LightCarbon 918?

[Peak district XC]

Hi ChristEr

I did get the XC14 bars in 70mm, it’s not too aggressive with stem spacers puts but mines set up as xc marathon bike, depends on usage and if you’re used to that position you still get some adjustment but nothing like with separate bar/stem. I wouldn’t swap back as pros are worth it but the buzz and stiffness is noticeable.

Integrated bars/cable works amazing, you’d never know they run through the bars by feel etc no extra weight in the steering or binding. There isn’t much slack needed in the system though with the routing down the bars in my case and between the bearings, as the lengths are pretty fixed as you don’t need too much extra at the front for bar movement. I suspect it would be more of an issue with the top cap style depending on the angle entering etc as you’d need to allow more hose/outer housing. With the integrated bars you do lose some steering angle compared to the headset cap but this would only really affect you turning the bars beyond anything like normal.

Over 1000km on the bike now and really pleased with the bike.

[ChristEr]

Just finished building my 918 in crystal red matte, size L
I used the following components:
Their MC932GP-XC rims- 28 holes (320 g each), XC03 handlebar (220g), SP02-31.8 setpost (193g)
Full XT M8100 1x12 groupset (34x10-45)
Kalloy uno stem 60 -7
SID SL Ultimate 110 fork
Monarch RT3 shock
Shock bushings from offsetbushings.com
DT-swiss 350 CL straightpull hubset
Sapim laser spokes
DT-swiss standard brass nipples black 12mm
Schwalbe tubeless valves
Schwalbe Racing Ray and Ralph
Ergon GA3 grips size L

Total weight by adding up all the components: 9,8 kg. Real life weight 11.1 kg.

The paint job looks very nice and I didn't find any imperfections. From a distance you get a darkish red color
Everything went together very well; including headset, bottom bracket and brake mounts. Although the bottom bracket wasn't faced after the paint job and the rear brake mounts were faces just a little, everything fitted perfectly and the crankset spinned smoothly.
I only sanded a sharp edge where the top tube meets the headtube to prevent damage to te brake en shiftlines.
Only drawback of the frame design I think is the limited choice of shocks due to unconventional imperial sizing and standard mount. I actually only found the monarch to fit the frame. The Monarch has been updated through the years and seems like a fine choice. And the hidden cables look nice, but would be more convenient for future service to have the lines routed through the side of the headtube.
All in all I'm very happy with my build. I did a quick test ride and it was very responsive and light compared to my alloy Cube stereo pro 120 from 2018 (13.9kg)

[jsiegrist]

It looks like the new model uses a trunion mount shock with a longer size. Anyone order one of these yet?

[ChristEr]

That's correct. I saved the old webpage which states the standard 165x38 standard mount shock. More options for the rear shock on the new frame with trunion mount.

[JoshCB]

Hi all,

New member here. I ordered a 918 in early April, so hopefully I should have it in my hands soon, and really excited.

I only have a few concerns, but I have a technical brain so I should be able to work them out.

1) I run a 40t chainring. On my current Bianchi I have to run spacers to make it work, so it's just a case of how many on the 918.
2) I've also bought a set of the XC14 bars. The concern with these is that I run 720mm bars for XC, so it's a case of whether that will work for the internal routing (I'm guessing not).

The big challenge I've got is getting it under 10kg, but where there's money there's a way.

I'll be sure to post pictures when it arrives.

[jsiegrist]

Hi all,

New member here. I ordered a 918 in early April, so hopefully I should have it in my hands soon, and really excited.

I only have a few concerns, but I have a technical brain so I should be able to work them out.

1) I run a 40t chainring. On my current Bianchi I have to run spacers to make it work, so it's just a case of how many on the 918.
2) I've also bought a set of the XC14 bars. The concern with these is that I run 720mm bars for XC, so it's a case of whether that will work for the internal routing (I'm guessing not).

The big challenge I've got is getting it under 10kg, but where there's money there's a way.

I'll be sure to post pictures when it arrives.

Did you order the new model with the trunion mount shock? How much was the total? What’s the build plan to get it under 10kg?

[JoshCB]

Did you order the new model with the trunion mount shock? How much was the total? What’s the build plan to get it under 10kg?

Yeah, it should be trunnion and if the website is correct, without the knock-block.
The total including shipping came to about £755, and apparently that includes import fees, though I'm prepared to find out I'll still have to pay fees.

Most of the build will come from my current 9.6kg hardtail, but I can definitely save weight if I swap to a DT Swiss dropper and SID SL fork.

[jefflinde]

Yeah, it should be trunnion and if the website is correct, without the knock-block.
The total including shipping came to about £755, and apparently that includes import fees, though I'm prepared to find out I'll still have to pay fees.

Most of the build will come from my current 9.6kg hardtail, but I can definitely save weight if I swap to a DT Swiss dropper and SID SL fork.

Looking forward to your build.  I really like my frame although I wonder what benefits the reunion mount provides. Hopefully more room in the frame. Mine fits 2 water bottles but just barely.

[JoshCB]

Looking forward to your build.  I really like my frame although I wonder what benefits the reunion mount provides. Hopefully more room in the frame. Mine fits 2 water bottles but just barely.

I'm looking forward to it as well  . I wake up every day hoping to have an email waiting for me, and wondering if I should chase or just leave them to it.

[SulfurAion]

Thought I should say something about this frame since I was satisfied with it, including how the build went, its ride characteristics and final weight including mentioning the components. Most of the components mostly came from my previous hardtail which was of modern geometry by a known EU manufacturer. Final weight 10.6kg

SID SL ultimate 110mm with remote
Shimano XT brakes with kcnc 160mm rotors
XX1 cassette, chain and rear derailleur, mechanical
Carbon stem and handlebar from Ali and velobuild
Bikeyoke divine sl dropper
Manitou Mara inline rear shock
XO1 crankset with sigeyi AXO pm and XT pedals
SRAM dub bb
Schwalbe rocket Ron and racing Ralph
DT Swiss 350 hubs and carbon rims from a local builder

The bike feels responsive and adequately stiff both for technical climbs and tracks. Downcountry and overall Xc performance is superb. Manitou Mara shock plays also a role in that. 
Geometry is spot on with medium at 172mm height.
Bike build was smooth with no issues. Note that a standard sram bb spacer might be needed to avoid chain ring rub in the chainstay. In my case 3mm.
In the fotos a random darimo post appears and stylo alloy crankset.

[jsiegrist]

I'm looking forward to it as well  . I wake up every day hoping to have an email waiting for me, and wondering if I should chase or just leave them to it.

Any update on your build?

[JoshCB]

Any update on your build?

It arrived unexpectedly while I was in Morzine last week. Annoyingly, I thought I was paying £150 for DHL delivery, but they sent it with Evri, so I had a very nervous wait.
I've got positives and negatives right now. Generally the build is really good and the paint is amazing. However, the BB shell hasn't been faced at all, so I've got to get that done.
It's in pieces right now while I create a custom protection kit, so you can have a tease.
I have found that a 40t chainring really won't fit, it seems like 38 is the max.

[Ludo]

What is you technic for creating template for protection? Probably one of the most frustrating part of my first build

[JoshCB]

What is you technic for creating template for protection? Probably one of the most frustrating part of my first build

I used masking tape by doing lots of shorts strips width ways across a piece. Important to get build up to limit stretching when you remove it. Draw the pieces out. I use a contraption to follow the curves.
It helps that I've done loads of pre-cut kits for specific frames, so I know where relief cuts etc should go.
Then I peel off the masking tape carefully and flatten it onto tracing paper so I can make adjustments. Then when that's done, transfer to the film.

[StevenBike]

I am struggling with a dt Swiss 232 rear shock in the lcfs918 (new model with trunnion mount)
The dt Swiss bushing kit m8*39.9 results in play with clunk noise when i lift the bike.
Anyone has experience of tips, combining the 232 with lcfs918?