[swoody]

I thought I had come across a thread similar to this before, but I can't really find much info now. I have a Trek 4300 that I use for my XC/trail rides, and as I have mod-initous, I need to play around with it, and make it a better ride.

Tell me what mod(s) have been your favorite that you've done to your bike. What has made the biggest improvement to your rides? What mods have made your trips more fun?? I'm curious to know what you guys think, and maybe myself and others can use your ideas/suggestions as a guide for future improvements.

I'll start off with mine. My favorite upgrade so far (and my only one ) has been getting rid of those damned platform pedals in favor of a nice set of Crank Bros. Egg Beaters. These things have made my rides so much easier, and makes climbing that next big hill a great deal more fun. It took me a few rides with the pedals to realize you're not just pushing down on the pedals - you can pull up on the pedals when your legs start getting sore!!

So throw out your ideas, and let us all know what you think!

 

[spocomptonrider]

Maverick Speedball seat post (I think thats what its called) . Cant live without it now.

 

[drumbum540]

fox floats >.<
and kenda nevegal 2.35 (rear) kenda Blue groove 2.5 (front)
^heavier, but amazing traction for my area

keep it coming!!!

 

[JGill]

Switching from an 80mm to 100mm fork and a fresh set of hydro's!

 

[Moko_Jumbie]

A softer saddle 'cause I'm heavy and my a$$ hurts. Also better grips that don't slip. I have a Trek 6700.

 

[gonefirefightin]

gravity dropper seat post

 

[4xBoy]

Good seat and grips.
Light wheels if money allows.
Tires lately I have been using a Ardent 2.25 front and crossmark 2.1 or 2.25 in the rear.

 

[TreeSaw]

Better wheels and avid juicy 7 brakes. The wheels I used to have were heavy and I upgraded to much lighter tubeless wheels. I also changed to Avid juicy 7 disc brakes because I like the adjustability and feel of them over my hayes (I have small hands).

 

[ire]

Stiffer cranks...don't want to waste any energy

 

[vtjim]

New fork. Went from an old heavy Manitou to a Rockshox Revelation - lighter and better performance.

Also - new wheels.

 

[Leppah]

My Gravity Dropper. Don't know how i rode xc for so many years without it. Now i can't ride without it. Makes steep trails a lot more easy. Makes boring downhill sections of trail a lot more exciting.

 

[J-Dubs]

shifters and brakes
make the controls better and you'll control it better

 

[Westy]

I loves me some nice wheels and tires.

 

[jonKranked]

a fresh bag of weed

 

[Westy]

a fresh bag of weed

Fresh weed? Frikkin noob.

That is like fresh beef, you want it dry aged for a few weeks.

 

[jonKranked]

Fresh weed? Frikkin noob.

That is like fresh beef, you want it dry aged for a few weeks.

I meant fresh as in not a year old bag you found under the seat of your truck. Fresh as in newly and properly prepared. Not fresh as in the plants you stumbled across on your ride and decided to pick some.

 

[Westy]

I meant fresh as in not a year old bag you found under the seat of your truck. Fresh as in newly and properly prepared. Not fresh as in the plants you stumbled across on your ride and decided to pick some.

Advice I was given from a bike shop when asking about some trails in the Daniel Boone national forest in Ky.

"stay on the main trail. Those side trails usually lead you to something that will get you shot"

 

[sanjuro]

A motor, preferably 250cc.

 

[longhaultrucker]

A motor, preferably 250cc.

You need 250cc motor to get you up the hill?

 

[longhaultrucker]

When the tax faory made her deposit,I upgraded wheels (WTB Speed Discs/Deore),tires (WTB Exiwolf 2.3"),fork (Vassago ODIS rigid),brake rotors (from 160/140mm to 185/185),and complete drivetrain (from stock Redline 1x8 to Raceface Turbines,all Sram X9 shifters/rear der.,Shimano SLX 2spd front,2x9),and new slicker cables-on my Redline d440 29er.

Since I did it all at once,some things are hard to pick out,but I'd say the 2x9 setup,and the bigger brakes,then the fork,and then the wheels/tires...oh,and my legs/lungs! Upgraded them by riding more by May 1 than I did all year in 2008.

 

[ViciousXUSMC]

On my stock Piranaha I had to upgrade the grips as they would slide on me, and the end of every ride I had to work them back on as they were well over an inch off the handlebars.

So got some Lizard Skins Peatys Lock On's those are nice.

And after several recommendations I just broke down and ordered a Thudbuster LT, our trail is almost all roots so should make my ride much more pleasent.

 

[pbwrench]

a good wheelset is the best way to shave a bunch of weight. A fork will improve the ride the most. Cranks can save weight and improve power transfer and shifting. All of these can also make you look cool. Easton EA 70 or -90 stem and handlebar will save weight pretty cheaply. Unless your local trails are really steep, forget about the gravity dropper seatposts, etc. Get yourself a Thompson Elite post for $80-- they can't be beat.

 

[godfather]

These are my current favorite upgrade.

[/IMG]

 

[sohel001]

Bike Setup: iron horse warrior ht w/ a few upgrades ... or a combo of bad luck or are some peeps just BullSh***ing ...who knows. ..... They have already developed loud cracking noise, stiffen up and God knows what's coming next. ..... Also the way the arm is shaped can be painful depending on your pedaling style. ..

 

[coffee]

I've done many things to my bikes to make them lighter, faster, and offer a bit of bling, but the best (my favorite) is switching to a 650b front wheel. It does wonders for control, and it rolls over everything better. The Stans ZTR build ended up being lighter than Mavics SL's or most anything else out there and the price was cheap.

 

[4xBoy]

Oi! coffee your headlight is pretty sano, where did you get it and can I see a better pic.

 

[MMcG]

I've done many things to my bikes to make them lighter, faster, and offer a bit of bling, but the best (my favorite) is switching to a 650b front wheel. It does wonders for control, and it rolls over everything better. The Stans ZTR build ended up being lighter than Mavics SL's or most anything else out there and the price was cheap.

That bike looks fast just standing still like that!! Nice friggin bike!!

 

[bikermancam]

wheel upgrades have the potential to be a huge weight savings based on reducing rotational mass which has been discussed all over the tubes and can be one of the most noticeable improvements in weight reduction and ride stiffness.

 

[Da Peach]

Some Stan's wheels would be sweet...

 

[rec]

Loose the large chain ring and replace it with a bash gaurd. I never use the large chain ring and you gain a bunch of grd clearance, and confidence for going over obstacles.
I love it

 

[spurlicked]

I went to a single chain ring, new grips, and Maxxis Larsen TT rear tire for now.

 

[SkaredShtles]

I only upgrade things that are broken.

 

[seppk]

wheels and tubeless tires save alot even though they are expensive and even pedals if you have some heavy ones currently