Pulled the trigger on white. It’s too pretty and I don’t believe it’s 300gr difference. Like 1/2 that.
So yeah 2-3 years from now I’ll spend an extra 30 minutes changing a headset bearing . . . Or more likely I’ll never have to change it. But even if I do it’s not worth the extra $1000 to buy a blur frameset.
I agree, I personally find the freaking out over servicing headsets to be overstating the issue. It’s also only the upper, which seldom actually wears out, the lower is the one that takes the brunt of the loading and dirt/grime.
You can definitely clean and degrease it if needed with a hose running through it though. And also, bleeding brakes is really not a big deal, especially with SRAMs bleeding edge setup, it’s like a 5 minute ordeal.
Agree with bleeding brakes not being a big deal, but I was under the impression that the SRAM compression fittings are non-reusable. If that’s the case, then changing the upper headset bearing (which is definitely rare) would require chopping the end of the hose off for a new fitting, which in turn could also require replacing the entire hose assembly, depending on how much slack is available.
It’s more of an issue with 100% internal housing, like on road/gravel bikes, since there is less slack, but routing the hose through the bearing does increase the (admittedly small) likelihood that is necessary.
The olive isn’t reusable, but the barb is. I’ve had mixed luck. Depending on how torqued down the brakes are, you can sometimes unthread the olive but reuse the barb. In any event on the Cervelo the hose is not completely internal so leaving an extra 1/2” of slack shouldn’t be a problem.
I see Nextie has changed the spec for NXT29VM36U.
Now there seems to be some 260g versions as well and the weight limits have changed.
“On date 2024.08.08, we successfully developed a lighter version of Omega 36U, the weight is 260g only. The impact test result reaches 100J.”
Weight: 260g / 280g
Strength: 100J (260g) / 105J (280g) <Pointed Hammer, 25psi>
Max System Weight: 143Kg (260g XC) / 150Kg (280g XC)
Those are some crazy bold claims for the weight limit.
https://www.nextie.com/carbon-mountain-bike-rim-29-inch-supreme-cross-country-NXT29VM36U
I know there isn’t many around but I’m yet to hear from a broken nextie rim. for $1500 and 1150 grams their cheapest DT 240 version that’s awesome price!
Finally weighed my '23 Epic Evo. Came in at 24 pounds with pedals, mount, and cages.
-This was the stock bottom level evo on super sale. Since I bought it, I moved most of the stuff from my Spark over to it. The only things left that are stock are the bar/stem and rear shock.
xx1 axs drivetrain, Fox 34 SC 120 44 offset fork, Fox Transfer SL dropper and lever, Rotor inPower crankset (been wanting to offload this and get something else due to 175 crank length), Stans Valor Carbon wheels (these are super old school but light and so far bullet proof), Racing Ray, Aspen. The pedals are my XTR enduro pedals as I need to replace my xc ones. That could drop it a bit more. Going to the Fox Transfer SL from the stock dropper was almost a pound weight savings.
Best part, it’s a blast to ride!
Agree on none of these being “rock solid”. Probably not the best way to describe it (although I’ve likely said the same thing is someone was asking)
Having many years on fox 32sc and 34sc forks and fox nude shock (all with 3 way remote on a spark RC), I can say that those fox components all have a little give as well (at least on my bike).
The fox forks have a little less give then my SID select, but all of them move if you bang the front down. A decent shove will make both of them move a few mm and a bigger bang will get the SID to go about a cm or so (but I don’t think it’s a full inch). The shocks seem similar, a small amount of movement. Having recently switched from fox to a bike with rockshox sid fork/shock with 3 way remote, I spent some time comparing because the SID shock on my new bike had a noticeable movement when I got it. But it just wasn’t set up properly and I was able to lock it firm after adding a barrel adjuster to fine tune the cable pull.
After a couple months riding the new bike with SID fork/shock, for me they feel just as firm as the fox stuff when locked when climbing out of the saddle (which is where I tend to feel any movement if something is out of adjustment). Both Fox and RS are designed to “blow through” the lockout if you hit something hard, I just assumed (right or wrong) that the slight movement is a precursor to the blow through and it’s normal. I just know they both feel fully rigid when riding locked out even if there might actually be a little movement. It’s not like any bike is fully rigid if you are riding mtb-sized tires anyway, tires probably have more suspension movement in them compared to any slight give from a locked fork or shock.
Interesting, thanks! But what is your experience with Fox in lockout relative to the photo in my post from earlier?
Barring the release of a new improved Spark, ZFS-5 120, Blur TR, Mach 4 SL, etc in 2025. Based on what is currently available I’m heavily leaning towards replacing my 21 Norco Revolver FS 100 with either the Scalpel 2, Epic Expert or Epic Evo Expert. The main difference I would be seeking would be suspension and geo that is going to make me more comfortable with the increasingly common black diamond features on the race courses, some of the courses aren’t even allowing for B-lines for all of these features anymore (most still did this year).
The Scalpel is cheaper but ~2 lbs heavier than the Epic, 1/2 pound lighter than the EVO.
From the reviews I have seen the Scalpel is way more forgiving compared to the new regular Epic but likely will never have a chance to ride any of these myself to compare. I only have one MTB so it would be for trail riding too but I only trail ride to keep my skills up for XC racing these days.
The change I’m looking for over my current bike is that when I case a jump or land poorly off a drop, it absorbs that more like a trail bike would (have never ridden a trail bike) but will still need to work for its key purpose of a XC race bike.
Also am gonna pick up a full face and some pads to start trying to ‘send it’ a bit more to increase my familiarity with some of the tougher features as there are plenty of more skilled riders doing them on 100mm travel bikes, probably some with worse geo.
Any thoughts on the 3? I expect the regular Epic would be a gain but the Scalpel and Evo would be even more of a gain, albeit with a corresponding weight penalty.
not considering the ASR? We could see another new bike from Ibis as well maybe a longer travel Exie. I think the EVO now is too much into trail territory, I’d probably only consider the Epic 120/120, you can always make it an EVO with a longer fork if needed, also do you really need a regular 34 with codes and a 20mm rise bars?
Probably not, I’m sure there are plenty who would do all the stuff that freaks me out on a HT. There is obviously a crossover point somewhere, where at a certain point a heavier/less efficient bike will cost me more on the climbs and flow trails than it will gain me on the black diamond features but I think I have more to gain from ‘easier’ geo and increased travel than I do from a small weight decrease.
I’ve never ridden a bike with more than 100mm of travel but suspect something like the modern Stumpjumper would be too slow elsewhere around the race course despite how much easier it may make the black diamond stuff due to the increased weight and decreased efficiency but would like to make a move towards that end of the spectrum that would still make sense for XC racing.
My spark is currently in pieces, so it’s hard to get a good comparison right now, but it seems like the fox moves quite a bit less than the SID with the “bash” test, but they are very similar with the “push” test (which I personally think is more relevant). Here is what my SID does with a firm push down on the handlebars (more force than I’d expect while standing/climbing or during a sprint unless you bash into something).
And here’s the movement of the SID with the “bash” test where I’m picking up the front of the bike and slamming it down with force. Looks similar to yours, measures about 3/4". So, yeah, not “rock solid”, but I think I want it to act this way if it hits something.
Again, I kind of obsessed over this when I went from fox to SID with all the testing and adjusting cable pull, etc. Bottom line after many miles (and an 8+ hour race with extensive use of lockout), I’m a fan of the SID fork/shock. And while I didn’t care much for the twistloc when I got it, I’m a fan there as well compared to my scott lever. Just took some getting use to before it became second nature.
You might be able to fit a 950 on the top, but might also want to consider side loading cages. That’s what I had to do on my Scalpel. I could do 600ml bottles with standard cages, but 750ml require side loaders. Naturally I went with King Ti, because Yeah.
What’s the name of the double cage adapter?
I have seen only (1) rim crack now (it is a drilled NXT29VM35U, which is the predecessor to offerings now) and that was from when the rider flatted right at the start of a technical down hill and had a full on edge rock strike to the rim. This was a carbon spoke version also and the rim/wheelset stayed together and he stayed safe.
Nextie engineering reviewed photos and instantly knew it was a full strike but still offered “cost” to this individual for a new rim.
Rider was 185lbs and very abusive, I have been trying to give as much feedback to them as possible.
I remember it was significant when I went from my level brakes to my XTR - I want to say it was over .5lbs but cant remember.
I finally got around to installing this on my EE7 - the bike is now 21.4lbs on my scale and IMO has more weight to loose if I “wanted” to.
Here are the specs;
Between the seat, seatpost, handlebars and stem I imagine there is some pretty good weight to be saved there.
Is that rear Aspen mounted backwards?
Good eye! Guess I know what I’m doing tonight.
