Went for the first ride yesterday with the new ceramic pads and the WTB Vigilante tire on the rear. The brakes have lots more bite/grip and don't seem to squeal or growl. Did about 8 mi. 1100' with a couple of pretty solid down hills. I never had an issue with my resin pads so these are...
To be clear, the Bontrager wheels do not have any tape. They have a plastic wheel insert that has a bead groove the the tire pops into and needs to pop out of. After a tire change it takes 30+ psi even with soapy water lube to get the tire to seat. When it does seat it sounds like a gun going off
There is a trick for getting tires off the Bontrager rims. I found it on youbtube. Basically you do not let all the air out of the tire, then you grab the tire in one hand and the rim/spokes in the other and push the tire off the bead groove. I wrestled with tire irons last week for 20 min...
I have a 2021 9.7 with over 1500 miles on it. i have cleaned and lubed my chain 3 times since new. i use the finish line dry lube. Every 500 miles whether it needs it or not :) . Mine still shifts great, I only need to adjust it once after a fairly aggressive OTB experience. Someone did a...
i try to be respectful when riding with my son and his friends in their 30 nd 40s, many are KOH on a lot of the local segments. When i say respectful I mean I don't wheelie past them on the long climbs :). i am almost 70 so well past the age where i care if i can still keep up, my good...
The best way to deal with aggressive jerks giving you crap is to just smile and wave, say something nice, like have a good day. This really pisses them off and can provide an enormous amount of satisfaction. I have commuted in and out of the bay area in Cali. for 20 years and this has served...
Dito on the Bosch gen 4. I purchased a TREK Rail 9.7 specifically because it had the Bosch motor. Brose motors were dropping like flies 3 years ago and you had to wait to get them replaced. 3 years now and it has been Bullitt proof. i think TREK is one of the best for service here in...
On my 2021 RAIL9.7 i pulled out the rubber plug on the right side of the fame up where the cables exit and with a flash light and hooked wire i found the light wire and pulled it out and connected it. A trip to the LBS and it all works perfect. the Lezyme 1000 is a good deal and works great.
I have one installed on my 2021 RAIL 9.7. I was able to reach into the frame on the right side where the rubber plug is and using a hooked wire I pull the pre-installed light wire out
the bontrager line comp 30 rim sets have a plastic liner that has a bead groove the the tire seats in and stays there well. i had the same issue. my solution was to use a meal putty knife mabout 2 " wide that is a little dull. Use one hand to push the tire carcass off the bead and lever the...
KUAT NV 2.0 is what I have for my RAIL and the wife's Assisted townie style bike, both bikes re over 50 LB and you need a solidly built rack. One of my cable locks got left out and dragging and got ground up. I called Kuat to buy a new one and they sent it to me free 2 day service
I consider myself "normal" at 5'10"185 lbs . With my motocross background i do charge pretty hard down hill and I live in the mountains, so i work my brakes pretty hard. i have 850 miles on my 2021 9.7, just changed tires, still original brakes.
You might wait and ride it some. The stock brakes are pretty good. My 9.7 has the shimano with 4 piston calipers and i can't reallt want for more. First upgrade might be tires. i just put a magic marry on the front and a vigilante and first ride today was really good. Big difference in braking.