Dark cycles Scarab Good or bad?

KavuRider · Mar 15, 2011

still want a BMW
With a MTN-8

it will happen. price/time/weight be damned.

Gridds · Mar 15, 2011

ramstein-dh said:
Hello

Thanks for the info and how much for the 888 buddy.
Well just bought the one shirebikes ED had for sale frame is #008.
I do not understand what lateral flex is?
I'm worried now as i'm 18 stone and could this brake on me?
As i just spent £300.00 , was this the right thing to do?
Getting it powder coated sky blue , not sure on the 5th shock though ,may send it to Avalanche in a month or so.I hope i have done the right thing , as i was reading the old threads on SDH , any the guys whom had them said they were amazing and were the closest thing to a BMW racelink you could get.
I think you had 007? and the first to have one in the UK.

cheers

Jason

Yup that's right, I had 007.

Lateral flex is basically how much the rear wheel and swing arm flex sideways relative to the main frame under side (lateral) loads. It's not really a problem in terms of strength, I just prefer a much stiffer back end (like the katipo). I seriously doubt it'll break under you, just might feel a little squirmy if you really push it in the corners.
The travel is pretty much bottomless but you might still want a pretty heavy spring for a guy of your weight due to the leverage ratio of the frame - I had a 600lb spring and I'm 14 stone.
To be honest I never really realised how 'bad' the scarab was until I had the katipo and felt how good that was. I loved the Dark while I had it, though it was always a bit short for my lanky 6'3" self.

I'll sell the 888RC2X's for £300. Pics here

norbar · Mar 15, 2011

ramstein-dh said:
Hello

Thanks for the info and how much for the 888 buddy.
Well just bought the one shirebikes ED had for sale frame is #008.
I do not understand what lateral flex is?
I'm worried now as i'm 18 stone and could this brake on me?
As i just spent £300.00 , was this the right thing to do?
Getting it powder coated sky blue , not sure on the 5th shock though ,may send it to Avalanche in a month or so.I hope i have done the right thing , as i was reading the old threads on SDH , any the guys whom had them said they were amazing and were the closest thing to a BMW racelink you could get.
I think you had 007? and the first to have one in the UK.

cheers

Jason

It depends when they were were claiming they were amazing. If the posts were from many years ago - there was little comparison because very few bikes had modern geo

HardtailHack · Mar 15, 2011

I'd build it up before you get it powdercoated as there's no point having a frame you hate looking pretty.
If you decide to go for a new rear shock I would try and get a slightly shorter one so you can drop the BB, if you do that and run the previously stated offset bushes to lower the BB more you could possibly get a 64deg headangle. Only problem is the chainstay length will be a bit longer as you drop the BB.

LMC · Mar 15, 2011

i would agree with what others have said about the Katipo, it may take you a few months to save the extra money but it will be worth it in the long run vs the dark cycles. If the frame has to last you a lifetime why not wait a few months and get the best you can?

EDIT: hold on, have you already bought the Scarab?

Gridds · Mar 15, 2011

Don't worry mate I'm sure you'll like the frame/bike, I did when I first got mine!! For a first time DH bike it will be more than fine.

So you want these 888's then? Message me your email address and we can do business.
:thumb:

norbar · Mar 15, 2011

Go away from the Diesel Tires. They are utter GARBAGE! They rip easily, have little traction and are not too good at lower pressures. Safe bet - maxxis high rollers 2.5 42a front and 60a back.

LMC · Mar 15, 2011

what sort of rear hub do you need? i may have something to suit

norbar · Mar 15, 2011

It's rubber type. 42a is much more sticky and gives better grip over slippery stuff like roots and rocks but wears out faster. People tend to drag their rear brake more so a harder tire in the rear makes more sense. Also front traction is more important. You can also go 42a on both tires but then your rear wont last a full season so 60a is better if you are on a budget.

btw. Biggest 2 cheap improvements on your bike are bars and tires. Run low pressure in your tires (check what faster riders at your spot run, run a little more because you are heavy but not that much ). As for bars - how tall are you? Go wide. 760mm is a minimum imho. It gives you a much better position and stability on the bike. If you are over 5'10'' go more, cut if you feel weird. For cheap bars look at crc or some other big shops. They have sales all the time. If not I recomend dartmoor nitro. It's quite cheap around here, 780mm wide and made from 7075 alu so it should be strong. Funn bars from 7050 or 7075 are also good and cheapish.

Gridds · Mar 15, 2011

42a and 60a refer to the durometer of the tyre rubber on the Shore A hardness scale. 42a being softer, more grippy but will wear faster than a slightly harder 60a, hence 42a is better for the front and 60a for the rear.

So you want these forks? If you take them I can throw in a Funn direct mount stem and some Race Face Diablous bars. Any good for you?

LMC · Mar 15, 2011

ramstein-dh said:
I need a 12mm x 150mm buddy ,i have 32 hole rims so 32 hole would be nice , but i will just swap them with my buddy for 36 hoe if thats what you have.
Please let me know what you got and a price please

Jason

PM sent

KavuRider · Mar 16, 2011

ramstein-dh said:
Nooooooooooooooo! I bought crappy tyres,well i got them for £10.00 the pair so not lost too much really, , for some reason they scanned up as £5.00 each in Halfords in January, may have been on sale because they are crap LOL!

So ,my frame is crap , my tyres are crap and the forks are heavy , what next

Also without sounding pig headed what does 42a front mean and 60a back mean.
Sorry i may sound really thick but hey LOL!

Dude, don't stress on this.

Build it, ride it, enjoy it.

Gridds · Mar 16, 2011

Ok buddy, no worries, just let me know when you know.

KavuRider · Mar 16, 2011

ramstein-dh said:
The scarab is a nice frame , just stripped it down , and what do you know the crappy 5th shock is leaking from the rebound adjuster.
When you turn it all the way out.
No wonder the guy had it turned all the way in.
Now he is saying sold as seen , and will not let me return it , so now i have to spend money on a shock.

Bummer

I know shipping to the US can be expensive, but if you have Avalanche rebuild that 5th Element, you will be VERY happy...and it would match your MTN-8.

Gridds · Mar 17, 2011

Na, a 9" shock will not fit.

If anything I'd go shorter than 8.75" to maybe a 8.5". This would at least slacken it out and lower the BB a bit but also increase the static chainstay length a tad.

Best stick to 8.75" IMO.

miuan · Mar 17, 2011

ramstein-dh said:
Yeah sounds good, the full Avalanche tune is $175.00.

do it!!! you won't regret it! and if you happen to have avy insert an extra 1/4" topout bumper to make it 8.5x2.5", all the better. really.

maybe you could also try to have some new dropouts machined so you shorten the CS, but looking at the pics, there is not much space left.

finally, put those conti suckers into trashcan and purchase a 2-ply DH tire for both wheels. buy wide bars, give your brakes a good bleed and enjoy the ride.

KavuRider · Mar 17, 2011

ramstein-dh said:
Yeah sounds good, the full Avalanche tune is $175.00.
I have been offered a new Fox Vanilla Rc for £65.00 but it is 9" and may not fit.
As the 5th is 8.75".

Local guy bought an old blown 5th Element, had it rebuilt by Avy. He has it on an '09 Stinky. He is raving about it, says it feels amazing.

Most definitely worth it I think.

norbar · Mar 17, 2011

Go on the dirtmag site. They found the irish guy that does the offset shock bushings for geo adjustment. It might be a good option.

Dark cycles Scarab Good or bad?

Chimp

Turbo Monkey

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KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause

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used an iron once

Chimp

Monkey

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KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause

Monkey

Chimp

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Chimp

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause

Monkey

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Turbo Monkey

Chimp

Monkey

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Turbo Monkey

Chimp

Monkey

Monkey

Turbo Monkey

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause

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