Installing a Internal Dropper Post on my Walmart Giordano Intrepid 29er Mountain Bike

[@RunBikeMike]

Welcome!! Be part of the Drop In Crew by leaving a comment ⬇️. Let’s all learn and have fun together.

[@TheCaptainsCog]

Dude! Your KZbin personality has fully blossomed! Haha. The good mike, bad Mike skit was hilarious. The box attacks are hilarious as well. Good job and the bike is looking good.

[@RunBikeMike]

Thanks 😊 it has been fun making these videos and getting to upgrade this bike.

[@chickensendies]

Ah yes..... This is the way! Honestly pretty impressed with how that turned out for you!!!!

[@RunBikeMike]

Yeah it worked out really well. It was definitely exciting to drill those holes in the frame.

[@NELSONG12]

Man, you keep taking this already cool bike, to a new level.

[@caelanwilliamson4284]

Lol Bad Mike is siiiick. I’m loving this series. I literally can’t wait to see the next video!

[@RunBikeMike]

I might have to have bad Mike show up more. A lot of people seem to like that guy 😆

[@ftterlve]

Just bought one and there is now two holes on the left side and a hole with guide just behind the seat post above the bottom bracket for installing an internal dropper..

[@jamesweldon8118]

I've been waiting for someone to make this video 🔥

[@elwoodkotil2538]

Good job on the DP install. I did an external KS DP with shim and it turned out sanitary and trouble free on my KT!

[@MTBQandA]

HAHA! You and those boxes!!! Great series AGAIN!!!

[@jonesy3002]

I just bought this bike for 404.00 use Kent 10 from Kent website it was 430 out the door. Made my choice between the OZtrail ridge and Axum an easy decision lol. I almost bought a Roscoe 7 for 1500 but at 430 out the door it was a no brainer. I can upgrade as I go and still be under 800 bucks with the upgrades and be just as good as the Roscoe

[@CobraKyle]

Dude I hope bad Mike comes out for a ride!

[@RunBikeMike]

He shows up sometimes 😂

[@jasonudovich8880]

Love this. Thanks for the shoutout

[@RunBikeMike]

Thank you for the money saving tip. 👍🏻

[@jasonudovich8880]

@@RunBikeMike how's the tubeless holding up?

[@RunBikeMike]

I rode 17 miles yesterday on a local trail and had zero issues with the tubeless. I am very happy with how it turned out so far.

[@joebidenshearingaid1618]

Enjoying the catching up on the build , I don’t think you should have any issues with the modifications for your dropper post .

[@jasonkroll2735]

Yeah , gott have the dropper . Still pounds lighter that stock. Waiting for the fork upgrade, if it's going that far. I gotta say though , great video series on this bike .

[@RunBikeMike]

thanks 😊 I hope it goes as far as a fork too. A air fork would make this bike a crazy shredder.

[@StevenYoungEtc]

I’m with you-about to do this on a Kent Trouvaille. Dang I should have just bought the Roscoe.

[@RunBikeMike]

haha yeah Good Mike has some Interesting advice on this topic.

[@bindingcurve]

Or an Axum

[@mrd6093]

YOU THE BEST DRILLING THOSE HOLES I WAS THINKING ALSO ON THIS E BIKE YAMEE TO INSTALL A DROPPER POST

[@KeoOutdoors]

Bike coming along nicely!

[@Skorpion7597]

Would mind showing a pic of the finished whole you drilled by the head set? I want to see if you just made the one whole bigger for two cables to slide through or if you actually made a secondary whole for the cable to fit through.

[@Genv6]

I'm not sure if they released a version 2 of this bike, but my intrepid had pre-drilled routing for a dropper post!

[@RunBikeMike]

Yep they added that later.

[@MichaelRobibaro]

Through Walmart or thru Kent or Giordano direct? I asked them about this and they said it didn't Version 2 of trouvellie got it, I believe volar has it.

[@RunBikeMike]

They definitely did because the frame was not predrilled for a dropper but now it seems to come that way.

[@MichaelRobibaro]

@@RunBikeMike sad when Kent doesn't know 😆 Good deal though I'll get a new another

[@RunBikeMike]

@user-yc6wx4sn5n honestly it doesn’t surprise me. They mass produce so many bikes I am sure someone saw people drilling holes and made the decision to just have the factory to drill it.

[@mtbike491]

The style of this video reminds me of evens mtb saga.

[@RunBikeMike]

He makes some really fun videos. That is a big compliment!!

[@illwillmtb]

Nice!!!

[@johnnydoe66]

I would have no issue with drilling a hole in a frame, yeah, even if it voids your warranty if the frame has one. As long as you take your time, don't go bigger than needed, and be sure to deburr/smooth the hole. Sharp edges, gouges, or nicks in aluminum can cause cracks to develop believe it or not. I would go as far as getting a set of keyhole files, they're usually of different shapes and are super fine.

[@ziamlarry]

Just an update from 2024 for anyone looking at this bike. I purchased this bike on sale 449 out the door. While assembling the bike they must have updated because there is now internal routing for a dropper post. Having a blast on it.

[@joshb3526]

I’d love to ride with “bad Mike” sometime! So radical!!

[@RunBikeMike]

Haha you definitely have. I think you bought me half his outfit over the years 😂

[@joshb3526]

@@RunBikeMike mullet headband ride, beer drinking wigs, and tattoo sleeves! Silly fun times!

[@rhd244]

Someone from Walmart must have been watching your video. The most recent version of this bike now includes the space for the dropper post

[@lucasornelas6113]

I believe the new models have an extra hole drilled on the left side of the bike so there are two holes and there’s an outlet and the beginning bottom of the seat post for internal dropper post I got my about a month ago and noticed the extra drilled holes and it has a vinyl chain stay so the chain slap dosnt scratch up the Frame. Also could you link the internal cable and outer tube housing you used for the dropper post thank you 😊

[@RunBikeMike]

Yeah they got the memo that it needed a extra port. Lol. Here is a link to some cable housing. amzn.to/3Xh7vos

[@horusgarcia1]

The built price is $832. Does that include the hydraulic brakes? Also, why just get an external dropper? How did you make a hole to the seat tube?

[@RunBikeMike]

Yes it came with HBs. Internal was just a fun thing to do.

[@horusgarcia1]

Is this frame a replica of the Kent Trouvaille? If so, I can probably do the same for the dropper or just go external.

[@RunBikeMike]

@@horusgarcia1 very close. Made by the same parent company

[@mtbboy1993]

put the saddle more forward so rails won't bend. try to keep it within 1 cm off centre.

[@letour32rr]

Does the shim reach past the bottom of the top tube? My worry is that the only part of the frame supporting your body weight is the portion above the top tube on the seat tube. Most every bike frame requires a minimum insertion past the bottom of the top tube to prevent cracking.

[@RunBikeMike]

Just barely. If you can find a longer one it would be better. Or even better would be to ream out the seat tube to fit a 30.9 dropper post.

[@jdridesbikes]

I'm waiting on that exact shim and was wondering what you put on it before installing. Was it an adhesive, a grip paste, or antiseize? Thanks

[@RunBikeMike]

The shims are finicky so you definitely want to use parktools sac-2 between the frame and shim. Then some normal grease or parktools PPL-1 grease between the shim and seat post. It can take a good amount to prevent creaking. Also keep it clean if your bike get dirt up at the seatpost collar.

[@jdridesbikes]

@@RunBikeMike Thanks, exactly what I was needing to know, I also wouldn’t have thought to grease the seat post so that’s definitely an extra bit of helpful information

[@RunBikeMike]

@@jdridesbikes yep grease will help prevent squeaks and also keep it from seizing.

[@guysasha22]

Wish you showed better camera detail on drilling locations and close up after pictures to help others but great job.

[@mrupholsteryman]

Maybe the smaller diameter seatpost allowed it to not have too much added weight. I don't look at this as such a bad thing.

[@RunBikeMike]

I agree I totally happy with the seat post after using it. The only downfall was a 30.9mm was $89 so $20 less than the $27.2mm and I would have had to buy the shim so that makes it really $30 more. But over all money well spent.

[@cliffm5559]

closeup picture or vid of the top whole you widened available? Curious what it looks like since you essentially drilled out the existing internal routing hole

[@RunBikeMike]

Message me on IG and I will send you a photo of it.

[@cliffm5559]

@@RunBikeMike just did, thanks

[@collinscarbro4589]

I have the same helmet and almost the same bike

[@EBikeBuilder_]

Bad Mike knows Best

[@jdoiron1118]

Hey Mike mine is being delivered this week. I want to upgrade the crankset and BB. Do you have a recommendation on anything specific for this 1x10?

[@RunBikeMike]

If you want to go budget the IXF is a great crankset. Here is a link to one I like. amzn.to/3JW7WOf You will need a chainring for it too. Here is the brand I have used. amzn.to/3A1cpeh If you want to go name brand I like the Shimano Deore amzn.to/3SKvABz You will need a bottom bracket for it here is a Shimano version amzn.to/3w1h1zx

[@jdoiron1118]

Thank You, I was about to bid on a SRAM GX Dub crankset but wasn't sure if it would have a poor chainline since they're for 11-12speeds. The ixf are within 100g of the SRAM cranks and I would give them a try but I think I've see photos of the spider on these looking like while they work, they are meant for a 2x and not a 1x setup.

[@RunBikeMike]

Yeah they can be used for 2x or even a 3x but other than the bolt holes the crank is compatible with a 1x. You would just need to make sure to get a 1x or narrow wide tooth pattern chainring. On the sram I would think it would still work but I haven’t tried that myself.

[@jdoiron1118]

Ok so my Intrepid just arrived and I've turned it up. I'm a little concerned about the chainline when in the lowest gear. When the chain is on the largest rear cog the front chain ring makes a continuous noise. Nothing looks bent, but the chainline is no bueno. The noise front chain ring noise subsides in mid to low gears. I've confirmed there is no noise from crankset with chain off. I may keep the Trouvaille and return the Intrepid now.

[@RunBikeMike]

That is interesting. Are you 100% sure it is coming from the front and not the rear? The low screw on the RD might need to be let out or turned in just a hair. If you are not having shifting issues in the middle of the cassette then your RD hanger should be fine. Check that the bottom bracket is installed correctly. Also that the crank arm is fully in place. That drivetrain is the same as the Kent T so I would think it would be something fixable with adjustments.

[@jamesbondero6170]

My Intrepid gets delivered Monday! Can't wait! You better start wearing your bike helmet while making your videos! 🥴. Keep up the great content!

[@RunBikeMike]

lol yeah I really should. Congrats on the new bike. I hope Monday gets here fast for you.

[@jamesbondero6170]

@@RunBikeMike :. Thanks! Just checked and it's coming tomorrow! Others reported theirs arrived earlier than expected too! Sweet!

[@RunBikeMike]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Weekend ride!!!!

[@eugene44569]

Hey its me the owner of the kent and giordano group. Kinda wanna know if you can force in a 30.9mm post into a 30.4mm cuz half a millimeter is nothing. You should try that if that's possible.

[@RunBikeMike]

I also wonder that too. I do have experience with trying to install a headset that is only 1mm to large. That didn't work at all. If it was a short length the .5mm might work but with as long as seatposts are I just don't think it is worth it. If you ever have to service the seatpost I can only guess it would be almost impossible to get back out.

[@cm2687]

can I send you mine to do next? lol I want to do this but I'm afraid I'll destroy the frame 😓

[@RunBikeMike]

Haha send it on over and I will happily drill into the frame 😊

[@MTBAlex]

Where did you exactly routed that cable on the bottom?

[@RunBikeMike]

If you look in the hole where the cables come out there is a spot where the seat tube meets the bottom bracket. I drilled the hole in the seat tube right above the BB and right before the wields on the seat tube. It was a perfect spot the had no structural part of the frame. I thought about taking the cable out under the bb and drilling a hole in the outside of the seat tube right by the back tire. But I wanted it completely hidden.

[@MTBAlex]

@@RunBikeMike that is awesome, did you install a garment on the side tube by the head tube where the cable goes in?

[@RunBikeMike]

No I didn’t. Since it came with out a grommet I decided to not worry about it. I filed the edges smooth and the cables seems to move freely.

[@MyDam18]

How do you know what length to cut the wire

[@RunBikeMike]

I do a pre fit. Getting it all setup then take push the cable in to the frame and pull the seatpost out. I then cut based off of enough length to remove and install the dropper. Then I reinstall the post and pull the cable Housing out of the top of the frame a little.

[@MyDam18]

@RunBikeMike I saw somewhere about an inch above seat tube..does that sound about right

[@RunBikeMike]

@@MyDam18 that would be a good amount. Just make sure you don’t have slack up by the lever. Because when you push the seatpost back down that will become your slack.

[@MyDam18]

@RunBikeMike thankyou very much u did it exactly like you .man drilling that was freaking nerve wrecking but it actually worked..

[@supervortex8363]

i dont get the point in dropper posts

[@RunBikeMike]

It something that most people don’t get until you get use to having one then it feels weird not having one.

[@jono3077]

My front wheel wasn’t true and the seat clamp didn’t come in the box so I got $75 refund.

[@bruno123oliveira4]

Hi @Jon O , how did you ask for your refund? Mine just arrived with a missing clamp and the shifter is working, but the plastic on top on broken. Also some chips in the paint. I want to return it, at same time don't want to wait for a new one to possibly come with the same issues.

[@RunBikeMike]

I used the customer service number in the app.

[@jono3077]

@@bruno123oliveira4 they offered to send me a new one with a shipping label to send back the other one and I told them I didn’t want to assemble another bike with possibly the same issues. They asked me what I wanted to do and I negotiated a partial refund based on my best uneducated estimate of what it would cost to fix the problems at a local bike shop. The rep offered $75 so I went with it. Best of luck!!

[@bruno123oliveira4]

Thank you so much, I called Walmart and they told me call Kent. Will do tomorrow since it is closed already.