"slacker" 5.5

[beaterdit]

Scored a 5.5FRO frame off chainlove this spring and finally got it built up (thanks to Marshal for the wheels). The 5.5 specs at a 70* head angle, it's a little steeper than what I wanted so I threw a '10 32 float 150RLC on it. Between that and the massive Panaracer Fire FR 2.4 up front the head angle measures 68.5*. Just like the Tracer I can't afford.

Bike rides sweet, climbs real well, descends better, and feels pretty light. Haven't weighed it yet but I'm thinking sub 28lbs. Only place I could save any more weight would be the tires and maybe the cranks. Sorry if my seatpost extention offends some but I've got a short torso, long legs, and I like small bikes. Bars are same height as seat with the 100mmX10* Thomson X4 stem (pure sex!).

Stoked on the new ride and I've been putting a lot of miles on it already! Definitely a nice upgrade from my 32lb 2002 Slayer.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=63186&stc=1&d=1249829220

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=63187&stc=1&d=1249829247

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=63188&stc=1&d=1249829247

[monkeywrenchMoose]

That is a really, really sweet setup.

I like.

[marshalolson]

BITCHIN!

[nickwm21]

how do you like that fox 32 150? seems perfect for a 5inch trail bike, like the one u got!

[tone capone]

Sorry if my seatpost extention offends some

As long as you put that thing down for serious descents.

[BushwackerinPA]

I like

looks sick wish I could ride with ya .

[Vt-Freeheel]

Very stealthy looking. You must be excited to have the bike finished.
I love riding my 5.5 and am always amazed at how it climbs. Have fun
and post up a ride report.

[beaterdit]

Thanks d00ds, I'm stoked on it. I've been on a 2002 Rocky Mountain Slayer for six years and while it was a sweet bike, it's pretty outdated now.

Specs:

Small 5.5FRO
Fox 32 float 150 FIT with 15mm through axle
Fox RP23
Hope Pro2 with DT double butted and Stan's ZTR Arch rims front and rear
Panracer Fire FR 2.4 front, Panaracer Rampage 2.35 rear, tubeless
Avid Elixer CR 160mm/183mm
FSA "Impact" internal headset ("campy style")
Truvative Stylo 2.2 crank, 24-36-bash, truvative gigapipe GXP bottom bracket
Time Atac-Z pedals
Thomson elite seatpost
SDG Bel-Air RL ti saddle
Thomson elite X4 stem
Truvative Stylo team riser bar 30mmX690mm
ODI Lock-ons
XO twisters
X-9 front derailleur
X-0 rear derailleur

NOT ONE SHIMANO COMPONENT!:FIREdevil

Climbing is great, there is some bob in the granny ring, as well as some squat when it gets steep with the RP23 on full open but on propedal position 1, that stops and the rear end sits much higher in it's travel while still remaining active. Position 3 three is like a rock, only active on harsh bumps, never go above 1. Opening it up again for the down makes it super plush all the way through it's travel. It feels much more linear than I'm used to and there's no harsh bottom out. It's nice to have rear suspension that works!

I think the fork is broken in now and I've been trying to dial in the settings. From what I've read, people say the RS Lyric is a better fork for the money and not much heavier but...

When I ran enough sag on fork, about 15mm, it was really plush in the small stuff but felt like it was blowing through all the travel on even medium bumps and getting too much brake dive. I started turning up the low speed compression damping to find a happy medium and ended up at three clicks. The low speed compression damping will basically lock it out if you turn it all the way up. This fork is pretty sweet, I'm sure it's flexy compared to a 36 but it's worlds stiffer than the '02 Z1 FR on my Slayer. Set up the way it is my seals are getting within an inch of the crown which I guess is pretty good for a Fox. The rebound damping works well, turn it all the way up and the fork basically stays down. The fork has a pretty wide range of adjustments. Overall I'm impressed so far.

As for the Tires, the Fire FR 2.4 is SICK! A little heavy but I can't get it to break loose for anything so I guess it's worth it. The Rampage OTOH, isn't that grippy, and it seems small for a 2.35, but it does roll fast. I landed on a rock and blew it off the rim once already and sustained a quarter inch jagged hole, and quarter inch clean gash. It took the hole a while to seal and it still weeps a little so I may have to patch it. Some of the knobs seem like they could tear off too, we'll see how it goes with that one.

Prolly post more on performance later when I have time.

And yeah, the seat goes way down for the DH.

[Dantheman]

The Rampage OTOH, isn't that grippy, and it seems small for a 2.35, but it does roll fast. I landed on a rock and blew it off the rim once already and sustained a quarter inch jagged hole, and quarter inch clean gash. It took the hole a while to seal and it still weeps a little so I may have to patch it. Some of the knobs seem like they could tear off too, we'll see how it goes with that one.


I had two of those tires and blew them both out long before the tread wore down to replacement levels, same goes for a couple people I know. Never lost a knob though.

Sweet ride!

[Rontele]

Sweet ride!

[JTrue]

Sweet ride! Now when are you free so we can do an epic to really break it in?

[stuckathuntermtn]

that is a sexy bike....except for the twisters!!!!!!!

[beaterdit]

I had two of those tires and blew them both out long before the tread wore down to replacement levels, same goes for a couple people I know. Never lost a knob though.

Sweet ride!

Guess I might be looking for a new tire soon. Gotta protect those shiny white rims! ;)

Had a tough time finding something to fit the bill already because the Fire won't quite fit on the back and another one of those would be an anchor. Plus my OCD won't let me run different brands of tires F&R. :rolleyes::nonono2::nonono2::nonono2:

[BushwackerinPA]

Guess I might be looking for a new tire soon. Gotta protect those shiny white rims! ;)

Had a tough time finding something to fit the bill already because the Fire won't quite fit on the back and another one of those would be an anchor. Plus my OCD won't let me run different brands of tires F&R. :rolleyes::nonono2::nonono2::nonono2:

the 2.1 Fire Xc aint bad, heck IMO it corners better than the rampage and rolls fast. I run it on the back of bike sometimes with the 2.4 Panaracer front. i am starting to wonder if I should get something other than a 2.4 boat anchor for XC racing though.....

but if you let you OCD go that opens up alot of option.

[beaterdit]

Bush how does the 2.1 fire compare to the 2.35 rampage volume wise? Even though the Rampage looks small compared to the 2.4 Fire, it's still pretty high volume which, as you know, is nice out here.

[BushwackerinPA]

Bush how does the 2.1 fire compare to the 2.35 rampage volume wise? Even though the Rampage looks small compared to the 2.4 Fire, it's still pretty high volume which, as you know, is nice out here.

maybe alittle less tall but about the same width. you can get a tubeless 2.1 as well.

but i too wished Panaracers made a light weight 2.35 Burning edge style tire as well.

[johngchrist]

what no mary bars, I am disappointing with the build. It needs hammerschmit.
at least you got it built and ready for the sswc

[Arty50]

It needs hammerschmit.

From what I've heard, that would not be a good choice for this bike or any Intense. Not necessarily a knock on them, but you supposedly need a bike designed to pedal really well in granny to run hs.

[beaterdit]

I've heard of the drawbacks of running it on VPP bikes, especially first gen like this one. I've also heard it's no big deal. Like I said above, there's some bob in the granny ring until I turn the propedal on. Position one is enough to virtually eliminate it. I'm sure it would minimize it with the Hammerschmidt for climbing and for descending, it doesn't really matter so you could turn it off anyway. I do enjoy sprinting in big gears out of the saddle on rolling stuff though. Even with PP off in these circumstances, the rear end is very responsive on this bike, maybe not so much with the Hammerschmidt? Who knows.

Not considering it for this bike though, even though I do think it's pretty awesome.

JohnG, it might work better with the second gen VPP though, you should get it...:FIREdevil

[knumbskull]

The drawback to the hammerschmidt on a vpp bike is the pedal jack, not necessarily the bob imo. Since the hammerschmidt is always in a small cog up front regardless of what your gear ratio actually is you will get a good amount of pedal kickback since there is usually a good amount of chain growth with vpp bikes.

I have a Banshee Rune with vpp suspension. I get a noticable amount of kick when I'm climbing in my granny over rough terrain. I wouldn't ever use a hammerschmidt because I wouldn't want to have to deal with that on techy descents.