First generation Extralite F1 build

[Gerard]

Re:

Package was received by Extralite......but then this arrived :cry:
All is not well with the shock. The pain is it is integrated to the seat stays.

What to do? What to do? What to do?... what a dilemma. Is the bike even worth it.

We checked your F1 rear-end in detail.

Unfortunately we found a very bad damage, this is the internal sleeve of your shock.

As you see the internal sleeve has been literally carved by the up-down movement of the piston pin.
Unfortunately the groove it's too deep to be just smoothed and deburred.
Solutions:
1) Replace the complete shock sleeve + seatstays NOS unit € 249
1) Replace the complete shock sleeve + seatstays, reconditioned unit € 159
3) Alternatively we could try to repair it filling the groove with ud carbon fibers then re-bore the sleeve ca €50.
This cheaper solution could work but this your case is really unusual and we can't forecast its durablility under intense offroad use.

Any thoughts?

 

[Peachy!]

Ouch, you have all the fun don’t you? Not sure option 1 is worth it, your call.

Option 2 & 3 I guess will depend on how much or how hard you intend to ride it.....

Shame to stop a smart looking build for it though...

 

[-Niellesie-]

Re:

Imo option 2 is the best way to go.
Bike is worth it.
After i get mine back from extralite it was a dream to ride.
But these first gens requires new bushings from time to time to keep them stiff.

 

[Retro Spud]

:shock: oh no,

I’ve had my fair share of heart break, Thankfully most have come through surgery with Dan Chambers with northing more than a few scares,

I know it’s easy to flippantly spend someone else’s money but Option II would be the one I’d plump for

 

[mk one]

I know you like to ride your bikes so i would have to agree with others and say option 2.

Out of curiosity, how is the shock part of the stays? couldnt you get someone like Dan to fix another shock onto there? or maybe bore and resleeve the chamber even.

 

[Gerard]

Thanks chaps for all the comments. I think I will go with option 2.
I fear the cost of this thing is going to far outweigh it's value! Fool and their money as the saying goes.

I dropped the frame off yesterday for blasting and powder coating. I also left the decals as they will apply them and then cover with 2 coats of clear coat stuff....not sure if this is sensible or not.

I know you like to ride your bikes so i would have to agree with others and say option 2.

Out of curiosity, how is the shock part of the stays? couldnt you get someone like Dan to fix another shock onto there? or maybe bore and resleeve the chamber even.

The shock body makes up the top of the seat stays (they are welded to it)...like a uni-crown.
They won't sell the parts direct, wouldn't even tell me the sizes of the bushes....claiming it is a very technical job to fit them.
So whilst Dan would no doubt be able to effect a repair, I would have to send it back for Service.
So a bit of catch-22.

 

[Gerard]

Re:

So I went back to Extralite saying option 2....refurbished shock body and seat stays, only to receive this response.

Shock-seatstays  we can try the repair with fibers, I belive it works, especially if
you'll not ride that intensely.
That way you'll keep your original rear-end with it's well kept
original ball burnished finish.
Even if a re-conditioned seatstay is still in very good
conditions it's surface does not look as those elder burnished
units do (since
over a decade we can't do ball burnishing
anymore)

It seems as if the finish will be different if I go with the refurbished unit.

 

[Retro Spud]

I guess the upside is it’s only €50 repair, but even so how gentle is a gentle ride, I mean given our age and abundance of bikes it’s unlikely it’s ever going to get hammered like it would have done as teenager so might be more than adequate

 

[mk one]

Surely you could just get the stays polished?

 

[Retro Spud]

Have you seen his AMP - dunno if Gerry knows what metal polish is