 |
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
Home | Product Reviews | Freeride Full Suspension | Bionicon Ironwood | ||||
|
|
||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Submitted by
Wade Hammond
a Cross Country Rider
from Somerset, CA USA
Date Reviewed: 11/15/2007 8:23:33 AM |
|
| FavoriteTrail: | Toads Spooner Kingbury Lake Tahoe |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $4300 |
| Purchased At: | direct from bionicon US |
| Strengths: | Great Climber Rear shock does not bob while climbing L I G H T |
| Weaknesses: | none |
| Similar Products Tried: | 06 stumpy (climbing) 06 scott nitrous (downhill) |
| Bike Setup: | bone stock |
| Bottom Line: | I bought the bike after reading the good reviews on its downhill abilities the bonus features are It climbs as well as my stump jumper, the rear shock works well for xc riding I've learned: good traction while Riding cross country with 2.4" wide tires. I've learned how to climb in small ring again. (Its been a while) I have not taken this to northstar yet so my riding so far has been cross country with small downhill tech sections. IRONWOOD: 8 inches is the new 6 inches |
Value Rating: 
Overall Rating:
|
|
|
Submitted by
Justin
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: 6/12/2007 5:59:25 PM |
|
| Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only |
| Strengths: | This is the lightest 8" travel bike I have ever thrown a leg over. Adjustable geometry is pretty cool! I dished out some abuse on this bike and it took it all in stride. Very confidence inspiring! |
| Weaknesses: | I didn't find any real weakness. One thing I noted was that if the geometry is adjusted to "maximum steepness" the bike gets very "heavy" to pedal. After the ride the very knowledgable Bionicon representative informed me that a simple tap of the button would have raked out the geometry slightly and all would be good again! The bike might benefit from a maxle or bolt-on rear hub for some added stiffness in the rear. |
| Similar Products Tried: | There is no other bike like this one for adjustable geometry. I have ridden a 6" AM bike with a 36 Talas that sort accomplishes a similar task, and own an 8" DH bike that is much heavier. |
| Bike Setup: | full 08 spec. x9 triggers, formula brakes, dt swiss wheelset, carbon bar... |
| Bottom Line: | This bike was a dream to blast downhill on. Very confidence inspiring! The suspension worked flawlessly, very plush and forgiving when pushed hard. Both the fork and the rear shock felt very smooth and didn't exhibit any sticktion. The adjustable geometry was entirely new to me and would probably take longer to really utilize to it's maximum potential, but the effect of increasing the HT angle for differing terrains was significant! I aimed this bike at every boulder on the trail, jumped every jump I could find, and even pushed the suspension to it's max with a 4 foot drop to flat. I highly reccommend this bike for anyone that pedals up to earn their turns! |
Value Rating: 
Overall Rating:
|
|
|
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: 4/24/2007 9:21:26 PM |
|
| Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only |
| Purchased At: | n.a. |
| Strengths: | see below |
| Weaknesses: | see below |
| Similar Products Tried: | see below |
| Bike Setup: | Factory Setup. Check www.bionicon.com |
| Bottom Line: | The Ironwood is Bionicon's offering to the freeride market. As member of the bicycle industry in Vancouver, British Columbia, I have never seen a bike that truly embodies the freeride monicher, as completely, as the Bionicon Ironwood. The size large weighs in at 36lbs, and is by far the lightest and most nimble 8' travel bike I have had the pleasure of piloting. In addition to being super-light, the front fork is adjustable from 4” to 8” through a super-simple handlebar mounted button, that allows for on-the-fly suspension adjustment. The adjustment allows for a change in head angle and overall geometry. The spec on the bike is ridiculous and is clearly laid out by people that ride. From the choice of a full SRAM X-9 drivetain/shifter combo, to the formula oro brakes which offer some of the nicest levers and overall feel of any levers on the market, and finally the choice of DT Swiss hubs on Supra DH rims with Schwalbe Big Betty Tires. The wheels felt incredibly light, while the tires offered good traction with a low rolling resistance. This, coupled with overall lightness of the frame, made for an awesome ride. The carbon handlebar was sexy and unique (relatively flat with a gentle sweep), and together with the adjustable Bionicon stem system, offers a very versatile cockpit. Bionicon Bikes use air shock technology. Air shocks are lighter than traditional shocks because they lack springs and are fully air adjustable (air level can be adjusted externally). Bionicons all use triple crown forks with a big forward rake. This allows for an increased turning radius versus a conventional triple-crown fork. Therefore, you get the stiffness benefits of a triple crown with an excellent full 90 degree turning radius. The Rear shock is also an air shock and is connected to the air reservoir for the fork. The Air reservoir for the for is moves accordingly with the height of the front fork and adjusts the overall geometry of the bike. Hypothetically, you would drop the front fork to 4' for climbing and then up to 8' for descents. In practice, I noticed that the bikes handling and overall feel was not very good with the fork locked down all the way to 4'. I found the head angle to be too steep at this position. This is a common problem with all full suspension bikes equipped with forks that lock down to lowest level of travel (I.E. Marzocchi z1 FR SL, and various other high end all-mountain forks). Aside from when the fork was locked down, the individual unique range of geometry offered between 4.5' (locked down) up to the full 8' travel was amazing. The overall smoothness of the suspension systems fork and rear shock coupled with the adjustable geometry soon began to overshadow the Ironwoods amazingly slim 36lb weight. It didn't take me long to realize that I was on a truly exceptional bike. As an owner of 8 bikes (5 full suspension), it was honestly a little disheartening to know that there was one bike that could simulate over 50% of my current fleet. Although the price tag on the bike is high, I can assure you that owning one bike that can replace three is a sound financial proposition. I put the bike through it's paces under nice conditions on the North Shore and under absolutely ugly conditions at SFU. Some meatier tires would be a prerequisite for winter riding but the Schwalbe Big Bettys will be awesome for dry. The Bikes frame is made of 7000 series aluminum versus the more traditional 6000 series aluminum, which coupled with the air shock technology allows for such a light bike. The bike uses a proven single pivot design and features a fully rebuildable rear swing-arm. This design bodes well for long durability and low maintenance. As much as I can't stop gushing about this bike, my pessimistic nature has a couple of issues concerning the Ironwood and bionicon in general. Although, the Bionicons are the lightest full suspension bikes on the market; traditionally, that does not equate well for longevity. The only true test of the frames will be time, and the only way to quelm that concern would be to offer a substantial warranty on the frames. To match industry leaders, I would suggest a minimum 3-year warranty on Ironwood and Supershuttle and minimum 5 year warranty (preferably lifetime on Frame) on all models beneath the Supershuttle. With respect to the air suspension system, more adjustability is required (Rebound, Compression, lock-out, etc...) and a dedicated local maintenance center is required. If the serviceability of the rear shock is limited, that would be extremely detrimental to sales within Canada. Aside from that, a stiffer brake arch on the front fork would be nice, I found it to be a little flexy in the rough stuff. Ultimately, the ironwood is a modern next generation, full suspension machine. The current trend in full suspension bikes is to create more utilitarian, do everything bikes and Bionicon bikes are a prime example of a company that builds bikes that you can ride both up and down the mountain And for me that's what it's all about, a bike that does everything. If you love to ride and "shuttling" isn't in your vocabulary, then the Bionicon line of bikes are tailor made for you. |
|
Value Rating:
Overall Rating:
|
|
|
Submitted by
kevin
a Racer
from rsm, ca, usa
Date Reviewed: 11/30/2006 7:34:19 PM |
|
| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Strengths: | its overall the dankiest thing ive ever ridden |
| Weaknesses: | no such thing |
| Similar Products Tried: | mmm nope |
| Bottom Line: | i get a boner every time i step foot on this bad sally. most shreddn downhill bike ive ever ridden and once youre done you can climb back up with ease |
|
Value Rating:
Overall Rating:
|
|
|
Submitted by
scott
a Racer
from kernville,ca..usa
Date Reviewed: 10/31/2006 9:51:57 AM |
|
| FavoriteTrail: | dutch flat aka m.f.r. |
| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Strengths: | the ironwood is the best huck/trail/climber i have ever ridden!!!!the one i rode weighed in at 38 pounds and climbed as well as it goes down..the frame is stout and stiff..the fork worked perfect...i am NOT nice to my bikes and this one can take anything you can throw at it...i hane done some BIG i mean BIG!! drops on it and rode it on a cross country ride smooth as buddah!!!! |
| Weaknesses: | none!!!!!!!!! |
| Similar Products Tried: | nothing even compaires!!!! light , burly and versitile!! |
| Bottom Line: | if you ride in a place where the terrain demands alot of travel, this is the bike for you...i used to own 3 bikes for 3 types of riding , but since i got on the ironwood i only need one bike... this is truly an all mountain do it all bike!!! i hear bionicon has some smaller travel model bikes too and cant wait to see them!!!!! if you want only one bike that will do it all check out bionicons bikes..im stoked!!!! |
|
Value Rating:
Overall Rating:
|
|