Recommend Me Upgrades For My Onza T-rex!

[NeillyB]

Here's the skinny; I've got an Onza T-Rex and it's pretty much stock. The only things I've changed on it are some DMR V8 pedals and one ODI lock on grip... and before you ask, it's because I can't take the other one off because of the stupid grip shift.

So, it's time to give my bike some love. I'm thinking about getting new forks, wheels, tyres, stem and maybe handlebars. I've already got a singlespeed kit which will be getting stuck on soon (as soon as I get the chainwhip from my mate because I don't have one.)

Here's what I'm thinking about buying;

Forks.

Echo Urban. It seems to be pretty light compared to the others (according to the measurements on TartyBikes) and I've heard good things about the fork.

Wheels.

I think I'll only go for a new rear wheel at this point in time for I believe my stock one you get on the T-Rex is adequate for my skill level just now - I don't think I'll be breaking it anytime soon. While a new front wheel will be lighter and better, I'm sure I'll manage fine with it just now.

Anyway, for the rear wheel, I was thinking a Hope XC on a decent, strong rim. I'm really not sure which one to go for, so a little advice here will be appreciated. I was thinking an Onza Ronnie?

Tyres.

Not much to be said here really, I was thinking Maxxis Hi Roller Slow Reezaay 2.5" on the rear and Maxxis Hi Roller Slow Reezaay 2.35" up front? Good combo, or can you recommend me any others?

Stem.

Quite a tricky one this because I'm keen on making the riding position slightly more confortable. The Rex frame is long and the huge stem doesn't help things much. Can you recommend me any stems that will reduce the length of the bike and provide a nice feel when hopping around, etc? I don't really know which one to get so advice & recommendations will be very welcome.

Handlebars.

Got my eyes on the Onza Carbon Fibre Trials Riser. What length to go for though, I'm not sure. I was thinking 28" instead of the 30".

That pretty much sums it all up... I'm thinking of changing my cranks too, but I'm pretty set on getting a pair of Middleburn RS7's because I've got some on my Sidekick and they're faultless, not a single problem with them in years. These are not included in my budget for the stuff above however - I really don't want to spend more than £350 or my parents will kill me... "you're meant to be saving up for uni blah blah."

Any extra cash will be donated to my pink Chris King headset fund because I'm a raging faggot.

Cheers guys!

[Luke_bradley]

Any pics????

Luke

[NeillyB]

Sorry mate, I've got a girlfriend.

...oh. Here's a shitty one:

Although to be honest, I'm not sure why you need a picture of my bike

[Davetrials]

urbans

hope hubs on echo rims

maxxis minion or high roller super tacky tyres

zoo bars echo stem

Perfect.

[NeillyB]

urbans

hope hubs on echo rims

maxxis minion or high roller super tacky tyres

zoo bars echo stem

Perfect.

Cheers bud, any thought as to what length of stem I should go for?

[tank_rider]

I'd be more inclined to replace the cranks before the forks, a nice set of middleburns, as those lite guys should last you a fair while. Other than that, then a new rear wheel, maybe wait for the hope trial (or whatever its called) rear hub on an onza ronnie and a new set of rear brake pads. In terms of a bar and stem combo, then its a matter of personal preferance, try to get a ride on someone elses t-rex with a different bar and stem combo to see how theirs feels.

As for the other upgrades, they seem to be well thought out so

[Onza Kieron]

*Urban's or Fatty's

*Wait for the new Hope hub to come out onto an Echo or Ronnie, the Onza hub will be fine for a few weeks.

*Tryall tyres or Highroller in Super Tacky or Slow Reezay. 2.35 front, 2.5 rear

*Koxx Bar and stem

*Heatsink Blue's or Plazmatic CRM's because the pads on T-Rex's are s***e and made of hard plastic.

*Tensile's or middleburns and a ISIS BB e.g Truvativ Gigapipe or FSA Plat Pro

Edited December 28, 2005 by onza kieron

[NeillyB]

Cheers folks, got a fair idea of what parts to go for now.

What's the ETA on the Hope hub? If it's more than a few months away I'll just take the plunge and buy the wheel just now. The Onza hub I have just now is actually shagged already - the bearings are gone and the whole wheel wobbles around like an alzheimer's victim on a tightrope, which sucks.

As for the pads, I totally forgot about them, but yeah, they're bloody gash, I've looped out so many times from them simply giving way. Plazmatics are on their way to me now!

Due to the people recommending them I'll go for the Urbans - sorted.

As for the handlebars / stem, I had a shot of Biker_Watsons' Pitbull ages ago, he had the Onza carbons on it and they felt really nice and light so I'm more inclined towards them at the moment. If anyone can reinforce the claims for the Echo / Koxx components though I'm willing to change my mind!

[John planet x]

to be honest i wouldnt go for any hope hubs, if you lookin good hub get a dmr revolver or something fixed, and an eno freewheel or if u like a acs claw for cheapness (they aint that bad as people say, mine has been great for over a year, and yes ive tried kings:)

My experience with hope hubs havent been great (mono and bulb) they seem to die after a while. Acs cost u 15 quid to replace. Or an eno (no experience with them) lasts you fair and long + have lovely engagement.

One of the most important things i think is a good backwheel. Get it right from the start or you'll end up spending more money in the long run.

^^

As for forks, i totally trust urbans, great things.

Cranks, middleburns all the way

Front wheels arent that important

Up to you though mate hope i helped.

Edit: Oh and dont go and buy a koxx rimm, pieces of dung, i recommend ronnies, strong as rice

Edited December 28, 2005 by John planet x

[Luke Drewery]

All of those parts on your first post sound OK, I would go for an echo rim on the back though, whether its the new 2006 drilled one or the old machined ones. As for the stem, I run a zoo stem on mine and have done since I bought it, I use them with the zoo bars and they feel very nice. The closest thing I can think to a zoo stem (they dont seem to be around anymore, only for mod) is the toxsin stem, or the echo control stem.

[NeillyB]

The Echo 2006 eh... sounds good, and a variety of colours too for added bling factor!

How does a Hope XC paired with an Echo 2006 on the rear sound? Sounds good to me. I'm wanting to go with the XC's because I've got two of them on my Sidekick and both of them have been faultless (except from the random skip, but that hardly happens, maybe once every two months... it's forgivable.)

[Davetrials]

Thats what my wheel will be, so i say its all good.

[Tom Booth]

I strongly recomened getting hope xc's over the DMR hubs. I used to run a DMR Revolver on my T-Rex and i thought it was the bees knees, Then for christmas I have had a new wheelset consisting of hope Hubs, and bloomin 'eck, They feel so much better then the DMR. It feels alot stiffer, rolls alot nicer (even thou im informedthy run on the same bearings?) And looks nicer, The engagement on the hope hub is also alot stifer, But then again that is down to the choice of freewheel used.

Tyre wise you have gone for a very good choice there, Maxxis highroller 2.5 slow reezay on the back, 2.3 high roller on the front in any compound (I recomend the 60a, very grippy, and still the 60a compound lasts a fair while, You could also go for a single ply on the front to keep the weight down?

As for forks, My T-Rex rides very nice on BT F5 forks, There quite light, Have a nice shape to them, and flex quite alot (i like the flex) There quite long thou at 415mm

Bar and stem, I would recomend something along the lines of Zoo bars and an Echo stem? Stem size around 90-110mm with a 5-10 degree rise.

I strongly recomend you upgrade those cranks, I went from a set of those cranks to a set of square taper middleburns and the ride is soooo much better, They dont flex at all, Giving a nice stiff feel and improving gapping as no power is lost in the flex

I hope this helps

Tom

Edited December 29, 2005 by Tom Booth

[John planet x]

No offense but hope hubs are terrible, and i wouldnt go near one, just because after a while they become dangerous.

DMR+Eno = win

[Rob_P]

You've gotta be kiddin me.

Never would I run a freewheel, there horrible! Much more dangerous than a hope thats for sure!

Hope dont only make great low budget hubs but their customer service is amazing. Any parts broken and they'll nearly always replace it for free. Do a search for hope bumming topics to see for yourself. I myself have had great service from them, 2 year old parts that just needed replacing, sent to them (disk and hub) both all parts replaced for free!! So if they do break after trials wear and tear you can place your bets it'll get replaced or fixed.

Do dmr and enos have that sort of reputation?

[Chris@Onza rider]

*Urban's or Fatty's

*Wait for the new Hope hub to come out onto an Echo or Ronnie, the Onza hub will be fine for a few weeks .

*Tryall tyres or Highroller in Super Tacky or Slow Reezay. 2.35 front, 2.5 rear

*Koxx Bar and stem

*Heatsink Blue's or Plazmatic CRM's because the pads on T-Rex's are s***e and made of hard plastic.

*Tensile's or middleburns and a ISIS BB e.g Truvativ Gigapipe or FSA Plat Pro

mine lasted less than 3 hours .

yeh get cranks first and tyres, your forks will last a while so do them last.

get hopes for sure never had problems with any and if they do die which wont be for a LONG time if it does ever happen hope have a very good warranty and you will get another one no trouble.

[chrishayton]

right i havent read the whole thread but heres my sugestions

echo urbans

hope xc on a new super wide echo ( chrisking is you got the cash)

new brake pads plazmatic crm

tyres maxxis minion 2.5 rear slow reezay and tryall front tyre

and new cranks soon, those are really crap, get tensile or middleburn

and FSA bb

[Damon W]

Echo urbans...

hope hubs on echo 06 rims

echo stem 110mm

zoo bars

plazzies

maxxis highroller 2.5" rear st, kenda nevegal 2.25" front stik E

job done

[Onza Kieron]

mine lasted less than 3 hours .

yeh get cranks first and tyres, your forks will last a while so do them last.

get hopes for sure never had problems with any and if they do die which wont be for a LONG time if it does ever happen hope have a very good warranty and you will get another one no trouble.

Well mine has been strong for 7ish months, going better than my old Bulb and my XC infact lol, so if your a super slick smooth rider like mine you'll be fine, I take my freehub apart monthly and regrease bearings, clean ratchet, if you do this then put a tin under the hub when you take it apart therefore nothing can get lost. Or just buy a hope and forgwt all your problems.