Kinesis Racelight Gran Fondo Ti v2 Updated

tommo7567

New wheels added, hand builts by Dave Gale at Chaingang Cycles, Hereford.
Mavic Open Pros, Hope Mono RS hubs and DT Swiss spokes.

tim_wand

Like that a lot,

Contemplating this or a Lynskey Sportive as next frame set.

I ve got a 6800 series groupset and ksyriums, Am I right in believing that standard drop calipers fit this frame and fork? ( not looking to add mudguards)

tommo7567

Hi Tim,

As far as I'm aware due to the length of the seat stays and forks, you can't use standard drop calipers.

This is taken from the Kinesis website http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/products/racelight/gf-ti

• Now with clearance for 28c [depending on brand] when using full size ‘guards [refer to FAQ's 16]. Geometry is set for long-reach [47-57mm] calipers, this gives far more clearance for larger tyres.

• New ‘Tracer 1.5′ Taper 1.5, 450g, monocoque carbon fork with eyelets and clearance for full-size ‘guards and long-drop calipers.

Drop them a line and see what they say here
http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/contact/sales/

cheers

Paul

tim_wand

Thanks, don't mind buying new calipers and pretty sure with the biblical weather we seem to be getting nowadays that mudguards and larger tyres will feature in the future.

Going down to Norfolk to do the Holkham ride. Both frames and builds are in Fat birds so will do a back to back then.

First impressions are that the kinesis is a bit more modern in regard to tapered head tube and geometry.

jordan_217

Really like the Kinesis GF Ti. In hindsight, I wish I'd have gone for one over my Enigma which is evidently the Rover/MG of the bike world.

---rex

Great photos.

How do the hubs run?
I'm considering getting some Mono RS's built for my first custom wheelset.

What is the roll resistance like?
Are they as noisy as everyone says? (which I don't have a problem with )

RideOnTime

Good clear shots...

housemunkey

---rex wrote:

Great photos.

How do the hubs run?
I'm considering getting some Mono RS's built for my first custom wheelset.

What is the roll resistance like?
Are they as noisy as everyone says? (which I don't have a problem with )

I have the 10 speed Pro 3 and they run sweet. They do make a racquet, but I like that. I think the Mono RS have a different amount of teeth in the freewheel that make them a little quieter???

Love the GF Ti by the way, just looks right bet it rides like a dream.

tommo7567

---rex wrote:

Great photos.

How do the hubs run?
I'm considering getting some Mono RS's built for my first custom wheelset.

What is the roll resistance like?
Are they as noisy as everyone says? (which I don't have a problem with )

Thanks. The hubs are very smooth as you'd expect Hope hubs to be, and for custom building there's also quite a few colour schemes to choose from should you so wish. I'm no expert but I can say they are definitely much better than previous factory built wheels I have owned when it comes to climbing. As for noise, They are a good 9 out of 10 for volume! No more secret wheel sucking or freewheeling in the gruppo!

tommo7567

HouseMunkey wrote:

---rex wrote:

Great photos.

How do the hubs run?
I'm considering getting some Mono RS's built for my first custom wheelset.

What is the roll resistance like?
Are they as noisy as everyone says? (which I don't have a problem with )

I have the 10 speed Pro 3 and they run sweet. They do make a racquet, but I like that. I think the Mono RS have a different amount of teeth in the freewheel that make them a little quieter???

Love the GF Ti by the way, just looks right bet it rides like a dream.

I haven't experienced the Pro 3 so can't comment except to say that the 11 speed freewheel ain't quiet...so the Pro 3 must be deafening :shock: !

Its my first Ti, and I do prefer it to my previous carbon best (Scott CR1) as it just feels more surefooted especially when descending, something which my Ribble is also - very stable due to its weight and geometry. I guess I prefer the feel and weight of metal frames over carbon. I'm a club rider not a racer so they suit me perfectly. The first proper test will be Easter Monday on the Sanatini Spring Classic, and then hopefully Paris-Roubaix in June.

The bike always gets a few admiring glances when I'm out too and is a talking point as the majority of riders are on carbon or alu frames. Don't tell the wife, but my thoughts are turning towards a disc braked 'metal' incarnation for winter/gravel trails....eg Genesis Equilibrium Disc or Kinesis Tripster ATR......shhhhh

buzzwold

Have to ask. What's the weight?

tommo7567

buzzwold wrote:

Have to ask. What's the weight?

No problem - The original weight was 8.88kg (19.57lbs) with Fulcrum Racing Quattros. The new weight is 8.53 kgs (18.80 lbs) with the new wheels.

---rex

tommo7567 wrote:

Thanks. The hubs are very smooth as you'd expect Hope hubs to be, and for custom building there's also quite a few colour schemes to choose from should you so wish. I'm no expert but I can say they are definitely much better than previous factory built wheels I have owned when it comes to climbing. As for noise, They are a good 9 out of 10 for volume! No more secret wheel sucking or freewheeling in the gruppo!

I'm in Australia and Hope hubs are not widespread at all, especially their road hubs
Great to hear they feel very smooth... I was worried the excellent seals might noticeably reduce their 'rollability' if you know what I mean

I'll be using mine in for commuting duties also so happy with the noise!

tommo7567

---rex wrote:

I'm in Australia and Hope hubs are not widespread at all, especially their road hubs
Great to hear they feel very smooth... I was worried the excellent seals might noticeably reduce their 'rollability' if you know what I mean

No discernable problems as they spin very freely. I judge them the same way I judge a centrepin fishing reel in that its not the length of time it spins freely for, but the amount of weight taken to make it spin, and its balance when it does spin. When the bike is hung up the wheels will rotate slowly until the valve caps go to the lowest position. So good enough for me for sure!

You wont regret getting Hope hubs

---rex

Great, cheers. Definitely getting the Hopes... just need to decide on skewers and I'm good to go!

tommo7567

---rex wrote:

Great, cheers. Definitely getting the Hopes... just need to decide on skewers and I'm good to go!

Funnily enough I still haven't bought new skewers yet, and am using an old set from my ribble wheels. My LBS who built the wheels didn't recommend the hope skewers due to being too flexible. He recommended Salsa instead.

EdH51

tommo7567, I'm about to order a Kinesis GF Ti v2 frame and would like to build a near-duplicate of your bike. My previous (& only - bought it new when I was 17) -- a '73 Raleigh International -- was stolen. The GF Ti/2 will be its replacement. My intent is to build it myself (except I'll order custom-built wheels). There is no LBS near me (well, 90 miles away - I live in the middle of the Great Dismal Swamp, North Carolina, USA), and, having never built a bike before, I may be biting off a bit more than I can chew. However, as I'm fairly handy with tools, I'm not too worried. Regardless, if you are willing, details of your build would be most helpful. I'm a complete novice at this so any advice will be appreciated. Thank you.

ti_yred

EdH51 wrote:

tommo7567, I'm about to order a Kinesis GF Ti v2 frame and would like to build a near-duplicate of your bike. My previous (& only - bought it new when I was 17) -- a '73 Raleigh International -- was stolen. The GF Ti/2 will be its replacement. My intent is to build it myself (except I'll order custom-built wheels). There is no LBS near me (well, 90 miles away - I live in the middle of the Great Dismal Swamp, North Carolina, USA), and, having never built a bike before, I may be biting off a bit more than I can chew. However, as I'm fairly handy with tools, I'm not too worried. Regardless, if you are willing, details of your build would be most helpful. I'm a complete novice at this so any advice will be appreciated. Thank you.

Hi mate. I'm tommo7567, (had to get a new login as I changed email addresses and have lost the old password). Anyway, I had the bike built at my LBS likewise with the wheels. If I can help I will try, what is it you'd like to know, anything in particular? PM me if you prefer.

That said, the frame and forks are standard as supplied together by Kinesis UK, with Shimano Ultegra 6800, Use carbon post, Pro Turnix saddle, Pro PLT bars and stem. There were no issues with the build, it all went smoothly so shouldn't present you with any problems (no internal cabling etc).
Be interested to see how yours goes.

Bryn_Mawr003

EdH51 wrote:

tommo7567, I'm about to order a Kinesis GF Ti v2 frame and would like to build a near-duplicate of your bike. My previous (& only - bought it new when I was 17) -- a '73 Raleigh International -- was stolen. The GF Ti/2 will be its replacement. My intent is to build it myself (except I'll order custom-built wheels). There is no LBS near me (well, 90 miles away - I live in the middle of the Great Dismal Swamp, North Carolina, USA), and, having never built a bike before, I may be biting off a bit more than I can chew. However, as I'm fairly handy with tools, I'm not too worried. Regardless, if you are willing, details of your build would be most helpful. I'm a complete novice at this so any advice will be appreciated. Thank you.

Hi, I built up my GF Ti v2 a couple of months back. The only problem I encountered was with the headset. I could not get the adjustment right. It took me a while to figure out that the top bearing cover (the part under your stem or headset spacers) of the headset assembly was tightening down on the head tube of the frame as opposed to the top bearing of the headset. Thankfully those nice people at Hope make a 0.4mm shim (Item no 8 in below diagram) that sits on top of the upper bearing race tapered ring (item no 5). It provides just enough clearance between the bearing cover and head tube for the bearings to be adjusted correctly



http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/product/40 ... -shim.html

Only other things to add are that decent cable cutters makes life much easier when cutting the cables and having another bike to refer to when routing the cables is handy. Also using a KMC Missing Link makes joining the chain a doddle.

There are some good tips on the RoadcyclingUK website. They built up a GF Ti as a winter bike...
http://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/roadcycli ... meset.html
http://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/roadcycli ... rakes.html
http://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/roadcycli ... upset.html
http://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/roadcycli ... addle.html

Mine is on here..
viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=12668284&start=260

Forgot to add that whoever you order your frameset from, ask them to fit the fork crown race to the fork. I have fitted several headsets but I struggled to find something of the appropraite diameter to knock the 1.5" dia crown race on with. My LBS did it in a couple of minutes and only charged a couple of quid.