Monty X-alp nearing the end. What next?

[ACR]

I recently put several large dents into the downtube of my Monty X-alp, and since I want to go 4-bolt magura, i think it's time for a new frame/bike. What I had in mind were either the complete Echo Team from webcyclery for $1000 or the Zoo Lynx frame and fork for $425. I would use the Echo as it comes, and if I got the Lynx, i would transfer my parts over from the X-alp. Anyone have any advice, or other recommendation? I can't spend more than $1000, the cost of the Echo.

[Elan]

buy an echo team frame (long or short, depending on your height), most if not all of your stuff should cross over. does the x alp have a 19" rear wheel? if not, they are like $120 from WC.

i dont think anybody has zoo lynx in stock anymore. if so, definately go with a Team, they are top mod frames

[Janson]

The Alp should have the 19" wheel. My '03 model had anyway.

Echo Team frames are nice. I agree with Elan, get one.

[ACR]

buy an echo team frame (long or short, depending on your height), most if not all of your stuff should cross over. does the x alp have a 19" rear wheel? if not, they are like $120 from WC.

i dont think anybody has zoo lynx in stock anymore. if so, definately go with a Team, they are top mod framesI'm 5"10, would a short be better suited to my height? The x-alp has the 19" rear wheel so I guess that will work. Webcyclery has some sort of closeout on the Lynx frames. I've read that they are nearly identical to the X-lite.

[Janson]

I would buy the long frame.
Also, don't get the Lynx frame. Team is much better, and definitely worth the extra cash!

[Elan]

yeah, go for the long, its 1033, you alp should be like 990... definately be WAYYY more comfy at your height.

[ACR]

I've crossed the lynx out as an option. Looked around a bit and now the decision is between the Echo Team and Zoo! Python. Both are $525 frame only.

[Janson]

Length wise, the Team frame is just between the two Python frames. The CLS model is 1045mm, while the YaoZhi model is 1005mm..

The chainstays on the Craig Lee Scott model are about 10mm longer than the Team/Python YaoZhi too.

I'd go for the Team frame. Shorter chain stays, cleaner looking, and long wheelbased. Unless the head angles are different between the Python CLS and the Echo Team, they're both very similar top-tube length wise, simply because the team wheelbase + 10mm = CLS wheelbase, where the 10mm is the extra chainstay length on the CLS.

[ACR]

just measured the wheelbase on my Alp and it's 977MM... pretty short...

[AgrAde]

teh team kicks arses.

[ACR]

Are there any weak spots on the factory Echo Team complete bike from Webcyclery? Looks like I am going to be saving for that.

[Elan]

get some try-all or maxxis tires, looks like other than that everything should be bareable or better.

edit- or you can pay $800 more for koxx stickers, try-all tires ,a louise front brake and try-all bars... you can probably get those seperate for no more than $300 though.

[ACR]

or you can pay $800 more for koxx stickers, try-all tires ,a louise front brake and try-all bars.sounds like a great deal... I can understand the tire & brake upgrade, but why different bars? are the try-all bars wider?

[Elan]

imo the try-all bars are 1000000X more comfortable than the echos...if you are used to riding a monty though, you wont notice a difference when you go to echo bars.

[trialsbug]

The Echo bars are noticeably wider then the Monty bars, but they feel similar. I personally prefer the Echo bar over the Try-All because the Echo has more sweep.

The only thing I would consider changing on a complete Team would be the tires (get Maxxis Creepy Crawlers) and the free wheel (get a WI trials FW). If you are already at your limit, then save up for tires first and then change the FW when it dies.

BTW, I am 5'10" and I ride a long Team. I am very happy with it.

[AgrAde]

ACS + thin lube + spot welded = suficcent freewheel for anyone.

don't even think of upgrading the freewheel until it dies, it'll last a long time and shouldn't skip. unless you are silly.

[ACR]

The Echo bars are noticeably wider then the Monty bars, but they feel similar. I personally prefer the Echo bar over the Try-All because the Echo has more sweep.

The only thing I would consider changing on a complete Team would be the tires (get Maxxis Creepy Crawlers) and the free wheel (get a WI trials FW). If you are already at your limit, then save up for tires first and then change the FW when it dies.

BTW, I am 5'10" and I ride a long Team. I am very happy with it.I was thinking that I'd spring for the $80 freewheel and booster package from webcyclery. Are the creepy crawlers THAT good that I should forego the 72pt freewheel?

[ACR]

ACS + thin lube + spot welded = suficcent freewheel for anyone.

don't even think of upgrading the freewheel until it dies, it'll last a long time and shouldn't skip. unless you are silly.i lubed mine up and it hasn't skipped anymore. Used to always skip before. However, the 72pt freewheel is hard to resist.

[Janson]

Creepy Crawler tyres rule! Get them for sure!
I'd personally stick with the ACS freewheel for a while.. I ran my first for a year, but changed cranks, so I got another. Used it for a few months, no problems at all. Just loctite or spot weld the lockring tight, and take it easy the first hours of riding and you'll be fine.

[ACR]

definitely going with the Echo Team from webcyclery. my x-alp is up for sale so there's no going back :bigthumb:

[Ross W.]

should sell easily with several large dents in the downtube.

[ACR]

check out the buy and sell, the dents ended up not being dents at all. Still selling it anyways.

[Ross W.]

Isee. I am glad that's all cleared up.

[ACR]

yeah, I hate buying misrepresented stuff so i wanted to clear that up.