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Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2026 1:06 pm
by derek badger
So, the rain held off after my morning meetings and I managed to get out across the commons for 40 minutes to have a shake-down ride.

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Good things noticed in 5 miles
  • It feels so much lighter. 12.6kg vs 14.5 on the old bike.
  • It's noticeably smoother. 29 vs 27.5.
  • Climbs are easier than on the Bossnut.
Niggles noticed in 5 miles
  • Saddle needs moving back 5-10mm (done).
  • Might need a longer reach stem.
  • Grips are crap. Any recommendations?
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Anyway, I'm a happy bunny and hopefully will be knocking at an hour a day in my lunch break moving forward.

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2026 1:16 pm
by weeksy
DMR Deathgrips ;)

In all honesty it comes down to personal preference. I also like Deity Knuckledusters.

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2026 1:42 pm
by MingtheMerciless
ODI Vanquish grips, they've got D3O in to reduce buzz and everything I've got has them now.

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2026 1:56 pm
by derek badger
MingtheMerciless wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 1:42 pm ...they've got D3O in to reduce buzz...
Wasn't he in Star Wars?

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2026 2:02 pm
by Count Steer
derek badger wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 1:56 pm
MingtheMerciless wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 1:42 pm ...they've got D3O in to reduce buzz...
Wasn't he in Star Wars?
It's very heavy water. S'got extra D in. :thumbup:

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2026 3:59 pm
by Mr Moofo
Re the stem, you won’t need a longer one. It’s just the way bikes are now !

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2026 5:17 pm
by derek badger
Mr Moofo wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 3:59 pm Re the stem, you won’t need a longer one. It’s just the way bikes are now !
I don't mean a 1995 long reach, it's just I've got 29" legs so buy a small frame but often I need a few more mm reach.

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2026 5:19 pm
by weeksy
What reach and what diameter bars?

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2026 7:10 pm
by derek badger
weeksy wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 5:19 pm What reach and what diameter bars?
Bars are 9-degree backsweep, 15mm rise, 31.8mm dia.
Stem is currently 6deg rise.

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2026 7:12 pm
by derek badger
weeksy wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 1:16 pm DMR Deathgrips ;)

In all honesty it comes down to personal preference. I also like Deity Knuckledusters.
MingtheMerciless wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 1:42 pm ODI Vanquish grips, they've got D3O in to reduce buzz and everything I've got has them now.
Went with ODI Elite Motion waffles in the end.

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2026 7:51 pm
by weeksy
derek badger wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 7:10 pm
weeksy wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 5:19 pm What reach and what diameter bars?
Bars are 9-degree backsweep, 15mm rise, 31.8mm dia.
Stem is currently 6deg rise.
And how long is the stem you want ?

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 1:58 pm
by derek badger
weeksy wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 7:51 pm
derek badger wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 7:10 pm
weeksy wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 5:19 pm What reach and what diameter bars?
Bars are 9-degree backsweep, 15mm rise, 31.8mm dia.
Stem is currently 6deg rise.
And how long is the stem you want ?
Hmmm, its 40mm from centre of stem to centre of bars currently, so I'd be looking at 50-55mm with maybe a lower (4-5 deg) rise to account.

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 2:02 pm
by weeksy
i'll have a peek in the spares box and see what stems i've got in case they're compatible for you.

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 2:35 pm
by derek badger
weeksy wrote: Thu Feb 12, 2026 2:02 pm i'll have a peek in the spares box and see what stems i've got in case they're compatible for you.
Thanks mate. I checked my spares and found two 70mm ones so I just ordered a 50mm zero rise Chinese one from Amazon to see how it fits.

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 4:35 pm
by Mr Moofo
derek badger wrote: Thu Feb 12, 2026 1:58 pm
weeksy wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 7:51 pm
derek badger wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 7:10 pm

Bars are 9-degree backsweep, 15mm rise, 31.8mm dia.
Stem is currently 6deg rise.
And how long is the stem you want ?
Hmmm, its 40mm from centre of stem to centre of bars currently, so I'd be looking at 50-55mm with maybe a lower (4-5 deg) rise to account.
Lets see what Weeky comes up with - I may have something somewhere ...

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 4:48 pm
by weeksy
Yeah, i'm a no. I gave all of them to my LBS/mechanic just in case he had any basket cases that needed parts.

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 5:38 pm
by derek badger
weeksy wrote: Thu Feb 12, 2026 4:48 pm Yeah, i'm a no. I gave all of them to my LBS/mechanic just in case he had any basket cases that needed parts.
Thanks for checking boss.

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 7:05 pm
by Mr Moofo
derek badger wrote: Thu Feb 12, 2026 5:38 pm
weeksy wrote: Thu Feb 12, 2026 4:48 pm Yeah, i'm a no. I gave all of them to my LBS/mechanic just in case he had any basket cases that needed parts.
Thanks for checking boss.
I will now go and have a look

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2026 4:53 pm
by Mr Moofo
derek badger wrote: Thu Feb 12, 2026 5:38 pm
weeksy wrote: Thu Feb 12, 2026 4:48 pm Yeah, i'm a no. I gave all of them to my LBS/mechanic just in case he had any basket cases that needed parts.
Thanks for checking boss.
I have a Nukeproof 50mm stem ..
Can you PM me an email and i can send a picture through ?
Where abouts are you?

Re: New bike options - budget hard tail

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2026 6:06 pm
by mboy
90% certain I've got a 50mm stem for 31.8mm bars in the garage somewhere...