Author Topic: Newbie saying hi (Read 9050 times)

AndySV1K · « **on:** December 21, 2007, 07:03:45 am »

Hello all.

Found this forum after searching for info on Proflex.

I recently decided to dig out my old 856 and give it a new lease of life (ok to get fit again really)

Of course the elastomers are like yellow lumps of concrete. I searched the interweb for spares but im struggling to find much. I found a place in Scotland that make springs kits for the 856, but i cant get an answer from them. Has anyone else here changed their elastomers for springs, or does anyone know where i can buy a pair of springs. As far as i can tell the shocks are still good, i will probably give them an oil change though.

Thanks

Andy.

Tel · « **Reply #1 on:** December 21, 2007, 08:14:09 am »

Hi Andy.
The web site in Scotland would be rapiddesent run by one of the forum members here, and I may be wrong but I think he runs it not as a company but more of a hobby, he will get back to you.
He, as well as the elastomers sells replacement springs too, I went for those myself as they are a fit and forget option(lazy git)
Cheers and enjoy the proflex thing, Tel.

shovelon · « **Reply #2 on:** December 21, 2007, 11:23:42 am »

Hi Andy,

Tel is right. RD is probably out of town spending them big bucks he gets from us.:-)

Can't do much better than an 856(oh maybe my 957) and they are fast.

Happy Xmas and Anyo Nuevo.
Terry

willem · « **Reply #3 on:** December 21, 2007, 12:13:49 pm »

Andy,
Many of us have done all kinds of conversions on all kinds of Proflexes.
(Your question reminded me of the guy who walks into the smoke filled poker den and asks "Hey, you guys playing cards?")

Risse Racing in California does the ultra premium shocks for both ends of your bike. More reasonable are spring conversions.

If you can't get Callum in Scotland, start surfing eBay for springs, shocks and all manner of stuff. Your bike was at least 10 years ahead of its time... so it's just right now.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes. Then we'll tell you how to do disk brakes!

Will in Texas

AndySV1K · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2007, 10:27:40 pm »

Thanks for all the welcomes.

I got the impression that the scotish thing was a small operation, hopefully he can help with some springs.

I carried on searching after posting here and found Risse. I have sent them an email asking about proflex parts, i will report back here with prices and info etc.

I cant wait to get back on the bike. Ive ridden motorbikes for the last 6 or 7 years so i got out of cycling. I used to do a lot of cycling though, my 856 has been tweaked quite a bit over the years i was riding it...

Magura raceline brakes
X-lite ti saddle
X-lite bars
Spin 3 spoke carbon wheels
Hope ti skewers
Various little bits and pieces here and there also.

Ive managed to get some aftermarket magura brake pipes from ebay, i used to spend endless hours bleeding the brakes, they were pretty unreliable but i loved them cos of the feel. just cant beat them. hopefully the new pipes and glands will be better.

What triggered me to start cycling again, was the fact that im going to be leading some people through the cycling part of a fitness drive next year, I teach martial arts and there are a load of students going for their blackbelt next November, but part of the test, is constant fitness training, so they will be running and cycling as part of that, trouble is im nowhere near as fit as i used to be so ive got to get cycling as soon as poss so i can devise a plan for the coming year.

Anyone got any springs they want to sell!!

Andy.

Willie_B · « **Reply #5 on:** December 22, 2007, 01:33:43 am »

Where are you located? I will look thru my collection of stuff.

Mr752 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2007, 01:23:39 am »

I think Callum at Rapid Descent has closed the buisness side down for the xmas holiday period about a week ago.

AndySV1K · « **Reply #7 on:** December 23, 2007, 07:57:39 am »

Quote

Where are you located? I will look thru my collection of stuff.

Im in East Midlands UK.

Is everyone here UK or is it international?

Andy.

Willie_B · « **Reply #8 on:** December 23, 2007, 11:21:16 am »

Very International. I am in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. I have had my 856 since new in 1996.

Colin · « **Reply #9 on:** December 23, 2007, 07:07:34 pm »

Hi and welcome!

Yes, I can recommend a spring conversion for the 856 as long as you have the gold ODS shocks, my XP-X (856) has Speedsprings from 1998 (no longer available).
Before the spring Mod:

Callum's kit looks spot on and will sort your bike out. I'm pretty sure he's shut down for the holidays, look back in the New Year.
Magura's unreliable? surely the opposite? I've had a set on the XP-X for 10 years and never needed to do anything on them in all that time (except change brake blocks! which is so simple!)

I have a couple of 856 Pivot kit spares (RK002) left if you need one.

Good Luck and keep us posted!

Col
(SW Northamptonshire, UK)

Simon · « **Reply #10 on:** December 23, 2007, 07:17:53 pm »

I'm in the UK and still lurk here a lot,
my MX project has taken over for a while.

I helped test RDS's 856 spring conversions front and rear for him and they are a good setup.
Fitting is straight forward as well.
If your going to change the oil follow the instructions to the letter and I would recommend using a heavy
weight fluid as elastomers had there own inherant
damping qualitys that is lost when you fit springs.

orange · « **Reply #11 on:** December 23, 2007, 07:24:55 pm »

Quote

Im in East Midlands UK.

Is everyone here UK or is it international?

Andy.

not only am I UK, but I am East Midlands too - Derby to be precise. Purple Gerbil is local too near Long Eaton. Welcome!

AndySV1K · « **Reply #12 on:** December 23, 2007, 09:22:57 pm »

Quote

Magura's unreliable? surely the opposite? I've had a set on the XP-X for 10 years and never needed to do anything on them in all that time (except change brake blocks! which is so simple!)

I have a couple of 856 Pivot kit spares (RK002) left if you need one.

Good Luck and keep us posted!

Col
(SW Northamptonshire, UK)

Think ive just been unlucky with the brakes, i love them and dont intend to change them, but i will be changing all the pipes and fittings, hopefully this will sort my probs, they just seemed to forever suck in air. that was regardless who set them up, i got to thinking it was me doing it all wrong (even though im not that hamfisted having built a kit car and i dabble with lots of mechanical stuff) so twice i let very experienced cycle mechs set-up and bleed them, still suffered the same probs though.

When i put on the new pipework i will look at everything to see if i can improve on it, like maybe adding sacrificial washers to the connections or something.

Andy.

AndySV1K · « **Reply #13 on:** December 23, 2007, 09:28:05 pm »

Quote

If your going to change the oil follow the instructions to the letter and I would recommend using a heavy
weight fluid as elastomers had there own inherant
damping qualitys that is lost when you fit springs.

I have both front and back sus in bits with the ODS shocks ready for me to service, just got to pick up some fork oil for them. ive come to a point though where i cant achieve an awfull lot more until i have springs (or the lovely Risse units i was looking at the other day!) I dont want to put the brake pipes on as they will get moved around too much and i want to do them last. its just a case of cleaning everything up i guess!

Andy.

AndySV1K · « **Reply #14 on:** December 23, 2007, 09:32:25 pm »

Colin, just noticed you are SW northants.

Im in Northampton!

Now then... this pivot kit!

Im guessing its worth me changing the pivot while i have the bike in bits. It doesnt seem to have a problem, but might be a good idea as the bike has done a fair bit of use over the years and it is 11 years old!

Have you changed one? whats it like to do? any special tools needed?

Let me know how much you want for it.

Cheers

Andy.

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Author Topic: Newbie saying hi (Read 9050 times)

willem