I'm In love with the Absolut 4x! questions! ????

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May 22, 2012, 04:46:36 PM

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Total Voters: 287

[reanimation]

Hiya there, now don't throw bottles I'm not a commencal owner...yet!

I went over to the Merlin Cycles open day yesterday, I was expecting to like their cromo XC Rock Lobster bikes, it was ok but felt a bit square compared to what i'm used to, I had a go on a Commencal full sus that I've seen a lot of rave about, It was set quite squishy but I think I prefer HT's anyway. I had a go on a Absolut 4x (didn't know what it was at the time) cos it looked very similar to my Identiti Dr Jekyll XL...

Wow but its so different, super short and responsive, and how light! 

It was apparently owned by one of the guys at the shop, and apparnetly a short frame, I'm 6ft 2 and thats why I opted for an XL Identiti (22.4 TT)

I went for a blast round a local disused BMX track on My Identiti later in the aft, it felt so stodgy and dead compared  . This can be blamed on the 24" Tornado wheels, or the Dirt jump spec full fat Gusset Pigmy Cromo cranks! Or maybe it can be also blamed on the frame which is pretty good and confidence inspiring but not far off 6lbs! Not heave but a lot heavier than the A4x

How does Commencal make the Absolut 4x 2 lbs lighter almost :O are they prone to breaking?

So I'm tempted with a new bike (frame) now  it feels and looks begging to be ridden. 

Now I'm not some mental dirt jumper/racer/downhiller, I just like a spritely chuckable fun bike to take on me travels.
I'll be doing a bunch of different riding, blasting around on the road and local stuff -bit flat where I live now , BMX track mucking about, trail fun, and even XC. I take it the Commencal XC bikes would be a come down after this?

What do you guys reckon?

Should i replace the Identiti?
What size to go for?
will it break? 
2008 model, or hang fire and save up ready for 2009? (£450 + is twice of the Dr Jekyll RRP!)

Worst thing is i cant test ride one again as they are not a typical bike shops keep in stock, merlin are sold out!

Yep i got it bad!  Thanks for reading 

[reanimation]

I take it you have all got full sussers then! 

If anyone is qualified to advise... I'd also like to know how different the Absolut 4x frame only is to the frames on the full bikes available for under £800?

cheers

spk soon maybe...

[Mr.SandmaN]

i would say IF u can afford it buy it man your getting a light more desiable ride , possibly weaker then a identiti (only due to the fact that they are over built imo )but as strong as any modern race frame and if Commie HT frames are as nicely built as their full sus ones , it will be awesome

[mc]

I think the biggest issue is, the absolut 4x is a very rare frame/bike.

I've only ever seen one on here that I can remember, possibly two, and it was broken (user abuse though!)

I've got a MaxMax (just a rebadged absolut alu frame), and I like it. I only use it as a play bike though, as it's far too small for me to pedal any distance on.
Not entirely sure how it compares to the 4x version though, the geometry for both should be on the commencal site.

[reanimation]

Thanks  

yeah the official site there is limited info as its under construction on the geometry page.   

Must say I'd be tempted by a 'long' version. but the rarity makes it difficult to go see/try another. My mate said he's spotted one in a bike shop in Bradford West Yorks so that may be worth a peek. Some online shops are selling for as little at £400  on 08 bikes and Merlin reckoned when they get the 09 ones in reckoned about £450. really think The Dr is overbuilt for me so the 4x should be bang on for some all round fun if it can take a wee bit of wellie!

reported broken ones are a worry though, maybe they will iron out any issues on 09 ones..

[bong69uk]

All bikes break tho you have to remember that, and on forums like this its just highlighted more thats all,cos most of the posts are bout breakages and parts failing etc,if every1 who was stoked about their commies wrote on this forum it would be so damn full it would have a new post every other second  .
so dont let that put you off, and im guessing that the 4x will be built stronger than the absoluts' (well so im assuming or how else would they justify such a high price tag??) as well as lighter,but if the absoluts' are anything to go by then it will be solid,my absolut 2 feels bomb proof and thats it at the hands of a 15stone brute,lol. and i dont exactly go easy on it (like just using it for jumping off kerbs etc,i use it for its intended use and fully). 

[reanimation]

Great point bong, cheers for that you are right, only the bad stuff. this brand is getting some rave reviews from those in the know as well as its loyal fans here!

I AM going to calm the hell down though, finish my old Santa Cruz bullet project and see how I gel with Full suss, then see about selling up the Dr and check out the 09 Black and green 4x's as well as the competition; Cove, Charge, SC Chameleon etc. 

[Electrogiirl]

Yep i got it bad! 

You got it bad???  I was giving my bike a caring once over in the garage tonight ... thinking how much I loved it, so much so that I kissed it! 

 

[reanimation]

 


 

Now that's bad!

[reanimation]

ah

Sorry my bad I DID find the geometry and sizings for next years, its the 2008 i could find nowt for.

http://www.commencal.com/news/bicycles/geometry/absolut4X_09.pdf
Its put on weight at 4.2lbs which IMO is a good thing  , forkwise, its measured up at 470mm long, my White Bros forks with limited 100mm squish would be 490, currently 510 (120 squish) on teh Jekyll, must be buggereing up angles as identiti measure against a 440mm lengthg fork! 

Top tube length, effective top tube length at least S=574 L=594, My Identiti XL is about 10mm longer at about 585than the absolut small and a few mm shorter than the large.

Absolut has that super short back end! 

Pickling, i know it may seem a but obsessive but worth researching i have leant that at least i needto lower my forks to properly suit either frame!
http://www.identitibikes.com/identitibikes/drjekyll.html

phew 

[bong69uk]

my White Bros forks with limited 100mm squish

lol,loving the term dude,i might pick that one up    see how well i can make it stick up here in scotland,if in the future you hear some1 referring to "squish" when talking about forks,you can feel proud to know u were the founder of that term, ha 

[reanimation]

i don't think that term was 100% mine anyway to be fair, but I do use unusual terms sometimes, just cos that's how my head processes it, the original stuff i have come up with though, the internet has let me know that there is a few like-minds out there, which course is good and bad. yeah the term works

[Electrogiirl]

 

Now that's bad!

Bad ... but bad as in good!!  Ah!  Life just got so much better when I got my bike! 

[gravity-slave]

I reckon you'll love it.  I'm 6' and have a Large Absolut built up with pretty light but rugged kit and it's an amazing bike.  Light, flickable, really sorted geometry but still decent strength.

It's no steel DJ hardtail but is built for 4X racing so should stand up to the jumps and the odd case.  I've taken mine dirt jumping and light duty DH and it comes back for more every time.

Wicked bike, I'd happily recommend one!

Fork wise, don't go too long.  I've set my Revelations to 95mm and it feels great, the head tube is on slackest.  You could use a longer fork with the neutral or -1 setting on the head tube, but get close to the recommended axle/crown length if you can.

[reanimation]

Hey thanks for replies, not been on for ages but not forgotten these lovely bikes. I had put off buying a slightly porkier black 2009 model till next year but had a shufty mobile  bid on this one today, lost thank goodness, coulda been sticky , but still wet at a fair price,  will scout for prices new black one next year,...


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