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Here it is with much anticipation – Project DH. Complete in finished race ready form. Actually it has been done for a while now, but we have been having too much fun riding it to sit down and do this article.
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Finally the complete build….now lets go ride!
So to start here is the build list –
Frame – 2012 OGI Musashi, size large
Rear Shock – 2012 Fox RC4, 3.5 x 400 steel spring
Fork – 2012 Marzocchi RC3 888TI V2
Bars – Candy Components DH bar
Stem – Marrow Components DM drop stem
Headset – FSA Orbit Option Headset, set at −.5 degrees
Grips – ODI TroyLeeDesigns edition lock ons
Seat – WTB
Seatpost – Gravity Light
Seat Clamp – Candy Components
Wheels – Novatec Demon DH
Tires – Kenda (we have been testing several tires in Kendas line up)
Cranks – Shimano Saint 170mm
Pedals – HT Components AE-02
Brakes – Shimano Saint 203mm rotors
Shifter – Shimano Saint
Derailleur – Shimano Saint
This bike is intended to be our test bed for future DH product reviews as well as our racer. When I sat down to build this bike I put alot of thought into it. This was not an off the shelf, pre-built bike. This is a bike assembled with deep thought into what we were after, something worthy of being a top contender on any DH course. The parts had to be strong, and reliable while not being heavy. There is still room to not only improve a few things, but also lighten up the bike as well. However I am pretty stoked on the fit and feel of the bike and the way each component compliments this bike. As it sits the bike weighs in at 38.07 lbs … we can easily get it down under 36 going tubeless and changing to a Ti spring on the rear shock. Both of which are in the works.
Frame – I chose this frame for a few reasons. After working with OGI Pro DH Art Babcock on the prototype last year, I instantly saw what looked to be a very promising design. I simply “got it” the moment I saw it. Many say its a resemblance of the old Iron Horse Sunday that Sam Hill piloted to so many wins. And in a way it kind of does, yet that only goes a small ways. The first thing I saw that caught my eye was the floating rear shock. It connects to only the linkages, in an effort to not only control how shock and links work together but also reduces some stress on the frame. Once I rode the prototype last year I was more than eager to get a production one in my hands. The Frame arrived with a 2012 Fox RC4 slathered in Kashima coating and a 400lb spring (something we are looking to swap out for a Ti version).
Forks – We wanted something new and different. So impressed with our Marzocchi 44 micro Ti on our 4X bike and having Marzocchi pulling a full revamp on the flagship 888 Ti fork, it was a no brainer. Marzocchi made some serious fine tuning changes that made last years 888 Ti fork that has been a favorite among so many magazine reviews. Usually topping the Fox 40 and RockShox WC in tests. They also made a new crown (what took so long is beyond me) that accepts the large slew of direct mount stems that have been available to Fox and RS for years. Also lighter…this is the lightest coil fork at this level. The RC3 EVO V2 system has been revamped over last years fork, giving this one a bit more suppleness and you can feel it. This is by far their finest fork yet. As we mentioned a while back….MARZOCCHI is BACK BABY!
Drivetrain – The focus for this bike was to be full on DH race machine. I wanted something that was going to be reliable. I wanted something that was the best out there, the top of the line in DH. There was not much choice other than Shimano Saint or Sram XO. I wanted the best and stuck with what I knew would work for this bike….Shimano Saint package was quickly put together and put on the bike. Joe Lawwill explained “This line hasn’t really changed recently simply because it’s so good as it sits right now. We wanted to focus on the XTR and XT for now….but in the near future we will be seeing some trickle down from those grouppos into the Saint line…..sometime.” Full Saint all the way from the brakes, shifter, derailleur, cranks, chain and cassette….everything! To connect my engine with the running gear are the HT AE-02 flat pedals. These are a bit taller and lighter than the AE-01 pedals. Also a slightly bit wider with thicker pins. A very open design looks like it will shed mud really well…we just need to find some to test that theory out. The AE-02 pedals also have more of a concave feel to them since the ends are slightly taller than the center.
Controls – We are dealing with three different companies here that let me put this bike right where I want it at any speed. The Candy Components bars sit at 810mm wide, some of the widest bars on the market (and believe it or not I have NOT cut them down….they feel great. That may change if I get to some heavily tree lined runs, but for now I am VERY happy with the feel). The bars are held tight by the Marrow Components Drop stem…effectively lowering the bar height 6mm compared to a flat stem. Mixed with the slight rise of the Candy Components bar its kind of a wash, but thats ok because I am not a fan of flat bars so much. Not that I wouldn’t ride one, just like the look of rizers better…preference, and this gets the best of both worlds for me. Another product not new to the world of MTN biking, but new to Full Speed Ahead is their Orbit Option angle adjustable headset. The headset kit came with 3 sets of cups to provide a total of 6 new headangles. Three different negative settings slackening things out, or flip the cups around for three positive angle settings making things a bit steeper. But what made us choose the new FSA Orbit Option (other than being NEW) was the complaints over the present Cane Creek version. The FSA eliminates the gimbal effectively eliminating 2 pieces to the puzzle. This provides a reduced chance for creaking and alignment issues, and improves reliability tremendously.
Wheels and Tires – We have a few different sets of Novatec wheels at our disposal. I mentioned that I wanted this to be race worthy and light, yet still remain strong and reliable. The Novatec Demon DH wheelset fill a void between the ultra expensive wheels and models that fall around the $400 range as far as price goes. This strong wheelset is still very light at just over 2100 grams for a full on DH set of hoops. Sure there are lighter ones but not at the $699 price the Demons fall into. Plus these roll fast with Novatecs precision sealed bearings. They have a solid positive engagement at 15 degrees. I wrapped them in a variety of Kenda tires from the new Slant Six DH, Happy Medium DH, Excavators and the new Nexcavators.
Extras – The rest of the build features e13 LG1+ chain guide, Candy Components seat clamp and a Gravity Light seat post holding up the WTB Silverado seat. Odi TroyLee Signature lock on grips give me a firm bite to hold on to. I also have to give a special thanks to EJ over at Crankskins for protecting my crank and bike. He sent us over a clear shield for the downtube as well as some custom one off Crankskins to cover out Saint cranks that matched the bike perfect.
You can find out more from all these companies below:
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