We paid a visit to our friend Brian Cleveland who was working the Sette Bike Booth at Sea Otter. Brian took the time out to show off the new bikes, check em’ out!
The Sette Derro is a 4″ XC mountain bike mated with Fox suspension, Kenda Nevegal tires, XT and SLX drive train.
Popularity: 1% [?]
I’ve been testing the XCT 555 for a few months with an intention of using this bike for EVERY type of riding that I do.
Originally I asked KHS Bicycles for a frame, but when the big cheeses told me they had a complete bike, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to ride it.
Before I go on with the details of how this bike performs, let’s talk about the meat and veggies of this ride. Below are the specs…and if you notice, this bike doesn’t skimp on quality components.
Specs:
Cost: $2299
Frame AL6061 4-bar Horst bearing linkage, 5.5″ Travel
Rear Shock Rock Shox Monarch 3.1, Solo Air, ext rebound adjust and floodgate dial
Fork Marzocchi 44 TST2 140mm w/15mm drop outs, air preload, TST2, Lock Out, Compression & rebound adjust
Headset Cane Creek ZST2 Threadless, Zero stack
Rims WTB Speed Disc doublewall, w/eyelets
Hubs Front: Alloy disc, Rear: Shimano disc, QR
Tires WTB Wolverine 26X2.2, folding, 60TPI
Spokes 14G black, 32°
Front Derailleur Shimano Deore
Rear Derailleur SRAM X-9
Shifters SRAM X-7 Trigger
Chain KMCZ9000 w/Missing Link
Crankset Truvativ Firex 3.1, 44/32/22, Alloy CNC Outer ring
Bottom Bracket Truvativ GXP outboard cartridge bearing
Cassette SRAM PG-950 11-34 9-Speed
Pedals Shimano PD-M505 clipless (not included with my test model)
Seatpost Q2 Light alloy
Saddle WTB Silverado
Handlebar Truvativ XR, 31.8, Butted, 20mm rise
Stem Truvativ Team
Grips WTB Weirwolf
Brake Levers Hayes Stroker Ryde
Brakes Hayes Stroker Ryde, 7″ front/6″ rear
Color Afterburner Gray
Frame Size S, M, L
Photos courtesy of JS3 Images
Ok, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get movin’ on the ride details of this bike. If you’ve been keeping up with MtnBikeRiders.com, you’ve seen multiple articles, talking about the KHS XCT 555. One of the things I wanted to really find out was to see how versatile this bike was. KHS Bicycles designed their XCT line with the consumer in mind. They wanted a bike that someone could use for all their mountain biking needs. The intended customer for this bike would be a person that rides XC, fast single track, and even the occasional butt hole puckering gnarly and technical trails.
Photos courtesy of JS3 Images
With that in mind, my heart was focused on seeing if the intent of this bike could be fulfilled. One thing I am certain about the XCT 555, it is SUPER durable and after many…many crashes with it, the wheels are true, the bike still shifts like butter and it still shines as if was new.
Photos courtesy of JS3 Images
Let’s talk about the XC side of this bike. I weighed the the XCT 555 and it came in around 27lbs. Not bad, but it also isn’t anorexic. For XC riding this bike is light enough, but if you’re a weight weenie, it may not make it on your list of light bikes. For the weight that it is, the bike isn’t sluggish. It responds well, super quick, very nimble and can climb like a billy goat. I’ve taken this bike through various trails in Southern California and I gotta tell you this bike knows XC riding like a favorite uncle.
Since we’re done talking about XC, let’s get into the real fun stuff…Downhill. Yes I said downhill. Believe it or not, but the XCT 555 makes an EXCELLENT downhill bike. Trust me on this…in fact, the KHS Factory Team often use the XCT 555 on certain downhill courses when racing…its true, I’ve seen them! Anyhow, I’ve taken the 555 to Fontana many times and I LOVE how this bike handles. I can pedal up the hill, then lower my saddle and bomb down just as fast…or faster than some guys with 8″ travel DH bikes. Oh and get this…the bike LOVES it when you take it through technical courses. The Horst Link in the rear makes for some awesome riding. The Rock Shox Monarch is buttery smooth and it has never failed on me. The Marzocchi 44 TST2 140mm fork does a great job in soaking up rock gardens, drops and single track. I almost forgot to mention that the XCT 555 comes with a 13.1″ bottom bracket clearance, which is great when needing to clear a rock garden or a log on the trail.
I know what you’re thinking…”The KHS XCT 555 only has 5.5″ of travel, how can you take that thing downhilling?” Well to answer that question, I just do and guess what… you can and its SUPER FUN! There’s nothing like riding a short travel, DH bike…I feel that you get more control and response from a little bike than you would on a big bike.
On one of the downhill shuttle runs we did, we drove to Top of the World in Orange County and dropped into Telonics. This trail is super steep and very fast. Parts of the single track is carved out like a chute. This was the first real time that I was able to test the Hayes Stroker Ryde, with the 7″ rotor in the front and 6″ rear. In previous rides, the brakes stopped me like a bad habit. No issues whatso ever. But during the ride through Telonics, I experienced brake fade. At one point, we’re going so fast that when I grabbed a fist full of brake, I’d started to slow down, but then the rotors got too hot and then the power went out. I had to feather them on the way down just so I wouldn’t over heat them again. It seems like the faster I go on this bike, the better it performs. I kid you not, the KHS XCT 555 is one serious bike!
By the way, the XCT 555 is an awesome 4x bike. I’ve spent many occasions practicing the 4x track at Fontana. All I can say is that this bike is pretty much the perfect bike…It can do just about anything you want it to do…well except make you breakfast.
Did you know that there are other brands of bikes out there that have the same amount of travel as the 555, but their frame alone cost as much as the complete KHS. Crazy eh? What’s cool about the XCT 555 is that you get a boutique quality bike but at generic prices…Plus you only need one bike to do everything you want to do on a mountain bike.
As I’ve mentioned, the KHS XCT 555 is the best bang for your buck, why? It’s simple really. The way the bike is spec’d, there’s no need to change anything out when you get it from the bike shop. The bike is ready to roll! Take it XC riding, or go to your favorite downhill trail, once your done with all that, take it to the BMX or 4X track and have some fun. This bike literally can do anything you would want a mountain bike to do, its light, fast, very flickable, and its ultra durable. You also have to consider that for the price of the KHS XCT 555…around $2300, you’re getting 3 bikes in one…a fast XC bike, 4X Machine and Downhill Rig…and that’s exactly why the KHS XCT 555 is the best bang for YOUR Buck!
Don’t waste your money on “brand name bikes” get yourself the KHS XCT 555, you won’t regret it…trust me.
Popularity: 15% [?]
Well I am sure you all heard things were rockin’ here in California today. RL and I are about 10min from Chino, (the epicenter). Today’s earthquake is one of the strongest ones we’ve had in a long while. There’s lots of videos circulating out there but this one caught my attention. Happy to know that there were no casualties that I have heard of from the quake but I don’t know if I can say the same of the bikes……
Popularity: 5% [?]
For our trip to the Sea Otter Classic this week we needed to bring along 3 bikes for the festvities. SO is a huge “Celebration of Sport” with tons of riders, exhibitors and people spread out over a huge area. Just getting from the media center, located on a mild hill on the far west side of the festival, to the exhibitor area, smack in the middle, takes a 15 minute walk/ride. SO is actually so big that there are shuttles running around the perimeter to get people from place to place.
In order for us to bring along our 3 bikes we contacted our good friends at Raxter Rack. Raxter Rack, if you remember, had previously sent out the highly recommended 2 bike rack which we did a full review on here. Raxter Rack sent us their very nice 2 bike extension giving us the ability to bring up to 4 bikes to and from SO. I pulled it out of the packaging a few days ago and was very impressed with the glossy black paint which looks great. The previous glossy black paint found on the folding arm has held up with nary a scratch or chip in over 10 months of constant use including a long round trip from Southern California to Colorado.
Same design, just in glossy black
Here’s the description by Raxter Rack:
2 Bike Extension for 1-1049 (2″ 2 Bike Rack), 1-1047 (2″ Single Bike Rack) or 1-1110 (Folding 2″ 2 Bike Rack). Quick installation and removal with only 2 bolts to attach to the rack and 4 more bolts to attach your crossbars! Gloss black . Ships in two boxes.
I got the rack installed onto the original 2 bike rack that Raxter sent out to us last year for testing. The gray rails are the original rails – which still look good – while the black rails are for the new 2 bike extension.
Three parts here: 2 Bike Rack, Folding Assembly & 2 Bike Extension
Some quick first impressions:
- Good quality product. You know you’re getting a good quality product when everything fits PERFECTLY. This is not Ikea stuff where you sometimes have to bend, shim or realign parts to get their products to resemble furniture (don’t get me wrong, I love Ikea as proof by our Ikea furniture. They’re just tough to assemble). With this 2 bike extension everything slips into place gently and you lock them down with the nuts/bolts provided. No need to bore out bigger holes or do the “bolt finding hole” dance.
The new loading trays
- Other than the paint I don’t think Raxter Racks has changed anything… this is a plus as the gray system was easy, quick and secure. I took this rack out with three bikes a couple of days ago and I’d say the most time consuming part of securing a bike is actually walking from one side of the rack to the other! The velcro is so simple and secure I’m surprised so many companies are still using the rubber straps with holes in them method.
Little lonely but we’ll fix that when we drive 700 miles round trip to SO
- Attaches/detaches with two bolts to the original 2 bike rack. The whole 2 bike extension is simply attached by pushing through two bolts through two holes on the original 2 bike rack. This simple procedure takes just a couple of minutes with a couple of adjustable spanner tools or something similar. Below I circled where the 2 bike extension attaches to the original rack. A very clean look.
Two bike extension attachment point
Keep checking back for the full review as we take a few bikes to Sea Otter and back using the new extension.
For more information regarding Raxter Racks, click here.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Here’s a quick and easy tip that all of us can do…no special tools required! This tip just saved you some mula.
You have to watch it to learn.
Popularity: 13% [?]
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck and Luke Morton requires Flash Player 9 or better.
MtnBikeRiders.com is a site that specializes in news, articles, tech tips, product reviews and more. We update the site on a daily basis. So make sure you check us out everyday for up to date information regarding mountain biking.
