Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Fe, NM Date Reviewed: October 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Windsor
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
eBay - frame only
Strengths:
Craftmanship, light weight, stiff laterally, vibration dampening chracteristics of Ti, soft tail design takes the bite out of the trail - after long rides your back doesn't hurt, predictable handling, ground clearance, but best of all it climbs like a mule.
Weaknesses:
Chain suck, can't seem to get rid of it - probably not a Dean issue. The only other weakness I could say is that the biggest tire you can run on the rear is a 2.1 - anything wider rubs chainstay. Would like to run a fatter tire.
Similar Products Used:
Gunnar Rock Hound, Sanvic ST frame with similar set up to Duke, Specialized Hard Rock. I also currently ride a older Marin Team issue Columbus NiVaCr HT frame set up as a single speed (which I also love).
Bike Setup:
XT drive train, 175 cranks, XT shifters, Rockshox Duke LS 80mm, Crank Bros. egg beaters SS, Salsa stem, King headset, Mavic 517 rims on XT hubs with ceramic coated braking surface (the best for V-brakes), Avid SD7 brakes and levers with XTR ceramic pads, LP composites riser bar, no-name Ti seat post, WTB Pure-V saddle with Ti rails, stock Stratos XC rear shock, IRC Mythos 2.1K rear, IRC Trail Bear 2.3K front. Handle bars are set up level with saddle for a comfortable XC ride without compromising handling. approx. 24 lbs.
Bottom Line:
Bottom line; I love this bike. I'm not a racer or a fearless down hill free rider, but I do ride 3-5 times a week aggressively on advanced trails with big climbs. I believe this could easily be a racing bike, but for me it is the ultimate cross country bike with out going for the weight and complexity of full suspension (which I'm sure must have some mechanical and maintenance headaches associated with it). I'm 44 years old and comfort on long rides is becoming more and more important with age. This bike meets my criteria for that as well as being a good climber with predictable handling on fast descents. Titanium is forever, Dean makes it affordable at $1600 ~ half the price of other brands.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg
a Racer
from Laramie, WY USA Date Reviewed: April 7, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Happy Jack/Vedauwoo
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Excellent craftsmanship, well-engineered design, light weight, good shock spec.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
None.
Bike Setup:
2000 Dean Duke frame with Stratos Pro shock, SID SL, XT deraileurs/shifters/hubs, White Industries crank, Dean Ti seat post, Dean aluminum stem, Salsa bars, carbon bar ends. 24.5 lbs. with 'Large' frame.
Bottom Line:
Dean makes a great product. Have close to 400 miles and one race on the bike. The Duke climbs like no other bike I've ridden which is particularly important in Wyoming. The Stratos shock is easy to dial in with both compression and rebound adjustments and works very well. The bike has a supple yet responsive feel - just enough suspension action to add to traction while climbing and to take the edge off of rocky terrain. The shock locks out completely which comes in handy riding on the street or sprinting on hard stuff. Bought the bike for enduro racing (Leadville 100 and Laramie Trail Enduro) and expect it to give me an edge. It has a long top tube which puts me in a comfortable, efficient riding position for the long haul. I would highly recommend it to anyone who puts in a lot of mileage. P.S. the folks at Dean are great to work with.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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