Most of you probably know that SRAM also came out with the 1x11 X01, similar to the XX1 but slightly cheaper.  Now SRAM recently announced X1, a low-tier version of their 1x11 drivetrain.  SRAM is hoping to get bike companies to have more 1x11 offerings on bikes that have lower price points.

When I built my IP-036 more than a year after XX1 came out, I checked eBay pricing on the X01 group and found there was't that much difference in price by going with the "lower cost" slightly heavier 1x11 X01 so I stuck with XX1 for both my bikes.  Let's see what eBay pricing is on X1.

More info here:
http://reviews.mtbr.com/first-ride-new-sram-x1-11-speed-drivetrain

I think the extra linkage creates a virtual pivot point, more complexity, but can allow the rear wheel to travel in a more vertical path.  My 2004 Specialized Epic had something similar which provided a very good FS ride.  Since then Specialzed has changed that design to be more like the single pivot designs we see from other manufacturers.  The biggest issue I had with my 26" Epic was the low bottom bracket height, lots of pedal strikes and I needed to be really careful when gong over log piles.  I know the Epic 29er improved the BB height but the new design removed the lower link which makes it more like an IP-036, just with a Brain Shock so it has the auto-lockout which can be debated as to how well it works.

The Fox CTD shock on my IP-036 works really well.  Full open (D-mode) the suspension is very active and soaks up the bumps, in T-mode, shock compression from pedaling is minimal while still absorbing small-med bumps, in C-mode the shock is 90% locked out but still provides absorption of small bumps.

So in today's single pivot designs, the shock can do more of the work and can make up for the simpler, less tuned, suspension design.

I agree.  Our company outsourced production of our products to Asia about 15 years ago.  All companies want to maximize their profit margins but there is a limit to what consumers will tolerate.  Big US companies no longer take pride in employing US workers, instead they take pride in how they can line their pockets and the pockets of share holders.  US CEO's are paid exorbitant salaries for what?  So they can run to  another company when the one they are running starts loosing money?

The big name bike manufacturers are charging at least 4X the cost for their frames in the retail market.  It's just bonkers.  Free market economics dictate that if there is another company willing to accept a lower profit margin, that company will bring products into the marketplace.  To me I'm seeing a bit of a conspiracy in the bike world, seems all the big name manufactures price their product similarly to their competitors rather than calculating their overhead and reasonable profit margin.

Yes, there is design innovation, testing, warranty, and liability costs that most Asian manufacturers don't have.  However, I don't see much design innovation these days, most FS bikes are either DW-Link or Single Pivot.  There are minor variations on those two designs with the possible exception of the Niner RDO that has been discussed in another thread on this forum.  I've seen videos of Asian companies doing testing, and they offer a similar warranty.  I've seen big name carbon frame warranties anywhere from 2 years to Lifetime, however, that is only to the original owner which I say is total BS!  Are they warrantying just the purchase or their product?  As a long time reader of the forums, I've seen plenty of warranty denials from the big name companies.

That leaves liability, which the Asian suppliers to not need to worry about since they do not have a presence in the US.  It would be very difficult to bring a lawsuit against someone like HongFu, while I'm sure Trek has an extensive legal staff.

So in my opinion it comes down to cost and innovation.  If the big names continue to sell only slightly better products at 4X the price, they will continue to loose market share to the Chendors .   The big name companies are very lucky that right now the Chendors or only selling frames and not complete bikes.  Imagine what would happen if Dick's sporting goods started selling complete Chinese Direct Carbon 29er bikes for $1,500?  I'm not seeing it yet but I bet it's not too far off.

Specifically, I think you are wanting the RIP 9 RDO since that is the carbon model.  Below is a picture.  Since I'm into XC riding, the RIP 9 RDO would be overkill since it has way more suspension travel than I would need.  Also, the Chiner bikes tend to stick with 100mm rear travel XC designs because they are not really designed to take big hits or big drops.  Personally, I am surprised that none of the Chinese vendor have come out with a DW-Link style frame, for me a Turner Czar replica, but in Carbon, would be ideal.  Up until last year, Turner did not even make a carbon frame, but now they have a carbon Czar .  The Czar is a 100mm XC oriented design.

Here is a picture of a RIP 9 RDO:




Here is a picture of the XC oriented Turner Czar that I would love to see a Chinese replica of:

May I ask what frame you pulled those dimensions from, that could help us understand what Chinese carbon frame is most like.

I purchased the 30mm wide XMIplay carbon rims, in my opinion that width is sufficient for the Cross Country riding I do.  I could have gone with a more narrow rim and save a little weight, or I could have gone wider and added weight and strength.  I tend to believe the rim width is a bit of a personal choice as to what you think you need.

Also, for the longest time, XC wheels were on the order of 24mm wide so the increased width is just giving people more choices, and there is nothing wrong with that.

When I cut my stem, I noticed the headset cap needed the steer tub to be slightly recessed below the stem for the cap to fit flush to the stem.  That was the main thing that I needed to make sure I had right, if I had cut the stem flush with the stem, there would have been a gap between the cap and the stem.

Like you, I have a bit of extra steer tube above the stem.  I'm fine with that, I don't need to have the steer tube as short as possible.  If you change stems or move the fork to another bike, it's nice to have extra steer tube length.

SN, I noticed you like a pretty short stem, my two are 90mm and 100mm, yours looks like 50-70mm, that will make the steering pretty fast I would think.  Good for tight single track maybe.

The helmet looks good BTW.