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.

My Bike Setup for 2014 Season. Corratec X-Force

My Corratec X-force trail bike was a little bit upgraded for the season 2014. First of all I've thrown away front derailleur with front gear shifter and installed Race Face Narrow Wide chain ring. It helped me to decrease the weight of the bike by half of kilogram. 
Continental Mountain King II tyres were changed for the same but the UST version. 2.2 for the rear wheel and 2.4 for the front. UST tyres are rather heavy (850-870gr each), but they will help me not to get pinch flats on rocky trails. I don't have UST rims, but my front UST tyre keeps air even without sealant! 
I have bought new pedals - Shimano M530 Trail with cage but I don't feel much difference between M530 and M520.
I have also installed new bushing hardware for the rear shock. TFTuned heavy duty kit and offset kit.

Weight: Wellgo V8 Copy Flat Pedals

These were my first pedals for my first mountain bike Stark Pusher. I've been riding Wellgo V8 Copy Silver for several seasons and the still looked like new, cause there were no paint on them.  These are rather heavy pedals, but they are very cheap and reliable.

The real weight of Wellgo V8 Copy is about 550-560gr (1.22lbs):

Weight: Shimano PD-M520 Pedals

PD-M520 is the most cheap clip-in pedals from Shimano. Their price is in range of $20-30 per pair with cleats. They are very good, for those who wants to try clip-in pedals. They work as more expensive Shimano pedals, but has a little more weight. It is also rather hard to repair them, that's why it's simplier to buy another pair.
The actual weight of Shimano PD-M520 Clipless pedals is about 370-380gr (0.82lbs), it is 10-20 grams heavier than PD-M540, and 80 grams lighter than PD-M530 Trail.

Weight: Shimano SM-RT51 180mm Rotor

The actual weight of Shimano SM-RT51 180mm (7") rotor (with words "RESIN PADS ONLY" on it's side) is about 170gr (0.38lbs). The thickness of my rotor is about 1.9mm - it is a little bit used. I've been using this rotor with sintered (metal) pads with Avid Elixir CR Carbon for about 1000km on a back wheel of my trail bike. I don't have any problems using this "resin pads only" rotor with sintered pads, and I will use it until it will be weared out.