It's getting frustrating hearing about slopestyle, and that's all that matters now days. Slopestyle bikes this, slopestyle bikes that. To start things off, the empire 5 is a way better slopestyle bike. The double is literally just a dirtjumper, basically a hardtail with some slight travel. It's an amazing dirtjumping bike, and would make a decent slopestyle bike. The Empire 5 on the other hand, in my opinion, is one of the few "slopestyle" marketed bikes that is actually a slopestyle bike. And if the Empire 5, you consider more of a freeride bike cause it's bigger and heavier thus being harder to flick around, I don't know if you've never ridden a true freeride bike, or are just really small or young and can't handle such a big bike. The Empire 5 is in no means a big freeride bike and heavy and such, it's easy to flick around, yeah sure it's no double, but it's damn close with more travel and can take bigger hits. I throw around my trek scratch like it's nothing, and that's a true freeride bike, the Empire 5, I beleive, is the better bike. It's got a bigger range of thigns it can do, i've seen it easily dirtjumped, easily ridden down downhill trails, awesome whistler bike, and the definition of a "slopestyle" bike. Buttttt...don't get me wrong, that double is sick. It all depends on the rider, but in my opinion in Bellingham WA, the empire 5 is the way to go cause of the freeride community and the dirtjumping community. It will handle a wider view of trails easier than the double. If you're literally just a pure dirtjumper, than the double is the way to go, it's hard to say but in my own opinion for here, the Empire 5.

 DOUBLE!! its lighter, more versitile than the empire 5, its made by TRANSITION, better quality frame all around a more fun bike to ride than an empire.
The empire has alot of squat or sag at high speeds over rough stuff due to its geometry and the double wont sag

 i owned a double and ive rode the empire, it comes down to what you like travel wise and what your riding with it, my double rode like a hardtail and felt like one with a bit of give in the rear didn't handle freeride or DH well its a dirtjump frame with a slopestyle feel but performance wasn't to shit hot, but the empire felt flickable, stiff but enough plush in the rear end to get comfortable with things, if your riding duthie or blackrock the empire will fit just right and the way this ones set up is mint but the double is better for dirt jump scene and some light freeride business depends on how you feel on your bikes man, its not what bike is better its what bike fits you best, personally the double wasn't the ride for me look into the dartmoor shine way better bang for your buck then a killswitch for price and performance not just the name

 If i had a choice between frame, with any build i wanted, i take the empire, really the empire frame wrecks the double, sure the double frame is a bit lighter and more responsive on jumps. But, in todays slopestyle courses that extra inch of travel will save your body, plus they are stiffer.

 the double has a far nicer build. but the empire would be a better slopestyle bike. in the end when it comes down to it, who gives a shit none of you ride slope anyways. so therefor the double is the champ

 pinkbike is for checking out whats new and having fun, not for arguing over whose bike is better. Either way their both sick bikes and as long as you like your bike stuffs good

 Oh right totally skipped my mind that the dubs dont have a centric bb pivot so youre using a locke derailer right? how do those work? and pikes ride good but theyre like an all mt fork

 double! ive ridden both, and id have to say the double is a bit more of a ss bike, and the empire is more light FR, but it can also depend how the bike is set up

 Empire, the doubles got a flat and no seat.

 but i gotta say the dub should be single speed man..but theyre both nice who cares really theyre both good spec'd cept form the pike aha

 total preference!

 i have had both bikes. i have a empire now. its much lighter and more of a playfull bike. the only difference between the two would be how much travel you want in the rear

 i have road both on a slopestyle, i love transition bike as it is but i do think the norco is hever. i like how the double rides, i am not hating on norco but i do think the double is a better slopestyle bike

 ending convo.I would have them both.

 empire 5 all the way!

 Sorry to be a douche bag but the only reason i wouldnt buy it is because its a norco aha

 k i dont know how to reply properly someone tell me and yeah Dub frames are 1500 as well man! and a full bike is like 3400!

 Well.. The empire because the double isnt finished yet! HAHAH

 It's Close cause that's a damn nice empire but all doubles are nice i agree with what bboutin said

 gonna have to go for the empire... doubles sick but like the longer travel bikes

 i dont re call saying i do. im not the one always worrying about if my bikes good enough for slopestyle

 Empire

 Empire, double is pretty much a Dj bike, both super nice bikes though.

 Wicked how do they compare?
Is it a similar ride?

 Definitely the Empire 5 since the Double has a flat tire and thus is unrideable.

 you guys dont even ride REAL slopestyle.

 Did you finish the double yet?

 the doubles better than the 09 empire 5 but my 2010 empire 5 special edition would kick its ass!

 i prefer my bike i got from target that we threw rocks at.

 double. thats jacks emipire and nobody likes jack

 EMPIRE!

 Double but Killswitches are the way to go for slope

 Norco, who in their right mind would ride a Double?

 i say double ive ridden both bikes still like my double better

 double for days

 28 lbs with no seat?

 doublee

 double is better for both i have ridden them both the double is sick

 Suck my balls norco
double wins

 the double with the empires fork all around a better bike

 double for sure.

 double for sure

 double forsure

 100% the double