Balfa BB7

[rich860]

Was lucky enough to pick this up last week for a great price locally. Nothing like an overbuilt retro dh rig.

First thing I noticed was that the paintwork is in great condition for the age! It is also (even) heavier than I anticipated.

Haven't really had any time to give it yet, just fitted some modern handlebars but had to post a photo as it looks quite good. Need some new tyres and pedals and then I'll be out on it. Although the shock has zero rebound dampening. It might just need adjusting but if not I think I have a spare Fox DHX the correct size somewhere.

 

[rentedmule]

Nice Canadian odd-ball frame (they are Canadian, aren't they?)! Are those Hope M6's on there? Drool-worthy brakes...

 

[rich860]

Nice Canadian odd-ball frame (they are Canadian, aren't they?)! Are those Hope M6's on there? Drool-worthy brakes...

They are Canadian! They are interesting frames - aluminium front end with a steel swingarm, high pivot and originally came with a brake arm. It's the heaviest thing in the world but I already don't think I'll ever sell it.

And yes, the 6 pots front and rear, looking forward to seeing if they're still any good or not!

 

[Lacuna]

6 pots were never that good really and certainly not worth the weight penalty. Before I sold mine I had considered trying them with Tech 3 levers but never got round to it

 

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Love BB7s. Didn't another company after them make basically the same frame but with a tubular alloy front end? Began with an A?

 

[rich860]

Love BB7s. Didn't another company after them make basically the same frame but with a tubular alloy front end? Began with an A?

That's right, a company (created by one of the Balfa co-founders) called Appalache made a frame called the Real.

 

[rich860]

Done a bit more with this, fitted some new Maxxis tyres DHF for the front and DHR for the rear. The 5th Element shock had zero rebound dampening so I swapped it out for a spare DHX. And got some new Nukeproof pedals.

The rear tyre was a Michelin Comp16/dh16. I think this might be the original tyre the bike came on! I got some paperwork with the bike when I bought it and the original invoice was part of this, a MIchelin 16 was specced for the rear tyre. As you can see it's seen a few years.

Bit of a contrast to new ones.

Maybe someone knows more about these 5th elements. I adjusted the rebound allen screw to get more dampening but there was none. There was about 100psi in the chamber. I noticed I'd turned the (red) allen screw err.. pretty far. Maybe too far?

Spare thing going on anyway.

These were on sale on crc and look great.

Even just riding it round the garden I can tell the brakes are not up to much, as Lacuna eluded to earlier on this thread. They'll need a bleed no doubt and I know you used to be able to get the uberbike race matrix pads for them.

Unfortunately noticed the forks have some weird topout clunk and the frame has a bit of play which I cant locate (before I changed the shock). I'm keen to solve it all though.

I need to get some scales to weigh it as it really is the heaviest thing on the planet.

 

[rich860]

So I bled the brakes, changed to some sintered pads and they're feeling pretty good now. Located the source of the play in the frame and have sorted that. Set the suspension up, just slowing the rebound on the forks seems to have cured the topout issue.

There are a few future improvements but I've been out on it a couple of times now and it goes well!

 

[Bentrailstar]

Lovely to see one again, wanted one badly in college in 2004 still not managed to ride one

 

[rentedmule]

Looks sweet, I bet the yellow DeeMaxes in the background would go well with the yellow accents on the frame. Loving that Shiver SC on the Azonic too.