Sintesi Snake projects

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As well as the Arrow DSS I have on the go I have my Sintesi Snake.

I loved these when they came out and thought the paint job was absolutely awesome so when I saw one come up for sale a few years ago I had to have it.

I hadn't built it as I wanted to run discs on it but the adapter you need is rare as hens teeth. A few months back I saw a Sintesi frame on eBay that had the adapter, it also came with seat post, headset and forks. Annoyingly the frame has been mutilated as it had been spayed black, brake bosses cut off and the front mech cable stop ground off. I also found 2 cracks in the head tube when removing the headset. The Forks were Marzocchi Z1 MCR and the cartridges in both legs are knackered and the parts for these are non existent so won't be using them. The headset is an FSA Orbit XL and seems serviceable so will probably use it. It seems a waste to bin the knackered frame so might sandblast it and polish it to turn it into wall art. The Mrs would hate it!

Also wondering whether I should try patch up the paintwork on the good frame.

Anyway here's some pics of the frame.

 

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Over 9 years have passed and this is nearing the top of the list to put together.

Originally would've built as a DJ bike but in my old age I'll build it as a run about bike and the frame is a little large to be a DJ bike. Almost all the parts that I'll be using are spares I have lying around. But finding some suitable forks is proving difficult due to the length of the head tube.

So far I've fitted a Brand X headset (new from CRC demise sale), Hope BB and XT crankset.

 

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A little bit more progress today but Things are never easy. I just wanted to dig the wheels out the shed, give them a clean and see how they look on the bike.

The wheels I'm using are Easton and were used on a cummuter bike for many years and are in pretty shape. But I noticed the freehub body was loose. In these hubs the freehub body is held on with a 12mm allen nut on the inside. I know this because I've replaced the free hub once before.

In my eagerness to strip them I didn't take notes on how they went back together. But while it was apart one of the bearings felt gritty so replaced them both. Now I'm scratching my head with how these bits go back together, luckily Easton still have diagrams of old kit, but that showed I put the axle in round the wrong way, Doh! Quick strip again and they're now back together.

Next I put on some forks just so that I can put on the front wheel and try out some bars. These forks have a 20.5cm steerer and it's way too short. I'll need forks with atleast 22cm of steerer. I have a couple of possible option that's I'm exploring, maybe Marzocchi or Pace.


This is how it now looks.

 

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Today I started to run the cables and dug the saddle out. Probably won't do anymore till I find some suitable forks as I'd like to do the brakes next.

I'm quite pleased with how it's coming together.

 

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My forks arrived today, I managed to bag some Z2s for a pretty good price with a 193mm steerer.

Only problem is I need atleast 220mm. I have a set of Z1s with a 230mm steerer so the plan is to swap the crowns.

Z1 crown removed, it's at this point I noticed the Z1 and Z2 crowns are different. The Z2 crown is flatter on top and not quite as much support for the stantions. At some point in the future I may swap the steerer if I find someone with a press, but for now I'll swap the crowns as planned.

I'm really happy with the result, steertube with two 5mm spacers is just right and the forks suit the bike.

 

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I've now got it into a rideable state. Put the chain on, set up the gears, put some pedals on, put the back brake on, and some grips. All I need is a seat post clamp, adapter for the front brake and swap the brake hoses as they're set up European style.

I've wanted to keep this low cost and use parts I had already so I've kept a record of what I've spentand it's currently at about £105, and £70 of that was the forks. I don't think that's bad value for a really good useable bike.

 

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I can now sit on it! I even rode it round the garden and feels quite nippy

Got a cheapo seat clamp, swapped the saddle for a Charge Spoon and put different hose guides on. Last thing to do is the front brake and swap the hoses over.

 

[sam_white]

Nice build! Not something you see too often, and the Bombers are always a good choice. Did you do anything with the Z1 MCRs?

 

[Roasted]

Nice build! Not something you see too often, and the Bombers are always a good choice. Did you do anything with the Z1 MCRs?

I've not seen another one in the wild, the Snake was about the time Sintesi went downhill. I do love Marzocchi forks and it makes sense to have them on an Italian frame.

The Z1s are currently on my Curtis SuperX but with the Z2 crowns fitted. I want to get the steer tubes swapped at some point.

 

[Dr-Zocchi]

Z1 crown removed, it's at this point I noticed the Z1 and Z2 crowns are different. The Z2 crown is flatter on top and not quite as much support for the stantions. At some point in the future I may swap the steerer if I find someone with a press, but for now I'll swap the crowns as planned.

No, that crowns are the same if the forks are from the same years, but with Z1 BAM + Z2 BAM Marzocchi changed the crown height because of weight reduction and opticals. They also changed the top caps (5), the cartridges head (11, top part and thread direction changes), 7 and the knobs.



Exchanging steerers is easy with the press and the correct tools. Drop me a note if you need some help in parts or steerer exchange.