Submitted by
Chris Jones
a Downhiller
from Bucks, United Kingdom Date Reviewed: December 5, 2006
Favorite Trail:
woburn sands
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Ebay, secondhand
Strengths:
Bombproof, Strong positive feedback/feel, not that heavy comared to other DH frames for a simalar price, and it's rare as rocking horse s**t!!
Weaknesses:
No ISCG mounts, hard to find a chainguide that fits!
Similar Products Used:
24 seven Dark Angel DH,
Bike Setup:
Manitou stance kingpins, fox vanilla rear shock, shimano drivetrain, brakes, halo combat SAS gold wheelset, kenda rubber
Bottom Line:
Good freeride machine, rare (or unique!) and quite cheap if ya can find one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dan o'hagan
a Racer
from southampton Date Reviewed: January 3, 2005
Favorite Trail:
my local trails
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
local bike shop
Strengths:
stiff rear end when turning, feels solid, strong swing arm.
Weaknesses:
the bracket holding the shock to the frame can brake on hard drops, head tube is weak as i spilt mine
Similar Products Used:
giant atx, orange patriot
Bike Setup:
hope m4's, hope big'un's, shockworks forks, tioga bar stem combo and seat, race face dh and mrp
Bottom Line:
good bike for a first time buyer and easy to maintain
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Thomas
a Downhiller
from Austria Date Reviewed: July 4, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Way to home
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
From a friend of mine
Strengths:
- Absolutely bombproof. - Smooth and plush travel all the way. - With proper rearshock and some modifications it can have 12+ inches of true rear travel. - Can handle any drop offs you can. - Won't go a chopper with SuperMonsters neither. - Really cheap if you can find one. - Far more stable at high speeds than anything else I tried due to enormous wheelbase, however pretty uncomfortable in hairpins and tight turns. - If it's important for you, it has a tire clearance up to 3".
Weaknesses:
- Weights over 6kgs with rearshock, seatpost and bottom bracket. - Head angle sucks a bit, so it's hard to find the proper fork.
Similar Products Used:
Chaka Supermoto (actually used for a while), Giant Team DH, Tomac Magnum (only tried them)
This is not a typical DH racing frame, but really nice for huge drops and crazy freeride. I can not imagine this frame fails neither in the most extreme conditions. I really like it, however wouldn't suggest to get it for dh racing. But if you wish to build a dropmachine and don't have the money for an Armageddon, take this.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Guy Broke
a Downhiller
from Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales Date Reviewed: January 31, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Nantmawr Quarry DH
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Very tough frame. nice smooth travel and easy to maintain. The way the seatpost is mounted makes i great if you need extra clearance riding down the side of a quarry or something else as steep. The adjustable geometry is great too cuz it allows it to take a much wider range of fork lengths.
Weaknesses:
only weakness I've found it the block that goes between the frame and the shock. I've bent mine to hell and back, but it was already hammered when I got the bike and because of this, bends shock bolts often. The rear shock I got with mine (DNM Torch with 2 springs) is a bit on the dodgy side too. Some people say they're heavy but weight isn't an issue with me. combated that by buying big wide tyres so it will corner just as well as any bike.
Similar Products Used:
tested a Orrange 222, Rocky Mountain RM-7 & Giant DH
Bike Setup:
Dnm VTS-90 forks, DNM Torch rear shock (2x3000lbs springs) Clim8 6 pot & 1700mm rotor front, Magura Clara & 160mm rotor rear, Mavic D521 on DMR Revolver Disk with DT Swiss Double Butted spokes (32H 26") front, Sunnrims Mammoth on Outland Disk with DT Swiss Plain Guage spokes (32H 26") rear, IRC Kujo Dh 2.65" front & rear tyres, DMR Wingbars Cro-mo, Soom stem, DDG Dual Compound grips, XTR 8spd shifter, Deore 8 spd cassette, Deore rear mech, Race Face 44T Chainring, Shimano cranks, DMR V8 pedals, DDG Chain device, AheadSet, Giant Headlock.
Bottom Line:
Kickass bike for the money. though it's not the best performing DH bike out there, it sure as hell comes close to the top runners, and it may even be the toughest. One thing it definately is tho, is the most beautiful frame I've ever set eyes on. absolutely gorgeous in silver and blue. will look beter when I get some White Doublewides on it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matthew Ridd
a Downhiller
from Nympsfield, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire Date Reviewed: January 6, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Painswick Down hill
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$365.00
Purchased At:
from a mate
Strengths:
Lots of travel, looks cool, masive tyre clearance at 3 inches+ rear shock is a DNM Torch which has 2 springs 1 soft and 1 hard for soft initial travel and hard travel after to avoid bottoming out.
Weaknesses:
head tube slightly too long, should have ISCG mounts. Does anyone know how you can secure a chain device apart from tightening the bb real tight if so email me at acorn2155@hotmail.com
Similar Products Used:
Marin shoreline trail, Club Roost DH8
Bike Setup:
2001 Marzocchi Monster T's, Hope Enduro 4's, Azonic bars and stem, Mavic D521 on Hope bulbs, Michelin Comp 32 2.8.
Bottom Line:
Very good frame for the money needs some fine tuning takes whatever you throw at it very solid all round DH/Freeride bike. Buy one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert Graham
a Downhiller
from Ballycastle N.Ireland Date Reviewed: September 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Ballycarlton
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Mark Anthonys cycles
Strengths:
Very cheap full on down hill bike , lots of travel constant chain length . is the best value for the money dh bike there is avaliable
Weaknesses:
none as yet with the frame but the shockworks dh1 forks had a realy weak brace that bent in a crash
For £1000 it is the best you can buy it was set up perfect for my 6 foot 3 and 16 stone frame . only problem with it was the free hub jammed and was fixed under warrenty . have fitted julie disc brakes and will later replace forks with Jr Ts . Would love to here from anyone that has riden it with 24" and 26" wheels to compair . bottom bracket is high at 15.5" with 26" wheels but it handles well and has never bottomed out .
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom Rodgers
a Downhiller
from Skipton England Date Reviewed: March 4, 2003
Favorite Trail:
gisburn woods
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$674.00
Purchased At:
mark anthony cycles
Strengths:
beefy chain stays and pivot, simple and effective wheel travel. 8inches of bump sucking travel
Weaknesses:
slightly heavy but does it matter when your only riding down the hill
Similar Products Used:
saracen d-tox raleigh
Bike Setup:
03 junior t hayes hfx comp deore mech mr control truvative hussefelt isis crank 321on deore disk maxxis high roller tioga bar stem
Bottom Line:
big hit small cost buy this it works out good for money if you are a downhiller on a budget
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rob lasenby
a Downhiller
from berkshire uk Date Reviewed: January 7, 2003
Favorite Trail:
aston hill/hornton hill
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
supercycles
Strengths:
dirt cheap for big hit travel,i found u can fit a 210mm shock to go 8"+,well put together,nice hose guids, a grease point on the main pivot point,solid rear arm & drop outs
Weaknesses:
none in the build quality.........just a bit on the heavy side but that is not a majour problem
Similar Products Used:
cbr karve with stratos suspension trek vrx 500 marin eastpeak
Over all it handles well, it can take massive dropoffs and eats downhill........and the price was half anything else like it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gary Moore
a Downhiller
from England Date Reviewed: May 12, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Stannage Edge
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Mail order
Strengths:
very easy to pedal, constant chainline. tracks the ground perfectly
Weaknesses:
none that i've noticed
Similar Products Used:
gt lobo, orange patriot lt
Bike Setup:
stratos mx6, hope discs, 24" wheels
Bottom Line:
buy it, it tracks so well and handles large drops easily. i've yet to find this frames limits.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Azza Lane
a Weekend Warrior
from Essex Date Reviewed: February 19, 2002
Favorite Trail:
High Beach bomb holes
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Super cycles
Strengths:
Solid frame. Excellent handling due to a combination of a short wheelbase and 24" wheelset
Weaknesses:
Weight. Its heavy!
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz super 8, Kona Stab Primo
Bottom Line:
A very good bike if you havn't got the money buy the latest top of the range downhill bike. A bit heavy but the handling more than compensates. BUY IT!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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