DT to Delirium, rider input

I had 2 seasons on the old DT and used it for everything from all day XC to full on DH riding. I purchased the new Delirium the first season it came out and have a full season under my belt with that bike. Either frame would make a great dedicated freeride bike.

Both frames feel very similar to each other. Both feel very stiff and burly. The suspension feels the same and they both pedal really well.

The Delirium gives you more of a centered feeling while the DT feels more like you're riding off the back of the bike. This really helps with AM riding and for those long days of pedalling. I've also found the centered feeling helped me rail berms and DH stuff better. As far as freeride stuff goes the DT seemed a little more forgiving since I felt more over the back of the bike but now that I've adapted to the center it's fine for me.

As far as technical differences go. The DT had adjustable chainstays which was a nice feature while the Delirium does not. The HA on the Delirium is about 1 degree slacker. The Delirium is about 1 lb. lighter than the DT.

Finding a good deal on a used DT shouldn't be too hard. A used Delirium will be difficult to find. You might see some go up for sale after the Chilcotin starts shipping.

Wrote this for the Vtach to Podium thread a few days ago... Edited and added a boat-load of content for this thread...

Background. I started with a Mark4 DT from 2007, ended with a Mark5 from Dec 2009, then got the new Delirium from the first run spring of 2010. I am riding the Delirium and have no plans to change for anything. I ride one bike and this is the one.

I find the difference between these two bikes the same as described above. The Delirium-T I found I rode more off the back of the bike, on the Delirium I find that I am more centered - and yes that "over the bars/front-end" feeling can be a bit disconcerting at first, especially in the tech steeps.

The Delirium is faster than the Delirium T, but the DT is a bit more comfortable in the slow techie stuff. Riding off the back feels a bit more controlled than over the front. My experience and opinion - so your mileage may vary. As for XC ability the new Delirium is better than the DT - again the in the middle with the steeper seat-tube pays off here. ( especially noted in long climbs ) The DT rocks for tech climbing. I especially like the adjustable drop-outs - something I do miss on the Delirium.

I think the Delirium flies a bit better than the DT, but it did take a bit to adjust to the different riding positions whilst airborne. It has more pop and is a bit livelier. I think the DT handles "Oh $hit" - going into plow bike mode in the rough better than the Delirium. May be the weight and the off the back position, but I'm more comfortable screwing up in the rough on the DT.

The DT is a super solid bike that I would still be on happily if not for the Delirium. Noel has fixed all the nigglie points I had with the DT while making very minimal compromises in some areas for the better overall performance.

...the DT is sold and I'm building it up for my best friend as I'm on the Delirium full time as the one and only. Even so I will be sad to see it go. But at least I will be able to take it for a spin when desired.

michael