I recently rebuilt the Enduro with the latest-and-greatest jibbery. The ride is much improved and the weight dropped by a couple of pounds which is always appreciated. Every time I want a new bike or wish I had a "real" DH bike the trusty Enduro reminds me just how much ass it kicks.
New Parts:
'08 Fox 36 Float R (replaced '07 36 TALAS RC2)
The Float is 1/2 lbs lighter and has smoother action than the TALAS. The new 2008 damper cartridge eliminates the need for the RC2 adjustment, especially on Float forks which inherently ramp up through the stroke. This fork is amazing, it is BUTTERY smooth and doesn't bottom out. It feels EXACTLY like a 40 in 7" mode and has the same axle-to-crown height. Super stiff and only 4.8 lbs uncut!
New XTR Gruppo (replaced old XT)
New XTR cranks, shifter, brakes, derailleur, cassette and chain. Shifting is bang-on and the 180mm brakes are crazy light yet incredibly powerful. The cranks are plenty stiff and also super light. I think these parts dropped about 1.5lbs compared to the XT/Hope M4 brakes I had prior and gained performance.
Easton Havoc AM wheelset
Since I'm not living in SB and riding Tunnel these days I decided to drop some weight on my wheels. I have to admit I was skeptical of the Havoc's with their 24 spokes and 28mm wide rims but after flogging them at Mammoth this weekend I can see why Intense specs these on the Socom. At 1800 grams a set these wheels are light and burly. Other than the reduced weight I cannot tell a difference compared to the Deemax. I'd be totally down to ride these wheels down any rocky trails w/o hesitation. So far so good!
Misc other new jibs include an Easton EC90 zero seatpost and a set of Wellgo MG-1 flat pedals. With Hutchinson tubeless 2.35 tires (Barracuda F, Pirhanha R) the bike weighs 31 lbs, with Minion 2.5 UST's it weighs about 33. If it were any lighter it would be too squirrely in the air and over rocks. As-is, it's perfect.
I went to Mammoth with a posse from work. It was my first time there and I was anxious to see what the pumice was all about. It only took a few runs to get the hang of it and after that it was on. The Enduro killed it, the only places where I had trouble was on a few sections of Chainsmoke and Bullet where the rocks are completely out of control and nothing short of a full-on DH race bike will do. Luckily I wasn't racing anyone but myself! I do wish I had a taco mounted on my LG-1 because I was apprehensive about killing my shiny new XTR chain.
This is the exact same bike I ride most everyday uphill, downhill, across the hill, whatever. I rode the D-Ville XC course on it a few weeks back and it ripped. If you are not competing at the very top level this bike can do almost anything very, very well. It's almost scary sometimes really. The bike whore in me wants something new but I know better and I'm going to keep her around for awhile longer.
New Parts:
'08 Fox 36 Float R (replaced '07 36 TALAS RC2)
The Float is 1/2 lbs lighter and has smoother action than the TALAS. The new 2008 damper cartridge eliminates the need for the RC2 adjustment, especially on Float forks which inherently ramp up through the stroke. This fork is amazing, it is BUTTERY smooth and doesn't bottom out. It feels EXACTLY like a 40 in 7" mode and has the same axle-to-crown height. Super stiff and only 4.8 lbs uncut!
New XTR Gruppo (replaced old XT)
New XTR cranks, shifter, brakes, derailleur, cassette and chain. Shifting is bang-on and the 180mm brakes are crazy light yet incredibly powerful. The cranks are plenty stiff and also super light. I think these parts dropped about 1.5lbs compared to the XT/Hope M4 brakes I had prior and gained performance.
Easton Havoc AM wheelset
Since I'm not living in SB and riding Tunnel these days I decided to drop some weight on my wheels. I have to admit I was skeptical of the Havoc's with their 24 spokes and 28mm wide rims but after flogging them at Mammoth this weekend I can see why Intense specs these on the Socom. At 1800 grams a set these wheels are light and burly. Other than the reduced weight I cannot tell a difference compared to the Deemax. I'd be totally down to ride these wheels down any rocky trails w/o hesitation. So far so good!
Misc other new jibs include an Easton EC90 zero seatpost and a set of Wellgo MG-1 flat pedals. With Hutchinson tubeless 2.35 tires (Barracuda F, Pirhanha R) the bike weighs 31 lbs, with Minion 2.5 UST's it weighs about 33. If it were any lighter it would be too squirrely in the air and over rocks. As-is, it's perfect.
I went to Mammoth with a posse from work. It was my first time there and I was anxious to see what the pumice was all about. It only took a few runs to get the hang of it and after that it was on. The Enduro killed it, the only places where I had trouble was on a few sections of Chainsmoke and Bullet where the rocks are completely out of control and nothing short of a full-on DH race bike will do. Luckily I wasn't racing anyone but myself! I do wish I had a taco mounted on my LG-1 because I was apprehensive about killing my shiny new XTR chain.
This is the exact same bike I ride most everyday uphill, downhill, across the hill, whatever. I rode the D-Ville XC course on it a few weeks back and it ripped. If you are not competing at the very top level this bike can do almost anything very, very well. It's almost scary sometimes really. The bike whore in me wants something new but I know better and I'm going to keep her around for awhile longer.
