REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Mk 1 SS vs Tracer VP

3176 Views 44 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Summit, May 28, 2010

dans160

Discussion Starter · Jan 17, 2010

After what seemed like forever I finished building up my Mk 1 Slopestyle. It weighed in at 33lbs with 2010 Van 36 RC2s and a Hope Pro2 wheelset. Lighter than I was expecting considering the frame is a large.

After more time I actually rode it and was very surprised. Corners like a house fly, handles the slow technical stuff to about 99% of the Tracers ability. Pedals just as well and in general I'm happier on it.

So, the Tracer is up far sale as I cannot keep both and having two bikes that are 'similar-ish' does not make much sense in any case. What I want to do know is get the Slopestyle on a diet. Ideally I want to swap out the VAN RC2 36s for some Floats and move the Chris King wheels set form the Tracer over to the Slopestyle. Questions are:

Is there anything else that can be done that will make a bigish difference? I thought about a set of Mavic CrossMax SX rims but find conflicting stories about their weight and I think I have everything else pretty much covered. Also, does anyone have any experiences of using the Floats with the Sopestyle, if so I'd be interested to hear your views.

Cheers,

Dan

1 - 20 of 45 Posts

other aardvark

· #2 · Jan 18, 2010

dans160 said:
. Questions are:

Is there anything else that can be done that will make a bigish difference? I thought about a set of Mavic CrossMax SX rims but find conflicting stories about their weight and I think I have everything else pretty much covered. Also, does anyone have any experiences of using the Floats with the Sopestyle, if so I'd be interested to hear your views.

Cheers,

Dan

I dont have any experience board the original SS but have I met quite a few people who are fanatical about this model. Strangely, some of them haven't ever actually owned one. The original SS must must be one of those bikes that really inspire. To me it looks like a Lamborghini sports car on two wheels with pedals. Its got that "its going fast even when its staying still" kinda thing going on.

I do own some SX hoops and I can say they are very strong for their weight. There are lighter wheels and stronger wheels but few would be such a nice combination of both. Only downside is if you total them its going to make you cry cause spares are very expensive compared to a standard wheelset.

Hope to see some pix soon mate

rugbyred

· #3 · Jan 18, 2010

What is your build? That might help people make suggestions.

Eric

other aardvark

· #4 · Jan 18, 2010

rugbyred said:
What is your build? That might help people make suggestions.

Eric

Yep, it would be interesting to see what cranks, pedals and tires you are running. All these are places for potentially loosing significant weight.

Cable0guy

· #5 · Jan 18, 2010

Go through the photo album. I have SX, XTR/X0, etc. on my build.

dans160

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 18, 2010

Okay:

2010 Fox 36 Van RC2 FIT
Chris King Devolution Headset
Chris King ISO hubs laced to Mavic 719 rims using Swiss DT spokes
M970 XTR crank arms
Blackspire 32 t chaingring
Gamut P20 chain device
Chris King BB
KCNC chain ring bolts
Thomson 350mm post
Salsa flip lock seatpost clamp
SDG Bel Air RL cro mo saddle (Ti one going on soon)
Thomson X4 70mm stem
Sunline V2 50mm riser bars
ODI Yeti lockon grips
Sram X9 shifter (changing to X0)
Sram X0 rear mech, short cage with KCNC jockey wheels
Hope Mono M4 calipers
Hope floating rotors
Hope rear quick release
DMR V12 Mag pedals
Sram PC991 chain
Swampthing 2.35s front and rear. There is a lot of mud here at the moment!

I think that's it.

See less See more

BCBlur

· #7 · Jan 19, 2010

dans160 said:
What I want to do know is get the Slopestyle on a diet. Ideally I want to swap out the VAN RC2 36s for some Floats and move the Chris King wheels set form the Tracer over to the Slopestyle

Contact Fox and see if you can just swap out the spring side of your VAN for the Float air spring internals. It may be cheaper.

I'll be watching this thread. My SS comes in at ~34.5 lbs with an Elka, Ti coil, Lyric Solo Air and a Gravity Dropper.

dans160

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 19, 2010

I hadn't thought of contacting fox. It's a shame they do not make a ti spring for their forks. Incidentally, does anyone know the weight of the DHX 5 shock suppled with the SS before I take it off? I've got a Bos Stoy that I can put on which weighs in at 864grams as fitted to the Tracer but after converting will weigh more.

Cheers,

Dan

dans160

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 20, 2010

So far I've decided to get a Ti railed Bel Air, X0 shifters and a Ti Spring for the shock. The Stoy is up for sale as so far I've been really impressed with the Fox DHX 5 although the ground is very, very soft at the moment so it's impossible to say what it will be like when it dries out. That's not to say that I won't change my mind.

I'll keep you posted as to how my battle against the bulge goes.

Cheers,

Dan

BCBlur

· #10 · Jan 20, 2010

dans160 said:
So far I've decided to get a Ti railed Bel Air, X0 shifters and a Ti Spring for the shock. The Stoy is up for sale as so far I've been really impressed with the Fox DHX 5 although the ground is very, very soft at the moment so it's impossible to say what it will be like when it dries out. That's not to say that I won't change my mind.

I'll keep you posted as to how my battle against the bulge goes.

Cheers,

Dan

You're picking the DHX over the S*toy?

Uncle Cliffy

· #11 · Jan 20, 2010

I'm running a 2009 36 Float RC2 on my SS. Great fork!

Summit

· #12 · Jan 20, 2010

33 is a great weight for that bike. I thought I was in the 34ish range, but no...finally got it on a scale and it's 36

Full XT build, not sure what else to do there to lighten it up. Probably going with some Stan's Flow rims, and going to throw on a 36 Float or Lyric Solo Air (currently 36 Van RC2). Maybe even an air shock, still cheaper than a ti spring.

dans160

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 20, 2010

BCBlur said:
You're picking the DHX over the S*toy?

The Stoy will cost £200 to get converted so it fits the SS. It also weighs more. So far I have not been dissapointed with the DHX5. I need to call TF tuned and chat to them about it really but it's up for sale and if I can get what I'm asking for it then it can go. If not then I will keep it. I'll see what TF tuned have to say about it.

dans160

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 20, 2010

Summit said:
33 is a great weight for that bike. I thought I was in the 34ish range, but no...finally got it on a scale and it's 36 Full XT build, not sure what else to do there to lighten it up. Probably going with some Stan's Flow rims, and going to throw on a 36 Float or Lyric Solo Air (currently 36 Van RC2). Maybe even an air shock, still cheaper than a ti spring.

I checked out Ti springs last night How much! That is taking the p*** surely!?

dans160

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jan 24, 2010

Weighed it again and nope not 33lb at all. More like 33.7. I got it down to 33.6 after fitting the new saddle and XO shifter.

The only way to lose more weight is to swap out the fork for a float (anybody want to swap my Vans for their Foats?) and sort out that spring on the rear shock. I've still not called TF tuned about the Stoy so still no ideas about what to do with that.

Cable0guy

· #16 · Jan 24, 2010

If you want to drop another 2-3 lb, you need to use more XC components and make serious compromises (hopefully not too much). You first need to work on the wheels/tires. Use UST XC tires 700-800g, and with UST/tubeless wheelsets that are light. You could also use lighter brakes and regular lighter rotors. If you use Float, that is also significant. You can probably get it to ~31-32 lb, but it will not handle all that well. I would love to do a comparison test of that bike vs. a Tracer with better tires.

I keep 2 wheelsets for my SS, one for XC/AM (~33lb with XC tires) and one for light DH (~36lb with DH tires) for anywhere I don't have to climb. My XC/AM build would be 32lb or less if I don't use a telescoping seatpost, and few other stuff. Good enough for most rides, although I am usually the last one to the top on climbs.

dans160

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jan 25, 2010

Yeah I know. I don't want to go too far down the weight weenie route just keep is sensible. Sub 33lbs would be an excellent weight for this kind of do-it-bike. The summer set up will be lighter but that will be down to tires. The 2.35 single ply swampthings are needed at the moment as conditions where I am in the UK are muddy to say the least.

In terms of performance I am riding faster and am more confident on this bike that I ever was on the Tracer. I also think it climbs better as it sits better in it's travel (does that make sense?).

Cable0guy

· #18 · Jan 25, 2010

dans160 said:
I also think it climbs better as it sits better in it's travel (does that make sense?).

Not for me. Out of all the Intense bikes I had/tried (excluding DH bikes), it is the worst climber. My old 38lb Uzzi VPX climbed better than this bike. Now that I have a dedicated DH bike, I might get a real AM bike later this year.

dans160

Discussion Starter · #19 · May 20, 2010

Got it down to 33lbs with the Bos Stoy fitted. I've swapped out the King/Mavic wheelset for a set of (2nd hand) Mavix CrossMax SX. I've fitted Ti rotor bolts but they save chuff all and were really fitted as the standard Hope ones are made of cheesium. The Hope floating rotors are now gone and the rear has been replaced with a 180mm Ashima AiRotor and the front with a 203mm Avid G3 which probably weighs more than the Hope but at least it fits with the Mavic rims! If the rear Ashima proves it's worth I'll get one for the front. I've also fitted a kevlar Maxxis Minion DHR 2.35 to the front and a Schwalbe Nobby Nic Evo Snakeskin to the rear. The DMR Mag pedals have gone and been replaced with some Podium Point1s.

All that is left to do is either get some Float 36RC2s or swap out the crown for a tapered version. My stantions are scratched so I need to do something anyway at some point!

CrustyOne

· #20 · May 23, 2010

33 pounds with that build?, are you in America?, ive noticed that bikes almost always weigh less in America. so maybe thats it

1 - 20 of 45 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.