Nobl

One Of A Kind VP-Free! 7

14407 of 17587
(6 people)
Spicy.Mike
3/21/2014 9:43pm
s1600 p4pb10325104
s1600 p4pb10705784
Seatpost Cut.
Seatpost Cut.
s1600 p4pb10707947
s1600 p4pb10088350
s1600 p4pb10411212
s1600 p4pb10088352.jpg?VersionId=YvnncUnYkSw6gJjETnTAZy
s1600 p4pb10325104
c90 p4pb10325104.jpg?VersionId=uE9uwr KnLwM c90 p4pb10705784.jpg?VersionId=lsSGadHExd7 Seatpost Cut. c90 p4pb10707947.jpg?VersionId=NoehIv58gT7bbr57uXIBtV c90 p4pb10088350 c90 p4pb10411212 c90 p4pb10088352
Parts
Brand
Model
Additional info

Parts

Frame
Santa Cruz
VP Free
Ano BLK. Large, '06. Low Miles :D
Frame: Santa Cruz VP Free. Misc: Ano BLK. Large, '06. Low Miles :D
Rear Shock
Rock Shox
Vivid Air R2C
8.5x2.5, Short Shocked to 195mm Travel.
Rear Shock: Rock Shox Vivid Air R2C. Misc: 8.5x2.5, Short Shocked to 195mm Travel.
Fork
RockShox
Totem RC2 DH Solo Air Fork (180mm)
Hand-Painted.
Fork: RockShox Totem RC2 DH Solo Air Fork (180mm). Misc: Hand-Painted.
Headset
Chris King
NoThreadset
Headset: Chris King NoThreadset
Handlebar
Race Face
Atlas FR 785mm
Handlebar: Race Face Atlas FR 785mm
Stem
Thomson
Elite X4
Stem: Thomson Elite X4
Grips
ODI
Troy Lee w/ red Clamps.
Grips: ODI Troy Lee w/ red Clamps.
Brakes
Shimano
Saint M810
w/ 2x203mm Ashima rotors.
Brakes: Shimano Saint M810. Misc: w/ 2x203mm Ashima rotors.
Brake Levers
Shimano
XTR Trail M988
Brake Levers: Shimano XTR Trail M988
Shifters
SRAM
X9 Trigger (9SPD)
Shifters: SRAM X9 Trigger (9SPD)
Rear Derailleur
Shimano
Saint M820 Mech.
Mod:: Mated with Sram X9, 9SPD Trigger. Works Perfect. Still on 9SPD.
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Saint M820 Mech.. Misc: Mod:: Mated with Sram X9, 9SPD Trigger. Works Perfect. Still on 9SPD.
Chainguide
MRP
G2 SL
Chainguide: MRP G2 SL
Cranks
Shimano
Saint Crankset M815-I
Cranks: Shimano Saint Crankset M815-I
Chainrings / Sprocket
Race Face
36t
Chainrings / Sprocket: Race Face 36t
Bottom Bracket
Race Face
Team DH X-Type Bottom Bracket
Bottom Bracket: Race Face Team DH X-Type Bottom Bracket
Chain
KMC
X9 SL
Chain: KMC X9 SL
Cassette / Rear Cog
SRAM
PG 11-34t
Cassette / Rear Cog: SRAM PG 11-34t
Pedals
Other
Pedals
320g / Pair.
Pedals: Other Pedals. Misc: 320g / Pair.
Front Rim
WTB
Dual Duty Fr
Front Rim: WTB Dual Duty Fr
Rear Rim
WTB
Dual Duty Fr
Rear Rim: WTB Dual Duty Fr
Hubs
WTB
LaserDisc Super Duty Set.
Hubs: WTB LaserDisc Super Duty Set.
Spokes
DT Swiss
Spokes: DT Swiss
Front Tire
Maxxis
Minion 2.5
Front Tire: Maxxis Minion 2.5
Rear Tire
Kenda
Nevegal
Waiting to Wear Out...
Rear Tire: Kenda Nevegal. Misc: Waiting to Wear Out...
Saddle
Selle Italia
SLR Carbonio w/ Ti rails.
Saddle: Selle Italia SLR Carbonio w/ Ti rails.
Seatpost
Thomson
Elite
Seatpost: Thomson Elite
Seatpost Clamp
Other
Seatpost Clamp: Other
General Info

General Info

Model Year
2006
Model Year:
2006
Riding Type
Downhill
Riding Type:
Downhill
Weight
35 lb 9 oz (16131 g)
Weight: 35 lb 9 oz (16131 g)
Additional Info

HA: 64.5~ Deg (remeasured with better angle'r)
BB: 14.5" (error, remeasured)*
rear Travel: 195mm
Fork: 180mm

I took a chance with this frame and bought it in immaculate condition about 2 years ago. She hadn't been ridden much at the time of purchase. Spent tons of hours building it myself and figuring out/testing what maximized the frame's potential and the geo. VP-Free's are seriously amazing bikes, and they last forever. But, the Geo had to be 'updated' in that sense. After countless mods and hours spent figuring out the small but annoying details, it's all been absolutely worth it and happy to report the bike is fairly nimble, does great in the rough, balanced all-around performance, but all the while being tanky/solid as hell. It's a bike I would catergorize as a Mini-DH/Park bike. Does suffer from some small geo things (sorting it out). But otherwise a great bike.

Update: Been really dialing in the bike/suspension. Love the bike. 14.5" BB could be lower, but still, not a huge problem. Going to get a slightly longer stem (more foward weight bias) + 1-1/8" Angleset to slacken the bike to 64. I think this will really help the bike overcome it's slightly older geo and more into a speed-orientated snappy Mini-DH bike.

Additional Info:

HA: 64.5~ Deg (remeasured with better angle'r)
BB: 14.5" (error, remeasured)*
rear Travel: 195mm
Fork: 180mm

I took a chance with this frame and bought it in immaculate condition about 2 years ago. She hadn't been ridden much at the time of purchase. Spent tons of hours building it myself and figuring out/testing what maximized the frame's potential and the geo. VP-Free's are seriously amazing bikes, and they last forever. But, the Geo had to be 'updated' in that sense. After countless mods and hours spent figuring out the small but annoying details, it's all been absolutely worth it and happy to report the bike is fairly nimble, does great in the rough, balanced all-around performance, but all the while being tanky/solid as hell. It's a bike I would catergorize as a Mini-DH/Park bike. Does suffer from some small geo things (sorting it out). But otherwise a great bike.

Update: Been really dialing in the bike/suspension. Love the bike. 14.5" BB could be lower, but still, not a huge problem. Going to get a slightly longer stem (more foward weight bias) + 1-1/8" Angleset to slacken the bike to 64. I think this will really help the bike overcome it's slightly older geo and more into a speed-orientated snappy Mini-DH bike.

Spicy.Mike
3/21/2014 9:43pm
14407 of 17587
7 comments

View replies to: One Of A Kind VP-Free!

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bicycle.addict
11 years ago
Very nice! With that car in the garage though, I'm surprised you didn't go with a tricked out V10c!
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Spicy.Mike
11 years ago
Im at my parents house for the time being, so the car is not mine (I do get to drive it though heh). The bike was built with my own money, mostly used/like-new components, polished up, and then put on :D saved 1,000's of $$.

Maybe few years down the road I'm gonna be looking at v10c for sure hah.
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DursRemote
11 years ago
Badass bike dude! I'm building an older VP free too. Glad to hear you got the geo tweaked to where you like it, any changes other than the short shock?
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Spicy.Mike
10 years ago
Nice, that's good to hear. I love seeing them around still. At my local ridge, I've seen a few people still ride them which is pretty amazing tbh lol.

And I had offset bushings/reducers at one point, but with a VPP design it's far from optimal. So took them out. I know people who have had made custom longer lower-links, use 1-1/8" Anglesets, etc. But for me, no. Short shock is the only thing I really have done to the bike in terms of suspension changes, but by far it has made the biggest improvement in terms of lowering and slacking things out, even a bit more than I had thought. Imo, it's enough. Getting the suspension right after short shocking is really where it took me the most time to get it right.

After some more time riding the bike, getting an Angleset (1deg) is worth it + shortshock. Just be prepared to get a longer reach stem (60-65mm) to compensate of the rake/due to shortshock. With those 2, should end up at 64~ HA and 14.4" BB.

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