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DISCLAIMER: Titus / Marzocchi love thread!
Yesterday took a really nice ride at Chiluca, my usual riding spot.
Last ride I rode a more vertical stuff, so I had the fork set at 145mm and had the handlebars raised a few mm's (around 3/16") for it.
This terrain is flatter all over but with some henious/techy climbs in between and really choppy terrain... more twisting singletrack too, but not faster.
Weather was P-E-R-F-E-C-T!! Low 20's (in centigrades - low 70's for you weird units users), dirt was compact with a fine layer of dust on sun bathed areas and inside the forest mid-packed soil.... YUMMY!!! :thumbsup:
The Switchblade/AM1 marriage is THA SHIZZLE!!!!
I expected a very light nose, but pumping the shock 5psi (130PSI for stupid plush - former setting, 135PSI for SHIZZLE mode) made the bike to wallow less on the rear end without compromising performance and compliance to small stuff. It kept the nose stuck even at 145mm up front. There are climbs where ETA is mandatory even at 130mm, but I find myself using it only when you have easy terrain up to go.
Cornering in twisty singletrack was more a job for the pilot now. You just miss the neuralgic-like handling that you have at 130 or below. I'm not complaining, as I was clearly hauling arse, but handling the twisty stuff was easier with some less travel. It ain't bad at all... it's just that the lower setting gave superb hangling second to none and now you need to pilot the bike A TINY BIT more.
And descending.... aww, man! I will just say that it made the descend a breeze. It floats over rocks and everything on its way. On the fast stuff is just nimble and stable at the same time. My limiting were the brakes as the Julies are just not cutting it... the bike makes you ride faster and harder, too much work for the ageing Julies. And the tyres... The Adrenaline up front is very nice, it's a terrific guiding tyre in nearly every condition, but sometimes I was wishing for a wider footprint.
As the title says, the AM1 is 145mm of pure pleasure. I think I have it finally dialed. Maybe I still need to play with the ETA oil levels, but that's almost a non issue.
The AM1 is stiff as they come. So the frame. They actually saved my bacon TWICE yesterday. On one occasion, I was over a rock garden and the front tyre bited some loose rock that send it off track... in comes the fork/chassis to put it back in place. The second time was a close call as we were riding (three of us) close to each other and cruising a bit faster than JRA. I hopped the bike but sheited the landing and the front wheel went off track, making me to cross the fireroad towards one of my buddies... A quick order to the handlebars and the fork put the bike vertical and nice again. A flexier fork or frame would had make me go over a barbed wire fence that borders the trail.
All in all... Almost a year down the road, I'm stoked with my ride. This bike is impressive in every bit. It's simply bigger, better, faster, more.
Big Tuhmbs up to Titus, Marzocchi and Whafe!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Yesterday took a really nice ride at Chiluca, my usual riding spot.
Last ride I rode a more vertical stuff, so I had the fork set at 145mm and had the handlebars raised a few mm's (around 3/16") for it.
This terrain is flatter all over but with some henious/techy climbs in between and really choppy terrain... more twisting singletrack too, but not faster.
Weather was P-E-R-F-E-C-T!! Low 20's (in centigrades - low 70's for you weird units users), dirt was compact with a fine layer of dust on sun bathed areas and inside the forest mid-packed soil.... YUMMY!!! :thumbsup:
The Switchblade/AM1 marriage is THA SHIZZLE!!!!
I expected a very light nose, but pumping the shock 5psi (130PSI for stupid plush - former setting, 135PSI for SHIZZLE mode) made the bike to wallow less on the rear end without compromising performance and compliance to small stuff. It kept the nose stuck even at 145mm up front. There are climbs where ETA is mandatory even at 130mm, but I find myself using it only when you have easy terrain up to go.
Cornering in twisty singletrack was more a job for the pilot now. You just miss the neuralgic-like handling that you have at 130 or below. I'm not complaining, as I was clearly hauling arse, but handling the twisty stuff was easier with some less travel. It ain't bad at all... it's just that the lower setting gave superb hangling second to none and now you need to pilot the bike A TINY BIT more.
And descending.... aww, man! I will just say that it made the descend a breeze. It floats over rocks and everything on its way. On the fast stuff is just nimble and stable at the same time. My limiting were the brakes as the Julies are just not cutting it... the bike makes you ride faster and harder, too much work for the ageing Julies. And the tyres... The Adrenaline up front is very nice, it's a terrific guiding tyre in nearly every condition, but sometimes I was wishing for a wider footprint.
As the title says, the AM1 is 145mm of pure pleasure. I think I have it finally dialed. Maybe I still need to play with the ETA oil levels, but that's almost a non issue.
The AM1 is stiff as they come. So the frame. They actually saved my bacon TWICE yesterday. On one occasion, I was over a rock garden and the front tyre bited some loose rock that send it off track... in comes the fork/chassis to put it back in place. The second time was a close call as we were riding (three of us) close to each other and cruising a bit faster than JRA. I hopped the bike but sheited the landing and the front wheel went off track, making me to cross the fireroad towards one of my buddies... A quick order to the handlebars and the fork put the bike vertical and nice again. A flexier fork or frame would had make me go over a barbed wire fence that borders the trail.
All in all... Almost a year down the road, I'm stoked with my ride. This bike is impressive in every bit. It's simply bigger, better, faster, more.
Big Tuhmbs up to Titus, Marzocchi and Whafe!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
BLOODY MARVELOUS WARP !~! 
