[sh0rty]

I tried this one in the Turner forum with no response, so I am re-posting here:

Is the Burner frame strong enough for a big clydesdale (260lbs + gear) to us as a Epic XC bike? On MTBR the burner seems to have a reputation as a tougher than average XC raceable bike, but I have not found any Clyde-specific discusions about the bike.

Did my first endurance race this year (the 67km Test of Metal) on my Freeride hardtail. While I DNF'ed (due to a blown tube that took way too long to fix and caused me to miss a check point cutoff), I did have a great time, and I'm planning on doing a few more (possibly 4 or 5) similar endurance races next year.

In anticipation of next years racing and training, I am looking to get a new bike that is:
(1) More XC Oriented than my current hardtail. (Cove Stiffee FR)
(2) Active full suspension design. (was feeling beat up after long 50+ km training rides and the race itself, and I have problems losing traction on loose bumpy climbs on the hardtail)
(3) Still strong enough to hold up to my weight. (that is the one good thing about my current bike, every part is heavy and strong, I have not had a mechanical or structural failure all season...aside from a couple flat tires...one of which occurred during the race)

Whatever bike I get will be used for both training and the races. I'm on the west cost of BC (in the Vancouver/Squamish/Whistler area), so the trails I ride for training are mostly single track, rooty, rocky and muddy (usualy rains eight months of the year around here) with fire roads on some of the long climbs. I generaly ride 50 to 100km per week off road while training. The race courses are mostly the same terrain, ranging from 45km to 88km in length. I'd say my riding style is aggressive, I ride hard and fast, especially on downhill sections, though I avoid drops greater than a few feet, and don't seek out jumps and stunts.

Do you think the Burner is up to this? Other clides with experience on this bike? ...or should I look elsewhere? Suggestions?

sh0rty

 

[mtbykr]

titus

i was in the same sit a few months ago (now i am down to 225# and dropping) and i could not find an answer, most people told me to jump up to the turner 5-spot. however i did find great clyde results on a titus racer x (and it is more xc race oriented -- what i think may suit your needs better)

Look in the reviews section and try the titus forum-----Good Luck

 

[Cary]

The Burner is more than strong enough. You can call Turner and ask them, but if you do a search of the Turner forum you will find that they have said the Burner is as strong as the 5 spot. As others have said the Titus is also a very strong bike. Either should last you years as long as you don't go hucking the bike off 3-4 drops all the time. As always, rider smoothness will effect the life of parts.

 

[Homebrew]

I think the Burner would hold up okay for XC riding but I'm not sure about the air shock. You might need to go coil. A low leverage ratio bike like the Racer-X 100 or Hammerhead are fine for clydes with air shocks but the Burner has a smaller stroke shock. Check with Turner on the shock choices.

 

[rockcrusher]

I rode and raced a burner for about 4 years. It started it's life as a burner DH bike, but I broke the original front triangle. Turner got me a new front (circa 2001) without the gussets and stuff that the new one has. I used the same rear end and shock (vanilla RC). I used this bike for another couple of years and only moved on when I need to get discs and the old (circa 1996) rear end had no provision for the discs. The amazing thing is that the bike rode so well and the parts from 1996 and 2001 were interchangable. I was sad to leave it but I just needed more suspension travel (only had 3.5"). In my opinion they are super duper tough. The only beef I had was that the front was a little flexy under me (240 lbs loaded). This showed up as a little vagueness in the steering department and a little wander under hard cornering. That's it though.

Good Luck.