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| The Pub Put your legs up, grab you favorite brew, and just hang out. Off topic. |
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06-23-2008, 07:48 PM
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#1 (permalink) |
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Is this thing on?
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Finally, the 29er is done! (warning, some reading involved)
So as some of you know I've wanted a 29er for what seems like a year now. After renting one, trying my friends, and several trips to local shops to check them out I decided to get get one. I quickly realized that I just didn't have $2k laying around to build the bike I wanted. I went to a lot of local shops to look for deals, sales etc. I ride three times a week at least so I needed a bike that could keep up with me. I knew that if I dropped $1500 I wasn't going to get the bike I wanted. I also know that the mark up on parts is nuts. Why are bikes so much? I have no idea. I also know that you can get some good deals online if you spend some time and shop around.
Like a lot of you I found the Motobecane Phantom 29 and couldn't believe how cheap it was. The frame was selling on ebay for $95 +shipping. After a bunch of research into the tube materials etc I figured for $100 if I break the thing who cares. So I tried to order a frame but everyone was sold out. Finally I found one. Cheap frame, I know, everyone says to start with the frame you want and build the bike from there. Well dude, I love niners but do they really have to charge $700 for a frame? No. No they don't. If you look into materials and a frame costs around $50 to build and the more you build the cheaper it gets. So unless you're getting a titanium frame paying more than $200 for steel, or aluminum it's kind of a ripoff. (I'll get flamed for sure  ) Plus this frame has almost the exact dimensions of other frames that go for $500-$700, and lighter than most. I figured, same materials, same dimensions, 1/5 of the price, I'm in. Plus, it was so cheap I took it over to Olympic and powdercoated it the color I wanted.  Now I just needed parts. Build kits are great but again, $1000 for most of the parts you want and some you will like to get rid of is a drag. So the hunt for parts began. I was looking at bikes online and realized that if I bought a complete bike I could take the parts I wanted to use and sell the rest to help cover my costs. After doing that I ended up with a sweet fork, pedals, headet, brakes, and lock on grips. I sold the rest of the parts I didn't use and that ended up paying for a new wheelset, shifters, handlebar, stem, and back delailleur. I got a free front rerailleur from a friend, I did have to spend money on a crankset, casette, and chain but I got a killer deal on those. All and all I ended up spending about $800 total. The stimulus check paid for most, then I put $200 into it out of savings. It's a pretty sweet ride when you look at the specs. Motobecane frame, powdercoated "Mango" Chris King headset Reba race fork with poplock Monkeylight SL carbon bar XT shifters Thompson stem Thompson seatpost Salsa seat clamp WTB Speed Disk wheels with Bontrager hubs Avid Juicy 7 brakes XT Front derailleur XTR Rear derailleur XT crankset / bottom bracket XT Cassette 11-34 XT chain SPD pedals I took it out today for it's first test run up Cholla, then TOW, back down, and back down Cholla. It climbs like a dream. My other mountain bike is a full squish so i was a little worried about raddling my teeth out. It was super smooth and seemed to carve down cholla. I can't wait to get back on it. I'll probably ride every day this week. I would also like to take a minute to thank those who made this possible. Foofighter .8Down Guero and STR in general, without your marketplace I would be getting suckered into full price at some LBS*. *not The Path, your take off wall fuels my dreams.  |
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| post thanked by: |
BeantownRider (06-24-2008),
bighit8 (06-26-2008),
BrewMaster (06-23-2008),
Burner (06-23-2008),
CalEpic (06-24-2008),
genusmtbkr5 (06-23-2008),
guero (06-26-2008),
jeffj (06-23-2008),
J_Sims (06-23-2008),
kbteachme (06-23-2008),
northshore (06-23-2008),
SheDevil (06-27-2008),
TrojanInsomniac (06-24-2008),
XCMike (06-24-2008)
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06-23-2008, 07:54 PM
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#4 (permalink) |
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Im lost
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haha too funny I actually passed u while u were posing ur bike today for this picture
nice rig!
__________________
"Gene, let me hold on to your nuts for you" - CC "You think you're smart cuz you know words" - Benchwarmers |
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station (06-23-2008)
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06-23-2008, 08:00 PM
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#6 (permalink) |
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Directionally Challenged
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Didn't you get the news? The 9er fad is over....we are now going to square wheels.
Looks nice.
__________________
"The best rides are the ones where you bite off much more than you can chew—and live through it." — Doug Bradbury "When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me." — Emo Philips |
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| post thanked by: |
speckledtrout (06-26-2008),
station (06-23-2008)
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06-23-2008, 08:04 PM
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#8 (permalink) |
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Duan'er - 29'er remixed
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great build tim and even better that you finally got this rig built to ride! we need to get it really dirty now
__________________
Pho'd Up: " Heart Rate Monitor + Road miles = fast. Chasing Neil, and Chris (Sar Boats) = Faster." www.coverageispersonal.com Click the Button 
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station (06-23-2008)
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06-23-2008, 08:34 PM
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#9 (permalink) |
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^needs to ride more
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nice color and welcome to the club
__________________
When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours. www.thepathbikeshop.com |
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station (06-23-2008)
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06-23-2008, 08:44 PM
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#10 (permalink) |
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Senior Member
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That is a sweet ride. I rode a motobecane hard for 5 years. Mammoth Mountain did her in though, in the 5th year. The rear tri is slightly outta wack. So go enjoy yours.
And if anyone lectures about frame builds, they just havnt dug deep enuf to know that 90% of bikes come out of taiwan from 3 factories.
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Spank me and call me Jonny! |
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06-23-2008, 08:46 PM
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#11 (permalink) | |
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Is this thing on?
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Quote:
word! |
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newpos (06-26-2008)
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06-24-2008, 06:17 AM
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#14 (permalink) |
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All Access Pass
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 Tim, nice rig! Shall we change the "bug crusher" ride to everyday?
__________________
... with graphics like this how can you not ride  - stationhttp://www.singletrackminded.com |
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station (06-24-2008)
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06-24-2008, 08:03 AM
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#17 (permalink) | ||
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Is this thing on?
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Quote:
$800.00 yeah, $800.00  Quote:
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kbteachme (06-24-2008)
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06-26-2008, 11:01 PM
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#19 (permalink) | |
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Is this thing on?
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Quote:
I rock 40 psi on the front and back. I like stiff tires. I like to roll fast. They are juicy 7s. Nice brakes. i like them a lot. |
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06-26-2008, 11:29 PM
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#20 (permalink) |
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thats hot.
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i never thought this day would come.
 looks good man, and you certainly took your time and scored some sweet deals. i'm glad i was able to help you out here and there with your questions....next up, we need to ride together soon!
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tkBLAZER: not sure if it was the humidity but there was some nipple action goin on. |
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