Sinister Splinter MX

[rd3]

This has been one of my projects for the last couple months. It took me while to get all the right parts together to finally finish it, but it was well worth the wait. I needed a "all mountain, do it all" type bike for a while, something between my Trek Fuel and my full on dh bikes.
When planning what parts to get, besides what I already had around, I wanted the bike to accelerate fast and climb like a goat as well as bomb down hills. So I knew I would need a light weight wheelset and tire combo, but it still had to be able take a beating. I tried to use light parts to keep the weight down because the two main parts, frame (9.8lbs) and fork (6.65lbs), aren't exactly the lightest starting point out there.

How it rides:
wasn't sure excatly what to expect when I first threw a leg over the Splinter, but my anticipation was rewarded with a bike that feels fast... fast to accelerate, fast up hills.. even when standing, and of course fast on the downhills. It handles the corners well too, feels like it has a low cg. I like the progressive feeling of the 5th Air, seems to suit the frame. The suspension is very responsive and active.
One of the best features is the adjustable pull link. Depending on if you are downhilling or riding xc with a few turns you can change the head angle and bottom bracket height. The geometry of the bike fits me very well (I am 5'8").
The wheel base is a little shorter than what I am used to. The rear wheel hits stuff before I expect it to, so I need to adjust my timing slightly.
I am very happy with how it feels so far on its first few rides.

Specs:
•Sinister Splinter MX frame, size small, Enduro Max Cartridge Bearings, 9.8lbs with shock & axle
•Progressive 5th Element Air shock
•Marzocchi Z150 fork, 6.65lbs
•E.13 reducer cups with FSA headset bearings 140g
•Easton Scandium DH bars 255g
•Thomson Elite 70mm stem 172g
•Intense lock-on grips with Straightline End caps
•Hope Mini brakes w/ power clamps, 185mm rotors, Dangerboy levers & KoolStop pads
•Profile cranks 170mm w/ ti bolt kit & 5 3/4" ti spindle, drilled spider
•FSA Super Road 34t chainring 34g & alloy chainring bolts
•Gamut G25 chainguide w/ alloy chainring bolt replacing heavy steel bolt
•Shimano XTR cassette 12-34
•Shimano Ultegra rear derailleur med cage, alloy lower pulley & bolts
•Sram PC 990 hollow pin chain
•Shimano XT shifter, no indicator, alloy bolt
•DMR Expert saddle
•Race Face diabolus seatpost w/ DKG clamp
•Nokon full length shift housing
•Syncros Magnesium Mental pedals 410g
•Stans ZTR Flow 32H rims laced to Hope Pro II hubs, 12mm rear, 20mm front with DT Swiss SuperComp spokes and alloy nipples, 800g front, 905g rear = 1705g wheelset
•Schwable Albert 2.25 tires with snakeskin, 630g
•Continental 26 Lite tubes 130g
•••Total weight = 33.8 lbs

http://home.comcast.net/~hood_mussel/sinister/sinister_splinter_mx_1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~hood_mussel/sinister/sinister_splinter_mx_2.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~hood_mussel/sinister/sinister_splinter_mx_3.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~hood_mussel/sinister/sinister_splinter_mx_4.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~hood_mussel/sinister/sinister_splinter_mx_5.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~hood_mussel/sinister/sinister_splinter_mx_6.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~hood_mussel/sinister/sinister_splinter_mx_7.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~hood_mussel/sinister/sinister_splinter_mx_8.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~hood_mussel/sinister/sinister_splinter_mx_9.jpg

[johnny]

Holy shit!

Unbelievable. Bikes do not come any more spec'd out than that. I't must be like riding Jesus!

[karlfaith]

Uh, i'm trying to figure out how the rear actually works.
Its a very interesting looking frame.
Nice work, awesome spec too.

I saw an add for the ceramic bearing rollers for rear deraileurs, is it just a weight/bling thing? or is there a noticable difference ? (At least the one you have looks lke the one i saw(page 73 of july Australian mountain bike)

I probably could have said that better.....eh.

[rd3]

Uh, i'm trying to figure out how the rear actually works.
Its a very interesting looking frame.
Nice work, awesome spec too.
I saw an add for the ceramic bearing rollers for rear deraileurs, is it just a weight/bling thing? or is there a noticable difference ? (At least the one you have looks lke the one i saw(page 73 of july Australian mountain bike)
I probably could have said that better.....eh.

Thanks.
The ceramic pulleys spin smoother so technically there is less resistance, but that probably isn't noticable unless you are a road or time trial racer. I only use those on the lower pulley as they don't allow any side to side movement of the pulley. The top pulley needs to have some side to side play to shift smoothly. The der was on a road bike before and the lower pulley needed replaced, so I got the bling one...

[giantjosh]

Wow that spec list is amazing and it shows by looking at the pictures. Nice bike dude it should be a nice ride.

[bunya djer n dher]

thats hella awesome mate!!!!


love the hubs.....mmmm clickyness

[karlfaith]

Thanks.
The ceramic pulleys spin smoother so technically there is less resistance, but that probably isn't noticable unless you are a road or time trial racer. I only use those on the lower pulley as they don't allow any side to side movement of the pulley. The top pulley needs to have some side to side play to shift smoothly. The der was on a road bike before and the lower pulley needed replaced, so I got the bling one...

Ah, so bling factor is the main thing:p
Was it very expensive?

[Tho-R]

Ive been looking at this bike for a while now and i cannot work out how the suspension design works:S

Care to explain?

EDIT: wait nevermind, the solid rear swing arm pulls on that do hickey before the shock?

[Sketchy]

A very interesting setup you have there, esp the adjustable head angle height and bottom bracket height. Very nice.

[Roly]

thats a sweet bike man well done

Awesome spec decision!!! :D

[Jeebus]

may i ask how much altogether it set you back, a few pretty pennies i suspect.

[J-ack]

Wow. Just wow. I've also got to know how much it set you back. Specced like that I can imagine it'd be a fair amount!

[petri]

I love that bike.

the suspension works like this.

Rear wheel goes up, pivots on bearing just above bbkt which pulls down the the pullrod attached to the front pin.

the pullrod drags the top linkage down causing the shock to compress. It's a totally adjustable pullrod (there are 2 generations of pullrod and top linkage after the one in the picture).

there is no side load on the shock, and they take an absolute beating. The Splinter feels awesome to ride, kinda 'dead' feeling but it's working hard (I mainly used an air shock) Splinters can go pretty quick over rough stuff, they really like to be launched.

[rd3]

I love that bike.

the suspension works like this.

Rear wheel goes up, pivots on bearing just above bbkt which pulls down the the pullrod attached to the front pin.

the pullrod drags the top linkage down causing the shock to compress. It's a totally adjustable pullrod (there are 2 generations of pullrod and top linkage after the one in the picture).

there is no side load on the shock, and they take an absolute beating. The Splinter feels awesome to ride, kinda 'dead' feeling but it's working hard (I mainly used an air shock) Splinters can go pretty quick over rough stuff, they really like to be launched.

Good explanation. It is easiest to see from the nondrive side, the pivot is at the bearing and you can follow the movement from there.

[rd3]

Wow. Just wow. I've also got to know how much it set you back. Specced like that I can imagine it'd be a fair amount!

I am not sure what it cost (probably don't want to know :p). I had some of the parts sitting around but others I had to buy and it took me a few months to get it together.

[petri]

Thanks. oh and welcome to farkin. they're mostly little turds here :D but there's alot of us big turds also.

You really inspired me to build up my Splinter again.... that is such a nice color. Best i've seen on a Splinter yet.

[johnny]

Can't stop myself from coming back here and looing at it.

It really is a bike for the fetishist. Looks beautiful, has amazing parts, is nice and light for what it is and apparently rides well. I reaally want one....or the bank balance it takes to afford one!!

Beautiful bike, REALLY beautiful bike!

One question though, your choice of forks. What made you go with the Zochs? What are they like on weight, those crowns always look like over kill and heavy chunkness to me....

[rd3]

Can't stop myself from coming back here and looing at it.
It really is a bike for the fetishist. Looks beautiful, has amazing parts, is nice and light for what it is and apparently rides well. I reaally want one....or the bank balance it takes to afford one!!
Beautiful bike, REALLY beautiful bike!
One question though, your choice of forks. What made you go with the Zochs? What are they like on weight, those crowns always look like over kill and heavy chunkness to me....

:)
I have had that fork for a couple years. It was on my Heckler (hated that bike) and then went on my FTW DNA hardtail and now it has found a permanent home on the Splinter. I really like how the Z150 feels, very smooth. Yes it is a little heavy (6.65 lbs) and I could probably save a half pound or more by going with a RS Lyric or Pike. When riding the bike the Z150 feels like an excellent match for the rear suspension.

[BM Epic]

that is soo nice, could not take my eyes off it, great setup,i had trouble working out how the rear works, also very good piccies,well done!

[alpinestar12]

damn that is nice. I want that bike, I have the fork, now I just need the frame. tell me, petri, I know they stopped making them but did they ever make a large frame?

Edit: yes they did. now I just need the money for one and to find one.

[petri]

damn that is nice. I want that bike, I have the fork, now I just need the frame. tell me, petri, I know they stopped making them but did they ever make a large frame?

Edit: yes they did. now I just need the money for one and to find one.


Yup.. A large is bloody big tho... We have a medium lying around that is for sale... brand new also... come on, steal the money!:D

[karlfaith]

for the people trying to work it out
I just attempted figuring out how the linkages actually work, and i did this in paint.
Red arrows showing movement, and the red cirle is the pivot.
It may be wrong, so tell me if it is.
74731

[petri]

for the people trying to work it out
I just attempted figuring out how the linkages actually work, and i did this in paint.
Red arrows showing movement, and the red cirle is the pivot.
It may be wrong, so tell me if it is.
74731


Yep. that's it! It's actually a really simple system, just looks complicated with all of the cnc going on.

[iUDEX_nCr]

that's sweet!

just regarding the jockey wheel... check these bling parts out... made in Taiwan (haha, just like me)...

http://www.kcnc.com.tw/Web/NewWeb/rdjckey.htm

aquaminerale import kcnc gear... set of jockey wheels AUD$70.
http://www.aquamineraleracing.com/

sweet!