
Originally Posted by
cydwhit
Ended up with a pretty similar build and tires, but with a 120 Pike instead of the 34, and I feel bad for the terrible things I've done to that shock. It weeped oil like a mofo for a couple days, and then stopped, and doesn't feel bad now, but also doesn't feel great. Debating between rebuilding it or just going piggyback. Also feel like this bike really deserves good brakes.
I felt the same about the Ripley, which seems like a twin to the Spur (but not as good looking).
Hope E4 brakes made a world of difference and saved a few grams compared with the 2 piston XTs.
A DVO Sapphire fork made the front end all smashy-smashy, and then I had to go and get a Topaz piggyback shock to balance it out. There is no out-riding either end anymore. On the burliest, rockiest trails more travel would be nice, of course, but there really is something to better suspension, and it's well worth the 200g or so of weight gain.
The side benefit of the DVO stuff is that it's really easy to rebuild and change damper oil, which I think most people don't do often enough.
These downcountry bikes are really impressive.
ride bikes, climb, ski, travel, cook, work to fund former, repeat.
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