The SX Project

I've always wanted an SX Trail ever since I threw my leg over the 2008 SX Trail of a friend of mine. I've read stories about how good these bikes really ride, but everything that was written instantly becam true when I rode that bike. So when the time came to replace my Lapierre DH230 I bought a 2006 model frame with a Fox 36 from someone on a Dutch forum (dirty-pages.net) for not that much money. I'm currently making lists of what I'm going to do with it. You know how it goes: endless daydreaming of what parts to put on and what colour it will be.
I will keep you posted on my progression and hope to get some feedback along the way.

Greetz Ilja

23 March 2011
The doorbel rings at the office and as I look out the window to see who it is I can see the postman with a big box. It has arrived!! My new old SX Trails frame. Couldn't wait to get it out of the box!!



24 March 2011
Yesterday evening I got to work and tried to get the bearings out. Can anyone tell me why there is always that one washer that is critical for your suspension linkage that seems to want to jump out of your hands and into the bermuda triangle that is called "the shed". I searched for at least half an hour and still couldn't find it. It's the "I put 2 socks IN the washing machine and only 1 out"-syndrome.......
And there are 2 linkages in the rear fork that I can't seem to get out. So if anyone has a solution please let me know.
At least the main frame is completely stripped and I applied some Peel-Away this morning. So I'm hoping I will have the coating of this weekend.
Stay tuned.....


25 March 2011
Oh wow!!! I've done my share of paint removal through the years but this was just the easiest one I've ever done. Just 1 layer of Peel-Away and a blast of the steam machine had the paint flying of. The main frame is now completely naked and I'm goining to start with the rear triangle but I still can't get the bolts to loosen up. Anyone got suggestions?


5 April 2011
Since the beginning of this project I’ve kept my eyes open for a Rock Shox Totem Coil to replace the Fox 36. I have 3 reasons for this. First of all it just looks sick, but the 2 most important reasons are the big hit capacity of the Totem Coil and the 20 worth of extra travel which translates in an almost full degree slacker head angle. So when someone wanted to trade his Totem for a 36 on the world wide web I jumped at the chance.
Today it arrived and I’m stoked!!! I’m hoping my frame can go to the powdercoater in about 2 weeks so I can start assembling. And I’ve got to start ordering some parts.



6 april 2011
I got my hands on a cheap Shimano Hone crankset. You might say that they are cheap junk, but I’ve ridden them before and was amazed about how much abuse they can take and they are not that heavy. I’m thinking of throwing in a fresh pair of Saints but I’m on a budget right now so that will have to be in a later stage of the build.
The cranks were however pretty beat up and were in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint (see the before and after photos below). I sanded them down and spray painted them with a good brand of paint. They will get beat up again but new cranks will too.




I got word that the powder coat guy is back in the country so I’m hoping it won’t be to long before the frame gets coated.

18 April 2011
As I looked at the calendar last Friday I realized that the first race for me is only 1 month away!! Time to hurry. I was aware from the beginning that it wouldn’t be finished but it has to be painted at least. Parts are not the problem. I have enough lying around to do a temporary build for that race.
The powdercoater is the unknown factor for now. I don’t know if I’ll have the frame back in time as he does the coating between projects. And the sun is shining so I want to ride now!!! I’ve done my share of painting in the past so this shouldn’t be a problem. If the paint doesn’t hold I can always get it powdercoated then.
This first coat is an anti-chip paint which is used on cars as a base layer. The paint is completely flat so I will have to put another layer on. This will be a heat resistant paint used for engines because of it’s flexible and scratchproof nature.




28 April 2011
After a lot of problems with different kinds of paint finally some result!! I can start building now 




5 May 2011
Slowly but surely getting there. This is however a temporary build as I don’t have all the part yet. Building it up with borrowed parts because I have a race next week.