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which chainguide for santa cruz bullit

lunendan

Chimp
Jul 7, 2007
22
0
I am thinking of ditching the front derailer and granny gear in place of single speed and chainguide. I do lost of lift riding and am tired of putting the chain back on after chattering through the rough stuff. I also ride it cross country but use the 32 ring 90% of the time anyway. It has the hussvefelt cranks/bottom bracket. What will I need to convert? Are the chainguides crank/bot bracket specific or do the come with hardware needed to adapt to various applications?
 

John P.

Turbo Monkey
Sep 24, 2001
1,170
0
Golden, CO
Just get a DRS 2-ring guide and you can keep your granny. I've been DRS's on my Bullits for 8+ years, and I think I've dropped a chain a grand total of 5 times (2 of those drops were on former WC downhill courses).

The hot ticket is to ditch your existing rings and get a 26t-36t setup (shimano and several others make nice ramped/pinned 36t rings). It offers a much more useable gear range than the standard 22-32 combo, and unless you're doing tons of miles on the road, you'll never need that big ring.
 

lunendan

Chimp
Jul 7, 2007
22
0
Great info JP. I had no idea there was a 2 ring guide. I just started having problems 2 weeks ago when we went to Diablo. Last year at Highland I experienced infrequent problems. I need to get on the stand and look for something I may have bent. I ride xc twice a week and would like to keep the 2 ring option. I know, why xc on a 42lb freeride bike? I find that I am just as fast as on my old light xc bike. This bike does everything well, I love it. I will look for the website to view the dsr setup you speak of.
 

antm

Chimp
Jul 15, 2004
85
0
miami, fl
hm, the drs seems like what I need also. I'm currently running the srs and was thinking about going back to two rings. I do have a question though, is a drs really necessary if I'll be running a front derrailleaur?
 

John P.

Turbo Monkey
Sep 24, 2001
1,170
0
Golden, CO
I do have a question though, is a drs really necessary if I'll be running a front derrailleaur?
Definitely. The difference is really noticeable over rough terrain and also when you have to do a short back pedal to set up for a slow speed drop or obstacle. The stepped roller and the inner wear plates sandwich the chain in there nicely on the bottom, and the front derailleur does it's thing on the top. Between the two, there really isn't anywhere for the chain to go except on the chain rings.

Later,

--JP
 

lunendan

Chimp
Jul 7, 2007
22
0
I read some reviews and it seems to be a sweet setup. They all say read the instructions first, which they learned the hard way by not, and especially not use mineral based lube, which seems to cause major problems. It sounds like this is the way to go. What is the ISCG adapter, that alot I have seen are not included? Do I need that with the Bullit frame?
 

John P.

Turbo Monkey
Sep 24, 2001
1,170
0
Golden, CO
I read some reviews and it seems to be a sweet setup. They all say read the instructions first, which they learned the hard way by not, and especially not use mineral based lube, which seems to cause major problems. It sounds like this is the way to go. What is the ISCG adapter, that alot I have seen are not included? Do I need that with the Bullit frame?
You won't need an ISCG adapter, but depending on the year of the frame you may need an ISCG05 backplate for the guide. Call Jonas or Derek at e13 and they'll get you sorted lickity split.
 

Brian HCM#1

MMMMMMMMM BEER!!!!!!!!!!
Sep 7, 2001
32,119
378
Bay Area, California
I too have been using the DRS on my trail bike since they first came out and I may have dropped a chain once. The only issue I had were the rollers splitting, however they changed the roller material MANY moons ago and I've never had a problem since:thumb: The DRS gives you the best of both worlds!
 

davet

Monkey
Jun 24, 2004
551
3
I'd bypass the DRS and check out the Blackspire Stinger. Much cheaper and simpler. I've got 2 DRS's in the spare parts bins in favour of Stingers. The DRS roller is always getting clogged up and the little bearings seize often. It may be good for dry climates but up here in BC the Stinger is becoming the hot ticket item. For under $30 you can't lose, combine it with a Gamut bashguard and you've got paid half the cost of the DRS and you get a more reliable guide at half the weight too. A buddy is on year 2 with his Stinger using the original roller and bearings.
 
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