| Make: | Vicious Cycles |
| Model: | Groover 29 |
| Year: | 2007 |
| Size: | x-large |
| Color: | purple |
| Serial Number: | 4691 |
| Frame: | tig welded steel - Reynolds 853 |
| Fork: | 2008 Fox F29 RL 100mm w/ G2 offset |
| Rear Shock: | Manitou S-Type SPV |
| Headset: | Chris King - 1 1/8 in. threadless |
| Front Derailler: | Shimano XT |
| Rear Derailler: | Shimano XTR |
| Rear Cogs: | Shimano XT 11-34 Hyperglide-C 9-speed |
| Hubs: | DT Swiss 240s disc |
| Rims: | Stans Arch (front) / Salsa Delgado (rear) |
| Brakes: | Magura Marta disc 185/160mm |
| Levers: | Magura Marta |
| Shifters: | Shimano XTR |
| Cranks: | Race Face Deus 22/32/44 |
| Bottom Bracket: | Race Face integrated |
| Pedals: | Shimano SPD M-959 |
| Bar: | Race Face Deus 23 in. |
| Stem: | Thomson Elite 120mm / 5 degree |
| Bar Ends: | Bontrager Race Lite |
| Seat Post: | Thompson Elite 27.2mm |
| Saddle: | Titec Ithys-Gove |
| Bike Weight : | 28.4 lbs |
Big Wheeled Squishy
Vicious Cycles takes a rear-end from Titus and attaches it to a Reynolds 853 front triangle of their own design and produces a nice riding big-wheeled full-suspension bike. The Titus Racer X is not super plush, but it takes the edge off of bumps, and feels good on the climbs.
The bike started off with a Rock Shox Reba on the front, but I wasn't crazy about the handling during out of the saddle climbs (which I like to do). I suspected that the 38mm of offset on the fork was too little for the front end. Fox began offering 29er forks with more offset (44 stock, or 51 with a Special "Fisher only" modified fork). I managed to find a Fisher (G2) fork and installed it. At first the handling was a bit quick, and the fork seemed to blow through it's travel pretty quickly. I converted the fork from 80mm of travel to 100mm, and now I'm happy with the ride.
Compared to my old Santa Cruz Blur, the bike is definitely less plush, but that's okay. I want ed a suspension bike that was a bit more adjustable than my Blur, and wanted one with bigger wheels. I think that I made a good choice.
-el 3/08