Ex Geoff Ringlé and Mert Lawwill Yeti Lawwill 4

[elite504]

I have had this machine a long time now, close to 20-years. I got this machine through Geoff Ringlé, and he in turn had it from Mert Lawwill himself.
In the late 90's and early noughties Geoff and Mert were in business together designing and producing vintage motorcycle parts.
My memory is getting really foggy (part of the reason why now I want to document it) as to the provenance of the machine.

I recall that the bike was the bike shown at the 96 or 97 Anaheim trade show. These are the two pictures of the bike from the show that Geoff showed me:





Geoff sold me the machine as having a few "carpet miles" from the show.
I *thought* that the machine was from the 1997 catalogue (which can be viewed here), but I actually think it's not.
The catalogue bike has a shorter steerer (no spacers under the stem) and the "Easton" seatstay decals are "Ringlé" on my machine, although decals are easily changed.
Also I have white chainstay decals rather than yellow.

Other obvious deviations from spec are the contact points. Geoff''s preference is for an Avocet saddle (as opposed to catalogue San Marco) and Time pedals (which I have since changed to Onza, which I use on all my bikes). The important detail to note is this machine includes one of the very small, single-batch of layback Moby posts. It's still a black Moby, just a different Moby. Some more details on the Moby can be found in the links in my signature.

The page from the 1997 catalogue:


SO; nerdy build sheet of the machine as I have it:
Component -- Details
Fuselage
Frame: Yeti Lawwill 4
Fork: Rockshox Judy DHO
Headset: Ringlé Slamma Jamma
Topcap Ringlé Zooka,
Stem: Ringlé Zooka
Handlebar: Yeti Downhill
Grips: Yeti speedgrip

BRAKES
Brakes Fr: M950 XTR
Brakes Rr: Hope C2, 3 bolt rotor
Brake Pads Fr: XTR cart
Brake Pads Rr: Hope
Brake Cables: Stainless
Cantilever cable hangers: none
Brake Lever Fr: M951 XTR
Brake Levers Rr: Hope C2

TRANSMISSION
Shifters: M951 XTR pods
Front Derailleur: M950 XTR
Rear Derailleur: M950 XTR
Derailleur Cables: Stainless
Cassette: M950 11-28 8s
Chain: Dura ace
Cranks: M950 XTR
Crank Bolts: xtr
Crankbolt caps n/a
Chainrings: outer XTR
Chainrings: middle XTR
Chainrings: inner XTR
Chainring bolts: XTR
Bottom Bracket: M950 XTR octalink
Pedals: Onza HO

WHEELS
Hub Skewers Front: Bolt through
Hub Skewers Rear: Lawwill bolt through
Rims Front: Sun Rhyno Lite FRO
Rims rear: Sun Rhyno Lite FRO
Hub Fr: Ringlé Boxxer
Hub Rr: Ringle superdupereight disc
Nipples: Black alloy
Spokes: DB wheelsmith stainless
Tyres: Michelin Service Course

THE REST
Saddle: Avocet ti
Seatpost: Ringlé moby layback
Seatpost Binder: Ringle twister with collar
Bottle cage -

Weight: 31lbs

 

[elite504]

I haven't really used the machine much as I live in the South East. It's been to Cwm Carn for a hlaf-day uplift, and it's been used literally a couple of times in the area I used to live (essentially the Gorrick MBC Porridge Pot Hill). Three chainrings and a laypack post means it's actually ok to ride around the hills to your fave DH spot, and then drop the saddle.

It's a shame that the machine has been languishing gathering dust, so I thought I'd give it a polish as the sun was shining, and take some pictures as it sits today.

 

[vtwinvince]

I'm not into dual susp stuff, but that is mega cool.

 

[elite504]

And some more:











Enjoy!

 

[Baulz]

Very cool thanks for sharing this!

 

[uno-speedo]

I don't recall seeing a Moby layback seatpost?

 

[elite504]

I don't recall seeing a Moby layback seatpost?

Ahh, it seems I didn't include it in my parts series
So, one batch was made, with a much thicker wall than the standard Moby Easton EA70. There were about six or so. I think three turquoise and three black. Unfortunately my memory isn't so good now. They look cool, but were very fiddly to assemble, and didn't work with all saddles.

I have an embroidered Yeti San Marco saddle that I'd choose to use on this machine out of choice, but you just can't assemble the wing-type rails into the clamp. Also, the saddle isn't held quite as tight as in a regular moby (not that this one has ever slipped). In the regular moby, at a "usual" seat angle, the rails are about 90-degrees to the clamp, so there is a nice sandwich. All the forces are in line. The tightened clamp squishes the rails straight into the shaft of the clamp. In the layback, the rails are at an angle to the shaft, so when you tighten it, some of the tightening force is trying to squish the top clamp sideways reducing the clamping force slightly.

 

[uno-speedo]

Thank you for the backstory. Sounds like someone should amend the design

 

[scant]

Very cool Nick!!

 

[boxxer]

Troy lee paint scheme and 3 bolt rotors are very very cool!