"Tripper" (tripe46)
01/27/2020 at 09:45 • Filed to: None
4
21|
"Tripper" (tripe46)
01/27/2020 at 09:45 • Filed to: None | 4
| 21 |
I came home in a super bad mood Friday because of things I can’t talk about publicly, yet... I almost didn’t even bother assembling my bike because I was so pissed. On days like that my mood instantly changes from horrible to ecstatic when I open the door and see my little girl! Unfortunately the opposite happens as I pull down the light switch after we have put her down to sleep for the night.
COLORS!
After we put the munchkin down, I sat for a while. An angry grown man in a child’s armchair. My wife gave an empathetic smile toward me and my situation (me looking like an angry old man in a pint sized arm chair) and suggested that I go build the bike. I argued with her about it for a while because that is what I do when I feel like that. Then I went to build the bike.
Unboxing 10/10
YT tells you to “read the fuckin manual” and I did, several times as I downloaded a copy before I got the bike. YT Gives you detailed instructions on how to remove the bike without breaking or losing anything.
Building 7/10
They give you a nice little set of tools. A t handled torque wrench, a shock pump, and some big Allen key that I am going to guess is for the crank. However I only used the included wrench to torque things down.
The manual stopped being helpful after the handle bar installation. I say that because I would have torqued the screws in an X pattern instead of doing the top two first because ya know, cars... Otherwise, it’s the wheels and you’re done....
Except you’re not. There are two super fancy shocks that have to be filled with air and configured for the rider. YT tells you to consult the owners manual “for the shock” which they give you, but the information was not easy to find. I had to google it, even then it was a third party site where I found the info that I needed. All of that only to find out that the shocks had already been setup! I had to take a little air out of the rear to perfect the sag.
Anyway it would be cool of YT to include that info in their own instructions. I understand that YT does not make the components, but you’re including them with your bike. At the very least a “hey we/the factory already pre-configured the shocks for the average rider” would be cool.
Building the bike was easy. Honestly so was installing the upgraded derailleur and shifter. Where I hit trouble was the master link of all things! I have never had to use a tool to disconnect a chain via master link. After fussing around with the positioning of pliers for 20 minutes, I got it! I installed the derailleur, re-connected and bam...I went over where I was supposed to go under with the chain... Back to the pliers, I could not get it this time. I had to take a coat hanger and bend it into a U shape, thread it through the links then squeeze the ends together until the the links popped free.
Ride 10/10
Considering I rode it down the street in the freezing cold. I hopped around a little, it was squishy. I have some fine tuning to do with the derailleur but it shifts super smooth. I wasn’t sure it was shifting at first it was so smooth/quiet!
Ok here are the pics. I pulled out portrait mode at the end so you can see DAT COLOR. I also went and got the M3 this weekend which is the first time I have been in a actually fast car in a long while. More to come on that.
Wallaby
> Tripper
01/27/2020 at 10:23 |
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You’re gonna love that thing man. I got a YT Capra a little over a year ago and a friend got a Jeffsy not long after. Both of them are supremely capable bikes. I will say this, Go through and double check all the bolts on the bike, even the ones you didn’t have to touch to assemble it. I took a ride or two before doing this and had a bit of a creak from a pivot bearing bolt. I also had to tighten up the brake rotor bolts as one or two had started to loosen up. These were a quick fix and there’s no lasting damage but still something to point out.
BeaterGT
> Tripper
01/27/2020 at 10:29 |
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Nice bike! I wish I could find a YT to demo
TheRealBicycleBuck
> Tripper
01/27/2020 at 10:42 |
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You have reminded me how much I enjoy building bikes. I got a taste of it when I set up my trainer again a couple of weeks ago, but building one from the frame up is a pleasure I haven’t experienced in many years.
nerd_racing
> Tripper
01/27/2020 at 10:46 |
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The bike looks great! I’ve had a buddy of mine begging me to get a mountain bike for quite some time now. He rides some pretty technical trails and also hits up an indoor park in the winter too. I’ll have to add it to my list of suggestions, along with Kona, Trek, now YT, etc.
functionoverfashion
> Tripper
01/27/2020 at 10:47 |
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Very nice. A lot of the same stuff that’s on my Santa Cruz. Does the rear shock have a lockout of some kind? I find that to be very helpful on climbs. It’s not a real big deal for just recreational riding, but it’s one of those things, once you have it, you think you need it. Like the dropper post. I’m still getting used to that...
When can you get it out on a real trail?
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> Tripper
01/27/2020 at 10:55 |
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Love it! I really like their color pal let and frame design. This should be a really fun bike.
facw
> Tripper
01/27/2020 at 10:57 |
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Those tools look fancy. I have an 8mm Allen wrench (for crank bolts, and also the front axle bolts on my trike) and an adjustable torque driver (both Park, so pretty nice), but I wouldn’t have objected to having got some as pack ins at some point. Clearly I need to build more bikes.
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Tripper
> functionoverfashion
01/27/2020 at 11:04 |
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I was wondering the same thing about the rear shock. I don’ t even know what all of the things do on the front shock. To be honest, I’m kind of intimidated/annoyed about how much I don’t know about the shocks. I’ll have to do something about that.
Hopefully the first warm day next week!
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Tripper
> nerd_racing
01/27/2020 at 11:05 |
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Full disclosure: A small part of why I bought this bike is so that I would have two and my best friend can go with me! He’s always expressed interest but does not have the coin for a bike.
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Tripper
> facw
01/27/2020 at 11:07 |
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Number of times I have been disappointed by something from park tool ...zero. I actually bought their cable/housing cutter for $40 just to cut one cable and crimp an end on. I had no idea that the housing was sooo tough!
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Tripper
> TheRealBicycleBuck
01/27/2020 at 11:08 |
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Yea I was kinda bummed at how little there was to do. Next one I’ll go frame up.
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Tripper
> BeaterGT
01/27/2020 at 11:09 |
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They go on a tour every year but didn’t get close enough to my house last year. B y the time the demo comes around they’re usually sold out for the year.
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Tripper
> Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
01/27/2020 at 11:10 |
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Yea I was super pumped on the color. I’ll get some close ups of my colleagues bike. He got the 29er in black.
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Tripper
> Wallaby
01/27/2020 at 11:12 |
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Appreciate that! I used to do that on everything! Y ears after I bought a pair of snowboard bindings that fell apart on my first run, I would take apart anything like that and loc tite any screws that were loose. I have been out of the habit for a while though.
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BeaterGT
> Tripper
01/27/2020 at 12:17 |
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Do you usually go to the Wiss? I was lucky to follow the Pivot demo tour for a while last year.
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Tripper
> BeaterGT
01/27/2020 at 12:45 |
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I have actually never been to Wissahickon, although I have heard about it through hiking/biking/rock climbing friends. Hopefully this season .
Even though it’s a hike I usually go to White Clay in Delaware. Harmony Hill (West Chester) is my local spot, and Betzwood (Valley Forge) is my local to work spot.
The trails at White Clay are maintained by a mountain biking club, and boy is it evident. I went there once...super hung over, forgot my helmet had to go to target at get a beater...the whole 9. It was so fun that I haven’t been anywhere else since.
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BeaterGT
> Tripper
01/27/2020 at 13:22 |
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Yeah, I love white clay. It was only an hour drive from where I was in NJ. French Creek and Marsh Creek are fun as well and closer to ya.
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Tripper
> BeaterGT
01/27/2020 at 13:33 |
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So I heard Marsh Creek is awesome, however I hate figuring out the trails by myself (I know that it so backwards compared to most mountain bikers). I just like to ride and I want to know where the good stuff is right off the bat lol. Any tips of where to park etc?
French creek I have not been to for MTB purposes but used to go there and play disc golf/shoot shotguns (when the shotgun range was still open). FC and WC are about the same distance but marsh creek is really close.
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BeaterGT
> Tripper
01/27/2020 at 13:54 |
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Definitely go to Marsh Creek, it’s got great flow. Also the first place I went over the bars on my new bike!
French creek is a little more of an involved ride as I believe some trails are off limits for bikes.
Download the Trailforks app and you won’t have any problem getting around. It shows you parking spots, trail routes, reviews, pretty much all the info you need.
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Tripper
> BeaterGT
01/27/2020 at 14:42 |
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Thanks! I’m pretty crashy myself. Ever been up to Trexler? It’s near allentown, but they have a skills course and jumps!
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BeaterGT
> Tripper
01/27/2020 at 17:31 |
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I don’t crash often but when I do...
Haven’t been out to Trexler yet, will have to check it out when/ if I get back out east.