There are a number of them out there now, post them up!
Bought the frame and fork through North of the Border after riding a demo back in April. First ride yesterday was awesome. Love how stable the pedaling platform is and the geometry for descending.
Frame: Large (I am 5' 10") Fork: 2013 Fox Float, Kashima, 100mm, 51mm offset (bought through Turner) Headset: Cane Creek 110 Stem: Thomson 90mm, 0 rise Seatpost: Thomson Seat: WTB Devo Ti Bars: Enve Shifters: XTR Brakes: Magura MT6, 180 Front Rotor, 160 Rear Grips: ODI Ruffian with Turner clamps Front D: XTR Rear D: XTR Clutch Chain: XTR Cassette: XT BB: Praxis - PF30 for Shimano (really happy with this choice) Cranks: XTR Triple Pedals: Time ATAC Wheels: Stans Arch with Stans hubs Tires: Conti Mountain King, Protection with Black Chili Cage: Lezyne
Yes I am pretty sold on them. I think the benefit depends on your riding style. I think they prove their worth on hard accelerations from low speed and low speed steep climbs. When you go at high speed and put a nice even intermediate power in the pedals they do not seem to do anything extra for me compared to round rings.
In my local club we do a lot of all-out intervals (race simulation like on "real" trails) with a duration from 5 to 20 min. I have tried both round and oval rings lately and I am faster with oval rings than round when I compare to my team mates -Especially on the short duration intervals.
thanks. I am also quite pleasantly surprised at how burly the frame is. This isn't a dainty pinner XC frame which IMHO makes it way more versatile.
The bike feels really balanced on the climbs and descents. Don't feel too far back or forward and have yet to truly tinker with the setup of the front end.
Nope, I'm 5'10", but have long legs. Bar and stem -- 100 mm seemed long to me on paper, so when I test rode the Czar I asked for 90 mm, and +10 deg. That turned out to be too tall and too short! So I went with the stock 100 mm and -10 deg when I bought the bike. Feels right, especially with the 760 mm bar. As for the component selection -- it's stock Turner. THEY get the credit!
Came back to Turner after many years. I had a Burner back in 2005 and it was my favorite bike of any that I've owned. I was riding a hardtail 29er for the past several years and am back to FS. Descending is awesome - it feels invincible. I'm still adjusting to climbing, but the bike is overall excellent and *fast*. Way faster than my hardtail. Fit is absolutely spot on. Jarrett at Turner was awesome in helping me with the build.
Sorry to revive an old thread as a newbie here, but there are some really great builds here and I'm in the middle of gathering parts to build my own Czar. As noted by many, being able to talk to the owner of a company, and have him talk to you like he actually cares about your experience is really refreshing. I too have had a couple of conversations with Dave and it really helped seal the deal on buying a bike I wasn't able to test ride or even see before buying.
I've got an XO1 drivetrain, XT brakes, Thomson post and no name stem and bars until I figure out my fit. I've also bought 2.25 Vittoria Mezcals, and I have DT Swiss 240 hubs, but have yet to purchase rims. I've followed the Chinese carbon rim thread here, and been pretty impressed with the impressions of a few of the offerings. My question for now is regarding rim width. I was thinking 25-27mm, but I hear a lot of talk lately of going wider to get better stiffness and allow the tire to have a better profile. I'd appreciate any input from guys who have Czar's on either set up, Thanks!
I ran my Czar originally with Arch MK3's with 2.4 tires. Then moved to chinese carbon 35mm rims (30mm internal) w/ 2.4 tires. Honestly thought the chinese carbon rims were too stiff and burly though light and fast. I ended up moving those to a more trail worthy bike, went back to the Arch MK3's. I think the MK3's are ideal in feel and width is my two cents.
Haven't used 2.35s on my Czar, but at 2.25, the NNs have been very good with loose over hard. The "loose" we get here is mostly deep sand, more wider is the way to go there! The NNs have good bite and are reasonably fast rolling. Durable and (relatively) light weight.
They are getting better. After four rides they are getting stronger. The rotors were used with another brake set so it is taking some time for them to bed in with the Magura pads. I am going to give them a couple more weeks before I decide if I like them or not. If not I will be going to Shimano. You can't beat their power but the Maguras are certainly light. What model of Magura are you running? What's been your experience?
Also... Where's all the Czar builds? You guys too busy riding?
Loving my new 2 wheeler, thanks Doug @ NOtB for talking me into it!
My build is:
RockShox SID RCT3 fork (normal offset)
XX1 Drivetrain (with 168 Q Factor cranks)
XO Trail brakes
Stans wheels (soon to be Crank Bros Cobalt's as soon as they get the XX1 Driver for their wheels)
Crank Bros Cobalt Stem, Bars, Seatpost, Pedals
Chris Kink Bottom Bracket
Cane Creek 110 Headset
Weight with pedals and bottle cage @ just over 24 lbs.
I am coming off a Specialized Stumpjumper Carbon HT, so this is a dream, and outperforms on anythign but a smooth fireroad climb. Even then, i am amazed at how well the Czar does!
I am having quite a bit of knock in the suspension, and I road another Czar yesterday and noticed the same thing. I'm sure Turner will be making it right soon! Is anyone else hearing this as well? It doesn't seem to be effecting the performance, but people sure know when I am coming up behind them
I am having quite a bit of knock in the suspension, and I road another Czar yesterday and noticed the same thing. I'm sure Turner will be making it right soon! Is anyone else hearing this as well? It doesn't seem to be effecting the performance, but people sure know when I am coming up behind them
-surfn8-
"I am having quite a bit of knock in the suspension, and I road another Czar yesterday and noticed the same thing. I'm sure Turner will be making it right soon! Is anyone else hearing this as well? It doesn't seem to be effecting the performance, but people sure know when I am coming up behind them "
-surfn8-
"I am having quite a bit of knock in the suspension, and I road another Czar yesterday and noticed the same thing. I'm sure Turner will be making it right soon! Is anyone else hearing this as well? It doesn't seem to be effecting the performance, but people sure know when I am coming up behind them "
I finally received all the parts for my Czar. Black frame size large.
Full XTR build. XTR Trail brakes and I-Spec shifters. 2014 100 MM SID RCT3 Fork.
Race Face Next SL 2x10 26/38 cranks with RF bottom bracket.
Eason C90 bar with Syntace stem.
Wheels are custom built by LBS. Chinese carbon rims, Sapim carbon spokes. American Classic 225 hubs.
Rocket Ron 2.25 tires.
WTB Pure V saddle. Thomson Masterpiece seat post.
22.32 Lbs.
The Czar is incredible. I have a Tallboy Carbon which I will now be selling. I have really enjoyed the TBc but the Czar simply does everything better.
Can anyone tell me what the size limit is for pics so I can post up the new Czar? I got them down to 37K and still would not post. Jpegs. The 2014 SID looks awesome with black stanchions on the black Czar.
Wow, that's an amazing build. It's crazy that you can now get a full squish 29er down to close to 23 pounds. I have a black XL on order. Hope it arrives soon. Going with Sid RCT3, building up some wheels with the Derby rims.
Thanks. I've been acquiring the parts for the past couple of bike builds to get to this point. The thing I'm happy about is that I can feel confident that it will hold up to whatever abuse I'm capable of putting it through (which isn't much compared to a lot of people), and still be so light.
Good call on the Derby rims. I'm thinking of building a set of those for the Sultan and setting up the Edge AM wheels that are presently on the Sultan for use on the Czar. That may be a while, since the wallet is still recovering from the beat down that it's taken from this build.
Exactly. You don't really have any weight weenie parts, yet still light and rugged. Jealous that you're able to ride it. I heard late fall for XLs, and by that time I'll likely be riding the fat bike. So spring it is.
Buddy was looking at this build thread and commented how his new Rocky Mountain Element 999RSL frame is about a pound less than the Czar. I'd talk smack to him, but he's an accomplished endurance racer and has had more bad days on the bike than I've had total days. Damn him.
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