With all the various parts of the Specialized Aethos collected, it is now ready to be assembled. Normally I would start with the assembly of the fork to the frame, and this will involve cutting the steerer tube to the required length.
Installing the super lightweight expander plug inside the Aethos fork.
Also using the stem spacers with a special scalloped design. Doesn't save any weight over standard thin carbon spacers though.
According to the manual, this steerer tube and expander plug allows the stem to protrude up to 3 mm above the expander plug. This allows a clean setup without a spacer on top of the stem.
Frame and fork ready for the components! Steerer tube still needs to be cut.
Subtle Aethos logo, the way I like it.
Just a small S-Works logo along the top tube.
The shimmering paint looks awesome in the sunlight!
Lots of glitter in the paintwork of the frame and fork.
As this frame uses a standard threaded bottom bracket, it is easy for me to install or remove the bottom bracket. For minimum weight, I chose the Dura-Ace BB-R9100 as it is the lightest one available.
Dura-Ace BB-R9100, English Threaded.
Weighs only 66 grams!
As the outer diameter is smaller than most, it will not match so well with the frame's curves.
Threaded bottom brackets are so much easier to service, compared to press fit types.
After installing the bottom bracket, I noticed that the inner race of the bottom bracket does not spin well. In fact, it has a lot of resistance, so much so that it feels like it is defective.
I went to get a warranty replacement, but found that the replacement bottom bracket also has a lot of resistance. When I put the crankset on, it does not even spin one full round.
Over the years, I have installed many Shimano bottom brackets, but this is the one with the worst rotation feeling. I'm sure this is due to the very good contact seals, but it degrades the riding experience with the additional resistance.
On the Fnhon DB12, I installed the Ascent Revolution BB which spins so much better. Therefore, instead of using this Dura-Ace BB, I will be getting another bottom bracket with less rotational resistance.
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