help with my stiffee
Discussion
asnail99 said:
do you rate the slx gear over the new Deore stuff?
The magazines do. Personally, I would at least try to upgrade the rear mech, and possibly the brakes to SLX or XT, depending on what they can offer you. The Deore stuff is good, I've never had a problem with it but you might as well go for something a bit better since you have the budget.It will be a great bike with the parts in the OP so upgrading components here and there will make it just that extra bit nicer to ride.
Welcome to the Cove family.
Wheels? Hope Pro II hubs and Mavic 321 rims. Reasonable lightweight but really tough.
SLX groupset will be better quality than Deore and more robust.
Although the Stiffee can take a 6-inch fork they are brilliant with 140mm (5.5-inch) forks like RS Pikes or Fox 32's.
Wheels? Hope Pro II hubs and Mavic 321 rims. Reasonable lightweight but really tough.
SLX groupset will be better quality than Deore and more robust.
Although the Stiffee can take a 6-inch fork they are brilliant with 140mm (5.5-inch) forks like RS Pikes or Fox 32's.
I actually missread the OP, 719 are much better suited than 717 - Mavics are so complicated for my feeble mind.
I've got some EN521's and Pro2's on my Enduro and they're the best wheelset I've ever had. I think Hope offer these in one if thier hoops options, might be slightly heavy for your aplication. But they offer loads of options now, from the original Pro2 with DT Swiss 4.1 or 5.1 for about £200 upto Pro3's on top mavic rims for about 350.
IMHO you're paying a lot to join our Cove family, but getting awesome light/tough Easton tubing etc in return, so weighting it down with Deore stuff is kinda a waste, as good as the new stuff is.
I'd certainly go SLX if you can. I personaly don't like Shimano brakes, Hope Tech X's would be awesome but they're expensive, but since they've not really gone up since the Pound got battered they're still really good value.
I've got some EN521's and Pro2's on my Enduro and they're the best wheelset I've ever had. I think Hope offer these in one if thier hoops options, might be slightly heavy for your aplication. But they offer loads of options now, from the original Pro2 with DT Swiss 4.1 or 5.1 for about £200 upto Pro3's on top mavic rims for about 350.
IMHO you're paying a lot to join our Cove family, but getting awesome light/tough Easton tubing etc in return, so weighting it down with Deore stuff is kinda a waste, as good as the new stuff is.
I'd certainly go SLX if you can. I personaly don't like Shimano brakes, Hope Tech X's would be awesome but they're expensive, but since they've not really gone up since the Pound got battered they're still really good value.
Personally, I'd change your spec as follows:
1/ change the forks to Pike U-turns (better suited to the nature of the frame IMO)
2/ rims are fine, but I'd change to Hope Pro2 hubs
I'd concentrate on the basics such as the forks and wheels and upgrade the spec on them before worrying about the transmission (which itself is easier to upgrade later). Hope hubs are soooo worth it - approx £260 for Hope Hoops built with the DT Swiss 5.1D rims. And the price/weight difference between Revs and Pikes isn't that much, is it?
1/ change the forks to Pike U-turns (better suited to the nature of the frame IMO)
2/ rims are fine, but I'd change to Hope Pro2 hubs
I'd concentrate on the basics such as the forks and wheels and upgrade the spec on them before worrying about the transmission (which itself is easier to upgrade later). Hope hubs are soooo worth it - approx £260 for Hope Hoops built with the DT Swiss 5.1D rims. And the price/weight difference between Revs and Pikes isn't that much, is it?
Absolutely - get an upgrade on the wheels.
BUT - dont get them to jsut custom build some ProII's into the same rims.
The Prebuilt Hope Hoops are stunning value - PARTICULARLY if you get them with ZTR tubeless rims.
Get tubeless rims - really. Seriously. Cannot stress enough how much nicer this whole upgrade will make the bike.
And the only other thing I would say - Theres no way I'd build a bike like that and run a QR fork. Either upgrade to a Maxle Revelation, or a Pike.
BUT - dont get them to jsut custom build some ProII's into the same rims.
The Prebuilt Hope Hoops are stunning value - PARTICULARLY if you get them with ZTR tubeless rims.
Get tubeless rims - really. Seriously. Cannot stress enough how much nicer this whole upgrade will make the bike.
And the only other thing I would say - Theres no way I'd build a bike like that and run a QR fork. Either upgrade to a Maxle Revelation, or a Pike.
Sounds about right.
I'd say Mavic 521's but I'm a heavy rider with an ageessive style so I need to spec burly rims.
Check out Mavic's website, they do a massive range and list intended use for each, they seem to have 3 rims for every type of riding, a budget one, a posh one and a tubless one. Weights are listed and are honest too.
Yes I'm a big Mavic fan, I used to destroy wheels all the time before I had Mavics built on to Hope hubs by the evil genius wheel builder in my LBS.
I'd say Mavic 521's but I'm a heavy rider with an ageessive style so I need to spec burly rims.
Check out Mavic's website, they do a massive range and list intended use for each, they seem to have 3 rims for every type of riding, a budget one, a posh one and a tubless one. Weights are listed and are honest too.
Yes I'm a big Mavic fan, I used to destroy wheels all the time before I had Mavics built on to Hope hubs by the evil genius wheel builder in my LBS.
Having met P-Jay briefly I can confirm he's a heavy rider 
I wouldn't bother with getting a U-Turn Pike. The non-adjustable travel Pikes will be fine. But I run U-Turns because the price was right!!!
'426' Pikes have a steel steerer tube.
'454' Pikes have an alloy steerer tube and therefore lighter.
I can also recommend getting them 'Pushed' by TF Tuned.
I wouldn't bother with getting a U-Turn Pike. The non-adjustable travel Pikes will be fine. But I run U-Turns because the price was right!!!
'426' Pikes have a steel steerer tube.
'454' Pikes have an alloy steerer tube and therefore lighter.
I can also recommend getting them 'Pushed' by TF Tuned.
can anyone see what rims and forks is on this one?
http://www.extremesportstrader.co.uk/shots/wp-cont...
http://www.extremesportstrader.co.uk/shots/wp-cont...
mk1fan said:
Having met P-Jay briefly I can confirm he's a heavy rider
Thankfully I'm lost quite a bit of DH propulsion since then Some has come back since I slammed and broke my arms
Goodam Surgeon says i'm banned from MTB till Dec, god only knows how long before I can ride the Shocker again!! It was June I crashed!!!
I forgot about that Cwmcarn day, was good fun.
P-Jay said:
bad news
Sorry to hear that. My Shocker is currently dismantled at the moment. Had to make some space for a Handjob 
Added again to my Cove stock this month too. Picked up a G-Spot. Fitted an air shock and currently looking for some Fox Float 36's for it. I fear the Hustler will be redundant!!!
mk1fan said:
I thought it would it help if I post up the spec of my Stiffee:
15.5-inch frame.
Coil Rockshox Pike 426 U-Turn - Push'd
Thomson seatpost and stem
Shimano Alfine with Stans Arch rim
Hope Pro II front hub with Mavic 321 rim
Avid Juicy, Elixir, Code brakes
Maxxis High Roller tyres.
Too small a frame for me, but that is a very lovely spec 15.5-inch frame.
Coil Rockshox Pike 426 U-Turn - Push'd
Thomson seatpost and stem
Shimano Alfine with Stans Arch rim
Hope Pro II front hub with Mavic 321 rim
Avid Juicy, Elixir, Code brakes
Maxxis High Roller tyres.
I'm tempted to build something similar - a hardtail to take a bit more of the rough - using my Alfine but using a SC Chameleon frame, but can't justify the pennies...
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