[SX450]

I used a Sram BB30 type crankset and replaced the spindle with a RF Cinch regular spindle to get a 32T boost chainring to fit while maintaining a good chainline. It's a tightfittinbluejean but it clears the stays and I've put a few hundred miles on it with no issues. I would assume you could do the same with an even wider spindle to get a 34T to clear.

 

[Just J]

This happened today!

Brought it home to apply a Frameskin kit to it then its back to the shop by which point in time the X2 and the build kit should be ready for the build to continue. I can't wait!...

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[Levelheadsteve]

Nice! I would do the same thing. Get that frame protected and then back to the shop.

 

[Just J]

Nice! I would do the same thing. Get that frame protected and then back to the shop.

Thanks man!

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[Krompa]

You are right. I just checked and the XT Race comes with the BR-M615, which is Deore, not SLX. Ugh.

Four months on the Race XT 29 build. Brakes and wheels are solid so far. I'm heavy, ride technical but not much downhill terrain and wheels are still straight. The freehub has the correct sound.

I prefer the SLX shifter over the XT 8000. Feels more well built somehow.

 

[Levelheadsteve]

Four months on the Race XT 29 build. Brakes and wheels are solid so far. I'm heavy, ride technical but not much downhill terrain and wheels are still straight. The freehub has the correct sound.

I prefer the SLX shifter over the XT 8000. Feels more well built somehow.

Cool. Thanks for the information. What size frame and any idea of the complete bike weight?

 

[Krompa]

I'm on an XL and I run the taller cup... Only swapped the front tire so far but have a sram 34t ring about to arrive.

Haven't weighed it.

Posted some more opinions a couple of pages back.

 

[Levelheadsteve]

[SUB][/SUB]Ok, thanks. I was curious on the weight to see if the cheaper build was much heavier than the XT/XTR builds.

 

[pbbreath]

3 weeks on the Blade so far. Love the bike but the X2 Doesn't seem to have enough rebound damping. Max damping still has the back end bucking jumps. If I speed the fork rebound to full fast and the x2 damping to full slow it's close to jumping level. Anyone else having trouble setting theirs up? I'm 210 with gear and backpack.

 

[ryknown]

3 weeks on the Blade so far. Love the bike but the X2 Doesn't seem to have enough rebound damping. Max damping still has the back end bucking jumps. If I speed the fork rebound to full fast and the x2 damping to full slow it's close to jumping level. Anyone else having trouble setting theirs up? I'm 210 with gear and backpack.

Yep. I had the same issue my my X2. I thought I was setting it up wrong and hired a suspension guru to meet me at a local trail to tune it. Since it still did not feel good to me, I went to the DVO Topaz and have been very happy since.

I am about your same weight on a large SB. I added three volume spacers in the positive chamber and one in the negative. Small bump compliance is amazing now and I have only bottomed out hard once taking a 4' drop to a slight vertical incline at about 20 mph. And, the Topaz can be purchased for about $420, much cheaper than the X2.

 

[kenwood72]

Yep. I had the same issue my my X2. I thought I was setting it up wrong and hired a suspension guru to meet me at a local trail to tune it. Since it still did not feel good to me, I went to the DVO Topaz and have been very happy since.

I am about your same weight on a large SB. I added three volume spacers in the positive chamber and one in the negative. Small bump compliance is amazing now and I have only bottomed out hard once taking a 4' drop to a slight vertical incline at about 20 mph. And, the Topaz can be purchased for about $420, much cheaper than the X2.
View attachment 1136934

honestly not sure what you guys are smoking....the dvo can hold a candle to the x2, i am pretty sure you have the x2 set up wrong. the shocks are not even in the same league and dvo will even tell you that.

 

[ryknown]

honestly not sure what you guys are smoking....the dvo can hold a candle to the x2, i am pretty sure you have the x2 set up wrong. the shocks are not even in the same league and dvo will even tell you that.

I'm glad you like your X2. I ended up selling mine to another buddy who doesn't like it either. Here's a pic when it was on the bike...

 

[Thimling]

I have been riding mountain bike for 25 years. I've ridden GT, Trek, Cannondale, Specialized, and Klein. Done short races as well as long races and XTerra. Here is my advice. There is no mathematical equation to the right size frame. It all comes down to what feels best. I am 5'11" and sometime best fit for a medium and sometimes best for large. Occasionally an extra large because of I have a super long torso and short legs. Everyone frets over frame size...well I will tell you go with what feels best depending on the terrain you ride. Everyone is different...personally I now prefer the short stem with the slack geometry and I ride a large Switchblade. Yes,I could ride a medium but I fee more comfortable on a large.

 

[SX450]

If anyone have a set of Reynolds 29 Enduro SB wheels they'd like to sell, hit me up. I'm going to try this beast as a 29er and see what all the hype is about

 

[Blatant]

I'm glad you like your X2. I ended up selling mine to another buddy who doesn't like it either. Here's a pic when it was on the bike...

View attachment 1136953

I recognize that intersection; one of my favorite sections of western SoMo.

 

[Just J]

I got my Frameskin kit today, took about 10 days to get here from Australia.

Took me about 2 hours to fit, the kit is pretty intricate and covers the majority of the frame. Managed to avoid as many bubbles as possible by wet applying with a water and baby shampoo solution. There are a few bubbles left but previous experience leads me to believe that most of these will evaporate out within a few days.

The frame will be going back to the shop on Monday for the build!

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[jjokila]

Did 4 days self supported ride with my SB. Total distance 250 km and 37 hours of riding time. Performance was flawless even the ruck sack was heavy.

 

[Just J]

Can I join the club now?

Meet Kara...

I love this thing already, I got a base time off Dan at Pivot and I was away!

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[Just J]

I really enjoyed my first ride on the Switchblade, I managed to do stuff on it that I've not been able to ride in the past. Technical climbs, steeper trails than I'm used to and everything else in between. I'm impressed!

I've got to say that I wouldn't change a thing on the bike, it's perfect. The new stem, bars and Pad Lock grips are the exact right size and shape for me with the grips being ultra comfortable (I usually run ESI grips or Ergon GE1, both very comfortable grips). I'm even getting on well with the WTB saddle and Maxxis tyres that I've had differing results with in the past! By the way the bikes up the range come with WT tyres which was a nice surprise and there's still a tonnes of clearance there. I'd swear I could fit 3" tyres in there if it took my fancy to do so! Also the bike came with the latest Raceface Next SL G4 cranks which were also a pleasant surprise as I was expecting the standard SL's. Pivot have done an amazing job speccing this bike.

I was concerned that I wouldn't like the Fox Transfer dropper post, I've used Reverbs since their launch and have just upgraded to their new remote on my other main MTB. My fears were quickly dispelled though, the Transfer works extremely well and the remote is in the perfect position for me.

I'm used to Eagle and Guides so the gears and brakes are as expected, top notch.

The test bike I rode had the 17mm headset cup installed but I decided to have the flush cup put in as I wanted to bring the front down for better climbing. The climbing is indeed amazing, the front never wanders at all and I cleaned a climb that I've never been able to in over 20 years of riding it today! However, I am getting a few more pedal strikes than I would on the test bike, but these are manageable and I reckon good technique will come once I'm used to the bike some more.

The bike seems to beg me to take the bigger more difficult line, telling me that it has my back. It's quite surreal.

The X2 feels fantastic, I think I've got lucky with my tune because, as previously mentioned, I based it on Dan from Pivot's tune which is based on Fox's suggestion. I tweaked a couple of things but nothing major and it just works as I'd want it to. I tried the climb switch on the one small bit of uphill road I went on today but I don't think I'll use it too much as the bike and the shock are so well sorted.

The only thing I need to look at is the sag on the fork as I was running 30% today and need to knock it back down to around 25 to get the feel I need. It did work nicely though and it definitely saved me on at least one occasion this morning.

This bike has been the culmination of a lot of testing of bikes, research and testing of wheel sizes and components and I'm more than happy say that overall, yeah I'm in love and I can't wait for my next ride!

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[oKayH]

Welp, time to park my hardtail and get extra rowdy on the Switchblade for the next few months. Racing enduros all summer long on the east coast, culminating with EWS Aspen. Outside of tires and dumb luck breaking stuff, this is what I'm taking to the big dance.