Mega Gone... Dialled Alpine here!

MudOrNowt

Evening All,

First post here so be gentle! Got back into MTB in Feb 14 after a 16 year break.....things have come a VERY long way since then!

Started out with a used Commencal Normal with the intention of upgrading along the way. 'Cracking' bike, rode really well tbf but in April a mate was selling a couple of his steeds to fund a Jekyll.
Although the Kona was a tad big for me, spec wise it was 95% there and the fact he is gentle on bikes, looks after them like his babies and offered me a giveaway price, I couldn't refuse.

As the year went on and the rust (on me) wore away, I bought a 2012 Mega locally and swapped all the bits over.

Only a couple of additions since then and I'm well and truly in love with both the bike and being back into MTB.

Spec currently

2012 Mega (S)
Rockshox Revelation 140mm 20mm thru axle
Marzocchi 55 160mm 20mm thru axle

Rockshox RT3 rear shock
Fox Vanilla RC with 450 Coil

Rockshox Reverb 125mm

XT Shifters
XT Rear Mech
SLX Front Mech
XT Chainset
Saint BB
Nukeproof Headset
Saint Pedals
Cassette Unknown
Chain Unknown

XT Brakes
Superstar 180mm Rotors

Hope Bash Gaurd
Blackspire Chain tensioner
Superstar Narrow Wide Chainring

Hope Pro2 Rear Hub Mavic EX325 Rim
Ringle Front Hub Sunn MTX Rim
Maxxis Minion DHR/F 2.5 (Wet)
Maxxis Larsen TT 2.35 (Dry)

Superstar DH 50mm Stem
Answer Pro Taper 780mm 25mm Rise
Custom Superstar Grips
Hope Seat Clamp
Nukeproof Saddle


So I (The royal I, it was all my mate) took this...



And this...



And turned them into this....



And this....





First Ride...



And latest pics






Next job is replacing the forks as they're a little too short travel for this and I want to slacken her up, new pads, new tyres and keep trying not to fall off!

Ta,

Pete

ilovedirt

Looks good mate! I've got a newer mega and they ride great. As you say, longer travel forks will sort it out, and I reckon a shorter stem too. Should be good to go!

The Rookie

Not another Mega! Does look nice though.

Fork looks a little short travel for the Mega?

I just did a reframe in a similar way over the holiday.

MudOrNowt

ilovedirt wrote:

Looks good mate! I've got a newer mega and they ride great. As you say, longer travel forks will sort it out, and I reckon a shorter stem too. Should be good to go!

Cheers! Couldn't really go much shorter than the 50mm tbh, it's the Gold one now not the original I had in the early photos.

The Rookie wrote:

Not another Mega! Does look nice though.

Fork looks a little short travel for the Mega?

I just did a reframe in a similar way over the holiday.

LoL, common as muck.... Yeah they're only 140mm so want something 160mm+ and these can go on the hard tail I want to build.

rockmonkeysc

Very nice. I like the old Megas, indestructible and well made.

The Rookie

Kind of off topic, but I have a Kona Dawg T-shirt at home, only specific make and model T-shirt I think I've seen!

rockmonkeysc

The Rookie wrote:

Kind of off topic, but I have a Kona Dawg T-shirt at home, only specific make and model T-shirt I think I've seen!

I have an On On Inbred t shirt and a Nukeproof Scalp jersey. Both came free with bikes although the On One t shirt came with a 456 Summer Season, not an inbred.

MudOrNowt

RockmonkeySC wrote:

The Rookie wrote:

Kind of off topic, but I have a Kona Dawg T-shirt at home, only specific make and model T-shirt I think I've seen!

I have an On On Inbred t shirt and a Nukeproof Scalp jersey. Both came free with bikes although the On One t shirt came with a 456 Summer Season, not an inbred.

I used to have a Marzocchi Bomber Z1 Tshirt..... But threw it out in '99

ilovedirt

MudOrNowt wrote:

ilovedirt wrote:

Looks good mate! I've got a newer mega and they ride great. As you say, longer travel forks will sort it out, and I reckon a shorter stem too. Should be good to go!

Cheers! Couldn't really go much shorter than the 50mm tbh, it's the Gold one now not the original I had in the early photos.

Ah yeah, I missed that! Much better

CitizenLee

Very nice! Always thought the 2012 Megas were the best, although I'm obviously biased

Can confirm they ride amazing with 160mm forks

rockmonkeysc

CitizenLee wrote:

Very nice! Always thought the 2012 Megas were the best, although I'm obviously biased

If build quality is as nice as the 2012 Scalp then they're better built than the later ones. The earlier sizing doesn't suit me though otherwise I would have one.

MudOrNowt

CitizenLee wrote:

Very nice! Always thought the 2012 Megas were the best, although I'm obviously biased

Can confirm they ride amazing with 160mm forks

Nothing wrong with rose tinted spectacles lol

May even go for bigger tbh.....

RockmonkeySC wrote:

CitizenLee wrote:

Very nice! Always thought the 2012 Megas were the best, although I'm obviously biased

If build quality is as nice as the 2012 Scalp then they're better built than the later ones. The earlier sizing doesn't suit me though otherwise I would have one.

I am impressed with its build quality and size wise I'm made up with it so double happy.

Just need to sort forks as they need a service (losing air) so by the end of a ride I'm down to 120mm travel and start smashing pedals! Doh.

rockmonkeysc

Are they dual air? An air spring rebuild might be needed, the bottom circlip falls off the spring assembly. Takes about two hours the first time and is fairly simple.

MudOrNowt

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Are they dual air? An air spring rebuild might be needed, the bottom circlip falls off the spring assembly. Takes about two hours the first time and is fairly simple.

Yeah they are. Had a quick look on the guide on here as well as the Rockshox service pdf and thought about giving it a bash.... That lasted about an hour before I decided that sending them to TF for a full service would be the best option as I'd end up getting raged and launching them lol.

They'll be going on my hard tail build anyway so may as well get them done

rockmonkeysc

It's fairly simple are long as you are very methodical and organised and ensure that everything is spotlessly clean when you reassemble it.
Sending them to TF Tuned is easier :-)

MudOrNowt

RockmonkeySC wrote:

It's fairly simple are long as you are very methodical and organised and ensure that everything is spotlessly clean when you reassemble it.
Sending them to TF Tuned is easier :-)

Just had a play around with the pressures top and bottom and I'm back up to full travel.... See how they fair over the next week then I'll get them booked in

rockmonkeysc

If they go down again then you definitely need an air spring service.

MudOrNowt

So...... Just got my forks back on after sending them to Slick&Slide (RickDraper on here) for a service.

Firstly, big thanks to Rick. Excellent service, great price and a thoroughly nice chap

Decided to get shut of the front mech too and go 1x9.... Chainrings were way past their best!

Borrowed a Superstar NW off my mate to see how I get on with it. Only had a quick blast just now but the bike feels amazing. Forks were obviously well overdue and feel great. Looking forward to getting out properly now 8)





Reverb looks like its sticking up loads but its just because the bike is so nose down on the stand!







Need some new tyres next, going to stick with the Minion on the front but may go for a shorty on the back.... anyone used them?

rockmonkeysc

That's an odd combination. Minions are crap in mud and Shorty's will only be good in the wet.

MudOrNowt

RockmonkeySC wrote:

That's an odd combination. Minions are crap in mud and Shorty's will only be good in the wet.

Oh really fair enough! I love my Minion combo in the wet, been pretty good in fairly light mud but nothing too heavy. They didn't impress me in the few dry rides I had last year but these are only for the next few months anyhow.

I need something until it's dry so I'll stick with the Minions.

MudOrNowt

Well been a while since I put anything on here, not a great deal changed really.

Got myself a set of Marzocchi (r.i.p!) 55's and it transformed the bike. The 1-9 set up made me push a lot more and although I have 1-10 on order it has been fine 90% of the time.



Ended up doing a sesh at Revo last month and absolutely loved it, really impressed with the bike.



Also, been looking at this option and after seeing a thread on here started doing more research until last week when I found this little beut on eBay. Not used it in anger yet but should get a good sesh this weekend to get a better idea.

rockmonkeysc

Van RC? TF Tuned can do some very good things with them.

MudOrNowt

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19663490#p19663490]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

Van RC? TF Tuned can do some very good things with them.

Yeah that's the one. The plan is to send it to them once it needs a service

rockmonkeysc

I do like these early Nukeproofs. My 2014 Mega TR was so poorly made compared to my 2012 Scalp, I really do likewise Scalp. It's simple but effective.

ilovedirt

Nice, Van RC is a decent shock, lots of tuning potential, get it sent off to TF and get it PUSH tuned, it'll make a world of difference.

MudOrNowt

Been a while, got rid of the Mega for this... As per Aggressive hardtail thread

Dialled Alpine Steel hardtail.



Just recently bought a Trek FuelEx 7.5 that's going to be my distance bike as this is more of a ripper!