The Flux is a 105mm travel cross country bike carrying the great tradition of Turner handling, uncompromised quality and now dw-link efficiency. In 2009 the bar has been raised with cross country specific pivot and frame design. All of the dw-link locations have been optimized resulting in snappy acceleration with uninhibited suspension travel. A bike of this caliber has the perfect combination of ergonomic fit and suspension geometry that will inspire you to make this bike fly! The Flux’s uncompromised design makes this bike perfect for hammering out epic adventures or breathing your lungs out on the race course.
Bike Setup: older XTR mix, WCS flat bar, thompson post, fsa stem, reynolds xc carbon wheelset
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Submitted by
Wveddy
a Cross Country Rider
from North Carolina
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2012
Strengths: I am really sold on the dw link suspension. It gives you all the goodness of a full suspension bike: eating bumps, without the badness: power robbing pedal bob. You can definitely tell the difference between the ride quality vs other designs. The bike climbs with ease and lets you really put the power down when needed. You can easily jump out of the saddle without feeling like it is a waste. The rearend eats up pumps and it does not send any unwanted feedback up to the rider. It is really hard to feel the suspension working, but it is. Very smooth. The bike corners very well and responds well rider input. You can really push the bike hard into a turn with little fear of loosing control. The head angle is steeper than most full suspension bikes, but that is one of things I like. It is very fast in the tight turns and responses very predictably. The rear disc mount is a nice feature and looks very clean. Fit and finish is very good. Frame and especially the rear end are super stiff.
Weaknesses: So I agree the front derailleur hack is kinda dumb, but the space is limited so what can you do. Max rear tire being a 2.2, which is tight, kinda sucks, but it is a xc bike. If you ride in muddy conditions, the frame does seem to catch and hold a lot of mud in the rear links. Hard to really find anything wrong with this bike.
Bottom Line:
If you are looking for more of a trail bike, this is probably not the bike for you. If you are a xc rider, especially if you have been riding old school hard tails, this is the bike for you. It is fast, light, and expects a pilot that knows how to ride to get the most out of the bike. I guess by today's standards this is short travel, but it feels like more than four inches. I have been riding over some pretty good drops and rocky terrain. This is all the travel I would ever want. The pedal efficiency is just awesome and the handling is spot on. Turner quality and customer service, plus it is made in America. Can't beat that!
Bike Setup: 1x10 shimano xt with raceface turbine crank, Rockshox Reba fork, xt custom built wheels, Hayes brakes.
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Submitted by
iheartbicycles
a Cross Country Rider
from GnarCal
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2012
Strengths: Climbs like a scared mountain goat, strung out on crack and redbull, being chased by a man-eating hamster while suffering from incontinence
Weaknesses: Not a Dad-Gum THING!
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome. Mine is a size XL and weighs just under 24 pounds, making it light enough to race - yet stout enough to make it a great all around trail bike. DW link makes it climb like a hardtail, but as soon as you stop pedalling, it's super plush. Turner is a great company to work with as well. This is a great bike for anybody.
I'm giving it 4 diahrea points for value, since its somewhat expensive - but its tootally worth it.
On the scale of ass kicking good times, I'm giving it a full 5 crinkle stars.
The bottom line- best xc full suspension ride ever. It really does climb like a hardtail thanks to the DW Link. I don't have to shift my weight around on the steep stuff- just pedal. This bikes does everything very competently and very efficiently. You do have to pay attention on the fast downhill stuff. I run a Fox 100 rlc. Maybe a 120 mm fork would help. The anodizing is a nice touch too. If you can, take advantage of the trade in program and pick up the frame at their Murrieta shop. The staff are cool and very knowledgable. I even had a chance to chat with Dave Turner. Had a very enlightening conversation about frame designs and the bike biz.
Weaknesses: Road poor. Front derailleur mod needed to make it work. Cable routing sucks and looks like an afterthought.
Bottom Line:
Had to post a review. An honest review. This bike was (is) totally overrated. The version I had seemed as though it was cobbed together and many of the details were and afterthought. Wasn't crazy about cutting apart the front derailleur to make it work with the frame and the cable routing was just horrible. Wasn't really too impressed with the ride either. Sizing was a bit weird and the bike looked too small built up due to the radically sloping top tube and miles of seatpost. Just couldn't gel with the bike....
Strengths: An outstanding frame with the dialed performance characteristics that you expect when you buy a Turner with a suspension system that outperforms the 4 bar version. Larger diameter tubing than previous flux has improved stiffness and strength. Post mount brake. Greg and the Turner crew always provide great support.
Weaknesses: Carbon expensive but DW link great. Need to modify shimano front derailleurs to clear suspension movement.
Bottom Line:
All Turner frames that I have ridden I have been great but they have really nailed it with the DW suspension Flux. I demoed the new Turners initially out of curiosity to see if the DW link could equal my 4 bar versions. That cost me. The new Flux is an improved frame, the handling and tracking are incredible; the rockier the trail is, the more the bike performs. There is much less deceleration over rubble than my previous bikes and much greater square edge bump compliance, even better than my older 5 Spot with the greater travel. This bike with a Fox f120 15qr fork also tracks much better than the older Flux or 5 spot. Pedal forces are even more isolated, feedback is less than any other full sus bike I have ridden. The Flux is an incredibly good and versatile bike that is easy to highly recommend.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz SL, 5 Spot and Flux (HL,TNT)
Demoed:Pivot,Trek,Fisher,Niner.
Bike Setup: Xl frame w/very good stuff like Fox (15qr from now on), Marta SL, C King hubs, Stan's rims, xt/xtr mix.
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Submitted by
Wilson Low
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2010
Strengths: Excellent to handle in tight singletrack, very low tendency to lift front wheel even on extremely steep climbs, stiff and easy to rail and steer predictably on bumpy downhills, extremely stable on high speed downhills. It's made of aluminum, not a single wimpy carbon component. Idiot-proof and easy-to-maintain suspension pivots.
Weaknesses: It makes me neglect my other bikes. Its purchase could make me refuse to ride any other full-sus XC bike on the market.
Bottom Line:
LOVE THIS BIKE!
I weigh 64kg and am 170cm in height, so i chose the medium frame, fitted with a 90mm stem and 580mm flat handlebar, which seems to give the best balance of quickness of steering in technical low-speed conditions and control for high-speed descending.
The DW-link Flux seems to have been purpose-made for adventure racing and endurance racing/epic events. this is my first full-susser and in my exhaustive research for the perfect AR-capable enduro rig - one that is stiff, low-maintenance, efficient, and robust. Bike was set up with non-fluffy parts, so it comes in at just over 25 lbs.
The rear end is super-stiff thanks to the awesome one-piece rear triangle and journal bearings - this is evident when the bike is leaned into turns and thrown around on singletrack. Closer inspection reveals the level of intricacy and attention to detail/craftsmanship in the design of the frame. Zerk grease ports, square-profile stays, replaceable rear dropout, post-mount brake bosses, and bottom bracket structure are particular standouts.
The 100mm suspension design is amazing and just the right amount for adventure racing and epic riding... more importantly, it is moves only when you need it to! Climbing delivers zero bobbing, but once it hits a bump, voila! The frame soaks it right up; the ultra-stiff and reliable 15mm thru-axle Fox fork also complements the frame perfectly. It is a joy to rail up and down trails all day, both technical and non-technical.
I'm extremely comfortable on the bike now and would not think twice about taking it far away to ride in remote and challenging locations. The other full-sus bikes i've ridden are not the lightest bikes around, but what makes this one stand out over them is its racer-like geometry combined with the mind-blowing DW-link suspension.
It is probably too heavy for pure XC racing shippets and short-course, high-speed races; it has too little travel for really hairy freeride trails and drops exceeding 2.5 feet; but it will be perfect for long distances in the saddle as well as, surprisingly, technical riding. The bike has accompanied me on the Sabah Adventure Challenge (a 3-day AR) and XPD (a 9-day AR where we did 360+km of epic riding) and has proven very satisfactory so far as an adventure racing full-susser.
The local distributor for Turner has sold out of 2010 frames really fast... thank goodness 2011 is not too far away now for those in singapore who are considering getting their own Flux now.
Bike Setup: Raw coloured 'M'-size frame; Chris King ISO hubs + Stan's Olympic ZTR rims + DT Swiss Comp spokes; Ritchey WCS bar; Hope Tech X2 brakes + Goodridge brakelines; Fox 2010 RLC FIT 100mm 15mm thru-axle fork (25% sag) + RP23 shock (30% sag); Thomson 30.9 seatpost + stem; Maxxis Ranchero + Crossmark UST tubeless tires with sealant, XT drivetrain with XTR chain and shifters, Fizik Gobi XM saddle; Ergon grips.
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Submitted by
Fastal
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco, CA
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2010
Strengths: Laterally stiff, exceptional build quality, made in the USA, looks as good as it performs.
Weaknesses: Expensive.
Bottom Line:
Lucky enough to find a closeout '09 frame at a decent price. I'm sold on the DW link. Front triangle looks like a classic, old-school mountain bike while the rear suspension looks like something developed out in area 51. The suspension links are beautifully designed - heavy duty, light and functional and they work phenomenally well. This bike is solid, tracks well, not skittish in the corners like my old Blur. I don't find myself using the pro-pedal as the rear wheel seems glued to the ground with no noticeable bobbing and soaks it up on the rough stuff pointed down. No creeks (yet) but still nice to have the grease ports on all the pivots. I'm not an overly aggressive rider and rarely do drops more than 2 or 3 feet but this frame handles those well without bottoming out (I'm about 5'11" & 185lbs). If you are looking for more travel the 5 spot might be a better choice but to be honest I like the lighter weight of the Flux. Zippy, tight and did I mention stiff? Love it.
Weaknesses: Not quite as plush as other rides and requires more finesse on downhills.
Bottom Line:
Love it, Love it, Love it!! This bike completely opened up my eyes to what a real mtb is capable of. From my very first pedal I was amazed how fast it felt, it accelerated like a hard tail, but handled the bumps with ease. I could finally stand up and pedal on climbs without bob and was very quick to get back up to speed. When I hit the tight turns is when this bike really showed me what it could do and reminded me of why I love riding. I do admit it wasn't quite as steady on the downhills, but was still able to fly down all my favorite descents with confidence. Can't wait to up this thing up on all my favorite trails. Thanks Turner from another very satisfied customer!
Similar Products Used: Kona hei hei, Fisher Hi Fi 29er
Bike Setup: Magura Durin fork, King heaset, xo drivetrain, FSA 386 cranks,easton ec 90 seatpost and bar, hope pro 2 hubs, stans race rims, rocket ron tires or nobby nic depending conditions
Strengths: Stiff frame, journal bearing system, DW link suspension, great geometry numbers, looks great
Weaknesses: abit heavy compared to the plastic bikes these days
Bottom Line:
The 2010 Turner DW Flux is a great all-around raceable trailbike. The frame is nice and stiff. The DW suspension is very efficient - it works when you want it, but not when you don't. Although,the Turner "journal bearing system" is new to me, it looks to be made to last,and more useful than cartridge bearings, which I really like. The rear triangle has post mount disc brake tabs and frankly is an engineering marvel. Turn the bike upside down and look at the detail work...wow. This isn't just another bike. And the best part...the bike rides fantastic. Very well balanced on fast hardpack and more than capable on the roots and rocks.
Strengths: solid frame, quiet, comfy race geometry and oh so sexy
Weaknesses: a touch heavy for a pro xc racer, frame decal peelage
Bottom Line:
I got the chance to build up my dream bike for the upcoming 2010 race season and with the help of some friends we cranked out a doozy. This bike is so comfortable, quiet and just dang all around feeling. I built it big for racing super d and tame dh races, and race-party for hanging with the fast guys in the pro xc action. I have yet to test it against the clock, but my few pre winter test sessions had me questioning everything I had ridden previous. This bike is a all around honch. The Flux feels so solid when taking on chunky sections and then up the hill is feels tacky and not lame. It may be a bit overkill with my big fork front end, but I wanted it big for when I need it. It weighed in at 27.6lbs as built. Did I mention how quiet it is.
Similar Products Used: gary fisher roscoe, trek fuel ex
Bike Setup: xl frame all white, rock shox revalation dual air 20 mil, chris king w/mavic 717, conti tyres (proto 390grm), full sram xx, crank bros lever seat post, fizik tundra saddle, truvativ stem and hollefezer bar, king headset, ti king cage, time pedals
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Submitted by
CaliMTBR
a Cross Country Rider
from Stuttgart, Germany
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2009
Strengths: This bike is amazing! The suspension is flawless. The DW link system helps with climbing by giving you more traction when climbing. When you get to the top, just point and shoot with the 15mm thru axle the flux feels super stiff and plush up front and the rear just soaks it up. The geometry feels great sprinting on flats, grinding it out on long, steep climbs in the Alps, or leading out on a fast piece of single track. The bike rides much lighter than the weight listed on my scale, very strange.
Weaknesses: Weight, Price, Suspension bottoms out on 2 foot drops
Bottom Line:
Get this bike and you'll have a huge grin. This is a problem free bike with great customer service backing this product. Competitive Cyclist was great to deal with as they built and shipped the bike within 4 days. Don't forget if your military they'll give you a 10% discount. If your looking for a pure race bike this would not be the bike for you as I think the weight is too high. However, for endurance racing, nothing can compare. This bike was made for BC bike race type riding, can't wait to do it one day. This bike rules for everyday XC riding, but not with anything with drops much over 2 feet. If you buy this bike I think that this would render the Spot irrelevant as I think you would want the RFX for an All-Mountain type ride, which is my next bike when I return to the states next summer. Hopefully my wife doesn't read this :)
Similar Products Used: 2000 Heckler, 2004 Heckler, Red Line Single Speed, Haro Mary SS, Niner Jet 9
Bike Setup: Chris King Head Set and Hubs, 2010 Fox 100mm 15mm QR, Richey Bars, Marta Brakes, Mavic 817 UST, Racing Ralph's, SRAM XO Drive Train, XT Crankset
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Submitted by
Sngtrkwr
a Weekend Warrior
from Cape Cod, MA
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2009
Strengths: Agile climbing, straight as an arrow tracking and cornering, no pedal bob, fast descending
Weaknesses: frame weight, cost
Bottom Line:
I cannot believe how sweet this bike is! It is on the expensive side but worth every single penny. I am coming off a ti hardtail and absolutely love FS. I was very picky about the FS bike I bought because of not wanting to loose that stiff, put the power to the pedal feel of a hardtail and was concerned with pedal bob. It is non existent on the Flux. Climbing with this bike is amazing and just plain going fast over rough stuff is awesome too. The only item I can point out is it is not meant for riding big drops. I don't hit things much bigger than 2 or 3 feet and very occasionally I will bottom out the rear susp. Other than that this is one amazing bike.
Similar Products Used: none, this is my first FS bike
Bike Setup: XT shifters/derailers, Easton Monkeylite lo-rise bar, King headset and hubs, 2010 Fox TALAS 15MM TA fork, Thomson seatpost, Avid Elixir CR brakes, Stans Rims
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Submitted by
jfb
a Weekend Warrior
from Charleroi Belgium
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2009
Strengths: Look, geometry, pedaling efficience, needs low pressure in the shock, color quality (grany smith green), PM equiped...
Weaknesses: wheight (2,85 kgs/6.3 pounds for a 100 mm L frame is a little bit heavy) and expensive
Bottom Line:
All in all it's a very great bike. A perfectly efficient trail bike (I wouldn't classify it as XC competion bike due to its overweight). Suspension is magic: no bob on climbing with a lot of grip and no noticeable pedal feedback even with the propedal off. The descending is pure pleasure due to the rear suspension that works perfectly and a geometry that is much more funnier than on the previous Flux. The frame is also very rigid.
A must buy for the bikers who wants the fun with the performance of a bobless bike!
