Looking good man. My build should be done by the end of the week, looking forward to getting it out. Love the PNW droppers, they are good kit at a fair price and I've never had a problem with them. Got a Rainier for my N9.

Re: tensioning bolt orientation, it is much ado about nothing. It makes no difference. From a mechanical perspective the sole purpose is to prevent the bolt walking out of the dropout and/or damaging the threads in the dropout, so it needs little tension to lock the screw in place. If you're anal retentive like me though, you might wanna flip 'em around so you don't go nuts.

 

I wish I knew how to build a bike like y’all do. I took mine to the LBS to get it built. It’s going to be 2-3 weeks to get it built. I’m glad business is good for them, but I really want to ride my new bike.

 

You can do it! The tools you need are in the $100 range
Headset press $15 or a wooden hammer
Basic maintenance kit with a cassette tool, bottom bracket tool, chain whip, tire levers, 8/10mm, chain tool and spoke wrench and Allen set $40
Grease $5
Housing and wire cutter $15
Small value (20nm) torque wrench $25
Brake bleed kit for your brakes $15
I hadn’t done anything but mount tires and replace chains before this summer, but now I’ve refurbished three bikes and built two frame up. No rocket science in this hobby.
Just be careful around force and threads and you’ll be good

 

I’ve had every generation N9 and I don’t use the Nylock nut. I just use blue locktite on the bolt. The dropouts and the bolt have never moved.


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I’ve had every generation N9 and I don’t use the Nylock nut. I just use blue locktite on the bolt. The dropouts and the bolt have never moved.


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That’s a good idea!

 

Bike jewelry.

 

Had the first adventure with the Bagel. Found the Middle Fork of the Snoqualamie trailhead. Looks like it closed to bikes Oct31.
So went on up to the next entry, which was five or so miles of sporty forest road.
Had a nice short ride in the monsoon, 30mm min out and back, for about 50 min of seat time.
Talked to some gravel riders in the parking lot, they suggested we stick to the road as trail conditions were poor, we didn’t care either way, just a shakedown.
Single speed gearing in was good for getting started on SS, I can see I’ll need more gear soon.
handlebars weren’t rotated correctly, grips weren’t oriented right, too much air in the tires, and found out a seat with a hole in it when you’re riding thru 8” ‘puddles’means you’re getting a body wash. All this stuff can be remedied. And the trail was honestly good fun for what it was.
Hit a bump driving out wrong. It just felt like I should stop and check the bikes. Good thing, the bagel had broken its tire strap, jumped out of the handlebar hanger slot and tried to go native.
I rounded it back up. Put it in the next slot over, and strapped the handlebars to the rack just in case.
One grip will need to be replaced, otherwise I didn’t see any real damage. Will give it the once over tomorrow.

 

Definitely noticed the steep seat angle. I’m going to put the saddle back 5mm and keep looking for fit optimization.
it was magnified as my bars were tipped a little bit uphill too. I knew this already, but I’m a natural 12deg on backsweep, and the 9 deg bars get me fidgety about 30 min in, looking for more sweep.
No conclusion there yet, will tip up first.

 

Definitely noticed the steep seat angle. I’m going to put the saddle back 5mm and keep looking for fit optimization.
it was magnified as my bars were tipped a little bit uphill too. I knew this already, but I’m a natural 12deg on backsweep, and the 9 deg bars get me fidgety about 30 min in, looking for more sweep.
No conclusion there yet, will tip up first.

The steep seat angle is my concern since there are not a lot of steep climbs where I ride most of the time. I'm going to start out with my seat all the way back and see how that works.

 

Had a second look for drop off damage today. last night the bars and cables were rotated 360deg. Noticed the stem was about 10deg askew today, and a scuff on the left pedal. Wheels still seem true, but it’s raining a lot so haven’t had it out today.
The grip will definitely need replaced, it’s a single clamp so the end is nearly torn off. I think I’ll get double clamps and end caps, they just last longer.

 

I could also need more up tilt, started with the seat flat.

 

30 wind sprints to max speed in a row was harder than I thought it would be. Front brake bedded!

 

Picked up this lightly used 29x2.8 Cake Eater. 940g. I love the dhr2, but going to give this a try after a few more rides.

 

Redmond bike park again today. Caught it right between storms, rained all the way there, sometimes very heavy. I wasn’t optimistic but the rain stopped when we pulled into the parking lot and was dry the whole time there. Not surprisingly we were the only ones there.
New grips worked good. Had some trouble getting enough speed, guess I need more gear.
Didn’t notice the seat tube angle at all this ride, I have tilted the seat up a few degrees.

 

I’ve been changing out the Al bolts to ti the last couple weeks, just the rear rotor bolts, rear dropout bolts, and one seat bolt left. Waiting to do the rear when all the stuff is in hand. Totally a vanity project, probably won’t even save 100g total in weight. All the ti bolts really pop against the black frame though!
I did replace the front 29x3.0 minion dhr2 with the 29x2.8 cake eater, it’s raining so haven’t got any pics yet.

 

Got the bike rack back on the truck after a tire and rim update, put the spare back underneath and ready to carry five to the trail, maybe even tomorrow.
Time to put the 50g saved converting to TI bolts to work!

 

Hey Grinchy, when you get a chance could you measure the BB height?

 

Yeah I’ll pull that for you @noosa2

 

288mm to the bottom of the outside BB shell
I’ve got new Terrene 2.8” tires on front and back.

 

Had the N9 out at duthie hill today. Excellent! Super fun on the dual slalom course. Cake eater/McFly combo seemed perfect, trails were Mainly dry.
Didn’t get to hoon too much, had the two youngest in tow, one of whom is allergic to uphills.
Ran all the test drops in the meadow, no problem at all on the HT.

still need to pull the rear wheel and go up a tooth or two, I could use just a tiny bit more flat speed.

 

Hey @Grinchy8 do you recall or note down the weight of just the frame? I'm comparing this to a Chromag Rootdown, which I hear is rather overbuilt. My sense is the N9 is lighter and livelier, but I'd love to hear you thoughts, thanks,

E

 

2450g. I don’t remember if that included the rear axle. Probably did. I have the M size frame.

 

I’m running single speed and didn’t really scrimp weight too much (lots of basic parts in my build) and in that weight range.
Bike is really fun. My Restomod FS 1998 FSR rarely gets ridden anymore. I live near a park with good flow trails, and the N9 eats them up. I run a cushcore+ rear and 2.8” tires and its a pleasant ride.

 

Finally up to 30x20, from 30x22, with hopes to have a bit more speed for jump run ups. Also changed out the last few rear brake disc bolts for titanium.
Rode a couple hill intervals in town, still can get up them.
Had to put the dropouts back about 1/2” to go down the two teeth. If this gear ratio works may pull a link or two out of the chain to shorten up the rear end again.

took a back to back ride on my fsr vs the n9. Didn’t miss the rear squish, but the 2002 marzocchi 130mm dropoff is waaay better than the 150mm Lyrik. It’s disappointing.

static is sparkling in the sun

 

10 months in report - - Pretty much the only bike I ride at this point.

I haven't ridden my FS in a while, like 3 months. It has a better seat, I should probably put it on the N9.

Have been learning how to jump at the Woodland Park jump area by the skate ramp. I'm definitely not flying like the young guns yet, but working on it. No broken bones is my goal, probably not theirs. . .

I went from 30x22 to 30x20 gearing, and probably will put on 32x20 this weekend. I seem to be able to trail ride anywhere I want to go on the 30x20, so that means I can add a bit more gear. I was having trouble going fast enough on the 30x22 for the local park, the 30x20 is better, but a tiny bit more speed should be perfect.

My middle kid joined an MTB team. The parents all have $5k carbon full squishes to ride around during practice. Didn't stop them from wanting to borrow the N9 for laps. I take this as a good general sign.

Not a single issue with the frame.

 

Well, DD stole my wheels for her race bike (I built them an octane one sour). I was going to make some rope spokes, but it was more lift than I could achieve, but a fun few months dreaming. Just finished wheel set #2 and put the 2.6 tires I had (recon rear purgatory front) set on another mullet pair of the same oozy trail 395 rims. Moved over my trek carbon seat as I never ride the fsr anymore, and finally finished the rehear to 32 x 20. New gear ratio is back to shortest chain stay setting, that 10mm makes such a big difference in the fun factor for the bike.

 

Well, the rekon rear is fast, but doesn’t offer much on wet roots and rocks in the back. I’ll call it sporty. Purgatory up front seemed fine.
Bike as she sits today.

 

I did a thing.

I mean, if I’m not running the monster truck tires in PNW spring, when am I going to run em. It’s ridiculous. I love it.

90 minutes well spent. The dhr2 won’t seat all beads on one co2 cart. It’s such a cartoon.
29x3 dhr2 . 27.5x2.8 wild enduro.

 

I broke yet another chain (that would be 3 total so far) and called in the heavy hitter, a KMC k1sl (narrow) single speed chain. Highly recommend. I am slammed all the way forward now (shortest chainstay possible). Still digging the 32x20 and thinking 32x19 might be even a bit better. Casually shopping 19t cogs . . .

love this bike plus with the short chainstays. Had an absolute blast dorking around at the Tapeworm trail complex a couple weeks ago with my kids' MTB race team.

Wild Enduro rear tire (27.5x2.8) absolutely a traction dream. It's heavy, particularly with the cushcore, but I'm going to have trouble ever taking it off.

Found a 500 mm Axle to Crown rigid carbon fork (650g) for my youngest's new HT. It'll cut 2700g off the 3350g boat anchor that bike ships with. I'm kinda hoping that she hates it and I can give it a whirl on my Canfield. It's almost tall enough, the online calculator says I need around 516mm a2c, I figure with the mullet it should be ok. Have a sweet custom valved old 26" Marz standing by if necessary to swap out for the rigid. She'll probably want the suspension (with it's 1500g weight addition), so we'll see.

 

Decided to try a lighter tire set for summer. Swapping the dhr2/wild enduro/cushcore for a Ranger/ranger/tubolight enduro(hd).
Mounted up the set tonight.
wild enduro 27.5x2.8 and plus cushcore and rim etc 3115g
Wtb ranger light fast dna sg2 and tubolight hd 2343. So 772g lighter. It won’t grip as well, the wild enduro never slipped on anything, but it should be pretty fun as a light wheel.
Ranger was an easy mount, and after doing several cushcore tire changes, the tubolight was very easy.
Front dhr2 had a massive hairball in it, but as always was a pleasure to deal with. Ranger 29x3 went on easy but I had to partially mount the beads with a tire lever to get it inflated. No issues after that. Front difference wheels, sealant etc was 2705 to 2347, so 358g.
Total saved was 1130g, but I expect a pretty huge downgrade in traction too, will see if it’s worth it. Bike felt lighter on the driveway Pre-Ride.
Headed to tiger mountain tomorrow after a couple days rain, so will know pretty soon. Will grab a pic tomorrow.

ranger 27.5x2.8 890g
Ranger 29x3.0 1000g