chicorider
Zen MBB Master
This is a Quest 559 with front and rear suspension and a 1 x 10 drive train. Upgrades include:
* Swapping out the original CB seat pad for a Ventisit pad. Much better air circulation.
* Replacing the cranky budget-level 2 x 9 shifters, derailleurs, and chainrings for a simpler, snappier higher-end SRAM XO/Rival 1 x 10 setup with a Rotor elliptical chainring. Shifts are smooth, quiet, quick, and reliable. This sale comes with 12-26 and 11-28 cassettes.
* The humongous Tekro brake levers are replaced with smaller, more adjustable Avid levers with titanium hardware.
* Switching out the heavy, clunky, and squeaky rear spring shock with a lighter, quiet, adjustable air shock. A noticeable improvement.
* Swapping the lower-end, heavy 32 spoke wheels for light but strong 28 spoke wheels built up with DT Swiss rims and spokes, and WTB hubs. I build all my own wheels, and this set gives the Quest greater zip and liveliness. The bike became more fun to ride.
* The Schwalbe Kojak tires are new.
* All of the original parts are included, except for the wheelset. I sold those on eBay.
This is the sports sedan of the Quest world, ready for touring, commuting, social road rides, or just noodling around the neighborhood. It has some small cosmetic nics here and there in the paint, but nothing major. The ride is super smooth, handling road surfaces that my S30 does just okay with and my V20 finds repellent. The more recent Quests lack front suspension. Personally, I've enjoyed having it. Some people have replaced the stock spring for a stiffer one to avoid bottoming out, but for this kind of bike and the type of riding it is designed for, the front suspension makes sense. It isn't essential, but having it isn't a detriment either.
The current handlebar setup as pictured might look odd. This is a Nitto mustache bar with a Ritchey road stem, turned around facing me because I am short and have proportionally short legs. When I slide the boom up to where it needs to be for my x-seam, my knees would contact the handlebar if I wasn't paying attention to my pedal stroke. Ouch! By reclining the seat and turning the stem around, I was able to move the handlebar back and out of the way. It rides and works well. My real point is that with a little patience and some trial-and-error, this bike is super adjustable, fitting short and tall alike. The sale includes the original bars and stem, and it wouldn't take much to raise the seat forward and turn the bars around for a more upright position, or to adjust for a taller rider. Many CB riders are tinkerers anyway.
I am selling this because I have figured out that on the CB spectrum I am really a Vendetta guy at heart, and I have outfitted my S30 with bags for commuting. This Quest is a great bike, but I don't ride it enough to justify keeping it. For those who are not Vendetta people, this ride wants to come live with you.
I am asking $1,000.00 and would be willing to travel up to around 200 miles from Chico, California for local pickup. I would also be willing to split U.S. shipping, 50/50. On the off chance of an international buyer, I would probably want the buyer to assume the shipping costs.
More photos available here (I hope): https://www.flickr.com/photos/163070398@N08/?
* Swapping out the original CB seat pad for a Ventisit pad. Much better air circulation.
* Replacing the cranky budget-level 2 x 9 shifters, derailleurs, and chainrings for a simpler, snappier higher-end SRAM XO/Rival 1 x 10 setup with a Rotor elliptical chainring. Shifts are smooth, quiet, quick, and reliable. This sale comes with 12-26 and 11-28 cassettes.
* The humongous Tekro brake levers are replaced with smaller, more adjustable Avid levers with titanium hardware.
* Switching out the heavy, clunky, and squeaky rear spring shock with a lighter, quiet, adjustable air shock. A noticeable improvement.
* Swapping the lower-end, heavy 32 spoke wheels for light but strong 28 spoke wheels built up with DT Swiss rims and spokes, and WTB hubs. I build all my own wheels, and this set gives the Quest greater zip and liveliness. The bike became more fun to ride.
* The Schwalbe Kojak tires are new.
* All of the original parts are included, except for the wheelset. I sold those on eBay.
This is the sports sedan of the Quest world, ready for touring, commuting, social road rides, or just noodling around the neighborhood. It has some small cosmetic nics here and there in the paint, but nothing major. The ride is super smooth, handling road surfaces that my S30 does just okay with and my V20 finds repellent. The more recent Quests lack front suspension. Personally, I've enjoyed having it. Some people have replaced the stock spring for a stiffer one to avoid bottoming out, but for this kind of bike and the type of riding it is designed for, the front suspension makes sense. It isn't essential, but having it isn't a detriment either.
The current handlebar setup as pictured might look odd. This is a Nitto mustache bar with a Ritchey road stem, turned around facing me because I am short and have proportionally short legs. When I slide the boom up to where it needs to be for my x-seam, my knees would contact the handlebar if I wasn't paying attention to my pedal stroke. Ouch! By reclining the seat and turning the stem around, I was able to move the handlebar back and out of the way. It rides and works well. My real point is that with a little patience and some trial-and-error, this bike is super adjustable, fitting short and tall alike. The sale includes the original bars and stem, and it wouldn't take much to raise the seat forward and turn the bars around for a more upright position, or to adjust for a taller rider. Many CB riders are tinkerers anyway.
I am selling this because I have figured out that on the CB spectrum I am really a Vendetta guy at heart, and I have outfitted my S30 with bags for commuting. This Quest is a great bike, but I don't ride it enough to justify keeping it. For those who are not Vendetta people, this ride wants to come live with you.
I am asking $1,000.00 and would be willing to travel up to around 200 miles from Chico, California for local pickup. I would also be willing to split U.S. shipping, 50/50. On the off chance of an international buyer, I would probably want the buyer to assume the shipping costs.
More photos available here (I hope): https://www.flickr.com/photos/163070398@N08/?
Last edited:
