Submitted by
nickybgoesdownhill
a Downhiller
from Originally Lancs now London, boo! UK Date Reviewed: September 21, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Matador Innerleithan
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$10.00
Purchased At:
Various
Strengths:
ride characteristics, ease of maintainance,
Weaknesses:
Doesnt flatter inexperienced riders
Similar Products Used:
Giant Reign x1
Bike Setup:
fox 36's, coil shock, hope moto brakes xt and saint kit, hope hubs
Bottom Line:
Very Balanced ride that rewards good riding, if you back of the brakes when heading into rude stuff it just grips and takes it. Light for a bike of this nature with a ride style that belies its hard hitting ability. I can pedal up anything I would be capable of riding up (admittedly its not an xc whippet but you would know that!) and its actually quite lively and responsive on swoopy traversy singletrack especially when compared to my old reign. It doesnt have the 'plough' feel that the reign had yet it does have acres of grip a lively poppy feel! If your a relatively experienced rider who knows when to back off the brakes and let the bike ride it then it will reward your riding tenfold.
Its not cheap and it is a relatively straight forward design yet I like the ease of looking after it and the reliable predicatable nature that the single pivot gives.
Overall this bike is an excellent all rounder capable of climbing long hard climbs (did W2 at Afan on it the other day and I actually enjoyed the climbs!) yet can really be pushed on the downhill with plenty of travel, a long (ish) wheelbase and a slack (ish) head agle.
I have ridden this bike at Glentress, Afan, Aston Hill, Winterberg Bike Park and local handbuilt Downhill courses and it has been a great bike at all these different venues, from Hardcore downhill to road gaps
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbZwqE5fyaY )
as well as epic trail rides its a minter! Can you tell I like It!
I would recommend this bike to riders who ride nasty rude downhills as well as trail centres. If you arent going to ride nasty terrain it might be a bit overkill and the travel wont make you faster, in fact it will make you slower on pumpy flatter tracks. But if you like long epic rides uplift days and dh sessions as well as maybe the odd race! then its defo worth a look
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ryan
a Downhiller
from uk north west Date Reviewed: July 31, 2009
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2599.00
Purchased At:
mountain high cycles
Strengths:
everything! fast up and down,suspension sucks up all you want without loosing the feel of what your ridin which gives you great confidence in it, fun to ride and the low weight (compared to same catorgary bikes) makes it great fun and easy to through side to side this makes it a mint uplift bike.
Weaknesses:
stock tyres are bit too xc and can make you worry about pinches at lower pressures, also cable rub bit annoying, but get some moto plastic and cover trouble spots.
Bike Setup:
AM stock, with fox talas 36 and fox DHX 5 air upgrades
Bottom Line:
buy this bike it is fun sharp and everything you would want from a bike, i'd say its much better suited to gravity aided ridin however once your at the bottom raise the seat up pop propedal on and leave your mates behind as you climb to the top.
although the price could be seen as steep, the fact its so much fun, and made in your home land, make up for it !!! and what do you expect for such a quality item
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
smutysmith
a Weekend Warrior
from London Date Reviewed: April 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Donnie Darko
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
Stiff
Strengths:
Super stiff, super plush, not too heavy, no nonsense performance machine.
Weaknesses:
A bit ugly looking, but who cares!
Similar Products Used:
Yeti 575, Santa Cruz Nomad, Orange Patriot, Intense 6.6
Bike Setup:
Fox 36 Float, SLX Twin & bash, SLX Gears /shifters, Blackspire Chainguide, Mavic 321's Easton Carbon DH bars, weigh's just under 30lb
Bottom Line:
Wow what a bike! Was surprised how good it is going over rough stuff downhill, and over big jumps n stuff, It just soaks it all up! Simple suspension that works, no need for VPP, DW, or any other abbreviations! Maxle on rear keeps it all stiff & its light enough to ride all day. Climbs well too, what more could you ask for. Ok its not all Hydroformed and pretty, but what fool buys a bike for its looks?
Buy this bike if you like to do drops, jumps & go fast downhill & still be able to pedal up again.
Don't buy this bike if you like em pretty.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris_yates2006
a Weekend Warrior
from Stoke on Trent, UK Date Reviewed: January 17, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Glentress
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Very well controlled rear suspension, the 2.5 to 1 ratio rear shock actuation allows the shock to control well. Simple single piviot easy to maintain.
Weaknesses:
Under stated does not look super clever.
Similar Products Used:
Orange Sub 5, Orange 2004 Patriot and Orange 2007 Patriot.
Bike Setup:
Lyrik Solo Air Fork, Marzocchi Roco Air TST R, Hope hubs with ex823 rims
Bottom Line:
Great well balanced bike light enough to ride all day but still a stromg frame, very well controlled suspension.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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