Moots Mooto-Xz Frames and Complete Bikes
MOOTS MOOTO-XZ FRAME AND COMPLETE BIKE PRICING | MOOTS MOOTO-XZ MAX RFT TESTING
CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL MOOTO-XZ PROTOTYPE REVIEW. It is mostly old news and the current review of the production frame and our build of it is ongoing below, but the proto review will demonstrate our dedication to Moots and documents our continued testing of 29 inch wheel bike components. If you are interested in most recent testing of our new RFT version of the Mooto-Xz, click on MOOTO-Xz RFT EDITION.
The Dreamride Edition Mooto-Xz comes with a Moab-tested parts combination that is capable of "Cross Country" to "All Mountain" performance. This parts group is custom tuned and modified to suit the client's needs and riding style.
We also offer the custom Moots "Gristle," a combination 26 inch rear and 29 inch front wheel. We received our first Gristle 96er in April 2008 and see this as one of the most exciting new avenues for our continued efforts with Moots' design staff. Dreamride's long travel 69er, the Fully69, will be here in May. Things are popping and it ain't the tire coming off the rim! Stay tuned for even more fun with big wheel combos. Below you will find updated performance testing and pricing information.
Moots Mooto-Xz Frame and complete bike pricing:
Dreamride Edition Mooto-Xz Bike:
Dreamride MAX Mooto-Xz Bike:
Dreamride MAX RFT Mooto-Xz Bike (even lighter):
Gristle custom 69er Dreamride and MAX Editions:
This very special bike required patience. After throwing a lot of money into the wind, designing 9er and 69er frames, investing in prototypes and personally testing much of the infusion of 29er-specific components, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. In early 2008 this Moots frame and two breakthrough products made good things possible. A Fox fork and a pair of Mavic rims set me free to produce this Dreamride Edition Mooto-Xz, a new long travel Dreamride Fully69er, and to work with Moots to offer a variety of custom 96ers with four different rear end designs.
The Mooto-Xz Dreamride Edition is our standard parts kit for the Mooto-Xz. The bike is balanced with components truly capable of taking advantage of the benefits of bigger wheels without the worry of soft spokes and flex in the fork.
MSRP frame price always includes a free Chris King headset, free shipping in the 48 states, and no tax out of Utah. Complete bike pricing always includes initial consultation, fitting, build, all small parts, shipping within the 48 states and a Serfas hardshell flight case. No tax out of Utah! Perks for Dreamride Edition and MAX bikes include invitation to riding events in Moab and access to tech files, music downloads and client log.
Mooto-Xz 29er & Gristle 96er suspension frame pricing:
$3425 ~ Moots Mooto-Xz 29er frame only.
$3350 ~ Moots Gristle (Zirkel rear end) 69er frame only.
The Dreamride Edition group is absolute standard for a frame of this caliber. The parts include Dreamride-built Chris King/Mavic/DT wheelset, Moots ti stem, bar and seatpost, Fox F29 100mm or F29 120mm fork, Shimano XT drivetrain components (with XT Shadow rear derailleur), Magura Marta brakes, WTB Pure V saddle, WTB ExiWolf or Weirwolf L tires, Elite Patao bottle cages, and Time ATAC pedals.
$8495 (as pictured)
The MAX group is the ceiling when it comes to state-of-the-art high end components. The only difference between the Dreamride Edition and MAX is the use of all Shimano XTR drivetrain components and Magura Marta SL brakes. This allows finer selection of crank arm lengths and looses a half pound.
$9195
The MAX RFT group contains slight modifications for effective road performance that do not greatly inhibit the bike's off-road abilities, but reduce weight by about a pound. RFT is a new designation in 2008, translating to "Ride From Town." Modifications to the MAX group that designate it as RFT are lighter, narrower tires, lighter skewers, lighter grips, lighter rims, and the subsitution of SRAM X.O twist shifters/rear derailleur and Eggbeater pedals.
$9195
The Gristle Zirkel 69er receives a custom designed Dreamride 69er wheelset tuned for rider weight and use.
MAX (XTR drivetrain): $9130
Dreamride Edition (XT drivetrain): $8550
About the Dreamride Edition Mooto-Xz
For the Dreamride Edition 29er build I use Moab-tested reliable components: Moots stem and seatpost, Magura brakes, Fox fork, Shimano drivetrain and shifters, Chris King hubs and headset, Dreamride ti riser bar, DT spokes, Mavic rims, Time pedals, Oury grips, Torelli cables, Salsa skewers and WTB tires and saddle. Some of the parts are modified for the sake of performance, safety or cosmetics. Chris King colors are there to play with. Needless to say, the bike fits like a glove. It is what I do.
Of all the bicycles we offer, the Dreamride Edition Mooto-Xz is the most desireable ride-from-town Moab machine for riders from 5'7" to 6'7". The new Colorado River pedestrian bridge inspired my choice to own one. It is my travel bike (it comes apart and packs in two suitcases) and my from-town, no gas-guilt friend. We use a range of tires up to the 2.55 WTB LT, but smooth rolling narrower tires (WTB Vulpine or Stan's Crow) are perfect for longer rides with stretches of pavement and dirt road on the way to slickrock.
The pivotless Moots M-arc rear suspension design is efficient and effective at 4 inches of travel, especially when combined with the Fox RP23 shock, which works as it should and is easy to adjust on-the-fly. The rear end is surprisingly rigid and almost completely mechanically neutral. Loosing the pivot at the rear axle eliminates that nasty flex that causes ghost shifting and wheel sway. This is a perfect suspension design for these large wheels! The over-all fabrication of the aluminum swingarm is finely executed and the powdercoat finish is lush. If it matched the titanium, I'd be happier, but black works just fine.
My Mooto-Xz was built in a 16 hour marathon. It was on the trail the next day. Since then I have perfected air pressure settings, alignment, retightened the spokes, and cautiously pushed the envelope with each ride. The WTB Weirwolf LT 2.55 Race tires increases the size of the already-large wheel and contact patch with minimal weight and acceptable rolling resistance. The effect of all this rubber is best experienced on slickrock, gravel, and loose and embedded rock of all sizes. It flies over stuff I used to avoid. This bike's most remarkable advantage on smooth rock is its ability to "sidehill." I found myself in the lowest gear climbing steep rock faces with a greatly enhanced ability to maneuver across the face of the rock, to turn in any direction in spots where a 26 inch wheel would require quite a bit more work. This effect made up for a lot of the extra energy it took to torque the wheels around. The tires not only stick like glue, they are tall enough to get your pedals off the rock. Keep enough pressure in them and bingo, it's a slickrock bike. Just don't loose momentum on that climb. Remember the granny gear. And, make sure the pressure stays high and the bead has been carefully set.
RECENT CONCLUSIONS
For those looking for the best all-around big wheel suspension bike, here it is, the Dreamride MAX-RFT Moots XZ. You just cannot beat the XZ for all-around everywhere performance. But those looking for the ultimate in OFF-ROAD ENDURO OR ALL MOUNTAIN performance, will find that they can go a lot faster over rough terrain with the DREAMRIDE FULLY69 (F-69) CLIMBMAX. The XZ and the F-69 are the top dog mountain bikes for 2009. If you want a bike for rides that include pavement, fire roads, dirt roads, and every sort of trail, there is no question that the Moots is the very best in our quiver, the all-purpose rig for riders in the right size and weight range (5'7" to 6'6" under 210 pounds). If you want a true enduro or all-mountain bike for the roughest trails, higher speeds and acceleration on the uphills and you are 5'6" to 6'8" and under 230 pounds, the Fully69 was designed to eat all comers alive in technical off-road situations where speeds are in excess of 20 miles an hour, surfaces are loose and bumpy, and hills are steep. And, if you want a compromise between the two, call us about our specific geometry for a custom Moots Cinco 69er, something Moots has yet to put in the stock category and probably never will.
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Thank you, MootsWe were honored to test the original prototype Moots Mooto-Xz full suspension 29er. There were specific details we requested be changed on the production frame. All were addressed to our satisfaction, making this the premier 29er frame we offer, tops in this category. So, it gets Jumping Coyote treatment.
That Fox fork is the only fork we will put on a Moots 29er at this point in time, even if it is over-priced to the point of insanity. The difference between the Rock Shox Reba (overpriced, as well) and this Fox F29 is like day and night. While the Reba works vertically, it also works in every other direction. The Fox is decently stiff, almost pretty (those Fox logos get removed if you give me a chance--they are hideous--and, if white is the new black, this fork ain't black enough) and incredibly easy to tune and adjust on the fly. As long as you don't have to take it apart and you have the money to buy and maintain it, this fork is a winner. The Fox rear RP23 shock on this bike is the best air shock ever produced and can be found on all of our Dreamride Fully bikes. Send both fork and rear shock to Fox once a year to avoid problems with stuff that happens on the trail and to keep it out of the hands of local mechanics. The fork, unlike a Marzocchi, DOES require a regular maintenance schedule.
The Shimano XT Shadow rear derailleur works like a charm and keeps cable and derailleur body behind the end of the skewer nut. If you do manage to send it into the spokes, things could get ugly.
Yes, it is a flickable 9er that can go fast and take a beating. The titanium triangle is still titanium, however, so heavier, more agressive riders might want to consider a custom Dreamride or Ventana 9er. But, if you like the small bumps to disappear, titanium and big wheels do the trick better than any other arrangement. With that Zirkel rear end the bike sticks to and rolls over huge stuff. Take this bike seriously! You don't want to miss the chance to own perfection, a state-of-the-art mountain bike that will last a lifetime.
