[foggnm]

I have the 27.5 rail. Guess it's different? I tried getting info on the rail 27.5 forum but it's as dead as 650b haha. Disregard all my rants if your 29 has single row. Revel saw the light and changed to single row I guess. Lucky me!

Yes I think they're trying to make some bearing serviceability improvements, eg ranger v2 rear triangle. But consider you paid $1000 for a good frame that might require a little extra effort to replace a few bearings. I'd say you made out pretty well!

 

[shrubeck]

No. I actually find the bike fairly firm at the end stroke and difficult to bottom out. I like the current SDU air shock but it has always been a shock I found easier to use the full travel. I have an X2 on my Rail 29. Perhaps you'd benefit from a shock with a hydraulic bottom out if you're hitting big features frequently?

I decided I can live with the bottom out 1% of the time, and now I’m just trying to tune it for the 99%. Still not really getting along with the SDU. If I keep the shock long enough, I’ll get an HBO installed when I need it serviced.

I’m thinking about looking for a float X (not X2). I’ve run that shock on the last couple bikes and never had any complaints. I use this as an all around trail bike and like a lower weight build.

the fit, handling, and geo of the bike are absolutely perfect for me, so I’m willing to keep messing with the suspension to get it to feel how I want. In case anyone is interested, I dropped the fork from 170 to 160mm and liked the bike 5x more. To me it feels more “in character” for the bike. Long travel trail/all mountain. Not enduro.

 

[hartdog]

I decided I can live with the bottom out 1% of the time, and now I’m just trying to tune it for the 99%. Still not really getting along with the SDU. If I keep the shock long enough, I’ll get an HBO installed when I need it serviced.

I’m thinking about looking for a float X (not X2). I’ve run that shock on the last couple bikes and never had any complaints. I use this as an all around trail bike and like a lower weight build.

the fit, handling, and geo of the bike are absolutely perfect for me, so I’m willing to keep messing with the suspension to get it to feel how I want. In case anyone is interested, I dropped the fork from 170 to 160mm and liked the bike 5x more. To me it feels more “in character” for the bike. Long travel trail/all mountain. Not enduro.

try the Marzocchi air shock. Very efficient feeling and haven’t had any bottom out issues.

 

[foggnm]

For those of you that live places with winter, let this give you some hope that Spring is near and many good Rail 29 rides are coming your way

 

[masterp2]

In case anyone is interested, I dropped the fork from 170 to 160mm and liked the bike 5x more.

I am trying to understand what you mean. A 10mm ride height change doesnt seem significant enough for most people to notice. Can you explain?

 

[HEMIjer]

Anyone need a takeoff Ultimate 170mm PM me. I ended up staying at 160mm for my build.

 

[foggnm]

I am trying to understand what you mean. A 10mm ride height change doesnt seem significant enough for most people to notice. Can you explain?

I can agree with shrubeck. Not that I "like" my bike more at 160, but I've found with similar travel bikes that going to 170mm fork tend tends to take away a touch of trail efficiency/maneuverability. I have a 170mm 38 I keep on hand for park riding but use my 160mm 36 for trail riding. I have also noticed I like riding lower (stack) over the front of this bike regardless of what travel I'm running... it seems to match the personality...race-like, nimble.

 

[nixgame22]

sold

 

[masterp2]

@nixgame22 messaged you

 

[gjmtbr1]

Anyone need a takeoff Ultimate 170mm PM me. I ended up staying at 160mm for my build.

Hey just joined but id be interested. i have a new manitou with rs sdu in the rear... just like brands to match!

 

[TylerVernon]

Hey just joined but id be interested. i have a new manitou with rs sdu in the rear... just like brands to match!

Then get a Mara piggyback for the rear man.

 

[gjmtbr1]

Then get a Mara piggyback for the rear man.

Or swap the fork!

 

[TylerVernon]

Or swap the fork!

That's a step backward. How about moving forward?

 

[gjmtbr1]

That's a step backward. How about moving forward?

To each their own I suppose, LBS service the “big guys” suspension more readily

 

[foggnm]

seal removed by me, very clean inside

Perfectly clean bearing seized, chainstay pivot. ~1000 miles of riding. The interesting thing is when I removed it, spun smooth as butter. Also noticed the other one spun much better out of the linkage than in the frame. Seems these 3802v bearings were pretty sensitive to the frame/pivot tolerances. I ordered better bearings for the whole frame. Doesn't change my love for the bike but in the last 8 years and probably at least 12 FS bikes...never once had a pivot bearing fail. So maybe it was just my turn. 😉 Hopefully Revel will improve the bearings in future releases.

 

[hartdog]

Can someone measure to the center of their bb? I have something odd going on. Replaced my rear shock and had to replace my lower link because the bearings were seized in there. It's riding great but I noticed many more rock strikes with my pedals and bash guard. I measured the bb and it 13.25" or 337mm. Thats a 1/2" lower than it should be. It's now lower than my revel ranger. I am running 2.4 minions which hasn't changed and a 160mm fork. I measured the rear shock and it the same eye to eye as the super deluxe that was on there. Any clue??

 

[TylerVernon]

View attachment 2136403 seal removed by me, very clean inside

Perfectly clean bearing seized, chainstay pivot. ~1000 miles of riding. The interesting thing is when I removed it, spun smooth as butter. Also noticed the other one spun much better out of the linkage than in the frame. Seems these 3802v bearings were pretty sensitive to the frame/pivot tolerances. I ordered better bearings for the whole frame. Doesn't change my love for the bike but in the last 8 years and probably at least 12 FS bikes...never once had a pivot bearing fail. So maybe it was just my turn. 😉 Hopefully Revel will improve the bearings in future releases.

That's not good! If you can find a way, you should measure the bearing bore. A bore that is too small will compress the bearing and it doesn't matter what quality bearing you put in there, you'll get the same result. I've gone through this with hubs.

 

[foggnm]

That's not good! If you can find a way, you should measure the bearing bore. A bore that is too small will compress the bearing and it doesn't matter what quality bearing you put in there, you'll get the same result. I've gone through this with hubs.

That makes sense but I think even with a micrometer, I'm not sophisticated enough to know if something was truly out of bore diameter spec. I did replace them and happy to report silky smooth silence again. And just to reiterate, this bearing issue aside, this is probably the quietest bike I've had over the past 9 years...which seems impossible with all those pivots...but seriously I get zero rattles or annoying noises. And of course the bike is an absolute beast in technical terrain.

 

[foggnm]

If you thought the frame/bike deals on the Rail 29 were sweet before...now $1800 frame, $3500 XT build with Fox factory suspension, etc. I was tempted to buy another one!

 

[boostedka]

Sic deals for sure! I think the Fox builds are down to only Small and Medium now.