400LX - performance?

[Splatter Paint]

I've spotted a bike in the local classifieds which has a 400 LX group set. I plan to use it for a Kona build as a donor bike but is it any good? The 300 LX brakes on my Fire Mountain are shocking. I'm wondering whether to hold off for something higher spec? The bike is going to a rider not show bike so I'm not after glitter.

SP

 

[legrandefromage]

400LX chainset steel rings are heavy. 400LX rear mech has a pre-tention spring for the cable clamp so the shifter shifts the cable clamp assemble first before the mech moves. STI is basically the same from 200GS through to the then LX and when cleaned shifts okaaaay-ish. Early squared off lever model has extra clicks on the left shift. Front mech is pretty much a standard bottom pull traditional swing mech that looks the same the world over.

300LX rear mech actually works better, 500LX chainset had alu rings...

Nylon coated cantilevers (I think).

All the brakes perform the same if set up properly. Original pads crack and go rock hard. Early versions had wide angle cantilevers which work a hellova lot better than the later low pro stuff.

great upgrade path

 

[Rahbari]

I had a 500LX in my first MTB and liked it.

Today I would not go below DX. Too heavy, less precision, cheap looking.

 

[xxnick1975]

Not worth as an upgrade, its about the same.

Flog the fire mountain, don't buy the donor but hunt out a cindercone!

 

[Splatter Paint]

Oi, there is nothing wrong with the Fire Mountain (especially as it is M730 equipped now)! I am also buying a Cinder Cone which is why I need the donor bike. Thanks for the replies, I wish I'd never sold that DX group set for £45 now....

SP

 

[Splatter Paint]

Donor acquired, a bit to nice to break :facepalm: so stuck it in the For Sale area for swaps for wheels.

SP

 

[legrandefromage]

I had the green one with exactly the same groupset...

with the 200GS/300LX/400LX/500LX groupsets, you knew where you stood (rode?) and could upgrade to suit. I found some 300LX mechs at a car-boot and went about removing my 200GS in a Homer Simpson tramapoline style frenzy.

2 short years of a great clear upgrade path before it all became confuzzled for us long haired pot smoking acid dropping loud music club going mtb riding doofers

 

[bren]

2 short years of a great clear upgrade path before it all became confuzzled for us long haired pot smoking acid dropping loud music club going mtb riding doofers

Do I know you?!

 

[raidan73]

........I found some 300LX mechs at a car-boot and went about removing my 200GS in a Homer Simpson tramapoline style frenzy..........

 

[Hotwheels.]

2 short years of a great clear upgrade path before it all became confuzzled for us long haired pot smoking acid dropping loud music club going mtb riding doofers

Do I know you?!

Hmmm, sounds familiar.