|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
sd_sparky
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2010 | | Favorite Trail: | any singletrack close by... | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | handling
climbing
downhill
rolling through the chop
stability
speed
plush ride
paint & finish
Great customer service | | Weaknesses: | pedal strikes
29'er gearing | | Similar Products Used: | Ellsworth Evolve, Santa Cruz Tall Boy | | Bike Setup: | Fox F29 RLC FIT 120mm 15QR, Middleburn Crankset w/ 20t-30t-40t, Stan’s Arch/Chris King wheels, Shimano XTR shifters, derailleurs & 11-34 cassette, Hope X2 disc brakes, Chris King headset, Thomson X-2 stem Easton EC90 seatpost, Easton Monkeylite XC bars, Terry Fly Ti saddle, Ergon Grips, Crankbrothers 2Ti eggbeater pedals, Kenda Nevegal tires. 28 lbs. | | Bottom Line: | After 500 miles... I LOVE this bike!
First, it’s beautiful! It has great lines and Turner welds and paint are always top notch! And it is WAY FUN to ride! It eats singletrack with the best of the cross country bikes and can go toe-to-toe downhill with the all mountain rides. I felt more comfortable & confident after a week on this bike than after 3 years on my Turner XCE.
The suspension is plush and responsive. Power transfer is excellent. There is no discernible bob under most riding conditions, but the Pro-Pedal does come in handy when you have more technical uphill sections or decide to pedal standing. The DW Link isn’t quite as stiff (laterally) as the Horst Link, but it isn't noticeable and I think it more than makes up for this with superior handling and ride.
It climbs extremely well- with the appropriate gearing. The ratios common in mountain biking are engineered around 26” wheels and you have to consider this issue when moving up to 29” wheels. I shared this bike with several others when demo’ing and while everyone loved the way it rolled, the common complaint was that it seemed a bit hard to pedal, especially on the really steep stuff. This is to be expected as the increased wheel diameter has the effect of taking away your 2 lowest gears. Shimano has a 12-36 cassette that would make up for about half of this gearing difference, but it’s heavy (LX) and requires a steel freewheel hub body on your back end. After some research, I found a crankset made by Middleburn that has a 20t-30t-40t chainring set available and the weight is very close to XTR. The smaller gearing makes up for about 80% of the increased pedal effort. I suspect that with the upwelling interest in 29” bikes, more gearing options will become available soon.
This bike is very stable and handles incredibly well on singletrack, especially when pushed hard. I can lean into turns that tend to wash out my 26” and it rolls through the choppy stuff with ease. This bike is very forgiving to ride as well. It has gotten me through several errors in judgement that would have resulted in embarrassment or injury on my other bike. I’ve heard that 29’ers have a harder time with switchbacks, but I haven’t found this to be the case at all with the Sultan. Downhill, it blazes! Better than the 5-Spot, in my opinion I now have to wait for my friends at the bottom...
Some have complained that this bike is hard to manual up and it does take a little more effort at first. That said, I adjusted my technique and the bike comes up just fine.
Downsides... I have found only 2...
Pedal strikes are a bit more common than on my other rides, requiring me to be more aware of pedal position. This does affect some of the tougher technical sections on occasion, but it hasn’t dented my admiration for the bike. Using Pro-Pedal in these places seems to help a bit.
After spending time on the Sultan, going back to a 26” bike can be hazardous to your health. It’s easy to get lax about weight shift, choosing a line or plowing through the rough while riding this 29’er. When returning to 26” wheels, one has to remember to actually “ride” the bike. Sometimes, it seems as though the Sultan only needs someone to pedal and point it in the right direction.
Be sure to demo this bike before spending your money on a new ride... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
skrettis
a Racer
from Drangedal, Norway
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2010 | | Favorite Trail: | Gautefall Heia Rundt | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$4200.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Progression | | Strengths: | The bike just glides over the terrain where I had to use less pound in the tires before to compete.. Big timesaver on difficult traks. | | Weaknesses: | Replaced all the carbon handlebar, SRAM X0 with alu. More durable/reliable. During a XC race the Monkeylite handlebar snap off and I was injured for 3 months. No more carbon for me. :-) | | Similar Products Used: | None that could compete. | | Bike Setup: | RAW Sultan DW-link Medium, Sizeindustry9 wheel (very good!), Sizeindustry 9 breake, Chris King Headset, Thomson Elite seatpost/stem, EA90 handlebar, Shimano XTR gearsets, XT krank, Maxis Ingnitor tubeless, Fox 32 F29 RLC 120MM, Fox Float RP23. Garmin Edge 705 for tracking. | | Bottom Line: | I was riding a Kona 29'er for XC race for some seasons, but after testing the Turner i am only using this for all purpose MTB racing.
Best 29'er bike ever had. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
turtlepaul
a Weekend Warrior
from Anaheim, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2010 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Excellence in quality of frame build. Laterally pretty rigid. Very good interpretation of DW link by Dave. Its like butter. | | Weaknesses: | Little tall for me. Little heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Demo'd: Rocky Mountain Altitude 29, Ellsworth Evolve, Pivot 429, Gary Fisher HiFi.
Own: Rocy Hammer 29, Redline Flight SS 29. | | Bike Setup: | Demo | | Bottom Line: | Drove down to Murrieta for demo ride, and took the bike to Vail Lake trails. Nice folks at Turner.
This is an outstanding full suspension 29er...it is just that it is not for me. I will explain at the end what I mean.
Dave has done a nice job in making this bike pretty efficient. I could not perceive visible bobing as I was riding flat area or climbing. This was clearly better than Pivot 429, which is another DW link bike, and which I had demo'd not too long ago. However, I could tell the difference when propedal was switched on, however slight that was.
When descending, the suspension was just excellent, soaking up bumps and cracks, like butter. The bike is also pretty rigid as well.
On the down side, it felt little too tall for me. I kept trying to lower my center of gravity. This, I think, may be my personal preference, and also may be remedied by lowering the handlebar.
I have always admired Turner bike, ever since I tried 5 point some years ago, and have always wanted to own one. But I realized that I lean toward liking more crosscountry oriented full suspension, when it comes to 29ers. I have 6 inch full suspension 26er all mountain bike, and I think that is where 26ers shine. I kept wishing the Sultan's handling was little snappier and its center of gravity little lower. Again, personal preference.
Otherwise, overall this is an outstanding quality bike, and I certainly think Dave has done better job in incorporating DW-link than Pivot has. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mtnbkrtom
a Cross Country Rider
from Livermore, CA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2010 | | Favorite Trail: | China camp, and Flag line, Bend OR | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$5000.00 | | Purchased At: | Wrench Science, Berk | | Strengths: | 1)Made in America! 2) Dave’s design and the placement of the DW link. 3) The highest quality manufacturing, thanks to SAPA in Portland OR. 4) Bushings over Sealed barrens | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Niner, Pivot and Santa Cruz Tallboy | | Bike Setup: | All XT, Mavic C29SSmax, Thompson stem and seat post, Fox 32 F29 FIT RLC 20mm axel, RP23. | | Bottom Line: | I rode the hell out of my Santa Cruz Blur LT, and I loved that bike. It was fast and I thought it climbed well, until I rode the Sultan with the DW link. The Sultan 29 rocks! So fare I have about 120 miles on it and as soon as I got on it I noticed the smoothest of the suspension and the quality of the workmanship of the frame. When looking for a new bike, I knew that I wanted a 29er, with at least 120mm of travel, and the Turner meet my requirements. I also heard a lot of good things about the bushings vs. sealed barrens. I was pressing in new bearings two to three times a year on the Santa Cruz. The VVP linkage gets play in it very easily. With the grease fitting at every privet point I thing Dave Turner has made it easy to maintain his bikes. One more thing I liked about Turner bikes, was there small builder attitude I called there office and Dave himself answered the phone. We talked for 30 minuets.
I was also looking at the Privet 429. I meet the factory rep one day at the bottom of Mackenzie River trail (great ride) and he said that they contracted they frame to a Taiwan supplier. I have two buddies riding Privet bikes and they love them. I also looked at the Santa Cruz Tall Boy. This is a carbon fibber bike, very light, but it was only 100mm.
Keep up the good work! Let me know if you ever want someone to test ride bikes for you or for your customers.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jamie
a Cross Country Rider
from Eagle
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | anything I can ride a bike on | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Strengths: | WOW finally someone figured out how to make a 9er handle like I like. Great out of the saddle climber. The DW Link suspension works better than VPP and almost as good as a Horst link and Ellswoths ICT. You can actually jump and play around on this bike. First 9er I've ridden that could make me switch from a 26er. This bike Rocks! | | Weaknesses: | Heavy but no heavier than the RIP9 , Still has that 9er feel at the pedals. It could use a 130 or even a 140mm fork. Noticed a little flex launching off waist high drops. It takes alot more efort to get the front wheel up on ledges than a 26er. Some would say the cost but it's no more than any other American made frame. | | Similar Products Used: | Rip9 07 and 09. Intense Spider29, Ellsworth Evolve, Niner Air9, Litespeed Obed, Pivot 429
| | Bike Setup: | This was a demo bike from Over the Edge Sports in Fruita Size large
Full XT aside from Avid Elixer Brakes. I put my Gravity dropper seatpost, saddle and pedals on it. It weighed 30 pounds. I rode eveything at Loma except More Fun. I ran out of time. | | Bottom Line: | I'm a agressive cross country rider that tents to jump off everthing. I'm not much for rolling drops or bumping ledges, just chuck it and let the bike do it's job.
I'm currently shopping for a new Trail bike and have been trying to decide wheather to stick with 26inch wheels or go 9er.
I'm 5'11 and 160bls /170 with gear
If you beleive half what is written about 9ers on this forum. One would come to the conclusion that riding a 9er will instantly transform you into a technical master, and everything thing you couldn't do on a 26er you can now magically do. I DO NOT FIND THIS TO THE CASE! Bigger wheels cannot replace quality suspension. I'll admit a 9er hardtail will smoke a 26er hardtail, but when it comes to chucking, travel is travel. Yes in some situations the 9er is better but there wasn't anything in Fruita that I rode on this bike or any other 9er that I couldn't ride on my Moto-Lite. There were a few ledges I couldn't ride on this bike that I can on my Moto. This being said I didn't have any trouble negotiating tight switchbacks or tight tech sections on this bike which is saying alot I can't make that claim about any of the other fullsuspension 9ers I rode. This bike pedals really well for a 9er, but still takes a good amount of extra torque to get moving and to power through tech sections. I definatly had to work harder on this bike than on my Moto, the gearing is there but if your not in the right gear your punished. The Ellsworth is the only 9er I rode that I didn't require any extra effort to get it moving and keep it moving on rough terrain, But it's lacking in travel and the handling is way to racer for me.
Turner should be very proud of this bike it has no rival as far a 9er trail bikes are concerned. The handling is better than anything else and the suspesion is plush and yet it pedals well. This bike could easly handle a longer travel fork. I think Fox Talas 36 with 120mm-140mm travel with a 15mm through axel would take this bike to a new level
Would a better set of wheels erase the extra torque needed to get it moving. Maybe Maybe not Lighter means flexier and if your a chucker like my that's not good.
When I got home from demoing this bike I hopped on My Moto and did quick ride. Damm that 26er makes climbing feel effortless and it accelerates like a rocket compared to a 9er. What to do? | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kphmeikle@optonline.net
a Cross Country Rider
from kphmeikle@optonline.net
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | many and all . | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1650.00 | | Purchased At: | private seller | | Strengths: | QUALITY..... Attention to detail.....tracks great... sucks up rock gardens with authority...its just top notch. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | 09 TRNR 5spot dw ,TRNR xce , nomad ,intence 5.5 ,dales,and a few others. | | Bike Setup: | Hope tech 4 fr. & tech 2 rear brakes ,hope hoops,thompson post ane stem,>next lp ,xo shftrs & Ders , monkeylites, king HS. | | Bottom Line: | Dave has a sweeeet line up this yr ,customer service is awesome,,, and now the bikes the 5 Spot is the best xc/am ride ive riden with 5.5 in the rear and with the talas in the front it floats up and down with ease... The sultan works like majic they have there different needs but its a little slower handling but with an adj.in input you can rip . test one -youl want one.....of each. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ynot All-In
a Weekend Warrior
from Escondido, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Whichever ones makes me suffer | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3800.00 | | Purchased At: | Turner (Directly) | | Strengths: | It makes me smile from ear to ear. I don't have to walk as many trails anymore. I'm starting to ride WITH my buddies instead of BEHIND them. I've lost 6 lbs in 1 week. I'm motivated to get back into shape. | | Weaknesses: | Less time spent with my family (hum, does that qualify as a weakness or strength)... Less time spent at work (same dilemma). Who am I kidding, I don't know what the weaknesses could be. I upgraded from a Tonka Truck. There are no weaknesses at my level. | | Similar Products Used: | Tonka Truck. Klein Mantra (but at least it was the Mantra Comp!) | | Bike Setup: | XT Groupo (yes, I was a road bike guy). Turner calls it the Expert Build. | | Bottom Line: | Here's a little story about a guy who always enjoyed mountain biking but hated the fact that all of his friends used to bury him and his "Blue Bomber".
I had no idea what I was missing until my neighbor let me borrow his Epiphany (XTR build). He's a big Ellsworth guy and knows Tony E. and Mike M. at Beyond Bikes and said he can hook me up with a dealio.
So I take his bike out and immediately recognize that I have some amount of strength and skill on the trails (not an expert but as a former Ironman, I can still ride). All this time, my Klein was holding me back, not my engine. So my buddy says he can get me a demo Epiphany for $2500 and I said lets do it. I went to the BB to demo the demo and some kid behind the counter brings out this dirty p.o.s., hands it to me and says "here you go". I can go on and on about how poor the condition of the bike was, how poor the service was and how little they cared that I walked into their store to drop $2500, in the midst of the largest depression since "the great one". But I digress. 24 hours later I returned it with a broken rocker arm. Apparently, I am such a "bad-ass rider" that I broke a crucial component while tearing-up those flat fire roads behind my house (oh yeah, I rock).
At this point, I heard through the grapevine about another boutique builder in So Cal, called Turner Bikes. Remember, I'm a nobody and I know nothing about mountain bikes.
2 days after I taught that Ellsworth a lesson, I drove up to Turner to see if his bikes could handle my wrath... Anyway I walk in the door and discover this is not a show room but an office with some bikes in the warehouse. The guy up front told me a could look around after I asked if they demo bikes there. While looking around the warehouse, this dude came out to chat with me about the different bikes, the DW link, shocks, tires, XT vs. XTR, the whole thing. About an hour later I knew more about mountain bikes than my bros.
After listening to my riding habits, likes and dislikes, this guy tells me I can come back tomorrow and demo the Flux. So cool, I say thanks for your time, tell him my name, he intros himself as Dave and we go our ways.
On the way home, I call my bros, tell them some cat name Dave just gave me my diploma in XC bikes and they're like, "is he short with a goatee and bald-buzz cut". I said yeah and they told me that was Dave Turner. From that moment on, I was sold. Here's someone that took the time to speak with me, educate me, listen to me, listen to me reference things I know nothing about but not call me out on it, etc. I call that "Customer Service". Dave Turner just called it "cashing my check".
In the course of the next 4 days, I demo'ed the Flux, 5 Spot and the Fat Lady (as they called her at Turner), the Sultan 29er. I enjoyed the Flux, but it left me wanting something more and the 5 Spot was a little too "loose" for me. Then the 29er. I did not want to like the 29er. I ride an XL size and their only demo Sultan in XL was metallic Hot Pink. I REALLY did not want to like the 29er.
5 minutes into the ride, I got chub and all I could think about was how I could get the frame changed out. Again, Turner customer service. Dave said no problem, we'll put a different frame (brand new) on the demo parts. Now the bike looks like a man bike and I'm not being ridiculed for riding the Pink Panther. I almost forgot to mention, Dave Turner personally took the time to set me up on each demo I took out. He set the shock and tire pressures, felt I needed the bars lowered at the stem, watched the bike travel and float while I rode in the parking lot. He dialed it in instead of just pass it off to me.
In the process of 1 week, I went from not being in the market for a bike, to buying a 99.9% new Turner for $3800.
You want the bottom line? I have almost 40 miles on the bike now and its 1 week old. Every time I take it out, I come back grinning like the Joker. My riding, climbing, downhill, physical conditioning, mental spirit and desire to ride everyday has improved 500%. Just ask my bros. Everyone of them are now looking to ditch their Ellsworth's and upgrade to the Turner.
I can't explain why the rear tracks like a bloodhound. Or why I ride faster now. Or why I can stay on the bike, rather than walking next to it. All I know is, I LOVE THIS BIKE and if my wife would let me sleep with it, my bed would look like that scene from the Godfather. Only it would be mud instead of blood.
I was later offered a brand new Ellsworth Epiphany, XT build, for $4100. I choose a demo Turner for $3800 for two reasons. 1. Customer Service, 2. Customer Service and 3. Damn it's fun to ride.
EVERYONE at the Turner office was great to deal with. They all took the time to talk with me, educate me and I really appreciate it. Kudos guys! You've built a great bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from Hood River, OR
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | A quick follow up to my initial review above. | | Bottom Line: | I recently purchased a light, short travel 29er for endurance racing. It's great. But recent events conspired that I rode that bike and the Sultan back-to-back up and down a very rugged local trail a few times. This REALLY highlighted how well the DW rear end flows through the chunk compared to a single pivot race bike with very firm compression damping.
I love the race bike for what it is meant for, but the Sultan really shines on trails that range from fairly rugged to uber-rugged. It lets you sit and spin through the chunk without "hanging" on every square-edged bump. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Silentfoe
a Cross Country Rider
from Eagle Mountain, Utah
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Devils Gulch | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$7000.00 | | Purchased At: | Wrench Science | | Strengths: | Stiff and strong. Beautiful welds. Versatile frame. | | Weaknesses: | Frame is prone to creaking without thorough maintenance. Stickers don't last long. | | Similar Products Used: | Ellsworth Evolve. Niner Rip 9. Cannondale F29. Specialized Epic 29. | | Bike Setup: | Sram XO/Shimano XTR drivetrain. Easton carbon. Chris King. Stans rims. Rock Shox Reba Team w/maxle lite and u turn/push lock. Magura Marta SL's. Scwhalbe Racing Ralphs running Stans tubeless. | | Bottom Line: | I delayed writing this review until after the racing season was essentially over. I bought the bike in March.
One of the greatest things about the frame is its vesatility. If you spend a few moments searching Sultan builds in the forum you will see how diverse the builds are. With that in mind it is necessary to identify your style of riding and what you want from the bike.
My stats:
Height: 6'3"
Inseam: 35"
Weight: 183lbs
Riding style:
Long distance trail riding, XC races, adventure and endurance races.
After doing the 24 hours of Moab last year and demoing an Ellsworth Evolve, I fell in love with the 29er. However, I hated how the Evolve rode. I did a lot of research and using the help and knowledge of the folks at Wrench Science, I bought my bike on faith.
I bought the XL and was initially worried that the standover, and long top tube were going to be too much bike for me. The W.S. crew gave me peace of mind and assured me of a great fit. All I ended up doing was fliping the stem and I have been set ever since.
The bike is built as an endurance race bike. I was worried about the heavier weight of the frame. At 7.5lbs it is a lot to overcome. I built it with top of the line, light weight parts. My goal was an aggresive bike with a weight of 27lbs. This review is not about the parts on the bike but for the frame. As I said though, it can be built almost any way you want it and how you do it will affect how it performs. My bike came in at a final weight of 26.8lbs.
The DW link rear suspension is amazing. While climbing you are best off staying seated. I've spent a lot of time watching the rear shock stroke while riding and if there is bob, it is hardly noticeable. You can stand and pedal on this bike but it is a learned art. Propedal is highly unnecessary on this frame. Turner could spec this bike with the RP2 Fox shock and it wouldn't be missed. I keep mine set and ready in the stiffest position for those rare times I am pounding it out on a paved road. There is a hill next to my house that is a good measure of how well a bike climbs, I have cleared it every single attempt this year. While descending, the suspension stays supple without packing up and is undetered by braking forces. It follows rider input and is a very easy bike to manipulate with body weight. The geometry is quick yet stable enough to inspire confidence. I recommend running the frame with a matching 120mm fork. Mine has the Uturn feature and I can count on one hand the times I have actually used it. The front end stays glued to the ground no matter the pitch.
There are a few negatives. First, the bottom bracket is low enough that you must pay attention to pedal placement. Strikes don't happen often but at least once a ride. Second, the bike is a monster truck. I can stand the bike on end and it is taller than I am. I guess that isn't so bad because when I'm on the bike, I don't notice. I have yet to not make it around a switchback that my buddies made. Third, the frame creaks. If you stay on top of your maintenance it is easy to cure but it is there.
I have done 16 races on this bike this year, to include the local XC series, the Sea Otter Classic, an adventure race and the 24 hours of Moab. The 24HOM was the real measure of this bike. With many technical sections, fire roads and decent climbs it is a good test of how well a bike handles. The Sultan was spot on. My aggresive set up enabled me to go hard and let the bike take the abuse. There are many factors that helped me get an 18 minute better lap time than last year but the bike would be a big one.
After all the rambling it comes down to this. If you want a solid, strong and versatile bike that will keep you happy and riding for years, this is the bike to get. The Turner customer service is second to none and the fact that the frame is made in the U.S.A. is a definite perk.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
yan0
a Cross Country Rider
from Montpelier, VT, USA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | ... Just about anything | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$5600.00 | | Purchased At: | WrenchScience | | Strengths: | Smooth, Stiff, Predictable, traction. | | Weaknesses: | Weight | | Similar Products Used: | Niner RIP 9 | | Bike Setup: | XT drivetrain, F32 29 120mm fork, Stans 355 Arch, King Hubs/Headset, Avid Elixir CR | | Bottom Line: | This is my first 29er, and as many have mentioned, the big wheels take some getting used to. Initially I felt a bit off balance going into tight corners at speed, and my timing over some techy sections was a bit off. After 3-5 rides I've got it figured out, and will likely never ride another 26" wheel unless it's on a long travel freeride/DH bike.
This bike is nothing short of stunning. It is a bit heavy (I have a med, it weighs in @ 27.3lbs), but the ride quality is unparalleled. The propedal is helpful, especially on long climbs, but in general the suspension is so effective that you forget it's there. The confidence it inspires on off camber, wet, rooty/rocky sections is unbeleivable. I'm not going to claim that I'm cleaning all kinds of sections I was unable to on a 26er, but those sections that allways have given me trouble seem far less troublesome with the sultan.
If you are looking for a bike that can do everything, and do it well, you need look no further than the sultan. No, it isn't going to excell on an xc course, nor on a DH (though I think it would be perfectly suited for a 24h race), it is a perfect bike to go ride on - regardless of whether that ride is a blistering jaunt through your local trails or a day long epic. This bike is just fantastic, end of story.
Despite the ride quality, there is no denying it's steep price tag. The Niner RIP 9 is about $800 cheaper, and I don't know that it rides $800 worse. I do know it dosen't ride as well. The Welding and machining on the Sultan are beautiful. There are some milling marks still on my rocker - but as an engineer who spends a great deal of time in a machine shop, milling marks don't bother me as much as crappy welds, poorly molded parts or poorly thought out design. The Sultan has none of these.
Long story short, you'd be hard pressed to find something, anything, that you didn't love about this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Berry Stevens
a Cross Country Rider
from Redwood City, CA USA
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Too many t choose | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Purchased At: | Turner direct | | Strengths: | Climbing, climbing, climbing, also handling. Attention to detail, quality of design, manufacturing and finish. | | Weaknesses: | A tad heavy @ 7.2 lbs for a large | | Similar Products Used: | Turner Sultan TNT, RIP p Stumpjumper 29r | | Bike Setup: | Mostly XT, w/ a lot of King parts and Mavic TN719 rims | | Bottom Line: | Pedaling platform is super firm without using the pro pedal. Engage pro pedal only if climbing out of the saddle. Even when seated pedaling, the DW is very responsive to the terrain. Lots of little touches that confirm that the design process was well thought out & complete. Rear brake post style mounts with the little nuts are a first and will likely become an industry standard. Best full suspension 29r, period. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
FoShizzle
a Cross Country Rider
from Camarillo
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Red Barn Bicycles ht | | Strengths: | Amazing suspension action - ability to track terrain is best I have experienced. Bushings - as with other Turners I have owned, makes for incredibly smooth and quiet ride. Customer service. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Ventana El Rey. Have also owned 5 other 29er bikes though El Rey only FS 29er I had owned previously. Have also owned several amazing 26er FS bikes (Ventana, Intense, Turner) | | Bike Setup: | http://forums.mtbr.com/showpost.php?p=5656823&postcount=1 for full specs. All solid parts - designed for "all day" rides | | Bottom Line: | Up until this bike, my Ventana El Rey was my favorite bike ever for all around riding. That was truly an amazing bike and as much as I love Ventana, I must say that the DW Sultan (never tried V1 Sultan but likely similar to my El Rey) is the real deal and is definitely my new favorite bike ever.
While this is a relatively early review (100 miles), I can say that this bike "tracks" like nothing I have experienced before. I hate lame cliches like "tracked", etc...and I sure as hell don't understand the scientific aspects of "anti squat" so I will explain in my words what I think makes this bike so outstanding.
Other bikes I have owned, great bikes, some with lots of travel, seem to actually take the initial hit/square edge/etc well, but then varied alot as to what the frame did with things after the hit. Sure they may have absorbed the blow ok but compared to the Sultan, it seems almost random what happens next: in comparison, other bikes seemed to flail a bit after absorbing the impact, didnt "track" the terrain and may have even bounced around a bit taking a while to get settled in to terrain. The Sultan somehow not only takes the hit shockingly smooth, but seemingly immediately "tracks" the terrain after absorbing the impact in such a controlled manner. I dont know what this might be called but I do know its noticeable big time. My sense is that is what makes the bike feel like it has more travel than it does since it allows you to feel so much more in control at speed as the rear wheel seems to never leave the ground...honestly, amazing stuff.
I wont bother to review the other parts on the bike since this is a frame review but suffice it to say, other than the annoying rattle from the adjustable seatpost (first one for me so this is a new annoyance for me), the bike is literally perfect and perhaps other than the front tire (I shoulda got a more round profile/larger tire up front), I wouldnt change anything and the bike is spot-on what I had hoped in terms of overall build for the type of riding I do.
I 100% recommend this bike.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pure
a Cross Country Rider
from Mad River Valley, Vermont
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Moretown | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | loaner from a friend | | Strengths: | Light, responsive, well balanced | | Weaknesses: | none that I noticed | | Bottom Line: | I borrowed a friends' Sultan while visiting NJ. It was my first ride on a 29'er. For comparison, I ride an Intense 5.5. I did notice that it glided over rock gardens much easier, it climbed really nicely, great traction. The area I rode was familiar, I have ridden the trails at least 20 times before and on the Sultan, I cleaned a few spots that consistently gave me trouble. The bike feels like a 26. I never felt too tall or that I couldn't make a clean switchback. The bike is very balanced and the front end leaps off the ground when you want to get a bit of air. It does not, however, wander while going up steep granny gear climbs.
I was very impressed...Now, how do I get the money to buy one? That is the $4000 question. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark2c
a Cross Country Rider
from Wellington, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | The one I'm on | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | Burkes Cycles and Eb | | Strengths: | Efficient climbing with active suspension, handling, all round ability | | Weaknesses: | None. Here in NZ it costs the same as a Trance X0 with the same level build kit... | | Similar Products Used: | Trance 1 2007 | | Bike Setup: | C29SSMAX wheelset, Rebae Team 20mm TA, X0/X9, Deus crankset. | | Bottom Line: | The Trance was a good competent bike, way better than many but... After a couple of hundred kms I can confirm that the Sultan has less bob when fully active than the Trance has with propedal engaged. The Sultan is lighter, more responsive, more agile, more stable, quieter (love those journal bearings). In summary better in every way. The two Daves appear to have it well sorted. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kosmo
a Cross Country Rider
from Hood River, Oregon
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | New rear suspension, handling, stiffness. | | Weaknesses: | None so far, other than the obvious observation that it's priced a little high. But hey, if a couple hundred extra bucks helps keep a bunch of my fellow Oregonians employed at SAPA, that's a small price to pay these days. Keep your dough close to home when you can! | | Similar Products Used: | Previous non-DW link Sultan | | Bike Setup: | XC/AM combo of 120 mm Fox fork, Bonty Rhythm Wheels and ACX tires, Avid Juicy Ultimates, and the regular xt level stuff. | | Bottom Line: | An astounding improvement over the non-DW link Sultan that for the last two years has been my favorite bike of all time. Climbs in a snappier manner, while riding much plusher at the same time, and stiffer laterally, to boot.
The way it preserves forward momentum when pedaling or coasting through chunky rock gardens is borderline cheating. A really, really fine job of completely decoupling the pedaling needs from the bump absorption needs of a rear suspension system.
It still needs to pass the infamous test of time, but based on three long rides, the new Sultan with the DW-link is not just an incremental, evolutionary change over the previous version, it's a big, honking step-change! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
| |
|
|
What's New
|
| » |
Bike Press Camp - See the latest 2011 bikes, parts and gear featuring Scott Sports, Cannondale, Mongoose, Fox, WTB and more»
|
| » |
Sea Otter Classic - 2011 Product News & Info
|
|
|
$ 2395.00
