It's been 6 months and I just took my first ride at china camp. God bless china camp for staying rideable in the wet. Here is a review of my ASX with some porn:
SETUP:
5 inch vanilla RLC up front, 6 inch setting in rear. Bottom bracket pleasantly low. DRS for climbing gears. Full leg extension easily achieved and saddle gets WAY out of the way for descending. I might chuck a 03 slider + on there when the 'bo gets well enough for DH
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS: So hot. Squirrels kept trying to hump the bike while I was changing in the parking lot. Small children cry when they see the bike because it is black as the pits of hades.
THE RIDE:
CLIMBING:
Not fantastic. 65mm stem makes the front end get squirley on even shallow climbs. You just have to quit being a weiner and lean forward. Pedal bob is non-existant due to modern "the seals aren't broken in yet" technology. Weight is estimated at 38 lbs. Feels nimble despite 6 months of inactivity having left me resembling "skeletor". Shifting is poo because I know nothing about setting up a front der. (that stuff is for leg-shaving sissies).
DESCENDING:
Initially I am on the brakes. Don't want to wreck the 'bo again. Brake jack. Bike doesn't feel so great. Getting rattled around hurts the 'bo. Boredom sets in and I get off the brakes and open it up. HOLY CRAP. This is not a point it down the hill bike. The bike begs you to hop all over the trail pumping backsides and sprinting on flats. The more you put into the descent, the more the bike gives you. This is not a bike that rides you, it is a bike that you have to ride. I've never felt a bike come alive like the ASX. Keep in mind that it will not feel like this in 6/7 travel... I would guess that the low bb / steep head angle are the primary contributors to the bike's feel. I didn't pump the corners too hard cause my arms hurt, but the ones I did pound felt great. Weight is low on the frame, bb is low, suspension set up to sling me out of turns.
COMPLAINTS:
I cleaned the mud off the bike after a failed ride attempt in tilden. I dried the bike, but some bolts rusted. #!%@$% So mad.
CONCLUSION:
Not a bike for the lazy rider. Fantastic for someone with an nimble style who is tired of porker DH sleds.
SETUP:
5 inch vanilla RLC up front, 6 inch setting in rear. Bottom bracket pleasantly low. DRS for climbing gears. Full leg extension easily achieved and saddle gets WAY out of the way for descending. I might chuck a 03 slider + on there when the 'bo gets well enough for DH
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS: So hot. Squirrels kept trying to hump the bike while I was changing in the parking lot. Small children cry when they see the bike because it is black as the pits of hades.
THE RIDE:
CLIMBING:
Not fantastic. 65mm stem makes the front end get squirley on even shallow climbs. You just have to quit being a weiner and lean forward. Pedal bob is non-existant due to modern "the seals aren't broken in yet" technology. Weight is estimated at 38 lbs. Feels nimble despite 6 months of inactivity having left me resembling "skeletor". Shifting is poo because I know nothing about setting up a front der. (that stuff is for leg-shaving sissies).
DESCENDING:
Initially I am on the brakes. Don't want to wreck the 'bo again. Brake jack. Bike doesn't feel so great. Getting rattled around hurts the 'bo. Boredom sets in and I get off the brakes and open it up. HOLY CRAP. This is not a point it down the hill bike. The bike begs you to hop all over the trail pumping backsides and sprinting on flats. The more you put into the descent, the more the bike gives you. This is not a bike that rides you, it is a bike that you have to ride. I've never felt a bike come alive like the ASX. Keep in mind that it will not feel like this in 6/7 travel... I would guess that the low bb / steep head angle are the primary contributors to the bike's feel. I didn't pump the corners too hard cause my arms hurt, but the ones I did pound felt great. Weight is low on the frame, bb is low, suspension set up to sling me out of turns.
COMPLAINTS:
I cleaned the mud off the bike after a failed ride attempt in tilden. I dried the bike, but some bolts rusted. #!%@$% So mad.
CONCLUSION:
Not a bike for the lazy rider. Fantastic for someone with an nimble style who is tired of porker DH sleds.
