The first ride was great! I felt instantly comfortable on the bike and was amazed at how much better it maintains momentum over my 26" wheeled single speed. I am running 30-17 which felt really good, time will tell more. The top tube felt like the perfect length (with a 110mm stem) and the steering was nice and quick without ever feeling twitchy. There was no sign of flex in the bottom bracket but the frame seems to be very compliant. When I bunny hopped I sure felt how stiff the rear end is, but riding while seated was suprisingly smooth. I have the EBB set up pretty close to 6:00, and may swing it up towards the 1:00 side of things. I did hit my pedals a couple of times, but I am used to that from my old 26" wheeled Sugar. Suprisingly the Maverick SC32 is heavier than the DC32 on my Sugar. But the fork rides sweet and is super stiff braking and in corners. After 15 miles of rolling singletrack I can't wait to go ride my Niner more! So far, so good. I just wish there was a lighter alternative to the Exiwolf's, although they ride so sweet I don't mind. My Niner weighed 24 lbs with the Exi's, I may have to try the Ignitors again, it would bring me down a pound! Here is the build. And the pictures are here http://groups.msn.com/Sugar29 I can't get them on mtbr directly, sorry getting late.

Large Niner:
Maverick SC32 (about 95mm of travel 29" adjusted)
Maverick front hub (24mm thru-axle)
Chris King headset (turqouise)
Hope seat collar
Chris King SS rear Hub w/ a stainless Chris King 17 tooth cog
Bontrager Mustang Disc rims w/ DT Super Comp spokes and alloy nipples
Race Face Turbine LP 175mm cranks w/ Race Face Signature XS BB
Time ATAC pedals
Surly 30 tooth stainless chainring
Sram PC-1 chain
Easton carbon seatpost, Flite ti saddle
Easton Monkey Lite Lo-Rise bar, Easton stem
Hope M-4 180mm floating rotor front, Hope mono 160mm floating rotor rear brake
WTB Exiwolf's tubless w/ stan's

Very Nice! Love the beefy front fork...

Suprisingly the Maverick SC32 is heavier than the DC32 on my Sugar. But the fork rides sweet and is super stiff braking and in corners.

Large Niner:
Maverick SC32 (about 95mm of travel 29" adjusted)
Maverick front hub (24mm thru-axle)
Chris King SS rear Hub w/ a stainless Chris King 17 tooth cog
Hope M-4 180mm floating rotor front, Hope mono 160mm floating rotor rear brake

Very sick build. Ultra trick.

I was going to link your photo's for you, but your hosting service doesn't suppy a direct .jpg extension, so you'll need to save a copy to your desktop, then attach it manually when posting next time.

Anyway, bike looks great, and I'm interested in hearing more about your SC32 experience. I have one, and my 29er kit is on order. How is the conversion? Difficult to do, should I take to shop? Can you compare the shock's performance to REBA or WB's? What is the actual weight of the fork? When you say it's heavier than the Dual Crown version, do you include the weights of the extra clamps/etc that must be used on the DC32?

Thanks!
N

The first ride was great! I felt instantly comfortable on the bike and was amazed at how much better it maintains momentum over my 26" wheeled single speed. I am running 30-17 which felt really good, time will tell more. The top tube felt like the perfect length (with a 110mm stem) and the steering was nice and quick without ever feeling twitchy. There was no sign of flex in the bottom bracket but the frame seems to be very compliant. When I bunny hopped I sure felt how stiff the rear end is, but riding while seated was suprisingly smooth. I have the EBB set up pretty close to 6:00, and may swing it up towards the 1:00 side of things. I did hit my pedals a couple of times, but I am used to that from my old 26" wheeled Sugar. Suprisingly the Maverick SC32 is heavier than the DC32 on my Sugar. But the fork rides sweet and is super stiff braking and in corners. After 15 miles of rolling singletrack I can't wait to go ride my Niner more! So far, so good. I just wish there was a lighter alternative to the Exiwolf's, although they ride so sweet I don't mind. My Niner weighed 24 lbs with the Exi's, I may have to try the Ignitors again, it would bring me down a pound! Here is the build. And the pictures are here http://groups.msn.com/Sugar29 I can't get them on mtbr directly, sorry getting late.

Large Niner:
Maverick SC32 (about 95mm of travel 29" adjusted)
Maverick front hub (24mm thru-axle)
Chris King headset (turqouise)
Hope seat collar
Chris King SS rear Hub w/ a stainless Chris King 17 tooth cog
Bontrager Mustang Disc rims w/ DT Super Comp spokes and alloy nipples
Race Face Turbine LP 175mm cranks w/ Race Face Signature XS BB
Time ATAC pedals
Surly 30 tooth stainless chainring
Sram PC-1 chain
Easton carbon seatpost, Flite ti saddle
Easton Monkey Lite Lo-Rise bar, Easton stem
Hope M-4 180mm floating rotor front, Hope mono 160mm floating rotor rear brake
WTB Exiwolf's tubless w/ stan's

Hey that Sugar is really nice. The Sybil link made a huge difference for me how about you?

Hey Corny,
Try the Bonty XR's....
I ran the front for the 1st time last Sat. @ Brian Head.
It is amazing. Hooks up almost identically to the Exi but is sooooo much lighter.
The sidewalls feel a tinier bit more flexy, but it's great.
In talking to Nat Ross, he vocalized a preference for the Bonty XR front tire on front AND rear.
I'd say give it a shot. You'll save 400grams (almost 1lb) of rotating weight.

The XR hooks up like the Exi? It doesn't even look that aggressive. I've been listening to everyone praise the cornering grip of the exi. Only the weight was an issue. Did you run the XR 2.25/2.2 sizes front and rear?
Can you expand on your comments? what kind of soil/rocks/roots? what pressures, what bike, fork, etc. Appreciate the input. I am about to order new tires to replace the anemic ACXs on my Rig.

Anyway, bike looks great, and I'm interested in hearing more about your SC32 experience. I have one, and my 29er kit is on order. How is the conversion? Difficult to do, should I take to shop? Can you compare the shock's performance to REBA or WB's? What is the actual weight of the fork? When you say it's heavier than the Dual Crown version, do you include the weights of the extra clamps/etc that must be used on the DC32?

Thanks!
N

I have never ridden a WB or a Reba so I can't comment. But I will say the Mavericks are sweeter than a Fox in my opinion. The conversion is a piece of cake, if you can have a shop do it and watch, you will learn how to rebuild the fork as well. If not, it is easy enough that you will not have any problems. The SC32 is heavier because of the crown and steerer tube. On the DC32 the Maverick stem is lighter than my Easton, but the overall weight of the forks is very close. Even though the DC32 requires specific parts, they REPLACE existing parts making the weights a wash. You will love the SC32 simply because of the added stiffness of the thru axle hub.

DeeZee:
The Sybil Linik is the only way I have ridden my two-niner, but I think it is a sweet set up.

Padre:
Thanks for the tip, I may give those a try, but I have never been too much of a weight weenie. Unless of course I am suffering up a nasty climb 85 miles into a 100 mile race :)

The XR hooks up like the Exi? It doesn't even look that aggressive. I've been listening to everyone praise the cornering grip of the exi. Only the weight was an issue. Did you run the XR 2.25/2.2 sizes front and rear?
Can you expand on your comments? what kind of soil/rocks/roots? what pressures, what bike, fork, etc. Appreciate the input. I am about to order new tires to replace the anemic ACXs on my Rig.

I ran the XR on the front at 35psi.
I encountered fast fireroad, wet roots, wet rock, mud, dry dirt, etc. It did it all with aplomb.
It was on my Leviathan over a 55 mile ride.

Very nice !

What is the size of the 2 frames and your saddle height in the picts ?
Did you weight the 180mm hope rotor ?

@++
V

Very nice !

What is the size of the 2 frames and your saddle height in the picts ?
Did you weight the 180mm hope rotor ?

@++
V

Both of my frames are size large. I am 6'1" 175lbs and my sadlle height is 82.5mm measured from the center of the bottom bracket to saddle top. I have not weighed the 180mm rotor, but I have had the regular 180 rotor, and the "floating" 180 rotor in hand and the floating rotor is much lighter.

It looks like a 90mm but I could be wrong.

I ran the XR on the front at 35psi.
I encountered fast fireroad, wet roots, wet rock, mud, dry dirt, etc. It did it all with aplomb.
It was on my Leviathan over a 55 mile ride.
Were you running an Exi on the rear?

It looks like a 90mm but I could be wrong.

The Niner has a 110mm stem, and the Sugar has a 105mm stem (Maverick's closest option to 110mm). Both bikes fit me perfectly.

If you AND Nat Ross like 'em, well that says something. Although I wonder what tire Nat would choose if he didn't ride for Fisher/Bontrager/Trek/etc. What did you run on the rear?

Hey Corny,
Try the Bonty XR's....
I ran the front for the 1st time last Sat. @ Brian Head.
It is amazing. Hooks up almost identically to the Exi but is sooooo much lighter.
The sidewalls feel a tinier bit more flexy, but it's great.
In talking to Nat Ross, he vocalized a preference for the Bonty XR front tire on front AND rear.
I'd say give it a shot. You'll save 400grams (almost 1lb) of rotating weight.


sorry to hijack the niner review...your bike looks awesome by the way, i love the mav forks.

Padre, i just did some testing in the last few weeks. i've run bonti xr's most of the summer and really like them, just got an exi and mounted it up front. Awesome! then i mounted the front xr out back. not so good, went back to the rear xr for traction. Since i don't much care about weight i'm planning on picking up another exi for the rear. I ride rigid ss on east coast roots and rocks for what thats worth.

Both of my frames are size large. I am 6'1" 175lbs and my sadlle height is 82.5mm measured from the center of the bottom bracket to saddle top. I have not weighed the 180mm rotor, but I have had the regular 180 rotor, and the "floating" 180 rotor in hand and the floating rotor is much lighter.
Thanks.
I need a 85cm seatpost, so the L may be just too much on the little side for me...

I saw on the "save some weight" forum one guy saying that the new 2 parts hope rotor was actually heavier than the previous one and was kind of surprized !

Thanks.
I need a 85cm seatpost, so the L may be just too much on the little side for me...

I saw on the "save some weight" forum one guy saying that the new 2 parts hope rotor was actually heavier than the previous one and was kind of surprized !

Since I have not weighed the rotors I cannot say for sure, but they FELT lighter in my hand, and my guys at the shop TOLD me they were lighter. That may be worth nothing without an actual gram scale, but my LBS has yet to steer me wrong. Besides, what would be the point in producing a two piece rotor that was heavier?

On my Niner I am using an Easton carbon post that is inserted to the "5" mark on the post. You could easily get your seat post to 85cm and still have plenty of insetion into the seat tube. I think the bigger issue would be top tube length.

After riding my Niner again last night I am even more impressed than before. Incredibly smooth connected ride for an aluminum (Scandium) hardtail. The handling in technical singletrack is super quick, but the bike is stable at the same time. And it flys on the descents! The Maverick fork is the stiffest single crown fork I have ever ridden, and chews up rough terrain. Even though I wish the Exi's were a little lighter, I will never complain about the way they ride. The speed I am able to maintain through corners because of the tire grip is amazing. I sail through corners with my fingers on the brake levers, waiting to have to brake, but I seem to not have to. The 30-17 seems a little tall for climbing, but not that far off. I have an 18 and 19 tooth cog in the mail that should cover my bases. This bike rocks!