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Repurposing my 2007 Intense Uzzi VPX for better trail riding?

0110-M-P

Monkey
Jun 1, 2009
244
2
Atlanta, GA
For the past two years my '07 Uzzi VPX has been setup 60/40 for DH/Trail weighing about 36.5lbs with a slacker drop-outs,2006 Marzocchi 66RC2x, Fox DHX 5.0 coil shock, EX721 rims on Hope Pro2 hubs, Saint cranks, and single ply tires. Since I just purchased a new DH frame/fork, I am up in the air about what to do with the Uzzi.

I have weighed the frame at 8 lbs w/o shock, so it definitely isn't light, but after some tweaking of part setups I have figured out a build that would result in a sub 31lb bike that might be worthy of the local XC trails without feeling like I'm going to break it.

Potential Changes
- Install standard dropouts
- Replace Marz 66 RC2x with '11 Marz 55 Micro Ti
- Replace Fox DHX 5.0 coil shock with 8.5x2.5 Fox RP23 air shock (not sure how well this will work being a 7.75" travel frame)
- Lace Sun Equalizer 27 rims to my Hope hubs
- Replace Saint crank arms with XT crank arms
- Replace E.13 LG-1 chainguide with E.13 XC chainguide
- Install actual XC seat

The other option is to sell the Uzzi frame and start looking for something else.

Opinions?
 

Lex

Monkey
Dec 6, 2001
594
0
Massachusetts
I tried a lower end Fox air shock on my VPX a long time ago and did not like the result. It sat way too far in the travel and had no subtlety at all when I added air to counteract that trait. Unless the newer shocks have addressed that issue I wouldn't recommend it. I'd rather have the extra pound in the middle of the frame than crappy suspension performance. I also ran a 6 inch fork and a slightly longer stem on my VPX for trailriding. The steeper headangle and stretched out position made it feel much better overall for general trail use. I actually went to the extreme of adding very light XCish wheels to mine on occasion and loved it. I wouldn't do any huge hits with them, but for making the bike trail friendly it was great.
 

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
I thought there is a trend for long travel frames to use air shocks, particularly ones with large canisters.
 

0110-M-P

Monkey
Jun 1, 2009
244
2
Atlanta, GA
I know people have used larger air shocks like the Marzocchi Roco and the Fox DHX Air with good results, but I was hoping to save an extra 0.5lb by going with a more standard air shock.

Anyone with any experience doing this, please chime in.
 

0110-M-P

Monkey
Jun 1, 2009
244
2
Atlanta, GA
Any other thoughts? If I were to sell the VPX frame, I'd probably be looking at a Transition Covert or something in that travel/weight/geo range.