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Average Rating
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4.79/5
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# of Reviews
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56
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MSRP
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$ 1389.00
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Weight
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More Products from Banshee Bikes
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Description:SCREAM GEOMETRY
- REAR WHEEL TRAVEL 5.4 - 7.9" (137-201)
- HEAD ANGLE 65-69°
- SEAT ANGLE 68-72°
- BOTTOM BRACKET HEIGHT 13.8 - 15.2" (350-485)
- CHAIN STAY LENGTH 16.7 - 17.6" (425-448)
The Banshee Scream comes in 4 sizes:
As you will notice these frames have fairly long top tubes and head tubes, to help coax you into a smaller size. If you're going to do a lot of pedaling and climbing to get where you want to go, get a bigger one. If you're dirt jump hucking and freeriding, get a smaller one.
Prices:
Frame only: $1389 (US)
Journeyman: $2299 (US)
Gucci: $3099 (US)
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Submitted by
Thomas Furjel
a Downhiller
from Topolcnay Slovakia Slovakia
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | DH | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$9000.00 | | Strengths: | On 99.5% indistructible.Only weakness....rider. | | Weaknesses: | Havent found them yet. | | Bike Setup: | Frame: Banshee Scream
Fork: Marzocchi Shiver DC
Brakes:Hope M4 front and Magura Gustav M rear
Rims: SunRims S-Type front and 24 inch Doule track rear
Stem: Marzocchi for Monster Shiver and Super/Junior T
Derailleur: Sram x9
Shifter: Sram x9
Chainguide: Truvativ BoxGuide
Spokes: DT Swiss
Hubs: Marzocchi front and Banshee factory rear
Rear Shock: Marzocchi Roco RC
Cranks: Truvativ Husefelt
Bottom Bracket: Truvativ Hovitzer XR | | Bottom Line: | This is the probably strongest frame on planet(not homemade tank).If u want to go big you can count on it.It will never let u down.It is so much fun riding this bike.It doesnt matter it weights so much.You will be heathier :).I think that this is the frame for those who want to have some fun in woods,dirts...probably anywere u take it.And now for those who want to win the DH wold cup...there is plenty of lighter frames but if u want to have a lot of fun,go for Banshee Scream. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eddie Burk
a Weekend Warrior
from Lakeland Fl. USA !
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | all of em! | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | Now out of business. | | Strengths: | Indestructable frame! Solid and Heavy. | | Weaknesses: | Solid and heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing else like it! | | Bike Setup: | Shimano xt fr. and rr. Kenda front Specialized rear. WTB freeride seat. Serial Killa head. Truvativ gigapipe DH BB. Truvativ Hussefelt cranks. Azonic a-frame platform pedals. Rockshoxx Race Triple clamp front end. 26" (in place of stock 24" rear wheel) Mag 30 rear wheel. Specialized Big Hit rear Hub. Formula front hub. Hayes 9" Hydro-discs fr. and rr. Shimano Trigger shifters. Iron Cross grips. 90mm stem to stretch the cockpit for better off the seat (as well as seated), climbing ability. | | Bottom Line: | Almost four years on this bike. Only the "components" have failed. Same frame, Same set of bearings still functioning as designed. Took about a year to build up the stamina and leg / lung power it takes to make this thing go. There area a lot of bikes out there..but this one is certainly the most "fun" to ride! And the bonus is a killer workout built in to every ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tyler
a Downhiller
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | 1600.00 | | Strengths: | Smooth operation
Strong
Strong
10 year warranty (means it durrable)
sexy
strong
| | Weaknesses: | nothing yet | | Similar Products Used: | vp free | | Bottom Line: | Nothing better for freeride but also is one of the best dh bikes i have ever ridden
Perfect operation and you never have to worry about breaking it because you cant but even if you do you got a better warranty than on on a car
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eddie Nighthawk
a Weekend Warrior
from Lakeland Fl. USA !
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | ALAFIA AND CARTER | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Strengths: | Durable! Indestructible a two wheeled Hum-Vee. | | Weaknesses: | A two wheeled Hum-Vee! (but tons of fun!) | | Similar Products Used: | nothing else like it. | | Bike Setup: | Set up for extremely aggressive trail riding. replaced 24" rear with the 26".(intense mag 30). heavier rear coil spring. dailed in forks (Roxx Shocks Race). 2.8 wide front tire, (kenda kinetics) 2.5 wide rear.(Specialized Roller, very soft). | | Bottom Line: | 4 yrs on this bike now. Same (original)bearings in all positions. (And this bike does NOT sit idle.) Gone through 3 bottom brackets, 6 sets of pedals (go with Azonic!) Chain and cogs set , (two rear to one front). Still strong and true! A real tank, not a trail racer by any means! You will not go fast..but you will go! Anywhere you point it! Will work you hard on the climbs! They say you cant turn a freeride bike into a trail bike...Funny, but Ive been doing it for 4 years now, and just refuse to play bt "their" rules. Of course I made some custom adjustments | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geoff Bayldon
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne Victoria Australia
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | at the moment the abandoned quarry in hallam | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Dbike | | Strengths: | Ergonomically perfect, it feels like my Scratch with big wheels. Adjustability, low bb for better DH cornering or high for dirt jump or freeride and if you shorten the wheelbase it manuals like a BMX. Burl, by far the most over-engineered piece of freeride machinery on the market, I mean you don't stand on top of a cliff with a Scream and ask yourself "will the bike take it?" And god damn dose the Josh Bender edition look sweet. I tip my hat to the boys at Banshee | | Weaknesses: | Ha ha ha ha haaaaa! Ooooooooh Haa Haa ha ha ha ha haaaa! (chuckle chuckle) ha ha haa... Oh your serious? thats even funnier! | | Similar Products Used: | Had a Stinky Dee-Lux and various Norcos but I've ridden just about everything | | Bike Setup: | 888's, Mag 30's, Hayes, Dice, Truvativ, Sram | | Bottom Line: | Everything else is a toy!
Dropped six feet, didn't feel it.
Dropped twelve feet, didn't feel it.
When i get the balls to drop twenty four I'll let you know but the bike sure as hell isn't stopping me.
The weight thing is crap. I mean its about the same weight as my mates Demo 9.
Ignore the review by the guy who was unable to set up the bike and look at all the other satisfied customers.
If your looking for the last bike you'll ever buy than this is it. If your looking for excuses than ride XC | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james g
a Downhiller
from ottawa
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | anything super hardcore | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | cyclesmith | | Strengths: | extremely dominant, good for downhill, it makes it easier to say your better then some ome else | | Weaknesses: | a bit to heavy for my weak bone structure | | Similar Products Used: | devinci ollie | | Bike Setup: | 888, sun rims , hayes 8 inche , easton bars | | Bottom Line: | better than anything jarek will ever have | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
EDDIE BURK
a Weekend Warrior
from LAKELAND, FLA. USA!
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | ALL DIRT! | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | B.C.I. | | Strengths: | INDESTRUCTABLE! | | Weaknesses: | NONE FOR ME! | | Similar Products Used: | NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT! | | Bike Setup: | XT DERAILEURS, XT HUBS, HAYES 9" HYDROS. SERIAL KILLA HEAD. INTENSE MAG 30 REAR WHEEL WITH DT SWISS STAINLESS SPOKES. TRUVATIV GIGAPIPE DH BB. CAT EYE ODOMETER/SPEEDO. KENDA 3"FRONT TIRE, SPECIALIZED ROLLER REAR TIRE. GUNMETAL PAINT. HOME MADE FENDER KIT (MY OWN CUSTOM CREATION). | | Bottom Line: | I WANTED SOMETHING TOUGH AND HEAVY! I GOT PLENTY OF BOTH!!! 2 YRS ON THIS BIKE NOW, AND NOW THAT I HAVE DEVELOPED THE LEGS AND LUNGS TO PROPERLY POWER IT...I HAVE UPGRADED EVERTHING AS TIME WORE THEM OUT. KINDA BORING THOUGH..NO PROBLEMS TO TALK ABOUT! SO, IM GOING RIDING! LATER! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad Tamas
a Weekend Warrior
from kamloops,b.c,canada
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | mount 7 10 km , golden b.c / tied with rose hill kamloops | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | pink bike | | Strengths: | everything its so fricken beefey . like dahm any one who doesnt think so is retarded . ps norco sucks | | Weaknesses: | the rear deraler cable blows out . ive gone threw alot of them | | Similar Products Used: | norco aline, santa cruz bullit, kona stuff, kona stinky , norco rampage | | Bike Setup: | med frame 03 jr t , funn fatboy slim bars , 24 rear mag 30 , 26 mavic 321 , maxxis high rolers , truvitive crank, avid mechanical 8 inch roaters | | Bottom Line: | this bike is awsome it does everyhting and the weight isnt that bad mines only 42 pounds , sure the frame weighs 13 pounds compared to a karpiel armegedon witch is 10 pounds but the pos would brake . bender rides one of these bikes nad he still hasent broke it . i havent ever herd of any brake but who cares warrantee kicks ass on theses things. i cant buy a diff bike now cuz i love mine to much . likke its just awsome i love it . is it wrong ot give want to give ur bike a hug , not when its a banshee . norco sucks buy a banshee for freeride u will love it . ps banshee rules
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
danny boy
a Downhiller
from weare, nh, usa
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | goodailes | | Strengths: | the best bike out there if you are a rough one. i have had m fair share of biek that had to be worked on everytime you take it out. but this thing you will never need to thouch | | Weaknesses: | no a one. some may say its heavy. but if you are woried about that go back inside and play video games. biking is a work out and you will get on if you are a ride that needs this frame | | Similar Products Used: | speacalized bighit | | Bike Setup: | frame-banshee scream
fork-marzocchi monster t
wheels-halo sas rear shock-progressive 5th element
breaks- Hayes hfx-9
handle bar-azonic ultra cross
seat-azonic love seat
chain guide- mrp mini me/ flawless
cranks- travite husfet
pedals- sun ringle
stem- race face diablo
tires- maxxis drive train- xt
grips- intence lock jaw
| | Bottom Line: | if you love to ride your bike and love to go big then go out there and pick one of these up and you will never look back to what you had. you will be doing 90mph in the right direction | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jody
a
from Victoria, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | 2250 Cdn. | | Strengths: | 2004 - big and burly, fixed weak spots of 2003
Frame.
- Been riding a scream for almost a year now, and
still have to admit, most fun and versatile bike I
have ever rode!!!
- 10 year warranty.
- Based in Vancouver
- Specifically designed for Freeriding (Though I\'m
still passing everyone at Whistler, didn' t know the
medium size could go so fast.)
- 16.75" chainstay ability. | | Weaknesses: | No ability to shift derailleur forward or back with
the 3 rear axle positions. That's okay, I only use
1st and 2nd anyways, so not really that big a deal.
Find the 3 position just too long for freeride. | | Similar Products Used: | Everything, this is probably my 20th bike. | | Bike Setup: | 02 Monsters, Hope Mono M4s, Hadleys, etc... | | Bottom Line: | If you FreeRide. Get one. Best FreeRide bike on the market. Period.
All I can say is a BIG FAT THANKS to Banshee Bikes
for warranty of my 2003 and uping me to a 2004.
Cracked the front and rear triangles of the 2003,
and they warrantied my with a 2004.
Kiddies, if you want a big fat frame for 2004 and
beyond, get the Scream, I promise you it will not
dissapoint you. Friends try mine and are SOLD! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geno
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Polk, LA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3200.00 | | Purchased At: | Adrenaline Bikes | | Strengths: | Awesome welds and attention to detail. Strength beyond words to describe. Huge headtube and Chainstays | | Weaknesses: | What you are joking right? | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky | | Bike Setup: | Super T pro, 5th Element, Chris King ISO laced to Mavic 321 (built by Gravvy!) | | Bottom Line: | Alright bottom line....When you were a kid dreaming about a bike that would do all the things you wanted, well this is the one. Its huge and heavy. If you have the legs and lungs you can climb anything. Going down? Well this baby well crush ANY obstacle. Drop offs and chutes? Time to stand up and tell em you are my Beeotch! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
LONDON GEEZER GEEZER
a Weekend Warrior
from PLANET EARTH
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | PLANET EARTH | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | A PAL OF MINE | | Strengths: | "SUPER-DOOPER BAD-ASS HARD-CORE RIG" | | Weaknesses: | NONE!! | | Similar Products Used: | A FEW OTHER RIGS! | | Bike Setup: | READY TO RIP! | | Bottom Line: | WELL WHAT CAN I SAY BUT...THIS RIG IS MADE FOR "RIPPIN THE PLANET", SO....TIM L. I DONT KNOW WHAT YOURE TALKING ABOUT; I BET YOU DONT EVEN HAVE A BIKE MATE,OR YOU SPEND ALL YOURE TIME IN FRONT OF THE TV (SAD MAN!!)TO ALL THE "REAL TROOPERS"OUT THERE,"RIP_HARD" AND DONT LISTERN TO "PLUMS" LIKE MR;(TINY)TIM.L. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Enlaverdad Untipoblanco
a Downhiller
from BCG
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2679.00 | | Strengths: | Longevity. | | Weaknesses: | Weight. | | Similar Products Used: | Demo 9 | | Bottom Line: | Well, it's been 6 months since my last review of this bike. I've now had it for a year.
The only weakness that I can think of is the weight. I went with some lighter wheels after my first set of rims blew up and this dropped a few pounds. It really made a huge difference in the percieved weight of the bike though. The bike is feeling just about perfect now at 43lbs.
Predictibly, nothing on the frame has gone wrong. The headtube, pivot bearings, suspension bolts, and frame materials are all really bombproof so I don't foresee any problems arising anytime in the next decade or so.
There were a few set up changes that I made that I feel really make the feel more dialed for DH type riding. I lengthened out the adustable chainstays a bit past 17", went with a lower rise handle bar, and traded out the rear spring for a lighter one.
I'm still totally stoked on the bike. The frame itself is really over engineered, so there's nothing worth worrying about there. The only real questions you need to figure out when looking at buying this bike is what parts will work the best for you, and then getting everything dialed.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Thomas
a Downhiller
from Prince George B.C. Canada
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything with big drops | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2900.00 | | Purchased At: | MB Racing | | Strengths: | Man I don't know what you could say is not strong on this bike. It is absolutely indestructible. Componentry is of very good quality as well. | | Weaknesses: | Ummm......... I don't think that there is really anything that could be called weak about this bike. It is so tough. Only downside is the weight but hey, it isn't going to break. | | Similar Products Used: | I have ridden lots of fs bikes as I work at a bike shop. Cannondales, Jamis, Da Bomb, etc. Nothing compares in my mind to a Banshee. | | Bike Setup: | The way this bike is setup is totally cool for the way it rides. Even though my bike weighs over 50lbs I can pedal up hills that I couldn't on my VPS. It is a super efficient pedaling machine. The suspension setup is very well designed as well. There is barely any bob to rob you of that much needed pedal power when it counts. | | Bottom Line: | For the price of the bike I couldn't belive how tough that it all is. I am not a gentle rider by any means. I have thrown this bike off of houses(with me on it) and it totally soaks up anything that I can dish or ever will dish out. If you break bikes or just can't find something that you don't trust on those big drops, GET A SCREAM. You can't go wrong with this bike. I luv it so much that I'm getting a '04 model this year and have two. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eddie Nighthawk
a Cross Country Rider
from Lakeland Fla. U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | B.C.I. | | Strengths: | Everything! One tough machine!!!! | | Weaknesses: | Try to find one...........
| | Bike Setup: | Stock Journeyman package..with bottom bracket up-graded to a Truvativ Gigapipe splined. | | Bottom Line: | One year on this bike now. Except for the bottom bracket upgrade, and a few bent pedals(rider error), no problems to report! Have put this machine through its paces. I ride like a man with sox on fire! Cant say enough positive about this bike! If you want a tough heavy, 44lbs.(but the weight is barely noticeable)reliable bike. Buy It. Contact the guys at Banshee, and be ready to be amazed at the attention they will give you! Very helpful bunch of guys! Just try to contact any other bike mfgs Designers,,and good luck! This bike is a huge attention grabber...I get questions and compliments from someone every time I ride. This is the closest you will get to a four wheel drive two wheeler. Ride over anything!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JP
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Whistler | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Russ Hays / Banshee in North Van | | Strengths: | Big beefie frame, fat horizontal dropout. Killer Free ride machine. Ummmm... 10 year warranty. Due to this bike, finally got the manual down... only took 32 years ;0) Pedals lighter then it feels. Can run 2 chainrings w/ derailleur. | | Weaknesses: | Suggested Cable routing doesn't work. 6" rotor on back makes brake-jack feel funky. Getting an 8" rotor seemed to help. | | Similar Products Used: | Balfa BB7, Norco VPS. | | Bike Setup: | Shivers, 24" rear, 8 " Hydros | | Bottom Line: | Get this bike if you are tough on bikes. Get this bike if you like free riding. Get this bike if you like to pedal. Get this bike if you like jumping. Get this bike if you love riding. Get this bike if you love trials. Get this bike if you want 10 year warranty.
Don't get this bike if you race downhill (Buy my BB7 instead). Don't get this bike if you decide not to go with the 5th Element option. Don't get this bike if you... can't think of anything else.
GET THIS BIKE! If you don't, you are nutzo. Most fun bike I have ever owned! Will make you an instant super star. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Dick
a Downhiller
from California
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | anything steep | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | a bike shop | | Strengths: | evrything | | Weaknesses: | nothing | | Bike Setup: | totaly stock 03 | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike for downhillers and/or freeriders. I did a 15 foot drop the other day and this bike soaked up the landing like a sponge. I fall a lot and i havent changed a part on this bike yet, except the bars. I love this bike, If someone offered me a million bucks for this bike, i wouldnt sell it... maybe i would for that much money, but thats not my point. If you dont buy htis bike your crazy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Branden Lawson
a Weekend Warrior
from Fair Oaks, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything With Huge Drops | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1175.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Emporium-Auburn, CA | | Strengths: | This frame is extremely heavy duty in all areas, not just in the key areas like other bikes.The main bearings are huge, and all the other bearings on the linkage are standard skateboard bearings. This bike is clearly ment the be beat. I am a person that destroys parts and frames, I have broke my RM7 3 times, snapped the headtube clean off my New Jack Flash, and cracked the head tube on my 2003 Le Toy 3 (not so unbreakable, is it). I ride the hell out of the Banshee, and I've only had slight issues. | | Weaknesses: | I ride a medium frame and originally I set the cables up for the rear brake and derailler as Banshee sugested, and I pinched my hydro line and gear cable. I fixed this by roughting the cables like the kona stab does. | | Similar Products Used: | Rm7 | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Medium Scream frame, 2003 Monster T, FSA Pounder cranks, Evil guide, Intense Mag 30 rims, Gazz 3.0 Front, Intense 909 Rear, Hayes HFX-9 Brakes, and a few other random goodies. My bike weighs 56 lbs and plows everything, and will survive anything (to a point). The main lesson I've learned about bikes is that it will break no matter how big or bad, but at least with Banshee you have a 10 year warranty. | | Bottom Line: | Buy this frame if you are hard on bikes, the perfect canidate for this bike is someone that is expecting their bikes to break and they're always looking for weak spots. Luckily on this bike you won't find any weak spots and will most likely have a frame that lasts a long time. I haven't had a frame last more than three months and I think this is a frame that will. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rob cole
a Downhiller
from London, England
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | esher shore | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Freeborn Bikes Esher | | Strengths: | Very strong frame
Great suspension system for freeriding
Sweetest geometry i've yet ridden
Well finished
Rides really light for heavy bike
Great spares package | | Weaknesses: | *suspension seems to squat a little under high pedalling load (like going over peak of ladder trail)
*paint is a bit flimsy
*cable routing not ideal
*difficult to setup
*cr&ppy telescopic seatpost | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Big Hit DH 2002
ridden RM7, V-10, M1, Bullit, etc. | | Bike Setup: | 03 Super T Pro, Sun Singletrack 26" on Hope 20mm bulb, Sun Doubletrack on Gusset Jury 12mm/10mm bolt up, DMR Chieftan Mk2 cromoly cranks and Gusset chaindisc 38T, 11-30T XT 8 speed cassette, XT shifter, XT mech, Mr. Dirt Gizmo ISCG chain device, Nokian Gazz 2.6" tires and tubes, Race Face Diablous 31,8 bars and Diablous 30,0 seatpost, Marzocchi 55/67mm integrated stem, ODI lock-ons, Hayes HFX-Mag 8", etc. | | Bottom Line: | amazing!
having ridden a big hit for 1.5 years, loved the big hit but was finding it a little too tall on the skinnys (even though i'm 5'11" and riding a medium), the front end was too high with the long head tube and the frame was getting tired after lots of hucking abuse...
...wasn't sure about going from 4-bar to "faux-bar" (i.e. no horst pivot but pivots on seatstays) well i need not have worried it works a treat. theres a little squat if you're going up and over a steep peak on a skinny trail compared to the Big Hit which felt "mushy" at low speed but always found traction. the Scream doesn't feel like its lifting but it doesn't get the same traction...well the bikes is for me to go DOWN not up so its a tiny negative. the brake jacking thing hasn't been a problem despite big Spec's constant advertisign about the superiority of the FSR? i could't feel any chain tugging either, the pivot is in the perfect location for the power take off point on a 38T chainring so it pedals quite neutral.
the pedalling is better than the big hit, it doesn't have the soft mushy feel of the big hit but goes forward quicker which is good because it weighs 50lb compared to big hit at 46lb with same parts (only changed the seatpost). on the high skinnys it feels great, on drops it feels really good the rear is SO progressive on the shortest wheelbase setting. i'm running it with 24" rear and it works great for our local "shore" type riding and play riding
easiest bike i've ever had to manual roll on...top tube is MUCH shorter than my Big hit which gives me more control and the frame feels smaller and more flickable despite it being heavier.
10 year warranty, lovely easton northshore tubing, great CNC work really tough frame parts (dropouts!!!).
it takes time to setup. you need to convert your shimano hub to the solid axle, i had a Gusset Jurt trials hub from my Big Hit with solid 12mm axle machined to 10mm on dropout flats works a treat!
cable routing is a bit worrying, read some reviews criticising it but you can experiement with tape and cable ties so its not all bad
my best riding bike yet and looks the b*llocks! peoples jaws hang open and riders HAVE to come talk to me and dribble over the bike..lol
at last don't feel shame of riding corporate brand (had black tape on Big Hit logos)...
cheap too for "boutique" brand..only GBP£1100 compared to "budget" Spec Big Hit GBP £750, Orange 222 GBP£1300, Intense M-1 GBP£2500 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eddie Nighthawk
a
from Lakeland, Fla. USA
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | all of em' | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | BCI | | Strengths: | Everything! One tough assed bike !! | | Weaknesses: | None relly worth mentioning. Anything negative anyone could say would only amount to a matter of personal opinion. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fischer Joshua f-4, (a long outdated design!) . Klien, Trek Feul. | | Bike Setup: | Bone Stock ...Journeyman Package | | Bottom Line: | over 500 hard miles on this bike and not one real complaint. A few bent pedals, one broken brake line (firewood strike) And Tons of fun! Absolutely the best 2 wheels Ive ever slung a leg over.! This bike has proven to be very tough and reliable! The stock bottom bracket has just been replaced with a Truvativ DH Gigapipe. (slightly wider) And has provided a much better chain line match than did the stock setup. Smoother shifting now, If that was possible...never any real problems shifting. But now its like an automatic transmission. I use this bike for mainly trail riding and the phosphate pits here in Florida. Also own a 2003 Giant Iguana which has been totally upgraded from stock, but has been relegated to my backup bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Enlaverdad Untipoblanco
a Downhiller
from the BCG at the BYC
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | GMG | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2679.00 | | Strengths: | Pippin is a cool guy (owner). Give Banshee headquarters a call on the North Shore and he picks up the phone. I like that in a bike company.
The bike has GREAT North Shore geometry.
High quality construction. Excellent welds and beautiful machine work.
Great warranty and warranty service. | | Weaknesses: | Hmm. | | Similar Products Used: | Demo 9 (knockoff!) | | Bottom Line: | Great bike. I have yet to find something I don't love about it.
For a lot of the riders out there (ya you know who you are), this is the only bike made that is going to hold up in the long run. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
AKRida
a Downhiller
from pg
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | frame is insanely strong, virtually unbreakable, has a great Warantee. | | Weaknesses: | a tad heavy if your worried about it | | Similar Products Used: | K2, Balfa BB7, Fetish, Trek's other random crap | | Bike Setup: | FSA Cranks/hs/BB/stem, Wellgo Pedals, Boxxer Team fork, Vanilla RC shock, Azonic Handlebars/Hotseat, 24 Trailpimp rear/ Mag 30 front, 2.8 Michilen/2.75 Arrow tires, Magura Gustav Hydro brakes, bombshell rear Hub, Hanebrink front,XT shortcage derailer. | | Bottom Line: | Buy this bike if you want a reliable, Unbreakable, Burly bike, that you will never have to worry about if your bike can handle the drop. it's got a 10 year warranty so you dont have to worry about it wearing out, or stressing. my bike weighs in at 46.2 pounds but pedals alot better than it's weight. If you want a durable bighit bike this is the one for you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Favreau
a Downhiller
from Vegas (baby)
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Sasquatch | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Strengths: | -Stiff
-Good rear suspension design-progressive with very little chaingrowth (no ghostshifting)
-Freeride geometry to a T- Super nimble thanks to the short wheelbase, freeride head and seat tube angles (steeper than DH), and small frame sizes. Seat angle that is still comfortable on the Fromme climb.
-I especially love: The "Keggar" head tube. Ridiculously thick head tube eliminates even the slightest possiblity of ever even pondering ovalizing a headtube again. Also provides a large surface area to make stronger welds on the down and top tubes. Icing on the cake is that the tubes are Easton Rad and there is a huge gusset to back up the back at this critical junction. Nice engineering!
Only from a designer on the North Shore. | | Weaknesses: | The bike becomes very very progressive as you move the rear wheel to it's shortest wheelbase positions. It becomes so progressive that it even begins to rebound slowly and this really hurts the performance at full speed on the small hits. It becomes sort of a Josh Bender bike, designed to survive stoopid big drop without bucking the rider or breaking the bike, but it's a trade off.
On the up side, as the wheel is moved further back in the longer wheelbase positions the rebound gets quicker. The ride also gets more stable, though it's slightly less nimble in the really tight stuff.
| | Similar Products Used: | The Scream is very different from the rest of the offerings on the market right now. RM-7 feels slightly similar, Kona Stinky feels totally different, Norco Shore rides kind of like it a little bit. The Demo 9 from Specialized looks like it might be up the same alley. | | Bike Setup: | Measurments I've taken for my 16" frame with current set up (26" wheel, 7" Super-T): 15" BB height, 43.9" wheelbase, 67 degree headangle, 22.8" level top tube, 29" standover max, 31" realistcally.
16" is perfect for a me, 5'10" rider. 800lb spring on Fox also feels perfect, weigh 180lb.
Total bike weight on my cheapo scale: 43lbs. Frame and shock: 13lbs.
(Build is with Laserdisc DH wheels, XC saddle, FSA v-drive cranks, 2.5 Maxxis tires, etc)
The Turner DHR, and Santa Cruz V10 also weighed 13lbs on my scale | | Bottom Line: | Undoubtedly the best freeride bike on the market.
The only thing you need to know is that the bike is tricky to set up. The set up that I liked the best when I bought the bike on the Shore was a 24" rear wheel in the short setting (about 16.7") with a Super-T (7") front fork. I am no longer living on the Shore. I found that my old set up sucked on the terrain I'm riding now.
On faster terrain the bike was totally out of control with the short wheelbase set up. I have now switched to a 26" rear wheel, set at 17.1" (from BB) back in the dropouts. The bike is still nimble, but a lot more stable. Also the rear suspension reacts faster on the small stuff, but is still progressive enough on the big hits.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pekka Alasuutari
a Weekend Warrior
from Rovaniemi, Finland
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mäntyvaara to Lehtojärvi | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3300.00 | | Purchased At: | R-Tech suspensions | | Strengths: | Bomb proof, looks rad, gives you a total body workout when riding it all day long. | | Weaknesses: | Jorneyman package sucked pretty good. You should be smarter and go for the Gucci. Tight rearwheel clearense when trying to run shorter wheelbases on 2,6wheel. I hate the stupid logo.. Hayes cables are weak(have broken 2 and they are very expensive). Needs alternative rear cable routing(outside the swingarm). Kenda tyres are ok only if they could make them straight. Single track rims are ok only if they would stay straight(pour wheel build?). Pedals, or one of them broke after 3 rides. If your a shy dude like I am you will probably hate the attention it gets when pedaling in the city. Takes time to get it tuned in. I bought the 2003 bike but there still reads 2002 on the frame. | | Similar Products Used: | None... | | Bike Setup: | Jorneyman,. Super T Pro, Vanilla R, Hfx-9, Black Spire DS-1, Single Track&Kenda 2.6 front, Mavic 321&Nokia Gazzaloddi2.6 rear, Shimano XT short gauge, PedalPro Flatpedals | | Bottom Line: | Good frame. Banshee should only be sold with the best parts avaible. When you want a strong if not the strongest frame look no further. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hobit
a Downhiller
from Prag Czech Republic
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Dookie | | Strengths: | Super strong, good in every detail, solid. Very sweat drop and air machine but surprisingly good uphiler :) Vannila RC :) Super tough Kegger headtube.
Feels like BMX in air - its not a downhiller its freerider! Its first really freeride bike on market. It looks heavy, yes its heavy but it feels light. And its cheap. I dont believe on 10yr warranty but it could be plus. | | Weaknesses: | Paint is comin down veryquickly Its heavy if you goin uphill. Idont like banshee logos. You cant get the seat down - the stayyoke will crash the seat :( | | Similar Products Used: | RB monster dh, RB monster fr KonaStinky deelux Rockmachine Adr7000, | | Bike Setup: | Scream03 with VannilaRC, JR.T02, Hayes, Easton bars, Nokian gazza2.3 | | Bottom Line: | Its for every rider who like dirtjump drops gaps. Its not a proffesional dh bike but i think its a proffesional freeride. Its heavy fullsuspension bike and dirjump ht in one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jw boucher
a
from St. Paul, MN, USA
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Test of Metal | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | This is actually a review for Banshee's new Chaparral frame/bike. I had no place to place my review. The Chaparral is a 5 or 6" travel bike. Still built to take it. Frame wieghed 9 lbs without shock. I had a test bike for a few days. Color. It is a dark metallic grey. | | Weaknesses: | Couldn't find anything major flaws with it in the few days I had it. If I have to nit pick, the frame won't allow any rear tire larger than a 2.5". That isn't a big deal to me, but to some it might. Also, the frt triangle has no bottle mounts. Again, not a big deal, but I live in the MN and need to ride at night for several months of the year. I like to have both a bottle/bar light and a helmet light. | | Similar Products Used: | I have ridden lots of freeride bikes and owned (or own) several including Santa Cruz, Intense, Titus, & Rocky Mtn. | | Bike Setup: | Psylo SL fork, new SRAM X.9 drivetrain, Hayes brakes, Mavic F219's & a few race face bits. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike. You can set it up with an air shock at 4 or 5 inch or use a coil at 5 or 6" I rode it with a Romic coil shock in the 6" mode with the Psylo set at 120mm. It can be an epic XC bike or set it up with a Z150 or dual crown fork for freeride. The frame certainly can take it. I plan to purchase one in a different size and set it up as a freeride bike to replace my old RM-6.
The other cool thing is that many mfgs are missing the boat and building cool bikes that are not dual or triple ring compatible. The Banshee Chap' uses a standard shimano non top swing front mech, so you have your choice of Deore thru XTR. C'mon Mfg's. We need to ride these things uphill. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil
a Weekend Warrior
from Zurich,Switzerland
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Lenzerheide | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Hibike | | Strengths: | Indestructible, smooth and good looking | | Weaknesses: | Nothing so far | | Similar Products Used: | No one like this | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Dirtjumper I, Fox Vanilla RC, Shimano XTR/XT, Magura Louise FR, Huegi FR, DMR,..... | | Bottom Line: | I haven't ridden it so many times yet, but it just feels supersmooth and it takes any trail, even uphill! Don't worry about the weight, because it feels much lighter when you ride it. I highly recommend this bike for any downhiller/freerider!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Downhiller
from Sherman Oaks
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | Helens Cycles, Santa Monica | | Strengths: | Everything! I have never been on a bike that 'Screams' to drop everything...!! The reviews below are correct. When you get on this bike it feels about 10 lbs lighter than its actual weight. I got mine down to 45.5 lbs, which isn't too bad. The |
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