FINALLY installed a Romic on my EVO

[ChilliConCarnage]

You may or may not remember that I got a Romic many moons ago, but I hadn't gotten around to installing it until just now. Original thread: http://idriders.com/cgi-bin/YaBB_K2/YaBB.pl?board=news;action=display;num=1115806538;.  According to the swingarm calculator I downloaded here, the travel should be over 7 inches.  The shock looks so big - like it doesn't belong there - but the color matches the frame pretty closely...

I've only got a few minutes of riding it, but here's my first impression: The back now matches the front Psylo (when it's set at 120mm) - it feels so much more balanced.  I was afraid that the back end would be so jacked up that I would want to go to a 24" rear wheel, but after riding it, I realize that won't be necessary.  

To be honest, I was really afraid that I was screwing my bike up, but now I just can't wait until I can hit the trail (When it warms up - its 12 degrees outside! - very cold for us Seattle-ites!).

Pictures from the gallery:





After I get an extended ride on it, I'll let everybody know how it feels.

[will]

THAT IS ONE SWEET BIKE! [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif]

Simple, rugged, unique, and reasonably light (I presume...) Did you even go with Avid BB7's or are those Juicy's?

I would be proud to own that machine. It will be especially sweet to freeride past the $5,000 VP bikes on the trail

Call me a caveman, but I'd ditch the front derailleur, go with a 38T up front, and put a chain roller on the pivot. Brutally simple and rock solid performance.

Nice ride... my Sissy out in OlyWa ways there hasn't been much riding weather in the last few months, though... [smiley=dead.gif]

[ChilliConCarnage]

Thanks for the comments  

You're right about the weather here - we got record rainfall (like 27 days in a row!), then it got warm and I thought winter was over, and then it the temp dropped like a rock!

As far as your idea about the front der. - I thought of that as well - I like the simplicity and the looks - but decided against it.  We have too varied terrain out here to limit my options to a single front.

It's getting lighter, but I have some wheels and tires on the way that should really make a difference.

The discs are BB7s - for now - but I see hydraulics in her future before the year is over...

[shovelon]

Hey Chili,]

I like the colors. I just screams RIDE ME! You just may get spoiled with the travel you are going to have. [smiley=nod.gif]

Terry

[proflex252]

Very pretty thing! Really!

Whats the weight of the bike?

I like it if K2s go BIG.

[ChilliConCarnage]

I wish I had a reliable scale.  I think it's time to ride down to Supergo (although they are idiots!) because they have a bike scale there.  I'd really be curious to know what my Salsa Caballero weighs too - something in the low 20s....

EDIT: Supergo is now Performance Bike.

[Matno]

I wish I had a reliable scale.

I'm going to guess that it's between 30-31lbs including everything in the picture (i.e. fender, computer, bottle cage, pedals, etc). I don't know what kind of wheels those are, but everything else looks bombproof! Sweet looking ride. As far as I remember, that's the first Romic on an EVO posted on this site. I remember wanting one of those when they first came out, but then the prices were announced and I was in serious sticker shock. I imagine they're not QUITE so pricey these days, now that there are lots of competing designs...

Anyone else want to guess the weight of the bike?

[ChilliConCarnage]

Guess the weight - Win a prize!!!! :

[Frankd3000]

Guess the weight - Win a prize!!!! :

Me: 32 pounds.

Bob Barker; Aaaaand the actualy total weight is ....

[smiley=laughing.gif]

Looks really good! That Romic looks monstrous on there! It's as big as the downtube!

[Matno]

So, have you had a chance to give it a real test? I really want to hear how it rides!


Matt

[ChilliConCarnage]

It's still too dogonne wet around here to really hit the trails.  I will definitely update this thread once I get some time on the bike.....

[ChilliConCarnage]

It's been a ridiculously long time, but I've finally got a couple of rides on the Evo.

CONS:
Raising the rear end (and thus steepening the head angle) has created a tendency to wander a lot going uphills.  I set the front fork to the full 120mm, but it still has a twitchy front.  I haven't necessarily got the sag set up correctly (still playing with it), and I need to either replace the spring in my Psylo with a firmer one, or replace the whole fork with the Marz.Marathon I have on my xc bike.  This should raise the front end a little more.

PROS: Increased travel without any noticeable decrease in efficiency.  In fact, the new shock pedals significantly better than the stock Noleen.  There is also a much more balanced feel to the bike.  It feels as though the front matches the rear.  I do wish I could tune the Romic with air, rather than having to order new springs, but I do like the ability to set the rebound adjustment and have it make a big effect, as opposed to the Noleen's rebound.  The most obvious advantage of the increased travel is the increased control after landing drop-offs.

I'm still in the preliminary stage of getting it dialed in.  I'll post back when I've gotten more than the two short rides I have on it so far....

[Matno]

That's interesting. Usually, when reviewers talk about the front end "wandering" on climbs, it's because the head angle is too slack (or the front end is too high). This causes unweighting of the front wheel, allowing it to float/turn sideways more easily. I should think having the rear end higher would make climbing MORE stable because your weight is farther forward. Are you sure you're not getting MORE sag than before and actually LOWERING the rear end while climbing?

Just curious...

I know you had the Psylo on there before the Romic, but the one bike I rode that had a Psylo set to 120mm really felt tall in the front and wandered quite a bit. Have you tried reducing the travel to 100mm? (Not that you'd necessarily want to, but if climbing bugs you...) I've always just leaned farther forward on bikes with wandering front ends...