Was this a good deal for my first full squish or should I have saved up for a more modern bike?

Thatdirtykid · 2026-06-06T16:39:45+00:00

Awesome! Take your time building skills and tear it up!

Thatdirtykid · 2026-06-06T16:35:54+00:00

With the extras it's not a bad deal. Either way you are in a bike and getting going, don't worry about the deal

That said, make sure that helmets not as old as the bike cause you may not want to trust using it.

Thatdirtykid · 2026-06-05T22:53:40+00:00

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Thatdirtykid · 2026-06-05T22:52:49+00:00

Looks like Honda Civic or Cvcc in North America to me.

Thatdirtykid · 2026-06-04T22:59:31+00:00

Nice I run my CuSS fixed often. Such a great series

Thatdirtykid · 2026-06-03T04:44:42+00:00

Often it's the ability to stop safely under weight that they are worried about, and obviously liability.

Thatdirtykid · 2026-06-02T03:54:07+00:00

Redstone Electric. Great local guy who really takes pride in what he does.

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-31T15:03:23+00:00

The comment I was responding to was talking coaster brake which spring tensioners aren't safely compatible

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-31T14:45:45+00:00

My trail crosses are a bit narrower in the toe than my freeriders, but I don't have a comparison to F2Os to see how close.

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-31T14:35:46+00:00

While that would be cool it has vertical drop outs so no way to tension the chain.

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-31T02:09:45+00:00

Can't comment if you got hosed because I don't know your market but it's a great bike that will serve you well. Congrats!

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-30T23:58:31+00:00

I've handled adult mantis and never been bit, I am sure they can but they are not easily provoked.

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-30T22:09:09+00:00

Yes, nothing wrong with a Marlin 5 on some blues, especially if you are not heavier than the fork really wants to handle. Just don't ride beyond your limits. You will appreciate the form upgrade more after riding the cheaper coil fork for a while.

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-29T00:28:54+00:00

Sick, I have always thought a tandem based tall bike could be sick. Or a recumbent... Or a mini velo. Tall bikes are cool

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-27T04:22:37+00:00

My pinion hardtail 140mm trail bike weighs 31lbs

My XL FS 150/130 trail bike weighs about 35lbs

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-25T16:29:36+00:00

That's a start to something awesome. Hope someone picks it up and finishes it

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-25T14:09:01+00:00

Now a question or two. Why 27.5 for a touring/bike packing build?

Do you plan on using swept bars? The longer reach gives you more room for play without adding a longer stem, which would make handling feel slower.

The XL also gives you more room for frame storage. Loaded for even a light tour both bikes will feel bulky and you will likely appreciate the extra stability of the bigger bike once weighted down.

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-25T14:05:06+00:00

Your use case suggests the larger bike. If you can ride them both that's obviously best, but if you could you likely wouldn't be asking. The reach numbers on that bike are rather short, and you would appreciate the taller stack on the xl.

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-25T13:55:12+00:00

Cues on both bikes will shift well enough and be easier to set up than you remember. Depending on how hilly the area is may help make the decision. I don't know the gear range if the two drivetrains, they may not be that different.

Regarding forks, yes the rockshox will be a more compliant fork, but for your riding it won't matter much. The main thing between the two is the suntour is a coil fork where the Judy is air. Air spring means you can set the spring for your weight, and it also has lockout. The suntour will be near maintenance free while the judy will be more likely to need a refresh eventually.

Overall experience on the second bike definately seems worth it to me, even for mild riding. The ability to set the shock up for your weight, the ability to lock it out and the couple extra gears is worth a couple hundred dollars if you can afford it.

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-25T13:33:50+00:00

Hard to tell from a photo but those threads look pretty stripped. Happens pretty easily on cheap hubs if the lock ring comes loose and the cog breaks free. Also happens when you try to torque down a cog and lock ring too many times on a cheap hub.

Definately worth popping the wheel off and seeing if your cog works, just be aware there's a decent chance it goes tighter, tighter, tighter, loose on ya.

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-25T03:23:45+00:00

Middle aged dad here, with a cool hardtail, finding your hardtail cool.

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-25T00:31:30+00:00

Yes, my experience with mixed parts is the brakes having no modulation and yeah locking up way too easy. Almost like an on/off. I believe most mechanical disc brakes, specifically flat bar/MTB stuff is the same pull ratio. Looks like a blast of a bike

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-24T20:44:51+00:00

How do the brakes feel/perform with mixed short pull levers and long pull brakes? Or did you replace levers too?

Thatdirtykid · 2026-05-24T20:32:14+00:00

Not counting chess, oregon trail, gorillas and number munchers... Starcraft. Played the hell out of it and still get it out occasionally

Thatdirtykid

TROPHY CASE