Just in! Hygia Usagi Review by JM Lagdameo 04/25/2010
Initial observation. From the minute I installed the Usagi's they had a very familiar feel. It could be due to the fact that the system uses the standard Shimano brakes pads and the caliper design is very similar if not identical to the Shimano calipers which were found on the XTR 900 series Dual Control system that I used to own. Power seemed to be there right after installation even before I performed any type of bedding of the brake pads. I chose to use the standard unmarked rotors and hardware that were included with the system. If not for the previous experience I have from installing other brake systems, I wouldn't have been able to figure out the orientation of the rotors. Where rotors are typically laser etched showing the rotational direction, the usagi rotors leave it up to us to use our imagination. *MNB: All Hygia rotors now have laser etching indicating rotation and torque details. Let's start off with the pros of this system. Mounting of calipers went without drama. No additional lever or pad adjustment was necessary. They calipers centered over the rotors very easily without drag. Lever feel was very light like previous Shimano Dual control systems. Modulation is good, although it could be a little bit firmer. Even coming to a stop from high speeds, the brakes are very controlled and composed and predictable. No instant on and off here. No surprises with the feel of the brakes. Weight is also a big big plus of the system. I think we are around the XTR weight and lighter than formula oro k24 weight at a fraction of the cost *MNB: JM has since weighed his Usagis, and the numbers are: Front, complete set, including rotors: 378g Rear, complete set, including rotors: 398g Now for the cons. Because this system is an XC system, it has its limitations. Power is good but not hair raising. There is also quite a bit of brake fade on medium to long descents so you can't really feather the brakes on descents. You need to stay off them completely to cool down then get on them again when you need to. I am also presently getting some leakage of brake fluid from the main lever reservoir cover. I tried tightening the allen screws but did not want to over tighten them. I have ridden a little over 200km on the system and the leakage is ever so slight but enough to let some air in causing a little bit of expansion when the brakes heat up causing some sponginess on my rear brake. Might try to bleed it this weekend to see if it will yield any improvement. Overall, this brake system is a great bang for the buck. It's difficult to shoot it down for its faults because of the value it brings to the table. You'll have a hard time finding another brake system out there at this price point with this weight, nice design, and pad availability. Pol's VooDoo Wanga 10/14/2009
 Here's what Pol had to say about his geared Wanga: The ride was awesome. Its a perfect frame especially for XC riders like me. Perfect Geometry and sexy bike but its deadly...hehehehe... Thanks and more power VOODOO cycles!!! Looking for my next bike ulit.... Wishing for Voodoo 29er naman... Lets get it ON! Build details: Fox Fork 2009 F100 with Remote Lockout XT drive train and hydro brakes FSA 2009 Carbon Handle Bar HOPE Hubs, Grip Doctors, Seat Collar,Floating Rotors (Disc), Headset, Spacers Thomson Stem, Seatpost Fizik Gobi 2009 Saddle 2 tone Schwalbe Nobby Nic Tires 2.25 Mavic 719 Rim XM Exustar Clipless Pedals E-PM25 Topeak Saddle Bag Cateye Cyclocomp Wireless Jag wire cables Velo Grips VooDoo Dambala review by Jeibi 10/06/2009
 Specs: 19" Voodoo Dambala frame ENO crankset 32T X 18T SS Avid Juicy Hydro Brakes Chris King Headset  Ride: The bike is pretty much lighter than my other geared bike and handling is superb! Going downhill on a rocky trail is hell! Good thing my wrists are as strong as Hulk Hogan's =). Full rigid setup so my pedal to torque ratio would be close to 1:1. Riding it on a climb is like having sex! ILOVEIT! Santa wish lists: DT Swiss wheelset Stronger knees Bigger lungs I LOVE MY VOODOO MORE THAN ANY MATERIAL THING I OWN! =)  I finally got to take the Wanga on it's maiden yesterday. We did a 26 mile road ride (we forgot our ID's so we couldn't get into Timberland) that included The Wall and some back roads from Timberland to Marikina Heights. It took a few minutes of adjusting the seat angle, height, and setback to get it to my liking since the Wanga is a little bit shorter than the 19" Ionic I was riding but after about 1 hour of riding, the position felt natural (even though I'm running a shorter fork than what the Wanga is designed for). The Wanga's cockpit was very similar to my 575 however so it felt natural after a bit (it normally takes me a few weeks to get used to a new position). I also had to make some chain length adjustments to the sliders to be able to run dingle. Obviously, the bike is a little bit heavier than the Ti frame that it replaced but since the components swapped over (specially the wheels), the bike still accelerated crisply and climbed well. It has different qualities than the bike it replaced but that is to be expected. It's a little stiffer than the Ti bike but also less compliant in the rough stuff. I really like the top of the top tube cable routing as it gets the cable guides out of my knee's way which is VERY important since I do most of my climbing off the saddle and on my Ionic, my knees frequently hit the cable guides (enough to draw blood) when I'm really swaying the bike back and forth. In looking at the mtbr posts about the Wanga, I was super concerned with the sliders slipping but they held tight even under the steepest part of The Wall. Neither SJ nor I could make it slip so it passed that test with flying colors. I also credit this to the setup by the wrenches at All Terra. They've had some Wanga's pass through their allens so they knew what they were doing (and probably knew the type of climbing SJ and I will put the bike through)... I ran the road gear on the way home (36X16) and it didn't slip on the climbs in Marikina Heights either. There was some squealing with the V's and I attribute this to the way the brake studs are attached to the frame. A bit of loctite and some proper tightening of the stud mounting bolts should quiet them nicely. Highlights of the frame design is the massive tire clearance, the sliders which allow me to run geared, single or dingle and the clean lines of steel. The only thing I would change would be a shorter head tube to allow me to run a 100mm+ fork without choppering the front end out too much... I'm leaving this bike in the PI and I can already tell that she'll be a fun rig. We were supposed to give her the dirty maiden today but because of the rain, it's been postponed until tomorrow morning... Review by Gary (FlipnIdaho) - former NORBA racer, SS guru, MTB coach  After a less than stellar getting to know/dialling in ride at the Tour of the Fireflies, in which the sliding dropouts did just that (slide around), I decided to shave off the paint on the dropout area and move the sliders all the way to the front. I also slapped on a shorter stem and moved the saddle forward a smidgen. I figured this would unleash the vaunted voodoo handling and ride quality that I had been hoping for. Today was the real test at PFA, Nursery, etc in Maarat. Real dirt, real mountains. All I can say is.... A+ :) :) Its a hardtail, but there is nothing hard about the ride. I can spin away rough sections in the saddle, or swoop through choppy fireroads seated! Granted, the excellent WTB saddle has its own merits, but it was never like this on my other hardtails. Before today, I was thinking of a carbon bar and a carbon seatpost to take the edge off. I guess I wont be needing them. As cherrybomber said, it carves. There is no other word to describe the feel on corners. Its also flickable and responsive. Sure, it will shake you if you slam head on that baby head in the trail, but the handling is so superb you can easily flick the bike around it. Amazing. Ok, so my old stumpjumper HT was also flickable and responsive. But my stumpy was not as compliant. on my Stumpy, on certain stutter bumps and sharp hits, you'll feel the vibrations resonate through the bars to your hands, arms and teeth. I feel I can ride this bike for a whole day. It climbs. It carves. It absorbs. Overall, its a funtastic ride. Bombing down the trail to the nursery, Mang Boy behind me on his Moment was prompted to say that it was like I was riding a full suspension rig since I was going so fast without minding the bumps. :) :) :) I love it! :D |