Few pics and VERY initial impression

[FoShizzle]

Some pics...pretty crappy, minus the ones Chad took and sent to me. few have been posted before i think.

Got in about 45 miles this weekend....nothing aggro at all but great riding to dial bike in.

Will wait to hit some technical stuff to really make judgment but I love it. On the climbs it was not so much the weight I noticed but the angles and cockpit. But thats ok...that is what I expected. Due to the long fork (even in shortest 140mm setting bike felt slack) and the short stem (50mm), climbing the REAL steep stuff was noticeable and the front wheel really wanted to wander. Part of it I am sure is because it is the first ride I have done on a FS bike in about a year so I am relearning to ride. Having said that, I made a very steep climb yesterday which made me happy cause it was the first climbing challenge on the bike and I made it. Climbing normal stuff I cranked up the climb......no problem at all. Bike climbs awesome.

The fork is friggin PSICK!!!! I was blown away by the fork. The rear did not quite keep up with the front so I still have some adjusting I think. The one thing I hate about FS bikes are all the friggin adjustment....3 air chambers on the fork alone...compression this....bottom out that.....booster...blah blah blah. I have NO FRIGGIN idea if it is even near optimal setting but it felt great so i dont say changing to be honest.

The brakes are friggin psick! On the first single track downhill I almost bailed badly cause the brakes are so friggin powerful....got used to it shortly thereafter but WOW! I love them!

Not much to compare them to cause its been so long but the tires kicked some serious asss!!! I love them and will definitley recommend them. It seems that these tires are getting excellent reviews and are the tires to beat, along with the Schwalbe Big Bettys which weigh about the same but apparently roll faster.

I love the cockpit! Yeah, as expected, I felt the short stem and it does not help on "Steep" climbs but on more normal climbs I was fine. On the downhills I would not trade it for anything. I friggin love it and will deal with the climbing disadvantage sicne i did not get the bike for climbing anyway. Playing around on the stairs at the local park it was so sweet to be able to flick the bike so easily....front end lifting is awesome with the setup so yeah, it stays for sure and I will just deal with the climbing disadvantage when it gets real steep....worth it to me.

I could not be happier.....I love the bike. The ONLY thing I would touch is to add a Blackspire Stinger chainguide, which is already ordered. The SRAM rear der works great in preventing chainslap compared to shitmano but I would still want the extra noise reduction and chain drop protection a chain guide will give me.

Will post more after I grow some balls and do something more technical.

Specs are as follows:

[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]frame - 2006 RFX ano black, large, w/ DHX 5.0 [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]fork - 2007 Marz 66 SL ATA [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]headset - King [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]stem - Deity [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]handlebar - Deity [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]shifters - Sram X7 twisters [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]Brakes - 2006 Hope M6 front w/ 8” rotor, M4 rear with 180mm 8” & steel braided lines [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]seatpost - Thomson [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]saddle - WTB Pure V SLT [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]crankset - Shimano Hone 2-ring with bash [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]Pedals - Shimano 646 [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]Chain - Sram PC951 [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]Cassette - Sram PG950 11-34 [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]f.derailleur - Deore [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]r.derailleur - Sram X7 [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]wheelset - DT 5.1 rims / I9 6-pawl rear hub with 10mm thru axle running Hadley 10mm x 135mm thru axle / Front 20mm [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]tires – Maxxis Advantage [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]seatpost clamp – Hope [/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Blackspire Stinger chainguide on order[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Final weight exactly 35.7 lbs[/FONT]



M6 caliper. Hey, I am a good 175 lbs so what the heck



Other side of caliper



Asss shot courtesy of Chad



My inspiration from Crazy Fred from mtbr



You can see here some more Hope red bits....red reservoir caps and levers



Final Redbarn test ride photo sent to me by Chad



crappy inside garage pic



and outside garage pic



and a parting shot from Chad...thanks. it turned out exactly like I had hoped.

[gecallo]

that's one sweet mother-f'ng ride brahh....major congrats!!!!!!!!!

[Upchuck]

That is a helluva ride, Fo. Congrats! Can't wait to get you out on a "suicide mission"...

the ano blue pro-pedal and bottom-out adjusments clash, maybe you can get fox to send ya some red ones....and the black text on the stem and handle bar could use a red outline or something.

enough static shots, lets see some action shots!

oh yeah, nice build eh!

[TURNERob]

Very nice bike, I think the component selection (minus the M6 caliper and twist shifters) is spot on. You know I'm a Turner lover, and I'd have to say of the 3 Turner bikes I own my 6 Pack is my favorite bike. You'll get used to the slack head angle when climbing steep stuff, just give it time. Mine only weighs 32.8lbs and the only thing that "holds" me back when climbing is the slack head angle.....other than that the Pack/RFX is a fantastic technical climbing bike.

Just my opinion but I'd say there is a bit too much white for my taste, black and gold is where its at

[CalEpic]

I don't know Dino. The blue parts along with the white and red will match nicely with his custom Evel Knievel jumpsuit

Budget build my ass!

Seriously, very nice looking bike Fo. Enjoy it.


C

[roadkillross]

thats tight

[Steven Jackson]

Sweet!

[FoShizzle]

Originally Posted by TURNERob

Very nice bike, I think the component selection (minus the M6 caliper and twist shifters) is spot on. You know I'm a Turner lover, and I'd have to say of the 3 Turner bikes I own my 6 Pack is my favorite bike. You'll get used to the slack head angle when climbing steep stuff, just give it time. Mine only weighs 32.8lbs and the only thing that "holds" me back when climbing is the slack head angle.....other than that the Pack/RFX is a fantastic technical climbing bike.

Just my opinion but I'd say there is a bit too much white for my taste, black and gold is where its at

yeah, its a great bike.

I hate trigger shifters but i understand the personal preference. I love Hope brakes and the M6 rocks! the M4 would have been more than powerful enough but what the heck

i too like black and gold but WAY TOO HOMER for me

[dhshuttlemonkey]

Nice "budget" build. Try running a 70mm stem. Mine climbs most all the steeps without wandering in 6" mode and wanders a bit in 7" mode, but these bikes weren't built to climb anyway. I tried running twisties but I could never get used to them and went back to triggers.

[FoShizzle]

Originally Posted by MTBRacer

Nice "budget" build. Try running a 70mm stem. Mine climbs most all the steeps without wandering in 6" mode and wanders a bit in 7" mode, but these bikes weren't built to climb anyway. I tried running twisties but I could never get used to them and went back to triggers.

I hear yuh...I am gonna try several more rides to see how I handle the climbs. I may end up changing at some point....I like this stem as a potential replacement

[boboso]

Fo, as always a very nice ride. I too get into the simplicity of a good SS, but also have a 5.5 for "adjusting" and playing around.

Enjoy and congrats on a great build.

[Pain Freak]

[size=7]bling Bling[/size]

[roadkillross]

where are those pictures taken at?

[PHAT TIRE]

I like the stick kickstand! DoN'T they make them in white? NICE RIDE!

[FoShizzle]

Originally Posted by downhillross13

where are those pictures taken at?

Montana, by Chad's shop. He took the pics of course

[roadkillross]

ooh i assumed the shop was near here. why montana?

[soul rider]

ah yes that is quite an impessive assemblence of all free mountain attire
well done sir well done

[FoShizzle]

Originally Posted by downhillross13

ooh i assumed the shop was near here. why montana?

because Chad is amazing to work with. Between he and Larry Mettler from mountain high cyclery in colorado i dont know why i would deal with anybody else. Chad is killer wheel builder, killer prices, and top notch customer service, period. For random parts and stuff I go to the LBS but for complete bikes no way. Little things like powdercoating the rims and coil were all handled by Chad, not to mention him calling DT Swiss for new stickers without me even asking....now that is service. He is incredibly nice guy.

[dirttorpeedo]

nice looking bike fo,is that kickstand a white carbon? anyway dood the bikes a bitchen looking machine!!!