Wheels / Maxles / Stiffer Back End ... oh yeah and a fork query !!

[ceejay]

Christ on a biike... what to do !!!

I'm just after some advise / ideas and places to shop.....

Like my pimp white rims from my 09 5.5.2 - Equalizer 27's; however fell out with the hub ages ago and would like to stiffen up the rear end a little if poss. This is where is gets tricky............ do i .....................

Get the Hope Hoops Flow's (black) with Hope Pro 2's.....
Do I buy 1 x rear Hope Hub ang get this laced into the existing rear wheel as the front hub is fine and working.
What is the going rate for a rear wheel build if I have the hub?
Is the Maxle and some 2010 dropouts the only option for stiffening the arse end up or can I do something with the std drop outs I have and something like the 10mm bolt in option on the Hope Pro 2's?

1 other thing..... I guess it's impossible to buy 32 Float lowers with the 15mm QR and fit them to my forks instead of running the std QR?

Cheers guys
CeeJay

[nickfry]

I converted my Hope Pro 2s to 12mm bolt through and used the 12mm drop outs that came with the bike.

Stiffened the back end up on my '08 55 vip no end, and was a MUCH cheaper option than the Maxle.

[Pedal Head]

MoJo will supply Float 15QR lowers, prices as of a year ago were £149 supply only or £129 if fitted at the same time as a service. A Maxle will stiffen up the back end & you will also notice a big difference with 15QR. If you go for Hope Pro 2’s you can buy the adaptors to chop and change at will

[iain1775]

MoJo will supply Float 15QR lowers, prices as of a year ago were £149 supply only or £129 if fitted at the same time as a service. A Maxle will stiffen up the back end & you will also notice a big difference with 15QR. If you go for Hope Pro 2’s you can buy the adaptors to chop and change at will

This is my next planned major upgrade, as soon as I get some new wheels so long as they have hubs that can be swopped over (Ie Hopes) then I will be sending fork off for a service
Since doing the back end with a Maxle its highlighted even more the sloppyness of the front!

[NJ]

I've upgraded my 08 Float lowers to have the 15qr, and I noticed an improvement to steering precision. Definitely reccommended.

I got it from Mojo recently and cost £129 which includes the seals and foam rings. The lowers didn't come with decals, but I was offered the choice of one of the three colours available (i.e. Float, Vans or Talas). Decal were an extra £15 so I didn't bother with them.

Fitting is simple and if you don't need to change the damping oil, turn the bike upside down so that the oil stays in the stanchions.

BTW Flow rims are available in white: http://www.justridingalong.com/shop.php?product=84 or if you want something a bit lighter try the new Crest rim from NoTubes.

[Pedal Head]

This is my next planned major upgrade, as soon as I get some new wheels so long as they have hubs that can be swopped over (Ie Hopes) then I will be sending fork off for a service
Since doing the back end with a Maxle its highlighted even more the sloppyness of the front!

You won't be disappointed. the extra stiffness & precision is confidence inspiring.

Wheels were built by Merlin - XM719's on Pro 2's & were on offer at £229 at the time although the crappy exchange rate will have since had an effect, wheels though are still as true as the day I bought them 18 months back.

Off topic anyone ridden Coed y Brenin over the past couple of weeks?, heading there Wednesday & wondered what the trail conditions are like. Be nice to ride the thing after dragging it round Edale over the weekend. MBR & the Beast are shut so planning Tarw & Dragons back then fill in with the short reds until knackered.

[ceejay]

Wow thanks for the response guys.... you don't know how much you're all gonna cost me!!!

Back end is settled then I think... going for the std 12mm dropout option, just need to get some now  Maxle would have been good, but conisdering value for money and the same or almost same stiffness it's not worth it. Although I did note the Maxle Lite in Red is on offer at CRC for £25 !!!

The Wheels will prob be black and purchased from someone like Bike-outlet, they seem to be the cheapest at the moment. Tempted by 2nd hand crossmax sx, but heard the hubs are pants!

Would love White Stans, but I'm prob talking an extra £60/70 for the customer build although I could get the black one painted for an extra £20 or so......


Really really keen on the front fork upgrade, that's almost made my day..... does mean I want it all now rather than doing bit by bit.....

I may have to strip my old Kona and sell it seeing as though I've not used it in over a year and I dont do as much free riding / downhill anymore..... I'm more of a trail centre tart nowadays !!!

Cheers for the advice up to now and if you know where I can get some white stans at a similar price to black or god forbid some hope hoops someone please let me know!!!!!!


 

[damo]

I've got a kit for sale if you want it. It's a bolt through bolt and dropouts. Send me a pm if you are interested.

Damo

[ceejay]

aarrggghhhh my head is hurting after this weekend......

Wheels are still to be sorted, but it's now between the following:

Picked the AM MTB up in Leisure Lakes (tubeless version) which was just over £425ish, they were so so light compared to the pro 2 on a mavic!!

American Classic MTB (Cross Country)
Front700 - Rear820 - Combined1520 - Max  Rider weight235 I can get for £322 rrp is £429.

American Classic All Mountain - Can get these for new for £299 rrp is £399
Front900 - Rear1010 - Combined1910 - Max rider weight250

2nd hand Industry Nines.... supposedly super stiff and on white flows for £400, replacement spokes could be an issues tho !!

Hope Pro2 on Stans Flows

Could get the Superstar components built onto white flows for £320 using switch front hub and super leggera hub on the back


The AM Cross Country scare me as being too light really, I'm 200lbs and like to hammer it down the trails and hit jumps n drops at trail centres and black runs....

any feedback on usage of the rims above is appreciated......

Cheers
CJ

[iain1775]

oooohhhh Industry Nine
I like Industry Nine
what rims and spokes on the AC XC's
Heard only good things about their hubs

I still say Industry Nine though, they just got a new UK distributor so spares should be okay now?

[ceejay]

oooohhhh Industry Nine
I like Industry Nine
what rims and spokes on the AC XC's
Heard only good things about their hubs

I still say Industry Nine though, they just got a new UK distributor so spares should be okay now?

AC
J Bend black spokes (can't remember) and the tubeless have red hubs, still think I'll bend them at 1500grams, so All Mountain may be better?
Hubs have a clutch that stops the pawls contacting the freewheel so you get a silent free wheel....

I-9's
Standard pimp looking Aluminium spokes matching the colour of the hub (burnt orange) and linked up with some lovely white Stans Flows rims.......
Only seen a pic, but sure they may possibly go with the bike.