[Beckman4]

Or....I think I'm becoming a Certified Bike Ho....

Working at an LBS certainly doesn't help. We became a Salsa dealer after Frostbike and I've been dying to build up a Dos. I finally got 'er done, so here she is.

I rode about 16 miles of trails I'd never been to before (Carter Road in Lakeland for those in FL) right after these shots and it performed wonderfully. Compared to the Fisher 293 that it replaced, here are the things I noticed the most:

1. The Dos is 3 pounds lighter and it's really evident when riding.
2. The wheelbase is shorter which is also very obvious. Handling is quick.
3. Having the wheels tucked under me a little more REALLY makes it a climber.

Parts spec:
- 18" Frame
- Reba SL fork at 80mm
- Hope Pro 2 hubs/Salsa Delgado Disc rims/DT Comp Spoke wheelset with Kenda Klaws
- SRAM X9 rear der. and X7 rear shifter. I'm running 1X9 with stock Deore front der. working as chainguide until my JumpStop and Salsa bashring arrive later this week
- Avid BB7 brakes
- Salsa S.U.L. scandium 90mm stem and Pro Moto 11* sweep bars
- Bonty X-Lite ACC carbon post (soon to be replaced by a Thomson)
- WTB Rocket V race saddle
- Crank Bros Smarty pedals (happened to have lying around - will be regular Eggies soon)

It comes out to 26.1 pounds as is. With my Eggs, new Ignitors, and chainrings lost later this week, it should come down to ~ 25.5 or so. :thumbsup:

Thing is...I just got the call that my NINER frame hit the shop today....HMMM looks like the Inbred might have to be sold to make up for some of this madness. I'm collecting bikes certain FO-type person around here, aren't I?

Anyway, here she is:

 

[BruceBrown]

Or....I think I'm becoming a Certified Bike Ho....

It comes out to 26.1 pounds as is. With my Eggs, new Ignitors, and chainrings lost later this week, it should come down to ~ 25.5 or so. :thumbsup:

Nice Dos in spite of it only having 9 gears. 25.5 lbs is doable. I've got an XL geared Dos that currently weighs in at 25.8 lbs. I love the bike - especially how quickly it dices through the tight singletrack. I agree with your comments on the differences between the Sugar 293 and the Dos as I also have both. The Sugar has its place though, and does very well in it.

Only negative with the Dos is that in spite of my best efforts, the paint is chipping off and wearing off in areas at an alarming rate. I've never had a bike do that before in terms of paint durability. Gotta rate it as a negative, but I'm not too bent out of shape as the Verde Green ain't my favorite to begin with....:nono:

BB

 

[tbowren]

Beautiful bike!!

I've been looking at those Dos Niners for a while, it seems like a perfect compromise between a 3" FS 26er and a hardtail 29er. The darker color and better standover of the 06 are great improvements. I do have 2 questions for you:

1. How flexy (side to side) does the rear feel at high speed on bumpy fireroad or singletrack. I seem to hear mixed reviews about this aspect of the bike but I don't know what model year was being ridden. (or if it was the wheels to blame)

2. Would you recommend the Sugar frame to someone wanting a short travel 29er who likes to stand and climb?

Enjoy your new bike!

 

[jms]

I have a 2005 Dos

I find the Dos more stable at high speed than the 26 in. wheeled bikes I'd ridden before. I rode it at the 24 hours of Adrenaline in Monterey in May, and was at it's best climbing out of the saddle on "Hurl Hill",on the big-ring fire road descents, and climbing out of the "Grind" [big ring fire road climb]. For me, it was the equal of the 26 in. short travel XC bikes I encountered in the single-track. I haven't ever found the bike to be busy or nervous.
With Kenda Karma's it wieghed 24 lbs for that race. For nastier courses I'd use stronger wheels and stouter tires - still @ 25 lbs. for an 18in. with disc's, an 80mm Reba, and 27 gears. I have more faith in this bike than any I've ridden before. It's a great XC bike.
And all that said, I'm only speaking for myself. Hope you find a bike that works for you.

 

[Crockpot2001]

I love my DN but in the XL size it is a wiggly one for sure. I'm not that heavy at 190# but the long tubes have a good amount of flex. I have mine set up with a REBA at 100mm and appreciate the more relaxed nature. If is certainly NOT less responsive than any 26er i've ever raced.

If I could have a custom frame made I would use the SAME geometry, allow for slightly more travel out of the rear shock (2" would be great), and a heavier front tubeset. The tubes are just scary thin. I have made a downtube protector and added a bit of foam to the TT in case the bars spin in a crash. I might also spec a lower TT to tighten the frame up. It sounds like a lot of changes but I enjoy the bike a lot as it is.

 

[mgersib]

I do have 2 questions for you:

1. How flexy (side to side) does the rear feel at high speed on bumpy fireroad or singletrack. I seem to hear mixed reviews about this aspect of the bike but I don't know what model year was being ridden. (or if it was the wheels to blame)

2. Would you recommend the Sugar frame to someone wanting a short travel 29er who likes to stand and climb?

I've got some perspective on this, for what it's worth. I've had both model years of Dos Niners -- the '06 is my current primary mountain bike (it's one of three mountain bikes I ride regularly, but it gets the most use of the three).

Flex is a reality with a Dos -- if you've ever ridden/raced a Klein, you'll definitely feel the sensation. That said, if you're used to how a steel Bontrager rides, or a 2000-era Schwinn Homegrown Factory, or one of Kona's Easton-tubed Kula frames, you'll be right at home.

I feel more lateral flex in the top tube than I do in the entire rear-end -- and even so, it's not objectionable. The Dos Niner simply leans more to the lively side of the ride quality spectrum. It doesn't have the 'dead' feel that some aluminum-based frames have. It's more like a good steel or ti frame in its response, and judged by those criteria, the Dos Niner is an absolute winner in my book.

Until I can justify throwing down the $$ for a custom Black Sheep or Soulcraft or Titus titanium 29er frame, I'll be very content with my Dos.

As far as standing climbing on the Fisher goes, I raced a Klein Adept in '01 and '02, which used basically the same suspension design. It was not my ideal out-of-the-saddle climbing bike. It worked much better for me when I'd stay seated, but right on the tip of the nose of the saddle. It's not a comfortable technique, but it worked. I won quite a few races on that bike, so it was clearly a good overall design. I've seen and heard of a lot of broken Sugars though, and I personally broke one rear triangle on my Klein as well.

FYI -- I'm 6 feet 1 inch tall, ride a large (20-inch) frame, am a semipro xc racer, a part-time freerider, and I've been riding hard off-road since 1990. I'd describe my riding style as 'aggressive flowing'.

Below are some images of my past and current Dos Niners, as well as one of my Klein Adept:

 

[20.100 FR]

I'd describe my riding style as 'aggressive flowing'.

I like this way of describing it. Nice !

 

[FoShizzle]

nice bike! boy, i am afraid to weight mine.....it is FAR from set up correctly yet and needs to lose some weight for sure so my opinion on the bike is pending at least a few more changes to the cockpit/tires.

 

[mgersib]

I like this way of describing it. Nice !

Thanks. It took me a while to come to that. It's hard to boil down something as complex as riding style into a simple description, but somehow this seemed to fit.

Cheers,
mg