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That's what I did to mine. DHF 2.5WT up front. Recon 2.4WT out back. Level ultimate levers with a code caliper up front and guide caliper out back. Huge upgrade.

What is this suspension setup you speak of?

Thanks. It's a blast to ride. The geo definitely makes you push it way past what you would normally consider riding on an XC bike. I had a 2018 Optic before this. The Element is way lighter and more fun. Plus I could never keep the pivots tight on the Optic. I have already racked up almost 400km and nothing has come loose or given me issues. Super well designed bike.

Mine came with an FSA EC lower cup too. I swapped for a purple Wolftooth.

When they dropped the new Element I knew I had to have one. Put money down in September and the bike arrived in December. It was worth the wait. For where I ride and the way that I ride it is the ultimate BCXC bike. I got the C30 and swapped ever part but the drivetrain and rear shock. Probably should have waited a bit long and bought a C50. With 30mm carbon rims, Recon 2.4 out back and DHF 2.5 up front the bike is a absolute rocket. I have done XC races, 30km epics and drops and steeps I probably shouldn't. The bike has yet to let me down.

To get the 49mm chain line with boost are you running a non boost ring?

@andrewmajor

I am a bit perplexed when it comes to chainline. My 2021 Transition Scout has a 148 boost rear hub with a 52mm chainline. If I am understanding this correctly, a 52mm chainline would move the chain more inboard so there would be less chain deflection in the larger cogs. Making it run smoother and quiter in the larger cogs. I am understanding this correctly?

@Andrew Major its been a few years now. What kind of mileage are you getting from the SS ring? Any problems?

So you loved the med and bought a large? Now you sold the large and have a medium? How tall are you?

That seems kind of counter to the current trend of bikes getting more progressive. I just moved from a 2018 Range C7.2 I belive it was 18% progressive. To a 2020 Scout that is 25% progressive. Same rock shox super deluxe. Man what a difference. The bottom out feel was way nicer. I have now switch to a Super Deluxe coil, my first coil bike. The ramp is perfect. I have no idea how people ride Patrols "on coil" with only 11% progression. It would just bottom out like crazy.

I am not worried about get to the 10t cog. I only use that on the road. Useless on the trails.

That is super odd. I wonder what makes them not compatible?

Hello Team

I am looking to run a GX transmission cassette with an acoustic X01 lunar derailleur and chain. Will this work? SRAM is vague on compatibility. The new chains look to still be 1/2 pitch.

Took the Echo 4910 out for it's maiden trail day. Worked awesome. Used almost a full tank cutting dead fall and widow makers out of the way. It go better and better as the day went along. Definitely needs to be broken in just like any engine.

Posted by: Znarf

Hi,

it is a size Large 2019 Madonna V2. I ride it with a 65mm stroke shock, that results in 172mm travel, but set sag for a 60mm stroke, which would get the regular 160mm. BB height is spot on then.

I have a 180mm Lyrik on there, but rarely use the last 10-15mm of travel on the fork. The fork is rather linear with a Luft-Fusion air spring. I have an EXT Storia V3 coil in the rear and that is also rather linear, but ramps up a bit with the HBO.

When set up right, the fork and rear travel feel astonishingly similar in how they use their respective travel - this makes for incredible predictability and feels absolutely intuitive to me. I find it remarkable how much difference in performance and feel single components or even settings/setup can make. Before the Madonna I was switching bikes frequently, but I have yet to find a better replacement for it. And also it feels so dialed now, that I feel I am just now extracting the most out of it…

My trails are comparable to blacks in North Vancouver, some resemble natural blacks in Whistler, but with grippy sandstone and only occasional granite. It used to be humid and wet, but the three last seasons were rather dusty. Right now it is massively soggy for the first time in years. We have a lot of illegal trails, which are steep and rooty, but also some official ones, which resemble the flowier stuff in Squamish. We don‘t have extended slabs, sadly :)

I am located in Heidelberg, Germany.

Great info. Thanks Znarf.

You answered a question I was about to ask. What happens if you run 65mm stroke with the 60mm link. My plan is to run it as a mullet as I have short legs. With the smaller wheel in the back the extra travel will help balance it.

I would still love to find a medium locally and throw a leg over it. I have never ridden a bike with a stack that is even close to that tall. I might be able to be able to simulate the stack height on my Rocky Element, as the reach numbers are very close. I am definitely on team low bars. My bars are always lower then my saddle at full extension. The idea of a high bar is so foreign to me.

Now I just need to find a way to talk myself out of wanting this bike, so my wife doesn't kill me. LoL.

Znarf. Great feed back. Is your bike 180mm 160mm? What size frame and where do you ride?

After testing a few more saws, I ended up getting an Echo 4910. One of my homies has the previous model the 490. We use it for ripping stringers and falling widow makers. For the price the Echo 4910 should more then meet my needs. 

Big trail day tomorrow so I will get to test it out.

Posted by: xy9ine

^i'd like my next bike to have a bit shorter reach / longer cs / higher stack & those numbers look pretty much spot on. i do think there's something to that geometry (more upright to offset a shorter FC, with a more balanced weight distribution between wheels). great looking, well sorted bike (tho would like a mullet).

That bike can be run mullet

Great conversation.

I saw RAAW just launched the Madonna V3 and the stack height for a medium 29er with 170-160 travel is incredibly high at 650mm. It's around 30mm taller then most of the other bikes in that category. I would imagine this bike would be fun in a park but I can't imagine it climbing very well or very fun on flat terrain.

RAAW V3

Leatherman has a nice set of pliers for an emergency situation. Plus lots of other handy tools