I already have a SW CF death grip and LOVE it! I thought about maybe adding a shortened version of the kh handle, like Kris uses, but I don’t think it would be the best set up for doing rocky, super technical trails. I could be wrong about that though, but I’m thinking that my GUni would be heavy enough with the LM, 2x3 intense, so I’d be hesitant about making it any heavier.
There are reasons to still have an unGuni 24, even if you have a guni 24 or 26. I use the guni for XC and moderate DH, but still use the straight 24 for serious DH (like South Mountain in Phoenix or North Shore Vancouver). Couple of reasons for this: 1) I like having a handle on the guni, but no way for DH 2) I don’t want to abuse the geared hub doing DH. I know configurations can be changed, but I hate swapping out parts to go on a ride.
I hadn't ridden my 29er for 6 months after getting the 24guni, but I rode it last week, and still found it to be fun to ride. It is a much different riding experience.
I have given some thought to switching my 24 guni to a 26 guni. I have found that I can get over some rock obstacles better on the 29 than the 24. So I am thinking that a 26x2.4 guni might feel a little bit like the 29er, but be rideable in high gear on mildly technical single-track.
Terry, as far as I know I am the only person that has put a KH/Schlumph hub on a 24" Surly. I would strongly reccomend aginst it.
The LM is great for DH/Freeride, however…
It is a heavy rim, the weight is much more noticeaby with a geared hub.
It is a very wide rim, this made smooth turns and cornering at med to high speeds close to impossible. The unicycle would twitch almost uncontrollably when making turns at 36" speed.
I was very upset with my decision to go from a KH29 Guni to the LM Guni.
I rode the Surly 24" uni aggressively, and eventually snapped the axle and shifting rod clean off.
After sending my hub to Switzerland, I replaced the hub on my Surly 24" with a standard hub.
I love the LM rim with 150 Moment cranks and maguras, but putting a Schlumph hub on this set up was a waste of time, money and energy. Shipping the hub there was around $150!
Thankfully Schlumph replaced the hub and shipped it back to me at no cost.
Im riding a KH29 Guni again and LOVE IT!
I wish I had never built the hub onto the 24" LM rim.
SOO…My opinion is that you would enjoy a KH29 Guni more than a 24".
If you decide you really want a 24" guni over a 26" or 29" don’t use the LM rim, It really takes away alot of the hubs potential and makes it the weakest (and most expensive) link in your set up.
So on topic here.
KH29 = (Versatility)
Guni = (Versatility+ Speed)
KH29 Guni = ???
You took algebra, do the math!
That’s why UDC recomends drops no more than 4.5 ft. But if one broke at 5 andthe design isn’t reinforced, I bet it’d break after enough 4 ft. drops.
Terry, IMO go for a G26 w/ stock or other 26 trials rim, not the LM (although it’d fit w/ extenders for the breaks). Put on double hole cranks for more gearing options, although I bet 125 in top gear would be freaky on anything but smoooth fire roads, or do 137/165 for that “lower gear” you mentioned (137 would be too small for me, I’d get 165 and drill 145 custom). The cranks would be a bit lighter and if something were to go wrong it’d be more likely to fail at the much less $ and easier to replace cranks.
Keep the 24 for REALLY tech stuff and those big drops you love. Switch between the 24/26/29 a bunch for at least a month then consider selling the 29.
Edit: you mentioned before that one reason you like the LM is it’s stronger and it needs less trueing. I’m thinking you could use 13G spokes on a normal rim, but would that reduce from going out of true or just ultimate falure?
Chuck yes, me highly unlikely. You ride waaaay more than I do!
dang looks sketchy!
I ride a 26" LM (65mm) with a Larry now, prev rode the same wheel with a Duro 3". I found that the wider rim did not have a “destablizing” effect in contrast to a narrow rim (47mm), but having a big fat tire (Larry) certainly makes things more “interesting”. So I’m wondering if what you experienced was more a function of going too fast with a small diameter wheel or if a guni can amplify a minor issue like rim or tire weight.
I haven’t ridden a guni, so it might just be my naivete, but going faster on a smaller wheel can get squirrely, which is why I ride a 26/29. The same thing can be said for riding a fat tire fast, ie gets to be bouncy and the gyroscopic effct increases.
It’s hard to find a uni that gives you the best of all worlds since each wheel, crank, tire combo significantly changes how the uni rides, far more so than a bicycle.
If I had the cash I’d get a guni in all three “muni sizes” and see which one gets used most. My guess is that nothing would reallly change, in that I’d still prefer the 26er (Surly/Larry) for tech and nasty trail conditions, and the 29er for smoother trails and going fast. The potential increase in top speed is not going to change how the uni rides, though the added wieght could make some things harder; hopping, endurance, flow.
I wouldn’t add a guni to my Surly/LM/Larry 26er because the weight penalty would be too excessive; it’s already a beast, but I might build a compromise 26er with a lighter wheel and tire combo (47mm, Intense 2.5) that in theory could replace the 29er, though I am sure liking my 29er for stability…
Okay, so all this aside, I still wonder if a guni for trails is all that useful. In thinking about my local riding areas, sure there are some places I’d like to blaze through, but they’re short stretches between single track. Before I rode unis I was an avid single speeder (29er), so in going to uni the only thing that I gave up was coasting 
I think the 24 is a great uni for tough terrain and going slow, but for going fast a 26er or 29er is where it’s at. There’s a reason mountain bikers predomitely ride 26" and 29" wheels..
I ride my 24 guni in high gear on technical single track, not just dirt roads or getting to the trail, and it is a blast. Even 125s are possible for this kind of high gear riding. I did 125s for a while and finally switched back to 150s. For me, the extra control lets me go faster with 150s in high gear than 125s on the trail. The 24 guni is a trail machine - it sucks for road riding.
So Andy, I’m assuming you run a 47mm rim, KH or similar, any thoughts on why Tracy had such a bad time riding an LM guni?
Personally I find a 24" way to small, but them my style is more rolling than hopping.
I think a guni makes sense on whatever size muni you like riding fixed gear, but the weight penalty is really a big deal, as is the possibility of breaking the hub.
$1500 USD is a whole lot of cash.
So back on track, how about that 29er!
My Maxxis Ardent 29 x 2.4 will be here today, oh boy, oh boy
So, on to tubeless:
Can I simply tape over the rim striip and get a decent seal?
What’s the best sealant that is easy to clean up?
Can I use an automotive valve to seal the valve hole?
http://www.bing.com/shopping/1-1-4-tubeless-tire-valve-453-rim-hole-diameter-carded/where-to-buy/1A7F4A768D4C72BCB9E3?q=auto+tire+valves&FORM=HURE
Google getto tubless
Yeah, the last thing I want to do is break or damage a new GUni setup on rough terrain and drops. I’m glad to be getting all this great info! It will help me to make the right decision in my GUni choice.
I’m definitely seeing the light in this regard! The LM is already heavy and the Schlumpf hub weighs more than 3 pounds, so yeah, it’d be a frickin tank!
Very good advice Lewis!
You da man!
Yeah, my 24 with the LM is also quite a beast as it is. And I have wondered the same thing. I would imagine that a GUni would be great for more XC and moderate terrain, but full out hardcore MUni I’m not sure, but then again, you could just ride in 1:1 for that, and have the luxury of high gear when things got a bit smoother.
I’m a little confused by this. In your previous post (above), you said what appears to be the opposite. Oh, and what rim are you running on your 24 GUni?
Terry, I was just thinking about how you ride, dude you would break a Schlumph in no time. Watching you ride, esp on the 24, you jump, hop, and drop all day long.
Not only would that hub make your uni a tank, but the only time you’d be able to use it to it’s advantage is when you buzzed along flatter trails or fire roads, and then there’s the long walk home when the hub breaks!
What does Kris ride as a guni? Does he ride the guni as hard as you ride your 24er?
I was watching your 29er video and it left me wondering why you just don’t ride the 29er more…
There’s still the option of getting a 26er, all the benefits of the 29er, but agile like a 24er
I just talked with Terralynn at UDC–Josh in on vacation–and she told me that they no longer carry the Schlumpf hub, and that there is now a US distributor, Bronson Silva, based in Campbell, CA. He is the owner/operator for “Silva Cycles”.
The only source mentioned on KH’s website is Florian, in Switzerland, so maybe this is a recent development and KH just hasn’t yet updated his website. It’s great if now there is a US distributor, which will bring down shipping costs speed up delivery!
Edit: I just spoke with Bronson, and yes, he is the current–and apparently only-- US distributor for Schlumpf hubs, and he also builds wheels with them. He also said that the average wait to get one has dropped from about six months to just one month.
So I’m thinking of ordering the 26er frame, wheel and spokes, and just having them shipped directly to Bronson, so he can build it, then ship it to me. I need to know what spokes to get, since he said double butted might be a better way to go. I will ask KH what he uses on his 26er GUni, unless anyone here knows. I just assumed it would be the standard 14g black stainless.
This is from his website:
Ya, road riding was where it was lacking. I think the small wheel size and wide rim is a bad combo for smooth cornering. It was pretty sweet for DH, but the hub will only take so much abuse.
On my KH29 guni one of the spokes ripped out of the flange. :o I don’t want to send it back again so ive just been keeping the drops under 2 ft and checking the spoke tension more regularly. This happen to anyone else, will the wheel be OK with a spoke missing?
That frame is so cool!
I am seriously considering a 26" guni wheel. I just want to confirm 100% that it will work in my conundrum frame and mountainUni set-up, if not, I may buy another frame
What other frame will work?
My 24 guni has the standard 47mm KH rim with a Duro 24x3 tire.
Just to clarify, I do 4 types of riding:
- Road/Bike Path
KH36 (soon to be guni)
- Tech XC (99% singletrack, rolling terrain, plenty of rocky sections, and some moderate tech DH)
KH29 & KH24 guni
- Tech DH - steep and rocky with some drops, steepness combined with sections of unrelenting drops make this too hard for the KH29 (South Mountain, Phoenix and North Shore, Vancouver are excellent examples)
KH24
- Street/Trials (I try anyway)
KH20 & 24 street uni (Nimbus Xframe/Nimbus muni rim/Hookworm/137 Moments
oh yeah, I just placed an order with Bronson Silva for a 36 Schlumpf wheelset!