Crestline x DJI - RS 181 SPECTRE Edition

[AlumiPro]

This is why on the RH2 size with 450mm reach and 440mm CS makes sense as the shorter CS helps to better pick up the heavier front end. On the R180, the CS was 445mm on size medium.

Correct.
I ordered an RH4 (505mm reach) 27.5 rear w/ 440mm rear center drop out. This size frame would have been shipped with a 450mm rear center drop out, And if I don’t like how it rides I can always order a different drop out.
My Anakin V2 MTB (obviously has no forward battery but has a centered gearbox) is a size XL with 500mm reach and 428mm rear center with its current configuration.
I like a roomy cockpit but ride very tight single track “deer trails”, so prefer a “smaller” wheel base for tight switchbacks.

 

[John_likes_bikes]

Im getting my shopping list together and I’m curious what other RS181 buyers or DJI users have for a chainring?
I’m currently running a 36t on my Bosch Race.
I’m also curious about crank options, I’m running 145mm PNND arms on the Bosch Race and really like them for the type of terrain I ride.

I believe any ISIS crank will work. I am going with SRAM XO 155mm. I've been running Forx, which are an interrsting small company with at least some color options if that's your thing. SInce I'm all SRAM drivetrain I'll use thier emtb chainring for Transmission.

HEX2 | 155mm E-Bike MTB Cranks | FORX.bike

HEX2 cranks are best suited to the TQ motor, Bosch gen 2/4 systems, Specialized, Brose and Yamaha pw-x systems. Check out technical info here.

forx.bike

X0 Eagle E-MTB Crank Assembly - FC-X0-PA-D1 - SRAM

X0 Eagle E-MTB Crank Assembly, FC-X0-PA-D1, SRAM. A striking visual departure without any compromises, the X0 Eagle E-MTB crankset is all the durability you expect from X0 optimized for E-MTB. The eye...

www.sram.com

Eagle Transmission E-MTB Chainring 104 BCD - CR-TTYP-104-A1 - SRAM

Eagle Transmission E-MTB Chainring 104 BCD, CR-TTYP-104-A1, SRAM. Designed for use with a 104 BCD interface of any 104 BCD spider, This chainring utilizes our T-TYPE design and is backwards compatible with EAGLE tech...

www.sram.com

 

[John_likes_bikes]

This is why on the RH2 size with 450mm reach and 440mm CS makes sense as the shorter CS helps to better pick up the heavier front end. On the R180, the CS was 445mm on size medium.

A huge benifit of a smaller DJI motor is shorter CS. I went with the RH2 and additional 450mm drop outs to fit a 29", keeping it at 160mm to start. @AlumiPro they let you swap dropouts for no charge?

 

[AlumiPro]

A huge benifit of a smaller DJI motor is shorter CS. I went with the RH2 and additional 450mm drop outs to fit a 29", keeping it at 160mm to start. @AlumiPro they let you swap dropouts for no charge?

No, the extra dropout options can be purchased on the website and unless you really know what works for YOU, I would recommend starting with the drop out they have chosen for each frame size

 

[John_likes_bikes]

No, the extra dropout options can be purchased on the website and unless you really know what works for YOU, I would recommend starting with the drop out they have chosen for each frame size

Fair, but what I know works for me is a 29" rear. That means a diferent dropout than OE for the RH2 I got. Could have been what stock was left or all RH2's came stock as a mullet.

 

[RickBullotta]

All sold out.

 

[AlumiPro]

Any of you that missed out there will be a few more available at shops like Worldwide, Fanatik, Pro Bike Supply and a few others but they will make sure people do full builds with them.

 

[Bluedirtz]

Scored one

 

[AlumiPro]

Ride Wrap is available to order for this frame in all sizes. It’s currently in fitment production.

 

[MTB_MIKE]

Anybody know how many degrees of pedal kickback on this frame? The old Santa Cruz Bullit VPP had 27 degrees which is considered moderate. Specialized frames are typically worse at over 30 degrees.

 

[MetroNeck]

Got some insider info. Timing was perfect as I spent the weekend getting my 35nm butt kicked @ Megavolt.

I had one in the cart ready to pay, then remembered I have 2 kids starting University in Sept, and bonuses don't get paid out till October.…

Hopefully V2 will be out in the fall.

 

[AlumiPro]

On the Bosch motors, definitely. But not on the DJIs.

It's a fatal flaw and it blows me away that no one else is discussing this issue or trying to create solutions.

I talked to Troydon about a bash ring or guard for the chainring, his response was: “the offical cover serves as a bash guard. The cover in the website pictures is a 3D printed cover. The official one is more like our current bike and comes down enough to protect your chain ring. You wont need a bash guard, I did it cause there is no real way to mount a bash guard.”
He also sent this pic that shows the added protection that isn’t displayed on the website.
It sounds like he may offer the same bash guard without the added chainring protection, so buyers have options.

 

[AlumiPro]

Troydon also said even with this added chain ring protection guard, the new RS181 still has more ground clearance than there last bike.

 

[MTB_MIKE]

This will solve the bash guard problem but sadly will make the motor appear significantly more bulbous.
I think they should have kept the low profile cover but make a solid rib protrude just at the chainring. This bike does have a tall BB, is this even needed? Are guys who live and pedal up rocky technical terrain experiencing impact on their current Bosch bikes?

 

[Mike O]

Happy accident to have a more flattering picture on the website; not the real one.

 

[Suns_PSD]

This will solve the bash guard problem but sadly will make the motor appear significantly more bulbous.
I think they should have kept the low profile cover but make a solid rib protrude just at the chainring. This bike does have a tall BB, is this even needed? Are guys who live and pedal up rocky technical terrain experiencing impact on their current Bosch bikes?

View attachment 161972

Well, they should have just molded in those ISO tabs that every single pedal bike has so clients can add any needed bash guards.

That said, if I can verify that Crestline made their bash guard protrude below the chainring, while not aesthetically pleasing, it's a workable solution for sure.

 

[AlumiPro]

This will solve the bash guard problem but sadly will make the motor appear significantly more bulbous.
I think they should have kept the low profile cover but make a solid rib protrude just at the chainring. This bike does have a tall BB, is this even needed? Are guys who live and pedal up rocky technical terrain experiencing impact on their current Bosch bikes?

View attachment 161972

When I ordered my 2023 Crestline Bosch Gen 4, I also ordered 3 extra motor covers. So far I have damaged 2 of them. I designed and made a stainless steel low profile bash ring that is just barely lower than the motor cover to protect the chain ring and help protect the cover.
Troydon has told me that the newer 2024-2025 motor covers are out of a different “plastic”, and has had much success with it and less prone to cracking with impacts or getting damaged easily.

 

[Biano44]

When I order my 2023 Crestline Bosch Gen 4, I also ordered 3 extra motor covers. So far I have damaged 2 of them. I designed and made a stainless steel low profile bash ring that is just barely lower than the motor cover to protect the chain ring and help protect the cover.
Troydon has told me that the newer 2024-2025 motor covers are out of a different “plastic”, and has had much success with it and less prone to cracking with impacts or getting damaged easily.

View attachment 161973 View attachment 161975 View attachment 161976 View attachment 161977 View attachment 161978

That’s a great solution

 

[AlumiPro]

Happy accident to have a more flattering picture on the website; not the real one.

Troydon said he MIGHT supply us with both covers, a low profile (like what’s seen on the website) and a cover that helps protect the chainring(like I just showed)
What a great thought by Troydon; to understand that some riders will never have a need for the extra chainring protection, while other riders absolutely will need the extra protection even if it does make the motor cover a bit more “bulky”
Keep in mind how VERY quickly he got this new frame design into production for the hot new DJI that everybody is craving and getting it to us by the end of July! That’s nuts! They had to design a new proven frame mold very quickly.
But yes it would be nice to have solid chainring bash guard mounting points.
I asked Troydon if I could purchase an extra motor cover but they aren’t available yet for individual sale, I’ll order one when they come available, as I like to be prepared.

 

[Suns_PSD]

When I ordered my 2023 Crestline Bosch Gen 4, I also ordered 3 extra motor covers. So far I have damaged 2 of them. I designed and made a stainless steel low profile bash ring that is just barely lower than the motor cover to protect the chain ring and help protect the cover.
Troydon has told me that the newer 2024-2025 motor covers are out of a different “plastic”, and has had much success with it and less prone to cracking with impacts or getting damaged easily.

View attachment 161973 View attachment 161975 View attachment 161976 View attachment 161977 View attachment 161978

I'm not clear what's going on here.

Does the Bosch motor have ISCG05 mounting spots, so that any off the shelf ISC05 chain ring protection just bolts right on?

 

[Suns_PSD]

Troydon said he MIGHT supply us with both covers, a low profile (like what’s seen on the website) and a cover that helps protect the chainring(like I just showed)
What a great thought by Troydon; to understand that some riders will never have a need for the extra chainring protection, while other riders absolutely will need the extra protection even if it does make the motor cover a bit more “bulky”
Keep in mind how VERY quickly he got this new frame design into production for the hot new DJI that everybody is craving and getting it to us by the end of July! That’s nuts! They had to design a new proven frame mold very quickly.
But yes it would be nice to have solid chainring bash guard mounting points.
I asked Troydon if I could purchase an extra motor cover but they aren’t available yet for individual sale, I’ll order one when they come available, as I like to be prepared.

Should have a low profile cover AND just a narrow chain bash guard mounted on the low profile cover.

Also, if you are going to make a large fake cover, might as well make it quick removal and turn it into tool storage.

 

[RickBullotta]

The RS181 has a VERY different motor and lower frame profile, doesn't it?

 

[Biano44]

The RS181 has a VERY different motor and lower frame profile, doesn't it?

View attachment 161987

That cable looks shit

 

[John_likes_bikes]

These "problems" exist on almost every emtb, not unique to Crestline. Can someone show me a frame where the downtube or motor mount, etc extends enough to cover chainring?

Having ISCG mounted on the motor casing is a terrible idea and there's usually no room to put them on a frame because the motor is there.

 

[Suns_PSD]

These "problems" exist on almost every emtb, not unique to Crestline. Can someone show me a frame where the downtube or motor mount, etc extends enough to cover chainring?

Having ISCG mounted on the motor casing is a terrible idea and there's usually no room to put them on a frame because the motor is there.

All other full power motors have the motor itself extending below a 34T chainring, providing the needed protection.

My Relay, smartly, included an old school spinning bash ring, since the F60 mid power motor being smaller, left the chainring exposed. I wonder if the Relay set up can be retrofitted to the DJI motor?

 

[AlumiPro]

I'm not clear what's going on here.

Does the Bosch motor have ISCG05 mounting spots, so that any off the shelf ISC05 chain ring protection just bolts right on?

No, I was unable to find any chain ring bash guards that work….thankful Amazon has free returns!
The Bosch Gen 4 bolt pattern is different, which is why I designed and made my own. I made it out of stainless steel because stainless steel won’t get hung up on jagged lava rock or break easily, like aluminum will.
Once I get the new RS181 in my hands I’ll check it out to see if there’s anything I can develop, that is if I feel it even needs any added protection. It doesn’t look like there are many external motor mounting points on the RS181/DJI. I’m thinking maybe something internal to back-up the inside of the bottom motor cover. But I trust Troydon did everything he could with what he was presented with.
You also have to be very careful when adding extra protection because it’s transferring the impact to another location that may not be designed to do so! In the end something has to give or be the weak link, typically better to be a “plastic” motor cover.

 

[Suns_PSD]

No, I was unable to find any chain ring bash guards that work….thankful Amazon has free returns!
The Bosch Gen 4 bolt pattern is different, which is why I designed and made my own. I made it out of stainless steel because stainless steel won’t get hung up on jagged lava rock or break easily, like aluminum will.
Once I get the new RS181 in my hands I’ll check it out to see if there’s anything I can develop, that is if I feel it even needs any added protection. It doesn’t look like there are many external motor mounting points on the RS181/DJI. I’m thinking maybe something internal to back-up the inside of the bottom motor cover. But I trust Troydon did everything he could with what he was presented with.
You also have to be very careful when adding extra protection because it’s transferring the impact to another location that may not be designed to do so! In the end something has to give or be the weak link, typically better to be a “plastic” motor cover.

But in the photo, I see the Bosch standard motor covers 95% of your chain anyways, so why go through all of the trouble?

Are you running the 34T or the 36T in those photos?

One helpful solution could maybe be a 28T combined with some small rear cassette, a 9-38 8 speed or the like. Would greatly improve clearance and weight.

 

[John_likes_bikes]

When I ordered my 2023 Crestline Bosch Gen 4, I also ordered 3 extra motor covers. So far I have damaged 2 of them. I designed and made a stainless steel low profile bash ring that is just barely lower than the motor cover to protect the chain ring and help protect the cover.
Troydon has told me that the newer 2024-2025 motor covers are out of a different “plastic”, and has had much success with it and less prone to cracking with impacts or getting damaged easily.

View attachment 161973

It's almost the shape of brass knuckles, THAT would be cool. Though not as functional as brass knuckles OR a slidy guard.

 

[AlumiPro]

But in the photo, I see the Bosch standard motor covers 95% of your chain anyways, so why go through all of the trouble?

Are you running the 34T or the 36T in those photos?

One helpful solution could maybe be a 28T combined with some small rear cassette, a 9-38 8 speed or the like. Would greatly improve clearance and weight.

I’m running a 36T which hangs down past the motor cover just enough that I was occasionally grinding my not so cheap T-type chain across big jagged lava rocks.
And Im not so worried about a bit of added weight to a bike if it serves a good purpose.

 

[AlumiPro]

It's almost the shape of brass knuckles, THAT would be cool. Though not as functional as brass knuckles OR a slidy guard.

YES! I thought the same thing when I was drilling out the holes. But I would get in trouble in California with brass knuckles.