Submitted by
Brian HCM#1
a Downhiller
from Danville, CA USA
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2009
Strengths: Adjustable travel, Bottomless travel, Pedals extremely well. Just point the bike where ever you want & let it go.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Karpiel is definitely BACK!!!!! If you liked their previous bikes you'll love this one. It's truly an amazing machine and can handle anything you through can throw at it from large drops, technical riding to the fastest race courses. This bike is definitely worth checking out!
Similar Products Used: 2002 Karpiel Disco Volante
2004 Karpiel Armageddon
Bike Setup: 2009 Karpiel Disco Volante w/ 9.5x3 Elka Stage 5
2009 Fox 40
Saint cranks & BB
Mavic EX823, WS db spokes and CK hubs
e13 LG-1+
Twenty6 Ti pedals
Twenty6 Directmount Stem
Michelin Comp 16's
Hope M4's
Easton Havoc bars
Sram XO derailleur & shifter
SDG I-beam saddle & post
Other goodies
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Submitted by
Alex Webster
a Downhiller
from Isla Vista CA USA
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2005
Strengths: Very durable, stiff, extremely lightweight, pedals well and abosorbs big hits well. Almost no brake jack.
Weaknesses: Manufacturer is out of business, so parts/CS are no longer available. Mild amount of pedal kickback over rough bumps.
Bottom Line:
This bike has basically everything good I looked for in a DH racing bike, with next to no downsides. If you can deal with the lack of support, this bike can compete with any big-name current downhill model, and in my opinion, I perfer it.
Similar Products Used: Iron Horse Sunday WC, Specialized Demo 8, Turner DHR, Santa Cruz V10, Intense
Bike Setup: 01 Karpiel Disco Volante, upgraded to the 04 spec (new links, bearings) Avalanche DHS rear shock 02 Rock Shox Boxxer Race Face North Shore cranks Hayes HFX-8 brakes
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Submitted by
Maison Rycroft
a Weekend Warrior
from Sexsmith, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2005
Strengths: Very strong bike, and very light. I took it off a 12 to flat drop and it soaked it right up. it even jumps good.
Weaknesses: umm i guess the paint is kind of weak....lots of it is chipped off after only like 2 weeks of riding.
Bottom Line:
For only riding this bike 6 times, i already know how great it is. this bike gives me the confidence to do anything. i had never hit anything bigger than 11 feet, i did a 25 and stomped it. I LOVE THIS BIKE!!! go buy urself one....i cant wait for the new line of karpiels to come out.
Similar Products Used: a-line. b4 that it was all hardtail(manik, morphine)
Bike Setup: Fox DH 40, Atomlab Trailpimps 24", 26". kenda kinetics 2.6" tires. Whole amoeba barset, Avid Juicy 5 Brakes.
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Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Gawd's country
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2003
Strengths: Wow! this bike has way bigger cajones than me! I have not even approached the limits of this bike yet. measly little six footers just dissapear under the incredibly plush suspension. Bigger jumps just move out of the way out of respect for the bike! Like riding a sofa downhill. You feel like, at fourty miles per hour, reaching down in your side pocket to grab the remote control. Also, mine is SUPER cool disco green. I am not sure if the color even actually exists in the normal spectrum of visible light.
Weaknesses: lets you get downhill so fast and smoothly that you barely have time to enjoy it
Bottom Line:
I have ridden some pretty spanky hot bikes, but this frame takes the cake. you can pedal the thing better than most long travel xc bikes, and yet it gets better than NINE whopping inches of travel. (gawd, I wish ~I~ had nine inches worth of travel!;) Took me a while to get used to it, as smaller jumps just dissapear. I mean really, stuff that used to send me into orbit on the FSR DH, just doesn't exist for this bike. It just floats over anything under a couple of feet. I really am going to wind up mutillating myself with this frame, trying something stupid. If you are buying a DH bike in the near future, get a Karpiel. This thing is probably the most underrated machine in the industry!!! Oh, one more thing; If you do get the bike new, get it from go-ride when they have it in stock, if you have to get it from Jan Karpiel, you may want to plan ahead for NEXT season. He is a really cool guy, and I like him alot, but don't expect to see product untill you start losing hair. If he says you'll see it in a week or two, plan on a month or two; better yet, just think in your mind that you won't get it until you turn sixty five years old, and then you'll be happy when you get it for your next birthday! :)
Last words: I give the bike a six out of five. because I can only give a five, that's what it gets. Buy a Karpiel, it will be the last DH rig you'll ever need.
Similar Products Used: Special-ed FSR DH, Bighit Comp, Bullit (eh, sort of similar), Intense M1, Ellsworth Dare
Bike Setup: Soooper cool disco green with red Marzocchi 7" fork, it's like christmas all year round! All the top o' the line components, and a Rohloff rear hub
Strengths: Super f'n burly. Light for how strong it is. Tons of adjustments. Tons of travel. NEVER worry about breaking it.
Weaknesses: Original links and shock make the leverage ratio very high, which is bad. I upgraded to the 2002 links and put a 3 inch stroke shock on it and it's a whole nother bike. SOO plush...
Bottom Line:
This bike is the sh!t. I have it built up as a super burly dh bike that you could ride off your roof and still be fast on a dh race course. I have heard of guys putting single crown forks on it and running front derailers and building 40 pound freeride bikes with them.
For the money this is the best all around most reliable dh bike you can get. I can no longer afford 2 bikes though, so i'm selling mine to get a trail bike. If you are intrested just email me.
Similar Products Used: almost all popular dh bikes.
Bike Setup: 1999 frame with 2002 links and 3 inch stroke fox shock. Monster T, Magura gostov brakes, magura hubs with hed rims, px cromo cranks, chris king, xtr shifter and derailer, odi's, other normal dh parts.
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Submitted by
DHCO
a Downhiller
from Denver, CO USA
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2002
Strengths: Tuff as F#%&*@$ nails, Almost NO peddle bob, More smooth travel than most people can use,
Weaknesses: 2.3 in. max rear wheel size
Bottom Line:
This bike is a sure bet for anyone who likes to take big drops. Aside from the V10 (which is just bad ass) none of the other bikes I've ridden are as smooth as the Disco. The Trek has to much bob, and the primo doesn't feel like 9 inches. M1 is similar, but I'm sick of all the hype. Buy a Disco V and there is no way you will regret it.
Besides, if you are buying used, Disco's are usually less then the others for some reason
Strengths: Incredible bike, bought a used 99 on mtbr and upgraded the longer links and Fox shock, big difference in pedalling efficiency, now set up at over 10" travel, with the new links the soft spot is in the middle of the travel, very nice. Super strong and not as heavy as everyone sez. This frame is only a fraction heavier than any other big name race frame (Intense, Santa Cruz, etc) it's just that many Karpiel riders are into big huck riding so they set up their bikes with heavier wheels, tires and forks which makes the total bike heavier. Many Karpiel racers set their bikes up with lighter components and get a sub 40 pound total package with a way plush rear end and awsome pedalling! Due to the beefy construction they just might get more than one or two seasons out of the frame!
Weaknesses: Yet to find any. Make sure you change the main shock bolt routinely if you are doing big hits, just like any bike, the fasteners are the weakest links. I ignored my already bent shock bolt and ended up snapping it, DUH!!
Bottom Line:
I'm a 6'4" 220 pound rider with little or no finesse and abuse this used frame and have yet to have any problems. You can spend a little less and get a frame you'll have to replace in a season or two and wonder if it will take your big hit abuse. Or you can spend a little more on the real deal and scare yourself to death with confidence much longer, you do the math...
Similar Products Used: Straight Six, Straight Eight, Kona Stab, Intense, Specialized Big Hit
Bike Setup: Large Disco with upgraded links and Fox long stroke, Risse Champ 8, Tioga DH rims, Hayes 8"
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Submitted by
p wegner
a Downhiller
from colorado springs
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2001
Strengths: Nine inches of plush lovin. Stiff rear triangle, they claim zero flex, it's actually about 2 mm. Big gussets all over this frame. Able to use a 3 inch tire with room to spare. The rear tire tracks perfectly over anything. Bike takes huge drops without bottoming out. I suggest the Fox rear shock. I have used Stratos in the past and blow through the seals. The linkage for the rear design is the best on the market in my humble opinion. You don't burn through the travel too quickly and it ramps up at just the right time. There was a 1 mm difference between the front of the bike and the drop outs, pretty damn good for a custom bike.
Weaknesses: If you don't mind waiting until the second coming of Christ, go ahead and order yourself one. The guys at Karpiel will tell you four weeks max, what they really mean is multiple whatever number of weeks they say by two and that is when the bike will arrive. It came down to me calling every day for two weeks before they sent my bike out. Everyone keeps crying about the high price and weight of downhill bikes, I've got your kleenex right here. Yeah they are expensive and heavy, live with it or buy a road bike. Everything went together relatively easy except for the MRP. I had to cut, trim, file, and bend it a bit to make it fit.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is order this frame long before you expect to race. The rear end is plush, really plush. It tracks better than any other downhill bike I've ridden. You will call the guys at Karpiel every swear word in the book until you place your cheeks on the seat and go for a ride. It will smooth out even the roughest sections of any downhill course. It pedals like a downhill bike, a little better than the Intense, but you'll still think your riding a marshmellow.
Bike Setup: Boxxer Pro, Hayes, Truvativ cranks, Tioga rims, Nokian tires, Azonic bars, stem, and seat, Raceface post, Easton flatboy pedals,
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Submitted by
danny echeverri
a
from west palm beach, florida
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2001
Strengths: Very very plush, sweet looking frame and comes with a fox shock this year, it's a 2001 frame, rear end is very solid put alot of time to details and good welds. adjustable from 7-9 inches of rear wheel travel, adjustable bb height and headtube angle. can take a 9 inch fork and fits 3.0 tires easily
Weaknesses: none, really none except the fact that everyone wants to touch it or ride it. but that can also be a good thing
Bottom Line:
the best bike i have ever ridden, very plush. It really does seem like endless amounts of travel. The frame is really not heavy when compared to other DH frames. if you do plan on getting one do yourself a favor and call scott at go-ride.com really good guy and great customer service. everytime i call with a question he has always been really nice and helpful. if you are serious about downhilling then this is the bike for you, or it's bigger brother the armageddon.
Similar Products Used: nothing like it, except my trek vrx 400
Bike Setup: small frame, shiver, atomic lab 24" rims and stem, nokian tires and mr. dirt chain guide.
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Submitted by
Mark Tragesser
a Weekend Warrior
from LasVegas
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2001
Strengths: Everything 9" smooth travel very beefy frame super huge head tube gusset
Weaknesses: empty bank account after I got it.
Bottom Line:
The 2000 frame is much thicker tubeing than the 99, It just looks tougher .This bike is sick. you can blast through huge bolder sections and it just eats it up. It handels the big drops so easy it makes you get a little crazy sometimes. But in the end this is the best bike and I would not even look at another bike unless it was the Armageddon. If you are serious enough or just happen to have the money sitting around this is the Bike.
Similar Products Used: intense M1, Super 8, Brooklyn TMX, Marin 6"
Bike Setup: 2000 Disco Frame, Risse rear shock,Hanebrink LT-9, Sunn Double Wides, Kenda 2.6 tires, Hayes DH Disc Brakes, Raceface cranks, MR.Dirt chain guide,
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Submitted by
Mark Trageser
a Downhiller
from LasVegas Nevada
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2000
Strengths: everything. The whole bike is sick!!
Weaknesses: empty bank account after purchase!
Bottom Line:
This bike is sick no matter what you set it up with. I launched off about 15 stairs and a couple of 6 foot drops. the bike took it very easy. Its like rideing a marshmellow over the rocky stuff. I would recommend this bike to any person who can afford it, and/or is serious enough to spend that kind of money on a bike. The only other bike I would even think about buying is the Karpiel Armageddon!
Similar Products Used: Brooklyn, intense M1, Kona stinky
Bike Setup: Hanebrink 9 inch fork. Stratos Helix downhill shock. Sunn double wides. Kenda 2.6 tires. Magura Gustave disc brakes
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Submitted by
richard hayter
a Downhiller
from farnham, england
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2000
Strengths: fantastic machining, welding, construction. adjustable travel between 8-9 inches. adjustable bb height, takes up to 9inch fork. very stiff laterally, and like every says, it does not bottom out. use with risse champ fork, which is one of the most ridged inverted type forks on the market, 8-9 inches of travel and fully adjustable for spring rate, preload, compression and rebound damping, and ride height. takes a 120mm width axel for equel spoke dish, the new middleburn hub is ideal for this. for action on karpiels see the video down, you will see that the frames are built tough.
Weaknesses: i`ll let you know.
Bottom Line:
if you jump BIIGG, land hard, or just want tons of travel, look no further.
Strengths: this frame is bullet proof, the avaliable colors are many, the bike is nearly impossible to bottom out. tracks straighter than an arrow. no lateral flex
Weaknesses: it emptied my bank account
Bottom Line:
if you love to go big and fast this is the bike for you, i launched it off of a 15 footer the other day, it landed like a hard tail would off of a curb. there is so much travel to play with. the suspension is so smooth that it feels like it will bottom easily, but in have yet to bottom it. this frame has no lateral flex to speak of and the construction quality is exceptional.
Similar Products Used: kona stab, foes lts 16, k2 animal, karpiel 9/11,
Bike Setup: stratos super star fork, tomac rims hayes 8 frot rear, profile crank
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Submitted by
James
a Downhiller
from Salt Lake City, UT
Date Reviewed: December 7, 1999
Strengths: Amount of travel, quality of travel, aesthetics, pedaling ability, adjustablilty
Weaknesses: It doesn't come with a bottle of champage
Bottom Line:
9 of travel and pedals like my 4 diamondback. The thing isn't the lightest DH bike by any standard, but downhillers are starting to lift so the upper body strength isn't an issue, and the pedaling benefits keep aerobic problems in check. The best, most adjustable frame on the market. If you don't have one, buy one. Preferrably from these guys: http://www.go-ride.com/ (they actually know what they're doing!).
