OK....755 transformed to 856

[mfgp]

Last time I posted, my plan was to upgrade to a razorback frame.  Instead, I found a decent deal on a nice 856.  Took the cheaper route.    

My main reason for doing this is that my 755 frame is too large.  The bike is set up small, but this past weekend I nearly ate it a couple times because I couldn't get my foot down in time.  This is a 20" fame - the 856 is a 16".  My last bike was 16" and worked well.  

Anyway, it looks like everything will swap over pretty easily.  

Questions:

Opinions on this frame and suspension?  I have a Rockshox Duke Race on the front.  Most of my riding is intermediate XC, but might see a couple big hits from time to time.  Will it handle it?    

Is the rear coil over shock upgradeable?

Here's a link to the frame:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=22679&item=3600948202&rd=1

TIA  

[kiwi]

the 856 is a really good lightweight xc frame.The rear shock is upgradeable(although it looks like it has been upgraded to a noleen already) with either noleen nr4 or stratos or risse.One guy has also made up an adapter to convert the cone end to a standard eyelet and fitted a fox.However the frame you are looking looks like a small or 14 and you may have trouble fitting the shock inside the plates.I hope i am wrong and that is is a 16 or medium.Your rear travel will only be about 3 inches so you dont want more than 4 inches at the front.The crosslink was a very short fork too so any long fork will raise up the front end and slow down the steering

[mfgp]

Thanks Kiwi.  

This is a 16" frame.  I thought the shock may have already been upgraded because I remember elastomer on the 96 models.  I will see how it rides after I swap out my components.  

The fork I have is 80mm so it looks like I'm in pretty good shape.  

Only problem I foresee is that the frame is red and the fork electric blue.  Hmmm....if I get the Panaracer tires in blue also, it might just work... [smiley=laughing.gif]

[mfgp]

At least the seller SAYS it's a 16" frame.  If not, it's too small for me.  

Is there something in the picture that leads you to believe that it is 14"?   [smiley=worry.gif]

[kiwi]

ahhh yes there is.The so called world cup frames all used the same length shock.If you look at your 20 inch 755 the shock mount is down towards the bottom of the shock mounting plates.As the frames got smaller the shock mount went upwards until the 14" mount was virtually embedded in the top tube.This meant that the small or 14 frame had a slightly different shock to the other sizes.I dont know if risse and stratos address this or not.this is what proflex said in  1997/8 ........... 14" bikes cannot accept a Noleen NR-4 in the rear. This size can only use an NR-1 or NR-2. Additionally, the  Noleen rear shock for a 14" frame requires a special shock body that prevents any contact between the frame and shock. When ordering a rear shock for a 14" or Small frame, make sure you are getting the one with the special head.

[mfgp]

Not good.  But the guy who sold it to me has a lot of good feedback.  If it is wrong, he'll probably take care of me.  Then again, maybe it will work for me regardless.  Having a BMX background and being 5'6" tall, the smaller bike, if set up properly, may actually be a lot of fun.  

Thanks for your input.  I'll keep you informed.  

[Mike_Farris]

Only problem I foresee is that the frame is red and the fork electric blue.  Hmmm....if I get the Panaracer tires in blue also, it might just work... [smiley=laughing.gif]

Actually, the 856 I'm building up currently has a bright blue (think cyan-like blue, but a little darker) Manitou SX I got cheap off of eBay. I'm thinking of doing the blue-walled Panaracer Fire XC's as well. In it's current state (on the bike rack with no wheels on it) it looks like it came straight from 1988... but in a cool way, though...  

I'll be sure to post pics when I'm done... hopefully by the end of April at the latest...

If I remember correctly, the Duke blue is pretty dark... it should look good with the red frame. And that's good in a Y2K3 way...  

[Scott]

Kiwi,

Can a standard NR2 be ground down to fit a small 856?  Thinking ahead for my fathers 856!  And mfgp, you'll love this bike!!
Thanks,
Scott

[kiwi]

Not to sure about that scott.There is a bit spare material at the top of the shock around the mount and the pressurising screw and i guess you could shave of the sides a little.What we really need ai someone who has a small xc frme with a noleen shock and a "normal" noleen shock to compare.....

[mfgp]

Received the frame today.  The measurement from the centerline of the BB to the very top of the seat post is 18".  ?  The measurement from the centerline of the BB to the centerline of the top tube where it connects to the seat tube is 16".  

Now I'm baffled.  I thought that measurement was always taken from the CL of the BB to the top of the seat tube.  

[kiwi]

in theory the measurement should be c to c but every manufacturer seems to do it differently...hrer is a link to a site which should help you fibd out what size the bike is,,,of course there may be a sticker on the back (i think) of the seat tube!!!!
k2 geometry
the 900 ,1000,3000 from 98 are the closest if not identical