Planet X XLS cyclocross bike?

simon t

Seems like a great all rounder, lightweight 18 lbs , discs etc. anyone ridden one?

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBP ... force_bike

passout

No but I read a review somewhere (probably on their website) suggesting that it was at least as race focussed than the dirty disco.

Monty Dog

My mate has both this and a dirty disco - there are some improvements in design that make mud clearance better on the new frame i.e no big 'shelf' behind the BB. Think geometry is a bit more race-oriented too whereas DD front end is slightly slcker.

differentstrokes87

I was just about to pull the trigger on the Boardman CX Pro but this has swayed my decision.

It's a fair bit lighter and still has the SRAM Force, plus it's cheaper.

simon t

As its lightish i'm thinking of using as my main roadbike. there seems to be more wheel choice nowadays aswell.

differentstrokes87

What are Planet X like for replying to emails?

FransJacques

It's a sweet bike and a lot slicker finished than the DD. I really didn't like the rear dropouts on the DD, they looked too much like an all-mountain MTB rather than a lightweight racing CX machine.

The new bike looks good but as with all these frames which are in their first consumer iteration, there are some details which aren't so well executed like the cable-routing and at the rear and the front der. I'd have opted for the rear caliper on the chainstay to have really spindly seatstays but I didn't design the bike and the choice they made allows for the really killer price.

Try to upgrade the crankset to the Force, it's very stiff and very light in my experience with it. Really keen on the bike.

simon t

FransJacques wrote:

It's a sweet bike and a lot slicker finished than the DD. I really didn't like the rear dropouts on the DD, they looked too much like an all-mountain MTB rather than a lightweight racing CX machine.

The new bike looks good but as with all these frames which are in their first consumer iteration, there are some details which aren't so well executed like the cable-routing and at the rear and the front der. I'd have opted for the rear caliper on the chainstay to have really spindly seatstays but I didn't design the bike and the choice they made allows for the really killer price.

Try to upgrade the crankset to the Force, it's very stiff and very light in my experience with it. Really keen on the bike.

are there any drillings for crudcatcher guards on the fork and rear?

cougie

differentstrokes87 wrote:

What are Planet X like for replying to emails?

They're good in my experience - I've two of their bikes and I like the look of this too !

differentstrokes87

cougie wrote:

differentstrokes87 wrote:

What are Planet X like for replying to emails?

They're good in my experience - I've two of their bikes and I like the look of this too !

Yeah they emailed me back ten minutes after I posted my question. Placed an order this afternoon.

differentstrokes87

simon t wrote:

FransJacques wrote:

It's a sweet bike and a lot slicker finished than the DD. I really didn't like the rear dropouts on the DD, they looked too much like an all-mountain MTB rather than a lightweight racing CX machine.

The new bike looks good but as with all these frames which are in their first consumer iteration, there are some details which aren't so well executed like the cable-routing and at the rear and the front der. I'd have opted for the rear caliper on the chainstay to have really spindly seatstays but I didn't design the bike and the choice they made allows for the really killer price.

Try to upgrade the crankset to the Force, it's very stiff and very light in my experience with it. Really keen on the bike.

are there any drillings for crudcatcher guards on the fork and rear?

No, I asked in my email.

They said its an out and out race frame, designed to get dirty.

dakkar

I emailed about this bike today because I would to get one. However the only crankset is a 172 And being 6ft 2 I would really prefer 175. Wayne from Planet x told me that very few chainsets would fit this frame so they only do it with a 172. Bugger.

rawuk

differentstrokes87 wrote:

cougie wrote:

differentstrokes87 wrote:

What are Planet X like for replying to emails?

They're good in my experience - I've two of their bikes and I like the look of this too !

Yeah they emailed me back ten minutes after I posted my question. Placed an order this afternoon.

How you getting on with the xls then chap?

springtide9

FYI
viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=12902723&start=60

cougie

Mate is keen to get one of these as a winter bike - so wider tyres arent an issue - but you'd want full proper guards on. Anyone bodged a set onto their PX cross bike ?

gwillis

I have a dirty disco all be it direct from China it's my go to bike for winter rides , audaxing in crappy weather and anything off road ....so have 2 friends . The only mudguard option is a race blade XL which keeps the muck off pretty well and if you use old inner tubes on the fork legs etc work really well . I'd gave another frame all be it is go straight to ICAN bikes in China

arlowood

Why not drop a PM to "bendertherobot" - a frequent contributor on here.

He has an XLS Flanders which he recently posted in the Your Bikes forum:-

viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=13010032

bendertherobot

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=79101.0

I've not bodged mine, but there's a bodge there. Unfortunately there is no drill hole on either the front fork or the rear bridge. So it's far from easy.

I'd just stick race blades on there.

Great bike btw. There's a 20% code knocking round somewhere. Sub £700. Steal.

gusm41

does anyone have the discount code?

bendertherobot

It's in the planet x shoe thread

gusm41

Thanks one ordered.

bendertherobot

gusm41 wrote:

Thanks one ordered.

markhewitt1978

How difficult is it to change the chainset? As 172.5 would be an issue for me especially as I run 165mm on my road bike, that's quite a difference.

FransJacques

How tall are you Mark? the 172.5 might be better if you're 5'7"-6'.

However, if you're nursing an injury then stick to the shorter ones since you know and have adapted to them.

The frame has a PF30 BB so can be adapted to any standard apart from perhaps Octalink or JIS (unless that adapter exists too?).

markhewitt1978

I'm 5'6". I used to run 170mm on my road bike but changed them to 165mm and found them much easier to ride with.

So any standard chainset e.g. 105 / Ultegra would fit?