Hey all, I finally pulled the trigger on the X01 build with 29er wheels. I've ridden it twice and boy is it harsh. I don't remember the harshness being an issue during my demo. I've spent the last two days re-riding the same section of trail to try and tune the suspension. I've got the Fox factory fork and shock btw. I set everything up per Fox's recommendation. Today on my ride I slowed down the rebound on the fork by 3 clicks and the shock by 2 which seemed to help. LSC is wide open, not sure if that would help.

Anyone else have the same issue? I haven't taken this bike on any truly gnarly trails yet.

Btw, I'm 175 lbs on a size large, I'm not a heavy rider (if that makes any difference). I realize stiffness is a part of the bikes DNA, maybe I'm a little too old for something that has such a stout ride!

 

Fox's recommendations are usually too stiff. Try 60-65PSI in the fork. What shock are you running?

 

I guess I lied when I said I was running all of Fox's specs. I have 60psi in the fork, a little on the soft side of their recommendation.

I've got the Float EVOL shock.

 

Check the tire pressure and check the fork. It might lack oil in the lowers and turn it upside down so the oil seeps into the foam rings.

Bushings, seals etc need some break in period as well.

I'd say 36 is perhaps not as sensitive as 34 I had before on the Trail in terms of comfort, but in terms of tracking and taking on high speed and big hits, it's much better and more stable. Fox 36 only comes to it's own when trail starts to go rough and the faster you go the better it feels.

You might want to take out volume reducers and keep slightly higher pressure. I found this to be great on my old 34.

 

I'm running 25 psi front and back. I'll have to take a look at the fork...

 

215 with pack. 2.5 DHF - 24lb. Aggressor - 30lb. Fork - 73.5lb. I added a spacer to the fork and I run it in the Trail setting which allowed me to drop the pressure. DPX2 - 200lb, Trail setting, with a extra spacer. The current suspension is awesome, but finicky to set up and very sensitive to temperature changes IMO. The fork really doesn’t like temps below 45F.


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215 with pack. 2.5 DHF - 24lb. Aggressor - 30lb. Fork - 73.5lb. I added a spacer to the fork and I run it in the Trail setting which allowed me to drop the pressure. DPX2 - 200lb, Trail setting, with a extra spacer. The current suspension is awesome, but finicky to set up and very sensitive to temperature changes IMO. The fork really doesn't like temps below 45F.

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This is my first bike with suspension this long so I think a lot of this might be due to my inexperience. Did you add spacers because you were bottoming out, or just to change the feel of the fork?

I was reading a thread in the suspension forum where everyone was bad mouthing the 2016 Fox 36 as being overly harsh. I'm wondering if that harshness coupled with the bike's stiffness can make it a little trickier to set up than other bikes?

 

As Marin said above, you need to let the fork break-in before you do anything. Set the pressures by sag and not by recommended Psi. Then ride it for a few weeks and readjust. don't make major changes until the new fork is broken in. Pivot also has recommended suspension setting on their website specifically for the SB. Use that as a guide for initial setup.

 

Will do. I'll check out Pivots website too.

 

2016 Model Year 36s were a little harsh. Fox will retune them. Also are you equalizing the chamber ? You don't just put the desired pressure in in one go and remove the shock pump.

 

Not sure what this is. How do you equalize the chamber?

 

DrDon, I'm running 85-90PSI in 36 and I weigh around 88-90kg, so I'm not sure how it's working out for you to run only 73.PSI and you're heavier than I am.

I use 70-80% of the travel most of the time unless I'm doing jumps and drops (then I use up whole travel).

On the rear, I'm running around 215PSI in the DPS to get to about 30% sag seated.

This gives me nice ride height as SB has pretty low BB and it's prone to rock strikes and has enough pop and hard hitting ability to go anywhere.

On the other hand, I'm running new Nobby Nic Addix 29x2.6 tires and would recommend them to anyone. They're amazing, roll twice as fast as Minions and grip almost as well but they're much faster in the real world if you have to pedal.

I'm running them at around 1-1.2 bar, so about 15-18PSI.

 

I'm using the Syncros SP1.0 Digital shock pump. Don't know if that makes a difference. I did add spacers and I don't get full travel.

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Picking up my purchased from Pivot 2017 demo SB in the morning. What bar widths are you people running. The stock 740mm seem a bit short. I'm used to 780mm but might even try 800mm. Thanks.

 

Running 800 on my XL frame and I really like it.

 

This a crosspost from Wheels, but I think it may get pretty good traction here as well. Thank you.

Strongest, 157 Super Boost VS Hope DH
Wheelbuilders, what is stronger, the new 157mm Super Boost Plus, or Hope's 157mm DH spacing.

Here is what I can find.

Hope tells me "Our standard 157mm hub will fit fine, the chainline and disc spacing are the same, the super boost hub only has a wider spoke angle bracing from moving the flanges closer to the disc and freehub body.

Our 157mm hub uses even spaced flanges creating a dish less spoke build, therefore arguably creates stronger wheel build than moving the flanges wider apart would."

I'm considering a frame with this spacing, and the wheels I want come with Hope hubs. Any expert advice is much appreciated.

 

Our 157mm hub uses even spaced flanges creating a dish less spoke build, therefore arguably creates stronger wheel build than moving the flanges wider apart would."

I'm considering a frame with this spacing, and the wheels I want come with Hope hubs. Any expert advice is much appreciated.

I9 makes their system hubs in Super Boost spec with the wider flange spacing. I have some wheels built with them and they're stiff AF. I'm 250# and been OTB several times with no tacos or loss of true. The Hopes are solid hubs, but anyone telling you that they would be stronger without moving the flanges further outboard is full of it. It's simple physics. However, would anyone non-pro level really notice a difference? I doubt I would. But technically speaking, moving the flanges further out is definitely gonna create laterally stiffer wheels.

 

After a demo ride blew my mind I picked up my 2017 SB demo sale Pro XT 1x 29 build from the good guys at Sonoran Cycles in Glendale, AZ tonight. Pivot lists some demo bikes on their site and sells them through dealers. Thanks to the good staff Terry and Wil for helping me out. The bike is in great shape and I saved big $.
I wanted to confirm frame size is M and don't see any markings indicating it...thoughts on what to measure to do this? Also I confirmed with my calipers that the cockpit has been changed to 31.8mm clamp bars and 60mm stem. I may leave it after trying it on a good ride tomorrow but think the bar may be aluminum (nope I pulled off a grip and it's carbon 31.8 dia cutaway on an angle so maybe a prototype to take the padlock grip?). They did put brand new HRII tires, grips and saddle on it though! Not sure about these padlock grips...may be the first change and the rear rotor upsized possibly. What a fine machine!

 

Congrats. I have the carbon bars with pad loc grips and really like them. However, if my bars had come uncut, I'd consider keeping them that way just for the ability to change brands and grip styles.

 

So, I've finally managed to take a few photos of my complete Switchblade.
Changed to XX1 Eagle with Absolute Black 32T oval, Specialized Power saddle, Schwalbe Nobby Nic Addix 2.6 tires over stock.

 

Nice build! I was wondering if you could measure front and rear clearance and width of your tires as I wouldn't mind trying 2.6" tires in my SB. My older version Hans Damfs on my Trance measure wide and I was wondering if these Addix tires do also.

 

That looks awesome! I’m also going to be running 2.6 tyres on mine soon, I’ve got some Maxxis Rekons on their way to me.


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I'm looking to purchase stock DT Swiss Superboost+ 27.5+ XM551 wheels . PM me if you have some to sell or know who does. Thanks.

 

Beautifull pictures and nice build
I've got mine since one year, this is really a playbike (29ers and 160 Fork with X2) .
I would change my crankset (Aeffect) by a Next sl G4, but I wonder if I can buy a normal or if I need a special standard...because of the super boost. I ride with a small ring, 26 Absolut Black.
Thank you for your help and good end of year

 

Thank you for your help It's not easy to fing the goog length spindle for the Switch...I know that I can flip the chainring but I'm afraid that the cranks will touch the frame if the spindle is not good...
I'm agree with you, Race Face BB are not the best...and with the 30 mm it's worst.

Another question : wich grips do you have on your bar ?
Your bike is awesome !

 

Stock grips that came with the bike - Pivot PadLoc grips for their Phoenix bars.

I believe it's WTB's product:
https://www.wtb.com/pages/wtb-introduces-padloc-grips

 

So I am getting a little tired of the pedal strikes. I am already running the longer headset cup on my 27.5+ set up with my 2.8 rekons.

I am thinking of setting up my fork to 160mm before I jump ship and go 29s.

Anyone running a 160 fork in their switchblade? Any ill effects on climbing or handling??

 

So I am getting a little tired of the pedal strikes. I am already running the longer headset cup on my 27.5+ set up with my 2.8 rekons.

I am thinking of setting up my fork to 160mm before I jump ship and go 29s.

Anyone running a 160 fork in their switchblade? Any ill effects on climbing or handling??

Yes, I've extended the Fox36 to 160mm and been running that for most of the life of the SB (29er without the big lower headset cup). I couldn't feel any downside to the longer fork.

 

Duplicate.. sry

 

Thx for the replys so far. Anyone running the 160 fork and the taller headset cup together?

Sounds like extending the fork will be in my future soon.

 

Yep, and with 29er wheels. Love it.

 

Installed 3" studded Suomi Tyres Fat Freddie tires for winter. Very nice traction, rolls well and easy handling. Had some leaking while installing tubeless, but no problem since. Pictures:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/51xtL09hMMf7FwE42

 

Me too, I'm riding with 160 Fox 36 and the lower cup with 29". It's just perfect for me and I don't want ride anything else

 

Is there a guide to extending the fork to 160mm?

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Yep.

 

I am on a Yeti 5.5C and have been interested in possibly moving to the Switchblade. I am looking for someone who has ridden the two that can give me some feedback between them. Thanks!

 

Own a Blade and ridden the 5.5. Both very similar bikes in feel and fit. From my short time on 5.5, seemed a bit more plush/plowable on the DH than a SB but I suffered a bit more on the climbs. Honestly I could have been happy with either but Yeti's are like Subaru's around here...everyone's got one. Aside from some bike park blacks, I haven't found a trail where I felt I needed more bike and that's probably more a lack of balls on my part.

 

I like the DPX2. The Float DPS was either too firm or not progressive enough. The X2 was plush and soaked up chunk but lacked the squirt ahead feel of my 429. It was definitely better than the Float. The DPX2 is a smidgen less efficient than my 429 but I’m also running more aggressive tires on my SB.


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To me the extra stiffness gives me better corner feel and confidence. I felt the bike hooked up better and held the line better in curves. I am experienced in riding and mechanical bike work but no pro. I rode/demoed many bikes and notice the stiffness difference by comparing them. It's really the only way to know but of course you can't ride them all.