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Raijin Build Thread

74K views 266 replies 76 participants last post by  goodoljake 
#1 · (Edited)
It begins...
all smiles!
:D
 
#120 ·
Forgive me if I missed it, but could you do a list of components meltingfeather?
Raijin 18" frame
SRAM XO crankset
33t HBC spiderless ring
KMC X9SL Chain
19t Chris King cog
Hope SS/Trials hubs laced to Nancy Wides with Revos
Chris King InSet 7
Niner RDO fork
Bontrager XXX Lite Stem
ENVE riser
Formula R1 brakes
Oury grips
ENVE (back when it was EDGE) setback seatpost
WTB Rocket V Stealth Ti saddle
If you've got weights as well that would be a bonus...?
Gonna have to go without the bonus. The whole bike weighs from 18.5-19.5 lbs, depending on what shoes she's wearing.
 
#121 ·
^^^ Thanks mf. So you swapped out the Light-bicycle carbon rims then?

I'm sittiing here wondering about this frame now - yours is 18" and 4lb 7oz - this is pretty much the identical weight as the medium SIR9 frame, including its EBB. I'm having second thoughts about the so-called "weight advantage" of Ti...
 
#122 ·
^^^ Thanks mf. So you swapped out the Light-bicycle carbon rims then?
Nancy is the chick that works at light-bicycle. I usually call them Nancy wides.

I'm sittiing here wondering about this frame now - yours is 18" and 4lb 7oz - this is pretty much the identical weight as the medium SIR9 frame, including its EBB. I'm having second thoughts about the so-called "weight advantage" of Ti...
Hmmm... Dirt Rag says the medium (16.5" seat tube) SIR 9 is 4 lbs. 13 oz. with the Maxle and seatpost clamp (no mention of EBB).
If weight is priority, the Raijin is not the lightest Ti frame you can buy. According to Dirt Rag (again), the Lynskey Pro29 can be had at 3 lbs. 12 oz.
 
#126 ·
Well, this has been my favorite bike of all the bikes I have owned. I love the geometry and it just makes me happy everytime I ride it. I decided to rebuild it this winter since the weather has been so sh!tty and I have my Pugsley to ride in the snow.

Blurry pic of the Raijin as she has been sitting for a few months now.



OG logo



Bought a used XTR crankset and 34 tooth E-13 ring from the MTBR classifieds at a great price.



Kept the Praxis bottom bracket. It's the best design for PF30 I think. I will probably switch to the Chris King pressfit bottom bracket and go with the Specialized carbon cranks down the line. Maybe not though.



THESE GUYS FINALLY CAME IN!



Custom silver and coppper headbadge... after one season of riding the copper is starting to age=RAD.



Purpledy-urple.



I placed an order with the LBS for the remaining parts, including a box of spokes to lace the wheels. More to come.
 
#127 ·
Well, this has been my favorite bike of all the bikes I have owned. I love the geometry and it just makes me happy everytime I ride it. I decided to rebuild it this winter since the weather has been so sh!tty and I have my Pugsley to ride in the snow.

Blurry pic of the Raijin as she has been sitting for a few months

I placed an order with the LBS for the remaining parts, including a box of spokes to lace the wheels. More to come.
^^^ Oh no. I can tell this is just going to be the sickest build ever - and is going to make me pull triggers and spend money I shouldn't...

I'm struggling a bit with sizing: I am 5'11" with a 34" inseam. Would I go for an 18" or 19"' and why?
 
#129 ·
5'-11", 34" inseam - I went with the 19" (as appleSSeed mentioned above). When I'm between frame sizes, I always choose the bigger of the two, mostly because I like a longer cockpit w/o requiring a long stem. Thinking I might go to a flat bar because even with zero spacers, I feel a bit upright. Otherwise the fit is spot-on.
Bicycle tire Bicycle frame Bicycle wheel rim Bicycle wheel Bicycle fork

Buils is as follows:
  • Kona Raijin 19" Frame
  • Chris King inset 7 headset
  • Thomson 90x0 stem (no spacers)
  • Reba XX 100mm suspension fork
  • Salsa Skewer
  • Chub SS Hubs laced to Stans Arch Rims w/DT Swiss Comp Spokes
  • White Industries 18t ENO freewheel
  • Maxxis Crossmark 2.0 rubber, set-up tubeless
  • e*thirteen SS cranks & PF30 BB
  • e*thirteen 32t chainring
  • 27.2 x 410 Thomson Elite set-back post
  • Salsa 35.0 clamp
  • Specialized Phenom ti saddle
  • Crank Bros Eggbeater 3's
  • Sram PC980 chain
  • Avidd XO Hydrolic disc brakes w/carbon levers
  • Ergon GX-1 team grips
  • Blackburn Carbon H20 cages
 
#131 ·
Could you tell us what it weighs SSPirate?
Great build BTW

5'-11", 34" inseam - I went with the 19" (as appleSSeed mentioned above). When I'm between frame sizes, I always choose the bigger of the two, mostly because I like a longer cockpit w/o requiring a long stem. Thinking I might go to a flat bar because even with zero spacers, I feel a bit upright. Otherwise the fit is spot-on.
View attachment 780464
Buils is as follows:
  • Kona Raijin 19" Frame
  • Chris King inset 7 headset
  • Thomson 90x0 stem (no spacers)
  • Reba XX 100mm suspension fork
  • Salsa Skewer
  • Chub SS Hubs laced to Stans Arch Rims w/DT Swiss Comp Spokes
  • White Industries 18t ENO freewheel
  • Maxxis Crossmark 2.0 rubber, set-up tubeless
  • e*thirteen SS cranks & PF30 BB
  • e*thirteen 32t chainring
  • 27.2 x 410 Thomson Elite set-back post
  • Salsa 35.0 clamp
  • Specialized Phenom ti saddle
  • Crank Bros Eggbeater 3's
  • Sram PC980 chain
  • Avidd XO Hydrolic disc brakes w/carbon levers
  • Ergon GX-1 team grips
  • Blackburn Carbon H20 cages
 
#135 ·
I guess for all those reasons you mentioned. I'm no racer really, I like wide rims. I like bombproof/stiff. The price was right. I thought using putting rabbit holes instead.

I may go carbon down the line as that will be the only upgrade left to make. I just want nancy and company to sort through the minor issues they still have.
 
#149 ·
Hey man, as long as you don't put the purple parts on the Raijin, we can still be friends. :)

There's only room for one purpledy-urple Raijin in the world today, lol



Purpledy-urple.

Tasty! Great call on the purple...I am saving my Purple King stuff for my chrome Nimble 9:)
My Raijin is draped in pink lol![/QUOTE]
 
#156 ·


I got bored last night. I'm waiting for my fork and also wanted to get some things sorted out with the bike. Like installing the cog, chain, rear tire, and sizing the brake lines. This will let me pretty much get the bike ready to go so when the fork comes in, it'll be ready to go. I have XT brakes on my Pugsley and the Raijin so this is an easy swap. Just change out the crown race and swap that puppy over.

It snowed here yesterday so I guess there is no rush, just going a bit stir crazy here.
 
#157 ·
I got bored last night. I'm waiting for my fork and also wanted to get some things sorted out with the bike. Like installing the cog, chain, rear tire, and sizing the brake lines. This will let me pretty much get the bike ready to go so when the fork comes in, it'll be ready to go. I have XT brakes on my Pugsley and the Raijin so this is an easy swap. Just change out the crown race and swap that puppy over.

It snowed here yesterday so I guess there is no rush, just going a bit stir crazy here.
Saw that pic last night- you've gotta get out and try it!

Los
 
#161 ·
Kona Raijin 2013 frame 19"
Fox terralogic 100mm QR15 fork
S-works crankset 38/24
Mavic C29ssmax front wheel & Mavic Crossmax ST Rear wheel (removed decals)
Shimano XTR: front & rear derailleur, shifters, pedals, cassette 11-36 & chain
Eriksen seatpost
Thomson: stem, seat collar & flat carbon handlebar (soon)
Hope Race X2 brakes with 160 rotors
Chris King Inset7 rasta edition
Salsa skewers rasta edition (just can use the rear...going for Tune QR15 for the front)
Ergon GP1 grips
Charge Spoon Ti. Saddle
Continental Mountain King (front) & XKing (rear) 29x2'2
Jagwire cable
 
#164 ·
Something against Mavic?
More 20-spoke mtb wheels with narrow rims and proprietary parts than Mavic, but they have contributed to quite a bit of confusion and consternation in the wheelbuilding world, seemingly on purpose, by using their ridiculous "SSD" dimension... but that's another story. :arf:
S(That's not a definitive wheelset, soon expecting for Arch Ex+CK+Marwi Ti)
An infinitely superior specification. :thumbsup:
 
#178 ·
Sorry, I don't weigh my bikes...

Here's a Rigid variation of the same bike I posted recently (Specialized Chisel Carbon Fork & Black Sheep Ti Bars).

View attachment 788110
What BB/Crankset did you go with. Just ordered my Raijin today, and need to decide on BB setup.
 
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