Hi, I currently have a 2011 SL3 in flat black and want to upgrade the fork to a Lefty. I'm looking at getting something comparable to the Lefty Speed DLR. I cannot find pricing anywhere and I'm curios if this is possible and what it would roughly run me?
My other option is a local bike shop has a brand new 2010 F3. It seems this exact bike is no longer made and has been replaced it with the 2011 SL and Flash lines. For those who remember this frame what is the difference between this and the 2011 SL3 as they look very similar? Is one frame better than the other? I'm not so worried about the components as I will upgrade mostly just interested in the difference between the frames. Also this bike comes with the Lefty Speed DLR so I wonder if I'm better off selling my SL3 and getting this instead. Any advice I can't decide what to do :madman: Thanks
Here are some photos of the 2010 F3 for reference. I can't post links as I only have 5 post but you can just add "www" in front of link below and it will work.
I forgot to mention the price for the 2010 F3. They have it for sale at $1529.- and I can sell my SL3 to my buddy for $700. I'm going up to the bike shop tomorrow to look at it so any advice if I would be better of of keeping my SL3 and installing lefty or selling it and going with the 2010 F3 would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
Edit: I'm heading up there in a little bit can anyone help me out?? I don't want to rely solely on what the sales guy at the shop says as I'm sure he'll just try and sell me on another bike. Thanks
Well I ended up getting the 2010 F3 flat black for $1400 which seemed like an easier and cheaper route than trying to get a lefty fork, hub, and have all it installed on my SL3. It also has a BB30 shell and is one of the last made in USA frames so that is a little of an upgrade as well. I can't post pics until I hit 10 posts so I'll be back once I do. :thumbsup:
Did you able to find any info about the differences between the 2010 F frame and the 2011 SL frame? I'm about to buy a 2010 F5 soon but I also have the option to get a 2011 SL 4 instead.
Sure I can compare the frames as I went over them both when I had them side by side before selling the SL3 to my friend. I assume the 2010 F5 frame is the same as the 2010 F3?
Differences:
-First thing I noticed was the '10 F3 frame was made in USA, vs Taiwan on the '11 SL3 which is kind of cool.
-Both frames had 1.5" head tube but the F3 frame was still all around beefier, especially the top tube and down tube dimensions. The chain stay and seat stay were about the same, it's little beefier up by the seat post on the F3 but tapers down to about the same size. I like the fact that the frame on the '10 F3 seems to be more robust as I am very hard on my bikes and treat them more as an all mountain than XC. To be honest though I've had cheaper bikes put through worse abuse and the frames survived just fine so I was never really that worried with the Sl3 either.
-2010 F3 has BB30 frame, the SL3 is standard.
-Paint job on the F3 is not as good as the SL3 (guess the Taiwanese are better painters ). The SL3 matte black paint job is flawless, where as the F3 leaves something to be desired. The paint on the SL3 also feels more durable for some reason. Not a big deal but I cut a big piece of Xpel matte protection film (used on cars) for the down tube and bottom bracket just in case so that rocks don't tear up the paint.
If there are any other differences in the frame I couldn't tell just by looking at them.
Great!! Thank you REDMASTA, your comparison was really helpful. Okay, so I'll buy the 2010 F5. (Oh this one has a matte black finish also, I'll post a photo of it to the F photographs thread as soon as I get my hands on it)
I ended up getting a 2010 Trail SL F5, at the time i couldn't justify the F4 with still crappy components. I ended up getting rid of all the X5 drive train, bought a blemished Raceface Duece XC Crank for 120, XT Chain and Cassette. I also bought opened OE Stroker Trails, the pair for 120. Then updated to XT shifters, and front/rear deraillers and most recently got rid of the deuce coil 100mm shock and threw in a fox f120 rl fit front fork. Didn't have the money to go big early on, but after a couple years my bike is turning out pretty nice. Just upgrade as you go and look for deals.
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