[Danzzz88]

Wondered how many of you on here have took a DH frame and adapted it with a dropper, normal drivetrain, single crown etc and what frame did you use?

Looking to do something similar to what the guy did in this video.

I find I prefer DH bike geometry and I'm not a fan of the current steep seat tubes, long reaches and high antisquat values for a number of reasons on the recent crop of enduro bikes. I took a look at the Canfield ONE.2, seems like the ideal bike but unfortunately there is no stock and I was told they may or may not be producing another limited run of them.

So for those that have converted their DH bikes, what frame did you use, does it have a steep enough seat tube angle to pedal around and how do you find riding it. Post your rides if you have any photos too.

 

[NWS]

I've been riding a Canfield Jedi with a dropper since I bought it in 2011 or so. It was 1x9 for most of that time, with a full range cassette. It's always been dual-crown, and none of the parts were chosen to save weight, but I've always been happy with the geometry and suspension travel. I bought that bike when a local mountain announced that they were going to do mountain biking in the summer. Took it for some test rides closer to home and realized that long travel feels a lot like skiing or snowboarding though powder, the extra weight doesn't bother me, and I can still pedal it anywhere I want. At 45 pounds the weight is noticeable, to be fair, but it isn't the problem I expected it to be.

My primary do-everything bike for the last 3-4 years is an NS Bikes Soda Evo Air, which was one step down from their DH bike at the time - it's still longer than my Jedi (owing to industry trends) and it has the same head tube angle. Single crown, air suspension, and a few lighter parts got the weight down below 35 pounds - still heavy by some standards, but I abuse my bikes and still haven't broken anything on this one. I chose it because I wanted 180mm travel at both ends, and I wanted a seat tube straight enough for a 200mm dropper. And then the longest dropper I could find was 175mm, but that seems to be enough.

 

[Mudguard]

So for those that have converted their DH bikes, what frame did you use, does it have a steep enough seat tube angle to pedal around and how do you find riding it. Post your rides if you have any photos too.

I think it's going to come down to seat angle. Back in the day I had a Big Hit which I rode everywhere with 2x and 1x. But the seat angle was so slack I think I only got away with it because of youthful exuberance. I think the other thing to consider is how well will a dropper work with a slack seat angle? They can bind if you don't push them down straight.
Interestingly I went and had a look at Specialized's website. They have the seat angle of the Enduro at 76 degrees vs 76.8 for the Demo? That can't be right. I wonder if that's the whole effective vs actual thing.

 

[shwinn8]

45lbs? my 2011 Jedi is 40lbs with a dvo Emerald

 

[mlloyd007]

I'm building up a Transition TR11 right now, and decided to throw a 1x12 drivetrain on it because Norhtstar won't open for another 7 months and I want to ride the bike. I won't use as a trail bike per se, but as a downhill bike that I'll pedal up fireroads to access the descent. It will probably be around 35lb or 36lb.

 

[mlloyd007]

There it is. Thought I could make it work with a solid seatpost and a QR clamp, but couldn't get it right for both seated pedaling and descending, so I ordered an AXS dropper. Waiting for that and a front rotor- will be right at 35lb.

 

[Danzzz88]

There it is. Thought I could make it work with a solid seatpost and a QR clamp, but couldn't get it right for both seated pedaling and descending, so I ordered an AXS dropper. Waiting for that and a front rotor- will be right at 35lb.

View attachment 1958885

That looks sweet. Were you not concerned about the kinked seat tube, do you reckon you can get a dropper low in enough in that frame to get it out of the way on descents? How was the pedalling position and efficiency when you tried it with the fixed seat post? Would you say it feels much plusher than the current crop of long travel enduros or have you not tried it properly yet?

 

[SHIVER ME TIMBERS]

I was lucky and got the Canfield One.2......I am so happy. I can pedal it up but still shred the DH.....This bike pedals so amazingly well and with Suspension Design, along with DVO, This bike is everything I need....

 

[mlloyd007]

That looks sweet. Were you not concerned about the kinked seat tube, do you reckon you can get a dropper low in enough in that frame to get it out of the way on descents? How was the pedalling position and efficiency when you tried it with the fixed seat post? Would you say it feels much plusher than the current crop of long travel enduros or have you not tried it properly yet?

Rode it today for the first time, and descending tight/steep, technical singletrack is sweet on this rig compared to my enduro bike, a Firebird 29 (170/158). Picking lines with the 27.5 wheels is way easier/more precise and the suspension just gobbles up everything- big difference there. Rode the descent a lot faster, had more fun than on the enduro bike. The seatpost is an issue, however. I thought that with a 125mm drop, which is the most I can get with the seat tube length, I could get the saddle low enough, but it did end up rubbing on my thighs too much. I'll have to try the fixed seat post option again. Pedaling efficiency was fine when seated, in fact I really couldn't tell a lot of difference compared to my enduro rig. Standing pedaling is another matter, and it's way too plush for much of that. Overall, I'm pretty psyched and just need to get the seatpost height sorted.

 

[NWS]

none of the parts were chosen to save weight

45lbs? my 2011 Jedi is 40lbs with a dvo Emerald

LOL, how is that even a question?

 

[Elvinsbne]

There it is. Thought I could make it work with a solid seatpost and a QR clamp, but couldn't get it right for both seated pedaling and descending, so I ordered an AXS dropper. Waiting for that and a front rotor- will be right at 35lb.

View attachment 1958885

Rode it today for the first time, and descending tight/steep, technical singletrack is sweet on this rig compared to my enduro bike, a Firebird 29 (170/158). Picking lines with the 27.5 wheels is way easier/more precise and the suspension just gobbles up everything- big difference there. Rode the descent a lot faster, had more fun than on the enduro bike. The seatpost is an issue, however. I thought that with a 125mm drop, which is the most I can get with the seat tube length, I could get the saddle low enough, but it did end up rubbing on my thighs too much. I'll have to try the fixed seat post option again. Pedaling efficiency was fine when seated, in fact I really couldn't tell a lot of difference compared to my enduro rig. Standing pedaling is another matter, and it's way too plush for much of that. Overall, I'm pretty psyched and just need to get the seatpost height sorted.

Hi! What dropper post did you end up using with your TR11? I’m looking to put a dropper post as well on my tr11 and looking for any recommendation. Thank youz

 

[mlloyd007]

Hi! What dropper post did you end up using with your TR11? I’m looking to put a dropper post as well on my tr11 and looking for any recommendation. Thank youz

I got an AXS dropper, 125mm. That was the best fit for the seat tube depth and my inseam- couldn't make a 150mm work.

 

[Elvinsbne]

I got an AXS dropper, 125mm. That was the best fit for the seat tube depth and my inseam- couldn't make a 150mm work.

Thanks for the quick reply. Would you mind posting a picture of your bike here with axs dropper installed? I have large tr11.

 

[DennisT]

Damn, I've been thinking about doing something like this on my V10. Nice to see someone has succeeded with it.

Question: (and I'm showing my mechanical ignorance here) If you want to swap the stock 7-gear cassette for something else, are they all the same width? Or do you have to make sure to find a trail/enduro cassette with the same width as the original? And what about compatibility with whatever mounting mechanism attaches it to the wheel?

I'm in a position right now where I not only know what I don't know, I also don't know what else I don't know.

 

[mlloyd007]

Thanks for the quick reply. Would you mind posting a picture of your bike here with axs dropper installed? I have large tr11.

I have the Large TR11 also. I can post a pic later, but probably more relevant are some measurements. I have the dropper set up so that the distance from the top of the saddle to the middle of the crank spindle is 69cm. That's about right for my inseam of 32". So when the 125mm dropper is down, the top of the saddle is 56.5cm, or 22.25". Hope that helps.

 

[mlloyd007]

Damn, I've been thinking about doing something like this on my V10. Nice to see someone has succeeded with it.

Question: (and I'm showing my mechanical ignorance here) If you want to swap the stock 7-gear cassette for something else, are they all the same width? Or do you have to make sure to find a trail/enduro cassette with the same width as the original? And what about compatibility with whatever mounting mechanism attaches it to the wheel?

I'm in a position right now where I not only know what I don't know, I also don't know what else I don't know.

I just sold my V10, and to be honest, I wouldn't recommend doing this with a V10. The V10 is a monster truck compared to the TR11, and it would not be fun to pedal anywhere even with a 1x12 geartrain. The V10 is much more of a purpose-built race bike while the TR11 is more of a park bike that people also race. That said, you can swap the 7-speed cassette directly for a 12-speed cassette (at least for SRAM), and put on a 12-speed derailleur.