All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

i dont really notice a difference between the two. i never tried the nx shifter so cant really compare. the nx is on my hard tail so it doesnt take as much abuse and it might have just over 200 miles at this point. works fine though.

 

Im a Shimano brake fanboy, but if I was looking for good brakes right now I would be looking at TRP's.

 

I just went low brow on brakes for my fat bike, came with 2 piston but it needed 4 piston to stop the big ole fat tires. I bought a set of Tektro Orion 4 pots. My Polygon has them also so I was familiar with them (except the Polygon is 4 pot front and 2 pot rear). They were inexpensive, there's not a lot of adjustment with them, but I like the feel and they do work well. I guess I don't know what I don't know with regards to adjustment that comes on the higher end brakes.

On a related note, if anyone is interested in a set of Clark 2-pot brakes, I have a set that needs a home! Used one ride on the fat bike, they were just underpowered for the big wheels and the 160 rotors it came with.

 

That's my method. Easy as hell.

For your weight, I'd definitely go with a 36 over a 34.
Shimano drivetrains shift incredibly but can get finicky, but do your HW to figure out the right mix. I have XT cranks, XT cassette, SLX derailleur, XTR shifter, XTR chain.
SRAM GX drivetrain are simply bombproof.
As for brakes, I've tried everything under the sun except Trickstuff. The absolute best feeling brake I've ever used was the Hayes Dominions. The Magura MT7s are awesome too, but some shy away from the carbotecture. Code RSCs are great, sometimes finicky. I hate Shimano brakes, that wandering bite point pisses me off, but I have several friends who don't care about it. I also think they lack modulation.
I have a set of near-new Code RSCs, selling them with 200mm rotors for $300 if you're interested.

 

Planning out another early Fall out-West trip into Colorado and Utah. Had such a great time doing it last year I wanted to do it again but this time with a buddy. We're debating leaving Crested Butte in late-September for either Durango OR Grand Junction/Fruita. I'm leaning towards Durango depending on the weather.

Any one have suggested trails in both Durango and Fruita/GC? I hit up 18 road in Fruita last year on my way into Moab and it was cool but this time we're looking for something a little more techy where we can spend half a day. For Durango I'm considering Halfin Creek, Twin Buttes, Raiders Ridge, Engineer Mtn trails.

 

I've liked my GX stuff. If I was building, that would be my choice. I've replaced the last two sets of SRAM Guide brakes that came on a bike with Shimano XT. I gave both of them a shot, but the Guides had barely enough power to stop the bike. I thought it might be this "modulation" people speak of, but that wasn't it. I've had multiple sets of Shimano XT or SLX brakes and have never noticed the wandering bite point, but maybe I am not sensitive to that. Brakes seem be a personal preference thing. I mainly like being able to bleed with mineral oil rather than DOT4 or DOT5 fluid.

 

hit me up if you choose GJ/Fruita. I live out here. Fruita is def more flowy and mild. Quite a bit to choose from

 

Ah yes I forgot about the TRPs, some of those had some good reviews for sure!

Good point on the 36, I will see what I can find on that end.

I'm leaning GX right now since the shop I've used for my gravel bike has a bunch of new takeoffs.

I may take you up on those codes though, I'll DM you!

 

Cant go wrong with either. Seriously.

if you’re looking for a little tech near Fruita here’s a good one. You can deviate a bit here and there if something gets your attention but this route won’t disappoint.

The Best of Kokopelli Trail System Route
https://www.trailforks.com/goto/route/19772/

As far as Durango there’s sooooo much to choose from it’s hard to narrow it down. And lots of stuff in town to do too.

 

Yep, in Fruita, hit Kokopelli and since you're basically in Grand Junction, do the Lunch Loops. Plenty of tech in both places.

 

I switched from Shimano XT to Sram Code RSC on my recent build. The Codes are soo much better in my opinion. Modulation and adjustability are improved, but they still have plenty of bite when you need it. I also went with Sram's new fatty rotors, which people say are a big improvement...

I'm a fan of the durability of GX drivetrain. I've used some Shimano 12 speed stuff and it's really nice when it's working well, but I know plenty of people with it and they all end up futzing with it all the time. I thought about upgrading groupsets or going AXS on my recent build but GX just works. In my opinion, if you're not racing then simplicity and durability is all that really matters in a drivetrain.

Agreed on the Lunch Loops and Kokopelli recommendations for Fruita/GJ. Horesethief bench has some good tech getting in/out.

 

good to know! I would definitely not go above GX. I rode my bike with GX 11 speed the other day for the first time since trying GX Eagle and I was amazed at how smooth that was, I may stick with mechanical for a mountain bike. AXS is nice and for my gravel bike it was the easiest way to use a mountain bike drivetrain with road levers but I've already forgotten batteries once and I don't know that it's necessary for a mountain bike.

 

That's my biggest fear with AXS (and eMTB)! I never want to miss a ride because I forgot (or forgot to charge) a battery.

 

yeah it is always in the back of my mind haha. I ended buying a backup battery that I keep in my bag and rotate haha. luckily I was only going for a bike fit so it wasn't a huge deal haha.

 

That is my hesitation with upgrading to the AXS drivetrain - forget a battery or have it die on the ride and you are not going to have a good time. I have a GX groupset on my Fezzari and really have no desire to switch it out. Shifts are always crisp and immediate, no messing around or trying to dial it in. Robust as well with good availability of replacement stock everywhere.

This thread got me thinking - as e-bikes become more popular, I wonder if there is a way to tap the AXS system into the e-bike battery? I'm sure there is something out there, but I'd expect it to be more commonplace as the technology develops.

One guy I recently rode with has the AXS drivetrain and wireless dropper post. Made a good comment that if his shifter battery dies, he can just swap it out with the dropper battery and keep on trucking. Also a benefit of the wireless dropper is that he can take it out and put it on any bike he has. Would love to go wireless and have a few extra batteries on rotation available, but the cost to upgrade when everything works fine right now is the major deterrent.

 

I have both SRAM (XO1) and Shimano (XTR/XT mix) setups and the both work great - there are advantages to both, for some it comes down to cost. One note - I run a SRAM chain on both setups. For me the SRAM chain on a Shimano setup work very well, even on the road bike. The Fox 34 step cast is a great fork - good balance between weight and stiffness. I am about the same weight and this fork works very well on my Intense. You can run a 36 but that is a bit more heft if you do both and up and down riding. Brakes - last gen shimano (non 4 pot) with 180 rotors - plenty of stopping power without the cost. I have friends running Maguras and the love them.

 

Keeping AXS batteries charged isn't a big deal. They last a long time, you can have the battery level on your head unit, and your phone can tell you when they are low. You have to be pretty clueless to forget to charge it.

Forgetting one at home is the serious issue.

Extra batteries aren't really that expensive though. You can always leave one in your truck or your pack.

I love it on my gravel bike. No way I'd run it on my MTB though. It's pretty rare I trash a derailleur but if I did it would be on a MTB and I'm not super keen on trashing a $1000 derailleur.

 

Sram chains (X01 and XX1) have been shown to be one of the best, and longest lasting, chains you can get. I'd use them over Shimano for sure.

I've also had some issues with Shimano chains on certain Sram chainrings.

 

I dont think I will go back to a 34 on full suspension bikes after going to larger forks.

I prefer SRAM drivetrain, but never really had any issues with Shimano - it was just a feel preference. Have bikes with both at the moment.

Brakes im good with any of them, I think SRAM got the swelling out of the Guides.

 

Oh, THAT's the deterrent, not the 4 figure price tag? :snicker:

I caught my derailleur on a rock, bent the cage up, was out $100 to throw a new one on. No way in hell I'd want that expensive of a piece of hardware on a mountain bike. Maybe as my riding progresses and I choose my lines better, but for now I'm all set with my XT level components.

As far as the fork debate, why not split the difference between the 34mm diameter and 36mm diameter and go Rockshox which are 35mm diameter? Just to throw another wrench in the works... I love my Lyrik, thing is smooth.