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Submitted by
KWMKWM
a Weekend Warrior
from Nelson BC / Edmonton AB
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Paper Bag | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Redbike in Edmonton | | Strengths: | I origionally bought this bike ('05 frame) to get me through the '06 season after my old VPS was stolen, with the plan of selling it at the end of the season. Since then, it's evolved into an "ain't gonna get rid of it" bike. A middle range Norco hardtail (Manik or Rampage) was used as a parts donor bike to build up the frame. So far, I've replaced every part (due to breakage, wear, or unsatisfactory performace), except the frame, fork and rear wheel. It's been a bombproof ride.
Strengths:
-versatility for most riding types
-reasonable weight for a frame of this type
-stable geometry for aggressive riding
-good cable routing (has cable clamp for rear derailler inside rear seatstay - great for Shimano style) | | Weaknesses: | -'05 frame does not have ICGS mount, but the newer ones do
-Minor detail (beefy drop outs do not allow for quick realase lever to be clamped at any angle - there's about a 120 degree range) | | Similar Products Used: | '02 Norco VPS 3
'06 Intense Uzzi | | Bike Setup: | -Z1 bomber (6" travel) - have Tals 36 RC2 ready to instal
-Mavic 729 rim in the rear with Sun Singletrack up front
-Saint cranks with bash guard
-Juicy 7 brakes
-XT Casette
-Connex 908 chain
-crappy Shimano Deore hubs
-Thomson post and stem
-CroMag bar
-ODI Oury lock on grips
-X9 shifters and rear derailer
-Crank Bor's Acid pedals for XC use
-Crank Bro's 5050XX pedals for FR use
-Michelin 2.2 tires for XC use
-Maxxis Minion and Tioga tires for FR | | Bottom Line: |
I'm really happy with this bike. As mentioned above, it went from a temporary cruch to get me through the season, into a trusty steed to have in the stable forever.
It's ideal for someone who likes to ride well in several areas of MTB. I love how I can switch from XC to FR mode by changing the tires and pedals, and swapping to a shorter and higher stem. A fork with adjustable travel would also be ideal for this conversion. I've raced the bike in the 24 Hours of Adrenaline, ridden Mt Seven in Golden and lots of Nelson trails and it's held up really well. In each case, I was competative with other riders who had bikes more suited to the specific style of riding (either big DH machines, or light-weight XC race bikes).
If you are a light guy and want to race XC or marathon races exclusively, there are better options for you. Also, if you like to huck ridiculous stuff and case a lot, you have more appropriate options. That being said, my buddy rode it just fine on several of the big stunts on Steamboat in Radium (he's heavier than me) - proof that it is a capable hucker if you know how to land and don't case often.
Recommendations:
If you are a big guy (I'm 6'5" and 215lbs), a stiff set of cranks and durable wheels will really help the frame shine. All of your power goes straight to the ground. With a little momentum, you can hammer up steep rooty clims by just torquing your way through. Whenever I do that, the song Diesil Power by Prodigy gets stuck in my head.
If you want one bike, to do it all, this bike is for you. If you want to keep it looking new, I'd recommend using clear 3M tape (they use it on car bodies) in the high wear areas.
I love my Scirocco.
Kurt | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
parsifal smith
a Cross Country Rider
from chinle, AZ usa
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | National | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$520.00 | | Purchased At: | rbikes | | Strengths: | Masters every type of terrain and ride. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Turner 5 spot Trek & Gary Fischer hardtails. | | Bike Setup: | Fox 32 Talus RLC. R/F Atlas crank. Sun Ringle Single Track rims with 2.5 WTB Weirwolves. Thompson and XT. | | Bottom Line: | My riding style is definitely Trail with lots of small drops and lifts (1-3 ft) mostly steep and rocky usually for about 5 – 7 miles. I’m fair sized at 230 lbs and 6’4” and I ride the Large frame. The frame is flawless. It performs so much better than any other bike I’ve ridden that I feel all descriptions fall short. The ride is comfortable and you will notice immediately the way the rear triangle absorbs hits while keeping the bike effortlessly on line. And while I cannot lavish praise highly enough on the frame I must also put in a word for Jay and Keith at Banshee. These guys endured long emails and took a tremendous amount of time in getting me set up with the frame that was right for me. There is a reason this frame carries a perfect score and I can only add my own to the growing list. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from The Shore, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Hartshorne Woods | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Let me start by saying I came from riding XC race Hardtails to this thing... and I am wondering why it took me so long to make the switch! The frame is bulletproof. Very stiff, super responsive, and so versatile. I use it on fast flowy singletrack with sharp climbs and lots of roots. | | Weaknesses: | None. Seriously. | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Chameleon, Rocky Mtn Vertex. | | Bike Setup: | Fox 32 Vanilla RLC, Bomshell Bearclaw wheelset, X9, Sunline 65mm stem... etc. | | Bottom Line: | Great hardtail for anything you can dish out. I am 6' and 200 pounds and rode the Medium for about a year... love it so much i just ordered it in Large... I have been told that it fit better. I do love the Medium though. Jumps, drops, chutes, whatever bro. Go git yo'seff one o' deez. 5 flamin' turds bro. ALL DAY. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tOriO
a Racer
from Zürich, CH
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | a private person | | Strengths: | Very light | | Weaknesses: | High price | | Similar Products Used: | Norco sasquatch, similar geometry but absolutely heavier. | | Bike Setup: | 2005 frame M, Sun Ringle Single tracks, Marzocchi Z1 Sport RV 150mm 2007, Truvativ Hussefelt components + X.9 everything else, Azonic Saddle + Grips, Crank Bros Mallet C pedals. 14,2Kg. | | Bottom Line: | I can only confirm that this ist the best freeride hardtail. Trails, jumps, light downhill, AM, technical training for racers, it's amazing. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George Kranze
a
from Bohn, Germany
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Deaths Gate | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Through friend | | Strengths: | Very stiff, light, strong, good looking easy to work on etc. | | Weaknesses: | Need more fun colors..... | | Similar Products Used: | Orange P7 (great frame too), MC Rumble (also great frame), Cove Stiffee FR, GT Rukus. | | Bike Setup: | Lyric 2step air, mavic deemax wheelset, chris king headset, diabolus stem (70mm), diabolus bar, formula oro puro hidro brakes (185mm), Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.4 tires, stans no tube sealant, thomson seatpost, wtb pure v race saddle, sram x9/x0 drivetrain, shimano saint crankset and mallet m pedals. | | Bottom Line: | Strong long lasting bike with ample amount of room to alter at any time throughout its life. I have 3 forks for this bike and 2 wheelsets. #1. Fork: Lyric 2step air 135-160mm #2. Marzocchi 66SL ATA 140-180mm #3. Fox Vanilla 36RC 160mm and the wheelsets are #1. Mavic Dee Max (yellow) #2. DT Swiss 5.1 with Chris King hubs and dt swiss spokes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dylan Graham
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | The North Shore | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Everything!
Seriously, this bike felt perfect and worked perfectly since the moment I got on it for the first time. | | Weaknesses: | Ha, you're having a laugh! | | Similar Products Used: | Holeshot, P3, Le Toy, and lots more, none that even come close to this bike | | Bike Setup: | buold changes quite often as parts break... erm... I have Pikes on it! | | Bottom Line: | I ride this bike on the northshore trails almost every weekend (no shuttling for me, I pedal from door to top of mountain to door again!), no other hardtail has been cabable of taking the abuse for even a few months, but the Scirocco has taken it for a year with nothing more than a few scratches.
I also use this bike as a dirtjump bike buy adjusting the travel down on my Pikes, and yup, you guessed it! Amazing!
I have also done epic all day rides on this baby and it excels once again! Seriously... there is nothing this ike cannot do!
BUY ONE! you will be sooo happy with it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a Weekend Warrior
from Traverse City, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | so far just locals | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1539.00 | | Purchased At: | Rbikes.com | | Strengths: | Super light and strong, beefy frame with a great paint job. Rides so smooth and climbs hills like a champ and bombs them even better | | Weaknesses: | Not one | | Similar Products Used: | BMXs, various mtn bikes | | Bike Setup: | Banshee Scirocco frame, Manitu Black Super fork, Avid Juicy hydrolic brakes, Truvativ cranks/handle bars/stem, Mavic Rims, Hutchinson Bulldog tires, Sram X7 shifters/derailers | | Bottom Line: | This bike is dank and I recommend it to everyone from all day, epic adventure riders to freeride and downhill masters. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carlos Mejia
a Weekend Warrior
from Miami, FL, USA
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$580.00 | | Strengths: | light weight, strong tubing, superb welds, | | Weaknesses: | non yet. | | Similar Products Used: | various bikes. | | Bike Setup: | 07 Banshee Scirocco frame, 07 Marz. AM3, Avid Juicy 8 in f/r, singletrack rims, truvativ crank/bb, sram chain, xtr f/r derails., plus.... | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the frameset itself and not a whole bike. I've tried a couple different bikes throughout my time and honestly, this frame beats the crap out of all those in the past. The super strong but superlight tubing and welds are incredible. I had forgotten how much better a hardtail was for climbing and this thing is like a goat. handling is so much smoother and quicker. I work at a bike shop and most teh others at the store are all rodies and they could not stop staring at my bike. their comments "yeah is nice.... too bad its a mountain bike" | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TED
a Weekend Warrior
from BC
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | PLATINUM | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | MRC | | Strengths: | MASSIVE HEAD TUBE,ATTENTION TO DETAIL,EASTON TUBING RULES,CANADIAN COMPANY,BOMB PROOF. | | Weaknesses: | NONE!! | | Similar Products Used: | KONA COWAN,HOLESHOT,TORRENT | | Bike Setup: | '05 SCIROCCO,'06 TRAVIS SINGLE 150,HAYES MAGS,X9 DERAILLER & SHIFTER,TRUVATIV CRANKS,E-13 SRS GUIDE ETC.. | | Bottom Line: | I USED THIS BIKE FOR FREE RIDING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AND HAVE PUNISHED IT BEYOND WHAT I EXPECTED I WOULD'VE AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT'S BEEN THE MOST FUN I'VE HAD IN AWHILE.I'M ALMOST SAD MY DUALLY IS ALMOST BUILT BUT I'LL BE SURE TO TAKE IT DOWN SOME MORE.THIS BIKE HAS TAKEN EVERY THING I'VE THROWN AT IT AND THAT INCLUDES DIRT JUMPS,HUGES GAPS AND EVEN A 15 FOOT DROP.IF NOT FOR THE AWESOME FORK UP FRONT I MAY NOT HAVE HAD AS MUCH CONFIDENCE BUT EITHER WAY THIS BIKE IS FREEKIN AWESOME AND WELL WORTH THE BLING.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alexander
a Cross Country Rider
from sao paulo, brazil
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | geometry,strenght, custom easton tubing, gear cables and brake hoses are fixed with zip ties, ist name - scirocco, color, 10 year warranty,customer service | | Weaknesses: | had minor problem with seat tube sliding down, got a new one right away from local dealer, and i bought a non-quickrelease seatpost bracket. PROBlEM SOLVED! | | Similar Products Used: | all kinds of hardtail frames for xc racing, freeride and downhil like giant,cannondale,santacruz,trek, scott...etc | | Bike Setup: | x9 shifter + derailleur and xgen, hope bulb hubs, dt spokes, xt 765 crank,cassete and chain, hayes el camino 203F/160R, nixon platinum 2006,IT and 20mm trhuaxle..... | | Bottom Line: | awesome,awesome,awesome,awesome. this IS a hardtail. forget the rest. more hard only the morphine frame! no power lost at all due to frame flex, full traction all the time. never felt better on a bike. i´ve never been a big fan of fullsuspension bikes...now i defenitely won´t have one!!!!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dustin Dever
a
from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Private | | Strengths: | Everything! Light, strong, and perfect geomentry for doing everything. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Norco sasquatch, dmr trailstar, giant xtc, | | Bike Setup: | Light gear mostly, LX derailers, mavic rims, eastern bars 80mm stem, Tora (rock shox fork) | | Bottom Line: | This is the best bike i have ever owned, and i have had 6 bikes over the past 2 years alone. This is truely a do anything bike/frame. It is strong enough to do crazy freeride but light enough to do cross country race. Once i get a set of fox talas forks i will be doing cross country racing and downhill racing in hardtail class all on the same bike!!! Can this be??? I just have to change the tyres and wind down the suspention. It weighs in at about 13kg which is great. It isnt that expensive either. The only other frame of this caliber is the cove stiffee and it was nearly double the price. Riding is so much fun on this bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ROB
a Weekend Warrior
from THE RIDGE
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | ALL BC DOUBLE DIAMONDS | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Strengths: | HUGE OVERSIZED HEAD TUBE,SHORT CHAINSTAY,LONG TOP TUBE,FITS A 10 BY 135 RR THROUGH AXLE,REPLACEABLE HANGER,WITH A LOWER BB HEIGHT IT RAILS ON BURMS AND TIGHT TECHY TRAILS,JUST FLAT OUT BURLY | | Weaknesses: | IF ANY AT ALL IT'S THE PAINT...YA THAT'S IT.IT CHIPS EASILY BUT IF YOU DON'T CARE LIKE ME IT'S A WEAK WEAKNESS.BESIDES WHEN YOUR BIKE GETS SCUFFED UP IT JUST LOOKS LIKE YOU ACTUALLY USE IT FOR WHAT IT'S BUILT FOR | | Similar Products Used: | THE ONLY OTHER HARDTAIL I'VE RIDEN WAS A BRODIE BIGSHOT FRAME BACK IN THE DAYZ. | | Bike Setup: | 05 SCIROCCO,06 TRAVIS SINGLE 150MM,HAYES MAG BRAKES,DIRTY WHEELS,2.5 NEVEGAL FRT,2.3 NEVEGAL RR,SRAM X9 DERAILLER AND SHIFTER,TRUVATIV CRANKS W/E-13 CHAIN GUIDE. | | Bottom Line: | I'VE HAD A HELL OF A LOTTA BIKES IN MY DAYS AND MOST HAVE BEEN FULLIES LIKE A SCREAM,BB7,DEVO,TEAM DH ETC......AND THE FUNNY THING IS I PREFER TO RIDE A HARDTAIL NOW NOT BECAUSE I'M GETTING OLD BUT BECAUSE TRAILS ARE GETTING MORE SMOOTH AND GROOMED BETTER THEN THE DAYS OF OLD.PLUS I,VE TESTED THIS BIKE FROM DAY ONE AND LET ME TELL YA IT CAN HANDLE HUGE TRANNIED OUT DROPS,AWESOME GAPPER,AND EVEN BETTER 4 CROSSER.MY BOTTOM LINE IS IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BIKE THAT IS AN ALL AROUNDER AND LIGHT ENOUGH TO CHUCK OFF STUPID DROPS AND INSANE GAPS THE FRAME CAN EASILY HANDLE IT THE QUESTION IS ..........CAN YOU?
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brado1
a
from G'Vegas, SC, USA
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Black Mtn Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$380.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay used | | Strengths: | got this used frame from ebay, started out as a FrankenBike(old parts from other rides) built it as a Singlespeed trail bike... started with a Psylo SL... needed something more up front and got a Pike... Bike handles great. the best all-round bikes i've owned. i ride it more than my full suspension bike. just plain fun. | | Weaknesses: | none - well if anything the color...Blue isn't my favorite | | Similar Products Used: | none really similar, but i've owned a lot of bikes
GT Zaskar
GF Tassajara
Cannondale Jekyll
Voodoo Canzo
Ellsworth Id | | Bike Setup: | http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/601/251393/Beauty.jpg
Medium Frame
Set up as SingleSpeed
Pike Team
Mavic Deemax
RaceFace Turbine / Salsa 36ring
Crank Bros. Mallet M
Endless Kickass cog 22T
Soulcraft Convert
RaceFace Diabolus Stem
Easton Scandium DH bar
Odi / Oury lock-on grips
Avid Mech Disc w/ SD7 levers
Hope Gothic Rotors 10/6
Hope QR colar / Bar plugs
Thomson post
WTB Rocket V | | Bottom Line: | This bike Friggin' Rocks plain and simple. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrea F.
a Weekend Warrior
from Biella Italy
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Geometry
Easton tubes
Versatility in all condition
low bottom braket
Killer look | | Weaknesses: | Only one colour available if i remember well. For color options bike's company should learn from Santa Cruz. | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Chameleon | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Bomber 130mm fork, formula brakes (super!),xt components,WTB 2.3tires,Mavic crossmax disk ecc. | | Bottom Line: | I'm using this bike for all day rides,the bike shines in all conditions especially in very steepy uphill and in downhill in general.I like the low bottom bracket height that inspire you confidence in technical trails.The Scirocco is a real fun,I have a full suspension bike as well but I don't use it anymore.If you are tall like me and you don't want to buy a XL frame which is very big, remember to buy a seatpost that let you fix the saddle as back as possible,also your family jewels will benefit from bump transmission! For 2006 models Banshee have modified the rear triangle in order to make it a little bit more flexible against bumps which is a good thing.In that sense anyway even the 2005 frame is much better than the Santa Cruz Chameleon.
Last thing:The people of Banshee here in Italy are very frendly and skilled. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik
a
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | beyondbikes.com | | Strengths: | great geometry for anything from XC to DH. its a pretty stout frame and it super strong. | | Weaknesses: | The tire clearence in the rear is a little week, i had a 2.5 Nevegal in there but it was tight so i swapped out for a 2.3 Highroller. Paint chips pretty easy. | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Banshee Scirocco/Size Medium/Opac Blue, Z1 FR, Race Face evolve DH cranks, Azonic Outlaw Wheels, Maxxis Highroller 2.3 rear and Kenda Nevegal 2.5 front, Avids, etc.... | | Bottom Line: | I love this frame it just rips up everything. ive ridden it on everything from light XC to DH out at Attitash. If your looking for an XC frame id probably look elseware but for trails, freeriding, or downhill this is definatly a super stout frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kris Klus
a Weekend Warrior
from Gillette, Wyoming, USA
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | anything that goes up as well as down | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | All-Pro Cyclery | | Strengths: | First thing you notice is the auto-quality paint job. Beautiful. Then you notice the weight, very light, not XC light, but still way light. Last you notice the geometry... Perfect! With a 5" fork, this bike does it all with unmatched aplomb. | | Weaknesses: | Should I get picky? The ONLY problem I saw was the rear IS brake mount required a little machining to square it up with the axle. Big whup, any good shop will do that anyway. | | Similar Products Used: | 1999 GT Zaskar LE, 2001 Dean Colonel. | | Bike Setup: | Manitou Minute 2:00, Hayes Mag+ F/R, Chris King HD Hubset, Sun SOS Rims, Nokian NBX 2.3's, XT/XTR Mix. | | Bottom Line: | Have you seen a Banshee yet? You gotta see one if you haven't. They are just plain beautiful. But enough about looks, this bike has to be the best hardtail I've ever owned. It's not easy for me to say that either, because I replaced a Dean Colonel Ti hardtail with this frame, a hardtail that I swore I would never get rid of. Why did I? I wanted more travel. I found myself riding rougher terrain that an XC bike just can't quite handle. But, yes, the Scirocco actually handles better than the Colonel in every way in my opinion. The biggest change, I feel, is the very short chainstays. The rear wheel is sucked way up against the seat tube. No tire-clearance issues to speak of, just phenomenal climbing ability and excellent acceleration out of the corners. [I could recommend buying a fork with either IT (infinite Travel adjust from Manitou) or ETA (from Marzocchi), because on extremely steep sections the bike will try to go over backward on you, even when sitting on the nose of the saddle.] This bike never feels flexy, never feels heavy, and always proves capable of making the exact corrections I ask of it on the trail. The cockpit is perfect for me. I'm 6'0" with a 33" inseam, and I use a 110mm stem and Answer Pro Taper XC bars. This setup on this frame eats up the most agressive terrain you can find and the bike begs for more. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pertti M
a
from Tampere, Finland
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | still looking | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Light enough. Strong enough. Geometry works:
The frame does what they say it does. | | Weaknesses: | I had to wrap one layer of packing tape around the seat post to make it stay where I put it (but I am on the heavy side). | | Bike Setup: | Cheap but functional: Marz. MX Comp 105 mm, Deore (V brake), SRAM shifters, Conti 2.5 and 2.3 tyres, flat pedals. | | Bottom Line: | This is my first real mountain bike. It really encourages me to get on the trails. My fitness and skills are pretty tame but this bike helps me over the roots and rocks. I can descend and climb and it is me that slows things down, not the bike:) Great HT trail bike (although I hate putting everything into strict categories).
At the LBS they say that since I got mine, they have built a couple of similar ones. I think my frame was from last year's stock so I got a reduced prize. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike hall
a Cross Country Rider
from worcester, ma
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Avalon outside of Baltimore | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Strengths: | It's been seven long years since i've ridden a bike. Last rig I had was Dean Colonel which i loved. After all those years and 60 pounds later, I decided to get back into it. I couldn't justify going superlight (and super-pricey) so I did my homework and settled on the Scirocco. I set the bike up as a cross-country-light free-ride bike and all I can say is WOW. This has to be the one of the nicest bikes i've ever riden! Probably the cheapest frame i've ever purchased. This bike handles! | | Weaknesses: | like everyone else says; my Thomson seatpost likes to move around quite a bit. I won't blame Banshee for this entirely. All that beer and fine food (and HDTV) has turned me into a rather large and bloated negro so take that for what it's worth | | Similar Products Used: | lots of high end hardtails... | | Bike Setup: | all the goodies you find in the glass case at your local LBC | | Bottom Line: | Buy this bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Friedman
a
from Israel
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | shop@harim.co.il | | Strengths: | Strong but light. A lot of thought has gone into the frame, no bottle cage mounts on the seat tube means that you can lower the seat right down to the bottom and leave enough for full XC height for the climbs. The skinny seat post is more forgiving at full extension for XC rides, this is a very stiff frame. Separate cable guides on frame for Shimano or SRAM deraillers. | | Weaknesses: | You have to stop and let people admire the bike while out on the trails. If you run a fat tyre in the rear you may have some issues with front derailler clearance. Check which BB width will work, 113mm may be too narrow? The advertized frame had rear brake bosses, the frame I received did not. For me it didn't matter but worth checking if you need them. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized & Haro hardtails | | Bike Setup: | 04 DJII's (150mm)26" Sun Mammoth Rear, 26" Rhino light front. Dual rings and bash guard. 8inch hayes mag disc brakes front & rear. | | Bottom Line: | This bike can do it all. For XC I can lift the seat, and even with a 6 inch fork climb the steepest technical climbs. Then drop the seat and attack the descents. I'm hitting stuff much faster and harder, the frame can take it. The stiffness makes the steering way more stable in rock gardens than my previous bikes. Do yourselves a favour and put some long forks and big tyres on this bike and throw it down some lines that you would never have considered before on a hardtail, it just begs you to go bigger and harder. This bike manuals for fun. If you are looking for one bike to do it all this might be the one for you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Xavery M
a Cross Country Rider
from PL
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Strengths: | solid, stiff, quite light, long warranty period | | Weaknesses: | paint scratches way too easily, low quality Kalloy seat post & clamp, needs a very wide bottom bracket, front deraileur diameter not usual for aluminium frames | | Similar Products Used: | lots of hardtail frames | | Bike Setup: | Vanilla RLC, HS33s, solid XC/FR componentry | | Bottom Line: | (review of the '05 frame)
* When assembling the bike I've immediately noticed how wide the chainstays are - my 113mm BB paired w/ a Truvativ crank caused some serious chainsuckin'. Seems that a remedy is a 122mm BB which I'm using right now.
* Another suprise was the front deraileur diameter which isn't the 31.8 you would expect to see in an aluminium frame, why doesn't Banshee put those crucial numbers (seat, deraileur,BB) somewhere ?
* Such low quality components as Kalloy shouldn't be supplied w/ the frame - they just don't add any value! The damn clamp wasn't holding the post properly in place and after a few days of use its thread stripped all of a sudden.
* The paint may look nice but is already scratched after a few rides. (Not to mention that I've ordered a gray frame and got a blue one)
* BESIDES, the bike rides as expected - is stable on downhills, doesn't inspire on uphills but still can be made to reach the top, jumps nice and steers quickly and precisely.
Time will tell whether the frame will hold up to my abuse, but I hope it to... another review is coming by the end of the summer... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hoyt
a
from Greensboro, NC
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Banshee (online demo) | | Bottom Line: | This is an update to my somewhat negative review from a few weeks ago. Apparently the folks at Banshee read these reviews, and they contacted me via email shorty after I posted my original review. Not only did Banshee apologize for the problems I had with the pedals and fork, but they sent me another set of pedals, as well as a Banshee hoodie, for free! I can't imagine getting that kind of special treatment from a "mass-market" bike manufacturer.
Now that the bike is working properly, I must say it is AWESOME. I've done a lot of dirt jumping, as well as XC riding, and it is amazing at both. I really like the lower bottom bracket; feels very stable at high speed. If you're looking for one bike to "do-it-all", get this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Holm
a Weekend Warrior
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | None, ride where/when i can | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$770.00 | | Purchased At: | 222cycles frame only | | Strengths: | Good allround bike, works on singletracks, light freeride trails and urban, i like to ride everything i can so it works for me, i use it for fast FR and often ride it as an XC up to 70-80 Km a day in the weekends and with the lighter XC setup i can shave 1-2 kg of the weight for the longer trips.. | | Weaknesses: | The 26,8 seatstay, why not 27,2 it is almost impossible to get a good seatpost that fits here i Denmark (they are wery expensive) | | Similar Products Used: | A lot of different XC bikes + the last bike was a GT Ruskus 1.0 Large 2003, set up with the same parts, for FR/AM. | | Bike Setup: | I have 3 setups at the moment on all i have XT 203mm discbrakes, use a Sram 9.0 rear shifter, and use a 32t in front with a DMR chainguide, no front shifters, the wheels are XT-hubs on Mavic F219-disc's, Diablos X-drive box.
1. For XC : Fox Vanilla 125 RLC set at 80-100mm and XT-hollowtech garniture, Shimano M646 pedals, tires are Continental 2.1, Syntace Vector handlebars.
2. For AM and light Freeride : F V 125 RLC set at 125mm +Raceface Diabolus -seatpost, tires are Continental 2.3, Shimano M646 pedals.
3. FR/HT DH : Raceface parts, Noname Downhill wheels with Speciallized 2.7 tires, noname platform-pedals, still looking for a fork uses the Fox at he moment but need extra travel. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike, i just need a setback seatpost and some Avid 7's.. And maby a Rockshox Boxxer Ride for the rough stuff.
It is possible to get a cheaper frame with the same geometry to suite my needs, but most dont look this cool.
Best allrounder i have had, and it even turns some heads here in little old Denmark, where most riders are Roadies or converts, who are mostly weightfreeks.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hoyt
a
from Greensboro, NC
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | "The Zone" at Country Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Banshee online (Demo Sale) | | Strengths: | SOLID frame | | Weaknesses: | Banshee |
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$ 1544.00
