2004 Turner DHR Review

Two seasons ago I rode a 2002 Turner DHR, which I liked a lot. Even though it was pretty close to perfect in my eyes, there were a few things about the bike I wish I could have changed - Like the head angle, which was a tad steep for me. A bit more travel would have been nice as well! I guess I wasn’t the only one. Either that or Dave Turner read my thoughts since the new and improved DHR addresses those – I’m pretty confident it’s the former ;o)
Turner Suspension Bicycles, Inc. is always at work refining their already race-proven designs. People who are serious about racing have a few criteria in common when it comes to a race bike! They want a bike that is light, pedals well and handles great. Over the past two seasons, Turner has worked closely with their racers (team), developing the next generation DHR. The result is a faster and lighter DHR.


Anyone familiar with the DHR can clearly see the transformation and refinements the DHR has gone through over the past 2 years. The 2004 DHR now uses square tube front triangle design for lateral rigidity and strength, yet much lighter. The 1.5 head tube allows for a larger bearing to be used for the bigger hits of today’s downhill courses. I opted for an E13 Components upper Zero-Stack reducer cup and Cane Creek Solos bearing to keep my handlebars/upper crown as low as possible. To keep stack height where it matters, I’m using a Cane Creek Double XC lower cup, thus maintaining proper head angle.


The DHR features 8.5” of rear wheel travel via a rising rate linkage system while [L=http://www.romicmfg.com]Romic’s[/L] position sensitive shock takes care of all the damping! The pivots on the DHR use needle bearings with Turner designed seals and of course, zerk fittings!!! According to Turner, each of the needle bearings will carry 4 times the load of ball bearings, making them uber durable, while the zerk fittings and Turner seals promise very low maintenance!


When you see a Turner bicycle, the first thing you notice is the high level of craftsmanship that goes into each and every frame! Turner has built a solid reputation for building beautiful high quality bikes. I must admit though, when I first saw pictures of the square tube DHR, it didn’t really appeal to me. That was until I saw one up close and personal – pictures really didn’t do it justice.

I feel really fortunate that Turner was nice enough to hook me up with a 2004 DHR for this season. The first thing I did after building her up was open the garage door and pin it down the driveway! Just like my 2002 DHR, the first thing I noticed was the pedaling performance – stellar!!! Since then I’ve been on many good rides, including a weekend at Bootleg Canyon in Nevada, where I put it through it’s pace!! Since I primarily want to focus on the DHR, I won’t go into too much into component details. Most people these days build their bikes from the ground up anyway!

Last year I rode a Santa Cruz V10 with 5th Element Progressive shock. The Romic equipped DHR is an entirely different beast! After a few runs, the first thing I noticed is how active the DHR is compared to the V10. As much as the V10 wanted to stay glued to the ground, the DHR wants to get airborne! It’s really easy to feather and pump your way through rock gardens, rough sections or whoops!


The DHR pedals and accelerates out of corners like no other downhill bike I’ve ridden. Whether you’re jumping, cornering or hitting high speeds, it doesn’t take much to notice how well balanced the bike is. Compared to the 02 DHR, the 04 appears to be much more stable at speeds due to the longer wheelbase. The DHR is the “cornering for dummies” of bikes! Just like all other DHR’s, it turns when you want it and goes straight where you want it to go! Look ahead, lean it over, hit that apex, lay down the power on those pedals and the DHR simply shoots out of that corner like a bullet out of a barrel!

So far I couldn’t be happier! The DHR is the real deal and has everything I look for in a DH bike. Low stand over for clearance, stiff rear end for precise handling, low BB for quick cornering, 1.5 head tube for strength, perfect geometry, low maintenance pivots and the Turner name to back it all up. This bike may have been designed specifically for downhill racing, but it suits riders of all abilities! You don’t have to be a hard-core racer to enjoy the qualities of the DHR!

For more info on Turner bicycles visit their web site at www.turnerbikes.com and also check out the Turner Interbike Coverage

Frame sizes	S(<5’6”), M(5’7” to 5’10”), L(5’10+)
Rear Shock	Romic 9.5”x3” stroke with Ti spring
Fork	Rock Shox Boxxer
Headset	E13 Zero-Stack Reducer cup and Cane Creek Double Xc
Crankarms	Middleburn RS-7
Chain Guide	E13 Components SRS Guide
Chainrings	E13 Components 38T Guide Ring
B/B	Truvativ Giga Pipe SL
Pedals	Easton Cully
Chain	SRAM PC 99
Cassette	SRAM PG-970
Rear Derailleur	SRAM X.0
Shifter Pod	SRAM X-9
Handlebar	Eason EA70
Stem	Romic Integrated
Grips	ODI Lock On
Brakes	Hope M4
Brake Levers	Hope
Front hub	Chris King 20mm TA
Rear hub	Hadley Racing 12mm TA
Spokes	Black DT Competion
Tires	Michelin Comp 16 and Comp 24.1 x 2.5”
Rims	Mavic EX 823 UST
Saddle	WTB Rocket V Stealth
Seatpost	Thomson Elite 27.2
Colors	Black or Silver (both with black swingarm)
Weight	41.5 lbs
Frame MSRP	$2,195.00 USD