1993 Cadex CFM-3
- Thread starter Once A Hero
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Snowmobile
Retro Newbie
Re:
My seat post is quite scratched from use, but I just measured 30.1mm using digital calipers (+/- 0.1mm).
For fun, I googled this and found on Sheldon Brown's pages a seat post table he was compiling! And yes it does have Giant CFM-3 and it says 30.2mm which agrees with what I measured.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/seatpost-sizes.html
It is possible that 29.8 would still clamp up fine if you have one that size. I'm not 100% sure on that, but worst case if you could only get a 29.8, a bit of shim stock adhered in the seat tube might be enough to make it work.
My seat post is quite scratched from use, but I just measured 30.1mm using digital calipers (+/- 0.1mm).
For fun, I googled this and found on Sheldon Brown's pages a seat post table he was compiling! And yes it does have Giant CFM-3 and it says 30.2mm which agrees with what I measured.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/seatpost-sizes.html
It is possible that 29.8 would still clamp up fine if you have one that size. I'm not 100% sure on that, but worst case if you could only get a 29.8, a bit of shim stock adhered in the seat tube might be enough to make it work.
Snowmobile
Retro Newbie
Re:
One other thing to watch on the Cadex - the size large has a very horizontal top tube and it is very easy to smack it with the end of the handlebars in a crash (or just the bike falling over). I am careful about this, but my frame has some chips on each side of the top tube as a result. It still seems strong, but It might be advisable to either adjust the stem or bars so that they don't make contact.
In addition to the CFM 1,2,3 there was also a ALM 1 (not sure about other numbers) that was an aluminum version, still using the lugs. There were road versions of these bikes also (CFR/ALR)...
One other thing to watch on the Cadex - the size large has a very horizontal top tube and it is very easy to smack it with the end of the handlebars in a crash (or just the bike falling over). I am careful about this, but my frame has some chips on each side of the top tube as a result. It still seems strong, but It might be advisable to either adjust the stem or bars so that they don't make contact.
In addition to the CFM 1,2,3 there was also a ALM 1 (not sure about other numbers) that was an aluminum version, still using the lugs. There were road versions of these bikes also (CFR/ALR)...
Hi
Thank you so much to help me yes that's quite strange 30.2 it seems like 29.8 is more wide spreed so it was my guess .
I didn't notice any trace of shock on the top tube and the Zoom stem is still there ...
Thanks and me too i like the m737 / 739 deore xt but everybody like the m737 / m739 .
Thank you so much to help me yes that's quite strange 30.2 it seems like 29.8 is more wide spreed so it was my guess .
I didn't notice any trace of shock on the top tube and the Zoom stem is still there ...
Thanks and me too i like the m737 / 739 deore xt but everybody like the m737 / m739 .
Once A Hero
Old School Grand Master
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A few updates that I have been meaning to do for some time…
- V-brakes out, Cantilevers in
- V-brake levers and separate shifter pods out, brifters in - I purchased a pair of M738 brifters a while ago but only just got around to fitting them, only to change them again immediately for some better condition M737 brifters
- Short chain out, longer chain in
- Tatty M525 spds replaced by the same in better condition
Took it out for a ride and was reminded that the wheels mustn’t have been riden much since being rebuilt as there was plenty of spoke ‘ping-ing’
It’s a lovely clean bike, but actually a shade short in stem length, so I may look for a longer one.
Also include a few shots of the bonded sections just for the hell of it
- V-brakes out, Cantilevers in
- V-brake levers and separate shifter pods out, brifters in - I purchased a pair of M738 brifters a while ago but only just got around to fitting them, only to change them again immediately for some better condition M737 brifters
- Short chain out, longer chain in
- Tatty M525 spds replaced by the same in better condition
Took it out for a ride and was reminded that the wheels mustn’t have been riden much since being rebuilt as there was plenty of spoke ‘ping-ing’
It’s a lovely clean bike, but actually a shade short in stem length, so I may look for a longer one.
Also include a few shots of the bonded sections just for the hell of it
vtwinvince
Senior Retro Guru
Very nice job. I have one of these, branded a Univega CB6.3.
grogee
Retro Guru
Back in ‘95 I was provided with a Cadex frame & Rockshox fork by Giant UK, and once I’d stripped parts from my other bikes and raided my parts bin in order to build it up I used it for whatever race format I could. However it was with this frame that I thought I’d try my hand at downhill racing! By good fortune I won my very first (local) race, and that was it, I was hooked on DH.
I spent the rest of ‘95 competing in DH races on the Cadex, with Rockshox Quadra 10’s - which, if the weather was warm enough would give me up to 43mm travel! Enough to take the edge off I suppose!
The highlight of that season has to be using the bike at the ‘95 Worlds Championship in Kirchzarten, Germany. One of the muddiest and root laden race courses I’ve ever known! If you made it down without crashing when it was wet, you deserved a prize! Sadly I was no where near the prizes, but did have a spectacular crash into the (rather comfy) airbags after the finish line - as I simply had no brakes left! Great fun
I sold the frameset on in order to fund the next years racing/parts etc. but I thought I’ll track one down for my collection.
Exactly which year or variant I had I can’t remember - if anyone recognises it from the muddy pic below, please let me know. *Edit* I have since identified the frame I had was a CFM-1 either '94 or '95, so the hunt is on to find one!
I’m pretty sure I had a CFM-3, but frame only orders sometimes had different colours to full bikes, and I can’t see this colour in the ‘93/‘94 brochures at least.
Whilst not exactly what I had, a NOS or perhaps ex-Demo 1993 frameset came up for sale on Gumtree and I couldn’t resist buying it.
I had the majority of parts in my parts bin, so the build has been quite simple. Although the parts used are a couple of years newer than the frame, as the frame has barely been used I figured they’d be ok, and I sourced new missing parts where possible.
Here's the finished spec and a few pics of the journey. Hope you like it
Frame: 18” Giant Carbon Fibre (Tubes & Stays) CFM-3 - NOS / ex-demo?
Fork: Cr-Mo 4130P Tubing
Headset: Pro-Tech LP-2
Stem: Zoom Original - NOS
Stem Cap: N/A
Handlebar: Answer Taperlite
Grips: ODI Attack - NOS
Barends: N/A
Brakes: Shimano Deore XT M739 V-Brake - *Edit* now BR-M737 Cantilevers
Brake Pads: Kool-Stop / Tri-Stop - *Edit* now Deore XT M737
Brake Cables: Shimano
Cantilever cable hangers: N/A
Brake Levers: Shimano Deore XT M739 - *Edit* now ST-M737 brifters
Shifters:
Rear = Shimano Deore XT M740 - *Edit* now ST-M737 brifters
Front = Shimano Deore XT M739 - *Edit* now ST-M737 brifters
Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT M738
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT M737
Derailleur Cables: Shimano
Cassette: Shimano Deore XT M737 - NOS
Chain: Shimano HG-50
Cranks: Shimano Deore XT M737
Crank Bolts: Shimano Deore XT M737
Chainrings: Shimano Deore XT M737
Chainring bolts: Shimano Deore XT M737
Bottom Bracket: Shimano Deore XT
Pedals: N/A
Hub Skewers: Shimano Deore XT M737
Rims: Mavic 217 Sunset
Hubs: Shimano Deore XT M737
Nipples: ?
Spokes: Sapim
Tyres: Michelin Hi-Country 26 x 1.95
Tubes: ?
Saddle: Vetta Tri-Shock - NOS
Seatpost: Kalloy
Seatpost Binder: Joytech
Weight: 11.07kg / 24.4lbs
‘95 Worlds. What bike is this?
View attachment 471230
Frameset as received, Exage parts still with tags.
View attachment 470176
The re-build
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Once A Hero
Old School Grand Master
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I have today collected the model that I was after - a CFM-1.
It’s not in the best of shape, but I plan to strip it down and build it back up to my ‘’95 DH Worlds’ spec or as close to it as possible. Given the condition, I’ll be looking for parts with similar patina!
But first to strip it down to a bare frame and sell off what is salvageable / bin the rest.
No excuse for a Chainset like this
What on earth are these?!?
It’s not in the best of shape, but I plan to strip it down and build it back up to my ‘’95 DH Worlds’ spec or as close to it as possible. Given the condition, I’ll be looking for parts with similar patina!
But first to strip it down to a bare frame and sell off what is salvageable / bin the rest.
No excuse for a Chainset like this
What on earth are these?!?
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