madscoob

iTrader: (3)

have just been given a GT kcr4000 full suspension mountain bike, by the sister inlaw, anyone know if it's worth fixing up it needs a new front quick release spindle, a good clean up and a service, and where to get spares from please if anyone is in the know

dpb

Bottom Line:***
Hey stuff how rides it matt black looks menacing and you can creep around in the dark in stealth mode. No body wants to nick it in case it bites and by the way it's bloody heavy and on road you bouce along like on a rocking chair

dpb

I'm sure get quick release somewhere,even for a '99 model

My road bike is year 2000

madscoob

iTrader: (3)

if aint that heavy lol, it's got bomber forks halo wheels etc, just wondered where to get spares if you know, have tryed googling it but can't find pictures of the exact same bike

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

I have a Kona coiler and that's heavy, I'm sure cheap bikes won't be as heavy as mine but cheap bikes won't have 7" of front travel

gary77

iTrader: (1)

only advice i can give is join a mountain bike forum.

i picked up a specialized epic comp for £90 from what i can tell from googling it its pre 2005 because it has deore brakes not juicy and the fox float rear shock is slightly different . i paid £10 for a specialised seat and random peddles , had to pay £20 for a pump for the suspension , did i get a bargain, i think so .

if all it needs is a spindle and service then id say its worth having

madscoob

iTrader: (3)

thanks gary thats what i needed to hear, just been out in the garage and put it back together, i noticed it has deore hydraulic brakes, bomber c4 forks, halo wheels, the only thing that is wrong with it is that the front quick release spindle is broken on the nut end, not that the wheel would come off as the wheel is in bearings mounted hump back bridge type mounts on the forks, any ideas where to get a new spindle from ?

imprezagaz

iTrader: (2)

I use chainreactioncycles.com and Paulscycles.com

andy97

iTrader: (1)

See here for comments on common issues


http://www.mtbr.com/cat/bikes/bike-f...716_95crx.aspx

CrisPDuk

Try ebay too, it is a good source of parts for older bikes.

If the QR spindle is the normal 6mm diameter through type, you can still get them from your local bike shop for next to nothing.

madscoob

iTrader: (3)

they are 6mm cheers for that, ryan is taking the bike into town after school to find out how much the bits are

Matteeboy

It's getting hard to find parts for 26" wheel bikes now the marketing idiots have decided we must have 29" or 27.5" wheels.

Most pointless "innovation" ever.

Reef

iTrader: (2)

Really? I'm looking to get my first Mountain Bike and am being told to get a 29in.

Can I ask why you say this?

Sorry to hijack this thread

Matteeboy

Because the industry was struggling to sell enough bikes partly because people like me upgraded worn parts which were very cheap.

But with a new wheel size, you need new EVERYTHING.

29" bikes roll slightly better but they are far less agile, look like Penny Farthings (well half of one) and have much less mud clearance. If you are fairly new to it, they aren't such a bad idea but you'd save a fortune going for a far less trendy 26". If you really want the new sizes,27.5" (also called 650b) is a much better idea.

Reef

iTrader: (2)

Ahh ok.

Specialized are doing offers at the moment on Rockhoppers and i'm thinking of getting one.

andy97

iTrader: (1)

29" so much better for rolling over bumps and lumps. 27.5 for agile movements. My Kona Honzo is pretty agile having short chain stays. I used it on a cyclocross race last year which was extremely technical. It swallowed up all the bumps, never once felt like I would fall over the handlebars unlike many riders using conventional cyclocross bikes, eating dirt on the steep descents.

Bikeradar has a good write up on the different wheels sizes. Apart from very steep climbs , 29er wins on almost other aspect of riding. Unless you're a pro of course!

Matteeboy

The missus has an older one (26" wheels) and it's great VFM. A decent brand but I won't buy another since they switched to 29" only. We did have three (I turned my Stumpjumper into a Cotic Soul!).

29ers are also poor for tight switchbacks, don't hop as well,are harder to manual, etc. Fine for many riders but myself and loads of other fairly swift riders are sticking firmly to 26".

Reef

iTrader: (2)

Thanks guys, I've just bought the Rockhopper.

I do mostly bridle paths and the like so hopefully it will be ok.

Matteeboy

It'll be fine for that; enjoy!

CrisPDuk

Well said Matteeboy

I'm another one who's sticking to 26" for the present, I'll be leaving the 29ers to the 'got to have the latest' brigade, along with the 1x11 gearing too

If the 29ers were so good at everything bar climbing Andy, surely the Downhill crew would be using them by now, but they've all gone (or are going) down the 650B/27.5 route, which I think is the way I'll probably end up going when I finally wear the prophet out

andy97

iTrader: (1)

I dont doubt a marginal performance benefit for the pro riders in each discipline with different wheels sizes. I am talking about the majority of riders who will ride trails in woods or around lakes. 29er roll so much better over bumps and lumps. Like I said if you're a pro rider go for the 27.5 for downhill but chose 29 if you're an average Joe rider. My mountain bike 29er is 3 years old now, it came with a single crank, I converted it to a twin and I can use it anywhere from road to riding up 45% inclines off road. I have just adapted my di2 road setup to take a 11-40 XTR cass. I can now ride up 40+% hills at still keep cadence at 85 rpm. Everyone has different needs but most will be happy with do it all compromise.

Matteeboy

But for the last 30+ years, EVERYONE rode 26" wheels. Why the sudden change? Why is 26" suddenly pro only? Have people changed shape?

Nope, the industry put a massive collective effort into marketing the nuts off a new thing; something that needed a whole new bike.

It's nonsense; rolls over bumps better? Unless you can ride over fallen tree with one (you can't) no one NEEDS to roll over bumps better. It's just more weight, less clearance, less tyre choice, more daftness; of course the industry and their lap dog media found "benefits" - it's all part of the hype.

My 26" wheel Cotic Soul with Fox Floats, top end kit all over and the perfect blend (for me) of strength, lightness, agility AND speed is all the bike I ever need; I'm stockpiling parts to keep it going until I'm too old to ride. It also looks damn good, not some Noddy bike.

Same with 2x10/11; yep, what we all needed was an even THINNER chain... Doh!!!

hodgy0_2

presumably you have to watch it all on a "curved" TV too

andy97

iTrader: (1)

It's hardly non sense. Larger diameter will/does travel more smoothly over terrain. Yes there is an element of selling new bikes, but you can't deny the fact an will suit the majority of riders. Keep stock piling parts if you wish.

Matteeboy

I ride with a lot of people; mostly good riders. Not one has a 29er. A few have gone 27.5/650b but not 29.

Besides, you **** your head on branches that were previously high enough to duck under.

jayallen

iTrader: (31)

I've been riding a 650b for just over a year now and my wife a 29er. Although I do prefer the feel of the 650b I can quite happily jump on her Cannondale 29er and have a blast on that.

Getting on a 26" feels really small now and I don't think I'd ever buy another 26" bike.

CrisPDuk

I've tried 29ers on demo days and have to say I have yet to be impressed by one, I find them too long, too unwieldy when things get twisty, and more reluctant to change direction when the descending gets fast.

Granted some of that may be because my bike has been over two years in the building, and fits me like a glove & no demo bike is ever going to match up on one or two rides, but it can't all be explained by that.

PS: How is the Cotic Soul running Mattee? You'll be happy to know those SID forks I had off you are still earning their keep, now on a friends hardtail

Matteeboy

The Cotic is spot on for me; it's a fairly short reach so not quite such a mile muncher but it super agile, had that lovely steel spring to it and on 120mm forks, feels just right. I don't ride it as much as I used to (running, surfing, swimming more) but when I do, it's ideal.

Really glad the SIDS are still okay!!