Ican S3 XC Frame

[Ben78]

Seems to be very little information on this one just yet. Same geo as the Carbonda FM936 but has a Horst link rear triangle so should have a more active suspension feel. I'm looking to replace my current xc bike that I broke the rear triangle. It was a four bar style and prior to that I had a flex stay style bike and much prefer the more active suspension. I also have a specialized enduro, the S3 would have nearly identical geo but in a short travel xc bike so swapping between bikes should be better.

I've been liaising with Ican but was hoping someone here had built one up already before I go for it.

[PowerHouse407]

I am also interested in this frame, It looks great!

[thegreygoose]

Interested in this frame as well but the carbonda appears to be a good 200 or 400g lighter.

Will the linkage make that much of a difference?

[tinecelmare]

I like the linkage style - if it was 120mm I'd jump on it.

[Jotegr]

Is it literally just the carbonda but with a beefier/not flex stay rear end?

[emu26]

45mm bb drop is huge, IMO.  Pedal strikes galore here with that.

[RobertRinAustin]

45mm bb drop is huge, IMO.  Pedal strikes galore here with that.

Run my 936 with 170 cranks and rarely have strikes. And I really like how you're more "in" the bike than on top of it.  Lots of fun to lean over in corners.

[emu26]

What are your trails like, are they buttery smooth or littered with rocks?

[RobertRinAustin]

What are your trails like, are they buttery smooth or littered with rocks?

Littered with rocks and roots with some really technical short steeps.

[endo.alley]

Might be interesting with a 120mm short offset fork.

[Ben78]

Ah well, despite lack of information I've today paid the invoice on a large unpainted S3. Now to select some components. I'll post up here in a couple of weeks when it arrives.

[chetosmachine]

What is the travel?
In the text they state Stroke 122mm, then in the list says travel 100mm. Do you have a confirmation?

[Ben78]

I suspect by stroke they mean eye to eye at full compression, so a 165x42.5 shock is longest travel. I am using a 165x38 to start with which should give me about 96mm, putting 120mm revelation on the front. Base geo is identical to Carbonda FM936 so I am expecting that what works for that frame will work for S3. Once I receive it I'll post up any additional details I can put together. 

[Ben78]

Woooo!

My S3 arrived today, 8 business days after payment. I've had a good look over it, there is a small chip (<0.5mm) in the paint on the chainstay, and paint around the linkage bolts is a little rough in a couple of places, but it's no worse than the paint quality that my Specialized Enduro had when I first got it.

My components will be
Microshift Advent X 10 speed 11-48t drivetrain
Shimano SLX 170mm cranks
Magura Trail Sport brakes 180/160 Magura discs
Truvativ carbon bars
DT XM401 rear wheel Formula hub
Merida front wheel
Revelation 120mm Fork
Monarch 165x38 shock

I was going to use my Reverb dropper but I wrongly thought it was a 31.6, it's a 30.9 so I'll need to get a dropper now. Will probably get a One Up 150mm.

It was too late to take any decent photos when I got home, I'll endeavour to have some up on Friday.

[Guyzer73]

Woooo!

My S3 arrived today, 8 business days after payment. I've had a good look over it, there is a small chip (<0.5mm) in the paint on the chainstay, and paint around the linkage bolts is a little rough in a couple of places, but it's no worse than the paint quality that my Specialized Enduro had when I first got it.

My components will be
Microshift Advent X 10 speed 11-48t drivetrain
Shimano SLX 170mm cranks
Magura Trail Sport brakes 180/160 Magura discs
Truvativ carbon bars
DT XM401 rear wheel Formula hub
Merida front wheel
Revelation 120mm Fork
Monarch 165x38 shock

I was going to use my Reverb dropper but I wrongly thought it was a 31.6, it's a 30.9 so I'll need to get a dropper now. Will probably get a One Up 150mm.

It was too late to take any decent photos when I got home, I'll endeavour to have some up on Friday.

Looking forward to the photos. I'm seriously tempted with this frame as it seems to offer everything I'm looking for except 120mm which having already realised I don't need 150mm, I probably don't need 120mm either as I've lived with 100mm very well for the last 20 odd years... and the modern geo should be plenty fast enough for me at 48yo...

However, I wouldn't mind 110mm, I know Ican say max 165x40mm trunnion, and people believe a 165x42.5mm will fit but I think if you use offset bushes you could squeeze a 165x45mm trunnion in there to get a theoretical 112mm travel. Yes this would raise the BB slightly and steepen both HTA and STA but the HTA is pretty slack as it is. Plus I'm looking to mullet it so this will be compensated and in fact help maintain the geo as designed.

Advantages would be I can use most of my existing components bar the wheels, headset and fork lowers. I'd need a crown race reducer for my SID forks but no issue.

Can you tell me what size you went for? I'm 6'1" with a 6'1.5" span and 32.5" instep so a long upper body. I'm guessing having sat on a Kelly's Thorx size L that I need an L here also.

Looking forward to details of the build!

Cheers