Planet X SLX (Flanders Colours)

ugo.santalucia

bendertherobot wrote:

Ugo has a view on the Kinesis ones. Worth looking for. See here http://paolocoppo.drupalgardens.com/con ... s-any-good

I shall point out that the review refers to the older model. I think the newer ones only differ for the rims. Interestingly IMO the rims did appear to be the strong point in the older ones, which goes to show where innovation tends to go...

Viking2136

Im looking at a PX now, Ive decided its time for a change. I've been racing the Boardmans for 2 years now and fancy an upgrade/change and something a little lighter for my old bones to peddle.

Still going to keep 1 Boardman as my weekday commuter but a new girl is on the cards, same prices and nearly the same spec but which one of these do you prefer or have heard good or bad about:

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXXLSCX1 ... cross-bike

or

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitu ... prod120681

decisions decisions!!!!! :?: :?: :?: :?:

bendertherobot

If you don't want CX1 and can do a bit yourself I'd get the frame, SRAM Force, Hy Rd and better wheels. Should come in less than £1700.

Viking2136

Ive looked at a few self build option and its very difficult to get it below 1500 with all the bits and bobs required and of course the hassle including full hydraulic brakes, Ive got HYRD now so want to upgrade, thanks for the advice now searching Wiggle to deth

bendertherobot

Yeah, it's tricky. CX1 on bikes seems to be quite overpriced. Mind, CX1 is expensive full stop. Emperor's new clothes and all that. I think the PX looks to be better value. Depends if you want tubs and want full racing.

Viking2136

Not set on the CX 1 as I don't fancy replacing the rear hanger after it gets ripped of by mud (twice this year so far but with SRAM Apex its not too expensive) the single front ring is sexy but not a necessity so might look at the Dirty Disco with the Rival set and upgrade the brakes. Never used tubs so wouldn't miss them - but its those silk clothes again

Viking2136

Looking to down grade slightly and go for this instead as the parts are a lot cheaper when I break it again!

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXXLSRIV ... cross-bike

bendertherobot

Good choice. And I can report good news on the wheels. Ugo has reported that they will do tubeless and that the hubs are chosen. He says the rims are good. The spokes are very heavy and, he says, were slightly overtensioned. But he was impressed.

So, there's some good scope there. You could keep the wheels and have them converted to some better spokes saving some weight and have some really solid wheels.

ugo.santalucia

bendertherobot wrote:

Good choice. And I can report good news on the wheels. Ugo has reported that they will do tubeless and that the hubs are chosen. He says the rims are good. The spokes are very heavy and, he says, were slightly overtensioned. But he was impressed.

So, there's some good scope there. You could keep the wheels and have them converted to some better spokes saving some weight and have some really solid wheels.

I have not tried to run them tubeless yet, but the profile appears to be that of a tubeless rim, not dissimilar from the Crosslight ones, in fact I wonder if the rim is the same...
The hubs are good quality, on pair with the Novatec ones, if not better. Bit harder to source spares when Planet X inevitably will change supplier, but that's the only downside. The spokes are the letdown... plain gauge Pillar that weigh a ton and are possibly not even very durable. Plain gauge spokes give a rather dull and uninspiring ride. Supposing one had 100 quid spare cash, they can be replaced with Sapim D-light by a PRO, the weight drops by 200 grams or so and the ride becomes more joyful. In fact they could easily be sold as a premium product with some decent spokes.
Mine were a bit over tensioned at 1600N on the drive side, so I've brought them down a bit to avoid the rim splitting, but being hand built, that could be different in another set. For the non-DIY people over-tensioned is better than under tensioned, like in the case of the other major discount wheel-flogger in the country.

Being now the proud owner of a pair of these, I'll probably do just that, as soon as I spot a deal on light spokes somewhere in the Reich

*can you be more political incorrect in such ha short post? :shock:

bendertherobot

It's good news isn't it. It means you could sensibly buy one of their really good bikes (Pickenflik for example) and not have to worry about a £400 wheel upgrade.

snipsnap

bendertherobot wrote:

Good choice. And I can report good news on the wheels. Ugo has reported that they will do tubeless and that the hubs are chosen. He says the rims are good. The spokes are very heavy and, he says, were slightly overtensioned. But he was impressed.

So, there's some good scope there. You could keep the wheels and have them converted to some better spokes saving some weight and have some really solid wheels.

which wheels are these can I ask?

The planet x ones that come on the stock XLS build?

ugo.santalucia

snipsnap wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

Good choice. And I can report good news on the wheels. Ugo has reported that they will do tubeless and that the hubs are chosen. He says the rims are good. The spokes are very heavy and, he says, were slightly overtensioned. But he was impressed.

So, there's some good scope there. You could keep the wheels and have them converted to some better spokes saving some weight and have some really solid wheels.

which wheels are these can I ask?

The planet x ones that come on the stock XLS build?

Yes

bendertherobot

Not just the XLS either. All of them including the range topping £1999 CX1 XLS. So you can be confident that you can just use them and then, when you have 5 minutes, do something about improving them.

Viking2136

Nearly ready to order one now, well was until someone mentioned the Pickenflick!!!! now one more to consider but seems a bit heavy. Weight on the pickenflick is showing as 9.7kg - does anyone know how much the XLS force 22 comes in at?

bendertherobot

Ok, the weight of the frame and fork on the pickenflick is about 700g more than the XLS.

XLS claimed weight is 9.4 against the 9.7 of the Pick.

I'd say that's probably about right. Rival claws some of the 700g back.

To be honest I'd expect the Ti to weight slightly more.

Viking2136

Im calling PX tomorrow to see if they can do me a deal on the XLS Rival with carbon tubs - answer to follow.....

Barrington12

bendertherobot wrote:

Rims are Pacenti SL25. Hubs are Novatec 771 and 772. Spokes (32) are Sapim D Light.

You could ask Ugo to build you some

Haha, there was me thinking that I had some great unique wheels on my new Flanders XLS but it seems we have the same wheel builder (Ugo), same hubs, same spokes in black, same rims! But my rims only have one Pacenti sticker and I think yours look better with three!

Interesting to see the comments on the Planet X wheels that came with the bike. Not sure what to do with mine. They've done less than 100 miles and mostly on the Thames towpath but I have cleaned them up and they look brand new and still have the rotors on them. They are noticeably heavier than the new ones and I was thinking about fitting some road tyres for an occasional road outing but to be honest I have two other bikes for road use so not sure that would ever happen.
Love the XLS, have had it a couple of months now. It's my first CX bike, first bike with disc brakes, first time I've really been off road so a new experience completely. I am definitely a road biker and I usually keep to my 'do not ride unless it's 3 degrees or warmer' rule but having the XLS means that I have been out in all conditions this winter.

bendertherobot

I went to work on my Bivio today. It needs a clean and a new BB. But it felt positively agricultural by comparison.

ugo.santalucia

Barrington12 wrote:

Haha, there was me thinking that I had some great unique wheels on my new Flanders XLS but it seems we have the same wheel builder (Ugo), same hubs, same spokes in black, same rims! But my rims only have one Pacenti sticker and I think yours look better with three!

You are very nearly correct... I only built 2 sets of these... the ones you have seen in my living room and the ones you are riding on... the former ended up in Bender's hands as an exercise of fund-raising...

Mombee

I'm tempted to ride this summer's Ridley Western League with my 13 year old son and am wondering whether I can get two birds with one stone with an XLS? My son's riding my old Cannondale R700 (on the road), which is a great bike but it does flex and his road riding would take a quantum leap forward with a stiffer frame set. Everything I read about the XLS ticks the right boxes… it's a good fast platform for both road and (obviously) cyclocross, and the entry-level model is ready for upgrades (race wheels, hydro brakes, etc). While it would be great to jump in with the top-spec XLS or something similar, that's an extra £800 or so and I'm struggling to find a better platform as a first race bike.

bendertherobot

I can't comment on racing it, yet. I hope to do Battle on the Beach on it shortly. There's a lot to be said for base spec for racing, of course. Apex rear mechs are about £35.

To me it feels direct, fast and comfy and, as I've said elsewhere, with 25c slicks on I'd be more than happy to do a sportive on it.

ugo.santalucia

I have done sportives on it, even with 32 mm tyres... most notably the Etape Cymru and Paris-Roubaix...

devhads

Mombee wrote:

I'm tempted to ride this summer's Ridley Western League with my 13 year old son and am wondering whether I can get two birds with one stone with an XLS? My son's riding my old Cannondale R700 (on the road), which is a great bike but it does flex and his road riding would take a quantum leap forward with a stiffer frame set. Everything I read about the XLS ticks the right boxes… it's a good fast platform for both road and (obviously) cyclocross, and the entry-level model is ready for upgrades (race wheels, hydro brakes, etc). While it would be great to jump in with the top-spec XLS or something similar, that's an extra £800 or so and I'm struggling to find a better platform as a first race bike.

If you're talking about your son road racing then he wouldn't be able to use the XLS as disc brakes are still not allowed for road racing.

Mombee

Good feedback, thanks. I agree about the road racing, but that's a different ball game that we're not committing to just yet and what I'm after is a faster bike for road rides that doubles up as a competitive cyclocross machine.

Viking2136

Im goig to get one soon, just holding out for a PX sale post CX season!

ianlash

Viking2136 wrote:

Im goig to get one soon, just holding out for a PX sale post CX season!

When do you think that will be?

Viking2136

not sure Ian, thinking now the CX season has ended they might drop - the dirty disco has just gone down 35% from £2k to £1300 just holding on but not in any rush as I want it for the new season in Sep

ianlash

Viking2136 wrote:

not sure Ian, thinking now the CX season has ended they might drop - the dirty disco has just gone down 35% from £2k to £1300 just holding on but not in any rush as I want it for the new season in Sep

So you wouldn't consider the Dirty Disco SRAM Apex for only £799? Only 10 speed and cheaper wheels, but seems a bargain to me.

ianlash

Does anyone know if the XLS comes with On One wheels (as it shows in the Choose Components option) or Planet X wheels (as it says in the description)? The PX ones are a £100 option.

bendertherobot

Mine came with PX wheels. But there was no option to choose at the time.