NBD - Merida Big Trail

[Numnut]

Nothing exciting in the way of an update, but tredz did finally send a replacement caliper and disc. It took about 3 weeks all in.

Now the fields are getting softer, the Argotals are doing great at providing good grip and rolling nicely pretty much all the time!

I've noticed the forks have a rattle to them which has got a bit more prominent over the last week or so. If you lift the front wheel up a few inches and drop it, the lowers will sort of buzz. There's a bit of play in the stanchions too. Apparently the z2 fork is known for having problems with bushings... I've checked the headset, put another front wheel in and tried my front wheel in another set of z2 forks and it's just mine that rattle/buzz/vibrate.

I spoke to Tredz and sent a video and they won't accept just the forks back, they want the whole bike back to check and the turnaround time is 3-4 weeks plus any time to order in parts. I got in touch with Silverfish who are the importer for Marzocchi/Fox and they said just to send the forks to them directly so the forks are booked in next week for inspection...so much for buying new!

[weeksy]

Nothing exciting in the way of an update, but tredz did finally send a replacement caliper and disc. It took about 3 weeks all in.

Now the fields are getting softer, the Argotals are doing great at providing good grip and rolling nicely pretty much all the time!

I've noticed the forks have a rattle to them which has got a bit more prominent over the last week or so. If you lift the front wheel up a few inches and drop it, the lowers will sort of buzz. There's a bit of play in the stanchions too. Apparently the z2 fork is known for having problems with bushings... I've checked the headset, put another front wheel in and tried my front wheel in another set of z2 forks and it's just mine that rattle/buzz/vibrate.

I spoke to Tredz and sent a video and they won't accept just the forks back, they want the whole bike back to check and the turnaround time is 3-4 weeks plus any time to order in parts. I got in touch with Silverfish who are the importer for Marzocchi/Fox and they said just to send the forks to them directly so the forks are booked in next week for inspection...so much for buying new!

Yeah it's a weakness on the Z2 and Fox 36 which are brother/sister, not a lot you can do, sometimes they make them better, sometimes in truth they come back about the same and you have to just accept it.

[Numnut]

Oh awesome, good stuff! Hopefully they'll come back better than they are now, but if not then I'll just ride them as they are. I just don't want them prematurely knackered.

[Numnut]

The forks are back from Silverfish, super quick turnaround. I’ve got new lowers, seals etc and a quick release axle. They feel much better and a whole lot less rattly now!

[Numnut]

The forks are back on their way to Silverfish… they were much improved but started rattling a bit moving the bike round and you can really feel it riding over bumpier tracks.

There’s no movement where the stanchions go in to the lowers though so I’m not sure what’s up. I spoke to them first and they suggested headset - there’s no play in the bearings and it’s all put together properly and tight enough to remove any play. I’ll wait and see…

[Numnut]

Spoke to Fox, the forks are fine which is good though that doesn't explain what's causing the vibration. They said there's slight marking on the steerer tube and the axle. They replaced the axle when they did the lowers, so they were surprised there were marks on it already. It could be a loose headset, but there's no play in the bearings that I can feel. I'll have to swap parts from the bird and see if there's any difference again.

It's sounding a lot like new bike day...

[weeksy]

Spoke to Fox, the forks are fine which is good though that doesn't explain what's causing the vibration. They said there's slight marking on the steerer tube and the axle. They replaced the axle when they did the lowers, so they were surprised there were marks on it already. It could be a loose headset, but there's no play in the bearings that I can feel. I'll have to swap parts from the bird and see if there's any difference again.

It's sounding a lot like new bike day...

What forks are on the Bird ?

When/how can you feel the play/vibration ?

[Numnut]

The Bird's got Pike Ultimates.

If you're just moving the bike around and lift/drop the front of the bike, there's a proper rattle/buzz from the lowers. But when you're riding and go over something like dried tractor tracks (or anything where there's lots of small bumps) there's a real vibration/loose feeling as the fork's hitting the bumps which feels like it goes through the fork and along the bars.

[weeksy]

I guess fitting the Bird forks (and crown race just in case) is the first and best start point as this will pretty much answer any/all questions.

Merlin usually have decent deals on forks.

[Numnut]

Yeah I think that's the plan, I can do that while I'm waiting for the z2 to come back from fox.

I've been looking to see what's around, but I'll see what I can work out with swapping parts over first.

[MingtheMerciless]

Is the headstock ovalised? I’ve had that on two bikes now. An old Marin where I failed badly on the Bedgebury woodwork and pile drove me and the bike into the floor from about 6Ft up and the Evil where the lower headset cup debonded from the carbon. On both occasions diagnosed by the lower headset cup or race pretty much falling out of the frame.

[Numnut]

I don’t think so, the headset looks like it’s fitted nicely and it’s not loose in the frame. If it’s not the fork or the wheel, then I’ll just get a new headset and see if there’s any difference.

[Numnut]

I fitted the Z2s to the Bird and they're still rattling. I'm thinking this is just how they are, so I either put up with it or sell them on and find something new as a xmas present!

[weeksy]

I assume it's all quiet with the Pikes on the Merida then ?

[Numnut]

I didn't fit them - the same rattle on the bird was enough for me to blame the forks! That and it was 10pm, I had 2 bikes with no forks on and wanted to get back in the warm! For the sake of completeness the pikes probably need to go in the Merida too, but last night wasn't that night!

[Numnut]

I've managed to find a happy place with this bike - the forks still buzz if you lift the bike quickly after putting the front wheel down but now for normal riding they're fine. Embarrassingly for me, the knocking through the bars wasn't the headset or the forks - my light bracket had play in it, so every bump the light was moving about 2mm. Fixing that made everything feel much nicer.

The dropper is playing up with a little sag but I'm not sure I've not caused that as I've been messing with saddle height.

Otherwise just a nice injury to a fork lower (just above the sticker), looks like it's taken a stone, either that or it's falling apart!

fork.jpg (803.99 KiB) Viewed 1503 times

New rear tyre incoming for the drier weather and it should get a few months not entirely covered in mud.

[weeksy]

I've managed to find a happy place with this bike - the forks still buzz if you lift the bike quickly after putting the front wheel down but now for normal riding they're fine. Embarrassingly for me, the knocking through the bars wasn't the headset or the forks - my light bracket had play in it, so every bump the light was moving about 2mm. Fixing that made everything feel much nicer.

The dropper is playing up with a little sag but I'm not sure I've not caused that as I've been messing with saddle height.

Otherwise just a nice injury to a fork lower (just above the sticker), looks like it's taken a stone, either that or it's falling apart!

fork.jpg

New rear tyre incoming for the drier weather and it should get a few months not entirely covered in mud.

Just push the cable through a little bit at headset end into frame, it should give it the slack it needs

[Numnut]

The Merida has gone to a new home, time to look for something else! Probably going to be another Bird I think...