|   Got My D.I.S.S. today.....YEAH!!! | Kleindivorcee
Nov 1, 2001 10:09 PM | | Just picked up my new D.I.S.S. today, after waiting for about a week. I hope to get some pictures out by the end of the weekend. Got to get it nice and muddy first! If anyone has questions, feel free to post or Email me. |
| re: Got My D.I.S.S. today.....YEAH!!! | singleminded
Nov 2, 2001 9:08 AM | | Congrats. The DISS looks very nice. I do have a question, though, about the sizing. Maybe you can advise. Basically, I'm looking for a real-life measurement of the effective top tube length (for whatever size frame you have). I'm wondering if the Bianchi catalog is wrong, because it suggests that the DISS models run shorter than the CUSS, etc.
Thanks. |
| re: Got My D.I.S.S. today.....YEAH!!! | Kleindivorcee
Nov 2, 2001 11:01 AM | | I decided on the 19.5. According to my measure, the effective top tube length is 23"
I'm about 6'1" but I like my bikes a little small.
Also, the DISS comes with a titec x-wing, so factor in the layback when considering the overall riding position.
I rode a CUSS at the dealer, also a 19.5, and it felt about the same, but I didn't put the bikes side by side. The frame looks the same,
I should pick up a 2002 catalog from my dealer, and compare the numbers with the 2001. |
| re: Got My D.I.S.S. today.....YEAH!!! | singleminded
Nov 2, 2001 11:29 AM | | Thanks. The 2002 catalog lists the 19.5" as having a 580mm effective TT, which is 22.83" The 17.5 is listed at 570mm, or 22.44". Both numbers are a bit lower than the stated specs for last year's model. I did a rough measurement on a 19.5" BaSS a couple weeks ago and it looked like about 23.3" |
| I forgot the more important question.. | singleminded
Nov 2, 2001 11:31 AM | | how's the disk brak mount work? Does it allow adjustment to compensate for changes in wheel position, like when you change your gearing? How does it work?
thanks |
| And can you get the rear wheel out without removing bolts? (nm) | Brant
Nov 2, 2001 11:50 AM | | |
| Some D.I.S.S. Observations | gust-of-sun
Nov 2, 2001 1:18 PM | | Our shop has put together three or four D.I.S.S.s in the last month. Here's what i've seen:
1. Disc brake adjustment. It's hard to describe the design they use to do this. the caliper is mounted to a little adapter which attaches to the frame with horizontal screws. The holes in the frame for said screws are curved slots that allow for adjustment. We had no problems getting the piston centered on the braking surface of the rotor.
2. Yes you can remove the rear wheel without taking the bolts completely out of the hub. You don't have to touch the bolts on the caliper at all.
3. Something we noticed: With the stock gearing, we had one bike with the rotor brushing the frame. Our solution was to put on a new chain with one more link than stock. This moved the wheel back enough that the rotor didn't rub anymore. I was a little surprised that the wheel could be placed far enough forward to allow the rotor to rub in the first place. This was on the 21.5 frame. I don't know if the same problem exists on the other two sizes. We haven't seen it yet.
4. To the shops: Since Bianchi ships the bike with the front wheel removed (like most bikes) there is nothing to keep the pads in the front caliper. Two bikes that came in had lost one of their front brake pads in shipping. It wouldn't hurt to keep a small stock of replacement pads in case this happens. We had to borrow pads from the demo bike until replacements came in.
5. It's been mentioned before, but the D.I.S.S. size is measured to the top of the seat collar. Subtract an inch for center to top dimension.
Ride on,
gust-of-sun |
| So, what's your overall opinion of the D.I.S.S.? | JRA
Nov 2, 2001 1:37 PM | | Is it worth it? |
| Early opinion of the D.I.S.S...... | Kleindivorcee
Nov 2, 2001 6:39 PM | | Well, I haven't done much real trail riding yet, just rode it to work and back. So I'll just give my general impressions of the spec and value.
It's pretty obvious where Bianchi down spec'd the DISS in order to put the Disc brakes on, paired with Speed dial fives. The Truvativ crank on the DISS is nice, but not like the Race face with the Spot ring guard that was on the CUSS. The pedals were plastic wellgo crap, but I put on some Ringle ZuZu's I had lying around. The headset is pretty cheap, and I'm sure the bottom bracket is too, although I haven't looked closely at it. I really like the stock tires, agressive WTB Mutano Raptors at 2.24. They have some serious tread, but with the wire beads, they must weigh a ton. It looks like there is clearance for even wider tires if you really wanted them. The frame seems pretty stiff, not as supple as some Alu. frames I've ridden. I'll have to see if I can get used to hand numbing downhills after five years of suspension.
The 19.5 frame seems just right for my height, we'll have to see how it handles on single track. With Easton ultra light, disc brakes, Titec Easton and WTB parts rounding out the spec, I think I got a pretty good deal. My LBS only charged me $799. |
| If it makes you smile, Its a good bike | gust-of-sun
Nov 4, 2001 4:29 PM | | bikes in general are going to discs. Singlespeeds, much as we like to say we're behind the technology curve, are going the same way. Bianchi took a risk and did a production singlespeed with discs. They did it well enough from a business standpoint that it's selling like hotcakes. take as an example the number of people on this board who have bought one, despite america's recession (are we in a real one yet?). Bianchi made a bike that's good as a stock bike with room in all the right places for people to upgrade later. cable discs are more expensive than v's but it's now possible to upgrade to hydraulics by buying just the calipers, levers, and rotors--no new wheelset. the pedals tend to be the most personalized bit of the bike and are the first to be upgraded, some shops don't even put the stock pedals on in the first place, hence the flimsy welgos. The bars and stem tend to be next maybe followed by the headset or the fork...you see where the reasoning is going. Somebody (Skye?) knew what she was doing when she spec'ed this bike.
So what do I think of the bike? I don't live close enough to the trails to have taken the demo bike out for serious testing. It's aluminum, which is my biggest beef about the bike, but it does seem to flex enough under my 200lbs that I wouldn't get totally beat up on a ride. The tires and wheels are a strong point. They feel good on the potholes and curbs around the shop, and the hubs are really smooth. The bottom line is that its a bike, and if the $799-$850 price tag is affordable, riding it will put a smile on your face, just like most bikes.
Keep the rubber side down,
gust-of-sun |
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