Observed Trials banner

Upgrading, woth it?

3K views 21 replies 11 participants last post by  will4eva7k 
#1 ·
Hey Thanks for the help starting me off still practicing balance:)

right at the moment i have a stock onza t-rex, i have come across some australian bike trials wet sites, they have some pretty cheap frames with free postage, i'm really loving trials and i think i should be learning on a more trials specific geos, (this a good idea?)
The frames i was looking at are at

http://www.trialsden.com/index.php/products/frames/26-frames.html
Any stand outs? Even worth doing? Or do i shoot up to a complete new build?
(i know that most my parts wont transfer to a new frame)
 
#2 ·
YES!!

From what I know Onza's are ok to start on but something more specialised wout be alot better.

Will at trialsden has some awesome stuff. I have ridden a complete Dob Nova and Neon Bow he has built up. Both felt good, the Neon was one of the best bikes I've ridden and only $450 on there at the moment!!

Rockman Slate 2's are going to be unreal, but maybe not so good to learn on because they are really light and won't like dents too much though.

Anyway, speak to Will at trialsden and he can discuss it with you, he's really good with things like this!

Do you know what frames you like? Are you tall/short? Do you want to stick with stock (they're better so you know you want to)?

I definately think to upgrade though. Bike geometry is the biggest factor in how good your bike is. If you put pro parts on shit geo, the bike would still be shit. But if you put crap parts on pro geo, it would still be aweosme.
 
G
#4 ·
I agree with Ogre. You're still learning the basics, right now the main thing holding you back is your skill level. Save your money and ride your current bike. When the frame starts holding you back, you'll know.
 
#7 ·
I know if I could afford it, I'd upgrade whenever I could, or be like netto and always have a new bike, hahaha.

but like Rush said, if you can swing it, do it, but in all reality, you probably don't need it just yet.
 
#8 ·
As has been said, the frame itself will do you fine for a very long time - upgrade the little things that make the biggest difference! Onza forks weigh an absolute tonne, swap them for something lighter and you'll notice a huge difference in the way the bike rides. Likewise, get a better bar and stem that suits you; make it your bike and it'll help you out no end.
 
#9 ·
Well this is my bike atm (getting another set on TNN pads for rear)

22-18
150mm rear hub spacing
0 bb rise


I have grinded my rims running better pads and i have some money burning holes in my pockets, where should i go from here upgrade wise? thinking a ddg hub wont be good enough when i get to dropping, and sugestions? King Because?
 
#11 ·
Actually true, if bike not holding you back, don't upgrade. Your best things to upgrade would be things to change the feel a little, like bar and stem setup. If you wanted to go lighter, there would be no point with that geo because it would still ride heavy.

I have a king for sale at the moment but if your frame spacing is 150mm then it won't work! It's 135 on the king, unless I read your post wrong?
 
#12 ·
i have some money burning holes in my pockets, where should i go from here upgrade wise?
I'd tweak the geo first to my riding, spending time on adjusting to find if it indeed suits (you) or there could be a better combination (free). IE bars sweep, stem angle (spacer) etc.

After that I'd first go to get more reliable parts IE better drive train then go to move on by making it a lighter setup IE smaller ratio (threaded cranks saves a lot of weight for example) then change the frame depends on how much its burning

I'd doubt thats 150 mm spacing :dunno:
 
#13 ·
thanks st patrick i decided to go measure it myself instead of reading off some guys post and it is infact 135, opening up quite a few more options for parts.

pretty set on getting a new hub 32 hole hope or king one and a new set of forks nerver realised mine weigh 1.35kgs!
 
#14 ·
I've kinda been going down this path myself. I got a good bike. It didn't come with good brakes, so I put HS33's on it that I got for free. Changed the rear tire (it came with it an extra RQ). I changed the bars (for ones I had in my shed). The first time I rode rocks, I bent the shit out of the tensioner, so I bought a Yess for durability and performance. I ordered some old school Maggie Mounts from brycer1968 (cheap) that don't use the spherical bushings, and an Adamant 4 bolt booster. Most of the changes were are out of necessity. Anything else has to bring a measured improvement to MY ability, like CNC'd backing plates for the brake pads. The next thing might be a slighty blingy lighter front wheel and lighter front tire. I'm trying not to get into the $100 at a time habit of upgraditus....
 
#15 · (Edited)
Hey Hrob

Upgrades are always really awesome! However, at the same time, they may also be unnecessary at that point in time.

The Onza frame is quite a nice frame to start riding on. It's much better than most frames and bikes of us riders had when we first started back in the day.

The T-Rex should suit you well as your level of riding increases. You can always upgrade a frame anytime. But if the piggy bank doesnt like being touched, as others mentioned above, when the time for a frame change comes, or if you're tall and the frame makes you feel cramped.- you will know it.

Playing around with your bike setup is the best way to change the overall feel and how it rides - it doesn't cost anything other than a few minutes with a hex key in your hand :drool:

What mtnbikerfred said it very true indeed. Small upgrades can do so much to the bike. You'd be amazed how much of a difference can be made with simple minor upgrades such as
- brakes or brake pads
- bar/stem
- tyres
- freewheel/rear hub - if you're considering a king - definitely talk to pav. i also have a king i may sell

Hope you may find some value in this post.

There are still lots of items that are yet to put added to our product catalogue on www.trialsden.com.

If you do require anything from TrialsDEN, or have any queries, you know where to find me :bigthumb:.

- Will
 
#16 ·
Seems a good idea to play around with headsets bars and spacers, etc but they cut the top of my fork really short, so ill have to wait for that new mist fork:drool:.
Grinded rims (x)
New pads alloy packings (x)
Higher headset (x)
brake booster(x)
new hub ( )
and i know my tires and wheels weigh a tonne, so looks like a comple wheel build, yeah be saving for a nice hope II trails:)
 
#17 ·
The MIST forks are arriving soon, very soon :)

The Hope 2 trials is a good hub, but consider saving up a little bit more and going front freewheel.

Most of the modern frames are designed to work with an 18t front freewheel/cog.

So later down the track, if you upgrade your frame, you'll already have everything you need to build up the new frame.
 
#19 ·
Front Freewheel eh? just out of interest how much mould it cost to do that, cause checked my hub and its screweeeed.

lets see i would need
rim 26" 32hole
Singlespeed rear hub
new bb
spokes
new cranks
bashguard
sproket and cogs....

Sounds pricey
It might seem pricey BUT these 'up to date' parts can be transfered over to any recent / common trials frame. :) I would go for the echo 108 freewheel if i were u, good investment.
 
#21 ·
point but to buy inavidually probably would cost as much as a new setup?
not really.

If you buy a complete with good parts, the price of these parts will be included in the bike.

This is true for trials den at least. Their prices are really good all the time and they're getting alot of new stuff if you look on their site. I have alot on order!

I am getting basically a new bike and it will be awesome comp-level stuff for not that much in the grand scheme of things. It's like 1400 for me to upgrade to a slate 2 with single wall rims and the lot that should weigh less than 9kg with aweosme geo too.

To buy a complete koxx or atomz like that would cost at least 2500.

Also, with relevance to you, I'm switching to front freewheel as part of it too.

When you factor in selling some old parts, if you can, then it doesnt work out too bad. I sold my old spare disc brake and trying to sell my king and stuff now. Once it all goes, it brings the cost down a bit.

Just keep saving and hold off on aynthing until you need it, then you can do a nice big upgrade or get a whole new bike. New parts should last a while. Lots of my new parts should last for a few years
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top