New Hong Fu FM058 build

[sclyde2]

Build just completed today.

I was looking for a dedicated XC race bike.  I felt my old FS 26er (a 2011 Titus X carbon, ~10kg) just doesn't cut the mustard anymore.  I tried my 29er hardtail (FM057) in a few events last year, and preferred its handling (over the 26er), but found the ride a bit too rough, so I began a search for something similar to my FM057, but with rear suspension.

For a while there, I was tempted by the M06, but then came across that thread on the French light bikes forum (by Tom in here).

After changing focus to the FM058, I was initially looking for the FM058SL, but the long lead time scared me off.  I ended up ordering the "normal" FM058 from Hong fu.  Even though they said it was in stock, I ended up waiting about 5 or 6 weeks before they shipped it.  I received the frame a few weeks ago.

I also built up a new set of wheels.

I have moved quite a few parts off my other bikes. 

This is the current build:

(*old parts scavenged off my other bikes)
Frame/shock
FM-058 17.5" UD gloss (incl all bolts) - 1960g
Manitou mcleod shock 165x38 - 252g as shipped (with bush), 242g with bush removed
RWC needle bearing kits - 21.85 + 22.2 - shock weight with hardware installed - 276g
Actual total frame + shock weight = 2.24kg
Wheels
*240s 15x100 SP CL - 122g
*240s 12x142 SP CL xd freehub 54t ratchet - 217g
28 X 302mm black cx-ray SP - 139g
28 X 302mm black super cx-ray SP - 119g
28 X 2.0/12mm brass nipples - 27g
28 X 1.8/12mm brass nipples - 27g
Xmcarbonspeed 30mm (ext) T800 assymetric rims - 303g/307g
Actual total wheel weight - 582 +682 = 1264g
With stans 27mm yellow tape  - 591/691.  Tape was 9g/rim
*Racing Ralph 2.35 speed f - 580g
Racing Ralph 2.25 speed snakeskin addix speed  r - 660g
Tubes - schwalbe SV 19A - 148/149g

Drivetrain
*M9000 xtr pedals - 308g
*M980 xtr cranks 170mm with all bolts (all except ring and BB) = 540g
*32t RaceFace narrow wide chainring 35g
Hope screw together pf41 BB - 116g
Xx1 11 speed chain - not weighed
*Xx1 11 speed cassette - 274g
*Xx1 11 speed shifter no bracket = 98g incl bolt
*Xx1 11 speed der - 245g
Brakes
*Xtr M9000 front incl all bolts - 198g (caliper bolts are about 6g)
*Xtr M9000 rear - not weighed
*Rt99 rotors 160/160 - 101g/101g
*Front CL lockring - not weighed
*Rear CL lockring - 8g
Cockpit
*3T carbon post doric ltd 400mm cut to 380mm + old selle italia slr xc saddle = 361g.   
*Cheap QR seat clamp - 42g. 
70mm uno 7 stem  - 94g (with steel bolts).  took about 9g off this by subbing in some ti bolts
*easton Ec70xc 685mm riser + esi chunky grips + end caps + SRAM shifter bracket = 222g

Other
Rear axle (supplied with frame)  - 87g
*Fox 2013 f32 100 ctd factory with remote, cable, axle, starnut & crownrace - 1710g
Cane creek 110 is52 lower,  bearing only  - 28g
Cane creek carbon 40 is42 upper  - 30g
*k-edge Garmin mount - 22g
*Garmin cadence sensor - 11g
*King ti bottle cage 30g + Ti bolts 3g
framewrap on chainstay - about 30g

stuff not weighed: cables, rear brake, front CL lockring, chain, headset spacers/topcap/bolt

Total bike weight: 10.29kg.  That's ready to race, bar a water bottle, number plate and garmin.

Future changes
9g tune seatclamp ordered.  Will save 33g when it replaces the QR clamp
setback seatpost.  Not sure which model yet.  Need about 20mm setback, with good rail support.  Like the clamp on trhe syntace p6, but it might not have enough setback.  I also like the clamp on my old easton ec90 zero post, so maybe the setback version could be good.  i saw a decent looking one on the xmcarbonspeed website too.
*SLR kit carbonio saddle - will put this on when i get the appropriate seatpost
go tubeless - once i have had a few rides and checked the spoke tensions in the wheels.

Pretty happy with how everything went together.  Haven't quite got the saddle position correct, as it is still about 10-15mm too far forward, so am looking at setback seatposts.

The main issue i have with it is internal cable rattle.  Anyone got any ideas how to stop this?  I have tried pulling the cables tight, and attempting to hold them there (at the exits) with zipties, but i think they slip.

Other than a few test rides around the streets around my house, it hasn't yet been ridden.  Rear shock seems amazingly plush, and i have it at 150psi (for my current ~77kg) with very little sag, but it is still plush and seemingly bob-free.  Did all the setup with the platform wide open though - will probably use one of the harder settings when i race it.

First proper ride is this weekend.  I think it'll be in a race situation, at one of the local club's events on sunday.

it is looking very promising.  I hope i like the "modern" geometry, which is one step beyond my hardtail (FM057), but whole different world to my FS 26er.

I will post some ride impressions here later.

[sclyde2]

more photos

[sclyde2]

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[sclyde2]

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[MTB2223]

Awesome build bro. Really nice.

About the rattle: push one or two kitchen sponges into your frame where the cables make noise. Before doing so don't forget to attach a cord to the sponges. So you can easy pull them back. Light weight solution.

[sclyde2]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll look into it. 

[samroy92]

Super awesome build, super light too. I might pick up an FM058 frame this month...

[adbl]

Nice build! Good luck with it this weekend. Give us a report about what you think of the ride.

For what it's worth: I have a M06 and there is no issue with the rear triangle support hitting the seat tube. With the shock fully bottomed out it's not even remotely close to hitting. I have read the thread from the French forum too and have no idea what was happening there. Maybe a design change was made before i received mine??? I purchased my frame last summer so new frames definitely will not have a clearance issue.

[Littlenublet]

That build is awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[Littlenublet]

Super awesome build, super light too. I might pick up an FM058 frame this month...

Please post it when you do.

[samroy92]

Super awesome build, super light too. I might pick up an FM058 frame this month...

Please post it when you do.

Will do....

[Tom]

Nice build,
from 26" to 29" straight to a race without a few pre rides ?  wish you well

The main issue i have with it is internal cable rattle.  Anyone got any ideas how to stop this?  I have tried pulling the cables tight, and attempting to hold them there (at the exits) with zipties, but i think they slip.

here is something efficient you can do : http://www.light-bikes.fr/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=928&start=50#p26274

[MTB2223]

here is something efficient you can do : http://www.light-bikes.fr/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=928&start=50#p26274

That's a really cool trick ... for new builds or when you're replacing your cables. I'll do this on a new build for sure.

[sclyde2]

Nice build! Good luck with it this weekend. Give us a report about what you think of the ride.

For what it's worth: I have a M06 and there is no issue with the rear triangle support hitting the seat tube. With the shock fully bottomed out it's not even remotely close to hitting. I have read the thread from the French forum too and have no idea what was happening there. Maybe a design change was made before i received mine??? I purchased my frame last summer so new frames definitely will not have a clearance issue.

I didn't have any doubts that they fixed that issue on the M06.  I just liked the idea of the FM058, with all the force centred on the bottom bracket, and Tom's build was quite inspiring.  I did read something about the M06 having a bit of play in the rear end, which worried me.  Having said that, I am little worried about some play developing on my FM058, as the hole in rocker where the top shock bolt passes through might enlarge, causing some play.  Gonna ask Hong fu if I can get some spare rocker links.

[sclyde2]

Nice build,
from 26" to 29" straight to a race without a few pre rides ?  wish you well

here is something efficient you can do :

It probably isn't ideal that I don't do a proper ride before I race it, but this weekend's club race is the last race i can do before I do a longer more important event (about 3hrs) next month, and need some race experience on my new bike before I do that.

I am not so worried about acclimatisation to the new bike, as i have thoroughly used all the bike's contact points (saddle, pedals, bars grips), drivetrain, brakes and even the fork.  Yeah, going from an old school geo 26er to a modern geo 29er will be the biggest change, but my 29er hardtail has similar geo to the new bike, and I adapted quite well to that when I raced it last year - though I haven't ever ridden a xc bike with a reach this long, or a stem that short.  I am probably more worried about something being not quite right with my build, such as a slipping handlebar or something like that.
I will do a 20-30min pre ride of the course prior to the race though, so hopefully any possible build issues crop up then.

As for the zip tie trick, my friend mentioned that his bike shop did that on his bike.  I think they attached the zip ties like that, fed the cable in, then twisted/spun the cable, so that the zip ties spiralled inside the frame and suspended the cable in the middle of the frame tube.  I was hoping for something a little easier (i.e. externally pull cables tight), but I think I'll have to some something internally to fix it.  I have read of other suggestions, where they put something soft around the cables, like some kind of rubber or Velcro.