How long to ride the x-alp

[tjlr]

I have been riding for a little over one year and I have a few questions. I am wondering when is the best time to upgrade to a new bike. Lately I have been wanting to buy a new bike. Like the title says I have an x-alp magura. I have upgraded the rear brake to a hs33, ground the rims etc. I am not by any means riding at a level that is above the montys capabilities, but I guess what I am asking is if it is better to just ride the wheels off of it until it gives up. Or just upgrade now and not look back??
I am getting to where I can peddle up about 3 ft almost everytime, and about the same on my side hops. I am now trying to learn to gap to front wheel, and up to front wheel and it just feels wierd. I am only like 5'10" tall and the bike just feels sort of small. And the front hs11 brake just doesn't seem to hold at all when I gap to front (and I am just doing small gaps). I am sure that I could ride alot smoother, but I am still just learning. So am I just being stupid to think that I need a new bike or not.
And also I was wondering what your thoughts are on MODS vs STOCKS. I haven't had the chance to ride a stock trials bike (not alot of other riders in my area) so I don't really know what one I will have more fun on.

thanks

[manimal]

what I did when I moved on from my x-alp, was upgraded all the parts to decent ones, and then got a new frame. which I thought was a good way of doing it (provided you stick with mods).

I like the x-alp, but its definately shorter than my preferences.

when you upgrade to a new frame, you usually take what you like and dislike about the frame, you currently ride, into consideration. so if its too short, you look for a longer frame, if the bb is too high, you look for something lower, etc. (pretty cut and dry). try to keep parts out of your decision for upgrading, because parts are less of a major change than the frame. good parts will be good parts on any frame, shit parts are just that.. shit..

there's no specific time to change frames (aside from the obvious cracks or damages). If you like the x-alp, and it feels comfortable, stick with it. if you don't like the looks of it, or the geo of it, or think it'll break, then upgrade!

as for stock vs. mod.. you can't really tell until you try both, and even then its hard to say. I ride a mod, but rode stock for a year on a woodman and loved it. but I rode my buddy's caisso and hated it. its personal preference I suppose.

[GarthMc]

I'd say that if you're doing those sort of moves on an x-alp then now is the time to upgrade, as you say, you'll never look back.

As for mod vs stock I personally don't like mods, I like to be able to roll over natty a little more than a mod can, and they all just feel to small for me (I'm 6'2") HTH

-Garth

[goose]

You could get a new fork and front brake now, and upgrade the frame and other stuff later! I have tended to upgrade slowly over time, as it's easier to spend smaller amounts, and I enjoy seeing small changes every now and again. Just a suggestion.

oh, RE mod vs stock. I'm 6'4", and although i found some stuff easier on the mod, like backhopping and sidehopping, I still prefer the feel of a stock. The mod was my first bike, but I didn't have it long because of the steep head angle, and rigid fork. I ride a shock now, and wouldn't go back.

[Meteor]

depends on the amount of money you want to spent for a new bike i guess..
i would personaly go for a new bike, since i did that 2 weeks ago and a whole new fresh bike feels so good :)

[modtire]

Ride until you have pushed the limits of the geometry then change to break through the plateau. With a short mod get your sidehops and bunnyhops dialed and learn to wheelswitch as high as that frame allows (unless you are Vincent the length of the cockpit limits those at a certain point). When you are ready to evolve step up.

[Gunner]

i think its evolving time!!

Because your even asking this question your definatly ready...if the moneys there go for it! And the moves your doing on that thing (3') are definatly reaching that bikes limits

[trialsrider50]

I'd upgrade but don't go crazy. try to hook up with an echo team or a zhi or something. a progressive but sturdy frame. keep the parts you can and wait for specials.

[tjlr]

wheel switches are very ackward on my setup right now. If I do upgrade I was looking at getting an echo team from webcyclery. Is the geometry of that bike going to throw me off, or help me. What length should I get?? like I said I am only like 5'10".
thanks for the feed back.

[tjlr]

If I just get a new frame, will the crank and bb and forks work in the echo? you know what I mean, taking the stuff off of my monty.

[modtire]

It will throw you off and help you. At first it will feel akward but as you learn to use the bikes different angles and increased clearence you will find yourself holding moves you would have lost before, but having to work a little harder on the short bike moves. In a week or two you will find your style adapting and you will look at lines in different ways. Then you get to push that bike tot he limits, rinse and repeat.

[trialsrider50]

I'm 5'10" as well and I've got an echo team 05' long on the way. should be here anyday. I'll give you a review on what it's like. I also came from a shorter bike. I think the zhi frame is a good bet because it's not super long wheelbase but has shorter chainstays. echo teams are pretty proven bikes though. the echo lite is a pretty nice setup as well.

[stickyworm]

Monty and echo are mostly if not completely compatible for parts. As for the limits of the bike that people are talking about, I would encourage you to look up some of ot pi's old videos. The bike doesn't limit you, but the potential in a lighter bike with geometry that suits you is much higher.

One possible issue is the front crank on a x-alp uses a 22 tooth cog that is attached to the crank. This will likely conflict with most frame's bash guard. In light of a possible new drive train, it may be cheaper to buy a complete or look for used drivetrains.

[tjlr]

I'm 5'10" as well and I've got an echo team 05' long on the way. should be here anyday. I'll give you a review on what it's like. I also came from a shorter bike. I think the zhi frame is a good bet because it's not super long wheelbase but has shorter chainstays. echo teams are pretty proven bikes though. the echo lite is a pretty nice setup as well.

I am excited for you. You will have to keep me posted on how it rides!! Post some pics when it comes if you can.

[tjlr]

I would encourage you to look up some of ot pi's old videos.


I did a search for "ot pi" but I didn't get any results. I know that the bike doesn't make the rider, but I also don't ride my hard tail freeride bike doing trials (anymore). I bent the rear derailer the first day that I had it on a little trials course that I have outback. I am just sort of looking for a good excuse to have a brand new bike :D . But on the other had I am not made of money.

[stickyworm]

http://www.observedtrials.net/vb/showthread.php?t=22668&highlight=video

[toyota200x]

OT PI is amazing. I have never heard of this guy but wow. My jaw droped when he did the hook in this vid......:eek5:. I am shocked at what he was doing in 1991.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BgV2xIPreg

I wonder where that guy is now.

[tjlr]

Ya that gut is incredible. I feel really stupid thinking that my bike may have been holding my progression back. wow ot pi rocks!!!

[stickyworm]

The only way an x-alp will hold you back is if you let it, or if it's build effects your confidence. For instance my model does not cover the chain ring with the bash plate... Duh! Stupidist design in the world. So it has really limited my confidence when riding conctrete and rock. I have bent the stupid thing back so many times, I just bought a new bike. Hopefully here in a week.
Cheers
-Josh-

[tjlr]

My chain ring insn't covered either. I have bent it quite a few times also. Is there an easy way to remedy this or am I just going to have to get creative?

[stickyworm]

I stacked up washers on the guard mount. It put the plate low enough to protect the chain ring, but it still doesn't cover the cain ring.

Other ideas I've heard are to bolt a bash ring on the chain ring, or to bolt another piece of steel to the current bash plate, covering the chain ring.

[zorak]

If I just get a new frame, will the crank and bb and forks work in the echo? you know what I mean, taking the stuff off of my monty.

well... the bb is on your monty is to small in diamiter for the echo team. and if you get a new bb, you have to get new cranks unless you can find a square taper that will fit the team. that puts you about $400 into drive terain. the echo team bb is 68mm in diamiter. i think and the monty is somwere between 30-35mm.
im in the exact situation.

hope it helped.

[tjlr]

yah. Thanks zorak, that helps me out a lot. I was almost ready to order a new frame. I was planning on getting a new frame, bb, crank.............then I thought that I would need a fork to match, then a disc front wheel, then a new back wheel to match, with a fixed cog of course to go along with the front free wheel crank, then new bars, stem front brake etc. So to make a long long long story short, I will ride the crap out of my monty for the time being, then I think that in 2007 I will make some changes. Probably go to a stock, but I am still a little undecided. I will then purchase a new complete bike. wether it be from good'ol webcyclery or maybe a descent used bike (if I can find something close to what I THINK I want).

[stickyworm]

well... the bb is on your monty is to small in diamiter for the echo team. and if you get a new bb, you have to get new cranks unless you can find a square taper that will fit the team. that puts you about $400 into drive terain. the echo team bb is 68mm in diamiter. i think and the monty is somwere between 30-35mm.
im in the exact situation.

hope it helped.

Have you ever actually measured 68 mm?! The spec 68 mm refers to the length of the tubular casing that holds the bottom bracket. That is perpendicular to the cranks, and not the diameter(correct spelling) of the bottom bracket.

And having measured, this is the same size as the x-alp mod's bottom bracket size. By the way, almost everything on a monty will fit an echo, because the very design was to be compatible. The x-alp is a 28mmx68mm, Check with the store you were ordering from and find out the real size of the echo bb.

[tjlr]

Thanks stickyworm. How about the width of the BB? I guess that I could just ask the frame manufacturers like you said.