Turner at Interbike

AUDIO INTERVIEW INSIDE

As you would expect, the Turner booth showcased some beauties aimed at the DH/freeride market. In Turner’s own words, “Our bikes are designed to last a long time. Turner bikes have to outlast everything, or I’m not happy”, and their second generation DHR does not stray from that philosophy.

Click here to play Turner AUDIO INTERVIEW at INTERBIKE

What’s changed? To start, a one-point-five headtube is standard (listen to the audio clip for explanation) and the angle has been slackened ½ degree, the BB height has been increased ½ inch, travel is upped to 8.5 inches, a 20mm thru-axle rear is your only option and the main pivot has been upgraded to angular contact bearings to extend the frame’s life. Romic’s twin tube shock is standard, and the bike should be available in early January.

Looking much like a mini-DHR but aimed at the 4X/slalom/dirtjump/urban crowd (a first for Turner) is the Rail. The bike also features the one-point-five standard headtube, needle bearings with zerk fittings, and Romic shock. Anticipate seeing these in store late February or early March 2003.

Next up is the Lucky 7, an updated version of the RFX, Turner’s freeride/extreme rig. As the name would suggest, travel on the four bar bike has been upped to 7 inches, the rear stays have been lengthened, BB height lowered, and the seat and head angles have been slackened. All this in an effort to make the bike better suited to high-speed freeride/light-duty DH without losing its legendary climbing ability. Of course the bike sports the one-point-five headtube and ISCG mounts, but still retains its triple chainring compatibility.

Finally, Turner was showing off the 2004 C-Note, a simplified version of the DHR targeted at the budget downhiller. The concept bike loses the DHR’s linkage, some travel and the 20mm thru-axle rear in an effort to come in well under $2000 US. The bike is just a concept, but if interest is high, the bike will be available next year. Be sure to contact Turner if you’d like to see the C-Note hit production.

It should be mentioned that although the Turner lineup features the one-point-five headtube, headset manufacturers like Cane Creek are offering headsets that fit one-point-five headtubes and 1 1/8 steerers. Riders get the benefit of the larger headset/headtube interface, as well as the larger bearings without having to purchase a one-point-five fork.

For more info check out the Turner Website