Show us your soft-tail

[bushpig]

Moots YBB. I didn't really dig it. It did take the edge off, but it felt like the rear tire was going flat.

 

[Augustus]

Moots YBB. I didn't really dig it. It did take the edge off, but it felt like the rear tire was going flat.

The Merlin too. And it 'thunked' all the time. Had the hardest elastomer and optional spring in there too.

I was quite surprised to see how much lateral movement there was in the stays when you removed the shock completely. They flopped over sideways a lot. But not as much as my friend's otherwise stiffer and superior riding Litespeed Tsali (air shock version).

 

[development_cycle]

I'm becoming increasingly intrigued with the idea of having one.

Me too, it's on my list for the other half's replacement bike

 

[Augustus]

I'm becoming increasingly intrigued with the idea of having one.

Me too, it's on my list for the other half's replacement bike

Have to say I'm not. As mentioned above, it was far from smooth and un noticable. And I'm not convinced that a hardtail with a lot of skinny seatpost or a compliant rear end isn't as comfy and a lot stiffer to climb with.

That Echo was 2lbs heavier than the XLM it was based on. Like spagetti when you stood up and climbed and thunked all the time. My XLM that followed it was far superior IMO.

They did do cross field rutty grass type terrain very well though, I'll give them that. Small stutter bumps but you could still sit down and put power down.

 

[IbocProSX]

That last comment would fit my experience. I've said it before but Holland IS flat and there's not much climbing standing on the pedals here. The Dekerf softail is the master of covering twisty, rutted and rooty singletrack passages at speed. I've not noticed any drawbacks on hardpack sections connecting the twisty bits, but logic dictates it helps if you spin it smoothly.

I don't recognise the thunking comments much, though I am a bit of a Clysdesdale? I guess if you tackle more demanding terrain you will hit the limits of the simple suspension designs.

Enjoy!!

 

[Augustus]

I don't recognise the thunking comments much, though I am a bit of a Clysdesdale?

Not many do recognise that. I therefore thought it was a problem with that very shock. I would have thought being tall/ bigger would mean it thunked more, I was 11st and it was every rebound nearly. I even bought a replacement shock unit and fitted all new arts to no avail.

I would say however that the UK distributors were useless (for a change) and i went direct to Merlin USA who had a replacement shock and ins in the post to me within five days.

 

[bushpig]

If you don't use the Castellano design the throw doesn't work right. I'd like to try an Ibis Silk-Ti or a Castellano. The flat chainstays flex in an S-shape so the plunger moves straight in and out. With the more typical Moots design, it moves at an angle.

 

[biocandy]

another flexy sunn un exact 97 disc version in team blue red saddle and white rim rear coming up

did some xc riding on my beloved exact ti flex this eastern,, first felt too flexy, but after some spoke tensioning it became a killer on the trails

 

[Lid]

I have had my YBB for 10 years now and cannot ever recall any clunk...ever. Nor can i say that it has any sideways flex in cornering.
The Moots design also has the ability to lock out by simply tightening up the collar. Like locking out front forks the difference is amazing.

I also found that when you rebuild the rear you should pull the frame open and then tighten the collar. This gets the full travell and a little sag.

 

[stefan9113]

Hi all,

this is mine ...



http://picasaweb.google.de/stefan9113/ChrisDeKerf#

bye Stefan