If only there was an option for the newer stereo’s with integrated cable routing through the headset.
Mullet....on Cube Stereo Hybrid 160?
- Thread starter techm8n
- Start date
If only there was an option for the newer stereo’s with integrated cable routing through the headset.
E-MAD MALC
Well-known member
I suppose its because your messing with the geometry by doing that alone
Front centre and wheel base get extended and you end up with slower steering and it go on and on
Apart from lowering ride height, does that do much for the handling?
E-MAD MALC
Well-known member
The bike started off second hand stereo 140 medium which had 29" wheels 140mm fork travel in the intension of swapping out stuff to see what happens with the geo
What I've done is replaced the back wheel with a 27.5 in doing so, I've swapped out the rear shock which was a 185 x 55 for a 205 x 65 super deluxe ultimate to raise the back, I've put 170mm Zeb Ultimate up front,
I have 150, 155 and 165 cranks I will play around with, I'm in the throws of slackening it, I've got 1mm and 2mm winging their way from a company in Staffordshire UK
So this will be interesting to see what sort of Frankenstein bike I've made
also put a 500watt battery in it to keep the weight down
What I've done is replaced the back wheel with a 27.5 in doing so, I've swapped out the rear shock which was a 185 x 55 for a 205 x 65 super deluxe ultimate to raise the back, I've put 170mm Zeb Ultimate up front,
I have 150, 155 and 165 cranks I will play around with, I'm in the throws of slackening it, I've got 1mm and 2mm winging their way from a company in Staffordshire UK
So this will be interesting to see what sort of Frankenstein bike I've made
also put a 500watt battery in it to keep the weight down
E-MAD MALC
Well-known member
Got to admit over the last year, I've pulled together some decent parts
Its working out nearly half price from the year before that
Its working out nearly half price from the year before that
Hi mate, I just got the 160 Action team 27.5 abit concerned about what's been said about the headsets on it are they really that bad or just crushing under the 29er rise? Cheers
Schlayer88
New Member
I have 800km on my stereo
Prob half of those with mullet setup
Went down to 160 fork on the front.
No headset issues yet
I probably send it a bit more than the average rider and I destroyed my lower headset bearing quickly. Replaced it with a cane creek bearing and it’s been great since.
I have a 2024 action team with 27.5 I changed the bars to ride high 38s as was to heavy over the front wheel now it's spot on for climbing! I don't feel it light one bit over the front
Hattori-Hanzo
Well-known member
Got a 29er manitou mezzer on the front of my action team now.
Running at 170mm travel.
I've changed the headset to the Nukeproof integrated.
At a bike park today for a proper test, will report back later
Running at 170mm travel.
I've changed the headset to the Nukeproof integrated.
At a bike park today for a proper test, will report back later
KDillonK
Member
Dude. I can't wait to hear how it goes. I've been using my Runt. I've been working with the pressures. Don't have it write right yet. The only real difference that I'm noticing so far is more small/sharp bump compliance--the very thing I was after.Got a 29er manitou mezzer on the front of my action team now.
Running at 170mm travel.
I've changed the headset to the Nukeproof integrated.
At a bike park today for a proper test, will report back later
I found someone who has a Mezzer that he'll loan to me for a trial. I've been too busy to get much riding in so I haven't tried it yet.
Hattori-Hanzo
Well-known member
Too tired to type now, will update later, but so far it's feeling
GrantCube
Member
Just finished mine ( well, my wife's bike but she lets me ride it!) on the weekend. has rained every weekend for 6 weeks here and so no ability to get to an open trail to see how it goes but little bit of testing in the street feels OK so far. Hoping with everything I have that it clears up this coming weekend so I can try it out......29" Fox E-spec Rythm forks that were swapped out new from a new bike and a Stans S2 Wheel and Maxxis DHF........really hoping it cures the OTB I have suffered from since the 2nd January when I broke both wrists!
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KDillonK
Member
Ok. You've had your rest...Too tired to type now, will update later, but so far it's feeling
Hattori-Hanzo
Well-known member
That looks ominous 
Stay positive, Hopefully it's just the paint cracking...
Stay positive, Hopefully it's just the paint cracking...
That looks ominous
Stay positive, Hopefully it's just the paint cracking...
There’s one crack running into the seatpost tube. That’s the concerning one.
Hattori-Hanzo
Well-known member
Got any more pics?
What are your plans going forward?
What are your plans going forward?
GrantCube
Member
Stress less...I know it feels like a disaster but it can be fixed and strengthened. I broke my frame, near where the rear motor mounts are as I used the bike for gravity racing and the original entry level RockShox shock wasnt up to it....that and pressures in rear tyre that were too low. I searched for an experienced carbon racing yacht repairer and he has been great. He has the knowledge and tools to fix high impact carbon things and he loves the idea of fixing something other than "just another boat." He did a quick and dirty repair on a weekend for me to get me to a race and then when I broke it again, he took his time and made a whole new carbon block for the mount to sit on and it looks "Factory." You would not be able to tell he has been in there if you were not told first. Got the Marzocchi air shock, had it tuned and the frame has never been better. When I took it to the repair guy, I got him to look all over the frame to see if there were any other issues or if there were any places on the frame that could not be fixed and I did this for two reasons.....we are always told that carbon frames are throw away once they are damaged and also because there was quite a bit of talk on this forum about head stocks breaking on 160's at the time. He told me he could fix any part of the bike if needed and there was no existing damage........best part was, it costs me a case of beer and $200 to fix the frame. Fmxr47, do the talking to Cube thing but while you are doing that, search boat mast or boat hull repairers and speak to them and ask who is the "carbon guy", there always is one and he is the one you want to go to....if you think about the forces that go into a racing yacht mast for instance, and these guys break and repair them in the one weekend so they can keep racing.......find that guy!
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And the headsets are the arcoss being used in the mullet set ups are they? I've never had a mullet but so wanting to do it to my new action team and swap the orange for black 29er forks! I've read countless times now on the headsets cracking on the stereos with a mullet set up after so many miles
I replaced my lower bearing with a cane creek bearing
KDillonK
Member
My original Arcos lasted about 6 months. Replaced with Cane Creek. My professional suspension repairman speaks most highly of Chris King headsets.
I've been mullet on my stereo 160 for 3 years now. Zero problems. IMO (and it's only an opinion) slacking out the head tube angle by a degree, and extending the length to the ground by .75" ((29-27.5)/2) is not going to take the head tube beyond it's limits. Even running a fork with another 10mm (I run 170mm travel) is not going to do it. The highest loads are typically when the fork is compressed, at which point the leverage issue is significantly reduced. If it's compressed at all, then the fork is in the original travel range anyway.
I think some primary and contributing reasons for failure are 1) poor/weak frame construction and it was going to break anyway, 2) loose headset, where the fork hammers back and forth (brutal on carbon fiber frame), 3) heavy riders, and 4) an improperly tuned fork that bottoms out too much. While the frame should handle bottoming out, if you have any of issues 1-3, then continued bottoming out will compound the issues. Full kit I weigh about 170lbs (77kg). I'm sure that these frames are engineered to handle ~240lb riders, kitted to 260 (118kg). If you're not in that range, then blaming a head crack on a 29" fork seems an unreasonable engineering proposition.
Hattori-Hanzo
Well-known member
Ok. You've had your rest...
So, initial impressions are very positive. I need a lot more time on the bike to fully adjust and set up the forks, but I don't think I'll be going back to a 27.5 front wheel anytime soon.
I spent the day at my local bike park which has a good mix of short tech and jumps lines, very easy to session with some short steep sections of climbs back up.
I should note I am an average rider at best, but I try to get to bike parks most weekends, I also use the bike for mid-week countryside rides with friends, so a bit of an all-rounder.
Coming down the first flow trail, the larger front wheel is immediately evident making the front end feel slightly sluggish on tight turns/berms, though in reality it's not sluggish at all, it's just getting used to the transition of the bigger wheel.
After a few runs I naturally adjusted my riding to the bigger wheel, and it felt just as nimble as before.
One of the biggest changes was how grounded and confident the front end felt on descents, the 160 is known for being a nimble bike and sometimes could feel skittish under quick steering inputs. With the 29er I'd say It's still just as nimble but far smother and planted.
Roll over is greatly increased, and over roots and chatter it flies!
Jumping felt good, I didn't see any major difference here, though I'm not a high-flyer, still improving.
One of the main negatives I'd read to converting to mullet is climbing ability, so I was keen to see how it performed.
The climb to the top of the hill is fairly tame apart from a few steep sections that most people with analogue bikes can't pedal up, I've ridden them a lot over the last year so have a good comparison for the 29er.
The 160 again is known for being light in the front when climbing, and I found this to be true, having to shift weight to the front of the saddle on steeper climbs.
It's just the same with the 29, on steeper sections you have to get over the front more to stop it from lifting, but I actually found the increased roll-over of the 29 made it climb better in certain situations.
The front can still get light on the steepest parts of the climb, just as before but moving forward soon has it under control and I only saw a marginal difference in climbing, if any at all really, I was pleasantly surprised by this.
After the initial transition to the bigger wheel the bike felt great. I had an amazing day and felt I was hitting rough sections faster than I ever have.
As for the Manitou Mezzer's, They felt great! Just as stiff and compliant as my Fox 38's but soaked up chatter far better.
I need to play with the IRT a bit more as the initial ccs86 calculator felt great in the mid-section, but I was bottoming out on larger drops. Again I need a lot more time on them, but I'm impressed so far. One thing I do miss though is the Fox quick release axle
Can't wait to get out on the bike again!
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Hattori-Hanzo
Well-known member
Also replaced my top and bottom bearings for the integrated Nukeproof set up.
KDillonK
Member
One more reason for me to buy a Mezzer.
I'm still not convinced that my Runt is helping on my Fox 38 for chatter and small sharp bumps (like roots). Part of it could be that I'm a tuning dork and don't have things set up right. But I have some knowledgeable support and seem to have it where it should be. Sigh. I'll try that Mezzer soon and contribute my feedback. As for 27.5 vs 29. I agree with all your observations. IMO the bike should be designed that way. The improvements are spectacular. You'll get used to the turn initiation timing change. Not a big deal. I also shortened the stem from the stock ~45mm to 30. That was a notable improvement too. I think that might be more of a bike fit thing. I'm 5'10" on a Large. I think I'm between large and medium, so I'm feeling more comfortable with the shorter stem. As for climbing, yeah it's light. I don't care though. It's an ebike so I can drop the seatpost and ride lower through a steep section, or just stand up for a moment.
Last run of the day, Raw mullet setup still flows and does tech well, this was my last lap on a chill jump line, legs were cramping so bad after riding all day.
GrantCube
Member
Hi Folks, just a quick follow up....7 months in on the mullet 160 and the bike has helped get me through several enduro events, 4 x 70km long distance enduro races and I have placed 1st or 2nd in classs in all of the long distance events and did OK at the shorter events. I'm still on the same front tyre but the rear tyre burn rate is savage now. I assume this is because the damn thing just goes, stops and handles so much better! Heres the interesting thing.......I was looking to upgrade the bike by now but I have tried a few factory mullets or 29ers with flip chip and they dont have the same slack geo as my 27.5 bike with the 29 front. I am now scared of buying another bike that wont give me a 63 deg head angle and that has the bottom bracket height lifted. I am now working on a strategy to just keep upgrading this one and throwing new motors at it for as long as I can........I just love it that much!
E-MAD MALC
Well-known member
Nice to here the bike has really done well for you
As I also went down the mullet root a couple of year ago now but my conversion was with the 2021 140 stereo where I swapped out the rear wheel for a 27.5
I purchase a couple of headsets to play around slackening it and ended up with a 1.5 degree which I purchased from this company
workscomponents.com
And I run 150mm cranks now which took a bit of getting use too
As I also went down the mullet root a couple of year ago now but my conversion was with the 2021 140 stereo where I swapped out the rear wheel for a 27.5
I purchase a couple of headsets to play around slackening it and ended up with a 1.5 degree which I purchased from this company
Angle Headsets & CNC Bike Components | Works Components UK
Manufacturers and designers of Angle Headsets, Chainrings and other high quality World Cup Proven CNC bicycle components proudly made in the UK.
workscomponents.com
The Dietster
Member
Went mullet and best parts (superdeluxe ultimate and zeb ultimate) over the weekend and i love it! Although needs getting used to in tight cornering and a slower response (the feel) but even more composed as my suspension now is top notch. Did a first local trail and will beat the s***t ou of it next weekend. But so far so good and I recon i have the best 160 smart in the world at this point
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