Hello!
Thanks for all the useful information.
My bike is early 2021 model, size M, 29".
I purchased it second hand and you have already seen it on this forum...
Here are my notes and some questions.
Chainring
Has anybody tried to fit MT610 crankset chainrings to our MT510?
The only compatible 30t per Shimano web page is WP-Y0L330000.
The MT610 and MT510 crank itself looks the same, and the chainring seems the only difference.
Shimano has Chainring 34T for FC-MT610/FC-MT510-1 WP-Y0K434000 listed as compatible with both cranksets.
But the 32 and 30 models of the same chainring (WP-Y0K432000, WP-Y0K430000) are not listed as compatible. Seems strange to me, the interface should be same.
Look at the exploded view
https://dassets.shimano.com/content/dam/global/cg1SHICCycling/final/ev/ev/EV-FC-MT510-1-4670.pdf
There is a quite interesting interchangeability chart in there. BUT the MT610 exploded view does not have it! Does the interchangeability work both ways for all parts?
MT610 chainring is more readily available at least in EU. For example
Shimano Chainring for FC-MT610 - 1x12-speed - black
Drivetrain
The Deore drivetrain has been very good. The only real downside is that the chain seems to stretch quite fast. As far as I know it is cheaper in the long run to use the more expensive chains.
I don't have any chain drop problems when backpedaling on the largest cog. Some 1x drivetrains have this. I measured the chainline 52.5mm to the center of the teeth.
The XT shifter upgrade is a good one.
I swapped to 170mm cranks as well, feels better now.
A good budget option for cranks would be the Deore m6100 if you want to change crank length and/or chainring or chainring interface, but you wouldn't get any weight savings, the weight is about the same as the fc-mt510.
SLX if you want the weight savings.
Geometry
This bike has the Marzocchi Z2 fork at 140mm. (Axle to Crown: 550 mm, just 1mm over the max recommended)
Tires are DHF 2.5" rear and DHR 2.4" front (bigger in the rear steepens angles a little bit).
In this configuration I have measured the head angle at about 65.5 deg, which seems about right for 20mm longer than standard fork.
BUT!
However I try to measure the effective seat tube angle I get around 74 degrees or even a few tenths steeper. So just like the STa had slackened less than the HTa has which is impossible.
I know the measurements are quite fiddly and not very accurate, but seem consistent using different methods and repeated measurements.
The logical explanation would be that the given 66.5 & 74.5 specs are not very accurate, or might be rounded in the opposing directions.
At least to me this is good news, makes the bike just a little bit more "modern" than on paper.
And you can put a longer fork without the STa becoming actually "slack", if you are ok with the slightly higher stack and bb, and shorter reach.
Good catch about the angleset dave_rh! But I think I'm good with just the longer fork.
I also tried a 27.5 x 2.6" tire in the rear (Trail King which is quite big for a 2.6") with the DHR2 29x2.4 in the front.
This dropped the rear axle ~15mm and BB 10mm compared to the DHF 2.5. Theoretically this slackens the bike ~0.75deg, but haven't measured.
With the 20mm longer fork the BB center is still 312mm above the ground, so clearance is good even mulleted. The BB is higher in this bike than some other 29ers.
Cockpit
The handlebar is 760mm wide, NOT 750mm as in the specs and reviews. Don't know about the rise.
I'm using the original bar happily and not intending to switch. It measures 775mm with grips included which is good for this bike.
Have you measured yours?
The saddle is not great. My sitbones are not happy.
Brakes
I tried a Shimano 180mm disc in the rear with no problems. I used the Tektro 20mm adapter from the front. The pad alignment to the disk was perfect to me.
Note that the "up" arrow should be pointing forward if I remember correctly, which makes it point a little bit down on this bike, as the caliper is not in the seatstay but in the chainstay.
I don't know why user humanthing had problems with the 4-pot brakes, shouldn't they work just the same?
I also tried Shimano G03a and G04s brake pads. THEY DIDN'T FIT!
Looking at the confusing Tektro compatibility chart I thought they would fit. Though it didn't have HD-M275, instead HD-M285 is there. According to SOME source the calipers in those two should be the same.
B01s and B03s SHOULD fit, B03s being a newer version of the 01 afaik. Unfortunately these are not available sintered.
Have you tried non-Tektro pads? Does it improve braking force or feel?
Do you know if sintered pads can be used with the Tektro discs (after swapping to other brakes)?
All in all I'm quite happy with the bike.
The frame seems good, and I think the product range could very well extend way beyond this HT 1, with higher end components and a bigger fork.
As it is sold, it has quite good potential to unleash.
Next I need to dampen those damn rattling cables...
, the lower assembly fit in perfectly. My headset/stem setup is all stock, and after installing the Slack-R, I had to remove the two spacers (2x 10mm) and the stem fits on the steerer tube with no spacers and sits about 3-4mm above the top of the steerer tube. I don't like the idea of the stem not being completely clamped to the steerer tube so I have ordered a new stem which has a shorter stack height which should fix that.
