Chinertown

Chinese Carbon MTB => 29+ & 27+ => Topic started by: Carbon_Dude on April 30, 2016, 10:49:53 AM

Title: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: Carbon_Dude on April 30, 2016, 10:49:53 AM
Picked up my 29er+ bike yesterday.  I came close to purchasing a Workswell WCB-M-078 Chinese carbon frame, which is a close copy of the Stache, but in the end decided to give the Trek a chance.  Since I was able to do some demo rides at the trails before purchasing, I was able to know how the bike rides before shelling out the cash for another bike.  I wouldn't think the Workswell bike would be very much different, but not having the opportunity to ride one, I stuck with what I knew.  When looking at the purchase from a cost value point of view, the Stache 7 hit a pretty good sweet spot, after the discount the purchase price was $2,160.  I could not build a Workswell bike for that, and I liked that I could get the bike quicker and start riding it this week.

Ride Report
As I have discussed in other posts, the ride a 29+ bike offers is not like anything else.  The bike rolls super smooth and when it comes to rooty, rocky sections of the trail, you just pick a straight line and roll over anything in your path.  Unlike my "skinny" tire bikes, rolling over roots and rocks just doesn't slow you down much at all.  I don't find myself weaving around on the trail dodging obstacles because I don't need to.

Another noticeable difference with the big tires is over loose downhill gravel road sections.  Where my 2.4" tires would slide around and not give me much confidence that I wouldn't wash out and have a bad day, the big plus tires grip the loose stuff and allow me to go faster with no nervousness.  Truly confidence inspiring.

In tight sections, the Stache felt great, very maneuverable in the tight bends and around trees.  I just can't find much fault with this new big tire size.  No tire squirm like on a fat bike.

Towards the end of the ride I met up with two guys, one on a 29er full suspension, he's 15 years younger than me and in much better shape.  I not only caught him on a long uphill gravel climb, when the trail turned and got really fast, I stayed right with him.  I had no room to pass so I stayed close behind until I just plain ran out of breath keeping up with him.  I think the bike, with it's immense amount of grip, allowed me to carry speed into corners that he couldn't.  It was a blast following someone else on this bike through fast trail sections, knowing I had so much more grip than he did.  Again, very confidence inspiring.  All I can say is if anyone has the opportunity to ride one of these, give it a try, you may end up liking it as much as I do.

I need to get the tubes out, the bike shop said they would have done it for me but the new Chupacabra tires can be difficult to air up tubeless until they have had a few rides on them.  The Sun Ringle Mulefut rims come tubeless ready with valve stems.  Each tube weighs like a pound so that will help get the bike down to 28 lbs easily.

I've talked with Peter about getting some 50mm carbon 29er wheels with DT Swiss hubs but am undecided if I want to spend the money right now or consider getting a set of 40mm x 27.5" wheels to try with some 2.8" tires like Patrick and Sportinggoods have done.

I'm off now to take the Stache on a second ride this afternoon.  So far, I'm lovin' this bike.  Here are a few pics from yesterday:

The big tires barely fit on my bike rack.  I can barely close the hold down straps around each of the tires.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/S2k_Dude/IMG_0750.jpg)

On the trail.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/S2k_Dude/IMG_0751.jpg)
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: Sitar_Ned on April 30, 2016, 03:05:06 PM
Thanks for sharing CD, glad you're enjoying your new ride. Just in time for the spring weather.. Love this time of year.

You mind taking a pic with it next to your bike that you have the Saguaro tyres on? Since I have those same tyres, that'll give me a really good comparison to what I'm riding on. See exactly how much bigger they are.
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: Carbon_Dude on April 30, 2016, 06:38:19 PM
Measured sizes are 57.5mm for the Saguaro tire on a 35mm wide rim, 76mm for the Chupacabra on a 50mm wide rim.  By the numbers that's about 1/3rd more tire on the 29+ wheel, however with the lower pressure of 12-14 psi, the tire conforms to the the trail so much better than a typical 29er tire.  There is much more air volume on a 29+, the overall diameter of the Chupacabra tire is approx. 29.5" vs 29" on the Saguaro.  So the side wall is about 0.25" more.

Pictures don't even do the tires justice, you look at the two tires and would swear the plus tire is like two times bigger.  I guess it's deceptively wider when looking at the tires in person.  Here is a picture:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/S2k_Dude/293cefb8-4abd-4d8c-a409-04abb1e0b112.jpg)
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: Carbon_Dude on May 11, 2016, 08:42:51 PM
Update after 6 rides.  I'm really liking the new bike, it's just such a trial monster.  I decided to take out my FS IP-036 Chiner after work this evening.  The "skinny" tire bike felt completely different again, it took about 2-3 miles of riding before I felt comfortable on the old bike.  I found myself wanting wider tires, I missed the smoothness of high volume 29+ tires.

I did like the lighter feeling of my full carbon 29er, how well it still climbed, and how quickly it gets going.  However, I am starting to think the perfect bike for me might be a carbon 29+, maybe even with 80-100mm of rear suspension travel.

The Stache is getting some upgrades so the next ride will be on Friday after work.  I will post an update this weekend.
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: Carbon_Dude on May 22, 2016, 09:39:10 PM
I now have a hundred miles on the Stache.  I've installed a set of the new XT (M-8000) brakes and rotors, to me a very noticeable improvement over the SRAM DB5's that came on the bike.  I also installed a Salsa Liplock seat clamp as the Bontrager quick release clamp was not doing a great job of holding the seat post at a constant height.

After three weeks of riding, I'm still totally smitten with this bike. The geometry provides the most comfortable seating position out of any of my bikes.  I like the 68.5 deg head tube angle, the low rise bars, the Bontrager seat isn't bad, and I am enjoying the Bontrager Ergo Comfort grips I put on in place of the basic grips that came on the bike.

I'm starting to wonder if I will even bother riding my two Chiner bikes now that I have the Stache.

My complaints with the Stache are small, I've already taken care of the brakes and the seat post clamp, however unlike my carbon bikes, I still get a few creaks now and again which I'm guessing is some metal-to-metal contact somewhere in the rear end of the bike.  I have already taken apart the stem and greased everything there, as well as re-greased the cassette.  Maybe the derailleur hanger needs some grease.

The only other thing missing on the Stache is a carbon frame along with some other weight saving components.  There are already 3 or 4 Chinese Carbon frames that are similar to the Stache.  The extra weight is not a huge disadvantage but it would be nice to have a 25lb bike under me rather than a 29lb-30lb bike, more so when climbing than going downhill.  The Stache is super stable when the trail turns downhill or when going fast on tight curving sections.

I get a lot of comments on the trail, mostly people asking me how it rides.  All I tell them is they need to experience a Stache for themselves.
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: cmh on May 31, 2016, 10:48:59 AM
Surprising video relevant to this discussion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6TMA2vI8bA

I would not have guessed the results that they get.
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: Carbon_Dude on May 31, 2016, 12:00:43 PM
For me at least, I am not slower overall on the plus tires, and that's on a bike the weighs significantly more than my other bikes.  I feel that plus tires will become the norm and anything less than 2.4" will be "old school" tires, kinda like 26" wheels.

As you know, I have decided to sell my -057 and plan on using some of that money to purchase a set of 27.5" carbon wheels and 2.8" tires for my -036.
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: cmh on June 02, 2016, 01:02:38 PM
For me at least, I am not slower overall on the plus tires, and that's on a bike the weighs significantly more than my other bikes.  I feel that plus tires will become the norm and anything less than 2.4" will be "old school" tires, kinda like 26" wheels.

As you know, I have decided to sell my -057 and plan on using some of that money to purchase a set of 27.5" carbon wheels and 2.8" tires for my -036.

Yeah, I heard the same about fat bikes, too. If plus size tires were so great everywhere, curious why it's not showing up in World Cup XCO racing.

Love my trail bike, "big" 2.4" tires and long suspension, but going back to the agressive XC ride of the Epic with 29x2.0" tires... there's just something awesome about that.

But hey, nothing solves all problems, and whatever gets folks on bikes and enjoying themselves - that's the important part.

Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: Carbon_Dude on June 02, 2016, 04:42:13 PM
I'm sure it depends on the types of trails you ride.  If the trails here were smoother and had even more climbing, I wouldn't be so sure that a Plus bike would be the better choice.  However, on my trails, 29+ is right at home.  I still can't get over the amount of traction I get on the big tires, and I don't know if it's the smoother ride from the tires or the geometry of the bike, I have less fatigue during the ride.

On today's ride, the trails were still damp and had some slick spots from a heavy thunderstorm that moved through yesterday.  One slick, wet spot was in a fast section, in the middle of a turn.  My front tire started to slide but then grabbed.  I'm pretty sure if I were on one of my other bikes with 2.4" tires, I would not have been upright at the end of the turn.  Loose gravel doesn't feel loose either, it feels like packed gravel since the tire doesn't move around, it just rides on top of loose gravel.  Braking is amazing as well, the XT brakes combined with the extra grip are a good combination.

Now that I've got about 150 miles on the new bike, I do notice a creak here and there when mashing the pedals hard.  I'm pretty sure it's flex in the frame.  I've pushed on the bottom bracket/crank when standing next to the bike and have heard the same creak.  Trek tried to stiffen the area around the BB but the high chain stay on the drive side allows more flex than what I think is typical for an aluminum frame.  I bet when the Carbon Stache comes out, Trek will make that area stiffer.  I'd be curious to compare the amount of flex in my frame to one of the Chiner Plus frames with the same high chain stay.
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: Carbon_Dude on July 29, 2016, 09:40:22 AM
So after swapping my SRAM GX setup from my IP-057 to my Stache I started getting lots of creaking noises.  I re-greased the seat post a couple times, checked the rear wheel, re-greased the cassette, derailleur hanger, crank arms, crank spindle, and pedals.  Went for a ride and the creaking was still there.  On my last ride the creaking was extremely annoying, particularly at the end of the ride when it was getting even louder.

I was able to make the bike creak just by grabbing the back wheel and pushing on the pedals.  Yep, the creak is coming from the dreaded press fit bottom bracket.  The Stache has a PF92 BB and it's the one thing I didn't like about the bike when I bought it.  After owning Chiner frames with BSA threaded bottom brackets that were very easy to service, I didn't like the idea of owning a bike with a PF bottom bracket, and now I own two.  The Spec SJ6F has a BB30.

Anyway, after talking to the Trek dealer about servicing or replacing the bottom bracket I was ready to drop it off and let them deal with it.  Glad I've got another bike to ride in the meantime.

However, after talking to a good friend who owns his own bike shop, he asked if I had greased the interface between the chainring and the crank spindle.  I had switched to a direct mount SRAM Eagle ring and thought I'd installed it correctly.  In a final attempt, I removed the cranks, the ring, and applied grease on the direct mount interface.  Reassembled the cranks, and took the bike for a ride.  Like magic all the creaking noise was gone!  Moral of the story, many noises might make you think it's the bottom bracket, but check EVERYTHING else first, chances are it may not be the bottom bracket.
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: 325racer on July 30, 2016, 01:19:58 AM
Here's the fix.  PF92 threaded BB.

http://wheelsmfg.com/bottom-brackets/bb86-92/bb86-92-bottom-brackets.html

Comes in 10 zillion flavors.
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: Carbon_Dude on July 30, 2016, 06:41:56 AM
I don't believe there is any problem currently with my BB so no need to replace it with something different.

I've looked at the BBinfinite, the Praxis Works, Wheels Mfg, and Token bottom bracket options.  Personally I like either the BBinfinite or the Wheels Mfg alternatives if I were to change it out.  The bbinfinite is more of a one piece solution.  So I have options if I need to replace it, I just believe there is no reason to replace it at this time.

325racer, have you installed a Wheels Mfg BB in any of your bikes?
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: 325racer on July 30, 2016, 04:13:07 PM
I have not installed one myself, I don't have any bikes with terrible BB30/92, etc, all mine are proper thread in!!!

I've been listening to bunch of Mtn Bike Radio Podcast during work lately and several different once have talked about Staches and the creeky bottom bracket.  They say to remove the standard one, throw it away and install one of this threaded type.  Maybe not Wheels specifically, but that was the only one I saw listing BB92, the Praxis listed BB30.
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: Carbon_Dude on August 02, 2016, 10:38:29 PM
Took the Stache for another 12 mile ride at the trail and had no noise from the bottom bracket, however the rear hub is making some creaking and if I wiggle the back wheel I can feel a small amount of play in the axle.  I've tightened the axle on three occasions, seems like it's the source of my remaining creaking problem.  Since the bike is under warranty I'm going to talk to the local Trek shop about getting a warranty replacement for the back wheel.
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: forgivenick on August 15, 2017, 10:51:54 AM
Took the Stache for another 12 mile ride at the trail and had no noise from the bottom bracket, however the rear hub is making some creaking and if I wiggle the back wheel I can feel a small amount of play in the axle.  I've tightened the axle on three occasions, seems like it's the source of my remaining creaking problem.  Since the bike is under warranty I'm going to talk to the local Trek shop about getting a warranty replacement for the back wheel.
Any resolve to the rear wheel issue? I am having some issues with my 2017 Stache 5 rear hub and wonder what the road ahead may look like. Thanks.
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: tripleDot on August 17, 2017, 01:33:01 AM
Trek just came up with their latest Stache installment. Their calling it the 1120 and aiming the bikepacking community. Looks awesome.

Trek 1120 (http://www.bikepacking.com/news/2018-trek-1120-bikepacking-stache/)
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: Carbon_Dude on November 30, 2017, 02:13:15 PM
Guess I've not been on Chinertown much in the last few months.

Since August, I have retired the Stache 7 and replaced it with a Stache 9.8, rear hub problem solved.
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: tripleDot on February 11, 2018, 10:49:10 PM
Hey Carbon_Dude, what size brake rotors would you recommend for a Stache (or Chiner equivalent 29+)?
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: Carbon_Dude on February 13, 2018, 08:49:40 PM
203fr/180rr

Basically the biggest rotors you can fit, the 29+ wheels and tires can withstand a lot of braking forces.  Also, the bigger rotors allows for lower braking effort at your levers.
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: tripleDot on February 14, 2018, 03:00:23 AM
Thanks CD!
Title: Re: Trek Stache 7 First Ride
Post by: tripleDot on April 05, 2018, 08:16:14 PM
Trek now have the Stache in full suspension.

https://m.pinkbike.com/news/trek-full-stache-first-ride.html (https://m.pinkbike.com/news/trek-full-stache-first-ride.html)