FOX Float X shock and FOX DOSS dropper post.
The Shock is the original FOX Float X that came tuned for the bike (custom tune ID CNSQ). Like my old 2007 Giant Reign the SB66 doesn’t have internal cable routing for the dropper, but unlike the Reign it does have external routing to have the cable run under the top tube then up to the top of the dropper. The old FOX DOSS dropper has 125mm of travel and it works in 2 steps, you press the black section of the lever to lower the post a little, or press the silver section of the lever to drop it all the way.
From factory, the bike had no proper chainstay /seat stay protection so Alex bought the SB66c rear triangle/downtube protector kit and put it on. The rear triangle sections fit perfectly.
However the downtube section was moulded for the carbon front triangle and doesn’t conform to the alloy BB. So Alex had to cut it to make it work. I think he did a GREAT job!
How the bike looked after Alex first built it.
How it looked before he broke down the build.
I’ve been chatting to Haylex/Alex and he’s been a wealth of information; everything from the backstory of why he bought the frame, some history of Jared Graves racing one in 2012, frame specifics and how he first built his up to how it ended.
He’s not sure about the state of the shock, or dropper as they’ve been sitting in a box for 10+ years so I’ll have to see if they work. If not I have the choice of either servicing them, or finding alternatives.
I’ve started to think about forks a little more, and groupsets too. I’ve seen a lot of newer turquoise Yeti’s with orange FOX forks and it’s a complimentary match, but I’ve turned off orange FOX forks ever since trying to make one work with my pink Specialized Chisel so I’m going to avoid orange. The idea of splattering purple anodised bits all over the bike is far from enticing too.
Kashima dropper posts and forks look good on any bike but since I don’t want to drill the frame I can’t get a dropper to work unless it’s a wireless dropper. That opens me up to a wireless groupset. Alex did mention that a massive 50T+ cassette would look pretty weird on a 26″ wheel and a long cage derailleur might almost be touching the ground. True, but it’s something I’ll just have to see for myself when the frame gets here.
I expect a lot of trial and error (it’s how I roll lol), and like creating an artwork, for it to look shit before it looks good. But intuitively I think I have to let that turquoise frame shine. IE: less is more.