• How difficult would it be to convert my Donhou DSS4 to disc brake?

    Buy 2nd hand 11sp Di2 disc groupset* - easy
    Buy Columbus Futura fork, disc - easy

    It currently runs DA7900 with all cables external. I see difficulties in the following:

    1. Getting a frame builder to remodel the rear triangle
    2. Routing the hoses neatly; or
    3. Getting a frame builder to adapt it for internal routing

    Would love to hear peoples thoughts. I could keep it as it is - a light, 10sp absolute weapon - but I wouldn’t mind future proofing it either.

    *I’d like to run my current wheels which have a 10/11sp hub.

  • Presuming it’s currently 130/135mm qr and you’d be happy to keep it qr then it’s very straightforward.

    You’ll probably be thinking of the caliper snuggly fitted inside the rear triangle, atop the chainstay? That can be difficult but very rarely impossible, fitting it into off the seatstay outside of the triangle is much easier.

    If it needs setting out from 130-135mm then I’d expect this would be possible without any further work but whoever does it might be more comfortable removing and then replacing the bridges, especially the stays are quite lightweight.

    When I was doing this kind of thing I’d have been asking about £60-75 for an IS tab on top of the seatstay and some zip tie cable guides, around a hundo if you want the caliper inside the triangle and if it needs cold setting and/or the bridges need redone then £150-£175?

    Your paint would be knackered and redoing that could easily eclipse the cost of the metalwork.

    If you want to go thru-axle it’s a fair bit more involved, I think you might be lucky to avoid rebuilding the entire rear triangle.

    It’ll be a smaller list of framebuilders willing to take it on and a considerably larger price tag. Could be negligible saving over having a whole frame built to be honest.

  • Thank you, that’s a very detailed response. Food for thought, as I’d want to go thru axle.

    New frame time. shrug

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