What Model is This?

[Colin]

Thanks for the correction Fyrestormer, I don't know what made me call it a "world cup" frame! I should know it's the x55/x56 that's the "world cup" frame!

Yes, it's a "9-style" frame, I can only blame my imminant "Half Century" for my previous delusion! <GRIN>

Col.

[Spokes]

Be warned if you take it to a local bike shop they will probably just say its too old and not worth looking at... It happens a lot!

Chris

[Spokes]

I can't count well so that would be 30  

Chris

[beeeerock]

Be warned if you take it to a local bike shop they will probably just say its too old and not worth looking at... It happens a lot!

  Oh yeah, I'm prepared and actually somewhat expecting that!  The bike industry is one of the worst I've seen for built-in obsolescence!  However, there are a couple of good shops here that I have connections with outside of bicycles, so I have reasonable expectations I'll get an answer that is more than a brush off or initiation of a sales pitch if I find the right person.  I actually had a phone conversation with one, to see how busy they are, and was told that the Z1 forks on the front should still be rebuildable if they need it    so that was a good start I thought...!

On a positive note, I *think* the back NR-4 is moving a little better now that I've made it work a bit... so maybe it was simply sticky from lack of use.  As I noted above, it's more about being OCD about mechanical things that made me note and complain about the stickiness in the first place...    I suspect most people would just ride and not notice, or ride and not care...!

All in all, I'm getting to know how it handles and am getting more aggressive in my style. Not exactly riding like a kid, but not like an old fart either... I'm liking it as I hoped!  At this point, the only thing missing is a set of disk brakes.  Not worth retrofitting IMHO, but nice to dream about.  I rode my daughter's Specialized the other day (way too small, but I had to try it anyway) and really liked how the brakes felt.  Given that disk or rim brakes are equally able to lock the wheel and skid the tire, you wouldn't think it should make a difference, but I really thought the disks stopped me better...    Whatever the reason, it's probably connected to the same *reality* that red cars are faster than all other colors offered for that model...

[beeeerock]

Since it relates to the rides I've taken to test the bike, I'm going to pretend this is close enough to on-topic for posting... 

I found Endomondo for my phone and have been using it to track the walks and rides we take in the evening to keep the dog from mauling us.  I ride, wait for my wife who jogs.  Dog runs back and forth.  So it's a bit stop and go for me, but better than not riding at all... 

For anyone curious about what the riding is like around here, this link shows the Endomondo map, air photo etc...

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/240820222/12026433

This part of the world is a bit of a destination for mountain bike tourism... great terrain and plenty of trails.  Downhill at Sun Peaks Resort 45 minutes away.  It's actually shameful that I was off my bike as long as I was... 

[Spokes]

Colin, I'll "concede"...  the red paint and serial numbers are really dead giveaways. The frames though I think were made of different aluminum the 9 being the T6000 and the 857 frames of T5000 and the 8's did have a made in USA sticker on them. Mine was higher up above the swingarm. I had to dig up an old picture as I don't have the 8 anymore. Yet I could have sworn I remember a "made in Taiwan" sticker on the bottom of the headtube. I'm just trying to sift my brain from what I remember back in the late 80's about the 8's and 9's.
[/quote

This is a reply Shovelon gave to me a short while ago about the difference between alloys used on the 857 & 957. The shiney bike is the 957 and painted is 857. There is a lot more really good info in the thread.

Chris
:::
From the conversation I had with a former K2 employee, and now Easton employee, the 1997 shiney  bikes were always 6061 alloy, and the painted ones were always 7005. Easton liscensed the 7005 chemistry real cheap to Asia, so the painted ones were produced in Asia and assembled in the US.

To offset the cost of the shiney bikes, the material was 6061 and drawn by Easton for Proflex, then fabed and welded, then heat treated. Easton would not allow domestic production of 7005, or maybe the cost was outrageous.

It is my guess that the shiny bikes had extensively butted tubes, and somewhat lighter than the painted ones.

This is all of the x57 seriies I am refering to. In 1997, developement of the Evo series was underway, and in 1998 all bikes were 7005 alloy. Whether all of the Evo series was Easton origin I don't know.

I believe the World cup series was all US made.
:::

[fyrstormer]

Be warned if you take it to a local bike shop they will probably just say its too old and not worth looking at... It happens a lot!

Chris

I usually find that offering them money for their services is sufficient motivation. 

[beeeerock]

Well, I actually did take it to a bike shop.  Turns out, one of the guys there used to be a factory rider for ProFlex back in the day.  Once we got past the small talk we had a look at the bike itself.

It would appear that the clunk I've felt in the seat and handle bars that was attributed to the rear NR-4 shock being a little sticky as it begins travel is actually the shock travelling back to the uncompressed position without enough dampening.  So instead of releasing smoothly, it releases until it comes to an abrupt stop.  My bad for checking the action without simulating a release of all the load on the shock!  What does this suggest?  Nitrogen charge required?  Too much pre-tensioning of the spring?  I note that I can set the dampening to a point where I can hear it hiss, but I'm still getting the clunk at the travel limit on decompression.  And perhaps the hiss is the compression dampening and not the rebound...

After admiring the overall condition, the comments made were:

- it was an amazing state of the art bike in it's time.
- it's time was 1997!
- it would look good hung on the wall.
- it's a bit of a death trap compared to what the technology offers today.

I can understand the 'death trap' comment... certainly the wheelbase is short and the riding position puts you low and forward.  Going into sharp dips makes me feel I'm going to get pitched over the bars, like the rider of a horse that decides at the last second not to make the jump!

Other than the shock action, it was given a clean bill of health...

[Colin]

We (Chris) told you they'd condemn it and try and sell you something new ! <GRIN>
Although it sounds like you got a pretty sensible reception and discussion from the LBS guy.

Have you worked out what the spring rate of the Coil is?
In a perfect world it would have something like "NB2-xxx" printed on it, or maybe less likely NB175-xxx"
where NB2 means 2" stroke and 175 means 1.75" stroke
and xxx is the lb/inch compression

Don't sweat the NB figure, but the  xxx needs to be right for your weight.

Rider weight in Lbs/Kg   Spring Rate   Part No.
90-130   40-60      250in/lbs                   NB2-250
120-160   55-75      300in/lbs                   NB2-300
150-190   70-85      350in/lbs                   NB2-350
180-220   80-100      400in/lbs                   NB2-400
210-250   95-115      450in/lbs                   NB2-450

Refer to the Spring arate chart
http://idriders.com/proflex/resources/99spring_chart.pdf

Otherwise, maybe the damping is not working good enough, have you taken the shock off and checked it with the spring removed?

Col.

[Spokes]

Haha yes I've been told mine would look good hanging on a wall as well. I reply yes they do, that's why I have 4 hanging on my wall and 3 more leaning against it! But you don't  appreciate just how good they look until you ride one! That ex racer has obviously gone soft in his old age lol.

Chris

[beeeerock]

That ex racer has obviously gone soft in his old age lol.

Yes, except he's still young enough to be my kid, technically... which makes me even older! 

[beeeerock]

Refer to the Spring arate chart
http://idriders.com/proflex/resources/99spring_chart.pdf

Otherwise, maybe the damping is not working good enough, have you taken the shock off and checked it with the spring removed?

Yes, you're right, I should look into the spring rate itself, as well as whether it seems to be dampening properly or not.  I will do so in the next few days.  Thanks!

[Colin]

Haha yes I've been told mine would look good hanging on a wall as well. I reply yes they do, that's why I have 4 hanging on my wall and 3 more leaning against it! But you don't  appreciate just how good they look until you ride one! That ex racer has obviously gone soft in his old age lol.

Chris

Hmmm, far too extensive "wall leaning" and "wall hanging" going on in the Simmonds stable as well............................

........but have been for quite a few off roaders on the 4000 with my Bro' in the Chilterns and wild fruit foraging trips here in Northants and regular road runs on the XP-X, speaking of which, due to go for one in 15 minutes time! Hope to get some "Bullaces" (wild plums) on this trip!

No progress on the Oz rebuilds but planned (honest!) for this winter!

Col.

[Spokes]

Wall art is how I like to think of it. At least until I build them all and then they become moving art!
With my house extension coming to an end I'm hoping to get out more but at the moment kitchen comes first. Having said that I will be out at 8.30am tomorrow getting my mountain loop in before I start laying a new floor!
My OZ is 50% built all the parts are there. As soon as I get chance it will be built! I so want to ride it!!
Colin and my self swoped frames earlier this year so we both have OZ builds on the go.

Chris

[beeeerock]

Well, I had a friend from out of town come by - a very serious rider, younger than me - and we got talking about bikes.  When he heard I was riding the 857 his eyes got big and he asked if I was crazy.  "It's a death trap" was what he said.  Second time in a week or so I've heard that!  First time from the factory rider at the bike shop, who should know...    Again the reasoning was the the geometry and seating position.  Recognizing that I've felt that it would chuck me over the bars if given half a chance, I started wondering if I was crazy.

Bottom line, I stumbled on an end of season deal on a 2013 Giant Trance X1 in a moment of weakness...

I have to admit, I do feel way more secure on the Giant and I'm going faster both up and down hills.  With more confidence.  I don't like admitting that, especially on this forum, but I suppose there should have been some advancements in 16 years!!! 

Not sure what I'll do with the 857 now.  I've got to sort out that rear suspension issue just to satisfy my own curiosity.  After that... not sure.  Maybe sell it, maybe make a nice frame for it and find a wall large enough to hang it on...