I have got my Lynskey custom built up and ready for action. So far, I've only had the bike on broken pavement and chip seal. The ride is almost creepy smooth -- as if the bike has a suspension. Very little vibration from badly broken pavement comes through. Still, even with all the compliance, the bike doesn't seem to give up any stability. The thru axles have to help with that. I can't wait to get this bike on a rocky road.
I started with the Lynskey Cooper CX tubing set. Then, I imposed the 2015 Niner RLT9 wheelbase and most of the geometry on it. Besides that, we lowered the standover height by about a half inch and I lowered the water bottle bosses by about 1" to give more clearance between the bottles and my Revelate Tangle frame bag. (I could get away with this, in part, because of the 1x setup -- no front derailleur to get in the way.) Thru axles, front and rear. Clearance for 44mm wide tires, plus mud. Rear brake caliper mounted in front of the seat stay. Brake line routed under the down tube and left chain stay. Di2 cable routing, PF30 bottom bracket, S-bend seat stays, straight Lynskey seat post.
After the frameset . . . Salsa Cowchipper bar, Thomson zero-degree stem, Brooks C17 saddle, SRAM Force1 crank (with a variety of rings, depending on the course), Shimano XTR Di2 rear derailleur, Shimano R785 levers/controls, Shimano auxiliary shifter (for the tops), Shimano XT 11-42T cassette, Mavic Ksyrium Allroad wheels, Challenge Gravel Grinder tires.
I liked the Niner RLT9 but there were a few things I knew I could change to make it perfect for DK200. The only thing I MIGHT have done differently on this bike is to go to a traditional, threaded BB.
Thank you. I am extremely pleased with the bike, the handling and the craftsmanship. It more than justifies the purchase price and the lengthy wait.
There is a downside to buying a Lynskey, though -- especially if you don't have them assemble the bike. They initially sent it with me without the brake caliper adapters necessary to use 160mm discs. They sent those to me via next day delivery. They also sent me with a GXP bottom bracket and crankset for a PF30 frameset. Now, ten days after I picked the frameset up, I still don't have the PF30 crank and BB. (I bought the ones I'm using elsewhere.) Lynskey had to order the correct items after I pointed out the error and they haven't received them yet.
I don't know how much of this is a continuation of the poor service provided by my sales rep and how much extends to others in the company. But buying a custom Lynskey (and probably any custom frameset) demands that you be very, very patient.
But if I had it to do again? I would order a Lynskey.
