Thinking of building some 29" wheels with these hubs for those times I want to swap to some bigger wheels.

Couldn't find many reviews on them but they look like dt swiss 350s. Im hoping they're at least decent .

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqYetgb

What is this nice bike stand ?

Just one that I made from a speaker stand and a wall mount I had laying around.

What do you guys think I should do for decals when I paint the bike? I don't really like the one colour/no writing look, but obviously there's no "proper" way to do them. I kinda broke down the following options:

1. Just do Santa Cruz decals - I don't really like this. It's a bit too on the nose, but just a little off, ya know?
2. Do some chinese brand's decals - I don't mind "831" for the model, but all their names are kinda... eh?
3. Some random "cool" word as a brand
4. Just do the name of an already existing open mold importing brand
5. Decals from a brand that currently uses VPP but does not use the low-slung version (yet) - think DMR, Diamondback, maybe even Intense! lol.

I'm kind of leaning to number 5 (not intense though), It would be kinda silly while at the same time not too far-fetched to become reality. Who's to say Diamondback doesn't have the v3 of the release planned up as a lower link bike if you see this thing ride by at a trail network?

I like option 3. I was going to do 1 myself but thought the bend in the top tube was enough of a change that people would notice it's not a SC bike.

I am going with 3 myself  but its a "brand" that I've put on all my builds so far. Monsuta. It means monster in Japanese so I theme them around different monsters or creatures. The emtb was themed after Frankensteins monster since it also took a bit of juice to get it going haha .

I , too, used a cricut to cut vinyl for the decals . Although I'm thinking of trying water slide decals this time around since they're thinner.

Hello Snacks,

I had a hard time to squeeze the chainstay protector in there. I was just wondering if you had any trick to make it going in easier.   

Thank you.

I hooked the top part on first and then rotated it around until the bottom part snapped onto the chainstay

i also sanded the inside of the seat post a bit since there was the tiny sliver of what looked like excess resin holding the seat post from going in all the way.

Finish looks pretty good!
With that white.. I'd go Smallfoot
 I'd probably chase (wet and dry) the paint out of the BB shell before installing the bearinsg though.

To be honest, the finish is alright . chips around headset and lower link bolts from the factory. its also quite soft, a bolt from the upper link slipped from my hand and hit the downtube and chipped the paint. maybe this is normal but i didnt expect if from a 2-3in drop. so i definitely need to wrap this to keep whats left on the frame.

yea i was thinking a yeti but there seems to be a brand based around that already haha

and definitely cleaned out the bb shell of all paint before installing

Here's my AM831 build. Going with 27.5 wheels since I want a more nimble bike.

If you're wondering, monsuta is the brand I've been putting on my bikes.

Not sure what "monster" to theme after . Hellcat, demon linx, or maybe kitsune. I was thinking of something fast and agile. I also like the cannondale ,rapha, palace collab bike and was thinking of doing some kind of sticker bomb with some stuff that I've drawn(hence the thread title). In any case there's still time to figure this out.

Part list

Frame :AM831 size S
Drivetrain: Shimano deore m6100
Cassette:sram nx 11-50
Crankset:Goldix shimano direct mount w/34t chainring
Brakes:Meroca mt420
Rotors: sram 203mm r
Chain:Goldix 12 speed oil slick
Stem: ztto 50mm oil slick
Handlebar: race face carbon bars 760mm
Wheels:mach1 trucky 30
Tires: maxxis minion dhf upfront and agressor rear tubless
Fork:sr suntour durolux 36
Shock: rockshox super deluxe select
Hardware :fox 8x30 up front and rockshox 8x23 (which I shaved down a bit ) in the back
Seatpost: KS exo-form 900i dropper 150mm
Saddle:wtb volt
Pedals:tanke tp-50 oil slick
Valve stem: botany 40mm valve stem oils slick
Frame protection- 3M scotchgard pro series

didnt use a reverse angle spacer or any taller crown race yet since the fork doesnt hit the downtube when i take the caps off the fork. dont think it will affect anything with them off. maybe dirt ingress but currently trying to design a low profile version of the caps to 3d print and install . also ordered a couple off of aliexpress hoping they will fit or i can modify them to not hit the frame