I changed the stem angle to raise the bars and moved the seat slightly forward to put more weight on front end.   That made a huge difference in weight balance and handling.

I really like this bike.   It's fast.   Climbs very well - much better than I expected. 

Certainly I would recommend to anyone looking for light weight XCO frame this should be on the list. 

Well, 3 weeks of work travel and I have no ride report yet.   

The only update is related to rear brakes.   They squealed horribly and had no grip at all.   Possible that I may have gotten a little mineral oil in them when bleeding.   No amount of cleaning wpuld work.  So last night I baked out rotor and pads with a propane torch.   And then filed a chamfer in the leading edge of the pads.   Finally seem to be quiet.    Hopefully this weekend will be real Maiden voyage. 

You installed the front adapter wrong no? Usually the arrow points up

Good catch.   Yes.    Pic was initial mock up.   Was inverted and fit.mich better. 

Its finally starting to look like a real bike.   

I cant install the BB/cranks until I confirm if my brake adapter works.   If not I will have to pull a new hose through to swap calipers.    Why Shimano uses a 90 deg banjo fitting on PM calipers amd straight hose on FM calipers inwill never know.   

Thank you.    Will have to source a FM caliper.   

Here is thr CAD model and installed spacers on the rear shock. 

My background is materials chemistry.   And my inner nerd came up with a decal scheme i call molecular camouflage.    I used a cricut decal maker to put 72 lactic acid structures all over the frame.   

As they say in racing...   feel the burn.

Thanks for all the background info on this site.    I am going to use this thread to document my Hongfu FM358 build.   I am just a mid-50s x-racer that prefers pedaling efficiency over travel.  Will be setting up with 100mm front and rear.   Most of my local trails are pretty smooth and I am too old for the chunky stuff.   i admit I prefer a steeper head tube angle and short chain stays so that i can change directions quickly and make line adjustments at speed.   I learned on a rigid bike to ride around rocks and roots rather than over them.   

The frame was ordered direct with custom paint.  Took approximately 4 weeks to ship and about 12 days transit.   Most of the parts are ebay specials picking up new take-offs where I could to keep budget down.   A few used parts thrown in.   

Build list of the major parts:
Frame FM358 Size L  as prevoiusly outlined.
Fox 32 Step cast fork
Fox Float 3P rear shock
Serenade carbon wheels
Continental Dubinal 2.4 tires
Shimano XT 8100 12sp shifters, der and cassette 10-51 (cable driven)
Shimano XT brakes with 180mm rotors.   
RaceFace Next R cranks and BB92 BB and 34T ring
shimano clipless pedals
Airwolf integrated carbon bar/stem and carbon seatpost (non-dropper)
Old broken in Flite saddle.