V3 Prime / Phantom
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Do you have the Phantom build up yet?
The Phantom V3 scores consistently high marks against some well-established players in a recent Vital MTB test. And looks way better than everything in the process.
https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/V...hort-Travel-29er-Mountain-Bikes-Reviewed,2835
https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/V...hort-Travel-29er-Mountain-Bikes-Reviewed,2835
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Just finished my Prime build last week and rode 12 miles yesterday. I was afraid that I wouldn't like the long chain stays or wheelbase but it's the best turning bike I have ever ridden. Suspension felt great and I didn't make any adjustments from what I had set in the garage. Just need to bleed the rear brake and get some more dirt on it.
XL 32.2 lbs w/o pedals
XL 32.2 lbs w/o pedals
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nice dude what was your previous bike ? i currently ride a 2017 trek remedy and worried the prime will feel huge on the trail
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2016 Transition Smuggler, also XL. I was also worried since the Prime is 2 inches longer but right away it felt natural. No weird body English needed to go through some of the tight turns on the downhill like I needed on my old bike. Flatter flowy sections at the bottom of my local trail system were just as fun if not more.
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The Vital review is exactly what I wanted to hear about the Phantom, but 31 pounds is just a little disappointing. Would it be reasonable to get a Phantom down 27ish pounds?
Also, any opinions on using a non reservoir shock on the Phantom? Something like the Fox DPS.
Also, any opinions on using a non reservoir shock on the Phantom? Something like the Fox DPS.
Most mid priced trailbikes these days are hovering around 30-31lbs, even carbon ones. The tech exists to make them lighter but then things start to be less durable.
My prime with carbon hoops, carbon bars, coil fork and exo tires weighs a smidge over 32lbs.
My carbon firebird with alloy hoops, carbon bars, carbon cranks, coil fork, X2 and tire inserts weighs....a smidge over 32lbs.
I think bike mfrs are sick of bikes breaking, so they keep around 30lbs and just make them more capable.
Put fast tires on your bike if you want it to feel fast.
My prime with carbon hoops, carbon bars, coil fork and exo tires weighs a smidge over 32lbs.
My carbon firebird with alloy hoops, carbon bars, carbon cranks, coil fork, X2 and tire inserts weighs....a smidge over 32lbs.
I think bike mfrs are sick of bikes breaking, so they keep around 30lbs and just make them more capable.
Put fast tires on your bike if you want it to feel fast.
Ripley Carbon Frame in medium is 6lbs and a Phantom is 7.8lbs. So for the same build a Phantom is only 1.8lbs heavier than a V4 Ripley- not bad considering it's AL with a PB Shock. 1/3 of lb in the shock alone.
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Remember that in the Vital review they used control tires that were very heavy. The Assegai 2.5WT EXO+ is 1,125 g and the Aggressor 2.3 DD is 1,115 g. That's 2,240 for the pair. You could easily lose weight there and still have a good solid set of tires. As Twotone said, the frame is 7.8lbs so with carefully selected parts it wouldn't be too hard to build a pretty light bike.
This ^^^^^^^^
I have a V1 Phantom that I’ve TRIED to break the 30 pound barrier but no bueno. Even down to a set of Cane Creek eeWings.
At the expense of sounding cliche, Banshees ride WAY lighter than what the scale says, are burly as h$ll, and have a solid feel that’s hard to describe.
That being said, my V3 Prime frame arrived yesterday and the build up starts this weekend. And yes, I’m gonna try to break the 30 pound barrier. But it’s not gonna happen..... 😀😀😀😀😀😀
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All test bikes had Maxxis EXO+ and DD tires, take off a 1lb by swapping to EXO tires...or try not to weigh your bike.
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I put some lightweight parts on my spitfire V3 and got it down to just under 28lbs... really didn't like how it handled, it got skittish, parts felt flexy and it was slower on descents without being noticeably faster on climbs. So built it back up to 32,5lbs and am much happier. I don't notice the difference when climbing at all (only maybe when lifting over fences etc a little) and it's much more stable, faster and fun on the descents.
Stop worrying about bike weight so much, I'd argue for the type of riding that most banshee customers focus on (when pointed downhill) a heavier bike is advantageous. Focus on how well the parts work rather than how much they weigh and you'll be a faster and happier rider.
Stop worrying about bike weight so much, I'd argue for the type of riding that most banshee customers focus on (when pointed downhill) a heavier bike is advantageous. Focus on how well the parts work rather than how much they weigh and you'll be a faster and happier rider.
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Not sure why some get jacked up when the weight question gets asked. Everybody has different priorities. I can see myself using a lighter Phantom for rides in the 30/40/50 mile range and a heavier built Titan for dh oriented days.
I don’t get the sense that anyone’s jacked up. Get your point re: different priorities though. I think as Keith (Banshee’s chief engineer) alluded to above, most of us Banshee riders were initially attracted to this brand because not that long ago they designed the only trail bikes with geometry that actually felt fun and confidence inspiring while descending. Hence the majority of Banshee riders prioritizing a solid build at the expense of lower weight on paper. FWIW I have ridden several long bikepack routes (including the Durango to Moab San Juan route, 7 days in the Chilcotins and the whole Colorado Trail) on my 33 lb V2 Spitfire and would not have changed a thing on my build. It’s my only bike and is just as happy climbing 2000-5000 ft up my local trails as it is going back down. I think dropping 1-2 lbs off the frame or build would only hurt performance and reduce my confidence on the bike. Also, parts used to break a lot more when I tried to worry about weight. Now my bike is solid and I’ve reduced the amount of broken parts in the landfill. To each their own though, not trying to diminish another’s opinion.
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To reply to the initial question...I finally received my Jade X coil for my Phantom V3...And it feels amazing! It's so much more sensitive than the Fox DPX2 it's silly. I don't have any trail time on it yet (I just received the shock yesterday), But I'll have a better impression of it after the weekend. The only thing that I'm concerned about now is that my fork won't feel up to snuff compared to the rear suspension.
In terms of the question of getting this bike into the 27-28 lb range, I think it would be quite difficult without making some major compromises particularly in terms of tires and wheels. My large frame with headset cups, 148x12 short dropouts, and the stock FOX DPX2 weighed in at 8.3lbs. Fully built with the air shock I got it to around 31.5lbs...the coil shock added about a pound to that.
I'm excited to get this thing out to the trails and see how she goes with the Jade X!
It occurs to me that I should include some basic build specs, so here goes:
Frame: Phantom V3 large blk anno
Crankset: Raceface Turbine Cinch w/32t ring
Drivetrain: SRAM XX1 11 speed.
Brakes: Hope Tech3 E4 with 180mm rotors f and r
Stem: Syntace Megaforce 50mm
Bar: Spank Oozy 780 Vibrocore 25mm rise
Seatpost: Rockshox Reverb B1 170mm with Bikeyoke Dehy adapter and Bikeyoke lever
Fork: MRP Ribbon (set to 135mm)
Shock: DVO Jade X with 450 or 500lb spring (I kinda split the difference).
Wheels: Hope Pro 4's laced to DT Swiss XM 421 rims.
Tires: Continental Trail King 2.4 Apex Protection (F), Continental X-King 2.3 Apex Protection (R). Both black Chili compound. Tubeless.
Me: 5'11ish, 175lbs ish with my gear
In terms of the question of getting this bike into the 27-28 lb range, I think it would be quite difficult without making some major compromises particularly in terms of tires and wheels. My large frame with headset cups, 148x12 short dropouts, and the stock FOX DPX2 weighed in at 8.3lbs. Fully built with the air shock I got it to around 31.5lbs...the coil shock added about a pound to that.
I'm excited to get this thing out to the trails and see how she goes with the Jade X!
It occurs to me that I should include some basic build specs, so here goes:
Frame: Phantom V3 large blk anno
Crankset: Raceface Turbine Cinch w/32t ring
Drivetrain: SRAM XX1 11 speed.
Brakes: Hope Tech3 E4 with 180mm rotors f and r
Stem: Syntace Megaforce 50mm
Bar: Spank Oozy 780 Vibrocore 25mm rise
Seatpost: Rockshox Reverb B1 170mm with Bikeyoke Dehy adapter and Bikeyoke lever
Fork: MRP Ribbon (set to 135mm)
Shock: DVO Jade X with 450 or 500lb spring (I kinda split the difference).
Wheels: Hope Pro 4's laced to DT Swiss XM 421 rims.
Tires: Continental Trail King 2.4 Apex Protection (F), Continental X-King 2.3 Apex Protection (R). Both black Chili compound. Tubeless.
Me: 5'11ish, 175lbs ish with my gear
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