giant reign 2005 high spec custom build

rickbst170

Morning all. Bits have started arriving so I figured I start our build thread. The boy (14 year old stepson) and I are going to get into riding pretty seriously I hope, but if he hates it I don't want to have spent thousands. This will be my bike, his will be next. He's got my old giant acid for now, which we'll do up over time and finally swap new bits onto a different frame.

So. Here's the bits I have so far...


2005 giant reign 2 frame




Fox 36r talas




XT M770 chainset, XT M785 front mech, XT M780 rear mech, XT M780 shifters with XTR bar mounts, XT chain




Sunline V one OS bars (711mm)




Arte Selle Dakar carbon saddle




That's it for now. The rest should arrive in time for next weekend which is when the fun starts

rickbst170

Few more bits..

XT M771 10 speed 11-36



Renthal SR4 38t chainring




Spare SLX chain

rickbst170

Few more. One delivery left after this.


Sudpin NC-17 pedals




Syncros Seatpost



Giant reign oem seat clamp and acor headset spacers




Panaracer Razer 2.1 tyres donated by my stepdad




Dt swiss ex5.1d rims on dt swiss 440 hubs (rebranded as Magura FR)



Just waiting on stem, brakes, rotors, mounts and grips due on Friday. Roll on the weekend!

Cqc

Look s good!

rickbst170

Pretty pleased. Was planning on a 400 budget but went slightly over. Not by much, but seemed a shame to skimp after getting such a good start.

Xt bb arrived too, so Truvativ aka stem and formula the one fr's on Friday, then ready to get the boy to build it.

rickbst170

Couple little bits.

XT BB70 bottom bracket and some cst tubes

rickbst170

Last few bits. Think that's everything...

Truvativ AKA 70mm



Lizardskin Peaty lockons



Formula mounts



Formula 203 and 180 discs



Formula The One FR levers and calipers with Goodrich hoses







And a bonus chainring in case the renthal won't work, a qr skewer as the wheels didn't come with one and a fat tyre all thrown in by the guy with the brakes because he's a legend








Going up to my mum and stepdads for the weekend to build it and ride the forest of dean. Can't wait!

buddy_club

Looking forward to seeing this built!

rickbst170

Well, after a couple of hours we had it built up, running ok and set off into the woods. Didn't take any pics till we got back (assumed I'd fall off and break my phone so let it in the house). Here she is...















And then one once nice and clean again




Rides pretty well too. Couldn't get the shock right on day one so rebound wasn't working. My arse got beat up by the hard carbon saddle and my legs got drained by horrific pedal bob. Brakes need a bleed too but couldn't find an adaptor. Sorted rebound on day 2 and the suspension is impeccably designed. No bob, loads of drive, cracking down hill.

It's way more capable than me. At least 4 times this weekend I was just holding and hoping for the best while it took me down the trail, and it sucked up everything it came up against and ran right over it. Good job too, as I was bricking it!

2x10 kinda works. Bit of a fiddle to get running well, and even now it'll only change up from granny to big if I'm in at least 4th at the back, but that's fine as the ratios overlap at 5th anyway do wouldn't change up before then. All other changes crisp and sharp as you'd expect from xt.

Geometry fits pretty well. My XC biased stepdad reckons stem is too short and should be at least 100mm, but I like it. Tyres were crap in the mud.

BoredHousewife

That looks pretty awesome, I do love old Reign's though

Just goes to show you don't NEED to spend thousands to build a bike capable of meeting your needs, whatever they may be

buddy_club

Cracking bike mate - if you don't mind me asking how much did you spend In total? Watch it - your son will have it in a flash! (well he will of he's anything like me)

rickbst170

£452.93 plus 41 postage so 493.93

Clearly worth much more but scored some bargains. Forks were £15, crank was £10, brakes were £75 so reckon I saved about 300 on those three items alone.

buddy_club

Wow, what a bargain! Enjoy it mate - I imagine it's pretty cool riding something you built.

rickbst170

Thanks

The idea behind it (other than getting fit, getting my son outside, teaching him how to build and maintain a bike, value of money etc) was to buy decent groupset and brakes I can switch onto a new frame and forks when I need to. Full 2013 XT groupset, DH wheels and and the one brakes means if we get into DH I only need to buy a frame and forks and swap it all over. It's my do-it-all bike for now and will turn into a more specific bike over time.

If we get into XC I'll put lighter low travel forks on. If we ride DH I'll put a new frame and forks with more travel on. It's not really a race bike as it's quite heavy but certainly does me for a reentry to mtb type bike.

Do up his next. To be fair, he was pretty ballsy on a HT anyway!