Is the new Sram XX group compatible with the Blur XC carbon?
Yes, but you must use the standard Q-factor version of the cranks (166mm). There is chainring clearance with the 26/39 tooth and 28/42 tooth chainring sets, but the 30/45 will have interference issues.
There is only 2-3mm (much less than we typically require) clearance for the 42t ring, so in general the 39t setup will be a safer bet. However, we haven't seen any actual issues with the 42 to date.
click here to see a photo of the chainring clearances
click here to see a photo of the crank clearances
There was a packet of "friction paste" or "carbon assembly compound" included with my frame- what is this for?
Use this on your seatpost. Carbon frames have a pretty slippery inner surface that makes it difficult to get the seatpost held tight without massive tightening forces at the collar. Using the carbon assembly compound adds friction so you don't need to crank the heck out of the seat collar.
It looks like the lower link is off center in my frame- is everything ok?
Yes- this is correct. With our newer pivot system, the pivot axle draws the link over to one side in order to properly preload the bearings. This offset is accounted for in the frame design so everything ends up nice and straight in the end.
What size fork should I use on the Blur XC Carbon?
The Blur XC Carbon accepts 100-120mm forks.
We wanted the Blur XC Carbon to be confidence inspiring and race ready at the same time, so we designed it to have a 69.5 degree head angle with a 100mm (471mm axle-crown) fork. The bike can be ridden quite aggressively with this setup, with no weight compromises. This is probably the size fork you would want for xc racing.
We definitely wanted to be able to use a 120mm fork on this bike though, and made it accordingly strong. For riding or even racing in rockier terrain, a 120mm fork is pretty fun.
Please don't use a fork over 120mm of travel, as it does exert more force on the frame than it was designed to handle. This also voids your warranty. The geometry will get pretty funny with a longer fork, so you wouldn't really want to do it anyway.
What size shock is on the Blur XC Carbon?
All frame sizes use a 6.5" x 1.5" (165x38mm)shock.
Mounting hardware on both ends is 22mm wide (21.84mm to be exact), with an 8mm through hole.
What kind of front derailleur do I need?
The Blur XC Carbon requires a bottom swing (high clamp), top pull, 34.9mm front derailleur. Both SRAM and Shimano make models that work.
Note that all of our other bikes use a different style derailleur (top swing), so this part will not transfer from another one of our bikes.
Can I use a quick release seat collar?
Absolutely. The frame takes a standard 34.9mm seat collar, so there are plenty of quick releases that will fit.
Our favorite is ours, of course. You can purchase it on our online store for $24.
Are there water bottle mounts?
Yes. All frame sizes have two bottle mounting locations. One on top of the downtube, and another underneath for longer rides.
Custom aluminum mounting bolts are included with the frame.
I would like to use a different shock on the Blur XC Carbon, can I do that?
Yes, the shock is a very common size, and there are plenty of other models on the market that will fit.
What size headset does the Blur XC Carbon use?
We are using a standard 1 1/8" headset on this bike. Pick whatever headset you want!
What size seatpost does it use?
Like all Blur models, the XC Carbon uses a 30.9mm post. Make sure it is always inserted a minimum of 100mm into the frame.
What is the largest tire that will fit?
We never like to make promises here, as tire dimensions vary so much, but pretty much any 2.35" or smaller tire will fit fine.
What is the largest rear brake rotor that I can use?
Most riders will want 160mm rotors, but a 185mm will fit as well.
I'm addicted to using a Gravity Dropper/Joplin adjustable seatpost- can I use one on this bike?
We are all huge fans of adjustable seatposts, and included cable routing under the top tube for this purpose.
What kind of cranks can I use?
We use a standard 73mm bb shell, so pretty much any cranks you want will fit on there. Just make sure your crankset has a 50mm chainline, and you are good to go.
