Weight: AVID G2CS 180mm Rotor

150 grams is the weight of a new AVID G2CS (G2) 180mm rotor.
It is even 20 grams lighter than used shimano SM-RT51

Weight: Joytech D041-15 and ZZYZX Front Hubs

Joytech D041-15 is a cheap and heavy ball bearing front hub from a stock wheelset of my Norco Sight A 7.2 2014. More crappy front hub I can't even imagine. Its weight is 290 grams and it has loose balls inside.

Stock ZZYZX front hub from my Corratec X-Force 0.3 2012 is much better. It has 2 sealed bearings and construction similar to Hope Pro 2 hubs. This ZZYZX hub is for 20mm axle, but I have transformed it to 15mm using Hope Pro 2  adapters. The weight of this hub with these adapters is 220grams.

Weight: WTB KOM i23, Alex TD26, ZZYZX X-Force Rims

I was building new front wheel for my Norco Sight, and decided to put on a scale some rims I have.

My new lightweight 650b (27.5") rim WTB KOM i23 and it's weight is 420grams

New Wheel for My Norco Sight

I've just built a new front wheel for my Norco Sight A 2014.  Stock front wheel was built of Alex TD26 rim (470gr) and Joytech D041-15 hub (290gr) and its overall weight was more that 1kg!

I've bought new WTB KOM i23 650B rim (420gr) and have built a new wheel using 32 butted spokes and front ZZYZX hub (220gr) from my previous Corratec bike. The spokes' length was 262 mm that's why I've built my wheel using 2 cross lacing pattern. Front 20mm Zzyzx hub was transformed into 15mm using Hope Pro 2 adapters. 

860 grams! Great result for the front wheel!

My New Bike: Norco Sight A 7.2 2014

Few weeks ago I've decided to buy a new trail bike. I wanted to try a bigger size frame (L) and 27.5" (650B) wheels because I'm 185cm (6' 1") of height. My previous trail bike Corratec X-Force 2012 was in medium size and has shorter top tube and reach.
I've bought Norco Sight A 7.2 at our local bike store. Sight A 7.2 is the cheapest version of Norco Sight. Alloy frame and cheap components make this bike's cost less than $2000.

Suspicious Paint Crack of my Corratec X-Force

I always thought that my Corratec is rather weak for agressive trail riding, that's why I didn't send any gaps and big drops with it. Only pure trail riding with roots, stones and cornering with fast speeds. But few days ago I've noticed a crack near a weld of the frame. I don't understand weather it is a paint crack, or a frame crack? What do you thing of this??

Review: Manitou Minute Pro 140

I've been using Manitou rear shock with my Fireeye Griffin, and I was very surprised with Manitou Swinger 4x coil shock!
I've got my first Manitou fork with my new bike Corratec X-force 2012. The fork model is Manitou Minute Pro white with 140mm of travel, tapered steerer and 20mm axle.
The fork is rather lightweight (1800-1900gr. or 4-4,18lbs), has ABS+ damper with remote lockout and MARS Air technology. MARS Air is a technology wheech combines coil spring with air pressure. The fork is very plush in the begining of travel like a real coil spring fork, but the second part of travel can be easily adjusted with air pressure.

My adjustments:
My weight is about 75kg (165lbs) and I use maximum allowed air pressure for this fork - 110psi, cause with lower pressure the fork becomes too soft. A coil spring of my fork marked as "hard". I don't use remote lockout of ABS+ damper. I  turn the ABS+ damper compression adjuster to 45 degrees to get more compression damping. A minimum rebound adjustment works fine for me with this fork.

I like the work of my fork very much! It has a variety of adjustments, a stiff 20mm axle and smooth as butter travel! After a couple thousand kilometers with this fork it still works as new. I always spray silicone grease on the stanchions and add some oil into air spring. Couple times during the season I change oil in lower legs. The oil in the damper is still in good condition.

This is my first Manitou fork and I can say that it is very simple, reliable and ajustable.

My non-Fixed Gear Bike (ХВЗ Start-Shosse)

Sometimes I need a citybike to ride to work, or when I don't want to drive my car. My trail mountain bike (Corratec X-Force) is not as good for it as a road bike, that's why I've decided to build a city bike using a road bike frame (ХВЗ "Kharkov bicycle factory" Start-Shosse).

Review: RaceFace Narrow Wide Chainring

Last winter I have bought Race Face Narrow Wide Chainring for my Trail Bike.  The idea was to through away front derailleur with shifter and chainrings, to decrease the weight of my bike. The weight of this chainring is less than 50 grams (0.11lbs).

I've been trail-riding with this chain ring for couple of months and can say some words about it.

Review: Shimano FC-M552 Crankset

FC-M552 is a cheap OEM crankset from Shimano. Usually it is installed at budget complete bikes for Cross Country or All Mountain such as my Corratec X-force 0.3 2012. These are my first Hollowtech II cranks and I'm very impressed with this crankset system. Big alloy axle of these cranks is very strong, reliable and lightweight. There is no need in any special tools to take off cranks from a bike. I've been using these cranks for two seasons, and I can say that Shimano FC-M552 has only two minuses:
- they are a little bit more heavy than SLX or XT;
- they are rather flexible in comparison with some rigid DH cranks, but I didn't noticed any problems with this flexibleness. Maybe it gives me some aditional suspension for my legs?? :)
Pluses of this crankset are:
- price;
- it's strength is enough for trail riding or enduro.