New here: bike arriving tomorrow (in 2 boxes, apparently)

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May 23, 2012, 03:50:09 PM

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[loopyloop]

Hi you all
Just saying hello from Warwickshire.... with a big strike of luck I  found 1 2008 meta 551 left at a minuscule online shop and bought is for £1299. Arrives tomorrow.
Read here that some people changed the shock for a DHX 4. air... do I want to do the same?. What are the practical differences at level of riding?
Thanks.
Good to be here!

[iain1775]

bllody hell mate what a bargain
Welcome to the club
I wouldnt change a thing (other than handlebars and grips) on the 551, love mine just as it is

[OldFisher]

Nice bargain

Welcome to the forum

[tequesta]

bllody hell mate what a bargain
Welcome to the club
I wouldnt change a thing (other than handlebars and grips) on the 551,

Hi mate!

I agree with iain. I would not think about changing parts you have not used yet.

And if you want to have a DHX, you have to go for a 5.0. The Meta 551 is so well spected, the 4.0 would be a downgrade...

[themossman]

Welcome you jammy bugger!!

Ride it for a bit and then decide on what you want to change. As iain1775 mentioned, handlebars are a popular upgrade!

[loopyloop]

Thank you all for your insight... understand the point about the shock, so will wait. What's wrong with the handle bars?Which ones do people go for?
Also heard some did not like the saddle...

[Crag]

Nothing wrong with the handlebars, just a personal preference.

I always put Easton Monkeybars on my bikes - like the familiar feel and width.  Switched the grips to Ruffians as well - again personal preference.

Don't the 08's come with a 2.1 HR on the rear?  If so I'd swap that for something a bit more substantial.

I dinged my rim after a couple of months using that tyre coming down Cut Gate.  And it washes out quite a bit as well if you push it a bit in the corners.  2.35 HR are a popular choice, although I use the Advantage.

Other than that, just rag it till something breaks or wears out and replace with the bits of bling that take your fancy.

[ChrisG1975]

Nice price...I got a 2008 551 at the end of last year for a good £500 discount but think you've found a better deal!  

Mine has taken some tweaking to feel right but I've not replaced anything through choice...  Only issues I've had are:

Saddle...  Ive found the ibeam saddle difficult to tweak...  when you undo it you have to kind of wiggle it loose and then you loose the position it was in so you're kind starting from scratch again.   I've managed to get it just about right now tho.  I'm not sure that the saddle is completely comfortable...will see how it goes and maybe consider changing it out...

Bars... just some tweaking of the brakes / changers to accommodate my large hands, and rolling the bars forward to give a bit more reach...  

Shifter / mech...  Managed to break both the X0 rear mech (twig damage!) and the shifter also failed...had to replace both, although I've put an X9 mech on as I couldn't justify the huge cost for the X0!

Tyres... Mine has a skinnier rear tyre (2.1 I think) but I find it slides all over in the scottish mud whilst the wider front tyre grips really well... so I might change this out for the same as the front

Only other issue is that I think I'm struggling to keep the air in the rear shock... it seems to drop down to about 110 which I don't think is enough for me... might need to get it checked out...

Apart from that, its ace... just as light as my old hardtail, climbs really well and great going downhill.... I'm really happy with it and think it will get better and better as I tweak it more...

Hope you enjoy it!!

[iain1775]

oh and the paint is crap quality so invest in some bike tape (helicopter tape or similar) and apply liberally to keep it looking good. - search the forum if you don't know what Im on about, plenty of info on here

Ref the bars I found the Commie ones to be too narrow and a rubbish shape as well as unbelivably heavy, but then I already had the bars from my old bike so swopping didnt cost anything.
Grips - you need lock on's once tried you will never go back to normal grips again. ODI's are the original and best although I saw some nice green lizard skins the other day that Im thinking of getting, will compliment the green parts on the frame!
Watch your brakes, my formulas are not the best despite having bled them a couple of times (although I must have a faulty set as others on here rave about their power), you may like to upgrade to a bigger rotor if you really start pushing the downhill action

Other cheap parts rife for early upgrading are wheel skewers (stock ones have had some issues of loosening) and maybe seat QR for same problems
Maybe get a Neoguard for this winter weather to keep the crap from your eyes

Thats about all I have done to mine in 12 months of owning it and still perfectly happy

[Crag]

If you're after copter tape I've the email address of a guy who recently sold me 2 metres for £16 posted.

Cheapest place I've found by far (although someone will be along shortly to correct me) - let me know if you're interested and I'll give you his address.

[themossman]

I found the stock bars flexed a little in action, but 'm a big bloke so depends on your riding style I guess. I got a Truativ bar and stem combo from Merlin. Big and beefy and def no felx now. I love the saddle, agree with comment on adjustment being a bit of a fiddle, but once you have it in a position you like, stick with it.

QRs do work loose, so check each ride and then change for something better, I went for Halo porkies, but now i have a bolt thru on the rear.

These posts may make you think that you've made a mistake getting the bike, trust me, the bike makes you ride harder and faster so little things like this can make the worl of difference!

[loopyloop]

Yes! It is here... very unbuilt and with 2. tyres all around. Luckily I have bigger ones here (I'm thinking a Schwalbe fat Albert at front and High Roller at rear, both in 2.3 wide - or maybe the other way round?).
Anyway, the handlebar looks like a stick to me, so I will change it to the bigger 31.8mm clamp. Which means the stem will have to also.
Anyone here has such combo for sale (90mm stem)? Or fancy a swap?
Let me know.
Thanks.

ALSO: can I remove the grips from the bars and keep them (haven't seem them yet, left in a rush), or will they have to be sacrificed?

[loopyloop]

I saw some nice green lizard skins the other day that Im thinking of getting, will compliment the green parts on the frame!

If you mean the Lizard Skins Northshore Dual Compound Grips, they are absolutely excellent, I have them on my HT. They are NOT green though, at best they are olive in colour. I'll get them again for the Meta, not sure which colour.

[iain1775]

If you mean the Lizard Skins Northshore Dual Compound Grips, they are absolutely excellent, I have them on my HT. They are NOT green though, at best they are olive in colour. I'll get them again for the Meta, not sure which colour.

dunno but these ones I saw were definately green - bright green definatel not olive!

Regarding your grips - yeah easy, squirt some washing up liquid on a screwdriver or blunt knife or similar and gently prise them off by sliding the screwdriver between grip and bar and moving round the bar in circular motion. Grip will come off easy. Just make sure to clean the liquid off grip and bar afterwards or will always be slippy!

[damo]

dunno but these ones I saw were definately green - bright green definatel not olive!

Regarding your grips - yeah easy, squirt some washing up liquid on a screwdriver or blunt knife or similar and gently prise them off by sliding the screwdriver between grip and bar and moving round the bar in circular motion. Grip will come off easy. Just make sure to clean the liquid off grip and bar afterwards or will always be slippy!

I've just fitted these to mine.



Damo