"Do you think a Redshift Shockstop stem might have mitigated that feeling?[/QUOTE]"
Mitigated - probably yes, a bit. I did get a Redshift stem and put it on the GR 270 but couldn't get the elastomers right as the setup was either too soft or too firm and didn't do all that much for me. Others have better success with the Redshift stem from what I read.
The stiffness is, IMO, because the fork is overbuilt and it's mated to a larger diameter head tube - which increases front end stiffness as well. The combo matches the frame which is also overbuilt.
Chas - for ti and steel, stiffness is mainly determined by tubing diameter with tube butting being much less important. When comparing these frames, you mainly just need to know what the tubing diameter is to know if you'll get a stiff or compliant ride.
I prefer a bike that's got more compliance at the fork crown and BB, but I'm old and decrepit and have "old school" tastes. I'm currently having a custom ti frame built with smaller diameter tubing than the GR 270, a straight 1 1/8" head tube, and a steel fork that's made as compliant as can be done with disc brakes.
I took delivery of my GR300 yesterday, so I can’t comment much yet on how it rides, other than 24 miles of pavement last night. I would agree with the comment above that Lynskey frames seem to run a bit big, or at least have long-ish top tubes. I’m 5’-8.5” with a 32” inseam, and the medium feels like a great fit. Very glad I didn’t go with the M/L as I was originally considering. One bit of advice on buying is to subscribe to their email list a week or two before pulling the trigger. I believe their website was offering a 25% discount at the time (early March), but when I continually visited their website without buying, I eventually received a 35% off coupon code that was good for a short length of time (2 days as I recall). I was told the bike would have a 4 week lead time, but it ended up taking 12 weeks just due lack of availability of components from Shimano. This certainly wasn’t Lynskey’s fault, but rather a supply chain issue due to COVID and surging bike sales.
I bought a 270 last year and I toow kept for a sale. Eventually I contacted them via chat and over the course of a couple sessions got a pretty good deal. Ended up with upgraded finish, ti seat post, stem and ultegra di2 for just under $4k. Not sure what the exact discount was but I know it was at least $1500 less than list price, so just ping them and ask what their best price is. I've got about 6k miles on it and absolutely love it. I'm 6' and went with a large, my only regret was not getting a longer stem, the 90 that was on it feels a tad short.
JTW wrote:I took delivery of my GR300 yesterday, so I can’t comment much yet on how it rides, other than 24 miles of pavement last night. I would agree with the comment above that Lynskey frames seem to run a bit big, or at least have long-ish top tubes. I’m 5’-8.5” with a 32” inseam, and the medium feels like a great fit. Very glad I didn’t go with the M/L as I was originally considering. One bit of advice on buying is to subscribe to their email list a week or two before pulling the trigger. I believe their website was offering a 25% discount at the time (early March), but when I continually visited their website without buying, I eventually received a 35% off coupon code that was good for a short length of time (2 days as I recall). I was told the bike would have a 4 week lead time, but it ended up taking 12 weeks just due lack of availability of components from Shimano. This certainly wasn’t Lynskey’s fault, but rather a supply chain issue due to COVID and surging bike sales.
I signed up on their website about 4 weeks ago. I’m in no hurry, I have the Topstone, so I don’t really need it, it’s more “wanting to upgrade “. I’d be interested in your opinion after a few more miles. Nelborg’s comments on the stiffness of the fork concern me. I’m definitely looking for compliance in the ride.
JTW wrote:...I would agree with the comment above that Lynskey frames seem to run a bit big, or at least have long-ish top tubes. I’m 5’-8.5” with a 32” inseam, and the medium feels like a great fit. Very glad I didn’t go with the M/L as I was originally considering....
Your are a small if you every buy a Canyon. Their sizing is pretty funky!
You could always get the Lynskey frame sans fork and do the research and buy a more compliant or highly rated fork though that will cost you a few hundred bucks more.
Or, you could get a "Builders Special" ti bike from DeSalvo Cycles in Oregon. It's about the same price as a Lynskey GR. And, for $700 to 1k more, you can get a complete custom ti frame with geometry and tubing to your specs. He's got a few month wait list, so there's that. Super nice guy to work with.
Nelborg’s comments on the stiffness of the fork concern me. I’m definitely looking for compliance in the ride.
They do offer an option for an ENVE carbon fork, which I inquired about after reading about sourcing delays with their own branded fork. I’ll let you know my impressions after I ride it a while, but I intend to primarily ride 650b on gravel so that may help to dampen the reported harshness of the Lynskey fork.
I have a Lynskey Urbano which is the same geo as the Cooper CX which I've been running with 650b 42s and 48s. It's a very smooth ride and I have two forks for it, a Whisky and an Enve. I'm 150 lb and I've never been bothered with a stiff front end. I haven't tried a GR series frame yet.
"Or, you could get a "Builders Special" ti bike from DeSalvo Cycles in Oregon. It's about the same price as a Lynskey GR. " I checked out his website. It's impressive, but Builders Special is $5,800. This is substantially more than the Lynskey, with their discounts. Think I'll do some research on the Enve fork. It's only a $400 upgrade, before discounts. Appreciate all the comments. They've been helpful in the process.
The Lynskey GR 300 race complete bike with GRX and the Enve fork is $5750 on their website. The Builder's Special is about the same at $5800. I can't tell you offhand what the latter specs for components because they're not listed, but I can tell you that I'm getting a custom DeSalvo ti with GRX for more or less the same price. There are a few other top ti builders in the USA who aren't too expensive. Moots / Seven, etc are the outliers that charge twice what some smaller custom shops do.
Also, the Lynskey discounts aren't really "discounts". I've looked at their website for almost 2 yrs now and the 20% discount is always there - it's merely a marketing ploy. But, it seems that they sometimes do 35% for overstock or close out frames though. They do make nice frames but the marketing thing does rub some people the wrong way.
"The Lynskey GR 300 race complete bike with GRX and the Enve fork is $5750 on their website. The Builder's Special is about the same at $5800."
I'm looking @the 300 external cable routing (it went up $100 since yesterday), with GRX 600 2X. Even I add the Enve fork, it comes out to $4,100 before discounts. With the 20% that's on most all the time, it's $3,280. If I could catch a 35%, it's $2,665. Even if I don't get 35%, it's substantially less than $5,800.
I have a GR270, my wife has a GR260. We both love them. I ride about 60% road to and from dirt that ranges from smooth single track to loose rocky uphill stuff. I got a full bike from Lynskey after my wife ordered hers. She'd been signed into Lynskey's site watching their 'Loft' specials. The specials change pretty often. She finally latched onto a deal with Ultegra and the next week they came out with a special with Di2 for just a bit more and they let her change her order to take care of the new deal. I ordered mine a few months later and after she saw the finish on my bike she wanted to upgrade hers and the sales fellow told us to just send her frame back and they gave her the upgraded finish for the price of shipping. There are other stories I could tell of working with the Customer Service that are all great. As for the bike itself, I'm very very happy with mine. But then I'm a big fan of Ti. I went from a Ritchey BreakAway Ti Cross frame to the GR270 and am super happy with it for it's intended purpose. I got the Shimano 105 mech group w/ Stans Grail wheels in a small size. With 2 cages and mounts for pump and a Garmin plus a bell, running tubeless it weighs 21.3#. I do have a Lynskey post that works great. I also use the Lynskey post on my cross bike and my hardtail mtb. I'm not enamoured of the clamp though. On my mtb, the tilt can slip. I had to use some of the gritty anti-slip paste to help with the mtb. On the other two, I just make sure the torque is tight. The bike handles great, rides smooth, has all the braze ons I could ever use and looks great. The only nit picky thing I could think of is that for my kind of riding, I wish it had another 1/2" or more of BB height. But then I'm using it at the extreme end of it's intended design. When I ride it I feel like I did when I first started mtbing. A fun rigid, responsive way to play on the dirt. I'm really happy with my experience with Lynskey as a company as well.
[QUOTE username=Zurichman userid=4932766 postid=1311755209]I still have't seen anybody posting on the actual weight of one of these bikes. Yes weight will be a deciding factor for me.
GR 260 size small, Ultegra Di2, Stock Vision wheels w/ tubes, AL stem and bars, Lynskey ti post, cages, bell. 22.7# GR 270 size small, Shimano 105, Stans Grail wheels, tubeless, Ritchey WCS stem, EC90 carbon bars, Lynskey ti post, cages, bell, 21.3#
Mikbik - Do you have the standard Lynskey fork, or the Enve? I'm 5'-8", and thinking about a small, even though their charts recommend medium. Just wandering how you find the fit of the frame. Thanks.
Wolfpack7483 wrote:Mikbik - Do you have the standard Lynskey fork, or the Enve? I'm 5'-8", and thinking about a small, even though their charts recommend medium. Just wandering how you find the fit of the frame. Thanks.
I am 5’9” with a 31” inseam. After speaking with lynskey I went with the m/l. Although I ride with flat bars and wanted a longer top tube. Honestly though it fits me fine. Would probably be fine with drop bars too.
I got a small, but am 5’4” w/ 29” inseam. My wife has a 32” inseam and rides a small also but she’s on the cusp of sm or med. She’s glad for the small frame. We both ride drop bars. I’m sure you’ll be happy with the bike.
Oh yeah, I have the Lynskey fork. I’ve considered something like the Lauf, not that I think the Lynskey fork is too stiff, but I ride a lot of rough stuff. Just haven't’ got there yet though.
