My Bike.... Kinesis FF29

junglist_matty

After many hours reading reviews, looking up prices and checking for info, I finally ordered myself some new bits....














Just need to choose the wheels and tyres!

The Rookie

junglist_matty wrote:

Just need to choose the wheels and tyres!

Round ones are definately the best!

I must say I do like the look of Kinesis frames, classic, elegant and understated.... looking forward to this build.

junglist_matty

The Beginner wrote:

junglist_matty wrote:

Just need to choose the wheels and tyres!

Round ones are definitely the best!

I must say I do like the look of Kinesis frames, classic, elegant and understated.... looking forward to this build.

I was thinking more along the lines of this





...On a serious note though, yep, I love the FF29 frame, it was between it and the Cotic Solaris, but I much prefer the lines of the FF29 frame and I like that it's fairly quick yet still well planted on the trails. Can't wait to get it built up and out on a ride; will update this thread accordingly!

lawman

Kinesis make great bikes, I loved my XC120 and it served me well for years, still got the frame hanging up the garage, can't bear to part with it! Nice to see they've bought it up to spec with a dropper post compatible seat tube and tapered headtube. Don't think you could have gone wrong with either the ff29 or solaris tbh, both awesome bikes!

paulneenan76

Oooh I like the look of that. Will keep my eye on this one methinks

Paul

junglist_matty

Decided on the wheels...



They're not the lightest, also not the heaviest but they do get good reviews, I paid £200, was either these or the Fulcrum Red Power XL's for £180, decided to go with Mavic as the spare parts are cheaper

junglist_matty

Frame and wheels arrived today and spent this evening doing some bike building, here's the result....



I still need to decide on the brakes so for now I just hooked up an old front Formula Mega I had laying around in the garage,

Also need to decide on stem and bars, but will make an educated decision after a few test rides so I've a better idea about how it rides and what would be most comfortable; I'm thinking it's going to most probably be a flat bar and short stem.

Looking forward to taking it out for a first test ride in the morning

DanDax1990

Looks nice!

MrPhil

Nice, been told to buy a FF29.

Whats your build cost upto now?

Tempted but a std build from Kinesis is £1500 and thats near On One carbon 29er prices :?

chez_m356

great looking build, really like that

emseens

Nice bike, but handlebar hoes up in to the sky
It isn't 26er, you must bring that thing down

junglist_matty

MrPhil wrote:

Nice, been told to buy a FF29.

Whats your build cost upto now?

Tempted but a std build from Kinesis is £1500 and thats near On One carbon 29er prices :?

I had the C.456 which I have sold for:

Frame + Hope headset = £200
Fox Vanilla R Forks = £220
Pro2 wheelset (stiffy rims) = £150

I re-used the XT 10-Speed groupset from the C.456 but I want to get some different brakes.

Total spend:
Frame (Large) - £410 from Merlin (frame has 10% off at the moment with Merlin)
Forks (Reba RLT) - £260 from J E James (had a discount code for £25 off over £200 spend)
Wheels (Crossride) - £200 from Wiggle
Saddle - £30 from eBay
New gear cables/outers - £10
Tyres - £30

So not including brakes & groupset, it's cost me about £950...
i decided on this frame because I wanted something a lot faster than my C.456 as I found it really sluggish to ride, (probably more likely due to the build spec I built and that the frame was a bit on the small side for me), that and I didn't ever feel at home on the C.456.
The style of my riding has changed from jumps/drops/freeride/aggressive XC type stuff to mainly XC trails and the odd trail centre trip, so this fitted the bill best (going by reviews).... Plus it's a bit different, not that many people ride them and the frame looks exceptionally well made and isn't a strict race XC bike, yet it's still fast.

emseens wrote:

Nice bike, but handlebar hoes up in to the sky
It isn't 26er, you must bring that thing down

Yep, I understand this also, I don't have a flat bar and short stem so need to decide on which ones to go for so for now, just using the riser bars

junglist_matty

My first ride felt very good; bike feels very fast Averaged 17.5mph into a cross/head wind most of the way, couldn't be happier! Really wanted something quick as a lot of rides around where I live are 50% road 50% bridleway tracks so it's important that it rolls well on the road and this bike flies on the road (for an MTB).

Seriously need to lower the front end though... Will have to remove all spacers under the stem and possibly flip the stem upside down for the time being until I get a 0degree stem, although the length feels perfect, I though I'd need it shorter.

Really pleased, can't wait to go ride it on the trails now!

The Rookie

Looking very tasty, what size frame as that looks proportioned more like a 26er than a 29er (good thing!).

Mystic Meg says she sees a Steerer cutting operation in your future....

junglist_matty

The Beginner wrote:

Looking very tasty, what size frame as that looks proportioned more like a 26er than a 29er (good thing!).

It's a size Large, I'm 6ft2" hence the main reason for wanting a 29er; I'm a big bloke and ride big frames, so I thought why not try this big wheeled malarky and see what the fuss is about!? Without having ridden a decent trail, I have a really good feeling about this bike, something I've not had for quite some time about a MTB.

The Beginner wrote:

Mystic Meg says she sees a Steerer cutting operation in your future....

Mystic meg isn't far wrong ...I didn't want to cut it too short to start with so I could try out the riding position with a higher stem.... Taking it for a test ride and deciding to loose a few spacers and cut down the steerer a bit more is a hell of a lot easier than DOH, I'm an idiot and I've cut the steerer too short problem

The Rookie

Absolutely agree with that...try first cut later!

cove888

Hate to say it but I think you should have gone for the XT wheelset at merlin or a used hope 29er wheelset

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/w ... otors.html

junglist_matty

cove888 wrote:

Hate to say it but I think you should have gone for the XT wheelset at merlin or a used hope 29er wheelset

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/w ... otors.html

Why's that?

XT wheelset = 1880g (without skewers)
Hope Pro 2's 29er with Stans Crest rim = 1854g (with skewers)
Crossrides = 2020g (with skewers)


XT hubs are rubbish& XT front wouldn't fit the forks

Pro2's new are £300+ and I can't use crests because I'm too heavy, so would have to get Arch rims and then they're the same weight as the cross rides.

I've got three sets of Mavic wheels now, the others are 2008 CrossMax ST, never had any trouble with them, and the other set on my road bike are Kysrium's which also have no issues....So I'm really pleased with Mavic reliability and spare parts are cheap.

emseens

I build 29er wheel set on Novatech hubes 711 back and 811 15mm in front, Arch EX rims and sapim race spokes, wieght ~1700g

junglist_matty

emseens wrote:

I build 29er wheel set on Novatech hubes 711 back and 811 15mm in front, Arch EX rims and sapim race spokes, wieght ~1700g

How much did you pay for them?

junglist_matty

Total Cost:

Brand new stuff...
Frame (Kinesis FF29 size L) - £450
Wheels (Mavic Crossride 29) - £200
Forks (Reba RLT Dual Air '12)- £250
Brakes (Formula Oro K18) - £110
Various bits & bolts - £50
Saddle (Selle Italia SL) - £25
Hope 90mm 0degree Stem - £50
Answer 680mm Flat bars - £25
Cane Creek Headset - £55

Total spent on brand new stuff - £1215

Bits I already had from my On-One C.456:
Full XT Drivetrain (approx £300)
FSA Carbon Seatpost - (Chain Reaction bargain bucket buy) - £20
Hope seatclamp - £15
ODI Troy Lee Designs grips - £15

Total second hand stuff - £350


Total build cost - £1500 (or there abouts)

junglist_matty

And here's the finished bike....




Planned upgrades : None, just keep it maintained, if something breaks, I'll replace it!

lostboysaint

Nice. Very nice.

Not sure you're that big a bloke though

(6'4" and 98kg)

MrPhil

Nice bike Mat, as said on Strava must be nippy!

bernie1973

Looks beautiful. Ordered an FF29 myself last week from LBS. Frame arrived last Monday but had a few scratches so has had to go back to Kinesis. Hope to get replacement start of next week. Pretty much decided on build kit but just debating whether to switch to 2x10 from current 3x10 setup.

junglist_matty

bernie1973 wrote:

Looks beautiful. Ordered an FF29 myself last week from LBS. Frame arrived last Monday but had a few scratches so has had to go back to Kinesis. Hope to get replacement start of next week. Pretty much decided on build kit but just debating whether to switch to 2x10 from current 3x10 setup.

Yep, is a great bike, you won't be disapointed, really enjoy riding mine, it's noticeable that the big wheels are more sluggish in the tight corners than a 26er, but then that was to be expected.

I run a 3x10 just because I like to have the granny ring option if I need to crawl up a difficult section of a climb (i.e. bumpy, technical, wet & muddy etc....)