Author Topic: New Here And Newer Owner Or a Pro Flex 4500 (Read 8728 times)

AmandaHanna · « **on:** August 27, 2008, 02:07:42 pm »

Hello

I have reading a few diffrent forms on the web site andI have learned a few things. I dont know a ton about my bike. I am in hope of learning about it though. Who knows maybe I was even riipped off on the price ($300.00)? lol. I bought it because when I test rode it I loved it. I use it as a commuter on the AF base I live on. The person whom I purchased it from didnt know anything about it at all. I dropped it off at my local bike shop yesterday, its getting some love. New cables, cable tube , and a tune up. Is GOO Be GONE safe to use to get the stupid non- K2 stickers off of the bike? Im not sure if it will harm the carbon? Also my stickers that were put on by K2 are starting to peel/flake off. can I get replacements? Any info would be great! Thanks! Tootles

shovelon · « **Reply #1 on:** August 27, 2008, 06:21:43 pm »

Welcome AmandaHanna!

That bike is never going to fit you!

Yeah, I think you got ripped off, you better sell it to me.

I think you ran over a pipe( I don't know how you could with such short legs

) because it is stuck in your rear wheel.

You may have to have the stickers custom made. Iron Horse took over the K2/Proflex parts, and they are far and few between.

But getting the makever will take the sting on the rippoff you just went thru.

Terry

orange · « **Reply #2 on:** August 28, 2008, 12:25:10 am »

if you go to www.retrobike.co.uk a member there gil_m can make up decal sets at a reasonable cost if you show him what you want.

$300. God why can't things be that cheap here in the UK...

rapiddescent · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2008, 06:19:42 am »

$300

I've been looking for one of these carbon framed bikes for years and would pay 3x that!!!

also, from the photos, it looks like it is in very good condition - except the rear brake line from the lever has popped out of the cable guide.

callum
rds

DugB · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2008, 06:56:12 am »

Hi Amanda!

I came across your blog and was the guy who posted congratulating you on your purchase. Glad to see that you found this great bunch of ProFlex/K2 enthusiasts! I have learned a lot from those in this forum just in a few weeks. I'm still loving my K2 4000 (essentially the same bike you have just with an aluminum frame) and after some component upgrades have it to a weight and level of performance that I'm very comfortable with. You got a great deal on that bike...I paid $400 for mine!

Welcome to the group!

- Doug :-)

AmandaHanna · « **Reply #5 on:** August 28, 2008, 08:44:05 am »

Thanks to all.

Yea I really love this bike. It should be great once it gets back from the shop. I hope its before I have to evacuate, if I do (Gustav).. I miss it right now. Out on the Army Ranger range they charge 5 bucks a year for use and I hear that there are tons of great trails so I want to try those out. My husband really wants to change the forks out... So im sure that will be happening soon. Its not really as light as I thought a carbon bike would be.

Thanks Orange for the tip about decals. they were starting to peel and my 2yo finished them off.

shovelon I love the humor

*** Is there anything that I should not use to clean it that could weaken it or damage the carbon.. I have some sticky residue on the bike from some stupid stickers..***

Colin · « **Reply #6 on:** August 28, 2008, 09:53:52 am »

Well Done and Welcome AmandaHanna!

$300 is a steal! ( £150 would be very cheap in the UK, as Orange says!)

As to weight, unfortunatley, K2 made the Carbon frame "10% lighter and 50% stronger" than the 857 Aly frame model, I'd have gone the other way around!

A stripped carbon frame and swing arm weighs 2550g / 5.6lb

My stock original OzM (later name for a 5500) weighs 11.5Kg / 25.3lb

As to the fork, Crosslinks are pretty light, ( 1328g for Aly / 1255g for Carbon ) so choose a replacement fork with care or else it'll get even heavier!

As for cleaning, it's basically a plastic frame, so I wouldn't use anything that wasn't safe on plastic.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Oz!

Col.

AmandaHanna · « **Reply #7 on:** August 28, 2008, 10:15:42 am »

Thanks Colin For all the info! I have been holding off on getting the sticky junk off till I knew what I had was safe. Thanks again

willem · « **Reply #8 on:** August 28, 2008, 11:40:07 am »

Amanda Hanna in Louisiana?

You nearly stole that bike. When it was new, it was probably over $3,000. With the shock upgrade and a few other bits, it's still a valuable bike.
Beware, it's a racehorse and is pretty finicky to fix and maintain.

The fork is really pretty sweet and designed just for that bike. While you only get roughly 3" of travel, it's really stiff and precise. To get an equally light fork, you'll have to spend at least $500 and you might get another inch of travel. Don't rush into a change out!

All that being said, this bike is kind of "the holy grail" among us old Proflexers.

Good luck with Gustav...
Will

AmandaHanna · « **Reply #9 on:** August 28, 2008, 12:16:07 pm »

In between Panama City and P Cola, On a AF base... But since its going more west now I think were OK. I wont have to leave. They are quick to get us out.lol. Anyways about the fork.
I went and got a battery for the smart shock and it powers on but I cant adjust anything... Its stuck on auto. So im not sure if it really is even working. My husband is a electrical engineer and he said he would take a peek at it. But that wont be for a few weeks since he is TDY in Vegas. Might just have a bad connection inside... If not is there anyway of getting a new Smart Shock?

shovelon · « **Reply #10 on:** August 28, 2008, 01:25:32 pm »

Quote from: AmandaHanna on August 28, 2008, 12:16:07 pm

In between Panama City and P Cola, On a AF base... But since its going more west now I think were OK. I wont have to leave. They are quick to get us out.lol. Anyways about the fork.
I went and got a battery for the smart shock and it powers on but I cant adjust anything... Its stuck on auto. So im not sure if it really is even working. My husband is a electrical engineer and he said he would take a peek at it. But that wont be for a few weeks since he is TDY in Vegas. Might just have a bad connection inside... If not is there anyway of getting a new Smart Shock?

Noleen shock service said they can do a rebuild on the Smartshock(NR5) but only seals and oil. To tell you the truth, my smartshock was not so smart, and I did not start to like it until the oil blew out the seal. Most people find that is works just a well with the battery out anyway.

Colin · « **Reply #11 on:** August 29, 2008, 03:28:20 am »

Quote from: AmandaHanna on August 28, 2008, 12:16:07 pm

Anyways about the fork.
I went and got a battery for the smart shock and it powers on but I cant adjust anything... Its stuck on auto. So im not sure if it really is even working. ... If not is there anyway of getting a new Smart Shock?

Bottom button switches it on and off, top button steps it through Soft/Smart/Firm for Compression damping.

Knurled ring on the bottom of the shaft mainly adjusts the rebound damping.

Sometimes I convince myself that the Smart makes no difference at all and then other-times I really think I notice it doing something, particularly on fast stutter bumps with intermediate bigger dips. (Tractor tyre tracks with cross drainage gullies).
Then again, the battery only lasts about 8 to 12Hrs of ride time, so is an added expense to running the bike, it works fine with no battery in it, reverting to standard mode similar to an NR-2 shock, although supposedly a trifle stiffer.

To get the best out of the fork, the main thing to get right is the correct spring weight for your body weight, (which I would never be so indelicate as to ask a Lady! <GRIN>)

Rider Weight (lbs) Spring Rate
up to 140 175
130-170 200
160-200 200
190-230 225
over 230 250

The spring should have one of the above numbers on it (if it hasn't worn off!)

and the same for the rear.......
Rider Weight (lbs) Spring Rate
90-130 450in/lb
120-160 500in/lb
150-190 550in/lb
180-220 600in/lb
210-250 650in/lb

No chance of new NR-5 Smartshocks unless some turn up in a bike shops store room, also, I don't think anyone services them anymore. You can always replace it with an NR-1 or NR-2 if any of these turn up. Best not to worry about it until/if it fails (I've run them for years with no problems.

I disagree with Willem (with respect), I don't consider these bikes to be difficult to fix or maintain, in fact if you are a keen "tinkerer" you can soon learn to strip the whole fork and rear suspension down, clean re-grease and reassemble in just a few hours and it's a very Zen like experience and only needs doing once in a blue moon, depending upon your riding use. I'd guess you might never have to worry about it, just listen out for any harsh squeaking noises from the pivots.

Col.

AmandaHanna · « **Reply #12 on:** August 29, 2008, 06:07:02 am »

Thanks again.

So anyone use a bike rack on the trunk with the proflex 4500? any problems with them fitting? The frame is a bit chubby...

shovelon · « **Reply #13 on:** August 29, 2008, 08:06:46 am »

Quote from: AmandaHanna on August 29, 2008, 06:07:02 am

Thanks again. So anyone use a bike rack on the trunk with the proflex 4500? any problems with them fitting? The frame is a bit chubby...

I have used a bike rack with an arm going under the fork, and one going thr the frame. A bike shop may be able to help you measure one.

One word of advice in maintaning your bike, never let anyone remove the swingarm for a lube, and be carefull of the seat mast glue joint. The swingarm is a bear to put back on, and the alum insert in the seat mast has been known to delaminate. All of which there are repair proceedures in earlier posts by the way.

As far as the smartshock, I would just use it in auto, and put a lizard skin on the spring. The other 2 settings other than auto are lite compression and heavy depression. Auto is what K2 thought would be perfect for all around riding. I confess that I did not turn mine on until I hit the top of a mountain, and was going to descend pretty fast, then I put it on lite compression damping.

Terry

shovelon · « **Reply #14 on:** August 29, 2008, 08:13:04 am »

Hmmm, somebody has done something to your frame shock mount plates. Is that a medium or large frame?

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Author Topic: New Here And Newer Owner Or a Pro Flex 4500 (Read 8728 times)