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Re: New Lexon spirit
Well, for all y'all waiting for that guy to take one for the team, you're in luck, I expect mine at the end of the month. It will be a 19" with the Deluxe Select + and that rather tasteful Spirit paint theme. Before ordering, I searched and translated the sparse user reviews and opinions, including from this forum. All the Scott Spark, and other Scott models employing the same shock arrangement are selling well, perhaps this is why Scott was not entertaining any requests from me to buy a Spark 910 frame only. What follows are the reasons I decided to toss the dice: 1) I will not be flogging the bike as hard as some. I'm going on 68, and mostly ride loamy forest singletracks, albeit briskly for me. Primary goal is to soften the shock loads to my feet and knees. I'm looking for a short to mid-travel, full-sprung frame upgrade over my Scott Scale 950 XC hardtail converted ebike. 2) The Spirit frame is the cats meow for DIY ebike builders as the frame has an open triangle which facilitates the easy installation of larger, all-day battery packs. This battery mounting issue is a major challenge for mid drive ebike builders, and leads to some real sh%tty looking builds with insufficient range. 3) The best review I found was a Brazilian YouTuber. He takes that thing on some pretty extreme tracks, and he seems pleased with revised shock linkage parts sent to him by Lexon. Shame on the manufacturer to release a damn useful frame but then use their customers for beta testing. In my eyes, supplying revised parts does wash away some of their shame and may keep the project a viable business venture for them. Or at least keep it alive to make it to the next design fiasco... or the possible patent infringement suit from Scott. I have some ideas on how to mitigate the shocks air fill port. 4) Thailand is on favored nation trading status with China, so low shipping and duty, I'm at USD 1,075 with shipping but before duty. I'll be running the Ryet UD CF asymmetric rim 29er wheels with Schwalbe 2.4" Wicked Will's, definitely recommend these bargain wheels, been flogging a set hard daily for nearly a year, popped in one new rear bearing. $287.++ for the pair. Bike will likely be running the lightweight CYC Photon motor eventually, but will initially be built with a Bafang BBSHD. Wish me luck! December 17, 2022, 03:07:41 AM |
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Re: New Lexon spirit
Follow up report, 2022 Lexon Spirit EMTB build. Coming onto 1,600km of 70/30 off road use without issue, and that is after adding an air fill port for the rear shock, and a 5mm hole in same vicinity as part of an anti rotation device for the drive motor. Two additional holes were added to the down tube for epoxied-in rivnuts to better secure 48v 17.5Ah battery. I decided to stay with the 140mm of front travel on the X-Fusion 34 fork, acknowledging that the geometry calls for 120mm front with 100 rear. Absolutely love the 67.2 head angle which reflects the trend toward slacker head angles on XC full sus frames. I ordered and received a spare MY 2023 3-piece bell crank assy for the rear sus just to have it, Lexon sent it for a 30 buck S&H fee. The good: headtube cable routing, sweet geometry, cush air-flex ride helped by CF wheelset and CF bars, gorgeous paint job which I protected with 3M Rhino Skin, and last but not least, low cost-- as I basically threw existing parts onto an $1,075 frame (with decent shock, headset, and axles included). The less than good: rear triangle is a little flexy but tolerable, had to lathe-up improved spacers for for rear sus external linkage arms and replace damaged bearings, no metallic insert for NDS rear axle hole. March 29, 2023, 09:06:23 AM |
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Re: New Lexon spirit
Just so I understand, did you take a normal Lexon Spirit and convert it to an E bike or do they make an E-bike frame? This Spirit manual bike was converted using a motor kit I had from a prior project and a self built battery, eventually this bike will receive a much lighter and less powerful motor system and lower capacity lighter battery. March 29, 2023, 11:00:47 PM |
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Re: New Lexon spirit
I was going to ask about the nice looking battery, until reading it is self built To be more precise regarding the battery, I modified the case of a new battery ordered from a well reviewed battery builder on Ali, it is a 460mm Reention Dorado that I was able to spec LG INR MH1 cells for, 48v/17.5Ah, USD338 duty and freight free. After receiving/testing the battery, I voided the warranty by lopping 49mm off of each end, installing 2mm thick CF end caps, and building a custom base. The base is held in place on the downtube with 2 additional epoxied-in aluminum rivnuts. I epoxied them in place like the original "rivnuts" because I did not want to stress the holes in the frame by deforming the rivnuts in place. A motorcycle battery rubber strap was also employed. I'm now at about 2,200km, first set of drivetrain stuff getting worn out, definitely an advanced level conversion due to fixing the torquey 14.3# motor in place on a carbon frame. Currently at 48.75#, when I install the lighter motor and a smaller (same physical size, but more air by volume) battery I should come in around 42# total. Scott Lumen territory. May 03, 2023, 03:35:27 AM |
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Re: ZTTO MTB M1 Boost hubs 28H 54T Ratchet
Inspection, clean, and lube of Ztto M1 rear hub with 36t star ratchets. I installed this hub/carbon rim on a newly built 1Kw ebike. In hindsight I should have checked the degree of lubrication on the ratchets before beginning testing. At around 1,100km I got the impression that the ratchets were a little slow to release sometimes, so it was inspection time. Through out the testing the ratchets never slipped, only complaint is that they were a little loud. For good measure I ordered a fresh set of ratchets, a splined ring, and tool. Found all parts to be kind of dry, cleaned, re-lubed, and back on the bike. Below are some pics of the star ratchet with some visible wear at 1,100km, other one looked new.
May 03, 2023, 04:21:09 AM |
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Re: New Lexon spirit
I took the plunge on the Spirit after watching a couple viddies from this talented Brazilian XC racer, I figured if he ain't breaking it, I definitely won't either. Here is one of his latest. If your not that into the frame, prior video images of his foxy GF in riding clothes are so worth it, LOL. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cdeGO9gAvO4 June 01, 2023, 03:32:12 AM |
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Re: New Lexon spirit
Hear that, all valid concerns. Time will tell, and certainly heightened maintenance will be called for. Currently at 2,789km, driven daily 50/50 asphalt and trails/beach. I've had contact with only 2 other FS frames, this one struck me as the flexier one of the group likely due to being the only easy to buy carbon frame, fortunately this has not gotten worse. Cleaned and repacked the pivots once as a slight creak developed after a couple of days of ripping on intertidal beach. June 01, 2023, 09:19:30 PM |
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Re: New Lexon spirit
I've held off on purchasing one of these frame. After they raised the price above $1K USD, (plus shipping) I lost interest.I ordered mine through a high volume reseller in Thailand, $1075 this price included a decent Rockshox, paint upgrade, headset, derailleur hanger, and axle. Free shipping and duty free. Shock and headset are about a $300 value. If I get into any issues with this frame I'll report back here. I consider mine under accelerated aging testing because it is currently kitted out with a 1Kw mid drive assist motor. With the drive, spares, water and body weight I load it about 10Kg beyond suggested limit. However, I do drive it like an older guy whose bones would take a long time to heal. June 03, 2023, 12:05:09 AM |
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Re: RYET carbon MTB wheels/hubs
...experience with the RYET carbon MTB wheel/hub builds. Hubs any good, rims break etc, overall quality...I like the 33mm XC carbon rims themselves and own 2 sets. I would caution you using their in house carbon hubs, front has been fine, but on rear I was able to separate the bond between the carbon and alloy portions, and the main bearings are undersized, same bearings normally found in freehubs on better grade hubs. I wore out 3 brake side bearings in about 8K km on a 1Kw mid drive ebike, ran hard and fast offroad. I used that same rim on a wheel built with a Ztto M1 with 36t ratchet freehub, laced up with DT Swiss stainless steel straight pull spokes and copper nipples. I loved that wheel so much that I ordered a pair of the same Ryet 33mm asymmetric rims only, same M1 hubs and spokes for my wife's ebike. June 15, 2023, 11:47:12 PM |
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Re: Aliexpress wheels - What's wrong
you're right....maybe with some PU inner tube... I have had good luck with the following, some assembly required. Ryet 29", 33mm outside width, assymetric carbon rims, USD175/pair, Ztto M1 36t ratchet hub, DT Swiss straight pull stainless steel spokes with copper nipples. Price, if you can build them yourself, is around $325USD. Spare parts for hubs are easily found and cheap. 4k km and no issues on one of my 1Kw ebikes, other pair recently installed. June 20, 2023, 10:05:07 PM |
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