New Trek Stache 9.8

[Carbon_Dude]

My Trek Stache 7 was damaged a few weeks ago while it was on the rack on my car.  After settling with the insurance company I've upgraded to a Stache 9.8.  Upgrades from the Stache 7 to the Stache 9.8 includes a lot of carbon (frame, wheels, bars, cranks), Rockshox Pike Fork, dropper post, and XO1 drivetrain.  My first ride was yesterday and I have to say the new bike is amazingly good!  The Stache 7 was pretty good but the weight made it climb a little slower, now the Stache 9.8 resolves that by shedding up to 4 lbs off my old bike (the 9.8 weighed around 26 lbs when I picked it up at the LBS).  The downside to the light weight is now it feels more like a race bike, lightweight and fast, but a little less comfortable and a little more rough on the down hills.

As for my old Stache 7, the frame was damaged so I'm talking to Peter about purchasing a CS-496 so I can put all my old parts on it and have a spare 29+ bike.

[SportingGoods]

This rack problem sounds like a good deal, even though I'm sure it was a lot of problem! Any event is an opportunity to upgrade 

[Sitar_Ned]

Looks nice. Sounds like that incident worked out pretty well for you. This was your vehicle insurance, right? Could be home owners policy. Always great when insurance actually benefits you rather than just costing you.

[Carbon_Dude]

This rack problem sounds like a good deal, even though I'm sure it was a lot of problem! Any event is an opportunity to upgrade 

There was still some out of pocket cost to upgrade but I think it will be a worthwhile upgrade.  Techincally the 9.8 frame is carbon and is made in Taiwan so it's technically a Chiner Plus bike  .  The Stache 7 will also be converted to a Chiner Plus bike once I get another frame out of China.

[Carbon_Dude]

Looks nice. Sounds like that incident worked out pretty well for you. This was your vehicle insurance, right? Could be home owners policy. Always great when insurance actually benefits you rather than just costing you.

The accident was my fault  . I pulled into my driveway after a ride, the driveway has some incline, I didn't pull all the way into the garage, I set my parking brake (manual transmission), vehicle was still running, I got out to move something in my garage, looked back and the vehicle was slowly rolling down my driveway.  Obviously I didn't set the brake hard enough, and I think the brake pads cooled down and lost some friction allowing the vehicle to roll.  My vehicle didn't stop until it bumped into my neighbors car across the street.  A 3200 lb vehicle traveling at 3-5 mph does a pretty good job of damaging a bicycle and bicycle rack when it comes in contact with another vehicle.

[carbonazza]

Welcome back

[Carbon_Dude]

Welcome back

Thanks!  I've been feeling like an outsider with my branded bikes.  Soon I should have the CS-496 built up and be part of the group again.

[Sitar_Ned]

haha... get out of here with your fancy Trek!

[SportingGoods]

Stay Tuned Carbon_Dude, I just brought a Stache 9.8 at home last night Looks just like yours.
I'll ride-test it over lunch today, just for fun! but who knows, I could fall in love with 29+ and convert my CS-496  Not likely though, I want to spend my money in a good fork now, not another set of wheels...

[carbonazza]

... in a good fork now...

Did you settle on the model yet?
I will build a 496 for a friend soon. We took the rigid to start, and as a backup.
But I was wondering what I can put on it if he doesn't like the rigid.

[Carbon_Dude]

Stay Tuned Carbon_Dude, I just brought a Stache 9.8 at home last night Looks just like yours.
I'll ride-test it over lunch today, just for fun! but who knows, I could fall in love with 29+ and convert my CS-496  Not likely though, I want to spend my money in a good fork now, not another set of wheels...

I really think my Stache 9.8 is the best bike I've owned so far.  Light, agile, and comfortable to ride.  I get lots of compliments on the trail.  My only change is swapping the brakes from Guide RS to Shimano XT.  The SRAM brakes aren't bad, I just feel the XT brakes are better.  I've ordered a new set of XT brakes and have a buyer for my SRAM brakes so I will soon have the 9.8 setup just as I want.

I've also built up a Stache 9, got a frame off eBay and took all the parts I had from my Stache 7, now I have two Staches, I will post more about this in another thread.

[Carbon_Dude]

BTW, tt's hard to go wrong with the RS Pike fork.  It's probably the best fork I've ever ridden.

[bxcc]

BTW, tt's hard to go wrong with the RS Pike fork.  It's probably the best fork I've ever ridden.

I agree with this. The only trouble I'm having is finding a 29+ version at a price I can justify. My SC 5010 and my wife's SC TB3 both have Pikes and both have been flawless.

[SportingGoods]

OK, I'm back from my test ride. A lot of fun! Ride and a couple pictures here on Strava
https://www.strava.com/activities/794194284

To answer the question about a fork for the CS-496 frame. You have 2 main options. A 120 mm Reba is a good and economical choice. I plan on being less reasonable and pick a Pike, 140 mm. It is a lot more rigid then the Reba. The one on the Trek today was indeed really nice (but "only" 120 mm).

Then, I think I just can't be unbiased about my test of the Stache  . Overall, I really prefer my bike. Faster climbing (less weight in the wheels, as well as total weight, almost 2 kg lighter). Gyroscopic effect is very strong at high speed. It's a very good bike, but not what I want. I can't help to push and beat my buddies or my own past records climbing steep and technical hills, 27.5+ is just better for that. Then, it's true that going down, the Trek is very stable and smooths the trails better then my bike but still not close to a full-sus. To be honest, I had the feeling on the Stache to get a full-sus with suspension locked.
So, for what I do a 27.5+ is what I need. But if I want to smooth the trail more I'd go Full-sus (27.5+ still) rather then 29+. I think it really depends on where and how you ride.

[Carbon_Dude]

I've said it before, 29+ is not for everyone.  It's a trade off in weight and climbing ability versus comfort and downhill fun.  Your personal bike is obviously just right for you and it can be difficult to adjust to a new bike.  On my first test ride, the Stache was so much better than either my CS-057 or my CS-036, at least for me, that I was just more at home on the Stache than I had been on bikes that I'd be riding for a few years.

You are more like the pro riders I guess, you are looking for as much overall efficiency has possible, which 29 or 27.5+ offers more of than 29+.