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MountainBikeReview.com's Forum Archives - What Bike to Buy
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Newly built up SLX, first impressions.... (11 posts)
|  Newly built up SLX, first impressions.... | SLX Guy
Jul 30, 2002 11:14 AM | | First off, thanks to everyone who contributed constructive input during my decsion making process. Like lots of folks I was asking a lot of my new bike. I wanted a do it all bike and I think I have one. Here are the final specs as it's built up now:
Frame: Intense Uzzi SLX (Med) w/Fox Vanilla Rc
Fork: Fox Vanilla R
F Tire: Conti Vertical Pro 2.3
R Tire: Conti Survival Pro 2.3
Rims: Mavic D521
Spokes: DT 14/15
Nipples: Brass
Hubs: Chris King ISO Disc
Skewers: Salsa Suspension
Cassette: XT 11-34
Chain: SRAM PC-99
Cranks: Race Face Next LP Isis, Standard
BB: Race Face Isis XS
Pedals: Shimano 646
Shifters: XTR
R Derailure: XTR Long Cage
F Derailure: XT Top Pull/Top Swing
Brakes: Hope Mini (Disc)
Seat: Selle Italia Filte Ti Gel
Seatpost: Easton EA50
Seatpost clamp: Salsa QR
Handlebars: Easton Carbon Monkeylite
Stem: Race Face Diabolous
Grips: ODI lockon
I got my first ride in last night and all I can say is it was sweeeet! It weighs in at 31lbs which is pretty close to what I wanted to accomplish. On the trail it feels like a tank compared to my old hardtail but still light enough to motor up most hills. Typical of most bikes with this kind of travel you just have to sit down and spin on the hills. I will be riding mostly on XC trails but focusing on finding all of the jumps, drops, and fast lines. I'm still working on dialing in the suspension. The fork is close but I think I need a stiffer rear spring. A 500lb spring came with the frame but at 170lbs I seem to be a little to heavy for it and am having to dial in excessive preload. The brakes are very supprising. They feel good but not much like Hayes. They actually feel a lot like my old Codas with the way the modulate but ultimately have considerably more stopping power. I ended up riding through some mud and a little thick sand yesterday at a stream crossing and was very impressed with the tires, the traction was excellent even compared to my old Alligators. I've got a lot of setup stuff to tweak and miles to log before I can really review anything else but I just wanted to throw my initial impressions up. |
| Congrats, you gotta nice bike there | gurp
Jul 30, 2002 12:00 PM | | although the part mix seems a bit odd. Monkeylight/Next LP/Hope minis, mixed with 521s/646s? Ill bet you wind up with the bike 5lbs heavier within a year ; )
Enjoy! |
| It actually ends up making pretty good sense... | SLX Guy
Jul 30, 2002 12:16 PM | | The Monkeylites, Next LPs, Chris Kings, and Hopes keep the weight under control. I've never broke any of those type of parts in the past so I stayed with light stuff. I went with the D521s and big Contis to keep the wheels straight and strong. I'll probably end up swapping for a set of trailblasters/fire XCs and lightweight tubes for long XC rides but the wheels really aren't all that heavy. With the weight savings going with Chris King over XT disc hubs I was able to spec D521s and keep a similar weight and way more strength than say an XT Disc/X317 combo. Ultimately this is not a real hucking machine, more of a real agressive XC/light freeride. I don't have access to a lot of extreme trails nearby so I won't likely be adding any more beefy parts. Unless ofcourse I figure out someway to retire and move to Whistler :) |
| It actually ends up making pretty good sense... | gurp
Jul 30, 2002 12:45 PM | | ...or you discover urban ; ) |
| About the tires... | Kapusta
Jul 30, 2002 7:50 PM | | I was running the same tire setup for a while and the Survival Pro impressed the he11 out of me over the winter months. I took it off when things got drier out because of the extremely high rolling resistance. Then a friend told me to try the survival pro on the front, and I have never looked back. I have found the Survival pro to be much better than the Vertical Pro in the front in almost all conditions I encounter except smooth hardpack, where it is about the same. It does have a higher rolling resistance, but I don't notice it as much on the front. The friend who made the suggestion runs Survival Pro in front, and Vertical Pro rear. I use a Fire XC in the rear if it is not too nasty out, in which case I will run another Survival in the rear. The Survival pro will stay up front year round for my East Coast riding.
I'm sharing this with you because you already have the tires, and you might be suprised what happens if you swap them front to back.
Enjoy the bike, it sounds awesome.
Kapusta |
| Thanks for the tip... | SLX Guy
Jul 31, 2002 3:43 AM | | I'll have to try playing around with different combinations to see what works best in my area. |
| I agree Conti Survival Up Front will save your $##$.... | andym
Jul 31, 2002 12:37 PM | | Conti Survival in front works great on the loose stuff rocky stuff here in Cali. I run a vertical in back to cut down on RR. Thiking about going will Survival up front and back. |
| ditto: Survival Pro in front, Vertical in rear in NorCal (nm) | onelove
Aug 1, 2002 9:35 PM | | |
| awesome! | kokothemonkey
Jul 31, 2002 12:32 PM | | That sounds like a sweet bike! I think the weak link will be that seat, I weigh the same as you and also ride aggresive XC, and I have bent two of those seats' rails. My friend also broke one of his rails, just something to look out for if you hear excessive noise. I switched to a Laser V stealth saddle (WTB) and it's sweet! |
| Hey, Nice Ride! | Adman
Jul 31, 2002 6:41 PM | | I put my large '02 SLX on the trail this spring & love it! With Vertical Pro front & rear & a 5" Z1FR (QR20) it goes pretty much everywhere my Tracer goes, but a lot faster downhill. I think the 5th Element makes a better pedalling SLX rig than the air-sprung but lighter Tracer.
My Selle Italia Max Flite Trans Am suffered catastrophic seat rail falure last week at Lynn Woods. I was JRA after dropping in from the water tower, and a 3" section of one rail landed on the ground.
Great tire selection-I really dig the Contis! I recently switched to Maxxis Mobster/High Roller 2.5/2.7, but it really makes the bike noticeably heavier & harder to climb. The Contis will soon find their way back on...
The only thing this kickass bike needs now is a Rohloff Speedhub:)
Enjoy!
-Adam |
| About the spring... | fourarm
Aug 5, 2002 12:08 PM | | I have a similar frame ('00 Uzzi DH - Med.) with a similar setup and it came with a 700lb spring which I switched out for a 650. I weigh 160 and have only bottomed it once or twice in several years of riding. I would suggest moving up to a 600lb spring and trying that and then maybe the 650.
Did you try the 5th element before you bought the bike? Seems to be good reviews on it. |
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