards.

bensonboo

I use the Subway for general riding about really, I got it and a women's version for the missus for when we go out either with the kids or just for fitness around the canal paths and woodland tracks but at this time of year she doesn't want to go out much so I use the Vulcan when offroad and use the Subway on the roads now it has slicks on it. We did do 50 odd km's of the Tarka Trail recently on the Subways too. We have 5 Carreras at the moment and I just sold a Subway ltd14 recently too, good value strong frames and I've now got mine just how I want them.

step83

had a fun evening pulling apart the brakes off the Kraken seems a seal has split in the piston housing which would have been great fun braking with. Cleaned it up and dug out the old mechanical brake which is lighter and seems to stop better. Cleaned up the brake fluid off the frame etc. Someone must have dulled this stuff down it doesnt appear to have reacted with the paint from what I can see yet. I thought it still dissolved paint or am I stuck in the past?

mattrixdesign2

I like the Red Vulcan, looks great.

The Rookie

About 2008 from memory....same frame as my 2006 mind!

kevinharley

OK, so picked this up from eBay for £9 yesterday, just waiting for it to be delivered ...

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 94&alt=web

Its a Kraken, originally thought it was from around 2005/6, but now wonder if slightly later? 07/08? I had a similar bike back then which was 2005/5, but colour was a lighter two tone silver grey as I recall ...

Anyway, the plan is to build it up, gradually and cheaply, into a respectably lightweight SS xc bike, mainly for muddy winter use, but also short flat out blatts on the dry and dusty trails of the summer months

Am thinking rigid fork to keep the weight (& price) down with a fat tyre (2.4/5) up front to keep the front end a little bit compliant ... Would that be a decent weight saving over a suspension fork (say a Reba / Rexon air) and a lighter smaller tyre? Any recommendations for rigid forks ... And what sort of a2c length do I need to be looking for (would want the equivalent if a 120 fork)?

Also, can't decide whether to raw and lacquer the frame, leave as it is, or get it powder coated ... Will depend partly on the quality of the paintwork when it arrives. What would be the lightest?

Will be back here over the coming weeks and months to show progress and ask for advice ...

step83

Thats looks like the same frame I have so should be a 2004 model maybe 2005.

A2C wise I think youll be looking at about 448mm or 17.5" if im thinking right on my 85mm rigids its 413mm or 16.25".

Paint weight wise Rookie is your man, me I generally go "oooh shiney".

The Rookie

It's pre 2006 which is what mine was and had the grey/silver paint, after mine came the red and blue for 2 years each.

All the same frame under the paint until the late ones went to 31.6mm seatpost before the new frame with the top to seat tube brace.

Molineux1980

Just a query -I have '13 Carrera Kraken, and it's a great bike. I've upgraded the brakes to Shimano's, but other than that, it's stock. The free hub is rumbling, any advice on budget replacement wheels? Or are stock wheels available? And the fork is poor, so i'm looking to upgrade, but on a budget < £200 if possible. Am I right in thinking it's a 1 1/8" straight steerer? Any recommended forks? I have a 09 GT XCR, with rock shox recons, which are much better than the Suntours.

Thanks. :-)

zx6man

Anyone know what a vulcan 2010 BB size is, not sure if its 68x113 ,115 or 118 ?

The Rookie

Get the tech doc for the crankset from the suppliers website and it will tell you!

If the cranks are Shimano it will probably be 68x122.

Molineux, Are you sure the freehub is grumbling and not the hub itself? As for a fork, I would go for the best 'Recon' (XC30) you can find, ideally alloy stanchions (Gold model) and air sprung - yes its a plain steerer you need although a tapered can be fitted if you get a suitable headset.

Molineux1980

Cheers Rookie! My GT XCR has recon forks (Not sure on the type), they are very good.

It may well be the hub, although play is present on the freehub when the cassette is off. My LBS said the cost of rebuilding the wheel means a replacement is probably woth looking into.

The Rookie

It would be if you got the LBS to do it, not if you did it yourself!

kevinharley

kevinharley wrote:

OK, so picked this up from eBay for £9 yesterday, just waiting for it to be delivered ...

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 94&alt=web

Anyway, the plan is to build it up, gradually and cheaply, into a respectably lightweight SS xc bike, mainly for muddy winter use, but also short flat out blatts on the dry and dusty trails of the summer months

Am thinking rigid fork to keep the weight (& price) down with a fat tyre (2.4/5) up front to keep the front end a little bit compliant ... Would that be a decent weight saving over a suspension fork (say a Reba / Rexon air) and a lighter smaller tyre? Any recommendations for rigid forks ... And what sort of a2c length do I need to be looking for (would want the equivalent if a 120 fork)?

Also, can't decide whether to raw and lacquer the frame, leave as it is, or get it powder coated ... Will depend partly on the quality of the paintwork when it arrives. What would be the lightest?

Will be back here over the coming weeks and months to show progress and ask for advice ...

Update: Frame arrived - seems in decent condition - can't complain for £9!!

@The Rookie - what would be the weight saving (if any) to raw and lacquer the frame compared to getting it stripped and powder coated?

Picked up some Carbon Nukeproof rigid forks from ebay for £36 ... so am committed to the Rigid route, for now at least!

Need to pick up some wheels, although this will likely need to wait until after Christmas! Will be buying second hand. Looking for a light-ish XC set, and will be on a budget; what kind of thing should I be looking for at under £50 for a set, and what would be a good weight to aim for? Also the bike will be used solely SS; is there any advantage in looking for a SS specific rear wheel, rather than one with a freehub designed for a full cassette?

The Rookie

If you raw the frame I wouldn't laquer it as without primer it's not that robust - use a car wax based polish instead, but raw would save about 250g, laquer would add about 90g back on.

With a budget of £50 you are unlikely to find a decent single speed specific, look around, for circa £80 I would expect to get a wheelset at circa 1800g (e.g. mavic Crossrides or Fulcrum red metal 5's both sell used for about that) not sure about at £50.

step83

Picked up some Superstar Tech3's during their black Friday sale £75 im not going to complain also a perfect excuse to use the bolts I've been hiding away 8) not weighed them but the spec says the wheelset should be just under 1.8kg

kevinharley

The Rookie wrote:

If you raw the frame I wouldn't laquer it as without primer it's not that robust - use a car wax based polish instead, but raw would save about 250g, laquer would add about 90g back on.

So, what about the weight of stripping and powder coating? Lighter/heavier or neutral compared to the frame's current painted state?

And wheels ... What are you doing with the ones you've taken off yours Rookie? I'm guessing they're relatively light ... are they (or might they be) for sale?!

The Rookie

I have no experience of powder coating so don't know the weight.

The wheels that came off the MTB are now on the commuter, not for sale, I'm then rebuilding those to try and make them saleable, but 5 years of commuting duty has taken it's toll on the spokes.

step83

plopped the tyres an tubes on and fitted the wheels. Looks ok its odd, mis matched brakes daft colours but its a work in progress. Now to decide on the frame colour :? and finish sorting the brakes out. Incidentally. weights down from 12.1 to 11.9Kg now.

The Rookie

Bit riotous on the colour front there Step!

Shouldn't take too much work to get that close to 10kg, you've a 700g advantage in your forks compared to mine!

step83

The Rookie wrote:

Bit riotous on the colour front there Step!

Shouldn't take too much work to get that close to 10kg, you've a 700g advantage in your forks compared to mine!

Haha yeah its a bit subtle isnt it. Lovely colour in the flesh though nearly a Cadburys purple. I wouldnt mind getting it down to say 11.5 im thinking beyond that its going to get harder to shave the weight down. Need to decide, stip and polish or get it powdered now.