Recently I've found that I don't get out pure downhilling as much as I used to. I still love it, but between a long drive, gas prices, and a kid possibly coming soon, the concept of owning a full-on, modern DH bike has become less important to me than having money in the bank (or a hooked up trail bike). As a result, I made the decision to sell my last bike...but like any good bikewhore, I can't leave well enough alone.
I think it's pretty easy to spend a lot of money and get a really good bike...but just how little can you spend and still manage to have something rideable? Or even competitive? I present to you my winter project: Lipstick on a pig.
It's an ADR Kaos, and I picked it up for $300. There's nearly no information out there on the frame, but while it looks really similar to an Azonic copy, it's actually got a lot of features that set it apart. First is the 1.5in headtube, and second is a floating brake linkage. It's got a butt-terrble 100mm bottom bracket, and weighs the better part of a house, but it's solid, has ISCG tabs, and a relatively common shock size, so I should be OK. I figure I can plunk around the woods on it just the way it is...
OR, I can mod the heck out of it and see if I can turn it into something better.
First things first, which I'm currently on the hunt for, is the fork. Check out the upper right stanchion. Boo.
I'm working on a cure that will keep the monster going. It's much heavier than any of the big 3 on the market, but it doesn't feel as heavy as some other forks I've owned, and while the damping isn't modern or highly adjustable, it's damned robust, which is exactly what you want from a $300 bike. I'd also like to get a flat crown, so I can slam the bars as low as possible.
Aside from some simple housekeeping, the next step is to hopefully work on slacking it out. The geometry isn't terrible, but it's not good either. I measure 16.7in chainstays, a 14.5" BB height, and a 68.5* HA. I'm hoping that HA is wrong as I never bothered to measure my Sunday, but I've got a long ways to go if I'm going to get to a target of 64 (or so). I'm thinking of short shocking it, adding an angled reducer, and possibly a longer travel fork to get the head angle more respectable, and the bottom bracket right around 14" or less. I'd love to go lower, but I spent $300 on this.
My goals for the project are to modernize as much as possible (weight, angles, suspension), and keep as tight a budget as possible, allowing for minimal spending outside of selling off old items. Hopefully I can raid parts bins and trade old parts out to keep it cheap.
I think it's pretty easy to spend a lot of money and get a really good bike...but just how little can you spend and still manage to have something rideable? Or even competitive? I present to you my winter project: Lipstick on a pig.
It's an ADR Kaos, and I picked it up for $300. There's nearly no information out there on the frame, but while it looks really similar to an Azonic copy, it's actually got a lot of features that set it apart. First is the 1.5in headtube, and second is a floating brake linkage. It's got a butt-terrble 100mm bottom bracket, and weighs the better part of a house, but it's solid, has ISCG tabs, and a relatively common shock size, so I should be OK. I figure I can plunk around the woods on it just the way it is...
OR, I can mod the heck out of it and see if I can turn it into something better.
First things first, which I'm currently on the hunt for, is the fork. Check out the upper right stanchion. Boo.
I'm working on a cure that will keep the monster going. It's much heavier than any of the big 3 on the market, but it doesn't feel as heavy as some other forks I've owned, and while the damping isn't modern or highly adjustable, it's damned robust, which is exactly what you want from a $300 bike. I'd also like to get a flat crown, so I can slam the bars as low as possible.
Aside from some simple housekeeping, the next step is to hopefully work on slacking it out. The geometry isn't terrible, but it's not good either. I measure 16.7in chainstays, a 14.5" BB height, and a 68.5* HA. I'm hoping that HA is wrong as I never bothered to measure my Sunday, but I've got a long ways to go if I'm going to get to a target of 64 (or so). I'm thinking of short shocking it, adding an angled reducer, and possibly a longer travel fork to get the head angle more respectable, and the bottom bracket right around 14" or less. I'd love to go lower, but I spent $300 on this.
My goals for the project are to modernize as much as possible (weight, angles, suspension), and keep as tight a budget as possible, allowing for minimal spending outside of selling off old items. Hopefully I can raid parts bins and trade old parts out to keep it cheap.