Same here. So crazy how it just sells out like hot cakes.
Crestline x DJI - RS 181 SPECTRE Edition
- Thread starter Rob Rides EMTB
- Start date
Plummet
Flash Git
If its the same as the S180. I'm assuming it is to keep the platform the same at 5'11 i have an RH-2 frame and can fit a 180mm one up dropper protuding 60mm from seat clamp to collar. I'd prefer to have a 210 dropper in there.... but thats all she wrote.
In all honesty, i can do everything with a 180mm dropper. But shorter people than me will be using like a 150mm dropper and that isnt ideal at all.
Plummet
Flash Git
It makes sense to me.
The longest travel dji option to date.
A proven chassis known to be one of the best e bike platforms in the world.
Configurable form 160 to 180mm
Configurable chainstay options
The the first and only removable battery dji option. For many, myself included, non removable batteries are a deal breaker.
Most folks looking for boutique bikes like frame only option.
This is currently the holy grail of e MTB's ticking almost all of the boxes other manufacturers havent all ticked,
The only thing that's sub optimal is seat post insertion.
How much more could that dropper go down if you didn't need it to be higher for your rear? Do you run your e-bike saddle at 'XC bike height' or more like 'e-bike height'?
Sadly, I know Plummet's height, a dude on the internet in NZ, but not not certain about my daughter's.
mrtrinh
Active member
Well said! I got a gen 5 a couple months ago and I pre ordered the dji crestline. Going dji almost makes it perfect. The adjustable drop outs is just icing on the cake. Hopefully I can get some decent return back on my gen 5 when I sell.
The old 445mm CS's are too short in the 3 & 4 and was the largest hindrance to me with this bike. Like notably too short. About 450 is sort of the bare minimum for a 480mm reach bike.
I'd love to order several sets of dropouts and finally test them all.
I'd love to order several sets of dropouts and finally test them all.
Plummet
Flash Git
I can't upgrade. Funds do not allow. So i guess its moot.
I'll enjoy the shit out what i have.
MTB_MIKE
Active member
I got lucky and picked one up. I am somewhat concerned about some people complaining about the slight small bump VPP harshness with the bike.
Is the harshness due to pedal kickback? A coil will help a bit but is an Ochain or E13 Sidekick the solution if the issue is caused by kickback??
Is the harshness due to pedal kickback? A coil will help a bit but is an Ochain or E13 Sidekick the solution if the issue is caused by kickback??
Direct. But I think it’s intentional. I knew this was going to be released, Troydon said he hasn’t got battery distributors sorted in all regions. I guess Australia is one of them.
Plummet
Flash Git
I have zero harshness. In fact this is the most balanced and fanfreakentastic bike i have every ridden.
God it feels good.
Helped likely by this custom tuned bespoke rear shock I have in mine.
SUSPENSION TECH INTERNATIONAL COIL SHOCK - Spoke Magazine
Kiwi company takes on the big players with home-grown, high-end damper.
spokemagazine.com
Plummet
Flash Git
I know its moot now. But the s180 had 445 chainstays for mullet and 455 for 29er.
But yes, the ability to configure chainstay length is awesome, particularly for the outliers needing/wanting shorter and longer stays. 445 was bang perfect for me.
Yeah but you're on the S2. You're 445s are my 450s-455s on an S3.
Horst Link is the best mountain bike suspension. That's it.
There's a reason that when the patent ran out many manufacturers switched to it.
VPP offers the ability to easily swap travel lengths. HL doesn't.
That said, I've sort of noticed when hanging on for dear life, none of that seems to matter that much to me.
Plummet
Flash Git
I've used all of them. Right now. i own high pivot, Mid pivot 4 bar and vpp.
A well balanced and refined platform, regardless of what type, works freaken well when paired with top end shocks and forks.
I do enjoy the square edge absorbing of the rearward axle path of high pivot, but dont enjoy the manualling difficulty a growng chainstay provides. 4 bar is a solid platform and pedals well but lacks high pivot bump sucking potential. I'm really enjoying the Crestline vpp platform its just fitting my style real well. Its somewhere inbetween 4 bar and high pivot for bump absorption.
MTB_MIKE
Active member
I have zero harshness. In fact this is the most balanced and fanfreakentastic bike i have every ridden.
God it feels good.
Helped likely by this custom tuned bespoke rear shock I have in mine.
SUSPENSION TECH INTERNATIONAL COIL SHOCK - Spoke Magazine
Kiwi company takes on the big players with home-grown, high-end damper.
I’ve got a E13 sidekick hub and can test out the differences. The hub took out about 18 degrees of kickback. It didn’t do that much with my Timp peak (21-22 degrees kickback) and reduced kickback to 3-4 degrees at full squish but made a big difference on my Specialized (32-33 degrees) and reduced kickback to about 14-15 at full squish. My legs burned less after a descent….
If the Crestline closer to 20 degrees or 35 degrees?
AlumiPro
Well-known member
My order went through Sunday.
My current RS180 frame will be going up for sale soon.
My E13 SideKick currently on my RS180 will be going on my new DJI RS181…..because it works!
My current RS180 frame will be going up for sale soon.
My E13 SideKick currently on my RS180 will be going on my new DJI RS181…..because it works!
I have to say, credit to Crestline for staying so relevant. In 2 years we have seen Gen4 Race to Gen5 to DJI with meaningfully adjustable chainstay. It took double this time for the legacy manufacturers to figure out that people prefer Bosch to Shimano, and a certain boutique manufacturer who prides themself on rapid prototyping (mentioning no names 
) hasn't even worked out that people like eBikes!
) hasn't even worked out that people like eBikes!
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On the subject of dropper post insertion. Yes it's not the best, but for me Gen5 is so strong I just live with a slightly lower than perfect saddle height. Totally worth it.
P.s. run it with a dual crown fork!
Kenevo didn't do us a favour in making the case for dual crown as the old Boxxer was not that good (non-linear air spring) and they sold it at just 180mm with a cheap damper.
P.s. run it with a dual crown fork!
Kenevo didn't do us a favour in making the case for dual crown as the old Boxxer was not that good (non-linear air spring) and they sold it at just 180mm with a cheap damper.
Rando_12345
E*POWAH Master
Commenting to follow the thread...
Most enticing bike out there!
Most enticing bike out there!
MTB_MIKE
Active member
Does it take out the slight VPP harshness many of the reviews talk about? Are you running an air or coil rear shock?
I have an E13 Sidekick but it’s on a very heavy rim but the weight wheenie in me wants to use a lighter rim/hub combo.
But if it truely makes an impactful difference I guess I’ll have to run this setup
MTB_MIKE
Active member
I’ve got a dual crown Fox 40 with a whopping 58mm offset. This means maximum turning radius but also means the wheel is more forward which is not ideal but you get used to it pretty quick.
The issue with dual crown is you’re heavily frowned upon if you punt a feature or a buddy on a single does it and you chicken out
so there’s more pressure haha
AlumiPro
Well-known member
Yes I recommend the SideKick, definitely an improvement. I mainly got it to reduce the Gen4 rattle, which it did reduce. But I’m really looking forward to the quieter DJI, and new slimed down RS181 frame, much better looking! And Grey/silver/charcoal are my favorite colors. Win!
Im running an EXT E-Storia coil. I run my suspension super supple due to the terrain I ride. I need to confirm with Troydon, but it appears the RS181 is a trunnion mount shock unlike there previous bikes!
My Crestline and mtb both have Crank Brothers Synthesis Carbon wheels which I really like, they’re tuff, not to stiff carbon wheels.
BTW, as always Troydon is one awesome dude! A man I’d like to meet in person some day. Since the soft (previous buyers only) release of the RS181 he has been overwhelmed with phone calls, emails and text messages, but some how he found time over the weekend to reply to my many text messages about the RS181. Which tipped me over the edge to pull the trigger in time……I was really telling my self to hold out on my next eMtb purchase until a long travel gearbox emtb was released. Troydon mentioned Bosch has pushed there gearbox motor out to 2030
DJI gearbox bring it sooner? 
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Haha. "I'd do it if I was on my DH bike" excuse can no longer be used.I’ve got a dual crown Fox 40 with a whopping 58mm offset. This means maximum turning radius but also means the wheel is more forward which is not ideal but you get used to it pretty quick.
The issue with dual crown is you’re heavily frowned upon if you punt a feature or a buddy on a single does it and you chicken out
mrtrinh
Active member
I confirmed with troydon the new dji frame is trunnion mount.Yes I recommend the SideKick, definitely an improvement. I mainly got it to reduce the Gen4 rattle, which it did reduce. But I’m really looking forward to the quieter DJI, and new slimed down RS181 frame, much better looking! And Grey/silver/charcoal are my favorite colors. Win!
Im running an EXT E-Storia coil. I run my suspension super supple due to the terrain I ride. I need to confirm with Troydon, but it appears the RS181 is a trunnun mount shock unlike there previous bikes!
My Crestline and mtb both have Crank Brothers Synthesis Carbon wheels which I really like, they’re tuff, not to stiff carbon wheels.
BTW, as always Troydon is one awesome dude! A man I’d like to meet in person some day. Since the soft (previous buyers only) release of the RS181 he has been overwhelmed with phone calls, emails and text messages, but some how he found time over the weekend to reply to my many text messages about the RS181. Which tipped me over the edge to pull the trigger in time……I was really telling my self to hold out on my next eMtb purchase until a long travel gearbox emtb was released. Troydon mentioned Bosch has pushed there gearbox motor out to 2030
It looks like a 205 x 65 Trunnion on the 160. Which is sort of a big deal to me.
bayride
Member
What can we expect the weight to be on this with the 800wh? With a zeb and similar build to the picture on page 1.......
Won't it hit the motor bash guard before the chainring? Mine does.
Look at the images on the first page. The chainring on the DJI is well below the motor/bash guard because of the small motor size.
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