Help me upgrade my Scapin hardtail & avoid buying a new

[calvjones]

Help me upgrade my Scapin hardtail & avoid buying a new

Hi All

I recently scored a 2003 Scapin steel hardtail, which I've built with bits and bobs I've had hanging around. I'm thinking of upgrading and lightening somewhat and would welcome some advice - for general XC work plus SW trail centres.

It's currently running the following:
- 9 sp SLX shifters, deore f & r mech
- non-group Shimano cranks, look deore-ish
- HS33 Magura rim stoppers (no disc mount on frame)
- Mavic x517 rims on mid range german hubs, 1700g-ish
- Magura Menja fork from ebay (well it will, after I tackle the service anyway:shock: )
- very light Ritchey WCS straight bars and a weighty Race Face stem
- Panaracer Fire Pro which I think are pretty good

I'm considering a range of things to upgrade form and function:
- going to swap on a Flite Ti for the Brooks - 180g saved by magic!
- middleburn/xt cranks
- a magura front disc brake to keep consistent levers (but which one? and then a new wheel of course...)
- having the frame resprayed & brazed for a disc mount

Anyone want to throw some ideas at me, they'd be gratefully received! Please keep me away from that bionicon website...

Cheers dears

Cal

 

[novekili]

DO NOT modify this Scapin frame to make it disc compatible. The model seems a Rudolf to me. It was the high end model, but the stays were designed for vbrakes. Scapin had another model for discs, with a diffeent rear end. Getting tabs welded would damage the frame.

You have probably one of the top 5 steel bikes ever built there. You also have efficient rear brakes. Just go disc up front and leave the hydro rim brakes in the rear.

You might choose a lighter fork...

 

[calvjones]

Fair point.. the stays do look a bit thin for discs

Fork is about to be replaced with a 85/100mm Menja which is certainly lighter!

 

[novekili]

Wise decision. I'd go with MIddleburn chainset. The rudolf Came with Race Face or XTR, But MIddleburn would look cooler

 

[calvjones]

Cheers Nove, you're a font of information - I don't suppose you know the significance of it being a Rudolf X do you? - or were they all called X?

 

[novekili]

Cheers Nove, you're a font of information - I don't suppose you know the significance of it being a Rudolf X do you? - or were they all called X?

Dunno... gimme five minutes

 

[novekili]

no, I'm not sure, but X might be there to differentiate it drom the D - disc version... gotta look for some old MTB mag at my dad's house.

For sure the Rudolf is the best bike built by Scapin. Which puts it at the top of the steel hardtail chain.

 

[bduc61]

that is what I have done with mine

had initially some XT 750 mechs and shifters and crankset and magura brakes but XTR 950 hubs on 517

went to all XTR
and a race face turbine

deserves a better fork but this one I got with the bike is not that bad :roll:
italian style would be an FRM. Wonder what others may suggest ? a SID ?

the foco tube is so thin dings are very easy :? I have a couple
seems that you have one on the top tube ?
I really doubt you could make it disc compatible.

definitely the most comfortable steel frame I have - more than my serotta max 853 ! But I prefer the look of a completely round and thin tube
much more comfortable too than my previously owned Sunn Exact titanium 99 by morati

 

[calvjones]

That's very nice - the XTR kit looks great, as does the crankset.

Liking mine very much - it's a very good uphill and down!