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Submitted by
Brenton Shiells
a Downhiller
from Moama, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | twisties | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1750.00 | | Purchased At: | bikes and trikes | | Strengths: | good back shock and head tube. | | Weaknesses: | the bottem bracket tube with the seat pole snapped in two over a piss weak jump and i'm pissed off about it. | | Similar Products Used: | none, i'm too poor | | Bike Setup: | mozo tripple clamp forks, fox rx shock, smo wheels, shimano crank. | | Bottom Line: | it's a heap of crap that lasted me about three weeks before it broke. i hate it and will never get another Turner again, (unless someone gives me one). it's good for someone who can't jump or do drops. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MITCHELL
a Cross Country Rider
from CLIFTON,VA USA
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | quality, plush ride, and handles everything with the greatest of ease. | | Weaknesses: | COST$$$ on the other hand its no more expensive then the other high end frames. In some cases cheaper, alot cheaper. | | Similar Products Used: | Proflex
Specialized FSR
GT
Trek Y
Most all Full suspension bikes. I like to ride and compare all bikes.
| | Bike Setup: | Custom; The best parts for the money that fit me. Too much to list. bike wieght 24lbs w/coil shocks | | Bottom Line: | I have been riding this bike for over three years now.This is the best bike I have ever riden'. The fully active suspension brings maximum traction and grip in any situation. I did change the rear shock FOX alps 5R to a FOX TC with 1.75" of travel. This really added to a plush ride along with extra travel too. This coil works much better on East coast riding; lots of Sharp/fast hits (rocks, roots, etc..). The coil allows the rear tire to roll over the rocks, roots, keeping trackion to a maxium. Note: not all coil shocks are equal! I've riden' on some really bad coil shocks.
Handling is a dream, At high speed as well as low speed technical sections, very fast and nimble. Climbing or descending this bike is great, No bobbing,no flexing, no harsh bottoming out; Feels like the bike always has more to give; More to give it does, its saved me from crashing more then once, with its suburb handing.
I let a friend ride it; He owns a Specialized FSR. After riding it his comment was "This bike is an unfair advantage"
He's now saving to buy one.
The big question is always would you buy another one? Well I did! I bought an O2 which should be here in a couple of weeks. I'll be putting hayes disk brakes on this one. I rode a bike with Hayes disk brakes and I have to have a bike with them.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Uncle Nick
a Weekend Warrior
from Wigan, Lancashire, Good Old Blighty
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Devils Causeway, North Yorkshire - but Garburn Pass now close second | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | It's strength. It's plushness. | | Weaknesses: | Literally none. | | Similar Products Used: | 1 week on a Collella tandem (all will make sense, really) racing and touring West coast of Scotland. | | Bike Setup: | Boxxer Forks, Hope hubs and discs, 250lbs pressure in Fox Alps 4R, suspension seatpost, Spot timing chain rings (because they're designed not to shift), Rigida Rims with Continental Double Fighter tubeless tyres, XTR mechs, BOB skewers (for the BIG loads), bell. | | Bottom Line: | Well the Turner Burner Tandem isn't available as a whole bike so I guess I have to review it as a frameset.
Big burly and very very capable this bike has withstood XC and DH racing in the UK (and we weren't last) and is also used for two day orienteering events towing a BOB trailer full of all the kit two people need for a weekend in the wilds + half a cse of wine.
Rides more like a solo than any other tandem I've ever been on. Needs 6" forks at the front (we had 4" Mr Dirts before the Boxxers). Make sure they get 2" sag to avoid top out and the balance with the rear (even at only 4") nicely. No fears of endoing mean downs can be tackled fast and hard so disc brakes are essential for stopping.
It eats drivetrain components (bye bye Hugi rear hub) but the Spot and Hope stuff are lasting fine. Rear wheels are another of it's favourite foods, and definitely need big ol' rims such as Black Diamonds. Even Aeroheat Deep Vs last longer than the Mavic 121s it came with.
Tubeless tyres are the latest flavour of the month for pinch protection. I wouldn't like them on an XC bike but a double blowout at 40mph on a tandem is not an experience to repeat.
Any worries about the longevity linkages of Turners can be put to rest because if they can survive on this bike they'll survive on anything. 5 years old, shoddy maintenance and still perfectly aligned, active, and not in the least bit sloppy.
Dave Turner only built this one for the LA bike show in '95 but he's promised to make any more "when he gets the time", so if enough peple pester him...
So there you go. Not cheap. Last a lifetime. More fun than you know how to handle. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from Hacienda Hts
Date Reviewed: November 12, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
submarine rock, Sedona | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
It does everything very well. Climbs effciently and handles downhill with grace. | | Weaknesses: |
maybe a little more travel. or a bit lighter....(that is 2 things doesn't come together) | | Similar Products Used: |
Proflex 857, Specialize FSR, Foes Weasle | | Bike Setup: |
Manitou X-vert, King Disgotech, Easton Monkeylite, SRAM Bettsy and Kooka Bonnie. | | Bottom Line: | A true trail bike. This is the bike you want to ride everyday in every trail. sure it is not a 6+ travel DH machine or 22 lbs XC racer, but it is what you need for every ride. for others, there are the Stinger, RFX or the DH machine. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Edwin
a Cross-Country Rider
from Amsterdam
Date Reviewed: August 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Roque los Muchachos | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
handling,suspension,
frame construction and finish | | Weaknesses: |
hard to get | | Similar Products Used: |
Proflex:853,954,955
Specialized FSR
GT:LTS&STS
Klein Mantra Race | | Bike Setup: |
SID XC 80mm,Shimano XTR
Mavic Crossmax,Syncros,
Easton carbon riser bar,
bike = 24.5 lbs | | Bottom Line: | Climbing and descending this bike is a dream.No bobbing,no harsh bottoming.Feels like it always has more to give.
The full active suspension brings maximum traction and grip in any situation.
Smooooth pivots,superb shock.
Handling is awesome.At high speed as well as technical sections.
Very,very stiff frame.Pure propulsion.
Bottom line:I've owned and/or ridden most suspension systems.
The Turner distributor in Holland more than once told me:Yeah,but it's not a Turner.
He was right.
Tip:always use the ferrules,full lenght cable housing will get pinched near the seattube and shifting will be erratic.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SIMON
a Weekend Warrior
from AUSTRALIA
Date Reviewed: June 8, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
EVERYTHING YOU NEED OUT OF A 4 INCH ALL PURPOSE DO EVERYTHING, SOLID ALLROUNDER.
NO BELLS AND WHISTLES. | | Weaknesses: |
MADE IN THE USA.
NO DISTRIBUTER IN AUST. | | Similar Products Used: |
NON, LUCKY TO HAVE PUCHASED SUCH A PRODUCT STRAIT OF THE BAT. | | Bottom Line: | 99 SPEC XCE, THIS BIKE DOES EVERYTHING SO WELL FROM THE GEOMETRY, THE BALANCED TRAVEL FRONT TO BACK ITS SUBLIME.
WHEN I RIDE IT YOU JUST FEEEL ITS REFINED AND HAD A PERSONAL TOUCH BY SOMEBODY IN THE KNOW. (NOT SOME MASS PRODUCED HAMBURGER)
SOMETIMES WISH I HAD A RFX AND THEN ON THE OTHER HAND WISH I HAD THE STINGER.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT THE FRAME,HOW DAVE SPECS THE BIKES, SERVICE, 100 PLUS FAXES BY MY SELF AND PHONE CALLS
BEST OUT THERE
GOOD TO SEE THE YANKS KEEP PRODUCING TOP NOTCH PRODUCTS LIKE THE SIMPSONS, KFC AND YES THE O HENRY BAR MMMM
YOU GUYS PRODUCE THE GOODS WE WILL PRODUCE THE RIDERS.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a downhiller
from California
Date Reviewed: February 4, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Copying competition: Kona, KHS, McMahon, Ellsworth, Chuck, Litespeed, and a few others that have attempted to duplicate the original rocker bike. I have ridden ALL those and put time in on FS bikes from such companies as Specialized, Rotec, Intense, Karpiel, GSR, GT, Titus, DBR, Rocky Mountain, Ventana, and Santa Cruiz bicycles. NONE ride as well as the Turner's do. Some have done well and come close. I have ridden all the 98 Turner's and a few 99 models, I currently own the 99 RFX and have a 96 AfterBurner, and had a 94 VenTurner. The Turner bikes just flat out work better in every riding situation than any of the above listed that I have spent plenty of time on.
Some of those copy cats which run the Horst link on the seat stay, and tend to chatter too much on braking bumps like the Kona did badly, and in general are not as smooth riding as the correct Horst Link position as on the Turners's. On some bikes the suspension worked so badly that they felt like a hard tail with low air in the rear tire, and skipped all over the trail. My 99 RFX has bushings, some of the other bikes I tested had sealed bearings, and the RFX bushings are so silky smooth that other people who ride mine think its got high quality sealed bearings! Some of those other bikes with the bearings were not as smooth as the bushings that Turner has used on his bikes over the years.
I tried hard to like the Specialized FSR and buy it, but it never felt good enough, just felt like a good run of the mill bike out there, some of the other bikes did ride well, and did not dissapoint, but the Turner just works and rides better than all that I tested.
Finally, to Daz, who had a bad encounter, sorry to hear that, If you want to ride hard and jump a bit, do extreme stuff or basically free ride hard? It is important to buy the right bike for your type riding, an RFX would do you so much better than that Santa Cruiz, which I thought rode almost at the bottom of the results I compiled from the bikes I tested. You should give a Turner another chance, cuz I have never heard of a Turner failing under riding conditions it was intended for.
On the chili rating chart that goes to 5, I give any Turner a 10! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SST
a cross-country rider
from NC
Date Reviewed: November 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
WOW!!!!!! What else can I say! I've been riding a yo eddy for the last 5 years (see review) and never gave full suspension a real thought until about 4 months ago. I worked in a shop for years and I've ridden so many FS bikes I can't even remember them all. I do remember thinking how bad they all sucked! Anyway I started reading up on a few different FS bikes, I came up with about 3 bikes that might be good . I had a stroke of good luck and got a killer deal on a turner! I never thought I would say it, but this bike is the best riding bike I've ever been on! It does everything my yo eddy does and then some! On downhills this bike is a rocket and I get so much traction climbing I can go up anything. Jumps have taken on a new meaning, gaps I only thought about on my hardtail are no problem! This bike is fast, you all most forget your riding full suspension! Built solid with no nonsence parts (XTR, SYNCROS, JUDY, DB spokes on 217s) it's 25 lbs. Sell your car, pawn anything you've got, rob a bank, or just write a check it's more then worth it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Big thumbs up to Mr.Turner!! Thanks for building the best bike made!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George Lewis
a cross-country rider
from Lafayette, CO
Date Reviewed: October 27, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have raced my Burner for a year and put about 750 hard, colorado-rocky technical miles on it and had no problems at all. The rear suspension is still tight and has been minimal maintenance (I wore out the Alps 4 that came with it and now ride an Alps 5 though - purchased from Turner directly). The Turner people are great to work with and definitely stand behind their product.As far as riding performance, I don't have a lot of FS experience to judge it against. I have Ridden Specialized FSR and Schwinn's floating drivetrain and they don't compare to either the active climbing performance, the technical control or the downhill performance of the Turner. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Murray
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: August 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Brought the Turner XCE frame about 9 nomths ago and built it up with XT, XTR groupset and Z2 AQtom Bombs. Excelent frame construction however found the original 400lb spring rear coil spring was a a wee light for my 154lb and needed to be upgraded to a 550lb one.Ride is excelent with no rear bob during out of set climbs | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daz
a weekend warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: July 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Had a Burner XC, snapped it by riding too hard as Turner said. Took me months to get it replaced (it was 11 months old). Sold it now and buying a Santa Cruz Heckler. Turner was nice but the warranty is crap, Santa Cruz look after their customers. Cheers, Daz, Manchester, England. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tommy Hamrick
a cross-country rider
from Tampa, Fl
Date Reviewed: July 20, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
After an aluminum hardtail that started as a $600 rigid STX bike and ended five years later as a nearly $2000 hardtail with xt/xtr components and a Mag/21 Sl-Ti, I decided to get a full suspension bike, a nice one. I rode it all, Trek, Cannondale, Specialized, GT, Pro-Flex, Klein, Santa-Cruz, you name it, if I saw it and could get my hands on it, I test rode it. To tell the truth, I didn't like any of them very much. After going back to my magazine collection for research I decided on a Turner Burner. It was always rated as the ultimate XC full suspension bike. Well, I've had it for three months and approximately 400 miles: 17 Burner XC frame, full XTR component group, Atom Bomb, and Syncros Accessories. I am normally a spend thrift and after spending 7 years starving to get through college and graduate school, I like to get a lot for my money. I just spent $4,000 on a bicycle, my friends think I am crazy, but I am finally satisfied. It is an outstanding piece of machinery. You want plush, back off of the Atom Bomb's preload and go to 66% of you body weight for the psi setting in the Alps 5R. You want stiff, more preload and higher psi. I had a nice hardtail before, but to sum it up, what I keep telling people who ask me about the bike is that I can do things on the Turner that I simply couldn't do on my aluminum hardtail. The Burner holds rough lines better, handles tight singletrack much better, climbs worlds better, descends better, and generally allows me to go faster and longer through a variety of terrain. Hey, if your hobby is riding a ATB then you owe it to yourself to get the best bike that you can afford so that you enjoy your hobby to the maximum. I couldn't be happier. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam Burkhardt
a downhiller
from Seattle WA
Date Reviewed: May 20, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Oh my! I have a late model '97 Afterburner DH. This bike is amazing. The rear is very plush and stiff. It has 6.2 of travel but it barely bobs. The machined BB/pivot/shock mount is a work of art. It has the biggest gusset I have ever seen. Mine is a X-Large which fits me perfectly (220lbs 6'3) It has a 23.25 top tube and a 19 seat tube. I am running a Hanebrink 6 travel fork on the front the combination is incredible. It is the best bike I have ever ridden. My freinds Intense M1 SL with X-vert Ti is equally good though. Our bikes weigh about the same, his is about a half pound lighter. and neither are very heavy for DH bikes. If you can get your hands on a Turner Dh buy it, they are incredible bikes. The waiting list for the frame is about as long as an Intense. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dan wolfik
a downhiller
from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Turners rock! Say no more. I've got the downhill frame ( a 1996 front triangle) but I managed to get hold of a long travel kit including a fox rx from a friend who used to race the norba series for turner. It is super plush and never feels like it is bottoming harshly> I recently raced it in two rounds of the Aussie national dh series and the tracks were pretty chewed and full of big braking bumps. I had bombers on the front at the time ( now Risse champs with disc) and they were gettig thrashed but the rear was amazing. Expensive but so are formula one cars. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Boszko
a weekend warrior
from West Midlands, England
Date Reviewed: November 17, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Phenomenal! I have had my yellow XCE for 2 months now and haven't found a fault. It blasts down the downhills with ease and doesn't even bob on the climbs. It looks great and the workmanship is fantastic. It's the ideal bike for all round riding. SAVE UP THE MONEY AND BUY IT!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a cross-country rider
from San Antonio, Tx
Date Reviewed: November 14, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I have had my turner xce for 6 months now. It is by far the funnest bike I have ridden to date, and positively the smoothest. Its more like riding an amusement park ride on my local trails than a bicycle. I've experienced some squeking in the pivots, but silicone spray seems to solve those problems. Dave had explained that he ships all the frames with the pivots dry. I disassembled mine and lubed them with bullshot grease and find it helps keep everything moving smoother. I recently blew out mu fox vanilla r shock in the rear, but fox was quite helpful getting it repaired. This is an incredible bike, super plush, great handling, I recommend it to anybody! One of the best aspects of the bike is Dave Turner, it's great being able to talk to the man behind the bike. It makes problem solving much easier. Chow!!
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Albrik
a cross-country rider
from Mission Viejo, CA
Date Reviewed: November 6, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
The geometry of the Turner XC is ideal for cross country riding/racing. It's rear shock is made for aggressive riding and does not waste any of the riders pedaling efforts. I have had one for some time and in a single word LOVE it.
I am yet to race on this bike, however, most of my riding partners are amazed at how well and easy I can pass them compare to my old FS bike.If you are interested in a full suspension bike you owe it to yourself to ride a Turner before spending big bucks, and by the way, any good full suspension frame is going to set you bacj a couple of G's. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Albert
a cross-country rider
from Sothern CA
Date Reviewed: October 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
The best bike I have ever had the pleasure of riding. After four years of riding first a hard tail and then a Proflex Animal I must say that this bike is the best all around cross country bike I have ever ridden.
I purchased a Turner XC three weeks ago and so far I have ridden the bike for over 60 miles and it's been the most fun 60 miles I have ever ridden. The bike handles like a champ and climbes like a goat, it is fast going downhill and make turns like a race car. I tested 5 other so called great cross country bikes before purchasing the Turner and non of them were as good. Pair this puppy with a Marzzocchi Atom Bomb 2 and you have a winner. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon_e_bee
a downhiller
from Scotland, UK
Date Reviewed: October 17, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
What can I say, I have been riding GT from the year dot all my BMX's and MTB to date have been GT.
Today I own a Turner, and I'm not going to buy any other bike, build quality doen't compare to any other baike on the market 6.5 of usuable travel and the coolest supergoose gusset ever.
Keep the bikes flowing Dave T | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
paul hardy
a racer
from fairfax, va
Date Reviewed: August 16, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Model: XCE, 3.5 in, march 97
An absolute great bike, super stiff. My racing improved exponentially. I go faster than I ever did before. Real nice and it is nice to be able to talk with Dave when you need to. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
EMANUELE CAMOZZI
a weekend warrior
from lugano/switzerland
Date Reviewed: June 1, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought my turner xce frame fall of 1996 and since then i can't stop thinking that
it is by far the best bike ever.It is just astounding the way the turner can climb and the way it can overcome any kind of obstacles like ruts and rocks just by mashing on the pedals. Ican definitely put that bike at the top of the all time hall of fame.Thank you Dave for giving us the opportunity to ride that bike!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Harreson Sinclaire
a racer
from Rossland, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 14, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!
This is one stiff frame, no flex, just as stiff as a hardtail when sprinting etc. Also put any full suspension bike in it's lowest gear push down real hard on the cranks with the front wheel up against a wall so it can't move, if the rear suspension compresses doing this your pedal energy is being wasted into compressing the suspension instead of going into the ground. I won't name any other brands but most of the big names fail this test. The Turner doesn't move at all, just like Dave Turner says this is the best!
Just be prepared to wait a while if you order this work of art....
5 stars+... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Goldsbury
a weekend warrior
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: April 10, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
It is now a year since I first rode the Turner properly, it was one
of the first, Ventana built bikes and I borrowed it for the race at
MT Victoria (1997 round 2 world cup) and new Zealands most legendary
race the Karapoti classic. First weekend was the karapoti, I instantly
fell in love with the mighty burner, even though the frame was about
4 inches to small for me, on the first downhill, the rock garden I was
devasted by the bikes confidence, it had sketchy narrow bars when I
normally rode with 26 azonics, I didn't brake untill half the people
i was tearing past were walking, its that nice. A few months later i
bought the bike off my friend (who had been forced into retirement),
found a longer (450mm) seatpost and discovered it climbed very well
also. I rode it hard for a few months then the enevitable happened,
I found a crack at the top/head tube junction.(this is not surprising
it was the 17th crack i had put into a bike in the last two years-Mantis
is now out of business) I called Dave up and said how much, I need a
large DH front triangle and rocker. He spent the next few weeks calling
me and making sure i really wanted a large, but at this time i was in Cairns
for the worlds, there were so many TUrners there, only surpassed in number
(at the DH) by GTs and Foes. Eventually my DH arrived on the day of leaving
for the summer national mtb race road trip. Three days later I placed 3rd
(expert senior men) in DH, then on the sunday 6th Expert XC on it. Since
then my season hasn't been to good but i have been racing the same bike,
except chaingide and sometimes tyres XC and DH. At the final XC i pulled
2.5 minutes on the field in one lap,but my chain broke so i didn't finish
to well. Anyway this year i raced one bike all season, last year i raced
five different bikes, not on purpose.
Overall this bike is frotty. It is reliable and effective and worth any
wait. If you have one get the long travel rocker, you'll love it. I wish
I had a 19 XCE also. If you want a Turner but can't afford it buy a Rocky
Mountain Element it is plusher than a 2.75 but needs more travel
to match an XCE as a bike wrench these are the only bikes out there which
will not give grief, Followed by US made GT LTSs and Cannondale Super Vs
the rest are dumpster feed.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Evans
a cross-country rider
from Saratoga, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 5, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I'm a 43 yr old, 6'6, 210 lb. frequent XC rider (non-racer). I ride moderately aggressively (downhill max of 30-35mph, air max of 2-3 ft, about 1500 offroad mi/year). I had cheapie, then a GT-RTS-1, now a custom Turner Burner. I went with the sweetest dual I could find that would build custom and would actually TALK to me about the design. I needed a big bike plus I needed it unusually upright due to 3 blown neck disks and 1 blown back disk (I'm 43 and ride pretty hard - whaddya expect!). David Turner spent a ton of time with me on the phone and designed a truly custom ride (about 25 frame equivalent with extra long top tube, 9 head tube and downhill length stays and rocker). I've got it set up with 3.5 rear travel and 80mm Judy DH with White springs = plush-o-rama. Even with that goofy geometry, it rides great- very responsive and predictable. It's tough. It makes me faster, less beat up and safer. I doubt I'll ever push it to the limit. I could flex the entire frame of the GT by cranking hard climbing and the Turner is rock solid. I use V-brakes and experience no stay flex. I agree that you never actually feel the rear bottom out. The sag works great on rough climbing. The first day out I cleaned a wall I'd always broken loose on. Its a great bike, but the best thing is, if you want to go totally custom, I don't know what other top builder will give the attention David does, if you have patience to wait throug the backlog. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bobby proctor
a downhiller
from bath, england uk
Date Reviewed: January 7, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
i have raced a turner burner downhill frameset for a year now. I race downhill for 'team mint sauce' (MBUK) and so get to test all the new swag that comes into
the offices as well as other racers mounts.
this frame has excelleled itself in every respect, it inspires confidence and feels as solid today as the day it was shipped a year ago. I've ordered next years model '97 which has a whopping 6.2 of travel, thanks david turner for making life so much more worth living.............. bobby. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Henning Kettler
a cross-country rider
from Frankfurt (Germany)
Date Reviewed: December 15, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I like the Turner! I ride it about 18 month now, and apart from that the frames once shiny surface is really in bad shape, the bike more or less functions like in August 1995. I did broke the LTS 1 chain stay and had a lot of trouble with its pivots. Not so on the Turner. It gets some more friction in time hoewever, so loosing some activeness, but still works great. Its's stiff and i didn't have the problems with chain suck yet. Well the chain stuck some few times, but this has more to do with drivetrain setup and shifting techinque. I want to bye a new bike soon, and its likely to be Turner again. Does anayone know the changes in geometry? I give it a five star, 'cause i think it belongs in the Hall of Fame! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Gittleson
a racer
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: December 13, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I posted the first review of this frame back in June. I just broke it in November. The top tube broke clear through at the seat tube junction and cracked nearly all the way through the seat tube where the rocker pivot is welded on. I only have been riding on this frame for about 13 months. Well, Turner will not warranty it, since his warranty is only 1 year (straight from Dave Turner's mouth). I talked with one of his shop buddies before I bought the frame and was assured that the frame wouldn't break, and if it did break out of the warranty period, they would most likely replace it for free. It's costing me $400 more for a front triangle (he's putting my back-end on the new frame).
Dave is being kind and upgrading me to his Burner XCE, specially revalving my shock and throwing in a Turner Jersey, so he's not totally doing me wrong. All
I want to say is that if you are a hard charging rider like me, you might want to look to a bike with a longer warranty period. I love the Turner, it's a great bike and all, but for a $1500-$2000 frameset, it shouldn't break. The bike does suck chains and can get stuck kinda like Dan mentions, but I have such a minimal problem with chain suck (I'm a middle chain ring hammerer), that it isn't a problem for me. Once in a blue moon I'll be using granny and suck a chain, but no more I'd say than I've sucked on any other bike I've had. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DanK
a racer
from truckee
Date Reviewed: August 27, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
model: burner
I tested this beauty for about an hour so the review on the frame is justifiable in a short term feel/performance aspect only. But from what I've heard maintenance/reliability/craftsmanship is tops too.
The rear suspension is sooooo active. It worked seated, standing, coasting, pedaling. Fully active, not like a URT that stiffens tremendously when standing. The fox shock is great and the bike was stable at speed while still turning quickly.
The only negative I can find is that when the chain does accidently fall to the bb area the aluminum machined bb area (which is beautiful) gets sawed into a lot. And it gets stuck more 'harder' than most chainjams. Believe it or not this was a major factor in my not buying the frame.
And it's expensive, but what isn't. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Gittleson
a weekend warrior
from Phoenix,Az
Date Reviewed: June 14, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
The Turner Full-Time Function frame is sweet. From purely a design and construction
standpoint, this thing is bithin'. The welds are beefy, the frame is polished
aluminum, the pivot points all have grease fittings, the rear triangle is made
of square tubing with Horst-link, Black aluminum rocker-arm and a Fox Alps4R
air/oil shock. It is fully active, 2 3/4 of travel (which seems like more).
This bike really soaks it up in the rear end. It bobs slightly under hard
standing up pedal efforts, but all or most fully active designs do, so don't
worry about it.
The Turner Full-Time Function frame is sweet. From purely a design and construction
The suspension works in any gear which is a plus on the rocky
trails out here in Phoenix. The dampening works great. I've putted around on
a Conejo and ridden a Santa Cruz Tazmon on some bumpy fireroad and the Turner
is by far plusher over the bumps. It really takes the edge off. It's not a
cadillac, but no bike is. I have it mated with a Judy SL Fork, and the combination
is very nice.
The Turner Full-Time Function frame is sweet. From purely a design and construction
The rear end is closer to linear than progressive, but even if
I bottom it out, I can only tell by the zip tie on the shock. You never feel it
bottom. The overall handling is very good, although for my type of riding, which
is high speed singletrack or fireroad downhilling, I needed a stable sliding bike
where the front and rear break loose at the same time. I had to but a short
120mm/10 deg. rise stem, since the headset height is very low on the Turner. The
short stem got my COG back a little and kept the front end from pushing/washing
out in the flattrack/hairpin high speed turns I do. This thing handles great with
the short stem (I tried a 135/10-too long and a 120/0-too low)
The Turner Full-Time Function frame is sweet. From purely a design and construction
The bike has
long stays (16.9), a 71.5 head and 73.5 seat, which I like cause it keeps you
over the bike. The bike climbs very good despite the long stays, the rear
suspension lets you ride up uneven/rocky hillclimbs better than a hardtail.
The only negative comments I can make are that the rear triangle's square
tubes are fairly flexy, so when brakes are applied, the tubes do spread apart
a little bit (doesn't matter---I've got V-brakes---see my review.) Also,
the rear dropouts are set up so that the rear derailer slaps/bangs against the
frame over heavy bumbs and makes a loud clanking noise. The bike needs either
a chain tensioner or like me (a little foam padding zip tied onto the derailer)
Other than that, this bike turns very well at high and low speeds, climbs
excellent, handles jumps and dips no sweat (This thing is smooth) and handles
high speed rocky downhills very well also. Low speed, less that 10 MPH, the
suspension doesn't work as well, due to stiction I assume, and the fact that the
suspension needs to be set up to handle the high speed hits as well. You could
set the suspension up to cadillac over the small bumps, but I'm a high speed,
hard pushing rider and I have my suspension set up so that I only bottom every
other time on the trail.
The Turner Full-Time Function frame is sweet. From purely a design and construction
For those of you saying, I need more travel than
2 3/4 of travel, try this bike. And if that is still not enough, Turner has
a replacement rocker arm boosting travel to 4. Get it, ride it, love it. | | Overall Rating: |
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