Video: RAAW Mountain Bikes' - 'The Downhill Project', Episode 3

Jan 2, 2023 at 23:59
by RAAW Mountain Bikes  

Words: RAAW Mountain Bikes

A lot can happen in a year. For us at RAAW, the past year has been a whirlwind. We received the first samples of our DH bike, threw it first run down the infamous World Cup track in Champéry, went for a season of World Cup racing and even had our bike on the live stream.

The roller coaster that is downhill racing follows a pretty g-force-inducing path of ups and downs. From the first round in Lourdes, France, to the season’s end in Val di Sole, Italy, it was a ride of learning and watching our little creation give us the stamp of approval that we created something not only capable of success but durable enough to take the hits of an entire season’s racing within its stride.

And as this year’s ride has come to a stop, and all the people involved unbuckle and step off, we’re already looking forward to 2023 and jumping back aboard the racing rollercoaster, with some new additions to the RAAW racing family.

But perhaps more important in that look forward to next year, we’re beyond excited to be releasing the bike to the public in the first couple of months of 2023, where it will be available to purchase immediately and shipped out soon after.

It’s a great feeling to take not only all this past year’s learning, but those throughout the whole of the DH bike’s development, and bundle them all together as we release it into the wild. Maybe we’ll even meet you out on the trails at some point, to share this excitement as well as a lap back down the hill together.

Keep one ear to the ground for the official release of the bike, in early 2023, where we’ll share all the details, ideas and reasons the bike is the way it is. As well as pricing, options and availability.

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Photos by Ross Bell
For more information visit raawmtb.com.

Author Info:
RAAWMountainBikes avatar

Member since Mar 27, 2018
31 articles

34 Comments
  • 25 0
 That's raad
  • 6 1
 Ja das ist ein Raad. Ein schönes Raad.
  • 5 1
 @colincolin: Raaw: Das Raad
  • 12 0
 RAAW !
Huh,
Comon.
What is it good for ?
Smashing through everything !
  • 8 0
 Madonna is probably #1 on my list for the next bike. They just speak to me.
  • 7 0
 I just took mine on it’s first ride this weekend. Is indeed sweet
  • 4 0
 It's an incredible bike. I love mine. I've had it for a year now and zero complaints.
  • 4 0
 Another very satisfied Madonna rider. DO IT
  • 2 0
 Absolutely no regrets with mine. Love it! A friends also has one and he loves it too.
  • 1 0
 @st-lupo: Lovin' all the positive reviews.
  • 2 0
 @jesse-effing-edwards: You should pick one up! It's such a straightforward yet effective design. It feels amazing at the bike park, on big trail days, and is super easy to work on. I've had a couple recent super muddy weekends at the bike park so I tore it down over an afternoon and honestly that process made me love it even more. You can tell how well thought out everything is and that translates to a really solid feel on the trail.
  • 2 0
 Love my Madonna, absolutely Zero desire to replace it any time soon. Does everything so well. I enjoy hearing the sound of rocks hitting the downtube and giving no fux.
  • 2 0
 @BigHerm: I feel the nofux vibes on my ripmo af. never sad I have a metal bike ever.
  • 1 0
 A little late but jumping on the bandwagon to add that I absolutely love my Madonna. Its a dream to ride
  • 1 0
 It's a great bike, I've had my v2.2 for 6 ish months now. My only complaint was the chain stay protector was a little lacking in my opinion ( and the frame took awhile to arrive for me) I was getting some chain slap noise due to it. I added a strip of that vhs slapper tape to it and now it's a dead silent bike.
  • 7 0
 Nioce.
  • 6 0
 Big faan of RAAW. Keep it up!
  • 2 0
 @RaawMountainBikes Will the Madonna get the same adjustability options at the BB, suspension, and headset that the DH is getting? Maybe a V3?
  • 1 0
 Or maybe some different lower shock mounts to use on a V2.2?

Modular axle system (vs length specific used now) could be implemented but you'd still need the correct brake mount. Or they could make 3 position brake mounts too.
  • 2 0
 @BigHerm: but if they come out with a V3 I could make an excuse in my head to replace my black frame with a raw frame...
  • 1 0
 @pisgahgnar: yeah, the one "regert" I have is having to order a black frame when the raw sold out. Black is a bit more understated though...
  • 3 0
 RAAW declares WAAR on Champerey!
  • 1 0
 I know it’s not advised by Raaw,but has anyone run triple crowns on the Madonna?
  • 1 0
 There was an article with a madonna frame built with a single speed set up and the fox 40s but I can't seem to find it
  • 1 0
 Look for Lewis_webber_ on Instagram. He’s run his Madonna with boxers for a while now and as far as I’m aware there’s been no problems. Could be worth shooting him a message and I’m sure he would give you some feedback
  • 1 0
 I remember reading on thier website that its not designed for a dh fork and running one void’s warranty. Works pretty well with a 180 single crown…
  • 1 0
 Why is triple crown such a common phrase to describe a DH fork? It has two crowns? I have also heard triple clamp thouhg. Was this referring to the axle clamp, the first crown clamp (that was common on dh forks of yesteryear) and the top clamp? And did that just merge with dual crown to become triple crown? I'm genuinely curious if there is a real origin.
  • 2 1
 @maestroman21: I know it as dual crown or triple clamp (where the third clamp is the axle). It aren't always and necessarily DH forks though. Before onepointfive, any fork of over 130mm travel was dual crown, like the WP/Rond Mid Ego. You could drop the first generation of Fox 40 forks a good lot too. Before the advent of what we now know as enduro racing, you had something called mini-DH. Bikes with about 7" travel front and rear. Specialized had the Demo 7, Morewood had something too. People would either run a long single crown fork or a dropped travel DH fork.

Ok, reading my response, yes lots of DH forks indeed. But the Mid Ego wasn't a DH fork nor was the Specialized E150. Not sure what to say about the Lefty forks (aside from the latest ones). Definitely two crowns but the axle can't count as a third clamp.
  • 1 0
 @lawrence-s: I too wear boxers while riding my madonna
  • 2 4
 Musicbed tunes just made this edit unwatchable. Please please please video editors spend some bucks onmusic!!! you lift up the quality more than with a super finesse editing itself.
  • 1 1
 Looks like a Sesscott.
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