Custom mountain bikes...anyone got one? Here is mine
Well i started off with a 2002 Giant DS1 frame, it has 4.5" of rear travel and is 6061 aluminum. I took the frame and cut the head tube off and increased the angle by 2 degrees to compensate for the long travel fork i was going to put on. Then i rewelded it and stripped the rest down to bare metal and then i custom powdercoated it battle ship gray with a rainbow prisim in it under a 90% gloss clear coat powder. It looks gray untill you see it in the sun and then it looks like a hollogram.
I swapped in a Fox Float R adjustable air shock in the rear and installed a new Marzochi Zi drop off with 140mm of travel. Since i increased the head tube angle it still stears like a knife but i have lots of travel. Lets see i used a crake creek zero stack ahead set with stainless bearings and an Easton -10 degrees rise 130mm stem powdercoated to match the bike. I am running an Easton Scandiam rise bar with Sram 9 spd attack grip shifters running through ride tough gortex cable housings to Shimano XTR deraillers, and an XTR 12-32 sprocket and chain. I took a set of Onza team issue bar ends and cut them to my needs and powdercoated them to match the bike.
I am running Hayes HFX-9 hydro brakes with custom 160mm rear and 203mm front stainless discs. I took a Raceface billet turbine crankset and powdercoated it to match the bike then attached Shimane M525 clipless platform pedals. The seatpost is a Syncros ultralight with a wilderness trail speed V saddle. For wheelset i am using Mavic 317 disc rims with Shimano XT hubs and Maxxis minion 2.5 front and rear soft durometer race tires. This bike rocks, it has 4"+ travel at both ends and is pretty light at 26.5lbs. I built this bike with race quality components and it really paid off, i can take five foot drops and it just eats them up, then i can climb 500ft and not be dead from shock bob. I also use this bike to ride with the family around town a lot and it does great. I am very happy with this bike, it was apraised at $1800 and i only invested around $900 including all parts. Of course the best part of the bike is the Morgan-tec sticker, hell i built the bike more than they did so i claimed it. Here are some pics, if you ride feel free to post pics and specs of your ride.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/195531/bike1.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/195531/bike2.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/195531/bike3.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/195531/bike4.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/195531/bike5.jpg
Thanks for looking, if you cant tell i am bored tonight....
