'02 Jekyll 500 Upgrade Recommendations?

"Zt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:Cj2Ta.115817$ye4.85554@sccrnsc01...

Quoted message said:

Had the bike for 1 year +, only now starting to ride it exclusively

off-road

Quoted message said:

and I wanna spend some more $$$ to improve out-of-box

performance/handling.

Quoted message said:

I'm riding some fairly steep technical terrain: single track, lots of rock outcroppings, roots and
loose (natural) gravel. I'm 5'11, 180lb, the bike

is

Quoted message said:

a Large. This size was the shop recommendation, didn't think about it much since I spent so much
time commuting on asphalt.

You shouldn't have too, the shop should have sorted that out for you.

Quoted message said:

Now that I'm paying attention to off-road books/advice, seems like I don't have as much clearance
between the top tube and my....self (< 1 inch)

D'oh! brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it.

as is

Quoted message said:

most often recommended (4-5 inches), but I'd like to make this frame work

if

Quoted message said:

possible

If you decide you can't get on with it, you might get lucky advertising for to swap a large frame
for a medium. If you do this consider keeping your rear shock etc as you know how much this has been
thrashed (or not).

Steve.

Zt said:

The only thing that isn't stock are the Avid Mechanicals, what else would you (have you?) changed?

The frame. The forks. Any Coda branded equipment.

Quoted message said:

This is what I'm thinking in terms of upgrades so far, tell me if you have alternative suggestions
and why:
1) Front Shock: Currently using HeadShock Super (no adjustment), I'm thinking of a Manitou Comp
(100/120mm)

Won't work. Cannondales will only accept headshox (sucks, eh?) without a huge amount of
faffing about.

Zt said:

Had the bike for 1 year +, only now starting to ride it exclusively off-road and I wanna spend
some more $$$ to improve out-of-box performance/handling.

I'm riding some fairly steep technical terrain: single track, lots of rock outcroppings, roots and
loose (natural) gravel. I'm 5'11, 180lb, the bike is a Large. This size was the shop
recommendation, didn't think about it much since I spent so much time commuting on asphalt.

Now that I'm paying attention to off-road books/advice, seems like I don't have as much clearance
between the top tube and my....self (< 1 inch) as is most often recommended (4-5 inches), but I'd
like to make this frame work if possible

The only thing that isn't stock are the Avid Mechanicals, what else would you (have you?) changed?

This is what I'm thinking in terms of upgrades so far, tell me if you have alternative suggestions
and why:
1) Front Shock: Currently using HeadShock Super (no adjustment), I'm thinking of a Manitou Comp
(100/120mm) 2) Bars: Currently has Easton EA70 flat bars, thinking about EA70 Monkey Bar Riser
(2 or 2.5" rise?), or the EC70 Monkey Lite XC.

The rear shock is a FoxFloat R (no lockout), this isn't really causing me any grief since I don't
do a lot of standing on the uphill and I'm not too enthused about spending the $$$ to upgrade to
something I can lockout.

Anything else? Some have suggested a shorter stem in addition to the risers bars for better
maneuverability, not sure about this. Thanks for any additional opinions. zN

Sorry for the for sale plug, but this may be the cheapest route.

I have some parts from a jekyll 3000sx I would be glad to get rid of. 3 stems, different lengths.
lefty with dampening + lockout with hub, wheel, + rotor, freshly serviced by 'cdale. New warranty
replacement fox float RL, with lockout.

While I'm not in love with cannondale, I've ridden headshocks, and a lefty is a lot better, and it's
an easy change.

Shoot me an email, if your interested.

-Bruce

I'm about 5'10"/5'11" and really wanted a 2003 Jekyll 500. Two shops agreed that a medium was the
right size for me (but only had large frames). I went to a third shop that had a medium 400 to try
and I let them talk me into a large 500. I kept it for a day before I returned it. I couldn't even
stand over it.

If you keep the headshok you can probably get a short upright stem from cannondale, and raise the
bars and shorten the reach without buying a new handlebar. I found the handlebars (even on the
large) to be impossibly low for me (although I like to be very upright on the bike).

I'd fix the fit first, and then worry about the other stuff.

Steve.

Zt said:

Had the bike for 1 year +, only now starting to ride it exclusively off-road and I wanna spend
some more $$$ to improve out-of-box performance/handling.

I'm riding some fairly steep technical terrain: single track, lots of rock outcroppings, roots and
loose (natural) gravel. I'm 5'11, 180lb, the bike is a Large. This size was the shop
recommendation, didn't think about it much since I spent so much time commuting on asphalt.

Now that I'm paying attention to off-road books/advice, seems like I don't have as much clearance
between the top tube and my....self (< 1 inch) as is most often recommended (4-5 inches), but I'd
like to make this frame work if possible

The only thing that isn't stock are the Avid Mechanicals, what else would you (have you?) changed?

This is what I'm thinking in terms of upgrades so far, tell me if you have alternative suggestions
and why:
1) Front Shock: Currently using HeadShock Super (no adjustment), I'm thinking of a Manitou Comp
(100/120mm)
2) Bars: Currently has Easton EA70 flat bars, thinking about EA70 Monkey Bar Riser (2 or 2.5"
rise?), or the EC70 Monkey Lite XC.

The rear shock is a FoxFloat R (no lockout), this isn't really causing me any grief since I don't
do a lot of standing on the uphill and I'm not too enthused about spending the $$$ to upgrade to
something I can lockout.

Anything else? Some have suggested a shorter stem in addition to the risers bars for better
maneuverability, not sure about this. Thanks for any additional opinions. zN