XMI-play IP-156

[caderader]

So last night around midnight I finalized an order with Bert at XMI-play for an IP-156, headset, and set of their carbon 27.5 wheels. I'll keep this thread updated as things come together but right now here's where we're at:

IP-156 UD Matte
23.5mm deep, 30mm width, Novatec mtg D771/D772 hubs + Sapim CX-Delta spokes + Sapim Self-Securing nip wheel set
Headset
1 color custom paint work

Now I have some questions, does anybody have any advice on suspension forks/rear shocks.

For the fork I'm leaning towards the x-fusion velvet rl2 because of it's great reviews and price (~$300)
For the shock I'm between the x-fusion O2 RCX and the Fox CTD but am open to suggestions as I haven't owned a rear air shock before (had a coil on my Nomad)

Cheers!
Cade

[Sitar_Ned]

First of all.. Nice choice going with the carbon wheels and full suss frame. Is that going to be something like Niner green? I actually haven't even seen the 136 frame, but will definitely look it up as soon as I post this. 

I've not much experience with rear shocks, but pretty up to date on the latest fork offerings. How much travel do you need? 80-140mm?

[caderader]

well first off I'm constantly getting confused about what bike is which so I posted IP136 but I meant to post IP-156 and have corrected that in the original post.

The green should be something like kawasaki green. The color I asked them to make it is found here http://www.colorcombos.com/00FF00-hex-color.

For travel I'm looking to have either 120mm or 110. The specs on the bike say it is designed to have 120 up front and 105 in the back so I think anything between 110-120 up front and 100-110 in the back should do the trick!

[Rigid_Bloke]

well first off I'm constantly getting confused about what bike is which so I posted IP136 but I meant to post IP-156 and have corrected that in the original post.

The green should be something like kawasaki green. The color I asked them to make it is found here http://www.colorcombos.com/00FF00-hex-color.

For travel I'm looking to have either 120mm or 110. The specs on the bike say it is designed to have 120 up front and 105 in the back so I think anything between 110-120 up front and 100-110 in the back should do the trick!

Yeah, all of the numbered names can get a bit confusing at times. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to how these frames are named and put out on the market. Regardless, looks to be a sweet frame, congrats!

As for the fork, I think SN did well by getting the Manitou tower pro. Those can be had for good prices if you keep your eye open and just from what I've gathered reading reviews and what not.. They're supposed to be awesome forks and really excel at small bump compliance, which is where many of the more popular fork options tend to lack a bit sometimes. The xfusion fork you mentioned is actually new to me... but it too seems to be an under rated fork and gets really good reviews at a decent price. I'm sorry.. I just can't bring my self to pay $6-$700 for a fork. Can they actually be twice as good as these $3-$400 forks? Maybe so, but I doubt it.

[Carbon_Dude]

For a fork, I like the RockShox Reba RL/RLT.  For the rear shock, I like the Rockshox Monarch.  But that's just what I like, probably not as good of a value as the X-Fusion products which have improved by leaps and bounds.  Look for a good deal on eBay or sometimes PricePoint puts forks on sale.

If the size you need is 6.5"x1.5" then there are several Rockshox Monarch options on eBay, starting at like $163.

There are some Reba RL 27.5" forks on eBay starting at $429.

Also, for whatever rear shock you get, you will need to make sure you have the correct mounting bushings at each end, you will probably need to buy those separately.

[caderader]

So I ended up getting a 2014 Monarch RT3 rear. It has the mid/mid tune and the new rapid recovery. The 2014 has some good reviews so I'm excited about that! I plan on riding it for a while and if it's not doing the trick I plan on dropping it off with suspension experts in Asheville, NC. I have some good friends up that way and I need to go ride with them anyway so that would be a good way to kill two birds with one stone!

On the front end I got a great deal on a 2013 X-fusion velvet and that fork is reviewed very well especially at the price I got it at.

'13 Velvet - 289
'14 Monarch RT3 - 226

Now the only thing I believe I still need is tires!

[Sitar_Ned]

Hey Cade.. Mind if I ask how much you ended up paying for that rear shock?

I've been checking out the reviews on the xfusion velvet and it seems like you may have already found the best fork for the money. I'm with Rigid_Bloke on the whole paying $600 for a fork thing... Just can't do it. Not when there are options for half the price that seem pretty solid by most accounts.. sometimes even preferred over more expensive options.

If the Tower Pro was still on sale for $250, then I'd tell you to check it out. The thing that drew me to it besides the price was really one specific review in particular where a guy had said that the Tower Pro was extremely good at small bumps, whereas most forks attempt to provide an efficient more cross country platform while in the first stages of the fork's travel, and then are set up to take the blunt of the bigger blows. Thus providing a more race ready action in the forks travel. I'm not a racer, and I wanted a plush fork, and none of that may even be true.. but it's what I wanted to hear in order to sway me to the Manitou over a couple of other slightly more expensive options I was considering.

Everything but tyres? Oh man... You're like right there! I'm about one week ahead of you with my 057 build.. I am getting jealous of all these carbon wheelsets around here though 

[caderader]

Well i paid 226 shipped for the rear shock, it was a hell of a deal on ebay;

That Manitou Tower pro sounds great but I'm thinking I may try my hand at racing while I'm still young (24) so I definitely took that into consideration in my purchases and it almost swayed me to the hard tail but I love the feel of a full suspension and I have been craving one since I sold my Nomad about a year ago.

And while I've purchased everything but tires (most of my parts are going to be take-offs from a steel frame I broke when crashing into a tree...) I haven't gotten any of it yet (Frame, fork, shock, or tires) although all of it has shipped except for the frame!

Also I'm excited for the wheel set, never ridden carbon wheels before!!

[Andy]

I'm excited for you!  Carbon wheels and full suspension.  That bike is gonna be awesome!  Keep us posted on the build and ride and all.
Andy.

[caderader]

just bought some Ikons!

[Sitar_Ned]

Sweet choice.. those were the tyres I was originally going to get.


You get the 2.2 or 2.35?

[caderader]

2.35 at arts cyclery with 15% off coupon (Save15)

[Sitar_Ned]

SUPER jealous! 

Look forward to seeing the build, man!

[Carbon_Dude]

just bought some Ikons!

Haven't tried those yet but they look like a really nice tires.  Maxxis has a design center near me in GA.  I met one of the tire engineers on the trail one day, ironically, his buddy had a flat tire.  He changed the tube on his friends bike in about 2 min, faster than anyone I've ever seen.

[Rigid_Bloke]

hahaha.. The pic you hacked together is cracking me up.