As previously featured my black Surly Karate Monkey has finally become a rigid drop bar geared 29er-also known as a Monster-cross, though i have no intention of racing the thing!...
So with the monster cross 29er whole thing wrapped up in my N+1 bike collection i needed to put together a front suspension forked regular moutainbike-in my case this is a 29er steel framed wide rim 29er,,,
I gave up trying to find a secondhand Surly Karate Monkey, folks just don`t sell them often, prob as you can set them up in so many ways as i have done. So i bought a cheap On One Inbred 29er frame to build,
It was a nice and cheap build with this frame, but for not a lot more a secondhand KM would ride so much better, weeks after i bought the Inbred frame mate Sanny said our friend Gary still has a grey un built Monkey frame set still in the box that i previously i thought had been sold,
A deal was struck, i have since sold the On One frame and loads of other stuff on eBay to cover the costs and i bought the frame set...
Time to swap the frames over and use the 50mm wide Surly Rabbit Hole wheels for a bit more float and grip to the 29er tyres...time for a cider or two during the build as Friday evening...
1mm offset `Works Components` headset to slow the steering slightly...
Other than that and the secondhand Rabbit Hole rims the build is basic budget parts, £100 Rock Shok fork,
Shimano LX Deore 3x9 drive chain and cranks...
:)
Loads of frame clearance on the KM with the wide rims puffing up the 2.2" tyres...
And good Tyre/chain clearance...
and chain line...
This is something Surly are real good at doing...
Nearly finished!
The KM frame also suits the JanDD frame pack better than the OO Inbred did, ideal for keeping pump, tools, spare tube and light battery clean and dry winter riding...
After the pics above i swapped out the flat bars for 720mm wide 50mm risers as i prefer them, alloy pedals cause the plastic flat pedals are slippy in the wet, and added a rear Crud Catcher, and borrowed the Surly Monkey Nuts from the KramPug to space the rear wheel for the front mech to clear, another pair is ordered and waiting on delivery from Charlie Bikemonger,...
Quick shakedown ride around the local Garleton Hills and through some of the woods and all was well...
Here is some film of the swap over build and test ride, no nailing it this time, but instead down a really steep off camber descent of loose stones and wet roots after the previous evenings rain. This bike deft needs mud tyres after riding the fatbikes on grippy Nates!,
When did you last here Hendrix on Radio 1?... :)
Second song is `Twice` by Little Dragon
As usual with Youtube click on the cog icon to view in HD...
Or watch on Vimeo with no annoying no pop up adds and the film goes straight to HD quality...
More soon...
Hello, nice build. Those 2.2 tyres do plump up big on the rabbit holes - do they ride like a bigger volumes tyre?
ReplyDeleteI have a KM Ops, with flow ex rims and schwalbe NN 2.6 which I'm very pleased with. Def a worthwhile upgrade, the extra volume really does make a huge difference. Never ridden a plus tyre but that's the closest I can get in 29, but clearance not ideal. Rubs sometimes when frame flexes, and not enough clearance in mud, the NNs seem to collect mud badly and has clogged completely.
Debating different tyres, or even wheels. Thinking of dropping down to 27.5, I have some flow ex rims in 27.5, or even alpkit rumpus which have a 45mm rim. What size tyre do you reckon a KM could take? Surly didn't think a full plus one would go in, but others have done similar conversion with 29ers and KM has more clearance than most. Tempted to try it. I've seen schwalbe are doing smart SAMs in 27.5x2.6, rated them highly in 29x2.25, cheap, and can go tubeless.I reckon they'd be great, ESP on the bigger rimmed alpkit wheels. Would appreciate your view.
Richard