Stiffee spec, sanity check

[mackie1]

Just getting a quote at the moment but my friend just got his from Merlin and I'm very tempted too.

Standard Merlin build + the following upgrades:
Full SLX groupset (I think it comes with an XT shadow rear mech anyway so I'll keep that)
XT hubs
Maybe a maxle-equipped Revelation if it's not too much more. Would U-Turn be good for me since I mostly do XC riding?
Upgrade to Race Face AM stem/bars etc.
Tubeless rims/tyres (probably XM819 rims)
Maybe a swap to 2.1 Panaracer tyres.

Am I missing anything? Any suggestions?

Not sure whether to go purple (what my friend got) or anodised grey (+ orange pedals and grips)

[Gooby]

mackie1 said:

Just getting a quote at the moment but my friend just got his from Merlin and I'm very tempted too.

Standard Merlin build + the following upgrades:
Full SLX groupset (I think it comes with an XT shadow rear mech anyway so I'll keep that)
XT hubs
Maybe a maxle-equipped Revelation if it's not too much more. Would U-Turn be good for me since I mostly do XC riding?
Upgrade to Race Face AM stem/bars etc.
Tubeless rims/tyres (probably XM819 rims)
Maybe a swap to 2.1 Panaracer tyres.

Am I missing anything? Any suggestions?

Not sure whether to go purple (what my friend got) or anodised grey (+ orange pedals and grips)

Looks a great spec,
Few suggestions to look at, mainly due to personal preference.
I would consider a Race Face crank, the chainrings are cheaper to replace.
Hope hubs, they are bomb proof and the freewheel roar is lovely
For seat post and stem look at Thompson and handle bars look at the monkeylite (easton)
Hope brakes - never fail!

I really like my Maxle front and rear, makes the bike far more rigid and the monkeylite bars does seem to take some of the vibration out and give a more comfy ride. I have 819 tubeless hoops and I think they are brilliant, the right compromise between light and strong.

[rhinochopig]

Gooby said:

mackie1 said:

Just getting a quote at the moment but my friend just got his from Merlin and I'm very tempted too.

Standard Merlin build + the following upgrades:
Full SLX groupset (I think it comes with an XT shadow rear mech anyway so I'll keep that)
XT hubs
Maybe a maxle-equipped Revelation if it's not too much more. Would U-Turn be good for me since I mostly do XC riding?
Upgrade to Race Face AM stem/bars etc.
Tubeless rims/tyres (probably XM819 rims)
Maybe a swap to 2.1 Panaracer tyres.

Am I missing anything? Any suggestions?

Not sure whether to go purple (what my friend got) or anodised grey (+ orange pedals and grips)

Looks a great spec,
Few suggestions to look at, mainly due to personal preference.
I would consider a Race Face crank, the chainrings are cheaper to replace.
Hope hubs, they are bomb proof and the freewheel roar is lovely
For seat post and stem look at Thompson and handle bars look at the monkeylite (easton)
Hope brakes - never fail!

I really like my Maxle front and rear, makes the bike far more rigid and the monkeylite bars does seem to take some of the vibration out and give a more comfy ride. I have 819 tubeless hoops and I think they are brilliant, the right compromise between light and strong.

Hope stuff does fail and isn't bombproof by any stretch of the imagination, but when it does their back-up / warranties are very very good. I've had just as many (if not more TBH) issues with hope hubs and brakes then I have with other makes, but they will repair stuff gratis (often out of warranty), they are British and are ex R-R chaps - like me. Hence they get my custom.

[mackie1]

Trying to keep the cost reasonable, hope hubs + brakes would probably blow the budget a bit.

The SLX stuff is meant to be great, not quite as cool/boutique though.

Edited by mackie1 on Tuesday 13th April 10:13

[rhinochopig]

mackie1 said:

Trying to keep the cost reasonable, hope hubs + brakes would probably blow the budget a bit.

The SLX stuff is meant to be great, not quite as cool/boutique though.

Edited by mackie1 on Tuesday 13th April 10:13

The one thing I would add to your list is to spec XTR cables - they are worth the premium as they are better sealed, shift much better, and last longer than the cheaper ones. Failing that, go for another top end make. The price difference is minimal, but the benefits are considerable.

[mackie1]

Ah, nice tip. I'll find out if they can do that.

[mk1fan]

mackie1 said:

I mostly do XC riding?

You're thinking of getting the wrong bike. Handjob would be much better.

[anonymous-user]

speak to noahs ark as well, they are pretty hot on custom bulds and may be more flexible than merlin.

[snotrag]

Keep the SLX stuff, its fine, and better value than if you were upgrading to raceface etc. Keep the Shimano brakes too, same story.


The one thing I would change is the wheels.

How much have you bee quoted for XT hubs on 819's?

You can get a set of pre-built Hope hoops for not much more I bet. They are STONKING value. Get the bog standard Pro2 hubs, with ZTR tubeless readyrims.

[mackie1]

I was under the impression that it's a pretty good all-rounder. Geo looks to be very much like the handjob, just slightly slacker. I'm no expert though. Main drivers are the good deal being offered, my friend raving about his and that it looks damn, damn good.

[mackie1]

The XT/819 combo comes to about £85 for a front wheel going via their custom wheel pricing jobby.

[pdV6]

mackie1 said:

The XT/819 combo comes to about £85 for a front wheel going via their custom wheel pricing jobby.

That seems pretty reasonable.

[Digga]

mk1fan said:

mackie1 said:

I mostly do XC riding?

You're thinking of getting the wrong bike. Handjob would be much better.

+1 (Unless you're particularly heavy that is.)

Gooby said:

I would consider a Race Face crank, the chainrings are cheaper to replace.
Hope hubs, they are bomb proof and the freewheel roar is lovely
For seat post and stem look at Thompson and handle bars look at the monkeylite (easton)
Hope brakes - never fail!

I really like my Maxle front and rear, makes the bike far more rigid and the monkeylite bars does seem to take some of the vibration out and give a more comfy ride.

Can always swap onto Race Face come replacement time - I just have on my Stumpjumper, which is Shimao cranked.
Hope hubs do sound great - one of the reasons I so love my songlespeed.
Moneylites are excellent. If you go for the CNT carbon ones, they're not 'weave' style (like some other carbon bars) and are less likely to suffer catastrophic breakage.
Hope brakes - have X2s and they're very good, plus the lever adjustment is a work of art.

I'm beginning to think about front Maxles - no idea of the cost, but the reduction in flexibility is a bonus in many situations.

[mackie1]

I'm 17st and 6'3" so pretty beefy.

[Digga]

mackie1 said:

I'm 17st and 6'3" so pretty beefy.

My mate's a tad bigger and opted for the Stiffy as the basis of his singlespeed. Lovely bike and probably just the right build for you.

I may be entirely wrong but I suspect that a lot of mtbs (especially full-sussers) are designed with a 10 to 15 stone 'sweet spot'; weigh less and you're lugging excess weigh and won't get suspension to be properly plus; weigh more and something will give.

[Parrot of Doom]

Don't get the XT rear hub. It uses a hollow axle and isn't really serviceable. Mine has just chewed one of the cones, a new kit (you can't buy separate bits) is £30.

Spend a little extra and get something in which the bearings can be replaced. Oh, and you should try and go bolt-through instead, its stiffer and better.

The front wheel XT hub is fine though, nothing special about that and it has good seals.

I wouldn't recommend Shimano external bottom brackets either, the seals are pathetic and you'll be replacing it within 6 months.

[Gooby]

Put the budget in to the initial purchase, components purchased on the bike will be far cheaper in the long run.

[mackie1]

So a Hope Pro 2 rear hub would be a good idea instead of the XT? What other alternatives are there for similar money?

What alternative bottom brackets should I be looking at that would be compatible with the SLX chainset?

[Parrot of Doom]

SLX is Hollowtech II, is it not? If so the Hope BBs will work fine. I spent some money and put a Chris King into mine, but that'll probably hurt your budget.

The problem with the Shimano external BBs is that pretty quickly they get full of grit and water, which turns into a grinding paste. If you're riding say every day, you'll need to service it every fortnight. Much easier to get something with decent seals that aren't made of cheese, and just do it every couple of months instead.

[mk1fan]

mackie1 said:

I'm 17st and 6'3" so pretty beefy.

The Stiffee will certainly be more robust. The two ride very differently and the changes in geo make a big differnce.

I bought a set of adjustable travel forks with my first Stiffee and just ended up running them at their max travel (130mm). My current Stiffee runs 150mm up front and I don't have any issues climbing with that much travel up front. For XC/Trail Centre riding though 140mm travel is a sweet spot (imo). It's a great, slack, gravity assisted bike. Tempted to take mine to CwmCarn for a day on the uplift but the G-Spot and Shocker need a roll out too.

You maybe too heavy and tall for the Handjob - although I'm 15-stone plus riding kit I ride a small frame - as the larger sizes have had a few failures. Although all frames have a breaking point and Cove aren't unique. I run my Handjob with 100mm forks and it's a brilliant XC/Trail Centre bike. Can hammer fast or jump around / drop into stuff. Not too bad on the weight either - 25lbs.

Edited by mk1fan on Tuesday 13th April 12:33