Review: Banshee Titan - A Friendly Beast of a Bike
Banshee stepped back into the spotlight this season with a complete overhaul of their lineup, which included the introduction of a brand new model – the Titan. It's a big-wheeled aluminum bruiser with 155mm of rear travel that uses a dual-link suspension design called KS2 (the initials come from Keith Scott, Banshee's co-owner / designer).
The Titan is currently only available as a frame, which means riders are free to choose the parts that end up on their dream bike. The frame is designed around a 160 – 180mm fork, allowing it to be built up into anything from a tough all-mountain rig to a beefier freeride / bike park oriented machine.
The Titan is currently only available as a frame, which means riders are free to choose the parts that end up on their dream bike. The frame is designed around a 160 – 180mm fork, allowing it to be built up into anything from a tough all-mountain rig to a beefier freeride / bike park oriented machine.
Banshee Titan Details
• Wheel size: 29"
• 7005 aluminum frame
• Travel: 155mm rear / 170mm front
• 64.5 or 65-degree head angle
• 452mm chainstays
• 12 x 148mm rear axle spacing
• Frame only price (w/Float X2): $2,299 USD
• Weight: 33.8lb (size large, as shown)
• www.bansheebikes.com
• Wheel size: 29"
• 7005 aluminum frame
• Travel: 155mm rear / 170mm front
• 64.5 or 65-degree head angle
• 452mm chainstays
• 12 x 148mm rear axle spacing
• Frame only price (w/Float X2): $2,299 USD
• Weight: 33.8lb (size large, as shown)
• www.bansheebikes.com
My test rig showed up with a SRAM X01 Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, Code RSC brakes, e*thirteen LG1 tires and carbon wheels, a 170mm Fox 36 Performance Elite fork, and a Float X2 shock. Keep in mind that the 33.8lb weight is with a DH casing rear tire - lighter casing tires would be an easy way to shed a few hundred grams.
The Titan is available in three color options – raw, black, or red, and in sizes M, L, and XL. The frame, headset, and a Float X2 Performance shock is priced at $2,299 USD.
 | The Titan lives up to its name on the descents, and it's happiest when blasting through a pile of rubble, or rocketing off the lip of a stepdown. It has a very stable, planted feel, and the stomp-ability of this bike is top-notch. |
Construction and Features
The Titan is constructed from 7005 series aluminum, which Banshee says allows them to make a stronger, stiffer frame than if they had gone with the commonly used 6061 aluminum. The down tube and seat tube are welded to a forged shock cage, and that cage is also connected to the swingarm by two short links. Positioning the shock just above the bottom bracket helps create a low center of gravity, but there's another benefit – there's now room for the all-important water bottle inside the front triangle, something that wasn't possible on Banshee's previous models.
There's internal cable routing through the down tube, and although my test bike showed up with the brake and derailleur housings routed under the bottom bracket, it’s also possible to run them above the bottom bracket, which would eliminate any chance of them getting squashed against a rock or root.
Rather than welding ISCG 05 tabs to the frame, Banshee uses a splined plate that slides over the bottom bracket shell. That way, the plate can be easily replaced if an impact occurs that's hard enough to damage the threads.
The Titan is constructed from 7005 series aluminum, which Banshee says allows them to make a stronger, stiffer frame than if they had gone with the commonly used 6061 aluminum. The down tube and seat tube are welded to a forged shock cage, and that cage is also connected to the swingarm by two short links. Positioning the shock just above the bottom bracket helps create a low center of gravity, but there's another benefit – there's now room for the all-important water bottle inside the front triangle, something that wasn't possible on Banshee's previous models.
There's internal cable routing through the down tube, and although my test bike showed up with the brake and derailleur housings routed under the bottom bracket, it’s also possible to run them above the bottom bracket, which would eliminate any chance of them getting squashed against a rock or root.
Rather than welding ISCG 05 tabs to the frame, Banshee uses a splined plate that slides over the bottom bracket shell. That way, the plate can be easily replaced if an impact occurs that's hard enough to damage the threads.
The KS2 suspension design has the shock vertically oriented in a forged cage just above the bottom bracket.
The dropout position can be raised or lowered to alter the head angle and bottom bracket height.
Geometry & Sizing
The Titan's geometry numbers fall smack dab in the middle of what has quickly become the norm in the all-mountain / enduro category. The bike has a 64.5-degree head angle in the low setting, a 470mm reach for a size large, and a 76.75-degree seat angle. If you take a look at the chart, you'll see that the seat tube angle is listed for three different saddle heights, a helpful bit of information that would be nice to see from other manufacturers.
The one number that's slightly out of the ordinary is the chainstay length – at 452mm for all three sizes, it's on the longer side of the spectrum. Off the top of my head, the Nukeproof Mega 290, Pole Stamina 180 and Geometron G16 all come to mind as having chainstays that measure 450mm or more, but these days numbers between 435 – 445mm are more common for bikes in this category.
The Titan has inserts on the dropouts that can be flipped to alter the BB height by 8mm and head tube half a degree. The system has a very utilitarian look to it, but in this case it's more about function, not fashion - the hardware is nice and stout, and it doesn't take long to make the swap.
The Titan's geometry numbers fall smack dab in the middle of what has quickly become the norm in the all-mountain / enduro category. The bike has a 64.5-degree head angle in the low setting, a 470mm reach for a size large, and a 76.75-degree seat angle. If you take a look at the chart, you'll see that the seat tube angle is listed for three different saddle heights, a helpful bit of information that would be nice to see from other manufacturers.
The one number that's slightly out of the ordinary is the chainstay length – at 452mm for all three sizes, it's on the longer side of the spectrum. Off the top of my head, the Nukeproof Mega 290, Pole Stamina 180 and Geometron G16 all come to mind as having chainstays that measure 450mm or more, but these days numbers between 435 – 445mm are more common for bikes in this category.
The Titan has inserts on the dropouts that can be flipped to alter the BB height by 8mm and head tube half a degree. The system has a very utilitarian look to it, but in this case it's more about function, not fashion - the hardware is nice and stout, and it doesn't take long to make the swap.
There's more tire clearance than it appears from this photo - I had plenty of room with a 2.4" Minion DHR II and the e13 LG1 shown. Clearance shouldn't be an issue unless you're planning on running a 2.5" or wider tire with extra-tall knobs.
Suspension Design
The Titan's KS2 suspension design uses two short links to connect the swingarm to the front triangle. There are bearings at all pivot points, including where the upper link connects to the trunnion-mount shock, in order to keep the amount of unwanted friction to a minimum. The Titan's leverage curve is progressive until the last bit of the travel to keep the bike from bottoming out too easily while still making it possible to use full travel.
The anti-squat value in the 32/50 tooth combination is approximately 116% at 30% sag, and it drops off as the bike goes deeper into its travel to minimize pedal kickback.
Test Bike Setup
I ran 175psi in the Fox Float X2, which put me at 17mm of sag (Banshee recommends running between 15.5 – 17.8mm of sag). Up front, I ran 73 psi in the Fox 36.
I ended up swapping the 30mm stem that the bike showed up with for a 40mm model to suit my personal preference, and I also used a slightly lighter set of tires to see how much of a difference that made on the overall handling. As it turns out, the difference wasn't that dramatic. On flat terrain, or when spinning my way out to the trailhead I'd notice the improved rolling speed, but otherwise the general feel of the bike remained the same - that lighter rubber didn't magically turn the Titan into an XC whippet.
Most of my testing took place in the Pacific Northwest, but I did escape to Moab, Utah, for a much-needed dose of dry desert riding.
Mike Kazimer
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Age: 37
Height: 5'11" / 180cm
Inseam: 33" / 84cm
Weight: 160 lbs / 72.6 kg
Industry affiliations / sponsors: None
Instagram: @mikekazimer
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Age: 37
Height: 5'11" / 180cm
Inseam: 33" / 84cm
Weight: 160 lbs / 72.6 kg
Industry affiliations / sponsors: None
Instagram: @mikekazimer
Climbing
The Titan is a calm climber, but the Float X2 does move a bit if you stand up and really start hammering. It doesn't have quite the same level of snap out of the gate as the new Specialized Enduro, or Ibis Ripmo, and on longer climbs I usually took advantage of that climb lever to get a little extra support for those hard efforts. The lever is easy to access, and despite Mike Levy's vehement anti-lever sentiments, I never experienced any guilt when I flipped that switch.
On certain trails, particularly ones filled with sections of awkward rocky steps, the Titan felt a bit cumbersome, and I felt like I was working a harder than usual to maintain my speed. Switching the dropouts to the higher position, which steepens the head angle a bit and raises the bottom bracket, is one way to add a little zip to the Titan's manners. Like adding hot sauce onto scrambled eggs, it's not a drastic alteration, but it helps - the bike felt more at home in flatter, chunky terrain in that higher setting. I used the high setting for the trails around Moab, Utah, but preferred the low setting for the steeper trails I frequent in the Pacific Northwest.
Depending on what style of climb you're tackling, long chainstays can either be a boon or a bane. Preparing to face off against a rubble-filled straightaway, the type of section where maintaining traction is the key to success? In situations like that the Titan shone, with the longer back end and relatively slack head angle providing plenty of stability to keep on churning up and over the rough stuff. As expected, it was on the slower speed, tighter and twisty bits that the longer back end became more noticeable. It's still possible to get through those sections of trail, it just takes more effort and some advance planning.
Overall, the Titan feels most at home when it's used to grind up logging roads and then plunge down a gnarly trail once the climbing is over. The steep seat tube angle combined with the relatively tall front end creates a comfortable, upright climbing position, but it never felt like it was in a hurry on the climbs or on flatter sections of trail. Luckily it's another story once gravity takes over...
The Titan is a calm climber, but the Float X2 does move a bit if you stand up and really start hammering. It doesn't have quite the same level of snap out of the gate as the new Specialized Enduro, or Ibis Ripmo, and on longer climbs I usually took advantage of that climb lever to get a little extra support for those hard efforts. The lever is easy to access, and despite Mike Levy's vehement anti-lever sentiments, I never experienced any guilt when I flipped that switch.
On certain trails, particularly ones filled with sections of awkward rocky steps, the Titan felt a bit cumbersome, and I felt like I was working a harder than usual to maintain my speed. Switching the dropouts to the higher position, which steepens the head angle a bit and raises the bottom bracket, is one way to add a little zip to the Titan's manners. Like adding hot sauce onto scrambled eggs, it's not a drastic alteration, but it helps - the bike felt more at home in flatter, chunky terrain in that higher setting. I used the high setting for the trails around Moab, Utah, but preferred the low setting for the steeper trails I frequent in the Pacific Northwest.
Depending on what style of climb you're tackling, long chainstays can either be a boon or a bane. Preparing to face off against a rubble-filled straightaway, the type of section where maintaining traction is the key to success? In situations like that the Titan shone, with the longer back end and relatively slack head angle providing plenty of stability to keep on churning up and over the rough stuff. As expected, it was on the slower speed, tighter and twisty bits that the longer back end became more noticeable. It's still possible to get through those sections of trail, it just takes more effort and some advance planning.
Overall, the Titan feels most at home when it's used to grind up logging roads and then plunge down a gnarly trail once the climbing is over. The steep seat tube angle combined with the relatively tall front end creates a comfortable, upright climbing position, but it never felt like it was in a hurry on the climbs or on flatter sections of trail. Luckily it's another story once gravity takes over...
Descending
The Titan lives up to its name on the descents, and it's happiest when blasting straight through the chunder, or rocketing off the lip of a stepdown. It has a very stable, planted feel, and the stomp-ability of this bike is top-notch - the way that it sticks to the ground after landing really makes it stand out. It's like smacking something with a dead blow hammer – big impacts are nicely muted, and I never worried about getting bucked or blowing through the travel too quickly, no matter the size of the drop or jump.
Based on looks and geometry numbers alone it'd be easy to think the Titan could be a handful, but out in the real world it's very manageable, especially once it's up to speed. Of course, that's on a size large – those 452mm chainstays might be more noticeable on the size medium and its 445mm reach. The long chainstays pay dividends on fast straightaways and anywhere that extra control is wanted, delivering loads of stability for carving big arcs, and they create a very centered position that instills confidence in steep terrain. Just like on the climbs, the longer back end is more noticeable on tighter sections of trail, but I never felt like I was wrestling with the bike to get it to do what I wanted.
The Titan isn't exactly a poppy, playful bike, but it doesn't feel overly lethargic or sluggish either, likely because Banshee didn't go super slack with the head angle or super long with the reach. It has a well-balanced nature that prevents it from feeling like you've hopped aboard a runaway freight train. If anything, it has the air of a freeride bike rather than an enduro race machine to it - whenever I rode the Titan I found myself gravitating towards steep trails with big jumps and drops rather than sprinting my brains out trying to snag a KOM.
The Titan lives up to its name on the descents, and it's happiest when blasting straight through the chunder, or rocketing off the lip of a stepdown. It has a very stable, planted feel, and the stomp-ability of this bike is top-notch - the way that it sticks to the ground after landing really makes it stand out. It's like smacking something with a dead blow hammer – big impacts are nicely muted, and I never worried about getting bucked or blowing through the travel too quickly, no matter the size of the drop or jump.
Based on looks and geometry numbers alone it'd be easy to think the Titan could be a handful, but out in the real world it's very manageable, especially once it's up to speed. Of course, that's on a size large – those 452mm chainstays might be more noticeable on the size medium and its 445mm reach. The long chainstays pay dividends on fast straightaways and anywhere that extra control is wanted, delivering loads of stability for carving big arcs, and they create a very centered position that instills confidence in steep terrain. Just like on the climbs, the longer back end is more noticeable on tighter sections of trail, but I never felt like I was wrestling with the bike to get it to do what I wanted.
The Titan isn't exactly a poppy, playful bike, but it doesn't feel overly lethargic or sluggish either, likely because Banshee didn't go super slack with the head angle or super long with the reach. It has a well-balanced nature that prevents it from feeling like you've hopped aboard a runaway freight train. If anything, it has the air of a freeride bike rather than an enduro race machine to it - whenever I rode the Titan I found myself gravitating towards steep trails with big jumps and drops rather than sprinting my brains out trying to snag a KOM.
Banshee Titan
Norco Sight
How does it compare?
There was a period of overlap between my time on the Banshee Titan and the Norco Sight, which let me ride the same trails in the same conditions to see how the two compared. The Titan does have a little more travel – 155mm vs the Sight's 150mm, and 10 more millimeters of cushion up front thanks to that 170mm fork. That's noticeable on the trail, and the Titan did a better job of handling those bigger hits and misjudged lines compared to the Sight, although keep in mind that this is comparing a Float X2 to the RockShox SuperDeluxe. The Sight's rear suspension did feel a touch more sensitive off the top than the Titan's, but both bikes offer plenty of traction for dealing with loose, slippery terrain.
As far as the geometry numbers go, the Sight's head angle is .5-degrees slacker, and the reach is 15 millimeters longer than the Titan in a size large. Despite those differences, the Titan's wheelbase is just 3 millimeters longer than the Sight's, thanks to those 452mm chainstays vs. the Sight's 440mm chainstays (for a size large). Neither bike is lacking stability, and it's really a matter of personal preference when it comes to choosing which geometry to go with.
I did find the Sight to be a little easier to whip around, especially at slower speeds. Both bikes can handle just about anything, but for longer rides with a mix of terrain I'd be more likely to grab the Sight, while the Titan would get called into duty for missions with lots of big, burly moves or extra-rugged trails.
Technical Report
e*thirteen LG1 tires: A bike like this deserves beefy tires, and e*thirteen's LG1 tires were a good fit. I would have opted for the extra-sticky MoPo rubber compound for the front tire if this were my personal bike, but even the slightly harder compound still delivers plenty of bite for digging in and finding traction.
Fox Float X2 Performance shock: The Performance level X2 doesn't have the same range of adjustments as its high-end sibling, but that also means that it's easier to set up, and you won't find yourself wondering if you need one more click of high-speed rebound or compression. I was able to find a setup that worked well with minimal fuss, which left more time for riding rather than wrenching.
Head tube length: It's worth noting that the Titan's head tube is on the longer side of the spectrum, at 130mm for a size large. That's something to keep in mind if you're planning on swapping over a fork from another bike with a shorter head tube - the steerer could end up being too short depending on where it was cut.
e*thirteen LG1 tires: A bike like this deserves beefy tires, and e*thirteen's LG1 tires were a good fit. I would have opted for the extra-sticky MoPo rubber compound for the front tire if this were my personal bike, but even the slightly harder compound still delivers plenty of bite for digging in and finding traction.
Fox Float X2 Performance shock: The Performance level X2 doesn't have the same range of adjustments as its high-end sibling, but that also means that it's easier to set up, and you won't find yourself wondering if you need one more click of high-speed rebound or compression. I was able to find a setup that worked well with minimal fuss, which left more time for riding rather than wrenching.
Head tube length: It's worth noting that the Titan's head tube is on the longer side of the spectrum, at 130mm for a size large. That's something to keep in mind if you're planning on swapping over a fork from another bike with a shorter head tube - the steerer could end up being too short depending on where it was cut.
Pros
+ Excellent stability
+ Shines in rough terrain and on big hits
Cons
- Long chainstays aren't for everyone
- Currently only available as a frame only
Pinkbike's Take
| The Titan is a friendly beast of a bike with an appetite for the steep and deep. It takes a little extra effort to get it up to speed, but once you're there the stability and capacity for smoothing out rough trails is very impressive. |
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312 Comments
I’ve ridden 29ers and they aren’t for me, clearly there is a market for them but in my extended group of riding buddies no one rides a 29er (there are a couple of ebikers but we don’t talk about them).
Trail / AM I’m down with 27.5 it’s the best of both worlds. DH I’ve had to go 27.5 as some lowlife scumbags stole my TR500 in October which was running 26 but could have done either 26 or 27.5 and that was such a fun bike. So flickable and whips where effortless. I had to replace it and was either 27.5 or 29. Ended up with a 27.5 YT Tues CF and it’s alright but nowhere near as dun or playful as my TR500 running 26 inch wheels and kinda just feels like a big tank thundering through stuff.
Where are all the fun / playful bikes with smaller wheels for people who wanna play with their mates in the woods sending jumps and getting sideways?
Quick look as the last few reviews and they’re all 29ers
Banshee titan
Marin Rift Zone
Norco Sight
NS Synonym
Kona Process (although to be fair available in 27.5 but not reviewed)
Orbea Oiz (I don’t need a small)
Hope HB.130
There is a new version of the banshee Rune, using the new suspension layout and 27.5" wheels, but i'm not sure if you can translate over much of the Titan review. The Rune is a different kind of bike, which shorter chainstays, lower stack and a different suspension tune.
But the industry want to sell the 29ers as hell... and everyone wants to be faster..
im super happy with 27,5" and yes i want to have fun and dont win races or want to be fast as hell....
But in the future i will see, everyone of us is riding a 29er
I personally can't find a bike in 27.5 currently which has geo and sizing and spec/cost I want (enduro bike) so have basically given up and accepted I'll try a 29er this time. If i don't like it/can't get used to it, I guess by that time we'll be back to another wheel size being more commonly sold.
I'm actually really due for a new bike, otherwise i might try harder to resist the industry doing what it is (plus I am kind of curious enough to roll the dice).
Otherwise i guess you scour the second hand market, although old bikes might have less favourable geo, regardless of wheelsize, if you accept that geo has actually improved (not swung too far to 'modern')
this might be uk thing
I’ve ridden the 3 wheel sizes and my preference it still 26 I only ride 27.5 on my bikes now as the industry have given me little alternative
Some of us just want to have a versatile and agile bike. I've tried 26, 650b and 29 - as a absolute non-racing type of rider, I prefer a 27.5. It doesn't go as fast as the 29, yet 650b are still more playful and lots of fun to ride.
ridegg.com/megatrail
Mullet set up (megasmash)
ridegg.com/megasmash
It's because RSa is so befok with marathon riding they couldn't give a shit about other things. You know how hard it was to even find a Lyrik until recently with them
You typically want a trail bike to be fast and efficient as opposed to being focused on playfullness, downhill and bike park stuff. So if anything, a Trail bike should have 29" wheels and longer travel should be at 27.5"
And I've never felt like my Commencal Meta TR 29er wasn't "playful" enough.
www.chainreactioncycles.com/kona-supreme-operator-downhill-bike-2016/rp-prod197559
I ride pretty much everything, Trail, AM, DH, Bike Parks and a wee bit of DJ/Street. But when I am riding trail i'm not head down looking to get around in the fastest time possible. I look for side hits, little kickers to boost off, anything to have the most fun on the way down. The most fun for me is not looking down the well worn line down the middle but the edges of the trail where the fun happens.
As for being the best of both worlds 27.5 is more rollable than a 26 inch wheel and will smooth out bumps in a trail to a degree but is more maneuverable and easier to flick around the bike / around corners than a 29 inch wheel.
I'm no slouch when the trail points down and i'll happily go out for a 30+ mile trail ride but flat out efficiency isn't what i'm after. I'd rather have a bike I personally find more fun and that's a playful bike with smaller wheels.
Commencal ditched the 650b Meta (AM and TR) sadly.
Brands will follow the money, publications will follow the brand's releases
All jokes aside my last 7 bikes have either been 26 or 27.5. Fun>Fast
We do have a Yeti SB140 review in the works; hopefully that’ll satisfy some of the desire to read about bikes with slightly smaller wheels. There was also a Transtition Scout First Ride not that long ago: www.pinkbike.com/news/first-ride-transition-scout-carbon-2020.html
I understand your comment though. Have the same feeling but it's not the reviewers that dictates what's new it's the brands.
Btw I'm all about 27.5" myself!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdVprjvl-wE&feature=emb_title
Ti be more specific, when a rider is paying “serious cash” for a product, in our case wheels, the industry has to honer the trust of the customer by providing, at least, spare parts.
We can see nowadays that is getting progressively hard to find decent tires in size 26. This is dishonesty, because when I was buying those expensive rims, laced on high quality hubs with expensive spokes, NOBODY told me that there will be a day were I cannot locate a pair of 26 X 2.7 tires…!
Mind you that this example expands to most of the bike parts, starting from the frame. I love progression and I am eager to try the latest improvements, but the industry have to keep the other side of the “deal” & keep supporting their customers.
By all means NO (how did you manage to end up with that conclusion?
All I say, is that the industry has to keep supporting yesterday’s products. How hard is that to understand.
Progress is essential, without progress we are lost.
I’ve tried the 29er thing, just isn’t as much fun to me. Everyone has different values and priorities when it comes to how they want their bikes to feel.
I resisted for as long as I could but both my current rides are rolling on 27.5. The Nomad feels great this has been my 3rd Trail bike with big wheels and I’m loving it. But since my TR500 has gone I’m missing the smaller wheels odd as on the DH bike arguably you’d seen the most benefit but it just doesn’t seem as much fun to me.
I was expecting my initial comment to get neg propped harder than Waki talking about well, pretty much anything but been pleasantly surprised I’m not alone.
The reason for this departure is likely because...many of these companies rely on actual racer feedback to develop their frames...this is part of the reason bike companies bankroll these guys...to provide some other value other than win races.
That being said, racer feedback is based on how they feel on a bike as well as actual data collected on a controlled course. At the end of the day, 26" wheels cannot compete or win races...especially not at a WC level. 27.5" wheels also struggle when compared to 29" wheels but there are rider size limitations that prevent some people from riding a 29" wheel bike...I think this is why companies are playing around with mutt bikes.
In any case, as the old adage goes, "Win on Sunday sell on Monday". Bike companies aren't making bikes that are easy to whip so people can post cool whips on instagram on their fresh 26" bike...Bike companies are making bikes based on racer feedback and data.
Combine that with the fact that...0.1% of us can ride like Brandon Semenuk and racing bikes is much more accessible to the average person when compared to riding down a slopestyle course.
And In no time 29rs are obsolete , just like our beloved 27.5rs and our evenmore beloved 26rs.
pinkbike will be flashing 31 wheelers only, you know why? Cause thats what its PAID to do .
If that wont make you shredders throw away ur 9months old wheelset and order a new bike than u boyz r in the wrong sport....
Thank god for progression!
Can I have a peak at that crystal ball you seem to think exists.
Companies don't make stuff that doesn't sell. That's how you lose money. Sorry that your beloved 26er falls into that category.
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I'll step outside now.
I believe the frustration could be in that Banshee released an entire new line up of bikes and the first one reviewed was the 29er. Banshee is a great company that caters to all wheel sizes (even 26"). I don't know if one is in the works but a review of their other popular bikes such as the Rune and Spitfire would be awesome.
Cheers.
This bike offers something different with the long chainstays, with length and height adjustable dropouts.
I think it is very lame to come right out and complain about something different type of bike being reviewed, other than all the fun playful bikes with smaller wheels.
Ha!
We all know that. What i cannot be sure of is why you conclude that i was against... progression (!!!).
Also.
Your bike don;t have to last only one (1) season. If you are going to invest above average on a bike you are going to expect the support you deserve.
So, stop acting like a spoiled brat. There are no crystal balls and nothing is stationary. Our sport is the outcome of such a proggression.
But.
The industry have to support "yesterday" products, that's all.
One more thing.
Asside from the 29 wheel evolution, progression can be found on other parts too. Do yuo support these too? I am quite sure that you will reject a "different looking" fork (like the structure bike) because it does not look "progressively cool"..
Am i wrong?
IYou seem to know occult. IWould you share your knowledge on crystal balls!?
But the market is going on the safe & predictable big wheel, Low, Streght, Long bikes.
Some call it progress... I call it another bike type.
Cheers
Also skidding your bike round GT.
BUT, I think they definitely have a word in what's sent.
Would only be a good comparison if you ran the same bike with the different wheels sizes and even that is a compromise.
I've been changing between 27.5 and 29 bikes about every 2 rides lately and the 27.5s are always noticeably more nimble and playful.
One explanation I have is the distance of the axles to the ground. Considering changes in lean angle the arc of the axle travels a shorter distance the smaller the wheel diameter. Other geo variables play a role as well but this makes sense to me.
If I could find a 29er that felt like my Bronson I'd be all over it. So far the Ripmo, Hightower 2, Tallboy 4, Megatower, Foxy Carbon 29, and Carbine have not felt as good to me though. Some were certainly "faster" but they didn't put a smile on my face like the Bronson does.
www.privateerbikes.com/products/privateer-161-bike
I agree with @chakaping it would be good to see a test on the new Orange Stage 6 to see what you think of the longer chainstays..
@MikeKazimer
Thank you so much for the comparison to the Sight. That will be much easier to find a demo on, and is a bike I've been very interested in since it was announced.
Can you also mention how you liked it in comparison to the Raaw Madonna V2?
Also, the linkage/rear triangle on the titan looks like it could accumulate mud. Did you have any issues with that? I'm also in the PNW, so you ride in very similar conditions. And I figure if anyone could answer this question for me, it would be you.
Considering both of these as frames for my next build, so I appreciate all your help, as its hard for me to get my hands on these in person beforehand
Did the Titan climb better than the Sight? Its rear suspension looks more efficient but just a guess, a comment about his would be nice.
Also, seems seat post insertion is limited because of pivot in middle of seat tube and there was no mention.
It may be a non-issue, but one of the things I don't like about the X2 shock design is that it flips the shock orientation compared to other designs, meaning that the dust wiper faces upward and invites dirt to just kind of sit on it. I'm curious to see if it leads to faster contamination/shorter service intervals compared to shocks where dirt can be pushed downward off of the seal/stanchion. Not an issue unique to the Titan by any means though.
This is another reason I mentioned the "high quality AL" frame for both the RAAW and the Titan. I like it when I see manufacturers actually making the best use of their chosen material (Aluminum).
@andrewfif
Do you have a Titan then? If so, how tall are you, and what size did you get? I'm 6'1", and see that their sizing chart would put me on a large... but its got less reach than my current bike, which I already feel is borderline too small in reach for me. Curious what you went with.
Thanks for the info on the mud!
@mikekazimer
A penny for your thoughts on the Titan vs the Madonna v2?
But seriously, thank you for all your work on this. I've been anticipating this review for a while, as there just aren't many industry reviews of it. This really helps me get an idea of what it is like.
Thanks man. I've been posting over there as well. Its just the sizing is so far different than many of the other similar bikes I've been looking at (Sight, and Madonna v2 primarily), so I'm always curious what people went with.
It seems the overwhelming majority went with the recommended sizing, and most seem very happy.
Thanks for the info
www.vitalmtb.com/community/Northwest,10123/setup,40686?ptab
I agree with most of the descending comments. But I've found the Titan to be an exceptional technical climber here in Phoenix.
Think I'm going to replace my Spitfire with a Rune this time round.
forums.mtbr.com/banshee-bikes/banshee-titan-lt-29er-2020-a-1115193-post14496587.html#post14496587
Keith shows the proper way to route the cable and hose: above the BB shell, not under it.
Banshee sells frames to distributors who in turn can sell complete bikes.
Well that's how it's done in NZ.
I am curious if you tried riding with less sag, say the very end of recommended at 15.5mm and if it changed the pedaling much? It just seems a bit curious that the anti-squat is so high but having feelings of more pedal movement especially with a suspension design that is often compared to good pedaling designs such as Maestro or DW link.
Also can you give a comparison to the RAAW Madonna V2? These two seem very similar; wheelbase is only 4mm different, RAAW is longer reach, Banshee is longer CS.
That said I did break a Ripmo frame. I'm 190lbs and ride aggressively, but generally don't thrash bikes. So maybe the Ripmo is a bit under built, and the Norco is a bit overbuilt.
As much as a carbon fibre not being recyclable indeed is a problem, quite frankly I cannot be sold on the idea that my conscience should be at ease knowing that an overpriced aluminium frame that costs in the $2k5 region can be scrapped for less than $5, if the frame is weighty and you get a "good" price.
Eat a bag of.........
Considering that bikes are getting so long in the front, and that most fast mountain bike trail riders speak favorably of long chainstays, it may bear consideration to look at how a bike works with not only 450ish chainstays but 460+ chainstays.
www.vitalmtb.com/community/Northwest,10123/setup,40686?ptab
I did at first, until I realized after a couple rides and reviewing time data that I was actually riding through the corners faster, the bike was providing more traction and better control and in essence made it feel like it was too long.
Happy to say, bike is and feels fast and confident. And while maybe not the most spirited climber, it always gets me up to the top with plenty of energy in the reserve to have fun doing what the Titan was made to do... Shred on the way back down.
Went with the Prime V3 based on my experience with my Phantom V1.
Each of those other bikes has its merits and beats the Prime in certain categories. Banshee is better than all of them as a complete package when you look at pedaling, cornering, descending, value, quality and customer service.
I'm woking on my build and have a 210mm OneUp I want to run and I'll probably have to shim it to 200mm, maybe 190mm. I am 72.5" tall for reference with 170mm cranks. I need longer brake hose line so have not been able to complete or ride my build yet. I've
That would have been a better match IMHO, people who'd consider buying this will much more likely be cross-shopping the RAAW Madonna V2 than the Norco Sight C.
180/170mm = Bruiser
170/165mm = Light heavyweight
160/150mm = Middleweight
And so on...
Banshee sure likes long chainstays.... esp with a 27.5 bike that's intended to be playful.
Surprised this hasn’t been done before. Yes I know it’s aluminum
The titanium bike builders are probably kicking themselves in the head right now, we should have used the name "TITAN".
For an aluminum bike, I always thought the Kona Muni Mula name was cool, although it took me a while to figure out that Muni Mula is actually "aluminum" spelled backwards.
I will say this Banshee is definitely not for the fairies, and it does look tough. However, 34lbs is maybe a tad heavy? Only 3.5lbs more and you could have motor assist (Levo SL)?
I guess this banshee is not quiet and would be wailing and shreiking all the way down the trail...
And In no time 29rs are obsolete , just like our beloved 27.5rs and our evenmore beloved 26rs.
pinkbike will be flashing 31 wheelers only, you know why? Cause thats what its PAID to do .
If that wont make you shredders throw away ur 9months old wheelset and order a new bike than u boyz r in the wrong sport....
Thank god for progression!
material: aluminum
wtf
Wikipedia: Titanium was discovered in Cornwall, Great Britain, by William Gregor in 1791 and was named by Martin Heinrich Klaproth after the Titans of Greek mythology.
So there is a very close connection from titanium to titans
How generous of you. Riders are pretty much always "free to choose" their parts: most bikes are available as a frame only...