Sunn Bike - First Ride Review



Roots are no problem for this bike..



Took the new Sunn Bike out for its first proper off road session today and I'm pretty impressed.

The first thing that struck me about this bike is how fast and responsive it is. I haven't given it an official weigh in, but it feels light on the trails, climbing over roots and uphill on gravel fire roads with ease (although it will be easier when I'm fitter!).







As well as being fast, the Sunn feels very solid on the ground and the back end of the frame is super stiff with no flex at all. In fact, if you haven't ridden a hardtail for a while you would probably class it as a bone shaker!

However, this trait also makes it a ripper through the corners and means it loves to get airborn. It is very easy to boost off jumps and manouver in the air and altough I don't pretend to have my manualling badge the front end pops up with very little effort at all.

I said in my original Sunn Bike post that I was dubious about running a fork with only 120mm of travel because I am used to more, but I made the right decision....I think.

It would be a lie to say that the front end didn't feel a bit twitchy, but after increasing the psi in the forks from 100 - 120 and slowing the rebound down slightly it settled down a bit and the fork actually felt pretty good through the rough stuff and off any jumps I hit. There is flex in the front but that is to be expected from a standard QR fork and hub and it didnt slow me down or reduce my confidence in the handling.

I wanted a hardtail that was light, manouverable, yet strong and I think the Sunn bike may have been the perfect choice for me. If I'm honest I actually love this bike already and the only possible change in the future maybe a slightly longer travel fork (130 or 140mm) but I will give the Rockshox Recon a fair go first.

The real test for this little beauty will be when it gets taken to Wales at the end of the month and I am looking forward to seeing how it handles Welsh rock!!

DW.

Nuke Proof Warhead Inline Seatpost - £35

 Diameter 30.9 mm
 Built for: AM/XC/DH/FR 
 Length: 400mm
 Weight: 273g

This is the second Nukeproof product I have purchased and the company know how to make quality and functional products at a fair price.

The finish is impeccable and the graphics have a crisp look to them. More importantly the clamp/saddle interface is reassuringly tight and the two bolts alter the angle of the saddle with ease.

If you haven't bought any of the Warhead range, you should. They look good and work well, job done!

DW.

Hayes Stroker Ryde Disc Brakes - £100



Pimp Daddy White!

Front Brake : 180mm Rotor
Rear Brake :  160mm Rotor 


Picked these little beauties up online in another sale for a cool one'r and they look decent. The levers feel super solid and have a good range of reach adjustment and are a comfortable shape.

The bar clamp has the usual two bolt attachment and the calipers arent too heavy. I have only taken the bike for a spin round the block so far but once these are worn in I will give a proper review on them.


180mm Front

By far the most important factor concerning these
brakes at the moment is the pimp white matching

the white frame, forks and wheels.!   DW.

      

 

Crank Brothers Iodine All Mountain Headset : £20

Crank Brothers 1 1/8th Headset - Black / Orange.

Features:
• Weight 65.5g
• Size 1 1/8in.
• Stack height 21mm including crown race
• Material 52100 bearing steel
• Preload aluminum/steel 25g
• Upper bearings sealed 28-ball retainer
• Lower bearings sealed 34-ball max
• Warranty 5 years

 I got this in an online sale down from £54.99 to £20!!

Too good to miss and I've never used any Crank Brothers products before so was curious to see what is was like.
My first impressions are a mixed bag really. It is beautifully made as you would expect for the original price and the sealed bearing cartridges spin smoothly and look secure.

However, it is TINY!....... I'm used to the headset cups flaring out from the headtube and this one doesn't at all, but it is labelled as 'All Mountain' and comes with a 5 year Warranty so I'm expecting good things from it and should be able to give it some proper abuse.

DW.

Rockshox Recon 335 SL Air Forks : £140 Pre-owned

Features: 120mm Travel, Rebound Adjust, Lockout, QR Drop Outs.

Its been a good few years since I've used a fork with only 120mm of travel, but for once I am going to listen to the recommendations of the manufacturer and this is what Sunn suggest is the geometry match up for this frame.

I picked these up pre-owned online for a reasonable £140 and they are in mint condition.
First impressions are pretty good, they seem quite sturdy and because they are fairly basic, dont have a multidude of adjustments which I think can sometimes over complicate forks. Personally, I will never use the lock out on them but I suppose its nice to have the option.

No test ride yet, but I have 100psi in them and the white forks on the white frame look pimp which is important to me and any other bike tarts out there! :)

DW.

New Sunn Bike : Frame £150

I've just purchased a new Sunn S1 All mountain hardtail 17inch and Im going to do a running review of the frame and the new products attached to it.

I bloody love a good hardtail and I'm looking forward to giving this bike some serious Sh@*!

The new thrasher.

The specs are as follows:

• Sunn All Mountain S1 Aluminium frame 17 inch / Medium                                         
• Rockshox Recon 335 Air SL forks - 120mm travel                                                   
• Rear Wheel ; Sun Ringle Equalizer 29 AM Rim laced to Shimano XT disc hub
• Rear Tyre ; Continental Gravity 2.3
• Front Wheel ; Sun Ringle Accelerator Rim laced to Shimano XT disc hub
• Front Tyre ; Maxxis High Roller                
• Hayes Stroker Ryde Disc Brakes 160mm Rr /180mm Fr 
• Nuke Proof 30.9mm Seatpost
• Hope QR 34.9 Seatclamp
• Charge Spoon Saddle
• Crank Brothers Iodine All Mountain 1 1/8 Headset
• Bontrager Rythm 65mm Oversize stem and Bars
• Lizard Skins Peaty lock-on grips
• Shimano XT Hollowtech BB and Cranks
• FSA Chain Guide and 36t Chain Ring and Bash Gaurd
• Wellgo CNC B54 flat pedals Sealed Bearing

                                          
Ive just taken delivery of a new Shimano SLX shadow 9spd Rear mech and Sram PC951 chain. Ill fit them to the bike in the next couple of days and then its ready to rock!

DW.