Crestline RS 181.2 thread – builds, reviews, technical info

[ccornacc]

Has anyone tried to fit a Manitou Mara Pro as a rear shock on one of these? Going to be trying out a Mezzer and wanted to match it up with one of these.

Mara Pro Piggyback

Mara Pro PB rear shock, available in 45-75mm stroke lengths, has two separate damping circuits that can be activated or bypassed by the Work / Party mode lever. Having two separate circuits allows the rider to have two no-compromise options, for climbing and descending. Work mode is a preset...

hayesbicycle.com

 

[ccornacc]

Has anyone tried to fit a Manitou Mara Pro as a rear shock on one of these? Going to be trying out a Mezzer and wanted to match it up with one of these.

Mara Pro Piggyback

Mara Pro PB rear shock, available in 45-75mm stroke lengths, has two separate damping circuits that can be activated or bypassed by the Work / Party mode lever. Having two separate circuits allows the rider to have two no-compromise options, for climbing and descending. Work mode is a preset...

hayesbicycle.com

 

[NCeMTB]

Frame 120 checking in - chalk RH3. Build complete - bike is sick. One re-do was the dropper. Purchased a new RockShox AXS 175/31.6 - looks great, works perfectly, and man I do love how easy they are to instalI!

Unfortunately dropper a little to tall for me (short legged 30" inseam) - had to go to a OneUp which has a lower overall stack.

So - if anyone looking for a great deal on a once-mounted (but not used) 175 Reverb AXS - let me know. It's the B2 (latest) and I'll include a brand new remote as well. I'll include all the stuff it came with (stickers, charger, etc.) but don't have the original packaging. I paid $500 from SX Collective w/out remote.

Slams in an RH3 or RH4, probably not quite in a RH2. Shipping outside of U.S. probably too much $$.




Update - sold to a fellow Crestline rippah.

 

[E-NUB]

Frame 120 checking in - chalk RH3. Build complete - bike is sick. One re-do was the dropper. Purchased a new RockShox AXS 175/31.6 - looks great, works perfectly, and man I do love how easy they are to instalI!

Unfortunately dropper a little to tall for me (short legged 30" inseam) - had to go to a OneUp which has a lower overall stack.

So - if anyone looking for a great deal on a once-mounted (but not used) 175 Reverb AXS - let me know. It's the B2 (latest) and I'll include a brand new remote as well. I'll include all the stuff it came with (stickers, charger, etc.) but don't have the original packaging. I paid $500 from SX Collective w/out remote.

Slams in an RH3 or RH4, probably not quite in a RH2. Shipping outside of U.S. probably too much $$.

Fine tuning is bound to be part of the new build experience, gl with the sale but that should go quickly!

Speaking of fine tuning, I noted Oneup has facilitated the "family" with a timely massive sale going on now for anyone needing to hone in their riding position.

Good time to experiment with say a high rise bar, shorter stem, dropper lengths, pedals, grips, etc!

Lindsey (Frame #97, Raw Plaid RH2) running strong and hitting the trails later today:

 

[2thebrim]

Frame 120 checking in - chalk RH3. Build complete - bike is sick. One re-do was the dropper. Purchased a new RockShox AXS 175/31.6 - looks great, works perfectly, and man I do love how easy they are to instalI!

Unfortunately dropper a little to tall for me (short legged 30" inseam) - had to go to a OneUp which has a lower overall stack.

So - if anyone looking for a great deal on a once-mounted (but not used) 175 Reverb AXS - let me know. It's the B2 (latest) and I'll include a brand new remote as well. I'll include all the stuff it came with (stickers, charger, etc.) but don't have the original packaging. I paid $500 from SX Collective w/out remote.

Slams in an RH3 or RH4, probably not quite in a RH2. Shipping outside of U.S. probably too much $$.

Was it too tall for you when fully extended or when bottomed out?

 

[NCeMTB]

Was it too tall for you when fully extended or when bottomed out?

Fully extended… just a smidge too high for me.

 

[Plummet]

Lots of pictures of clean bikes resting against garages or on bike racks or on some tame easy trail.
Get the F out there and ride these things like you stole em and get some pics or footage!...

Here's my now museum piece S180 getting the jandle applied on a vert roll over.
Beat that mofo's with your far superior RS181.2's

 

[BikeBert]

Lots of pictures of clean bikes resting against garages or on bike racks or on some tame easy trail.
Get the F out there and ride these things like you stole em and get some pics or footage!...

Here's my now museum piece S180 getting the jandle applied on a vert roll over.
Beat that mofo's with your far superior RS181.2's

View attachment 184819

Easy there mate, most of these boutique bikes are bought by middle-aged crisis dudes who ride them hard about as often as middle-aged dudes take their Porsche or Ferrari to a track day. They’re too busy applying RideWraps and Invisiframes, polishing linkage bolts, and fitting gold road bike derailleur cages to save 0.7 watts on their imaginary KOM runs.

 

[polymathic]

Easy there mate, most of these boutique bikes are bought by middle-aged crisis dudes who ride them hard about as often as middle-aged dudes take their Porsche or Ferrari to a track day. They’re too busy applying RideWraps and Invisiframes, polishing linkage bolts, and fitting gold road bike derailleur cages to save 0.7 watts on their imaginary KOM runs.

True that! The two 181.2 I encountered trail-side involved a crash. One going too slowly and sliding into a deep rut. The other merging onto a fire road, then going all the way to the left while look at his front wheel, the spot I was barreling down. When he looked up he panicked and jumped of his bike and crashed. Amazingly he got up, apologized, then noticed I had a 181.2 and asked what number it was!

 

[N19EGT]

Easy there mate, most of these boutique bikes are bought by middle-aged crisis dudes who ride them hard about as often as middle-aged dudes take their Porsche or Ferrari to a track day. They’re too busy applying RideWraps and Invisiframes, polishing linkage bolts, and fitting gold road bike derailleur cages to save 0.7 watts on their imaginary KOM runs.

I’m 59. When my bike arrives in June. It’ll be living a hard life in the Uk. Mostly in the Lake District mountains and the Scottish Tweed valley. It definitely will be earning its keep

 

[Plummet]

Easy there mate, most of these boutique bikes are bought by middle-aged crisis dudes who ride them hard about as often as middle-aged dudes take their Porsche or Ferrari to a track day. They’re too busy applying RideWraps and Invisiframes, polishing linkage bolts, and fitting gold road bike derailleur cages to save 0.7 watts on their imaginary KOM runs.

Hehe, yeah I get it. But still I expect 180mm travel guys to go full send... why on earth buy a 180mm bike.

Anyway, im a 50 something old fuck, but that doesnt stop me from going full send mode.

 

[Lightme]

Mine has been getting punished!

 

[TTEngineer]

Bought a set of 5 dev cam zinc cranks in 150mm. Anyone running them as well?

I absolutely can not get them on. Not sure what’s going on but they won’t thread on.

I’ve emails 5dev, we will see what they say. I’m thinking they are out of spec somehow.

 

[Onetime]

Lots of pictures of clean bikes resting against garages or on bike racks or on some tame easy trail.
Get the F out there and ride these things like you stole em and get some pics or footage!...

Here's my now museum piece S180 getting the jandle applied on a vert roll over.
Beat that mofo's with your far superior RS181.2's

I would like to get some action shots, but I don’t happen to have a mobile photographer to come along to get the good action shots on my rides. I’m usually with a group and we only stop to regroup or when the ride is over. I do have a POV camera, but I’ve been too lazy to bother with it for awhile. I do need to put it on to get some vids of the new shred machine. It rips!

 

[Mr Tonka]

Bought a set of 5 dev cam zinc cranks in 150mm. Anyone running them as well?

I absolutely can not get them on. Not sure what’s going on but they won’t thread on.

I’ve emails 5dev, we will see what they say. I’m thinking they are out of spec somehow.

I have them on my DH bike, no issues there.

 

[Heckler Sb130]

I’m looking for a 29” dropout (450mm or 455mm) so I can finally ride my new bike. Mine was shipped with a 27.5” and I’m setup for 29”. If anyone has one laying around for tinkering can I buy yours now at full price so you can replace it once back in stock? Willing to trade my 27.5/450 as well. I’m in California.

 

[Plummet]

I would like to get some action shots, but I don’t happen to have a mobile photographer to come along to get the good action shots on my rides. I’m usually with a group and we only stop to regroup or when the ride is over. I do have a POV camera, but I’ve been too lazy to bother with it for awhile. I do need to put it on to get some vids of the new shred machine. It rips!

When ya doing that group ride find a gnarly section and ask someone to take a photo of you hammering that section. Its not like ya do it all the time.

In truth I have sweet fa pictures. We stop very occasionally and take the od photo. Maybe once every 10 to 15 rides.

 

[Speed_GeauxT]

I’m looking for a 29” dropout (450mm or 455mm) so I can finally ride my new bike. Mine was shipped with a 27.5” and I’m setup for 29”. If anyone has one laying around for tinkering can I buy yours now at full price so you can replace it once back in stock? Willing to trade my 27.5/450 as well. I’m in California.

New Wheel Day

 

[Lfhao]

Ok, I add some colors to mine today… I figure you guys may hate it so I’d like to share

 

[breakfasttaco93]

Willing to sell 29 450 dropouts if anyone wants them PM me.

 

[Tokidokijake]

Hi all. What’s the general consensus on air shock vs coil on this bad boy? Building up mine and struggling to decide on what direction to go. Ideally I want the bike to feel lighter so leaning towards air shock but so many people seem to love coils on it. I’m about 100kg if it matters! Riding in aliso. For context I have a Druid core with a coil and it feels a little too “heavy” for my liking but I’m not sure how much of that is the coil vs 800wh battery/build.

 

[John_likes_bikes]

Hi all. What’s the general consensus on air shock vs coil on this bad boy? Building up mine and struggling to decide on what direction to go. Ideally I want the bike to feel lighter so leaning towards air shock but so many people seem to love coils on it. I’m about 100kg if it matters! Riding in aliso. For context I have a Druid core with a coil and it feels a little too “heavy” for my liking but I’m not sure how much of that is the coil vs 800wh battery/build.

For me, the weight difference is negligible and it's in an acceptable place, low and central on the bike, if you notice a difference at all.

I ran an air for about 8 months and a coil for the last 2, it comes down to the type of bike feel you like and how you ride. Coil still has some good pop for jumping but it just wants to go fast and plow. Air rides more lively but less smooth. I feel airs progressive compression and rebound deep into the travel wore me down after 2.5 hours of riding.

My opinion, the 181 was made for a coil at 180mm travel. 150/160mm and less I'm running air all day.

 

[Onetime]

Hi all. What’s the general consensus on air shock vs coil on this bad boy? Building up mine and struggling to decide on what direction to go. Ideally I want the bike to feel lighter so leaning towards air shock but so many people seem to love coils on it. I’m about 100kg if it matters! Riding in aliso. For context I have a Druid core with a coil and it feels a little too “heavy” for my liking but I’m not sure how much of that is the coil vs 800wh battery/build.

Hey Jake, I also ride Aliso and I’m on the Float X2 and I’m loving it. I really have no complaints. To me, it actually rides a little more like a coil than my previous bikes. It’s firm, yet compliant. It matches well with my 38 also. And if at some point you get the long travel 200mm linkage, like I have to run with my 40, you can just bump up the compression and air on the X2. Whereas with a coil, you’ll need a retune.

 

[John_likes_bikes]

Hey Jake, I also ride Aliso and I’m on the Float X2 and I’m loving it. I really have no complaints. To me, it actually rides a little more like a coil than my previous bikes. It’s firm, yet compliant. It matches well with my 38 also. And if at some point you get the long travel 200mm linkage, like I have to run with my 40, you can just bump up the compression and air on the X2. Whereas with a coil, you’ll need a retune.

To each their own but that's bad advice. The correct way is a compression retune on any type of shock when changing leverage ratios. Your example for a quick fix for air is the same as a spring weight change on a coil shock. It's using additional support, creating a harsh ride to make up for lack of a correct internal valving.

 

[breakfasttaco93]

Hehe, yeah I get it. But still I expect 180mm travel guys to go full send... why on earth buy a 180mm bike.

Anyway, im a 50 something old fuck, but that doesnt stop me from going full send mode.

relax boomer

 

[Onetime]

To each their own but that's bad advice. The correct way is a compression retune on any type of shock when changing leverage ratios. Your example for a quick fix for air is the same as a spring weight change on a coil shock. It's using additional support, creating a harsh ride to make up for lack of a correct internal valving.

That advice was directly from Troydon when speaking to him about the 200mm linkage. Specifically in reference to the new Float X2. I think he would know what he is talking about.

 

[Plummet]

relax boomer

You can call me boomer if you upload better footage.... So far I've seen nothing......
Seems like these 181.2 breed are softer than us harcore s180 riders.... heheheheahahahaha.

 

[evoclimbs]

That advice was directly from Troydon when speaking to him about the 200mm linkage. Especially in reference to the new Float X2. I think he would know what he is talking about.

And I got, paraphrasing here, "you will need to re-tune the X2, it won't work with the 205 linkage, and you probably should go to a coil." Telum inbound!!

Betting the difference is our weights, I'm about 235# kitted up.

Dave

 

[Onetime]

And I got, paraphrasing here, "you will need to re-tune the X2, it won't work with the 205 linkage, and you probably should go to a coil." Telum inbound!!

Betting the difference is our weights, I'm about 235# kitted up.

Dave

I’m sure it’s a weight difference. I’m about 175 kitted up. He told me to up the compression and reset sag.

 

[Andorranik]

I’m 59. When my bike arrives in June. It’ll be living a hard life in the Uk. Mostly in the Lake District mountains and the Scottish Tweed valley. It definitely will be earning its keep

54 so past middle aged.......but living in Andorra only options I have is steep up and steep down........from the Scottish Borders so will be in Tweed valley with it for sure one day......