[Fullrange Drew]

Limited finances and an October 24 hour race leave me wanting to convert from ARC to ASRsl but having to purchase my frame secondhand.

It looks like there may be a secondhand 03 ASRsl that I can pick up for the money I have available. I know the owner and will make sure that I fully inspect the frame closely before I buy it.

Being 03, it doesn't have the shotgun barrel downtube, doesn't have carbon chainstays, has Ti instead of carbon flex pivots and has a older fox Float, not 5th Air or RP3.

Are any of these changes going to make that much difference (I know the carbon chainstays shave some weight) or is the 03 ASRsl still a great bike?

I really don't want to race on the ARC another year, but for this season at least I simply cannot stretch to a new ASRsl.

 

[forkboy]

Are any of these changes going to make that much difference (I know the carbon chainstays shave some weight) or is the 03 ASRsl still a great bike?

Check the bushings. I bought an '00 used and had to replace the bushings first thing. Now 4 years later I have to replace them again.

 

[Circlip]

Check the bushings. I bought an '00 used and had to replace the bushings first thing. Now 4 years later I have to replace them again.

The '03 doesn't have any bushings - bearings all around.

 

[forkboy]

The '03 doesn't have any bushings - bearings all around.

I actually was thinking of the nylon washers at the dogbone.... but yes - they are not bushings, they are washers.

Does anyone have a non-yeti replacement for those washers? They are only available in the Master Rebuild kit, and they are the only part that wears out on my bike.

 

[Flyer]

I had an 03 that I just sold but I had zero problems. It did have the Ti flexpivot and bearings and I never had any issues nor did I expect to. It was in excellent shape and I got $970 total for it (including shippng)- just to give you a reference point. The frame had no scratches or dings or anything.

Check the frame out carefully and look under the BB and at all the welds. You can always upgrade the shock to a RP3 or RP23 later for under $300 new and around $150 for a good used one.

 

[Fullrange Drew]

Cool. The biggest downside I could see was that the fox shock was pre-propedal. I'll follow up on it then. An older but well cared for ASRsl beats an ARC (the frame of which is actually the same age and probably has had a harder life).

thanks folks

drew

 

[forkboy]

I actually was thinking of the nylon washers at the dogbone.... but yes - they are not bushings, they are washers.

Update - not the nylon washers. It was actually the copper bushings in the dogbone.

Coincidentally they were the only thing I didn't replace when I did the master kit rebuild 4 years ago - because they were a PITA.

Fixed it up, and should be good for another 2 - 3 years.

 

[Flyer]

If I remember correctly, the 2003s were spec'd with the Fifth Element shock. Mine never gave me problems and I liked it a lot. It's too bad they don't make them anymore. I actually liked it better than the RP3, which I also like a lot. The 5th was just so stable and progressive that it was impressive under power. Anyway, good luck and keep us posted. If you have doubts after checking out the frame, hold off for the next one. Normally, any ASR-SL owner will not be doing drops and hardcore stuff so chances are that you will get a good one.