[BlackhillsBob]

Well the header almost says it all: , I just pick it up last week, now I need to get all new parts, Ive been out of bikes for a couple of years, just dont know whats hot and whats not!
My old sweet spot URT bike still has 8 spd XTR, should I use it or go to 9 spd?
I can use a used set of Marzocchi X-fly 100's that I bought for my wife's bike, (havent yet installed them, hehe) but that is about it, parts I need:

Wheels, disc only, cant use the XTR V's, no bosses on the frame
headset and stem
seatpost, seat I have a Ti beserker, is it still a good seat?
Brakes, once again, have to use disc's
cranks and BB, I have a new Raceface taper BB and a Truevativ team sylo that I can use, i think that they will work with either 8 or 9 spd.

I need some feed back gang!

 

[rbx]

the x-fly will be perfect for that bike(stay in the 4inch category)

go with 9speed if you can it really helps on the climbs(especially with the bear which will top-off at about 30lbs)

imho mavics rims are one the best out there(the x317 are pretty darn good or f519)

youre seat is very good

for the seatpost go with a titec model(just be sure it has 2 bolts to secure it)dont go nuts on the seatpost,headset and stem(buying expensive ti stuff)

as for the discbrake you can go mechanical or hydraulic
if you go with mechanical(avid disc brakes)

but imho the best value on the market today is the shimano m525 hydraulic disc brakes they offer tremendous stopping power and they cost a little bit more than the avids

 

[1speed]

I love raceface cranks. you can't really go wrong with them. the newer isis drive is really a nice step up but if you the taper is nice too (xtr is not a shabby choice either)
Disc brakes; there are others here who know more than me but I am looking into a set of formulas. they are super light and everyone I have talked to with them loves them and says they never squeal. I hear the Hope mini's are nice but have never ridden them. hayes seems like a standard for disc's so parts and service are probably easy to obtain for them.

seatpost and stem, i only use the thomson stuff. Light and SUPER strong. Can't go wrong with thomson.
8spd seems fine, I mean why upgrade to 9 unless your 8 spd setup is smoked. 8spd seems stronger since the parts are not machined as thin as 9. whats one gear do for you anyway? (you really only need 1speed to ride )
seat; if it is comfortable, than it is good IMO. You could go crazy and get the newest lightest parts only to see the newer and lighter on the market 3 months later. get new 02 stuff this winter while the 03 parts hit the market.

 

[1speed]

Originally posted by rbx
the x-fly will be perfect for that bike(stay in the 4inch category)

go with 9speed if you can it really helps on the climbs(especially with the bear which will top-off at about 30lbs)

imho mavics rims are one the best out there(the x317 are pretty darn good or f519)

youre seat is very good

for the seatpost go with a titec model(just be sure it has 2 bolts to secure it)dont go nuts on the seatpost,headset and stem(buying expensive ti stuff)

as for the discbrake you can go mechanical or hydraulic
if you go with mechanical(avid disc brakes)

but imho the best value on the market today is the shimano m525 hydraulic disc brakes they offer tremendous stopping power and they cost a little bit more than the avids

I forgot about shimano discs. I have heard good things about them and I am sure they will only improve. if you rig is topping out around 30lbs maybe 9spd is for you...

 

[htrdoug]

Seatpost is a funky 30.0 mm,I am using a shim to drop it to 27.2 in my stinky primo,but if you run your seat up and down much you should really get a proper size post.There are more choices in 27.2 though so you could get one with a bit of setback to stretch you out some. Another thing to consider is running a shorter stem and a set of riser handlebars.these bikes were designed to be setup that way and really handle great when setup as intended.A flat bar and long stem will through the weight distribution off.The one thing I don't like about the O.E.spec list is the skinny rims,An extra 100 grams of weight in the rims ain't gonna hurt a thing,try to find some about 30mm wide,this will stabilize the tires sidewall and really help the feel in corners.I'm running some cheapazz veulta fr rims,25 bucks each,on my stinky and my chute,haven't dinged them yet.As far as brakes I'm running some Magura julies on both my Konas,one set is great,one set is so-so,again,hella cheap,100 bucks each,but I am curious about those shimanos...

 

[rbx]

i have heard only good things about these brakes

 

[Roasted]

Are they hydro or cable?

 

[htrdoug]

Originally posted by maelstrom
Are they hydro or cable?

Hydro BABY! Oh yea,looks like bigger rotors are just an adaptor and a disc away!

 

[BlackhillsBob]

Thanks for the advice everyone, there's not much out there for seat posts, Thomson makes a 30.0 so thats the one that I will probably use, not sure on the stem yet or the size, might start out with a 90mm X 10 or 15 deg. rise, using riser bars, most likely Easton Monkey's.
I have been checking out the brakes in the stores, it is sure hard to beat the feel of hydro's at the lever, the Avid feels nice, better than V's but still not as nice as Haye's or even Magura Louise disc's. Just to many choice's out there.

Peace

 

[JJHACK]

30mm posts will be a struggle. Titec makes them in any style you want but they will not be listed in any catalog. you must call them directly. I changed out my Kona Stinky seatpost to a 1" setback from Titec and then I used their seat called a banshee which has almost 5" rails now my cockpit length is perfect and not at the extreme adjustment of anything.

Titec is the only place I know making 30mm posts. I callled Kona and they told me Titec was the only one? No complaints Titec stuff is really strong.

 

[LostBoyScout]

my imput

THE standard for good components without any extra fluff: Shimano XT

Forks:

Best feel: Marzocchi
Lightest: RockShox

Stem/seatpost: Thompson all the way.

Saddle: Whatever's comfortable

Cranks: RaceFace ALL the way.

Brakes: Avid mechanicals work amazingly well actually. super cheap. If you're going hydro:

The standard: Magura Louise
The light standard: Magura Marta
Kickass XC: Hope Mini
Most popular: Hayes HFX

 

[htrdoug]

Originally posted by JJHACK
30mm posts will be a struggle. Titec makes them in any style you want but they will not be listed in any catalog. you must call them directly. I changed out my Kona Stinky seatpost to a 1" setback from Titec and then I used their seat called a banshee which has almost 5" rails now my cockpit length is perfect and not at the extreme adjustment of anything.

Titec is the only place I know making 30mm posts. I callled Kona and they told me Titec was the only one? No complaints Titec stuff is really strong.

Plus,when you lower a Titec post to the perfect height it says T-I-T on one side

 

[binary visions]

I agree about the XT components.

As for brakes, frankly, I think Hayes hydraulics kick ass. Okay, so you don't have the modulation you get with Hopes or XTs, but they're super strong, reliable, and you get 100x the modulation that you have with V-brakes, so come on, how much modulation do you need?! I can slow myself down to any speed, from any speed, as quickly as I need to with my Hayes.

If you want to trick out your bike, go Thompson. For cheap reliability, go Titec.

 

[BlackhillsBob]

Well I ordered the first parts today, found a Thompson seatpost, and a Raceface Duese (?) stem, 90mm, I read a new review on these new stems and they seem to have a great reveiw, as good as the Thompson, so I thought I would try one out.

 

[LostBoyScout]

awesome picks so far

 

[proglife]

Vanilla 100R...you can get them cheap now, and you'll probably be using a QR hub. Can't beat 'em.

james

 

[Dropout]

I know the Bear line is meant to be a 4" by 4" bike, but I rode one this summer, and the guy had a 5" Fox Vanilla on the front, and it was sweet. The bike still climbed nice, but the extra travel was super nice on the downhills, especially when negotiating larger obstacles.

I know you already have a fork picked out, but I just thought I would add my experience with the bike.