Best freeride bike

PB Forum :: Freeride & Slopestyle
Best freeride bike
Author Message
flag ChiliPepper1
Posted: Jan 13, 2013 at 12:17 Quote
Thendara112 wrote:
Yeah, up in Adirondacks there isnt really anything even close to out west. unless you make your own trails, nothing is big enough to have something like a glory and use it to full potential. im around lake placid and white face is all there is
Cools! That is absolutely beautiful country up there, but also wild too...lol


Hey, don't forget the love for the east coast....Wink lol We have some big FR features and trails all over just as challenging or even more challenging, being DH, AM, XC, or all out Trail Riding. Big Grin
flag TimBurnmann
Posted: Jan 13, 2013 at 12:56 Quote
Big hit 09-11.Very good Smile
flag SoCalMX
Posted: Jan 13, 2013 at 14:20 Quote
Thendara112 wrote:
Yeah, up in Adirondacks there isnt really anything even close to out west. unless you make your own trails, nothing is big enough to have something like a glory and use it to full potential. im around lake placid and white face is all there is
There are threads for XC bikes!
flag GhostRider3
Posted: Mar 3, 2013 at 0:16 Quote
I would ask a question abut "best" freeride bikes:

Wich FR-(ND?) bikes have the highest bottom bracket? Like above 36.5cm. I hate that most bikes are built for only DH racing, with 34-35cms high BB, but they dont really have a clearance.

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/2/photos/41820/s780_G7K0616.jpg?1346357440I mean this is ridiculous! Big Grin
The chainring nearly touches the ground, and its 36cms high.

Ive heared that Giant Glorys have 36.8cms tall BB, maybe the new ones are exceptions. Can anyone confirm it? Because they dont list BB on their geomatry details(?!)...
flag GhostRider3
Posted: Mar 25, 2013 at 8:27 Quote
Wow, its turned out that the Banshee Scythe has an astonishing 36-39 cms high bottom bracket!!

It has 4 adjustable suspension set position (DH/FR-low/high bb + 200/180mm travel).
And also the rear suspension doesnt get dirty in muddy conditions like other designes where these are behind the seat tube, or closely before it (like Trek Session). By the way the seat tube has full-length, so you can adjust that very well too, like an AM/ND bike. Endurance: its said that it is also an enduring machine what handles every day hard use, but needs few maintanance.

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Za8iMe3kop0/TBk12Cuqz_I/AAAAAAAABKc/3H4t4YcDqzA/s1600/Phils+Scythe.JPGhttps://www.pinkbike.com/news/banshee-scythe-review-2008.html
flag Sabre2
Posted: Apr 19, 2013 at 6:23 Quote
Canfield Brothers, The One!

-Best pedalling efficiency
-Top suspension design
-my bike weight-34lbs (good for 203mm rear travel (coil) and 180 coil)
-Burley and bulletproof!
flag GhostRider3
Posted: Apr 19, 2013 at 12:17 Quote
Sabre2 wrote:
Canfield Brothers, The One!

-Best pedalling efficiency
-Top suspension design
-my bike weight-34lbs (good for 203mm rear travel (coil) and 180 coil)
-Burley and bulletproof!

Not bad, but it has only 2 shock mounting options and its BB at 35cms, wich is good for DH, but not for FR - big jumps. I dont see whats the point in designing 2 types of DH bikes with the same abilities...
I see that Banshee is designed by riders, not just smart guys who cycle sometimes, so they really know what to build, they have 3 different bikes in choose: the Legend has 35cm bb height, the Scythe has 36-39cm bb height wit 180-200 single pivot rear travel ant thers also the Wildcard with 2 shockmounting options and advanced (Trek Session like) 4 bar linkage. Much wider offering.

Actually Trek Session has won competitions with 36cm high bb in DH class. Thats the future, not 34-35cm high DH bikes.
flag Sabre2
Posted: Apr 22, 2013 at 5:51 Quote
Im not sure what you mean by -quote "I dont see whats the point in designing 2 types of DH bikes with the same abilities"??? Please explain?
You appear to be biased about Banshees? Fantastic bikes, yes. Im sure you will find there are many perfect freeride bikes that suit different people. Mine is the Canfield....and they are most certainly designed and built by riders...who are smart guys....and who ride all the time.Unlike your speculation....Lets just say Banshee, Canfield, Knolly and a whole lotta other bikes are actually designed by riders!
flag GhostRider3
Posted: Apr 22, 2013 at 13:21 Quote
Sabre2 wrote:
Im not sure what you mean by -quote "I dont see whats the point in designing 2 types of DH bikes with the same abilities"??? Please explain?
You appear to be biased about Banshees? Fantastic bikes, yes. Im sure you will find there are many perfect freeride bikes that suit different people. Mine is the Canfield....and they are most certainly designed and built by riders...who are smart guys....and who ride all the time.Unlike your speculation....Lets just say Banshee, Canfield, Knolly and a whole lotta other bikes are actually designed by riders!

They have really similar geo, virtually no difference between the 2, just the travel. Banshee gives you much more choice (4 different bikes from DH-FR). And Im not saying that Canfield is designed by amaterurs, Im just saying there are brands what are designed by nonriders.
And im not biased, because I know that Banshee Scythe is a weak frame. But it has the best geo for FR, as far as Ive found till now.
Actually that pops up the question is that really the best? It depends on what do you wish it to use for, and where do you live. If you break it, you get a new one, but Im not sure if its true for Europe or Asia... But its light and cheap, and you can set your custom geo, with the highest BB. Is ok for artificial DJ like jumps, but not for northshore or hucking.

My next tip is Morewood Izimu. Bombproof frame, also customizable geo, but it just reaches 35.6-37.0cm BB height.
The single pivot linkage is simple and requires low maintenance.
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.ceednow.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/I/z/Izimu_2012_1.jpg
If Banshhe would have a bulky frame like this, that would be perfect. But its not.
My opinion is this, because Im not interested in pure DH right now. Im more interested in great jumps and hucks, and that needs more clearance. Also Izimu has a small amount of drop when bottoming out, as I saw. But for example Morewood is similar here to Canfield - Zama is just a shorter travel Izimu with a bit shorter chainstay, no big difference.

Im not saying you shouldt buy one, Im just saying that its not useful according to my needs. As I see thers no point in FRing with small jumps on trails. Big jumps and rocky terrain needs more clerarance.
flag Sabre2
Posted: Apr 23, 2013 at 5:46 Quote
More are excellent bikes, top suspension too....and from my native country!
The Kulula is really good with BOS for a very reasonable price. They are just very heavy.
flag GhostRider3
Posted: Apr 23, 2013 at 7:20 Quote
Sabre2 wrote:
More are excellent bikes, top suspension too....and from my native country!
The Kulula is really good with BOS for a very reasonable price. They are just very heavy.

I guess the Kalula and Makulu are great for DH they set the center of gravity really low. I just dont like that type of suspension positioning, because all the mud will go to the suspension... And I think single pivot is better for great jumps, 4 bar is better for DH. Like TrekSession, with double anchored swingarms it can move more swiftly.

So its nice of Morewood to design different bikes with similar geometry.
I also like Nukeproof Pulse, thats really bulky, and no mud can tuch the suspension virtually + low gravity center. However they lack customizable geometry, so BB is too low for big jumps.
flag GhostRider3
Posted: Sep 7, 2013 at 23:00 Quote
Ive been searching for some days for good FR bikes, so I can add something to the list.
Actually Knolly Delirium was close, but not the best.

Ladies and gentleman, here is the Knolly V-tach:
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://knollybikes.com/uploads/bike/.thumbs/knolly-vtach-complete_65af36.jpg
375mm BBH, 196mm rear travel, wicked linkage system (adjustable geometry, no pedal feedback, no braking feedback, sensitive but strong response, good for DH and FR at the same time, no muddy coils) and a bit longer wheelbase.

Ive found the Cove STD too, its a bit lower category, but cheaper kind.

And now, our superstar, the huck-like KTM Ratchet/Aphex:
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.reginakerekpar.hu/kepek//aphex.jpg
37mm BBH, 200/230 rear travel, and strong quality frame.

So my list looks like:

1.Knolly V-Tach
2.KTM Ratchet/Aphex
3.Morewood Izimu
4.Banshee Scythe
5.Cove STD

My aims were:
-high bb,
-long travel (for hucks)
-low gravity center (according to FR)
-link-system wich performs the best, doesnt get covered with mud, and adjustable
-strong frame (sadly Scythe is too light and ive seen 2 broken ones on the net)
-strong rear axle

Each bike has a better performance on these criteria, I tried to sum up everything and list by that.
flag coticrider
Posted: Sep 8, 2013 at 2:12 Quote
My preffered freeride bike would be a banshee wildcard or a Dartmoor wish!

 


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