Carrera Kraken *Update Page 5

Greer_
Greer_ Posts: 1,716
edited August 2013 in Your mountain bikes
UPDATE: PAGE 5

Older Pics:
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I got into biking over the summer and I'm loving it so far. This is what I'm flying around on at the moment and I am perfectly happy with it (kinda!) I have some new forks on the way - now fitted! - and wouldn't mind new brakes/wheels when money allows! Updated spec is as follows:
(^ ) denotes upgrade

 Forks: RockShox Recon Gold TK Solo Air 2011^
 Front Brake: Tektro Auriga Comp
 Rear Brake: Tektro Auriga Comp
 Grips: Superstar Supagripa^
 Handle Bars: Raceface Evolve XC Riser Bar 660mm^
 Stem: Kore Elite K34 100mm 31.8mm^
 Headset: Superstar Integrato^
 Headset Spacers: Nukeproof Turbine^
 Gear Shifters: SRAM X5 Speed Triggers
 Chain: SRAM PG951
 Cassette: SRAM
 Chainset: Truvativ Isoflow
 Bottom Bracket: Power Spline BB
 Pedals: Shimano M520^
 Front Mech: SRAM X5
 Rear Mech: SRAM X5
 Rims: DDM Disc Specific White 09
 Hubs: Formula Alloy Black
 Tyres: Continental Speed King
 QR Skewers: Shimano Deore^
 Saddle: Charge Spoon^
 Seat post: Kalloy Alloy 31.6mm
 Seat Clamp: Superstar QR Seatclamp^

Current weight: 12.9kg - wouldn't mind knocking another bit of this!

Also tyre tread is getting low so looks like another replacement is needed there.

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Comments

  • chez_m356
    chez_m356 Posts: 1,893
    now there's a bike that you can see has been used, and it still looks good, love the colour combo, really nice :D
    Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 10- CANYON Nerve AM 6 2011
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    Thanks :D shame I could only find the new forks in black! Should have them fitted by next Saturday, can't wait to try them out
  • mrmonkfinger
    mrmonkfinger Posts: 1,452
    clean and functional

    what are the new forks?
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    Rockshox Recon Gold TK Solo Air :D should hopefully be a huge improvement
  • WILL be a huge improvement! Should be lighter as well, are they the 120mm flavour?
    Very funny Scotty, now beam me down my clothes.
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    They're from on-one, said 100mm on the website but i'm hoping they have removable spacers inside them. Whenever I phoned up, the guy didn't seem very sure but I wasn't worried
  • leaflite
    leaflite Posts: 1,651
    Greer_ wrote:
    They're from on-one, said 100mm on the website but i'm hoping they have removable spacers inside them. Whenever I phoned up, the guy didn't seem very sure but I wasn't worried

    Should be ok at 100mm. Its not too difficult to remove the spacers(ive just done this with a set of toras). You will probably need a 24mm socket and some 15wt oil.
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    leaflite wrote:
    Greer_ wrote:
    They're from on-one, said 100mm on the website but i'm hoping they have removable spacers inside them. Whenever I phoned up, the guy didn't seem very sure but I wasn't worried

    Should be ok at 100mm. Its not too difficult to remove the spacers(ive just done this with a set of toras). You will probably need a 24mm socket and some 15wt oil.

    I'll see how I get on - waiting till Wednesday for the rescheduled delivery as I missed them on friday :evil:
  • mrmonkfinger
    mrmonkfinger Posts: 1,452
    Yes they'll be a huge improvement. I did a similar upgrade a while ago from a cheapo coil fork with fixed damping, to a recon race solo air (similar to yours but 2009) - it was a completely different bike :D
  • Greer_ wrote:
    leaflite wrote:
    Greer_ wrote:
    They're from on-one, said 100mm on the website but i'm hoping they have removable spacers inside them. Whenever I phoned up, the guy didn't seem very sure but I wasn't worried

    Should be ok at 100mm. Its not too difficult to remove the spacers(ive just done this with a set of toras). You will probably need a 24mm socket and some 15wt oil.

    I'll see how I get on - waiting till Wednesday for the rescheduled delivery as I missed them on friday :evil:

    Download the manual from Rockshox to make sure you can do something like that before you rip them open! 8)
    Very funny Scotty, now beam me down my clothes.
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    WILL be a huge improvement! Should be lighter as well, are they the 120mm flavour?

    About 500g lighter if the weight of the suntours I have is correct (1805g compared to 2360g). Will get around to weighing them both when I'm swapping them over
    Yes they'll be a huge improvement. I did a similar upgrade a while ago from a cheapo coil fork with fixed damping, to a recon race solo air (similar to yours but 2009) - it was a completely different bike :D

    I hope so - the suntours just seize up on me after about 10 minutes riding, it's just like a rigid! I've had them apart every few weeks regreasing everything but made no difference. Just accepted they're crap! They'll be going onto my other bike for going to the shops etc.
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    Download the manual from Rockshox to make sure you can do something like that before you rip them open! 8)

    Done that today in school (only a few months left before uni though :D ... won't be able to afford many upgrades then :( ) before I seen this! Looks do-able. Think I'll leave them at 100mm for a while, then when they need a clean/service i'll remove the spacer.
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    Forks arrived today, well pleased :D I'll get them fitted on Saturday and I'm just about to enter for my first ever race on Sunday so it looks to be a great weekend! 8)

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  • DomN86
    DomN86 Posts: 112
    ^^^

    Upload a pic when you get that lovely fork on :wink::) .
    GIANT YUKON FX2 - http://goo.gl/xtIfv.
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    DomN86 wrote:
    Upload a pic when you get that lovely fork on :wink::) .

    Will do when I get home :)
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    DomN86 wrote:
    Upload a pic when you get that lovely fork on :wink::) .

    IMAG0203.jpg?t=1333569646

    There we go :D only decent one I can get, had it out on one ride at the weekend and the difference was incredible! Far more responsive steering too, so starting to regret the change to a 120mm stem! :oops: Fitted the poploc lever the other day, so will be trying that out on my ride tomorrow. I think it will take a few more rides to get them properly bedded in but I'm prepared to wait :)
  • DomN86
    DomN86 Posts: 112
    ^

    8).
    GIANT YUKON FX2 - http://goo.gl/xtIfv.
  • Worzel 72
    Worzel 72 Posts: 13
    That bike of yours looks like a cracking piece o kit, you've put a lot of effort into that. Well done sir
    Boardman Pro Ht 2010
    Spicy 516 2012
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    Thanks :) new superstar headset will be arriving soon (to be installed with homemade tools) + new superstar grips and shimano QRs. Next on the list is a shimano deore crankset with a hollowtech 11 BB - the bearings are gone in both the headset and BB (failed after only about 500 miles) - the BB isn't annoying me though as I can't feel the play when cycling so I'll wait until I can set the cash aside. New pics will go up when everything is put on :)
  • frazered
    frazered Posts: 333
    did the 100mm forks turn out to be adjustable to 120mm?
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    I haven't had them apart yet so I couldn't tell ya, sorry! There were no spacers supplied in the box and I forgot to check travel before I put air in them but I think they're set at 100mm which is perfectly fine for me as I'm rarely using the full travel as it is. But the first time I have them apart, I'll find out, too much effort replacing oil etc at the moment whenever they're pretty much brand new. I couldn't be happier with them though :D
  • frazered
    frazered Posts: 333
    They sound great. May get a pair myself. Cheers
  • jfry94
    jfry94 Posts: 392
    thinging about getting a set of eighter the recons or some sid race's but the vbrake boss's are putting me off of the recons could you post a couple of picture's of your bike front on please. btw very nice looking mines a couple of years older .
    2014 Giant Trance 27.5 1
    2013 Cannondale Jekyll 3
    2007 Carrera Kraken
  • jfry94
    jfry94 Posts: 392
    also how did you get on with the homemade tools and the headset.
    2014 Giant Trance 27.5 1
    2013 Cannondale Jekyll 3
    2007 Carrera Kraken
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    1x Superstar Supagrips (red endcaps and blue lockrings)
    1x Superstar Semi Integrated Headset
    2x Homemade Tools
    1x Broken Homemade Tool
    1x Shimano QR Skewers (in post)
    2x bags of haribo :lol:

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    About 40cms of threaded bar (from 1m length), 6 metal washers, 2 bolts (and 2 spare) - about £1.50 from local hardware store. And then 2 blocks of wood as the washers weren't big enough. It worked extremely well! Seat it first with a block of wood and a mallet, then hold the bolt at the bottom while tightening the top. If it starts going in crooked, loosen the bolt and move it so the pressure is applied in a different direction. £30 saved right there! Just watch the cables don't get tangled.

    I cut some copper pipe lengthways but it was too soft to knock the cups out. I ended up just using a flat screwdriver and a mallet. Hope that helps!

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    So happy! But if anyone has any tips for bleeding my brakes I'll gladly take it! Otherwise I won't be out riding again until next weekend :cry::cry:
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    jfry94 wrote:
    thinging about getting a set of eighter the recons or some sid race's but the vbrake boss's are putting me off of the recons could you post a couple of picture's of your bike front on please. btw very nice looking mines a couple of years older .

    I'll put some up tomorrow - too dark now. But the bosses screw off so it's nowhere near as bad as you think - it was one of my doubts about them but I figured I wasn't going to spend an extra £70 just to get forks without them! They don't annoy me at all now ... I can't see them when I'm riding!! :lol:
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    jfry94 wrote:
    thinging about getting a set of eighter the recons or some sid race's but the vbrake boss's are putting me off of the recons could you post a couple of picture's of your bike front on please. btw very nice looking mines a couple of years older .

    Sorry photobucket wouldn't work for me yesterday but here you go:

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  • jfry94
    jfry94 Posts: 392
    cheers for that i had heard that it was possible to fit a headset without specialised tools but had know idear how to go about it also that white headset looks amazing i want a white 1 now. also i will probably be getting some of the recons and a new headset with the next 2 months so ill post up some pics when i do.
    2014 Giant Trance 27.5 1
    2013 Cannondale Jekyll 3
    2007 Carrera Kraken
  • Greer_
    Greer_ Posts: 1,716
    jfry94 wrote:
    cheers for that i had heard that it was possible to fit a headset without specialised tools but had know idear how to go about it also that white headset looks amazing i want a white 1 now. also i will probably be getting some of the recons and a new headset with the next 2 months so ill post up some pics when i do.

    Me neither until I tried! :lol: thanks :) the forks are the best thing I've bought (bar the bike itself!) Keep us informed!
  • Very nice.
    Still can't wheelie :(