Proflex XP-8

[orange]

Hi. I bought an XP-8 off Ebay a few months ago and am very pleased with it, but can anybody tell me where it fits into the range and when it was likely to have been made?

I'll try and get a photo into the gallery under 'Orange'.



Thanks



Ed

[proflex252]

The fork is pre 97 and the frame looks like 96 or 97 to me.

Verry pretty thing.

[jeffhop]

its a `96 model and was the mid range bike out of the xp6, xp8 and xpx

[orange]

I must admit I've done some work on it since then when I first got it. There was a bit too much blue and red going on!

I also upgraded the hardened MCUs courtesy of Callum's website Rapiddescent - the coil works really well, though I needed to put 10wt oil in else it was too stiff all round.

But how is the XP-8 different from an 856, say?

[shovelon]

Orange,

That is one good looker. So how does it ride?

Terry

[Simon]

But how is the XP-8 different from an 856, say?

Its mainly some extra gusseting,deleting the canti
cable hole through the seat tube,different component spec,but basically a 856 with all the last
mods,only available in the UK,
you have a great bike there,enjoy.

Simon.

[Colin]

Yes, the XP-8 is an 856 basically.
I've got an XP-X, (see my other posts)

XP's were only sold in the UK by the importer Ultrasport.
I own the competition prize bike that Ultrasport gave away in '98.


They were basically a way of selling off the 856 World Cup frames in '97 and '98 in the UK.
But, on the plus side, they were generally well spec'd and the frames were the last of the 856's so benefited from all of the knowledge gained.
In particular they are regarded as being the strongest of the 856's.
They don't have the Canti port in the seat post tube and they have additional welding and gussets in the known vulnerable points. the most obvious of these is on the undserside of the down tube from the headset. I can see this on your one. Late 856's may also have some or all of these "mod's"

Apart from that, they are identical to an 856 and the differences are purely in the groupsets that were applied.
The line-up is recognised as being XP-6, then XP-8 then XP-X as the top of the line.
For instance, my XP-X is XT/LX and Magura Hydraulic rim brakes.
However, Ultrasport prices in '98 were:
XP-6 £1099 :  XP-X £1349 : XP-8 £1599  !!!

I think this mis-match in price is because the XP-X was a special deal (usually £1649).
The XP's normally used ODS shocks and MCU's.
Ultrasport gave away a free "upgrade" to GDT shocks and Steel Coils in the above price.

How did the ODS oil weight mod go?
What oil did you use and where did you get it from?
I've been planning to do this on mine since '97! <GRIN>

Cheers
Colin S

[orange]

Wow tons of info - thanks to you all. I'm going to get my gallery sorted asap with all the latest photos.

To answer the question about oil weights, I bought Finishline Shock oil (here: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=594) I tried both 20wt and 10wt front and back and found 10wt best for front and 20wt for rear (I think!). They might both have been 10wt, can't quite remember now.

Anyway, so far working well, but not as plush as the noleen NR2 I've got on the back of my 857. I've got 2 pairs of crosslinks on their way over from the states and I'm looking forward to seeing how they compare.

Hope that's useful.

Cheers

Ed

[jeffhop]

judging by the pics of your xp8 i think the uk finally has a contender for longest seatpost on a proflex! are you ready for the competition andrew??

[jeffhop]

oh yeah one other thing!  whats the matter with blue and red?

[orange]

Well I have 36" inside leg and am 6'3" - a 400mm seatpost usually just about does the trick at full extension! That one in the photo I can't use it's too short - I usually ride higher than that!

That was one bit of blue that went. The red stem went too as did the pedals and red FSA headset (though that may make a come back on my Beast!), but the red/blue Middleburns stayed as did the club roost bars and x-lite bar ends. You can't really see there but the front hub is blue and the spoke nipples on both wheels are blue!!!! Looks like Colin doesn't mind blue and red either!

I'll post photos soon of my 857 - then you'll see tall seatpost in all its glory!

I guess I should try and find a Way Big frame (anybody got a spare one?!), as the 857 is Large, the XP-8 says 18" (?Medium) and the Beast says Medium.

[02gf74]

judging by the pics of your xp8 i think the uk finally has a contender for longest seatpost on a proflex! are you ready for the competition andrew??

[pah, check mine out.  carbon fibre too.

Z1 Bombers on front, currentluy looking at converting to disc brakes.

(let's see if I can attach photo)

[orange]

a-ha you made it over here then