New 857, actually turns out to be an 856 **Bike is now finished, see page 3**

[sammydog]

Got the frame today, not the one above, but a later 856 without the canti holes in the seat tube. Came from a different source and still in the bubble wrap. I'll put pictures up tomorrow.

Still talking to the guy with the other frame about a swingarm, seat stay, ODS shock, pivot kit and a dropouts. Once the swing arm turns up, hopefully this week, I'll get it sent off for brake tabs to be added.

For those who have done the sealed bearing converstion, does any modification to the actual frame need to be done? Or just reeming of the swingarm?

[sammydog]

Took some photos of the new frame today, light wasn't real good looks like we have a lot of dust in the air again, although nothing like the dust storm of a few weeks back.

The 856


The 855 and the 856, shows pretty well how the frame evolved over two years.


I'd read a bit on here about off centre pivot holes. I know the 955 I have is pretty well centered, turns out the 855 is different. It is centred on one side but well off on the other. Probably explains why I have been through so many pivot bolts on the 855 while never needing to replace the one one the 955. Obviously the pivot on the left is the 855, to the right the 856.

[Colin]

The other difference between them is that the 855 is a Large and the 856 is a Medium.

Col.

[sammydog]

With the sizing, I always thought the bikes were a little big but was under the impression they were mediums. Found out a few weeks what their size actually was.

Pretty happy to now actually have one in the correct size. Still funny that the seat tube measurement is the same as the large.

[sammydog]

Thanks to Willie_B being willing to buy this off eBay and post it out of the US, I know have a shiny new swingarm on the way to complete the frame set and allow the build to start.



Pretty happy right now. The bike is getting a full XTR build with Ritchey Carbon WCS parts and the fox float in the rear off my 955. I'm hoping everything comes together in the new year so I can ride it at the next 24hour event in February.

[sammydog]

Finally started assembly tonight. Its looking like coming in at a tad under 11kg's which is pretty good for an old bike if you ask me. Lighter than the doner bike (Norco Faze 1) thats for sure.

Swingarm was put in the post on monday for the return trip from the welders, so hopefully it is here in the next day or so. Obviously it still needs the cranks and I'm going a 1x9 setup with an MRP guide.

Will be interesting to see how it rides. Hopefully after all of this it isn't a pig. If it runs sweet I may just treat it to a new rear shock.

Appologies for the bad photo, its late here so it was the only place with light. Completed pics will be up on the weekend.

[sammydog]

Better photo now its day time. Just waiting for the postman (who will probably never come, at least it feels like he will never come) and then I am set to go.

[shovelon]

Looking good!

I have heard you can get these down to 23 lbs.

Terry

[sammydog]

I'm going to change the tyres as well. That should loose me a bit more weight (not that the objective of this was to make a super lightweight bike).

I haven't really gone for any stupidly light parts and I still look like coming out at below 24 pounds.

[dcarr1971]

Nice!

[orange]

yep looking good there

[sammydog]

Cranks, chain device and swingarm are now on.

The disc tab looks really good, actually to the untrained it probably looks like its always been there. I need so spray the strut black though so the rear end looks better. That can wait though.

I'll put a finished shot on tomorrow once the chain and rear mech are attached. Hopefully some new tyres as well just to set the whole thing off.

All I need is for the weather to cool down so I can ride. Its just over 40 degrees Celsius today and supposedly hotter tomorrow. Few fires around as well.

[sammydog]

A few shots of the disc tab.

[Colin]

A very nice job on the disc tab, talk us through how you got it fitted?
Did you make the disk tab or buy one and cut it to fit?
How did you ensure it was positioned correctly before welding?
Did you have to tell the welder to do/use anything special?
What did it cost?

My XP-X (856) weighs 11.5Kg in stock form with Magura HS11's and skinny tyres but I want to fit disks and bigger wheels for road use.

It's 4 deg C here in the UK! <GRIN>

Col.

[sammydog]

I cheat a lot on the disc tab, I can't take any credit for it, other than putting it in the post.

There is a place called grip sport (http://www.gripsport.com.au/) just outside of Melbourne that specialises in frame repairs and modifications. I've used them a few times before for other things. They tidies up my shock mount when I couldn't quiet get it right. I suspect if they did the mount from scratch it would be a lot better. Their tow ball mount DH bike carrier has proven to be worth its weight in gold over the years, even saved the car/bikes when backing into a tree.

Including postage and touching up the new bits paint wise,the disc tab set me back $200(Australian dollars).

From their website though,

Disc Brake mounts for non-disc frames.
   
Want to upgrade to Disc Brakes without buying a whole new bike?

We can make and fit fully-welded, International Standard disc mounts for just about any frame you can throw at us... hardtail, dual-suspension, Aluminium, CrMo & steel... for vertical dropouts (of course) and even for horizontal dropout/singlespeed frames!

Factory quality at a fraction of the price.

Go to our 'Photo Albums' for more pictures and information on our Disc Brake Mounts.

They use a jig to make sure everything lines up.

Not sure if it is cost prohibitive for you to post the parts around the world, but their work is worth it.


Yesterday hit 44 degrees Celsius, just when it couldn't get any hotter we got a southerly change and the temps dropped to 24 degrees in about 15 minutes.