Crestline x DJI - RS 181 SPECTRE Edition

Got one, never have ridden one, but atlas I can switch over many of the bits and parts from my current bike. Risk worth taking? Sure, 100%. When they talk about an expensive frame, let's consider Levo S Works Frame only.. $8500 USD, $400 Tafrif, plus CA tax! = $9686.00, now that's insane and for a bike that seems a bit dodgy given the weight. Wondering what the total weight will be with a Fox 38, Transmission, and some carbon rim that will swap over. Just guessing a 5-6 pound difference between an SWorks Levo vs. this one built up. Maybe more?!? Oh, I can sell my current bike for about $5000, so who's complaining?
 
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Suns_PSD said:
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?
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stupid question, but what is cheaper, a plastic motor cover or needing to replace a motor spindle and/or axis because your wanted to safe a cheap chainring?
 
Tabs to mount an ISCG05 bash guard is a good solution. But I just realized that Troyden can't do that, because literally the motor is there. It's not like he has CF frame in that area. The solution almost certainly needs to come from DJI.

That said, I smash my F60 chainring bash guard 1-2x every ride and the motor is fine after 2.5 years. And I don't want to walk out of my trails constantly. Also, you don't just bend the ring only, but it crunches the chain and makes them where they don't articulate correctly. It ends up being a pretty big expense and PITA.

I'll be sticking with the Bosch motors until this has been solved by someone, which no doubt someone will.
 
Zimmerframe said:
Feck .. this should be the 1st world problems thread ...

All you billionaires and no one can even cut a small block of tapered wood like a F1 Skid plank if you think it's beneath you, drill two holes, zip tie in place ..

Jesus.
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LOL.

I'm not strapping plywood to my Ferrari!
 
EmtbFanatic said:
Does anyone know what lead to the change in rear shock mounts to trunnion ?
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It lead me to spend even more $, since I now can’t transfer my EXT E-Storia over from my current Crestline!
I’m no shock expert but trunnion would seem to reduce unwanted side to side movement. And I would think it’s possible to get a longer shock stroke by eliminating one eyelet as the trunnion does…..or being able to fit a longer stroked shock in a shorter frame area.
 
AlumiPro said:
It lead me to spend even more $, since I now can’t transfer my EXT E-Storia over from my current Crestline!
I’m no shock expert but trunnion would seem to reduce unwanted side to side movement. And I would think it’s possible to get a longer shock stroke by eliminating one eyelet as the trunnion does…..or being able to fit a longer stroked shock in a shorter frame area.
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Is the Vivid a bad shock for this frame? What would make a greater impact on ironing out initial harshness, coil shock or Ochain/E13Sidekick to remove kickback?
 
AlumiPro said:
It lead me to spend even more $, since I now can’t transfer my EXT E-Storia over from my current Crestline!
I’m no shock expert but trunnion would seem to reduce unwanted side to side movement. And I would think it’s possible to get a longer shock stroke by eliminating one eyelet as the trunnion does…..or being able to fit a longer stroked shock in a shorter frame area.
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Haha yeah I feel you . The spectre will be my third crestline . Been with the brand since the beginning.
 
Suns_PSD said:
Tabs to mount an ISCG05 bash guard is a good solution. But I just realized that Troyden can't do that, because literally the motor is there. It's not like he has CF frame in that area. The solution almost certainly needs to come from DJI.

That said, I smash my F60 chainring bash guard 1-2x every ride and the motor is fine after 2.5 years. And I don't want to walk out of my trails constantly. Also, you don't just bend the ring only, but it crunches the chain and makes them where they don't articulate correctly. It ends up being a pretty big expense and PITA.

I'll be sticking with the Bosch motors until this has been solved by someone, which no doubt someone will.
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This is the issue for almost all emtbs, the motor is in the place mtbs put the ISCG tabs on the frame. The TQ looks small enough that you might be able to engineer it to work but even then that's not a lot of frame to support the impacts.

I've gone through 3 chains in 9 months on my ep801 just from small impacts to the chain that F's up the links. And it's pretty well protected.
 
MTB_MIKE said:
Is the Vivid a bad shock for this frame? What would make a greater impact on ironing out initial harshness, coil shock or Ochain/E13Sidekick to remove kickback?
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The Vivid is great at this because of their "touchdown" tech and the negative chamber. This was introduced to mirror coils, who are always better at initial break away. Outside of that it's all suspension kinematics. VPP's rear axle path will be a positive for initial, square impacts. Things like the ochain, which I run now and am going to miss on the DJI (nothing available yet) is a game changer as far as "feeling" initial impacts and stability in your feet. But I don't know how much they actually help kinematics.
 
AlumiPro said:
It lead me to spend even more $, since I now can’t transfer my EXT E-Storia over from my current Crestline!
I’m no shock expert but trunnion would seem to reduce unwanted side to side movement. And I would think it’s possible to get a longer shock stroke by eliminating one eyelet as the trunnion does…..or being able to fit a longer stroked shock in a shorter frame area.
Click to expand...
That would be my guess, shorter eye to for longer stroke to fit the frame.
 
John_likes_bikes said:
The Vivid is great at this because of their "touchdown" tech and the negative chamber. This was introduced to mirror coils, who are always better at initial break away. Outside of that it's all suspension kinematics. VPP's rear axle path will be a positive for initial, square impacts. Things like the ochain, which I run now and am going to miss on the DJI (nothing available yet) is a game changer as far as "feeling" initial impacts and stability in your feet. But I don't know how much they actually help kinematics.
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I’ll be setting my RS181 up with E13 SideKick hubs off my current Crestline. The SideKick reduces kickback and motor rattle caused by back lash.(the chain won’t be yanking on the motor gears as the rear suspension cycles.)
 
Rob Rides EMTB said:
  • LIMITED TO 99 UNITS FOR 2025
  • COLOR: GLOSS SLATE GRAY
  • ROCKSHOX VIVID ULTIMATE SHOCK
  • EASILY REMOVABLE 800wh BATTERY
  • ADJUSTABLE TRAVEL 161mm to 181mm
  • 29/29 OR MX OPTIONS IN ALL SIZES
  • ADJUSTABLE DROP OUT OPTIONS CHAINSTAYS FROM 435mm to 465mm (*sold separately)
  • 56mm HEAD TUBE ALLOWING ADJUSTABLE REACH CONFIGURATIONS
  • 600WH BATTERY OPTION AVAILABLE
  • FRAMESET WITH SHOCK $6,999 USD
  • PRE-ORDERS START SHIPPING BY LATE JULY 2025

View attachment 161753 View attachment 161754 View attachment 161755
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£6k for a frameset, whatever.
 
AlumiPro said:
I’ll be setting my RS181 up with E13 SideKick hubs off my current Crestline. The SideKick reduces kickback and motor rattle caused by back lash.(the chain won’t be yanking on the motor gears as the rear suspension cycles.)
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A sidekick is option 1 for me at the moment. I going to wait to see how the 181 feels on the trail before investing bc it'll take a new wheel or rebuilding. Ochain and Rimpact might have an option by then. Who knows but I'm sold on the positive affect on kickback devices. I see you're in CA, did you get yours build locally?
 
John_likes_bikes said:
A sidekick is option 1 for me at the moment. I going to wait to see how the 181 feels on the trail before investing bc it'll take a new wheel or rebuilding. Ochain and Rimpact might have an option by then. Who knows but I'm sold on the positive affect on kickback devices. I see you're in CA, did you get yours build locally?
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I have CrankBrothers Carbon Synthesis wheels on my mtb and Crestline, I really like them. They came as complete wheel builds but the set for the Crestline I had Performance Bicycle (which happens to be in my home town) install the SideKick hubs. It didn’t cost much at all, and they were able to reuse the high quality spokes.
 
I reached out to Troydon about crank arm options. He sent this pic.
I ordered them but in my preferred 150mm length.
(ISIS with a 21.5mm offset is needed, which is what the Bosch SX requires)

77093909692__3D9EE3B4-A6F2-40EE-A5AD-3D578618AEC8.jpeg
 
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AlumiPro said:
I have CrankBrothers Carbon Synthesis wheels on my mtb and Crestline, I really like them. They came as complete wheel builds but the set for the Crestline I had Performance Bicycle (which happens to be in my home town) install the SideKick hubs. It didn’t cost much at all, and they were able to reuse the high quality spokes.
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That is the best combo! I have the same wheels and love them.
 
mrtrinh said:
Are all SRAM ebike cranks the same offset? Can I use the standard X0 ISIS crankset?
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My understanding is there is a difference. Not all ISIS e-bike cranks will work with the DJI and Bosch SX. It needs to state its for the Bosch SX.
 
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