[Nick]

czech it ...

A few juicy parts to mention are a rear bolt on King hub, Easton scandium bars, Shimano 755 brakes ... you can pretty much see the rest of the spec by looking at the picture. I have the stays set at just under 16" and have ample room for a worn out 2.4 Motoraptor.

I built it because I wanted a more "streety" hardtail/jump bike than my Chameleon. I LOVED my Chameleon, but wanted to try something different with more standover and a shorter rear end. I ended up finding this at a great deal.

1st ride: street, last Sunday. I thought I'd made a big mistake. I felt so twitchy and sketchy I believed the bike wanted to see me hurt or killed.

2nd ride: street, all day today. I had WAY more fun than before. I made a few adjustments since the last ride and just sort of felt it out today. I've never been able to manual as easily, nor have as much control and be able to ride them out for so long. I pulled up and rode one out down a slope for maybe 20 feet towards and off of a small wall. The closer I got I was SURE that I'd drop the front too soon and crash but I didn't.

Definitely need to get a full length post to trail ride.
I'm riding it with a 130mm Z1FR. It doesn't really feel that bad, though I'm sure it would ride better with a 100mm fork. That experiment will have to wait.

Steel is real? I have to admit I cannot "feel" any difference in this steel frame vs. any aluminum frame that I've owned. Perhaps it's subtle and I can't feel or appreciate it. Construction is top notch, though there are already a few minor chips/flakes in the paint. This will likely get beaten up a bit so I'm not too concerned.

I :heart: Evil Bikes.

I'll be taking it out to the jumps and bmx track tomorrow or over the weekend.

 

[stinkyboy]

I must approve!

 

[urbaindk]

I must approve!

I have to say I'm on the fence on this one. Nice bike, but not a wok in sight. The crane is a plus but I don't know if that's really enough. I could go either way.

 

[bjanga]

Nice . . . when you get a trailride in, can you tell us how it rides vs. the chameleon?

 

[Bicyclist]

Nice, but a 5" fork on a doc =

My 3" MX Pro feels perfect, I can't even imagine a 5" fork...

 

[Jozz]

Love that bike... but can't even begin to comprehend why their is such a big price difference between the DOC and Sovereign... if only that DOC had a steeper HA I would be all over it!

Sweet ride, enjoy!

 

[LordOpie]

Nice ride.

But I mostly approve of Chicago. Looks like you're near the aquarium?

 

[Nick]

Nice, but a 5" fork on a doc =

My 3" MX Pro feels perfect, I can't even imagine a 5" fork...

I was actually riding with the fork locked down for a while. Felt right to me. I think I'd like to try 90-100.

 

[Nick]

Nice ride.

But I mostly approve of Chicago. Looks like you're near the aquarium?

Thanks.
Just north of the 31st Street skatepark.

 

[Bicyclist]

Love that bike... but can't even begin to comprehend why their is such a big price difference between the DOC and Sovereign... if only that DOC had a steeper HA I would be all over it!

Sweet ride, enjoy!

The Sovergn is 853 and has the XX dropouts, those are the main reasons it's more (well especially the 853). Just run a DOC w/ a 3" fork and you get nice angles and a low BB.

 

[OGRipper]

Is the Sovereign made in the states? Pretty sure the DOC is made in Taiwan, that would also help explain the price difference.

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

sick ride nick...

 

[partsbara]

Nice . . . when you get a trailride in, can you tell us how it rides vs. the chameleon?

i went from a chameleon to a DOC as well... the chameleon is definately more trail friendly... the geo is more suited to longer rides... sure, i can do it on my doc, but its definately not the best application for the frame..

 

[hooples3]

sweet ride!!!!!

 

[Nick]

cool, I arranged to "borrow" a Pike for some test riding.
I have the best friends.

this is for jdschall, though I'm not sure why ...

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

I went from a chameleon, to a soveirgn for trail riding, and i is prob the most solid ride i have ever ridden (and that is alot of crap), my bike just thunders the over rocks, roots, and logs we have here on the east coast. If you can grab one there is no reason to stay with a chameleon over either the soviergn or DOC (I have a DOC for street)....

The dropouts on the evil alone, make it worth it over the chameleon, not to mention the solid ride of the steel.

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

cool, I arranged to "borrow" a Pike for some test riding.

slam the pike for street, pop it out for trail, it prob one of the best matches for that fork...

 

[Jozz]

I went from a chameleon, to a soveirgn for trail riding, and i is prob the most solid ride i have ever ridden (and that is alot of crap), my bike just thunders the over rocks, roots, and logs we have here on the east coast. If you can grab one there is no reason to stay with a chameleon over either the soviergn or DOC (I have a DOC for street)....

The dropouts on the evil alone, make it worth it over the chameleon, not to mention the solid ride of the steel.

Good to hear cause that exactly the switch I'd like to make, SC Cham to Sovereign. Have you noticed a big difference as far as confort for long trail ride?

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

Good to hear cause that exactly the switch I'd like to make, SC Cham to Sovereign. Have you noticed a big difference as far as confort for long trail ride?

OMG yes, i rode 2 chameleons an old school one and the new style for about 5-6 years and loved every minute of it. Then i made an excel spreadsheet matching all aspects of the soveirgn against the chameleon and they are almost the same bike angle wise, with about a .4 lbs difference. I pretty much thought it was a no brainer. Now i have a very light soverign built with a dream parts kit/ full x.o/36 TALA/ juicy carbons/mavic crossmax xl's and some xt cranks...

Not a thing i would change, it is alot more supple over the rocks giving me exactly what i wanted...I didnt like the chatter of the box stays on the chameleon...

 

[Jozz]

OMG yes, i rode 2 chameleons an old school one and the new style for about 5-6 years and loved every minute of it. Then i made an excel spreadsheet matching all aspects of the soveirgn against the chameleon and they are almost the same bike angle wise, with about a .4 lbs difference. I pretty much thought it was a no brainer. Now i have a very light soverign built with a dream parts kit/ full x.o/36 TALA/ juicy carbons/mavic crossmax xl's and some xt cranks...

Not a thing i would change, it is alot more supple over the rocks giving me exactly what i wanted...I didnt like the chatter of the box stays on the chameleon...

Not to hijack the DOC thread... but you wouldn't happen to have a pic by any chance...

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

I hate to steal his thunder...but...Sorry nick!

keep in mind this is a few months back and i have since upgraded some parts...

 

[BigMike]

I have to say I'm on the fence on this one. Nice bike, but not a wok in sight. The crane is a plus but I don't know if that's really enough. I could go either way.

I bet there are PLENTY of microwaves and fire extinguishers in those buildings to make up for the lack of a Wok


oh yeah, nice bike

 

[Nick]

I hate to steal his thunder...but...Sorry nick!

No worries Bill. I really like your bike.
I'm going street riding today with a friend. I'll snap a couple of new action-jackson pictures.

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

No worries Bill. I really like your bike.
I'm going street riding today with a friend. I'll snap a couple of new action-jackson pictures.

nick it was you sold my rebel to correct?

 

[Nick]

nope, but I did buy an e13 STS from you.

 

[JRB]

Where are you gonna put the spring on there???


Very nice ride. I am almost certain I am putting a longer stem on my Roscoe and putting the pike back on. I may keep my Drop Off for a back up, but seem like the Pike may be the best street fork for me.