The Titus El Guapo frame is in and it looks great. This frame will be different than others out there because we're putting a Cane Creek Double Barrel on it. We'll be the first to do this. We know this because at the Interbike show, I had the Cane Creek rep come personally to the Titus booth to do the measurements to be sure that it'll fit the frame. So we're looking forward to putting this frame together over the next few months and be on the trail with it come next year.
Dave
has agreed to give the El Guapo a test to see how it compares to the ML2 he just reviewed. This is a different bike all together with 6" travel and is more of an all day long travel fun bike. The ML2 is more of an all day epic bike, perfect for the 24 Hour race or just bombing around in the back woods.
Different bikes but in the end, all fun. We'll have some weights and pictures of the bike shortly.
Update: We received the Cane Creek Double Barrel shock and WOW, that is one nice looking shock. This will really change the way the El Guapo handles on the trail. It will take a weight penalty over the stock Rock Shox Pearl air shock. However, from talking to Jack about his Cane Creek Double Barrel on the Super Moto, it will be well worth it. We're looking forward to trying this rear shock and see how it performs. Do a search on the Double Barrel and you'll find that it consistent get great reviews from riders, magazines and the industry.
We just received out 2008 Fox 36 Van RC2 fork and it weighs 5.35lbs with an uncut steerer tube. For 2008, Fox has introduced a quick release 20mm through axle that would make it much easier to take the wheel on and off for transport. Fork looks great. We hope to be installing it on the frame shortly.
We pretty much have all the parts we need to build up the bike minus the wheelset and disc brakes. Those should be coming in shortly over the next month or so which would give us plenty of time to build it up before spring hits in a couple of months.
Bikeradar.com recently posted a review on the El Guapo and gave it a great review. Check out the Bikeradar.com Review to read the full story. We'll be conducting our review in the spring time as well so stay tuned.
El Guapo Medium frame with no shock - 6.93lbs
El Guapo Medium frame with Rock Shox Pearl 3.1 air shock - 7.78lb
El Guapo Medium frame with Cane Creek Double Barrel shock - 8.9lbs
2008 Fox 36 Van RC2 uncut steerer - 5.35lbs
Cane Creek Double Barrel rear coil shock - 870g
Rock Shox Pearl 3.1 air shock - 385g
Race Face large ring Bash Guard - 135g
Easton EM90 stem 110mmx5 / Monkey Lite XC carbon riser bar - 315g
Thomson Masterpiece 330mm x 30.9mm lay back post - 190g
Kenda 2.35 Nevegal Stick-E tires - 800g per tire
Hope M4 front brake with adapter to fit 8" / 203mm front rotor - 315g
Hope M4 rear brake - 285g
Hope Float 8" / 203mm rotor - 150g
Magura 160mm rotor - 105g
We were quite surprised that the Rock Shox Pearl 3.1 was so light. So by going with the coil shock, there is a gain of approximately 1.1lbs. This is something we expected and for the intent purpose of this bike, I don't think it's unreasonable. It was brought to my attention that Cane Creek does offer a Ti spring option, then the weight gain would actually only be about ~1/2lb. All things considering, that is not bad for getting a shock that is much more tuneable and linear. You'd want of course to get the spring rate correct from the start. What we did was order the shock and got the spring for someone 160lbs in mind, then got an additional spring for someone that's lighter.
We'll be weighing the parts that will go on the bike as we get them in the near future. Stay Tuned!
Team Spokewrench
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