Long term review
This is John's Joker, I guess he's Aeon cult member #2 haha. Probably suffering from a bit of cabin fever too. At his request, here is my long awaited long term review...
The good ...
Isis frame is really sweet, there is no flexing or bobbing even on hard climbs. It handles surprisingly light on singletrack, stiff like on rails in corners, ton of wheel clearance and is really confident on descents. Its so forgiving, like riding a riding a smart quarterhorse, the bike tracks so well even when I'm not picking the best line. On one descent, the trail petered out to tall weeds. When I got up close and personal, the weeds were covering a lot of forest debris. I charged through like I was riding a stallion, branches and stuff snapping underneath me. Totally awesome.
I've just finished my winter tear down and the frame is pristine. The bearings are still tight with no play. Amazingly enough, after a season of use and abuse. The only scratches were only on the stickers. The anodized finish is really impressive. I recommend using a silicon spray on the anodized finish. Wax leaves a white residue in the pores.
Phil Wood bottom bracket, super stiff, no creaks.
Chris King headset, so smooth. After riding a while, the headset will pack down and some play may be felt during braking. Retighten and add additional headset spacers if necessary.
Chris King discotek hubs, I love the instantaneous engagement. The hubs will wear in and develop some lateral play. Loosen the allen bolts and FINGER TIGHTEN the cone adjuster until snug. Back off a tiny bit and retighten the allen bolts. Just tightening the allen bolts will without snugging up the cone adjuster will NOT reduce lateral play. With proper adjustment, there is NO lateral play in these hubs.
Sun rhynolites, takes a bashing and shrugs it off. I've hammered these rims on curbs totally wrong and it just keeps spinning true.
WTB tyrannoraptors. Big bite, sure-footed on rocks and roots and no pinch flats at low pressure. Absolutely terrible in mud.
Sachs chain, easy on/off for quick cleaning. I have two which are alternated between rides.
Raceface cranks and rings, totally solid feel and no creaks.
Titec hell bentbar, no flex when I am hauling on a climb.
Thomson seatpost, stays put and easy to adjust.
Marzhocchi Z1 Alloy, very rigid and confident will just soak up everything and yet doesn't bob. I'm amazed at the high tide line after some rides, I'd never though I would use so much travel but I guess I did.
Cateye Velo 1, very accurate and works flawlessly.
The bad ...
The ISIS will chain slap severely if you ride in the big/big combination. The water bottle mounting holes are in a terrible position. You must be a very thirsty contortionist to get any use out of the water bottle mounts. The bike is physically heavy.
SRAM rockets. The most annoying thing is that when I really haul on the handlebars during a climb, I often shift by mistake because the halfpipe takes up too much grip real estate. That usually stops me dead in my tracks and I have to dab. I've never noticed this before using Gripshift shifters but I'm riding stuff I've previously walked. The little rubber stubs on the ends of the bars keep slipping off. I'm going to replace these with the 2001 shorty version.
There is very little clearance between the spokes and the back of the Hope C2 calipers. A bit of mud is all it takes to start scuffing. Chris King has promised to look into this problem for months. Their initial suggestion was for me to ask Magura. That was pretty weird since I didn't have any Magura parts on my bike. I suggested they make a thicker disk adapter so there would be adequate clearance. A few months later, their tech support decided that the solution is for me to purchase a thicker disk adapter available "sometime before Christmas". Of course, its winter already. Bastards.
Well riding season is upon us and the best solution Chris King can come up with is for me to switch to ASYM rims in the front. I'm going to try out a Bontrager Mustang ASYM rim in the front. That should buy me enough spoke clearance to stop the rubbing.
Mud and Tyranoraptors don't mix. These tires that really shine in the roots and rocks become helpless in mud. The mud just packs in and never sheds. Zero traction. Zip. Doubly bad in the fall when the leaves and forest debris stick to the mud. Suddenly, there is this giant wad of muck + roadkill wrapped around the tire and crammed in the brake arch.
The ugly ...
Lizard skin chainstay protector. Its an exercise in futility to try and wrap that "jumbo" piece of neoprene on the chainstay. Spare yourself the aggravation.