Kestrel Rubicon
Update 2010: Sold! Long story short. I used to have 2 Kestrel Rubicons. I picked up two back in the day. One for myself and one for my now ex-wife. When we got divorced, I kept both bikes. Time passed and I got an email asking about mounting a disk brake to a Rubicon. And away went my last Rubicon. It now has a loving home in Southern BC.
I used to ride my mountain bike everyday, back when I was in college. I am planning to return to both of those pursuits in the very near future. in the meantime, here area few tidbits for you…
I purchased my Kestrel Rubicon Comp the summer of ’96 from Wheeler’s Cycle and Fitness. It was delivered on August 1, 1995. It took me almost four months to get everything built up and dialed in.
Parts Spec (original)
Rock Shox
Judy SL with Long Travel
Speed Springs
XTR
Rapid Fire Brake/Shift Levers
V-Brakes (Front and Rear)
11-30 Cassette with TI cogs
Crank 170 mm 24-34-46
Bottom Bracket
Titec
118 Ti Handlebar
99 Mag Bar-ends
191 Carbon Seat Post
Bontragger
190 Saddle with Ti Rails
Nuke Proof
Atom Bomb Front Hub
Control Tech
135 Stem with 5 degree rise
Aluminum Seat Post Binder Bolt
Speedplay
Frog Pedals (CroMo)
Hugi
Rear Hub with Ti body
Ritchey
Logic Steel Skewers
DT
15-16 spokes
Mavic
217 CD 32 Rims
Weight
Frame: 6.0 lbs.
Built with both rear shocks and SL fork: 26.3
Built with both rear shocks and XL fork: 27.4
Travel
Front: SL Fork – 3.1 inches, 8.0 centimeters
Front: XL Fork – 3.9 inches, 10.0 centimeters
Rear: One Alps 4 – 3.5 inches, 8.9 centimeters
Rear: Two Alps 4 – 7.6 inches, 19.3 centimeters
Upgrades
Fork
Original fork was Rock Shox ’96 Judy SL Long Travel. This fork moved to XC bike when it was purchased.
Upgraded DH bike to Rock Shox ’98 XL with triple crown. Added noticeable weight to the front end, but a huge improvement in tracking and feel.
Added Rock Shox ’01 Psylo Race to XC bike — never tested.
Added Rock Shox ’01 Psylo XC to DH bike. String Upgrade to heaviest Rock Shox makes. Required when I upgrade to disc brakes, because the wheel would not clear the drop outs with the disc attached. It ended up the hub cones were installed backwards and the upgrade was not required. My fault. I always take things apart, then forget how it went back together. Noticeable return in front to back movement when under heavy braking in the driveway. Kind of creepy actually. But when I am on the trail I don’t notice it.
Stem
Ordered a second Titec Fat Head Ti stem from Titec.com. 1 1/8" 135mm x 10 degree rise. With one of these on the XC, this is just to match strength/weight/feel between bikes.
Switched back to Nuke Proof 135mm on DH bike.
Switched to 120mm Ritchey stem on DH bike to test different reach.
Original Control Tech stem on DH bike destroyed by movers. They cross threaded the bolts, then cranked them on. This was after I offered the remove the handlebar for them.
Brakes / Cables
Upgrades to Gore-Tex Ride On cables on XC bike. Improved shifting. Same cables have lasted 4 yrs. Well worth the cash.
Switched to Avid Mechanical disc brakes. So far so good. I have gone a one XC ride.
Avid Flak Jacket cables on DH bike. They are fine. Better than regular cables, but not as slick as the Gore-Tex.
Pedals / Shoes
Original Speed Play CroMoly frogs on DH bike.
Original Speed Play Ti frogs on XC bike. I may have to change out. Too much flex for my body weight.
Switched to Sidi Dominator 3 shoes. I don’t remember the name of the previous model. They were Sidi’s, looked like high-tops, blue-green w/ chartreuse armor at the ankle, butt ugly. One size too large. I got them during a store closing sale. That’s about all I remember.
Wheels / Rims / Spokes
Black Chris King universal disc hubs. Required when I switched to discs. Mavic Disc rims. DT 15/16 spokes. Rear: 3X. Front: 2X. I laced disc side of the front wheel backwards. Oops! The CK tech said spokes might hit the brake assembly under heavy braking, but no problem so far.
Moved original Ti Hugi 3x laced to Mavic 217 CD32 rims to XC bike.
Moved original Nuke Proof 2x laced hub from DH to XC bike.
Moved Al Hugi 3x drive side, 2x non-drive lacing to Cannondale frameset. That may take shape yet.
Moved Nuke Proof Carbon front hub, radial laced to Cannondale.
Cogs
Original 8-speed Shimano XTR cog set. 11-32 on XC. 10-30 on DH.
Cranks
Original Shimano XTR. 170mm length on DH. 175 on XC. Maybe I should switch those.
Bottom Bracket
Original Shimano XTR on both bikes.
Rebuilt XC due to water. Still a little rough at times.
Derailleurs
Original Shimano XTR front and rear on both bikes
Added Avid Rollamajig to rear on DH bike. It helps. Shifts are faster and cleaner, with a large cable arch to snag trail obstacles.
Brake Levers
Original Shimano XTR Brake/Shift levers
Shift Levers
Original Shimano XTR Brake/Shift levers
Handle Bar / Bar Ends / Grips
Original Titec 120 Ti handle bar on both bikes.
Original Titec 99 Magnesium bar ends on both bikes.
Don’t remember the grips.
Use hair spray to remove/install the grips. Works as a lub when removing and adhesive after install.
I use zip-ties at both ends to make sure the grips don’t rotate. Be mindful of where the locking ends up when installing.
I had a Kestrel Tiger Strip carbon fiber bar, but I couldn’t deal with the yellow Kevlar showing through. Yeah, I am a fashion victim at times. Now if it isn’t black, I probably don’t need it.
Headset
Original Chris King NoThreadSet on both bikes. Never had any problems and I don’t expect I ever will. All other heads sets are crap when compared to a CK. Period.
Saddle
Original Bontragger 190 Saddle w/ Ti rails on DH bike.
Tried Titec Berserker saddle on DH bike. Never felt right, so I switched back.
Terry Women’s Ti Railed. Bought this for my (ex)wife but she never tried it out.
Tools / Workshop
Ultimate Work stand. Works like I want it to and it is portable enough to take along.
Park Professional Wheel truing stand w/ dish tool.
Craftsman hand wrenches.
Park cone wrenches, spoke tools, wire cutters, chain breaker.
Lubes / Cleaners
I use just about anything from ultra cheap to too expensive.
Orange gritty hand cleaner.
Blue disposable shop towels. They work so much better than regular paper towels when you have to clean the grim off of your hands or a chain.
Finish Line Home Parts cleaner.
White Lightening chain lube. I used this until it dried up in the container. Obviously, I am not riding enough…
