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May 23, 2012, 04:46:39 PM

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Total Voters: 287

[KeithM]

Just found this site, so I am saying hello and, since I am propping up this metaphorical bar, you are all welcome to a drink on me.

Just registered, and I have a feeling this is going to be another great waste of time (according to the rest of my family) along with the supermoto site I frequent.

I placed an order for a 5.5 'special build' from Merlin two days ago and I am already impatient. Now if you think that was the wrong thing to do, don't say as much - I want to hear encouraging noises.

I am coming from a 1991 Offroad Proflex 950 with modest mods including V-brakes, SPD pedals and a Manitou elastomer forks. Cost me £1400, which in today's money is a lot of dosh. Getting some compensation from a bike crash last year so what better way to spend some of it.

Was leafing through some mags doing the research and spotted the Commencal. That was it - lust at first sight. Wasn't that bothered about the spec (it's all swappable) but it was the oh so simple single pivot look that did it.

So guys and gals, it's all a new world to me now - SRAM this, XT that, Deus, RaceFace, Crane Creek. Marvellous.

So I am going to be looking forward to some exchanges with you lot now and again.

Cheers.

BTW I am in sunny Birmingham.

KeithM

[twin]

I am coming from a 1991 Offroad Proflex 950 with modest mods including V-brakes, SPD pedals and a Manitou elastomer forks.

hohoho, coming from such an awesome bike i'm afraid the commencal will have a hard time impressing you. elastomer! hihi looking forward to hearing your opinion on the meta after your first ride. congrats with the new bike(when it arrives) and a prob sweet purchase, though the season adjustibility of the elastomer will be hard to duplicate. nothing like a mushy fork in the summer and come christmas it's harder than a... eh, something hard.

[KeithM]

Ah well, I was lucky to pick up a kit of elastomers some years ago - proper Manitou ones, with the long Allen key, so yep, playing around with the colours is good. Noticed that they were stiffening up over the last couple of years though. The zip tie around the fork leg was not moving as far. Googled 'elastomers' and found lots of folk trying to get hold of them.

My tweak is to use a single hole punch. I think it is for making holes in gaskets for engines, but has a variety of diameters. Using the tiniest (around 2mm diam.) you can increase the degree of compression quite easily. A few well-placed holes can transform the hardest (blue in the kit) to really soft. It makes no noticeable difference to the sag either. Joy.

Thanks Twin for the kind words on the Proflex. It was only 29lbs in 1991 for one of the first full-suss bikes around. There was really only Proflex and Gary Fisher doing them as I recall. I am still proud of it.

[twin]

http://www.fortunecity.de/kunterbunt/schwarzwald/189/bike.htm

is that the one you have/had? notice (it's kinda hard not to) the utterly terrible redo of queens "bicycle" and beware of pop ups. don't really know anything at all about the elastomer suspension other than that it is today considered a fairly unsuccessful venture. hehe. interesting to hear some tweaks one could do though.

well, i guess the proflex was one of the best fullsussers back then, as there weren't that many on the marked, and it is no understatement at all that the meta is amongst the finest in offering these days, so it seems you're quite good at picking your bikes no? hehe

[KeithM]

This is my baby right now, and you will see the passing resemblance to the Meta. The difference the Manitou made was awsome back then. I am hoping for the same sort of next-level experience with the Commencal.

[Te Bheag]

I remember lusting after those!

Good to see you're a keen DIY-er Keith!

[KeithM]

I remember lusting after those!

Good to see you're a keen DIY-er Keith!

Hmm. Not what the other half would describe me as! The garage is for storing bits for my supermoto bikes and car stuff, rather than paints.

[garsr6]

i had a flexstem like yours, they were the nuts.

[KeithM]

I haven't had my 5.5 from Merlin yet of course, but to be honest I still rate the flexstem and the rear elastomers. I was miffed when I bought the bike 'cos the flexstem pivot was supposed to be ally like in the brochure but came with a cromo one. I still really notice how much it smoothes out the rough stuff.

Cheers Garsr6 (Yamaha by any chance?)

[garsr6]

no not yamaha, golf vr6. took me a while to figure 'yamaha' out. im a bit of a vw nut.

i think i may still have my old flexstem somewhere, i see you had uber smoothness with a f/stem AND elastomer forks.

i could only dream of that combo when i was 14........aaaah.....the ninetys. im surprised you have no purple ano on that pro-flex.

[KeithM]

ROFL The lime green swing arm is very telling as to when it was built. Shell suits and pastels and all that.