Wow - I am really surprised all of the linkage and shock changes worked out. A few questions along those lines :
Is that custom Ohlins off of a 2019 Kenevo? I believe that has slightly shorter stroke, but same overall length. I was toying with trying to throw mine on the SL to test out a coil, but I realized that the mounting on the shaft side was non-standard on.
Any touching on the chain stay or frame with the non-stock linkages? It’s super close touching the chain stay on the stock link already.
Probably not easy to determine, but how do these changes impact the leverage rate? Overall would be ~2.8 which is slightly less than stock, but i would be curious to see if this would follow the new kenevo curve more closely, which is more progressive than the old kenevo
Pretty cool that you can mod this bike that much and still retain a lot of it’s same feel.
OK a couple of updates from the last few weeks and some answers to questions ..
The shock is actually a 222/65 ohlins with two offset bushes reducing the over all to 216/65. Standard Kenevo shock length is 216/57 with their own shock block which wouldn’t work with this. Öhlins do not offer a 216/65 shock but both Rockshock and Fox do offer that length in air and coil.
The Kenevo link is longer as are the shock link bolt holes and seat stay bolt holes positions so the leverage is longer. The inside frame gap is about the same as standard.
Also, he checked with a board and a pencil through the axle to make sure there was 180 travel.
Hope that helps answer that ?
Some other feedback/updates.
He's tried it with different forks (Also 180mm) and different combinations of 29" and 27.5" riding different terrain. Hasn't had chance to hammer it in the last couple of weeks on any proper downhill with any of these changes.
His conclusions so far on the setup(s) with the 180mm F/R:
27.5" Front and Back makes a great park bike. Super fun on jumps and tight berms.
29" Front and Back makes a great trail bike.
With the 29"'s - great roll over and better ground clearance. Not as nimble as the 27.5" but still very capable.
Mullet setup. Didn't feel as good as either the 27.5 or the 29 setup on trails or bike park type riding - but he felt it would make a great gravity bike as it was the closest in feeling to a Kenevo.