The Scythe captures the spirit of toughness. It was made to be the tool of the trade for the modern day cowboy - be it rain, snow, hail or ice cold nothing stops Scythe riders from getting to the trails. Everything, on this bike is engineered to let you ride it hard, withstand the elements, and all with minimal maintenance... you don’t need treat it with any respect, but you can always count on it to get you home.
Frame: 7 and 8" travel, Freeride or DH settings, Turner 4bar pivot, custom hydroformed tubes w/built in gussets, ISCG05, internally ribbed seat and chainstays, 12x150 maxle comp. Sizes: 15, 15.7, 16 Colors: team black/polish, grey ano, black ano, white Weight: 8.4 [medium w/o shock] more here http://bansheebikes.blogspot.com/search/label/Scythe
Submitted by
DQ
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: October 6, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
The Scythe is a fun bike that tames the toughest downhill courses.
Jumps very well
simple, strong and stiff
There is a reason I now own 3 banshee's (mythic here in UK). their products are as good as any out there, and their customer service and attitude is secnd to none.
Weaknesses:
I snapped a bolt head off... but you get a spares kit with the frame so was an easy replacement. In fairness I had overtightened it
Similar Products Used:
Demo 8
Bike Setup:
888 RC2 up front, and DHX coil at the back, running in 8" DH suspension mode
Bottom Line:
I'm not a DH racers by any means, but I do feel I can ride faster on this bike than I ever have before. What I really love about this bike however is the way you can jump it around the trail with ease, and how good it feels on big jumps. it inspires confidence, and I've had a great summer on this beast, inclding a week in the french alps. The rune is a great choice for a DH worthy bike that is fun to ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gruntled
a Racer
from Illawarra, Australia Date Reviewed: July 20, 2009
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Four bikes in one! (Seriously, all the settings really do work!)
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
Many different DH and FR bikes. This is my "do everything" bike, and is the best so far (outshines my Ventana La Bruja for FR, for example, and keeps up with my Turner DHR at the same time on DH).
Bike Setup:
Full XTR, Fox DHX with Diverse Ti spring, Totem Solo Air.
Bottom Line:
Simple, strong, light and adjustable. I use the FR setting when I want a really "sharp" responding bike, and the DH setting for when more slack and deeper sag is required. Each of the settings creates a new feel to the bike, but the essence of the Scythe is fast, agile, light, responsive.... and it pedals very well too. I keep a granny ring on mine and can get up long and steep climbs, almost like a XC bike. The frame has proven itself VERY solid, and all the pivots and bearings are like new, with only one greasing. I ride this bike offroad at least 5 days a week, and have punished it severely, and competitively in many DH races. It remains immaculate.
Bottom Line: I cannot fault the Scythe for a DH/FR bike (which is also somehow amazing on XC trails). This bike is the King on my stable. For a pure DH race machine I'd choose the Legend; for more versatility choose the Scythe.
And then try and wipe that silly grin off your face :)
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Submitted by
msisle1
a Downhiller
from Vancouver, Canada Date Reviewed: July 11, 2009
Favorite Trail:
PHD
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Simple, bombproof and confidence inspiring, sum it up. The adjustments make a noticeable difference to head angle so easy to setup how you like it. Ridden it hard for an entire year at Whistler and the North Shore, with no maintenance and still running sweet! What more could you ask for?
Weaknesses:
The frame came with an allen key seat clamp, rather than a QR clamp. This bike pedals well uphill, and has an uninterrupted seat tube so why not speck it with QR clamp? After all, uplifts aren't available all the time! Yep that's it.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Bullit
Santa Cruz VP-Free
Bike Setup:
Totem 1.5", Fox DHX 5.0
Bottom Line:
A brilliant bike that keeps you riding all year round without requiring time consuming maintenance. The geometry and suspension is so good and confidence inspiring that you soon find yourself hitting bigger and gnarlier terrain without a seconds thought.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
akbali
a Downhiller
from Bali, Indonesia Date Reviewed: June 25, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Bedugul
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1450.00
Purchased At:
BaliMountainbike & A
Strengths:
Great look - I have the Team color!
Nice - stiff and strong,
Fantastic suspension feel,
Comfortable and fast geometry,
travel settings 7" and 8", FR and DH
Great aftersales service
Great balance between FR and DH with adjustable settings. One day a killer FR bike - turns on the spot the next day a fast DH racer - super stable!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SeVV
a Downhiller
from Gdansk, Poland Date Reviewed: June 18, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Sopot Smolna
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
7anna
Strengths:
It looks pretty god. The bike is really adjustable tahnks to frame. Suspension works perfectly. The construction is really tought but it isn`t too heavy.
I really recomend Banshee scythe for hardcore freeride. It fulfils its duty. This frame will never let You down !
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Brooks
a Downhiller
from Kamloops BC Canada Date Reviewed: June 17, 2009
Favorite Trail:
harper mtn
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
one of the biggest strengths of the banshee scythe is its adjustability. having the ability to not only adjust your travel setting from 7 to 8, but also having the ablility to differentiate between a freeride and downhill geometry in each travel setting is an uncommon trait in most bicycles. unlike most bikes, the downhill and freeride settings on the scythe have a noticably different feel, which make it almost like owning two bikes in one. the scythe is also extremly durable. having a limited amount of pivots while remaining functional keeps the bike running smooth and relatively maintenance free. i have sent mine off of some of the worlds biggest gaps and it still runs like new.
Weaknesses:
what can i say... the bike is solid. if i had to make a suggestion, I would say that a slightly better build kit should be available, but that has nothing to do with the frame
Similar Products Used:
never had anything like it.
Bike Setup:
rock shock totem fork, manitou rear shock, funn bar, funn stem, funn hooka dh cranks, gamut chain guide, sram x7 drive train, avid juicy 5 brakes, alex rims, and wtb tire set
Bottom Line:
if you are looking for an extremely durable bike that you can race, or freeride as hard as you want this is the bike for you. if you feel like you past bike have required overly complicated maintenance or simply broke down on you, then this bike will keep you happy. last but not least if you want something that is adjustable then go buy this bike!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Am3erSCYTHE
a Downhiller
from Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia Date Reviewed: August 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Mont Kiara
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Fakawi Bikes
Strengths:
very stable cornering, pedalling efficiency..the geometry is nicely designed...l like the maxle 150mm rear hub...with easy to find 73mm bb and the super strong 1.5" headtube...moreover, the bike is easy to handle n recover..
Weaknesses:
for the mean time, can't see any.
Similar Products Used:
haro extreme X7
Bike Setup:
Boxxer race, Shimano deore hydraulic. Syncros integrated stem, syncros bulk bar, n syncros 1.5" headset...mavic 721 rims with da bomb hubs, 09 DHX5.0, truvativ runktion crankset with the boxguide
Bottom Line:
such a good bike and worth the money spend...u can really save up weight...well a nice FR/DH bike for the reasonable price...7@8 inch setup for DH@FR...n this bike is easy to flick around....
Design wise also simple but everything is nice n geometry is also good...
banshee special tubing also provides stronger frame..no doubt if u have ever though of nuying this, go ahead..don't think twice...
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Submitted by
chris h
a Weekend Warrior
from england Date Reviewed: July 7, 2008
Favorite Trail:
kinver/cwm carn
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
Freeborn England
Strengths:
THIS BIKE IS TOTALLY SORTED IT CAN DO DOWNHILL BIG DROPS BIG GAPS YOU NAME IT
AND THE HARDER YOU RIDE IT THE BETTER.I HAVE THE TEAM BLACK AND POLISHED FRAME WHICH LOOKS VERY COOL.THE WELDS ARE FANTASTIC ESPECIALLY ON THE POLISHED PART AS YOU CAN SEE THEM CLEARLY.IT AS A REALLY PLUSH FEEL TO THE TRAVEL COMPARED TO THE SCREAM AND I FIND IT IS BETTER SUITED TO DOWNHILL THAN THE SCREAM WAS AND JUST AS CAPABLE OF BIG STUFF.THE HEAD TUBE IS HUGE AND I AM RUNNING 1.5 TOTEM SOLO AIR WHICH REALLY SUITS IT.THE SHOCK ADJUSTABILTY IS A BIG PLUS IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO THE HANDLING,EVERY ONE LOOKS TWICE AT THE BIKE AND ALWAYS ASKS QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.IN MY OPINION IT IS THE BEST EXTREME FREERIDE BIKE OUT THERE.
Weaknesses:
SHOULD COME WITH A FREE TRIP TO WHISTLER
Similar Products Used:
KONA STINKY BANSHEE SCREAM SANTA CRUZ JACKAL BANSHEE WILDCARD MY OTHER BIKE AND ITS AWSOME
Bike Setup:
SMALL TEAM FRAME SOLO AIR TOTEMS 1.5 STEARER,MAVIC 729S JUICY 7S,POLISHED DIABLOUS CRANKS DEITY BAR AND SADDLE AND OTHER STRONG STUFF
Bottom Line:
BOTOM LINE IS THIS BIKE IS BEEFY BUT WITH THE HYDROFORMED TUBES AND 1.5 HEAD TUBE IT IS VERY MODERN LOOKING,IT IS VERY QUICK OFF THE MARK AND IS THE PERFECT BIKE FOR STOMPING BIG STUFF,IT REALLY CO,MES INTO ITS OWN WHEN PUSHED HARD,THE DOWNHILL AND FREERIDE SETTINGS ARE COOL AND DO EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAY DO A JUMP IN BOTH SETTINGS AND FEEL THE DIFERENCE.I HAVE TRIED OUT LOTS OF BIKES AND NOTHING COMES CLOSE TO THIS,AND THE PRICING IS OUT OF THIS WORLD,I WOULD PUT THIS AGAINST ANY INTENSE OR SANTA CRUZ FRAME FOR QUALITY AND STRENTH AND THE SUPPORT FROM BANSHEE IS SECOND TO NONE ALL WITHOUT THE PISS TAKE PRICE TAG.NO ONE COMES CLOSE TO BANSHE AT THE MOMENT IN MY OPINION.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cooch
a Downhiller
from Brisbane, Australia Date Reviewed: June 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Mt Tamborine
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
www.brisbaneboutique
Strengths:
The paint is a huge improvement over the Banshee frames of old (Chaparral and Scream). The finish is gorgeous and is pure eye candy. The travel and geometry options are also excellent 7" or 8" travel at one end of shock and another setting at the other end, which drops bottom bracket 1' and changes head angle for downhill or freeride (higher setting). The frame looks extremely strong and I really can't wait to give it a thorough thrashing down our local trails. Finally, a normal seatpost. Huge headtube, which is fully finished, ready for headset install. Awesome welds with triple-butted hydroformed tubes, so it's also lighter (and stronger) than their older DH frames.
Weaknesses:
Cable routing is weird and not sure how it's going to hold out. Rear derailleur is along the top of the chainstay, then goes over pivot between chainguide and frame (I'm imagining lots of cable rub). Rear brake hose is similar, but you can't tuck it under shock mount. Hmmmmm.
Similar Products Used:
Banshee Chaparral, Santa Cruz V10, Kona Stinky
Bike Setup:
2008 Scythe in Medium. FUNN bars, stem, rims, seat-post, saddle and pedals. Hussefelt bb and cranks. Chris King hubs mated to FUNN Descenders with DT Spokes. CK headset.
Bottom Line:
Awesome bank for the buck, compared to Santa Cruz and Intense. Frame looks drop dead gorgous, paint a massive improvement on their older frames. Can't wait to get really stuck into it. Will write another review in a years time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Don Cambell
a
from UK Date Reviewed: May 25, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Very stiff, Very strong, Fantastic suspension feel, Comfortable and fast geometry, Adjustable travel settings, The best build quality I have ever seen on a mountain bike, Looks great!
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Specialised demo 8, Orange 224
Bottom Line:
A great feeride and downhill bike. I swear that although this bike is slightly heavier than my 224 it is faster accelerating because it is so stiff. it also rails the corners like nothing I have ridden before. I don't ride up hill much, but this bike is veryy capable of pedaling if I do. (btw my frame came with a standard seat post, not telescopic like the last guys and was told all the frames came with regular seatposts)
A great bike, with a simple and strong design, and great geometry. I'm really really loving this frame, and can't rave about it enough! This frame is a keeper, and should last a handfull of seasons unlike my last couple of bikes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Evan
a
from Edmonton, AB, Canada Date Reviewed: March 31, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4600.00
Purchased At:
Revolution Cycle (best shop around)
Strengths:
-great acceleration -extremely stable -corners really well -light -pedalable
Weaknesses:
-the stock tires fling soo much crap up in ur face -the saddle....hurts the rear end lol
Similar Products Used:
rocky switch 3.0 (which sadly got stolen, and thats y i have this now)
Bike Setup:
all stock cept for a dhx5,diablos cranks,saint breaks,e-13 guide, and saddle soon
Bottom Line:
i havnt gotten a chance to ride it that much yet, but from the little i have rode it, it blows my switch away. it is much more stable, has better handling, and is lighter than any of my previous bikes. the only thing i dont like on the bike now, is the telescopic seatpost...seriously...why did banshee feel the need to use one? the scythe has a full length seat tube. they should have just thrown in a reg seatpost, along with a quick release coller instead of the bolt one....thats the only thing holding this bike back, and its a minor fix.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Racer
from Australia Date Reviewed: February 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Maribor 2007 world cup course
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Acceleration is a major strength - very efficent, Excellent geometry and travel options, very smooth bike over any type of terrain with minimal noise, Handles the tight turns quickly and with ease, loves to get air born. The Banshee Scythe is an extremely versitile bike that feels right at home in the air in, the rock gardens and in a race environment.
Similar Products Used:
Intense M1, Astrix Havoc, IronHorse SGS
Bike Setup:
Boxxer world cup, Fox dhx 5, Industry 9 wheels, Gamut chain guide, Straitline components, SRAM, Maxxis
Bottom Line:
An ideal bike for a serious downhill racer who wants to get results on tight, technical and pedally downhill courses.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matej Charvat
a Downhiller
from Prague, Czech Republic Date Reviewed: January 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Champery
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Engrambikes.cz
Strengths:
Torsional stiffness - Great acceleration Frame smooth lines Spectacular geometry Bike is really silent
Similar Products Used:
Kona Stab supreme, Kona Howler
Bike Setup:
Funn: full on-bars, hooka dh-cranks, grips, grippa-stem. RS Totem - 180mm Fox DHX 3.0 Mavic 823disc Sram shifting
Bottom Line:
Really good frame, especially the geometry is something new for me. I have never rde this kind of bike before. It's more movable than the DHbike. I'm using the lower BB set up with 170mm cranks and that height is also right for this kind of bike(you can pedal over the rocks and roots without worries). One of the really good things is it's acceleration - the power really goes to the terrain. The suspension seems to be not too sensitive, but when you ride - you don't feel like that.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gjovalin Pepaj
a Weekend Warrior
from Germany Date Reviewed: November 21, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
stiff,light and strong great feelgood geometry travel adjustment fr/dh makes sense and a big different great suspention work (low ratio) great look (1,5" headtube, hydroformed downtube)
Weaknesses:
the bike steals your show! everyone is looking on the bike not on you :-).
the scythe is a pervect mix of a freeride and a downhill bike! drops, downhill racing,freeride action even pedalling up hill it do everything! i love my scream but i will never ride it again because the scythe is so much better! you switch the travel adjustment from fr to dh and you have a new bike. like dr jackle and mister hide! on the dh setup it is fast, aggressive, hard on the track ......a downhill monster. on the fr setup it is quick, easy to handle and you have this great save-feelgood riding feeling. do what you want the bike is with you !
i want to say thank you to jay, keith and everyone from banshee! you made a really great job creating the scythe. you support my riding by doing bikes like the scythe and the scream
ride on gjovalin
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andres Rostant
a Downhiller
from Norway Date Reviewed: November 12, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Strong Frame Not too heavy Great Geometry Very stiff feel travel adjustability makes a HUGE difference and is GREAT! Low Gravity Center Great suspension performance looks great when built up
Weaknesses:
Everybody wants to have a shot riding it because it is so good
Similar Products Used:
Scream, demo 8, Big Hit, Norco Team DH
Bottom Line:
A great frame. better than frames twice the price. The Scythe is very strong and feels great when on the downhill, but also pedals very good to get to the top of the mountain.
I loved my scream, but the scythe is so much better. I can still do 10m drops, but the scythe is a lot faster bike, with better geometry.
I love my Scythe! Best bike ever for extreme freeride!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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