The good news is that, at least on the workstand, the quality and construction is very good. I quickly mounted the shock and there doesn't seem to be any play, etc. Movement of the swing arm is smooth. I am still waiting on the brakes and other parts to arrive to build it up, so it's going to be a couple of weeks before a shakedown ride.
Looks fantastic dude! what groupset are you going with? I'm tempted by the new 12 speed xt/slx! Your home workshop looks fantastic.
How does the carbon look around the top of the head tube hole?
Thanks man! Excited to get this thing built up.
The carbon looks good around the top and bottom of the headtube. Bearings sit nice and flush.
(the gloss you see in the pictures is helitape I just put on)
There is a sticker with the frame spec inside the headtube that says FM-936-
SL-17.5-UD-BB92. Based on the "SL" designation in that tag, they did send me the "superlight" version indeed. It's just not as light as they said (or I thought?) it would be
I am going with a mix of new parts and some bits I already have.
FOX Performance Elite Float DPS EVOL Shock 165 x 42.5
SR Suntour Aion 35 lowered to 120mm (good fork for the price, but damn heavy!) until I get either a DVO Sapphire or a RockShox SID 120.
Shimano XT 11-speed groupset with ZTTO's "lightweight" 11-speed cassette (there is a whole thread on this cassette over on MTBR).
Magura MT Trail brakes
Crank Brothers Cobalt 3 wheelset
Maxxis Ardent 2.3 rear, maybe something a little chunkier on the front.
Crank Brothers Highline 150mm dropper, WTB SL8 saddle
RaceFace Next handlebar, 800mm (will cut to 760-780mmmm) 10 degree rise with a 50mm Chiner stem (ZTTO..surprisngly well made for USD 20 off Aliexpress. Except the ghastly logos are laser etched and you can's remove them with acetone)
I love suspension lockouts, but I am going without them on this build.