1801
29er / Re: IP-036 29er Full Suspension Carbon Frame Build
« on: April 14, 2014, 09:43:32 PM »
I would say the seat tube makes that bend to put the direct mount front derailleur in the right spot.
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1802
29er / Re: IP/FM 056/057 29er Frames
« on: April 14, 2014, 09:37:21 PM »
Here are a few more pics of my IP-057 after it was completed. The riser bars look tall in the pictures but the bike rides really well, very comfortable and easy on my back. The build came out very light, 19.5 lbs when I first weighed it.
1803
29er / Re: Should I get the 057 or 256??
« on: April 14, 2014, 09:23:20 PM »
You may change your mind again when I post info and pics from last May when I built my IP-057.
1804
29er / Re: IP-036 29er Full Suspension Carbon Frame Build
« on: April 14, 2014, 09:20:55 PM »
As a matter of fact I was looking at the clearance on my last ride. The BB would clear a log pile we have on the trail that my old 26" FS Epic would not. I came home and did a quick static measurement of 13.5" but that's without any suspension compression. I am sure 120mm will be fine.
Something else I was noticing was how the wheelbase felt smaller on the IP-036 than the IP-056 but when measured it is about a half inch more on the IP-036.
Something else I was noticing was how the wheelbase felt smaller on the IP-036 than the IP-056 but when measured it is about a half inch more on the IP-036.
1805
29er / Re: IP-036 29er Full Suspension Carbon Frame Build
« on: April 14, 2014, 07:29:47 PM »
I think it would work well with either 100mm or 120mm fork, I think the amount of travel should depend on the trails you ride. I almost bought a 120mm fork for my build but found a 100mm Fox Evolution w/remote for $400 on eBay. For the trails I ride, 100mm seems to be adequate.
1806
29er / Re: IP-036 29er Full Suspension Carbon Frame Build
« on: April 14, 2014, 01:59:55 PM »
That's a view from the rear dropouts looking toward the head tube. This shows just how curved the seat tube is left to right. Pictures don't do it justice.
1807
Component Deals & Selection / Re: Carbon Parts from XMIplay
« on: April 14, 2014, 07:12:04 AM »
For the IP-056, I went with a Easton EC90 seat post, EA90 Stem, XMIplay riser bars, XMIplay clamp. For the IP-036, I went with the XMIplay post (Peter said he has had no further problems), XMIplay flat bars, Thomson 90mm stem, and Thomson clamp (which is nice and wide).
As for weight, the Thompson parts are definitely heavier. Both the Eason and Thomson parts are very high quality and I would not expect any problems with those parts. The bars from XMIplay also seem light, strong, and good quality. I would not hesitate in recommending the bars from XMIplay. The stem, seat post, and clamp are things that you will pay more for if you buy brand name parts but they are not that expensive and there are lots of choices.
As for weight, the Thompson parts are definitely heavier. Both the Eason and Thomson parts are very high quality and I would not expect any problems with those parts. The bars from XMIplay also seem light, strong, and good quality. I would not hesitate in recommending the bars from XMIplay. The stem, seat post, and clamp are things that you will pay more for if you buy brand name parts but they are not that expensive and there are lots of choices.
1808
29er / Re: IP-036 29er Full Suspension Carbon Frame Build
« on: April 14, 2014, 07:01:47 AM »Not to nit pick your riding style man... But you say you notice you stand up on the climbs more with the 036.. Am I mistaken when I think that standard mtb riding advice is that you should sit and spin on a full suss, and stand and mash on a hard tail..
I know I've read that more than once, that of course doesn't mean that it's true.. Just thought I'd throw it out there.
Ned, I would agree with you, normally I would expect to stand up more on the hardtail, and sit and spin on the FS but with this bike I am just finding it easier to stand up on some of the short up hill sections. Why? I think because I'm losing more momentum on the FS than I would the hardtail.
However, I need to remember, this is a different bike and as such I need to change my riding style to take advantage of having full suspension. As I get a better feel for the new bike I ams sure I will get faster and learn how to better maintain my momentum on the trail. My second ride felt much better than the first and I was a bit faster. I time all my rides with a Planet Bike Protege 9 bike computer. For the trail I ride here in GA, Chicopee Woods, I can turn a 10 mile loop in about one hour, so I target a 10mph average speed. Given the uphills, rocks, roots, creek crossings, ruts, and washed out sections, this is not an easy loop. Now that I have the FS, I can continue to hone my skills and improve me riding.
1809
29er / Re: Welcome to Chinertown!
« on: April 13, 2014, 07:38:58 PM »
Thanks for starting this up, I think there is much to be discussed in the realm of Chinese direct to market bicycle products. Look forward to seeing more members come over from MTBR to post and find more information that is setup in a thread and folder structure that is way more orgainzed.
1810
29er / Re: IP-036 29er Full Suspension Carbon Frame Build
« on: April 13, 2014, 06:40:14 PM »
Here are some pictures of the bike with the build complete. Finished build weight is 24 lbs (10.9 Kg).
I know if I really wanted to I could easily knock a pound off if I went with lighter (race weight) tires like some Racing Ralphs. The Geax Saguaro TNT tires weighed in at 1590g vs the RR are typically 1100g for a pair. So, 23-24 lbs for a FS bike is pretty nice. My last FS bike was a Specialized Epic 26er which weighed over 28 lbs. Nice to have a bigger bike that's also lighter.
I know if I really wanted to I could easily knock a pound off if I went with lighter (race weight) tires like some Racing Ralphs. The Geax Saguaro TNT tires weighed in at 1590g vs the RR are typically 1100g for a pair. So, 23-24 lbs for a FS bike is pretty nice. My last FS bike was a Specialized Epic 26er which weighed over 28 lbs. Nice to have a bigger bike that's also lighter.
1811
29er / Re: IP-036 29er Full Suspension Carbon Frame Build
« on: April 13, 2014, 05:45:25 PM »
In this post I will provide some more detail of the build:
This is how I did my cable routing:
Rear Derailleur (not going to have a front derailleur with the XX1 drivetrain). Ended up running full cable housing through the frame.
Rear Brake.
Rear Shock Remote Cable:
Entry into the frame is shown in the same pic as the rear derailleur.
Here is where the cable exits. Unfortunately, for the Fox shock, it ends up being a bit tight and puts a sharper bend in the cable.
The remaining external cable run would be used for the front derailleur.
This is how I did my cable routing:
Rear Derailleur (not going to have a front derailleur with the XX1 drivetrain). Ended up running full cable housing through the frame.
Rear Brake.
Rear Shock Remote Cable:
Entry into the frame is shown in the same pic as the rear derailleur.
Here is where the cable exits. Unfortunately, for the Fox shock, it ends up being a bit tight and puts a sharper bend in the cable.
The remaining external cable run would be used for the front derailleur.
1812
29er / Re: IP-036 29er Full Suspension Carbon Frame Build
« on: April 13, 2014, 05:38:57 PM »
Okay, backing up a bit. Here are pictures of my 19" IP-036 frame prior to assembly:
Unboxing:
I like the way the B&W paint scheme came out. With the white Fox fork I will be adding, the B&W paint scheme will flow better.
Frame weight ended up at 2250g (4.95 lbs) as you see it here. XMIplay lists the weight at 1950g which must be for the medium or small size.
Would have been nice to see a smoother curve on the edge of the white paint, but hey the price was right.
Carbon Fiber Layup Looks REALLY good.
The seat tube has more curve than I expected.
Unboxing:
I like the way the B&W paint scheme came out. With the white Fox fork I will be adding, the B&W paint scheme will flow better.
Frame weight ended up at 2250g (4.95 lbs) as you see it here. XMIplay lists the weight at 1950g which must be for the medium or small size.
Would have been nice to see a smoother curve on the edge of the white paint, but hey the price was right.
Carbon Fiber Layup Looks REALLY good.
The seat tube has more curve than I expected.
1813
Component Deals & Selection / Carbon Parts from XMIplay
« on: April 13, 2014, 03:32:50 PM »
For my IP-057 build, I ordered the following parts from Peter@XMIplay:
1) Riser Bars
2) Carbon Spacers for the steer tube.
3) Neco Headset
4) Spare Hanger
All the items arrived as ordered, boxed with the frame in bubble wrap. No damage to any of the parts. The only problem I had with any of the parts from XMIplay was with the seat post. On the first ride the post developed a crack. I checked the torque, it was set at 5N-m so I confirmed I didn't over-torque the clamp. I contacted Peter, sent a picture, and he gave the choice of either a replacement post or a refund on the part. I chose the refund and ordered a Easton EC90 post since I didn't want to wait for another post to ship from China.
Peter was very nice about with helping me, he said that they did get a few that were defective and have since changed vendors of that seat post. I was slightly disappointed but hey, anyone can have a quality issue with their products, what was most important to me was how quickly and easily the problem was resolved.
In the meantime, I have about 700 miles on the frame and other parts without a single issue. All the parts still look great after almost a year of riding 20-30 miles per week. No regrets. As a matter of fact I ordered more parts from Peter with my IP-036 frame that I just completed. All parts look good and all seem to be great quality.
1) Riser Bars
2) Carbon Spacers for the steer tube.
3) Neco Headset
4) Spare Hanger
All the items arrived as ordered, boxed with the frame in bubble wrap. No damage to any of the parts. The only problem I had with any of the parts from XMIplay was with the seat post. On the first ride the post developed a crack. I checked the torque, it was set at 5N-m so I confirmed I didn't over-torque the clamp. I contacted Peter, sent a picture, and he gave the choice of either a replacement post or a refund on the part. I chose the refund and ordered a Easton EC90 post since I didn't want to wait for another post to ship from China.
Peter was very nice about with helping me, he said that they did get a few that were defective and have since changed vendors of that seat post. I was slightly disappointed but hey, anyone can have a quality issue with their products, what was most important to me was how quickly and easily the problem was resolved.
In the meantime, I have about 700 miles on the frame and other parts without a single issue. All the parts still look great after almost a year of riding 20-30 miles per week. No regrets. As a matter of fact I ordered more parts from Peter with my IP-036 frame that I just completed. All parts look good and all seem to be great quality.
1814
Vendor Discussion & Reviews / Re: My experience with Xmiplay..
« on: April 13, 2014, 03:19:54 PM »
My experience was similar. Peter just seemed to be more responsive to my questions and being he was a MTBR forum member helped with me knowing he had more than a passing interest in selling bike parts on the internet.
I also looked at HongFu and a few others. HongFu impressed with pictures and video on Flickr that showed testing of various bike frames. I know that HongFu and XMIplay were selling the same product at a similar price. Again, Peter's quick response sealed the deal.
It took about 5-6 weeks for me to get my IP-057 last year. The longer lead time was due to the fact that the IP-057 was new and the mold for the Large size was not completed when I ordered. I also requested custom paint on my frame so at least a few more days there.
Shipping was via EMS, similar to our postal service. It took 8 days to receive the frame. Peter sent me a tracking number and I was able to track the shipment via EMS and later USPS when it cleared customs in NY and was processed through the sorting facility. I also had to sign for the shipment, please make note that they will not leave the package at your doorstep.
When the box arrived I did have a small bit of damage, the derailleur hanger had poked through the box. Nothing major but it did get scraped up. When I informed Peter, he asked for me to send a picture. Once confirmed Peter sent out a replacement hanger which took about 2 wks to arrive, not an issue since I had ordered a spare hanger to begin with. Something I highly recommend.
The IP-057 frame was very well made with good crisp painted edges and a gloss topcoat over the entire frame just as I had asked. There were no issues with any of the threads or internal cable routing, everything went together as expected, although I didn't really know what to expect since it was my first ground up build. I had read so much on MTBR that I basically had all my questions answered before I started.
Every chance I get out on the trail I share my satisfaction of buying my carbon frame direct, saving loads of ca$h, and building a bike with components I've selected. This really is a no compromise deal if you are willing to put in a little effort, you will be rewarded with a great bike.
I also looked at HongFu and a few others. HongFu impressed with pictures and video on Flickr that showed testing of various bike frames. I know that HongFu and XMIplay were selling the same product at a similar price. Again, Peter's quick response sealed the deal.
It took about 5-6 weeks for me to get my IP-057 last year. The longer lead time was due to the fact that the IP-057 was new and the mold for the Large size was not completed when I ordered. I also requested custom paint on my frame so at least a few more days there.
Shipping was via EMS, similar to our postal service. It took 8 days to receive the frame. Peter sent me a tracking number and I was able to track the shipment via EMS and later USPS when it cleared customs in NY and was processed through the sorting facility. I also had to sign for the shipment, please make note that they will not leave the package at your doorstep.
When the box arrived I did have a small bit of damage, the derailleur hanger had poked through the box. Nothing major but it did get scraped up. When I informed Peter, he asked for me to send a picture. Once confirmed Peter sent out a replacement hanger which took about 2 wks to arrive, not an issue since I had ordered a spare hanger to begin with. Something I highly recommend.
The IP-057 frame was very well made with good crisp painted edges and a gloss topcoat over the entire frame just as I had asked. There were no issues with any of the threads or internal cable routing, everything went together as expected, although I didn't really know what to expect since it was my first ground up build. I had read so much on MTBR that I basically had all my questions answered before I started.
Every chance I get out on the trail I share my satisfaction of buying my carbon frame direct, saving loads of ca$h, and building a bike with components I've selected. This really is a no compromise deal if you are willing to put in a little effort, you will be rewarded with a great bike.
1815
29er / Re: IP-036 29er Full Suspension Carbon Frame Build
« on: April 13, 2014, 02:57:22 PM »
Just got back from riding the IP-036 a second time. Here are more riding impressions:
1) I still loving how this bike smooths out the trails. We have lots of rocks and roots here in GA and with the suspension fully active it's like the rocks and roots are half the size, you roll over things and they are just way less harsh than on the IP-057. Both frames do a great job with damping small bumps and vibration compared to AL framed bikes I've ridden.
2) I'm starting to trust the new bike a bit more and I'm starting to go even faster downhill. The IP-036 is noticeably more maneuverable than my IP-057 and the rear tire soaking up the bumps just allows for more control and rough downhill sections.
3) Now that I have my seat and controls a bit better adjusted I just felt more comfortable on the second ride. My seat felt better, reach to the brake levers is now exactly right. I'm also starting to like the flat bar a bit more although I do notice that I'm leaned forward a bit more than on my IP-057 with the riser bar. Again, good for downhill action but not as nice on my back as a little more upright position. My stem has 0deg rise so possibly a 6-8deg rise would be helpful.
4) Standing up and pedaling was better this time, and I notice I tend to stand up a bit more on the IP-036 since it's not climbing quite as well as my IP-056 which just feels like it needs a bit less effort to shoot up a moderate incline.
5) My shifting issues are resolved, no more dropping the chain off the 42T rear cog. Not sure why I didn't notice this when I was setting up the derailleur but now when I'm up in that gear my lever travel is topped out, before the lever was pushing the derailleur over just enough to feed the chain beyond the larger rear cog.
6) Braking is still flawless, love the Shimano XT brakes.
7) I do get an odd snap of what feels like the chain once in a while under high load, not often, only one or two times during the ride. Almost like something is sticking and then breaks free. It's a very small snap but I can hear and feel something, just now sure what combination of gear/suspension/terrain seems to cause it.
Overall I'm very happy with the IP-036, the goal was to have a second bike that is different from the IP-057, something with full suspension, something that rides smooth and fast. I think I accomplished my goal with this build.
1) I still loving how this bike smooths out the trails. We have lots of rocks and roots here in GA and with the suspension fully active it's like the rocks and roots are half the size, you roll over things and they are just way less harsh than on the IP-057. Both frames do a great job with damping small bumps and vibration compared to AL framed bikes I've ridden.
2) I'm starting to trust the new bike a bit more and I'm starting to go even faster downhill. The IP-036 is noticeably more maneuverable than my IP-057 and the rear tire soaking up the bumps just allows for more control and rough downhill sections.
3) Now that I have my seat and controls a bit better adjusted I just felt more comfortable on the second ride. My seat felt better, reach to the brake levers is now exactly right. I'm also starting to like the flat bar a bit more although I do notice that I'm leaned forward a bit more than on my IP-057 with the riser bar. Again, good for downhill action but not as nice on my back as a little more upright position. My stem has 0deg rise so possibly a 6-8deg rise would be helpful.
4) Standing up and pedaling was better this time, and I notice I tend to stand up a bit more on the IP-036 since it's not climbing quite as well as my IP-056 which just feels like it needs a bit less effort to shoot up a moderate incline.
5) My shifting issues are resolved, no more dropping the chain off the 42T rear cog. Not sure why I didn't notice this when I was setting up the derailleur but now when I'm up in that gear my lever travel is topped out, before the lever was pushing the derailleur over just enough to feed the chain beyond the larger rear cog.
6) Braking is still flawless, love the Shimano XT brakes.
7) I do get an odd snap of what feels like the chain once in a while under high load, not often, only one or two times during the ride. Almost like something is sticking and then breaks free. It's a very small snap but I can hear and feel something, just now sure what combination of gear/suspension/terrain seems to cause it.
Overall I'm very happy with the IP-036, the goal was to have a second bike that is different from the IP-057, something with full suspension, something that rides smooth and fast. I think I accomplished my goal with this build.