Ok, so i've built a few Retro Hardtails since finding this awesome site, and have loved every minute of both Building and Riding them. But one thing has always been on my mind and thats building a Retro Full Susser Bike,. I'm not sure why, but its just been on my list of things to do 
Anyway i was originally looking for an Orange X1 or X2, and then changed my direction upon seeing a few GT's but one day i was doing my usual trawl through the Sales posts and came across Ringo's sale of this Silver Proflex 856. My eyes lit up and i sent a PM hoping it was still available, this was the one!!! Result it was, money changed hands and the Frame was dispatched
Now i must point out i know very little about Proflex frames, but did a search and came up with some good info on them, what to look for, pros & cons etc, so when mine arrived i was suitably pleased that it was in very good condition with only a little bit of damage, scrapes and knocks from wear and tear but nothing structural. The decals were in good condition although missing from the rear swing arm, but this is a minor issue. The elasomers fitted to the rear shock seemed in good shape and there was no play in the swing arm, generally all seemed very good indeed. The original pics of the frame it had the 'Yellow/Orange' elastomers fitted, but thankfully it came with some new 'Black' firm elastomers.
Before the clean up starts i wanted to make a mock up of the bike so i could start to play with ideas on groupsets, etc. I had a set of Marzocchi X-Fly forks sitting in the shed and until i decide if i am going down the Girvin route i was going to stick them on and at least get it up and running. I did remove the decals which looked lke they were applied at the bike shop where it came from BITD, purely as they were peeling anyway.
A cheap 1 1/8" headset was fitted courtesy of Mrgrumpy (Carl at Pauls Cycles Dereham) and my Forks were fitted. I had some wheels, STXRC Rear Hub with a Vuelta Airline Rim and Alivio Front Hub with matching Vuelta Airline Rim, some Inova tyres i had kicking around and they were soon up and running.
KORE Stem fitted and some black riser bars and the whole bike started to take shape. Initially my first thought were 'I Like This!!!' the front end sat a little higher than if it had Girvins fitted, but yet it seem to adopt a great stance, proof of the pudding will be on the trails once complete, but so far i am pleased with the whole look of it.
STXRC Front & Rear Mech will be fitted, along with a STXRC Front Crankset. Some STX Shifters (3x will be fitted along with Magura HS33 EVO II Hydraulic Rim Brakes. I was gonna fit my Raceline D's but i have some NOS Boxed Black HS33's so i think they will look the part, the EVO II booster kit is all black also so will really set the silver frame off with black components. A 27.2 Seatpost will be sourced and for the time being i have a DMR saddle that will finish it off. Some NOS Onza Porcipaws grips to grab on and then i will be hitting the trails
The rear elastomer shock will be changed in time, once i can source a mounting kit so i can fit a conventional shock or i can afford a Noleen or Risse from the USA, but thats a future modification.
There will be some tweaks along the way, but this will be my first Toe in the water with a Retro Full Susser.
Updates will follow, and any info from any Proflex owners would be gratefully recieved. But for now here it is, My 1996 Proflex 856 Full Susser
Anyway i was originally looking for an Orange X1 or X2, and then changed my direction upon seeing a few GT's but one day i was doing my usual trawl through the Sales posts and came across Ringo's sale of this Silver Proflex 856. My eyes lit up and i sent a PM hoping it was still available, this was the one!!! Result it was, money changed hands and the Frame was dispatched
Now i must point out i know very little about Proflex frames, but did a search and came up with some good info on them, what to look for, pros & cons etc, so when mine arrived i was suitably pleased that it was in very good condition with only a little bit of damage, scrapes and knocks from wear and tear but nothing structural. The decals were in good condition although missing from the rear swing arm, but this is a minor issue. The elasomers fitted to the rear shock seemed in good shape and there was no play in the swing arm, generally all seemed very good indeed. The original pics of the frame it had the 'Yellow/Orange' elastomers fitted, but thankfully it came with some new 'Black' firm elastomers.
Before the clean up starts i wanted to make a mock up of the bike so i could start to play with ideas on groupsets, etc. I had a set of Marzocchi X-Fly forks sitting in the shed and until i decide if i am going down the Girvin route i was going to stick them on and at least get it up and running. I did remove the decals which looked lke they were applied at the bike shop where it came from BITD, purely as they were peeling anyway.
A cheap 1 1/8" headset was fitted courtesy of Mrgrumpy (Carl at Pauls Cycles Dereham) and my Forks were fitted. I had some wheels, STXRC Rear Hub with a Vuelta Airline Rim and Alivio Front Hub with matching Vuelta Airline Rim, some Inova tyres i had kicking around and they were soon up and running.
KORE Stem fitted and some black riser bars and the whole bike started to take shape. Initially my first thought were 'I Like This!!!' the front end sat a little higher than if it had Girvins fitted, but yet it seem to adopt a great stance, proof of the pudding will be on the trails once complete, but so far i am pleased with the whole look of it.
STXRC Front & Rear Mech will be fitted, along with a STXRC Front Crankset. Some STX Shifters (3x
will be fitted along with Magura HS33 EVO II Hydraulic Rim Brakes. I was gonna fit my Raceline D's but i have some NOS Boxed Black HS33's so i think they will look the part, the EVO II booster kit is all black also so will really set the silver frame off with black components. A 27.2 Seatpost will be sourced and for the time being i have a DMR saddle that will finish it off. Some NOS Onza Porcipaws grips to grab on and then i will be hitting the trails The rear elastomer shock will be changed in time, once i can source a mounting kit so i can fit a conventional shock or i can afford a Noleen or Risse from the USA, but thats a future modification.
There will be some tweaks along the way, but this will be my first Toe in the water with a Retro Full Susser.
Updates will follow, and any info from any Proflex owners would be gratefully recieved. But for now here it is, My 1996 Proflex 856 Full Susser
