The Fine Line Between MTB Upgrades and Addiction: How Far is Too Far? 

Performance elite is identical to factory minus the kashima, no damper upgrade, just change the air spring to change the travel….

I like the fork. Green and orange match perfectly. Some of those forest green Ergon grips with oil slick would go perfectly with that cockpit. Maybe get a brown leather seat 🙂

I think black stem would look better. More boring yes? But then IMO silver color clashes with the gold kashima. Thanks for the vid tho. Well done.

This exactly why I build my bikes from scratch. Every components were on sale. No point spending 3G on a bike and still have to upgrade, may as well build something from the wheels up.

I think you totally NAILED it! 🤩 Love how the orange and green look together, and the kashima blends in perfectly. Good choice on the stem too, if anything it matches the lettering on the handlebar 👏 Bravo Sir 👏 I think the stoke factor is a great point, totally worth it if it helps motivate you to get out and have some fun 😎

I like the cockpit, but not keen on the fork. I think the OME fork looked better on the bike in black.

Bike looks killer! Digging your channel and the regular uploads! Keep it up bro 👊

Just buy a frame and build it up. These preferences are getting out of hand on RU-vid. 😂 You've been able to explain how you can get carried away with part swapping. Good video!!!

Hello. My name is Steezy and I’m a upgradaholic. Love the fork and frame color! I think it’s worth noting that even on high end bikes, sometimes the stock builds have a lot to be desired. Seat, dropper, wheels, bar and stem are just a few examples of upgrades that make it personal to the buyer’s comfort and riding style. Most high end bikes don’t even come with pedals. I always try to purchase upgrades that will be used on my next bike too. I tend to buy new bikes every two years or so and sell my older bike to offset costs. That being said, I always save the stock parts I took off to put back on when it’s time to trade up or sell. Most people buying your used bike don’t see the value of your upgrades or have plans to upgrade to their preference anyway, so it’s wise to hold on to your stock parts. Last thing I would add, bikes are personal and the money you spend to customize it to you has value. Stay within your budget though. I have saved thousands of dollars before on a new bike because I could buy the lower spec knowing I’m going to swap and upgrade anyway.

Hey Jared. I have the polygon t8 but in the 27.5. I like that the 27.5 version has a 150mm travel and 140 in the rear. The first thing i did upgrade was the wheelset to a used set of DT swiss m1900 with 240hubs. That dropped the weight alot and put faster rolling schwalbe nobby nic out front and wicked will in the back. The bike runs awesome. And its true you may not need to upgrade but if the upgrade makes you more happy and stoked to ride then yes its worth it. With the heavy enity wheels, it was sluggish along a 2.6 front and rear has damp tires it wasnt fun especial uphill. I bought the Dtswiss m1900 wheelset for $700 and sold the Stock Enity for $350. So technically i spent $350 for the wheel upgrade. The hans damp is still a great front tire which i will still use. I just like the nobby nic and wicked will combo. If the upgrade makes you feel good and gives added confidence then yes...its worth it! As for the fox factory 36. I think the fox 36 elite looks better. Just changing the damper to make it 150mm would have been the better option, but hey its your bike.

2 Thumbs up for great content! Really dig the orange fox fork with your frame color. This video hits close to home. I ride a 2012 yeti bigtop hardtail. I recently upgraded the handlebars from 700 to 730mm added a 100mm fox 34sc and shimano xtr 4 pot brakes. Was finally able to get her like I have always wanted but the wallet took a hit. The changes are definitely worth it as I have noticed increase speed and have much better grip and comfort over rougher terrain. Plus saved lots of money compared to buying a new bike.

Thank you for the video. I think we all struggle with the upgrade addiction. I don't mind the grips, but I would consider everything else unnecessary.

I think it’s worth it depending on: How much you ride How hard you ride/hard on the components you are Also, how long you might have the bike. Complete waste of time and money if you plan on selling your bike each year and getting the latest model from whatever company. But if you’re going to have it for at least a few seasons, I think it makes sense. I did the same with the Slash. Just over a few seasons. I couldn’t spent the 9,000 up front. So I bought a lower build, and did one major thing each season. And I’m stoked. Everyone will have a different opinion. And I think what you’ve done here with this bike is perfect for you, and I would probably be right there with you. Maybe way over the top for some riders. All depends on case by case, or rider by rider scenario. Also, bike looks epic in the end. Curious how you’re liking the shorter travel compared to the slash? Great content as always. 👊

Love the music while workin on the bike at 5:00

It’s amazing how much wheels can make a difference In feel.

There are some "upgrades" that have to be done to any bike. Grips, saddle and pedals. These are the basics to change to what you are comfortable with. Anything after that, needs to increase the performance greatly. I can see tires as doing that. In this case, the extra 20mil fork travel was a good upgrade. The stem is one I see as frivolous. I replaced my stem recently, but only because I changed from flat bar to drop bar, and it was a change in bar diameter.

I love what you did. No such thing as too much upgrade. If it makes you happy it is definitely worth it.

I definitely have an addiction problem but there’s no better flat pedal currently on the market than 5Dev. They are super thin, wide, and have more grip than any other pedal. If your riding desert terrain 3mm means a lot, saves a lot of pedal strikes. 5Dev pedals and cranks are the first change I make to all my bikes

Looks mint. I think upgrades are what makes your bike yours. I can't remember having a bike a leaving it stock! If that's what gets you stoked to ride then what else matters!

the fork was the biggest necessary upgrade for any bike. so is the shock! then wheelset, followed by brakes. lastly drivetrain. 😅

I think it’s just up to you. The fork was the biggest unnecessary upgrade but since you had one or maybe someone else could buy from a friend or on sale and get for 50% off. The pedals are buying a small company product from an American company and I always support that.

Looks like Green White stem and Orange-I like it!

I have an Ethirteen dropper lever but i have also used and still use stock dropper levers on my bikes. While a Beariing i the lever might feel a tad smoother in the hand, once on the bike and while riding, especially when wearing gloves, there is no real difference. The seat post doesnt operate any different. The lever simply pulls a cable. The post operates how it was designed regardless as long as the cable is smooth. Now if you just want to bling it out..then by all means get that bling. 😊

I’ve tried the PNW, Wolf Tooth short and long, One Up components and Shimano dropper remote. The one up components remote is the smoothest and best feeling by far.

If you want to go for maximum price: EEWings cranks TrickStuff or Intend brakes Sram AXS dropper post Sram Transmission

I'm curious how this stem will do with rapid temp changes, with and without Loctite 243. like taking the bike out in -10C Riding in the summer temp starts at 20C and ends at 30C. With Loctite 243 Renthal Apex 35 passed the test. holds on for many months. Without it will loosen. But will this one? Nobody seems to be testing this. I first tried it in 50mm, it performed so well, was so secure I went for it on my G1 in 33mm. But this stem got my seal of approval. But 31.8 31mm might have issues with cracking, I read a comment about this. But that might be just that size. or unlucky rider with a faulty one. But Race Face Atlas did not do well at all, it performed very poorly, loosened despite using Loctite 243 that has been cured. it just wore it off. clamping plate came loose, bar spun, that was with taking the bike out in -10C, also had issues during the summer where bar got loose, and the stem was sliding up the steerer tube, making the headset loose. It was hopeless, had to check before, during and after each ride. Got annoying. So before anyone recommends a stem I think they should do these tests. So if you will do a review of it, test it like that. I've not tried Trail1 yet. they sure look good.

Upgrade your hubs to Industry 9 hydra hubs with 690 points of engagement. I think upgrading the hubs would make a big difference.

Was it too far? No! You have spare parts for the next build. A Fox Factory in podium gold might be too far, but would it look amazing?

Grips is a must upgrade for me. I go with Nukeproof stuff mostly but with the fork, that's way too rich for my blood.

The problem w the Fox Factory fork is now you gotta upgrade the rear shock to Fox Factory. It just looks sicker even though there's no substantial performance benefit. 😅

This is why you start with a good frame first. After you upgrade all the components, you will realize this.

The upgrades are really nice. Does Polygon offer a similar build as your upgrades (minus the 5Devs) and at what cost? It is usually more fiscally sound to buy the bike you want new, if you have the upfront $.

I hate adding new stuff or upgrades to my bike. It’s a headache and I can’t imagine it changes my riding that much.

I think if you can do the work yourself and save your old parts, upgrading a bike is cool because if you outgrow the bike but still like certain parts, you can remove the upgrades and put the old parts back on the bike. Plus the person who buys the bike is also getting a deal since those old parts put away have less wear and tear on them.

There is ALWAYS “just a couple more things”😂😂😂. My wife will testify to this problem I have.

So many videos telling people that a $2000 upgrade is not necessary but at the same time making people feel good about a $1000 upgrade . ☺

The Hunt wheels are a great value upgrade. They are durable, have great engagement, and the price is no a bank buster. I paid full price for my first set and got a discounted second set through their Re:New program

You didn't take it to far 😊. I did. The only thing original on my bike is the crank 😂. And nice build by the way 🤙 1 last thing i would have went for the carbon bars

It looks good. I like it.

Where is the before and after comparison? Is the bike lighter? Does it ride better? Was it worth it?

There are much worse addictions 🤷‍♂️. I hope the bike brings you joy!

I like it, looks like a tank on a duck fishing trip somehow! Sorry I like to anthropomorpize a bit, you can never go too far, I'm currently machining my own suspension link in order to break more sh*t. My trail bike plateaued so... Seriously thinking about building a old school huck bike with 42 mm legs I have from my dirtbike upgrade. theoretically I could press fit a aftermarket steer tube into a modified mx triple clamp... Yay new parts!

But things I did: Shimano Deore rear derailleur. Save money, and don't make my wallet hurt when I potentially destroy one. I invested in Garbaruk cassette, it's cheaper and lighter than Sram, Shimano top offerings. But if you want cheap and smooth shifting and don't might the weight, Deore M6100 ( 12 speed Microspline) & M5100(11 speed HG) cassettes is nice. Super heavy, but super smooth shifting. Smoother than the Garbaruk. But Garbaruk gets smoother as it wears in a bit. Deore has fragile plastic spacers, so I swapped those out for XT spacers I had. But probably won't be an issue under use, but fiddling with it you might destroy them, they snap easily, I tried just to test it. For comfort and make rough terrain easier on my hands I opted for Revgrips. Complete overkill on commuter/city/shopping bike.

If the frame is good enough, it doesn't matter how much you spend on upgrades. Just don't spend on somethin that doesn't fit or does something special for you

If you got the money, and the bike already is very good and you want to make it better, why not. Like better engagement, better tyres, better fork. some things you just have to swap out to suit you like grips, saddle, pedals. But you can't make a XC bike into a hardcore hardtail, and spend tons of money on it. But upgrading a crappy bike with some parts can make sense like cranks, saddle, grips, pedals, as you can transfer them over to a new build. Upgrading to latest model is not always needed. I have a Geometron G1, superb bike, but a new version is out. But this thing is so great I don't really have to. But with my Geometron G1, Only upgrade I think I sohuld upgrade to is better hub engagement. Not sure on what yet. And definitely don't need to buy the new 2025 G1. My bike already has so many good parts, and spced how i would have spec'ed it for the most part. Definitely go back to Sapim brass spoke nipples. DT Swiss ones I have aren't as good, I rounded one off with the nipple driver T handle. But otherwise seem to be holding up fine. But Sapim I know takes lots of abuse. And another thing is tubeless tape that doesn't lift, leak. my front wheel is like it's cursed. Gorilla tape leaked at the front, so did Stan's, and now WTB. I taped it perfectly, adhesive seems decent.

My Deity Seatpost clamp makes my bike jump so much better.

I think it looks ugly with the upgrades, that being said if your cockpit feels off then you may have to change bars or stem or both If it’s way off. Dropper post lever is fair,grips and pedals and seat are personal choice items. The reason I’m giving my opinion is I purchased a colossus N9 and the only thing I have changed is the pedals from my old bike the seat is comfortable the grips I like, everything was the right size according to the sizing chart. I tested a shorter stem and promptly took it off, the moral of the story here is if you get on the bike and think to yourself I could do things on this bike it’s good to go as is.

When you said "full blown upgrade addiction", I was thinking 5dev cranks.

I build my bike from the ground up because otherwise I would feel I’m a foolish myself thinking that I bought a good bike for a descent price to end up changing 80% of it ( like you said it is not necessary but if it’s done I would feel that way. Money related, joy related it’s a different story) I have my eyes on the hunt wheels thanks

Super dope great video

The factory fork was a little over the top. You could have just changed the air-spring on the stock fork for $75 or less and saved yourself $1200. But hey, if you like orange... actually you probably could have had the stock fork custom painted. You essentially totaled the bike with the cost of these upgrades haha why didn't you just get a 5k bike with all the nice parts stock and a carbon frame? Or if you like customizing, why not get a Carbon frame with cheap components and then swap out parts so when you're done you have a carbon frame with really nice components on it?

Eventually the lines can be blurred between is my hobby mountain biking or upgrading my bike?

DIY kit :D i have a 2000w hub motor, 52v with 40amp controller, and i can tell you it's great on my mountainbike :D :D :D and no i don't go downhill :D in The Netherlands we don't have mountains. or hills haha

Last video you had i9 wheels on, you going to run them on certain trails and hunts on others?

Go waxed chain,. Out of everything, having a silent, non-greasy drivetrain was the best of all my upgrades.

Too far? Ain’t no such place.

thats not really how you calculate your bikes new value. now i understand the logic behind the bs prices on market place though.

Upgraditis.

The wheel set is probably the best part of the upgrades, everything else is unnecessary

Bike upgrades should be based on skill. If the bike you have hinders your progress or has reached its limits time to upgrade. Other than that you'll just be wasting money.

if yove got the money to upgrade to kashima for 10 extra mm of travel , it really doesnt matter if youre spendin on a bike cuz youd obv have a shit ton of money lol.

green and black frame,orange fork,gold stanchions,blue adjustment knobs,silver stem,you only forgot red pedal to be able to call it rainbow warrior yea,it looks stupid,but producers are definitely happy

Sad to see all this BS upgrades. I have the T9. All I did was swap out the pedals only because I ride clipless. Added....added tannus liners and the rest is stock. Bike rides great as is with 900 miles on it. And my bank account is happy. This is also an add for Trail components. Did we really watch him swap out handlebars? Stem is ugly to me. I see riders make all these changes, yet lack conditioning and endurance. But - it's your bike. ❤

The orange Fox fork doesnt match.

"Did you took it too far?" Nah. **Orders new bike**

Did you take it too far? Only you really know. It's your money. Who are we to say. If you're happy that's all that matters, really.

Awsome looking grips But the name hells gate sounds trashy and cheap I do like trail 1 thoe

Funny title. I had to click

I'm all for upgrades, but youve spent ridiculous amounts on $$$ when all you needed was grips, a can of silver & orange paint and a few more PSI in your shocks! 😂