Rocky Mountain Flatline

peter413

Had this over a year and a half now so it's about time I did a post for it. Started off as a 224:



Cracked the headtube so sold the frame and managed to get a steal on a 2011 Flatline World Cup frame so it became this:



And now it looks like this:



Really quite pleased with how it looks now, a white front wheel would finish it off really nicely but can't afford it right now since the other bikes need attention as well. Full specs as it stands now:

Frame: 2011 Medium Rocky Mountain Flatline World Cup (the best paint job Rocky have ever done on a Flatline IMHO)
Rear Shock: Fox DHX RC4
Forks: 2012 Marzocchi 888 RC3 V2
Bars: Kore OCD 20mm rise cut down to 780mm
Stem: Answer Direct Mount
Headset: Nukeproof
Grips: ODI Rogue

Front Brake: Shimano Saint M820 (Amazing brakes!)
Front disc: 203mm Shimano RT76
Rear Brake: Shimano Saint M820
Rear Disc: 203mm Shimano RT76 (would quite like to downsize to 180mm at some point)

Shifter: Shimano XTR
Cables: Shimano PTFE (XTR) Inner with SP41 outer
Rear Mech: Shimano XT GS for now, will eventually be changed for a Zee or something
Chain Device: Limited Edition Red E Thirteen SRS+

Seat: SDG I Fly
Seat Post: SDG I Beam
Seat Post Clamp: Rocky Mountain (one of the few times I've found the standard seat clamp on a bike to be really nice)

Cranks: Shimano Saint M815
Chainring: Hope 36t (was the cheapest single ring available at the time)
Chain: KMC X10 93
Cassette: A custom mix of an XT and 105 to get an 8 speed 11-24 tooth
Pedals: Superstar Nano
Bottom Bracket: Shimano Saint

Front Wheel: Hope Pro II with a Mavic 729
Tyre: It varies

Back Wheel: Hope Pro II Evo with a Sun Ringle MTX 33
Tire: It varies

Weight: 42.25 lbs

There is always things that could be improved but I'm super happy with it. Wish I had bought a large now instead of a medium but it's more of a minor niggle than an issue.

If anyones wondering how easy it is to make up a cassette, it's super easy. Just get some old cassettes, or new ones, with the cog sizes you want that are the right spacing for the shifter/mech speed you are running and just fit it as a normal cassette with some spacers at the back, just make sure you adjust the limits on the mech. It's a good way to save a little weight and also has the bonus of protecting your spokes a little better from the chain because there's room of the chain to run freely without jamming into the spokes and mangling them.

felix.london

nice! Yeah - white front rim and your set. Def agree re. paint job. Saying that I've only ever seen either red ones or white ones but this looks excellent. Good work

peter413

Couple of changes now. Got a white Flow EX on a red Pro II Evo to replace the heavy and boring 729 on black Pro II. Also replaced the OCD's with some Sixc's. The OCD's just didn't feel as nice as the Sixc's on the Marin so just had to change them. Dropped the weight slightly to 41.78 lbs so still a heavy weight but also still bombproof.

rockmonkeysc

That's nice. Good, solid frame. How does it ride?
Nice to see someone who is honest about the weight of their dh bike for a change!

peter413

Rides great , handles everything really well. The suspension is pretty progressive so it handles big hits as well as little ones really well. Corners great, jumps great, handles the rough stuff great, there's pretty much nothing I'd change apart from the weight.

rockmonkeysc

40lb isn't bad for a flatline. To be honest you have a good solid, reliable build. I wouldn't trade any of that strength to loose a pound or two.

Kowalski675

Over 40lb. Blimey, it must be built like a tank.

Couple of days ago I saw a lad pedalling uphill on the pavement on a Giant Glory. Strange choice of town bike.

rockmonkeysc

40lb is a reasonable weight for a dh bike.
I know there are at least two Scalps on this forum with false weights (they are heavier builds than mine) and a few others which are suspect.
Unless you are a serious racer going lighter than 40lb just means you're constantly breaking wheels and other bits.

Kowalski675

RockmonkeySC wrote:

40lb is a reasonable weight for a dh bike.

I knew they were heavy, just didn't realise how heavy (i've never picked one up). Obviously they need to be built like tanks to take the stresses of what they're built to do. Guess you don't feel the weight when you're descending.

felix.london

RockmonkeySC wrote:

40lb is a reasonable weight for a dh bike.
I know there are at least two Scalps on this forum with false weights (they are heavier builds than mine) and a few others which are suspect.
Unless you are a serious racer going lighter than 40lb just means you're constantly breaking wheels and other bits.

My Session is 16.7kg (36.8lbs) - tbh I wouldn't wanna go too much lighter than that but it feels like a good weight to me

peter413

Session frames are pretty thin though, the Flatline is made to take some pretty big impacts. The old design even had a rock protector built into the downtube.

Kowalski675

felix.london wrote:

My Session is 16.7kg (36.8lbs) - tbh I wouldn't wanna go too much lighter than that but it feels like a good weight to me

Looked at one of these today, it looked lush in metallic red:

Lewis A

WOW.

Kowalski675

Lovely, aint it.

felix.london

that is pretty f.ing tasty!

Kowalski675

I wouldn't have a clue what to do with it, but that doesn't stop me wanting one, lol.

felix.london

Kowalski675 wrote:

I wouldn't have a clue what to do with it, but that doesn't stop me wanting one, lol.

Point it downwards and don't let go

Kowalski675

felix.london wrote:

Kowalski675 wrote:

I wouldn't have a clue what to do with it, but that doesn't stop me wanting one, lol.

Point it downwards and don't let go

Even when I crash?

pesky_jones

felix.london wrote:

Kowalski675 wrote:

I wouldn't have a clue what to do with it, but that doesn't stop me wanting one, lol.

Point it downwards and don't let go

Sounds like a waste of a good bike

Kowalski675

Pesky Jones wrote:

felix.london wrote:

Kowalski675 wrote:

I wouldn't have a clue what to do with it, but that doesn't stop me wanting one, lol.

Point it downwards and don't let go

Sounds like a waste of a good bike

Eh? I don't have one, I just looked at it in a shop. It would be completely wasted on me (it'd be like giving my StripleR to someone who's just done their direct access), but I can't afford one anyway.

pesky_jones

Kowalski675 wrote:

Pesky Jones wrote:

felix.london wrote:

Kowalski675 wrote:

I wouldn't have a clue what to do with it, but that doesn't stop me wanting one, lol.

Point it downwards and don't let go

Sounds like a waste of a good bike

Eh? I don't have one, I just looked at it in a shop. It would be completely wasted on me (it'd be like giving my StripleR to someone who's just done their direct access), but I can't afford one anyway.

Haha I didnt mean it like that mate! I actually read it wrong, I read it as "Point it downwards and let go", and if you took that bike to the top of the mountain and pointed it downwards and let go, you'd loose the bike!

Kowalski675

Pesky Jones wrote:

Kowalski675 wrote:

Pesky Jones wrote:

felix.london wrote:

Kowalski675 wrote:

I wouldn't have a clue what to do with it, but that doesn't stop me wanting one, lol.

Point it downwards and don't let go

Sounds like a waste of a good bike

Eh? I don't have one, I just looked at it in a shop. It would be completely wasted on me (it'd be like giving my StripleR to someone who's just done their direct access), but I can't afford one anyway.

Haha I didnt mean it like that mate! I actually read it wrong, I read it as "Point it downwards and let go", and if you took that bike to the top of the mountain and pointed it downwards and let go, you'd loose the bike!

Oh, I see, lol. I didn't take offence though - you're right, putting me on it would be a waste of a good bike, but I'd have fun, right up to just before the point where the ambulance had to be called...

peter413

Well I was all set to get a Vector air but when I went into the LBS to order it, the owner talked me out of it saying he knew of someone who had been having issues with theirs and since I'm a known bike wrecker I didn't want to risk it. So instead I've sent the RC4 to Mojo for Kashima and low friction bushes. Should improve the performance a bit especially since the shock hasn't been serviced since I got it over 2 years ago.

Also been playing with the 888's. Opened them up after a year and a half (which should be nothing for a Zocchi) and found the foam rings to be completely dry so replaced them with some Stendec fork grease as recommended by a certain world cup mechanic. Added another 50cc of oil to the spring side to hopefully make them a little more progressive as well. Not had a chance to ride them yet but just bouncing on them it seems to have a big difference to small bump and the ramp up.

Few other little changes been made as well like a smaller rear rotor and new pedals. I'll get a new picture up when I get the shock back.

peter413

Got the shock back today from Mojo all nice and shiny.



Went to fit it and found they've fitted bushes that are far too small. Hopefully they'll just send out the correct ones. Still a pain if they do, was kind of hoping to get out tomorrow. Doubt they'll arrive before next week now.

peter413

Finally got the correct bushings today. They really do seem to make a difference over the standard ones. Just pushing down on the saddle slightly the difference is immediately noticeable although the Kashima could have a bit to do with that as well.



Fitted a few other goodies as well. New Zee mech, downsized the rear rotor to a 180mm and fitted some green grips. Not sure about the grips yet, if I decide I don't like them I'll just stick them on the Marin and put the black ones back on. Also got some DMR Vaults but these will be shared with the Marin as well. Managed to drop over a pound from the last weigh in by doing a few little other things as well.

Cqc

Nice bike!