This frame ticks a lot of boxes for me.  Who can I contact for pricing info?

Hi all, just dropping by to post a quick update on this frame.  It took almost four years, give or take, but this past weekend, I think I finally fell in love with this frame.   

As I'm getting older, and my kids school and sports schedule is taking up more and more of my time, I'm riding less and getting weaker by the minute.  As such, pushing a 160/150 bike around the small hills on this sandbar I live on has gotten exhausting.  Ive been riding my big squish a lot less, in favor of my 120/100 travel FM27 little squish, or the SS hardtail mostly.  I still take the big bike whenever I travel the 2+ hours to get to some proper chunk / jank / light gnar /etc.  But foolishly, I've still been running my shock and fork too tight and high pressures, trying to get the bike to do double duty and climb like an XC bike.  It just isn't feasible. 

After contacting manitou about a top out clunk in my shock, we went back and forth, and they suggested a shim stack for a custom tune based on my weight and leverage ratio.  I had the option if I wanted my max compression to be a full lockout, or an enduro style tune to maximize traction on climbs.  Breaking from my XC ways, I decided on the enduro style.  I mean, I already have an XC bike Ive been riding and loving lately.  With the new shock tune done, I went back to the beginning on tuning my manitou mezzer up front.  After a fresh lowers service, I dropped a ton of pressure in both the main and IRT chambers and built up my tune from the ground up to match the new tune in the shock.  I tested it locally and it felt incredibly plush and supple over small roots, and didnt feel terribly sluggish, so that was that.

This past weekend, I took a four hour drive with a couple of my buds to my parents house up in the mountains.  As luck would have it, theyve been building an incredible trail network over the last 2 to 3 years.  All machine built flow trail, tons of rocks, slabs, and gnarly roots, jump lines.  Ive been riding it solo or with buddies from up there ever since they started building it.  But this is the first time I went with a couple of the harder charging guys I normally ride with, so effectively, this was the first time I really hit the trail properly.  Over two days we did probably 10 hours, 30 miles and 5K+ vertical worth of heavy flow trail, jank and tech.  The bike was absolutely incredible throughout.  It didn't miss a beat.  It climbed well enough, but really came alive pointed downhill.   The lower center of gravity (lower sag) led to a more in-the-bike feel (as opposed to on-top-of-the-bike feel).  It was balanced and composed while ripping berms.  Jumps and drops were comfortable and predictable.   And my god, it handles chunk like nothing Ive ever owned before.  Plowing at high speed through rock gardens, or burly root sections, the bike never once stepped out of line.  Even navigating the slow speed tech, not once did the front wheel hang up and  try and throw me over the bars.  It wasn't the usual feeling of plowing into jank at high speeds and hoping you somehow skip over everything and make it to the other side.  The bike felt in control and reactive through the chunder.  No more point and pray, it finally feels like I'm actually riding the bike.

The long and the short of it all:  I should never have tried to make this bike do double duty, especially with a well equipped stable.   I should have set it up for riding that will use full travel from the start.   I'm finally loving it the way I always hoped to.

Current setup:
Manitou Mezzer Pro at 160mm travel.  Manitou McLeod 210x55 shock with custom enduro tune / piston.   
BTLOS 29" i29 enduro carbon hoops on ZTTO M1 hubs and genuine DT Swiss 54t star ratchet.   Maxxis 29x2.3 DHF and aggressor.
Eagle xx1 cassette and chain, x01 shifter and RD.  Truvative descendent carbon cranks, Oval 28t, spank oozy pedals.
Shimano Zee 4-pot brakes.  Answer Protaper 810 carbon bars.  Brand-X Ascend dropper.

My only complaints are the shock bolts bend just by looking at them, and the pivot bearings crumble almost monthly.   I'm using my homebrew steel sex bolt and common shock mounting hardware with great success.  And I recently swapped out to some max duty bearings in the pivots.  Hopefully theyll survive a bit longer than previous ones.  Otherwise, any previous concerns have been sorted.

Quote from: emu26 on October 27, 2021, 09:20:33 PM
Just going to throw out there that I have finally given in and swapped out my 27.5 x 2.8's for 29 x 2.3's and the bike has come alive. Almost identical weights on both wheelsets so it's not that, just rolling resistance and no more pedal strikes. Will be going back to the 175 cranks asap.

Funny you should mention that.  I just built up a set of 29er hoops on M1 hubs with DT swiss internals the last two nights.  Got it all taped and mounted up this morning.  Hoping to take it for a shakedown run tomorrow night.  Ive been riding 29ers on my little 100mm travel bike, but now I can swap 27.5x2.8 and 29x2.35 out at will on this bike.  Moving from nobby nics  to maxxis forekasters made the pedal strikes unbearable, and I had to stretch the fork to 160 to compensate.  The 29ers should alleviate that.  Glad to hear you like the new wheels, good luck with it.

Quote from: binaryagent on October 27, 2021, 05:42:51 PM
I lost the male bolt and washer from one of the rear frame pivot sex bolts and contacted TanTan via [email protected] and through the web site chat utility and received a response from both within 24 hours. Caroline contacted me over Whatsapp and I ordered a new one DHL express for $70 total (10 day delivery). Regular shipping would have only been $20 total but no certainty on delivery date. I received a tracking number just a few hours after making payment with Paypal.

Oh man, thats pricey delivery!   I would have run your makeshift bolt and waited, but I guess you needed it sooner than later.  Hope you're not down for too long.

Quote from: andrewj on October 20, 2021, 11:07:59 AM

Stuff like this:

" ps: As a frame supplier, we understand the frame better. "

Wow.  That would piss me right off.   I doubt I'll buy another frame from TanTan in the future.   Its a shame because Ive been quite pleased with mine overall, and they did right by me.  Too many other people having a bad experience with them.  Not worth the risk now.

That's a bummer to hear about the rear spacing.  I think you pegged them about making the mistake, but I guess they believe its within spec.  Pretty disappointing, and seems to me they deserve some bad press if that's their take on things.   Theyre racking up more and more small errors, but very public facing.  Maybe right now theyre scrambling just to keep their head above water? Or maybe theyve got so much business they dont care about individual retail buyers?  Who knows, but it definitely sucks for us.

I'm running a manitou mcleod air shock and Ive been generally very happy with it.  I'm running about 185 psi at 210 bodyweight, also at 30% sag.  Compression is usually 2/4, occasionally with 3/4 for long climbs or 1/4 for downhills.  I prefer a progressive spring in most cases, but it doesnt strike me as overly so.  A 2 ft drop will leave me about 3/8 inch of stroke left as per the telltale, and a closer to 4 ft drop will leave about 3/16, so Ive got a little bit of room for error.   I bought the king can (large volume air can) for the shock, but so far I've been happy with it in stock form, so the king can is still in the box.  But I ride primarily trail, with only occasional visits to the jump line or some light jank/gnar.  If you do a lot of lift assisted or enduro style riding, you probably dont care about pedaling platform the same way I do.  This may change since my buddy is returning my 120mm travel bike soon, so I wont have to use the big bike for XC rides anymore.

Andrew, sounds like they might have sent you the non-boost 12x142 version.  You might want to get in touch with them to confirm.  My wheel slides right in perfectly without having to spread the rear triangle.  I'd be afraid of running it that way, even if it is only 6mm.  Maybe they messed up and will send you a new triangle?  I dont know, but might as well look into it. 

I had to file down my shock hardware just a touch, but I've had to do that on other brand frames in the past as well.  No big deal.   

As for the fibers, any chance you can take a pic of them?  Its probably no big deal, but a photo would probably help solidify everyone's opinion.

Quote from: SVChucko on September 17, 2021, 11:12:43 AM
The product description says the axle is not included unless you add it to your order: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000405521351.html

I foolishly assumed that all 148x12mm thru-axles were the same. But I learned otherwise last night.

It's not a big deal, I can wait until the frame arrives to figure this out. It's in the hands of the shippers now.

I still think you might be pleasantly surprised, but just in case, the specs are printed on the axle itself.

Mine came with the axle.  The axle is threaded into the dropout, so it s a matched set.  Frames that dont come with an axle are usually e-thru type that require both the thru axle and nut, at least in my experience.   I did order a spare derailleur hanger with my frame just to have a spare on hand, and I believe that came with a second axle.

Quote from: dpenev on August 30, 2021, 09:01:46 AM
Hello,

I consider purchasing FM10 as well.
I am 184cm tall with 87cm leg length. I am considering 21'' frame.
In the internet each calculator is giving different result.

Please advice.
   

I'm 6.0 ft (183 cm) and I dont think I would feel comfortable on a 21.   The 19 doesn't feel cramped to me, but it certainly doesnt feel long either.  Do you prefer a bigger bike or a smaller one?  At your height, You could go either way.

Quote from: gorkamira on January 22, 2021, 10:56:20 AM
Hello GuitsBoy, how was the history of the damage to your frame by the shock absorber? Did they replace the part? or with the filing arrangement with the Dremel you have left it like this ... has the arrangement gone well?
I am in the same situation even file the round head of the shock absorber to see if it is solved, it rubs less but it continues to rub.

Hey, sorry, I must have missed this.  Yes, they did replace the rear seatstays, main alloy pivot, and the shock bolt with a stainless steel variant.   None of which have been installed since my various workarounds are doing just fine.  Even the epoxy carbon repair looks fine.

I'm surprised it doesnt include a hanger, a necessary part to get the bike working.  Perhaps something is lost in translation, and it doesn't come with a second backup hanger?  I typically order a couple extra with the frame just in case.  Always better to have them on hand than  to be out of commission for a month.

As for the BB, it might be a generic PF92 style, probably 24mm like mentioned.  You can buy inexpensive spacers to bring one side down to 22, which will work with older sram cranks, but not the newer DUB cranks that have taken over as the sram standard.

Hi all, scourge sent me a PM directing me towards this thread.

When do you need to know by?  I'm interested, but it a touchy situation where its difficult to justify buying a 9th or 10th bike, and even a simple frame swap necessitates a new shock at least.  Still, seems like a really great deal, and one that's hard to pass up.  When would you need a commitment by?

Do I have my facts straight, more or less?
- Purchasing from Eddy with Haideli bikes?
- Paint is a $20 add on?  Which colors are available, any from the first group purchase thread?
- $250+20 for paint USD due soon, then $250+shipping due in 2 months after production? (or 270+270 for under 50 qty)
- Typical shipping to the US runs somewhere around 100 USD?
- Shipped directly to the individual buyer, and under 800 USD, so no import duty tax?

Thanks guys...

Quote from: emu26 on September 23, 2020, 07:13:09 AMWhat 3.0s are you running and do you have much clearance to the stays?

I'm running 2.8 nobby nics on nextie jungle fox 52 rims (45mm inner width) and the tires measure out at 2.980" when fully stretched at 18 psi.  There is just shy of 1/4 inch clearance to the stays.  Slightly more than my previous frame.

My last frame was a FS27, which was identical to the fs29 except it came in boost spacing, while the FS29 was standard 12x142.  Perhaps something similar here?  Looking at my frame with the 27.5x3 stuffed in there, it sure looks like it would fit 29er wheels as long as you didnt go too big on the tire.