Description:For those that dare to see whats on the other side the mountain. The Rune was made for the weekend adventurer to explore the back country. Escape the madness of the cities and urban sprawl and return to nature, restore your inner peace and go to the places most people will never see. This sturdy frame with amazing pedalling qualities will keep you pedalling all day and get you easily down the steepest mountain when its time to come home.
Frame: 6" travel, VF4B virtual pivot [greasable bushings], custom hydroformed tubes w/built in gussets, ISCG05, internally ribbed seat and chainstays Sizes: 15, 16.5, 18, 19.5" Colors: team black/polish, white, black ano, gold ano Weight: 7.0 lbs [medium w/o shock] more here http://bansheebikes.blogspot.com/search/label/Rune
Submitted by
ekoostick
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, OR Date Reviewed: October 2, 2008
Favorite Trail:
18 Road
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Strengths:
One of the best full suspension designs I have ever ridden. It took a little bit to get the rear suspension dialed and once it was set, the bike just floated over everything.
Weaknesses:
With the suspension setup wrong, I had a lot of chain growth. Once I played around with the shock (Manitou Evolver) and got it set for me, it was unbelievable.
Manitou Evolver rear shock with a Rock Shox Lyric front. All SRAM with some nice Chris King wheels.
Bottom Line:
I thought I hated this bike at first. The chain would constanty pull back and I would have to hike-a-bike it up a hill. I was ready to sell it but thought I should make sure it was setup right. After reading about the Evolver and learning how off my setup was, I readjusted and rode. The bike was 100% better and I was super confident in no time. A few 2000' climbs have made me realize that this frame is perfect for all mountain riding. It rides as well up as it does down.
I should mention that I shot a few messages to Jay (Banshee) and Shin (Trident) and the responses were within the hour! Not a better company out there in my opinion!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bbkr
a Cross Country Rider
from 3City, Poland Date Reviewed: August 15, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
www.7anna.com.pl
Strengths:
Position on the bike feels very secure both at low and high speeds.
Frame has awesome turning capabilities, suspension is doing great job keeping wheels on the ground all the time during turns on bumpy ground. It takes time to get used to that traction. Forget your hardtail habits of praying during turns :)
Jumping is pleasant. I'm not a pro rider and this frame is very forgiving. No matter how I messed up the landing, I never faceplanted or fell on my back.
Floating pivot does it's job and after locking floodgate in front shock it feels like hardtail when stepping on pedals.
Weaknesses:
None found.
Bike Setup:
Manitou Metel RP coil rear shock. RockShox Revelation dual air front shock. Sun MTX rims with Nokian NBX tires.
Bottom Line:
After putting all the parts together i took first ride. Got back home after 13 hours. Just couldn't stop riding... The versatility of this frame is AMAZING! I can speed through city leaving scared people and honking drivers behind. I can race on bike track with guys wearing tights (where do they come from?) showing them their place in line. I can go to forest trails and try some jumps.
Now one word about the frame sizing. Banshee guys advised me (fast response) small one or medium if used with short stem. So I got medium size frame with NS Quark stem, NS Habanero 700mm wide handlebar and 130mm fork. And this setup fits me (176cm/100kg) perfectly.
My advice is: Don't try to elongate the frame by using long stem - you will mess up geometry. Also get the widest handlebar available so you can control this one-point-five tube standard monster.
That's my first full. And my first Banshee. All I have to say is that I'm not going back :)
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Submitted by
Dingo2024
a Weekend Warrior
from Yorkshire UK Date Reviewed: July 27, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Stainburn
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
Freeborn
Strengths:
Light weight, very stiff and strong, excellent pedal platform, very plush rear end
Weaknesses:
keep getting stopped on the trail as everyone wants to ride it!
Similar Products Used:
Mongoose teocali
Bike Setup:
Rune frame size small with Fox DHX 5 air shock (with Lizard skin)
Rockshox Pike 454 air u turn
Hope M4 brakes 200mm front 180mm rear rotor with Goodridge braided hoses
Thomson X4 70mm stem
Easton Havoc DH bars
ODI ruffian grips
Cane Creek Double Xc headset
XT cranks with C3 Products crank protectors 22 / 32 rings
Shadow rear mech med
XT cassette 11-34
Gamutt bashring
KMC 9l chain
Stans ZTR Flow rims on Hope Pro2 hubs
Panaracer Rampage tyres (with tubes)
Bully Bikes magnesium pedals (from my bmx days)
Praxys seat post (will be changed to a gravity dropper)
WTB Pure V saddle
Hope QR seat clamp
Specialized Enduro 05/06 chain stay protector
Bike weighs 31.5lbs as is.
Bottom Line:
this IS the best bike I have ever riden; better than the DH bikes I used to race Nationally for going down and climbs with the best of them. A true all rounder and capable of pretty much anything-the only question is; are you good enough for the Rune?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gunnar-man
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, Alberta Canada Date Reviewed: July 26, 2008
Favorite Trail:
All of them
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1900.00
Purchased At:
Bow Cycle
Strengths:
It is a Banshee, low center of gravity, smooth ride, good cable routing, very stiff
Weaknesses:
Noisier than hell on the descents; virtual pivot rear triangle design with SRAM rear derailleur can make it difficult to remove rear wheel
Ano gold frame,08 Fox Van RC2, Evolver ISX6, X9 with Raceface Altas,729s on Hadley hubs, Gravitydropper seat post
Bottom Line:
I am always leery of being the first to try a new model but so far it has been money well spent. This is my second Banshee and I love this one. It rails nicely in turns, nice lower centre of gravity and feels very flickable. I have ridden it mostly on trails and one weekend at Silverstar resort and it has been great.
I have also been impressed with the Evolver rear shock. I originally ordered a DHX Air but they were out of stock and only had this shock available. It was $200 cheaper without the DHX and I am glad I took it now.
I do find it a noisy bike on descents though, which is due to the rear triangle. THis is the same as the Nomads, VP Frees and Reigns I have ridden though.
All in all, I would recommmend it to anyone lookin for a 6inch do-it-all bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex Baxter
a
from Australia Date Reviewed: March 16, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Feels really comfortale to ride with the saddle up, but when you drop the saddle, the bike feels almost like a DHbike. Great pedaling efficiency, amazing bump sensitivity, and can take big hits (8 foot drops to tranny) comfortably. The pivots work great, and have no signs of wear in the bushings yet even tho I have done over 100 miles a week riding since I got it.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Bullet, Specialised SX
Bottom Line:
I love my Rune, it is a fantastic bike do do all my riding from XC days in the mountains to downhilling with mates. I can't really fault it, it is much better than anything I have owned before.
Not only is does this bike ride amazingly well, but it seems to inspire me with confidence to push a little bit further than I ever dared before, especially cornering at speed, ir just rails round them.
I love this bike, hats off to Banshee for creating such a fine piece of kit. I wasn't sure about getting a banshee at first, but all my doubts have been proved wrong, this bike is perfect for me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a
from Bristol, UK Date Reviewed: February 29, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Stiffness, INCREADIBLE pedaling efficiency, and yet it goes sooo fast, and feels comfortable in the downhills, active suspension while braking, looks great, is light and strong. the pivot axle design is fantastic simplicity and works a treat!
Weaknesses:
N/A
Similar Products Used:
Specialised SX, Commencal meta5, Giant Reign
Bottom Line:
This frame is superb, It feels like it has as much travel as my old giant on the downhills, but is stiffer when it comes to side loading, and pedals better than any of my previous bikes. the braking is as good as my specialised SX was, infact it feels a bit better balanced on the steep tech downhills. It climbs like a pure XC bike.
I really can't fault this bike, it is clear that a lot of thought and good engineering has gone into it, and I am very very happy I chose this bike as my new steed!
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Submitted by
Dean W
a Weekend Warrior
from Maple Ridge, BC, Canada Date Reviewed: February 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Snakes and Ladders
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Maple Ridge Cycle
Strengths:
Relatively light @ 7.2lbs with shock stiff laterally, smooth suspension, bottomless feeling, bushing suspension pivots with grease ports,1.5" head tube, great angles for climbing and descending, low center of gravity, ISCG tabs, 73mm BB, 135mm rear end, great stand-over, hydroformed down tube, simple cable routing, replaceable hanger, clean understated painted on graphics, good product support
Weaknesses:
None really.
Similar Products Used:
2002 Norco Atomic, Santa Cruz Heckler, Norco Six, Santa Cruz Bullit, Devinci Ollie, Santa Cruz Blur
Bike Setup:
2008 Small Rune Frame (team colors: black and polished), Manitou ISX-6 Evolver shock, 2006 Fox 36Van RC2 fork, FSA Orbit Extreme Pro reducer headset, Easton EA70 bars,Easton Vice stem, XO shifters, Juicy 7 brakes with carbon lever ti bolts. 8" front / 7" rear, ODI ruffian grips, WTB Rocket ti saddle, Praxxis post, XT front mech, XO mid cage rear mech, XT 175mm cranks 32/22 Envy bash, Axiom road gap pedals, SRAM PC99 chain, XT rear cassette 12-34, DT 5.1 King 20mm front, DT5.1 King HD axle funbolt rear, Minion DHF Kevlar front and rear 2.35 Total weight is 33.5lbs
Bottom Line:
When I discovered the Rune, it looked really good on paper, in pictures and the specs were exactly what I wanted in a bike....something to get me up the hill with no muss, no fuss just relatively easy to pedal up that would then descend well. Once I had the bike built, I was amazed, in fact blown away at how well the Rune climbs. Whether it is on smooth gravel, false flat climbs or steep technical climbs, the Rune tackles them all without any issues. The angles are spot on for climbing quite steep sections of trail even with a somewhat high front fork (Fox 36VAN RC2). The bike is a wicked climber. Everyone that has thrown a leg over my bike has said WOW, that thing is good.
What is even better is how it goes down hill. No brake jack/squat, active rear end and a bottomless progressive feel to the rear end. The angles are once again spot on for riding steep stuff or even mellow trails downhill. The length of the bike is perfect for riding reasonably fast downhill without getting sketchy but is short enough for tight trails. The perfect medium. The low COG makes the bike an absolute dream to rail turns. Personally I ride everything from sweet smooth flowing single track to steep gnarly rocky rooty terrain with drops, gap jumps and skinnies. With this bike I can ride it all with complete confidence in my bike.
The frame is well priced and as bonus Banshee is somewhat of a indie brand being not so common place as other bike brands. I have a feeling this may change as more people see hear and taste the Rune.
If you are in the market for ONE bike, this may very well be the perfect bike for you. Strong, light, 6" of suspension that climbs and descends exceptionally. It is a bike designed and engineered by a real engineer that truly listens to what most riders have asked for in a true enduro do-it-all bike. Banshee has nailed this one with near flawless execution.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave McHenry
a Weekend Warrior
from BC Date Reviewed: November 6, 2007
Favorite Trail:
river runs through it
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Pedaling efficiency, lateral stiffness, geometry fits me perfectly, looks beautiful in real life, I've crashed hard several times on this bike breaking forks etc, and the frame still looks brand new. Use of bushings and grease ports works perfectly.
Banshee Rune, fox Talas 36 DHX air sram drive saint cranks formula brakes
Bottom Line:
This is without a shadow of a doubt the best bike I have ever ridden for trail riding and all day epics, the funny thing is that its also one of the best climbing bikes I have ever had the pleasure of being on, and it descends better than the DH bike I sold to get it, I just can't fault it!
It is in my opinion the best bike i the world today!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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