Brendan Moon's Bilt Eight DH Racer

Mar 10, 2014 at 23:54
by Richard Cunningham  

BIKE CHECK:
Brendan Moon's
Bilt Eight
WORDS: R. Cunningham
IMAGES: Kane Naaraat

bigquotesI felt that the bike rolled noticeably faster and had more grip, which allows for faster cornering and exit speeds. The wheels seemed to allow me to float over the top of holes and skim through rock sections that I was previously getting bogged down in using my 26 inch wheels. - Brendan Moon

Brendan Moon, or "Moony," as he is known on the Australian DH circuit, is one of the better downhill racers on the island continent. The bike he rides, the Bilt Eight, caught our attention in the pits at the DH Nationals in Bright, as did the recent video that featured Moony testing the aluminum chassis with 27.5-inch wheels. The Bilt Eight is the brainchild of founder Bill Dengate, a former DH racer who once imported boutique bikes into Australia and later decided to design and market his own brand. With long and low geometry, simple lines and a bullet-proof, linkage-driven single-pivot-swingarm suspension, the Bilt Eight has been earning a cult following among Aussie DH riders - including Bill's son Benjamin, a ranked Junior who posted a fifth place at the Nationals last weekend. We asked Dengate about the origins of the bike and about the motivations that led to the present design.


The CT-Link rear suspension is a basic, single-pivot swingarm
that hinges close to the top of a 38-tooth chairing to minimize chain
growth. Parallel "push links" drive the shock rocker and allow for
a straight seat tube.


The Eight has no special adapter for 27.5-inch wheels. Both
sizes fit between the stays and it is up to the rider to tune the head
angle and BB height to suit. The Hans Dampf rear tire fits snug.


Dengate says that quick-release through axles work loose, so
Bilt uses a 12-millimeter aluminum bolt. Simple and effective.


Moony switched the stock lowers of his Fox RAD 40 fork to the
27.5 models to obtain the correct tire clearance and fork offset.
Bill Dengate:

Is the frame on the bike that Brendan Moon rode this weekend a stock Bilt Eight?

Yes, Moony runs a stock off-the-shelf Bilt Eight frameset. It comes as a package with a Cane Creek Double Barrel shock and Angleset

Is the 650B option a conversion, or is it based upon the fact that the different wheel sizes will both fit the frame?

Yes, When we developed the Eight, we did it with a view to running larger wheels and making it compatible with both wheel sizes (basically future proofing it!). The only real issue is bottom bracket height and we found most guys' actual setups put the Eight's bottom bracket at a very low, 13.1 inches ( 332mm) when running 26-inch wheels (we advertise 13.4" or 340mm). When you run the 650B hoops, it increases the bottom bracket height by approximately 12mm, which is still very low and puts the bottom bracket around 13.5 inches (344mm), which is still on the low side of things and keeps it riding like it should.

Are their plans for a dedicated 650B design?

As the frame sits at the moment, we are pretty happy with it. We may tweak things a little for the next production run, but nothing massive. We will probably increase tire clearance a little, as there wasn't any 650B DH tires available when we were in the design phase three years ago. To be honest, I'm a bit lost with some of the banter being thrown around about "650B dedicated geometry." I mean, I've seen bikes with wheelbases that would cover two zip codes and all I can think is that it would make it ride like a boat and magnify the sensation of running larger wheels, which is something we've found our customers really don't want. Most want the chuck-ability of a 26-inch bike, with the benefit of larger wheels. We tried stretching it out, but found we lost a little of what makes the Eight such a fun ride. The frame also comes with a Cane Creek Angleset and three adjustment cups, so there is scope there to further dial your ride if you feel the need.

Describe the leverage rates of the CT-Link suspension.

The leverage ratio is a fairly linear rate. Basically, it runs from about a 2.9 to 2.4:1 ratio. This gives it a nice bottomless feeling as the leverage ratio falls off, while still keeping small-bump compliance. There's no hard ramp-up but there is enough there when you want to mash on the pedals and sprint for the finish line. This, in conjunction with the main pivot location, means the bike pedals very well when you want it to go forward without jacking or squatting or doing any of that funky stuff.

What is the primary reason for the unusual linkage?

Wow! I didn't think it was unusual, but we'll take that as a compliment. It's pretty normal stuff really, except we decided to go for a push link around the seat tube rather than design another interrupted seat tube design. The linkage is the brainchild of our designer, Christian Tucker, who developed a number of different linkage sets before we found the sweet spot and had the bike riding the way we wanted.

Will the Bilt Eight be available in Europe and North America?

Sure, We will ship worldwide. We are currently also working with a number of agents in Europe and Asia, which should speed up the delivery process. We currently send via air freight, which is fast and we do our best to keep the cost reasonable. If you are in North America and interested in selling some frames, email me!

What motivated you to strike out on your own and start a bike brand?

Besides my riding, I have imported different brands into Australia (Turner, Da Bomb, Keewee) and eventually I just decided that I should do my own thing.

Did you design the Bilt Eight from scratch? Where is the frame manufactured?

The frames started out as a Taiwanese off-the-shelf design, you know, like the ones you see at the Taipei bike show. We thought it looked OK until it got here. We ended up pretty much redesigning the whole thing, and after three prototype versions and four linkages, we ended up with something that we were happy with. They are manufactured in Taiwan by a reputable factory and to date, we haven't had one breakage, which is something we are extremely proud of. Most of our team guys are still on frames which are now over 12 months old - and have now done two National series without a hitch. They are hammering them. Each frame is pulled down, checked and prepped before it leaves here, so it is ready to build out of the box. It isn't the lightest bike on the hill, but will easily build up sub-38 pounds with an affordable, real-world kit.

We understand that you also raced downhill.

Yeah, I raced for years, reaching the dizzying heights of mid-pack in sport/veteran classes. Much more focus on having fun with the guys on weekends away, than really trying to hammer out great results! My son is currently racing on our bike as well and he has just snagged himself a fifth in juniors at the Aussie Nationals on it. At this time, Benjamin is a hopeful for selection on the Australian National team, which would be great.



Bilt Eight: Geometry
Small/Medium
Medium/Large
Seat tube 16" 18"
Head tube 130mm 130mm
Stack 940mm 950mm
Stand-over 710mm 710mm
Wheelbase 1175mm 1200mm
Head angle 64-degrees 64-degrees
Seat angle 64-degrees 64-degrees
Chainstay length 440mm 440mm
BB height 340mm 340mm
BB width 73mm 73mm
Head tube diameter 1.5" 1.5"
Frame weight 4200g 4315g

Components

Moony rides a conservative component kit. His front tire was a Maxxis High Roller II and the rear, a Schwalbe Hans Dampf. Cockpit controls were a Shimano XTR shifter and Saint brake levers (Moto style) on a Renthal Fatbar, clamped by a direct-mount Twenty6 stem. No telling where the Cane Creek Angleset was adjusted to, but a look at the side shot of the Eight suggests that the head angle is raked as far as it can go. Odd combination, the Shimano Saint brake calipers clamp Hope Sawtooth rotors. The crank is Saint, but the chainring is an elliptical Rotor Q-Ring, and behind them, a Shimano XTR mech shifts a nine-speed cassette. Moony's plastic SPD pedals makes ya wonder why Shimano has not produced a decent DH pedal to compete with the Mallet.

Below the Twenty6 stem and high-rise Renthal Fatbar is a Cane Creek Angleset that is standard kit with every frame - including three different lower cups. Saint calipers gripping Hope floating Sawtooth rotors is an unusual sight.

One of the oddities of DH is that, at present, over 75-percent of the leading pros ride Moto style (front brake on the right grip). A look at Moony's drivetrain suggests that he likes a quiet ride - minimum chain length and lots of rubber on the swingarm.


If you want your own Eight, Bilt will sell you a frame, complete with a Cane Creek DB shock, a fresh bolt and axle kit, and a Cane Creek Angleset for $1999 plus shipping charges. For further information and complete specs on the bike, visit Bilt's website..


Author Info:
RichardCunningham avatar

Member since Mar 23, 2011
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131 Comments
  • 86 17
 "One of the oddities of DH is that, at present, over 75-percent of the leading pros ride Moto style (front brake on the right grip). "

You mean 75% of pros have their bikes setup the RIGHT way

DUCKS>
  • 19 1
 Makes complete sense if you look at the statistics; approximately 25% of the general population is left-handed & may prefer their front brake set up on their dominant side (including myself Big Grin ). Perhaps that accounts for the 25% of pros setup otherwise. Ride what you prefer as long as you enjoy yourself.
  • 18 15
 I use my rear more than my front so I prefer my dominant side to have the power
  • 41 1
 @Kleinblake we all know who's been skidding up the trails now lol
  • 66 2
 75% of the dominant pros are british and that's just the way we run our brakes anyway?
  • 13 1
 I thought the frame said BILF
  • 30 2
 Anyone who says they use their front brake more than their rear is most likely completely unaware of how much braking they actually do. You are constantly using the rear brake to control the bike even when you think you are not. If you don't believe me then ride down a hill with no brake at the back. You will realise its not there in places you never thought you even touched it. I used to always claim I used my front brake more than my rear and then wonder why my rear pads wore out first. Reality check: you don't!

The front brake SHOULD do most of the heavy braking but if you try to use it to control the bike in the corners you will crash.
  • 4 1
 I'm left handed but for 10 years I rode DJ bikes with just a rear brake and ran the lever on the left, now that I've moved onto DH I've kept the rear brake where it's always been and just added the front lever to the other side. Of course being from the UK my brake setup is considered to be correct anyway.
  • 2 0
 What's your point? The front still needs more modulation.
  • 3 1
 On my dirt jump bike theres only a back brake, so it goes on the right......
  • 1 1
 learned to ride a bmx and a motobike at the same time. I was 3. I've never had any problem with left right front rear brake clutch. But no way to ride a bike moto style!
  • 8 8
 back brake goes with the rear shifter /ARGUEMENT
  • 2 2
 How do you reckon the front needs more modulation when it is used less often? The rear needs more modulation as it becomes unweighted easily. Incorrect modulation at the rear is likely to cause a break in traction and therefore a skid/momentum loss much more easily than braking in a straight line with a fully loaded front tyre. Either way, i dont find it any more difficult to use my right index finger than my left one.
  • 1 0
 @humoroususername I burnt through my rear brake pads way before the fronts...that I haven't even replaced yet!
  • 1 0
 I prefer having a brake on the left on my DJ bike so I have my right hand on the full grip
  • 1 0
 @driftmonster- EXACTLY HOW I FEEL.

i couldnt pair the front brake with the rear shifter pod.. id always think it was the rear brake.
  • 3 1
 Who the hell has a front shifter these days?
  • 48 14
 2005 called, they want their frameweight back.
  • 8 3
 haha beat me to it.
  • 7 11
flag dirtworks911 (Mar 11, 2014 at 22:02) (Below Threshold)
 "Lets see how close we can get the rear shock to the headset so it will make smashing your nuts on the stem a little more serious." - BILT frame designer

Also, who makes that front fork? I couldn't tell.
  • 2 1
 probably with headset, axle and shock
  • 13 2
 You can build this up sub 18kg easily and probably hit sub 17 if you are that desperate. Take a look back when wc riders had 18kg bikes, even with the old tech they still ripped unless you are ripping that hard your so called heavy 18kg bike is not holding you back. Id rather a bike that is strong and designed amazing than something that has strength issues like some of the rigs on the market. To many riders worried about weight when they are not fast enough to even worry about that yet.
  • 6 1
 Another point: Not everybody rides DH to race. Some of us just like to, ya know, RIDE. Most brands are leaving non-race-specific DH crowd out in the cold. (My secret suspicion on the popularity of AM, which lead to enduro racing: DH guys trying to build up bikes that would let them hit trails that aren't world cup level, after pretty much everybody stopped making freeride bikes.) This bike at least has some features, like durability, that cater to that crowd.
  • 1 0
 now freeride bikes have less travel than dh bikes (and single crowns).... cause that makes sense haha
  • 2 1
 you need single crowns, many freeriders include bar spins and tricks where they need the full rotation.
  • 1 2
 freeride is doing stupid big things, like redbull and bender stuff
  • 2 0
 That may be how you define freeride, but the typical freeride bike, when there were enough made that there was a "typical" was a 7"-8" bike, with geo that would support either a 180mm or 200mm fork(usually adjustable geo to support the A2C difference) and would give you steep enough geometry that you can ride through fairly level sections without it feeling like a slog, but still slack enough to feel confident on big stuff. For instance, the Demo 8 was a freeride bike originally, it had adjustable geo that would let you run either size fork, as well as steepen up the geo if your local trails weren't all super steep gnar. It was only when they got rid of the Demo 9 that they started tweaking the Demo 8's geo to be a race bike.
  • 2 1
 freeride is riding something that is not a trail and will always be that. some people jump roofs and such, requires lots of travel and balls. old dh bike and freeride bike had a steep headtube, because thats how they were made. new bike freeride bikes are just glorified all mountain bike, commonly becoming "enduro." making an actual freeride bike is not cost effective since people will complain that something weights 100 grams more than another frame. more people will buy the all mountain bikes, vs the freeride
  • 1 0
 I'm pretty sure 2005 is not calling only for the frame weight but for the frame itself:
img138.imageshack.us/img138/7734/nuctstteam028fd.jpg

It's not exactly the same, I know. Nicolai dropped this model because of its weight but I've no doubts that the system will rock. I've had a Nicolai Ufo_ds and it was brilliant, I've tried the Nicolai M-Prime and talk about plush and low center of gravity, so I'm sure this one should rock as hell. With this, I'm sure this new bike will most probably work very well being based on the Nicolai, it's the same way with the Norland Project (www.pinkbike.com/u/annimaxdh/blog/norlandcyclesstealth.html) and the Brooklyn Machine Works Racelink.

In the end, if you're going to do something new based in something old, than use the good examples, and that is what these guys are doing so we can enjoy good bikes Smile .
  • 2 0
 What is incredibly funny to me is that I have never seen that bike before....... But hey, Great minds think alike!
  • 19 0
 its funny how so many people on here are bad mouthing this bike, ive had my bilt for about a year now and have not had one problem with it and after all the bike ive had over the years this is by far the best i have had so far. buy one ride it and im sure you will be deleting anything negative you have said about the bike...
  • 22 0
 Hey this is Hatebike where everyone bitches about everything especially if it's
A) new.
B) old.
C) different.
D) expensive.
if they rode it they might still bitch BUT I'd they happen to OWN one it's the best thing ever made.
  • 7 0
 ohh you forgot:
E) if it's not 26'
  • 16 1
 Why is it such an oddity to run your brakes 'moto' style? A lot of people ride moto/motorcycles and right is the front brake hand.
  • 3 0
 Also, it's the more important brake and if you are right handed you will have more control. I found swapping the levers helped me learn nose wheelies in my bmx days.
  • 14 0
 pretty much everyone in the uk has the front brake lever on the right
  • 28 3
 All riders from Commonwealth countries ride 'moto' style. All bikes are set up this way, not just DH bikes so that they resemble motos. Little girls on pink bikes with streamers on the bars and spokey dokes run 'moto'.

75% of leading pros? That's simply because many of the fastest guys are from Commonwealth countries - South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, UK. Not sure how Stevie runs his brakes - Canada being an anomoly in their bikes are generally set up non-moto since they followed the good ol' USA (where 'moto' style is an informed choice, as commented above).
  • 11 7
 No... They don't. Canada is part of the commonwealth and the default here is right lever rear / left lever front. I have ridden motos too and never had brain problems with how the controls are.
  • 7 0
 I think your Comment should be... Yes, they do... Read the Comment again
  • 3 2
 What I was told, quite some time ago, was that when hand brakes were becoming commonplace on bicycles (waaaay back) was that Europeans always had the right as the front brake on both bicycles and motorcycles and that the US, liking to do things their own way, set things up opposite just to not follow suit. I'm not saying this is fact, just what I was told.
  • 6 2
 Considering that motorcycles evolved from bicycles... (not the other way round) its more likely that motorcycle controls were patterned after bicycles of the period. At that time, the most powerful front brakes for bicycles were spoon brakes that pushed down on the top of the front tire, and were most often connected to a lever on the right side of the bar because the majority of people are right-handed and its also the strongest hand as a result. Most of your brake power comes from the front wheel, and voila...
  • 6 0
 Once while on holiday in Brugges I hired a shitty bike, pedaled flat stick and attempted to rip a skid. Much to my dismay the front brake leaver was on the left side! I never even thought that would be a possibility. Definately learnt the hard way! Mrs thought it was pretty funny but... bitch!
  • 2 0
 @deeeight - I don't think anybody, including myself, were disputing that motorcycles evolved from bikes and your explanation for the front brake being the right side makes sense but do you have a theory for why North American bicycles are set up with front brake on the left?
  • 4 0
 I ride my bike true moto style, with a foot brake for the rear, lol. Moto throttles need dominant hand control (right side for majority of the population), and you can't have your clutch lever on the same side of the throttle. That leaves the other lever for braking duties, and for cable/hose layout purposes the shortest route for the front brake lever is the front and for the foot brake to the rear. IMHO.
  • 13 0
 It's got nothing to do with motos. It has everything to do with the law in many countries on how hand brakes had to be setup on bikes when they were sold. You have to be able to pull the rear brake and make a stop signal at the same time. Drive on the left? Back brake on the left and make a stop signal with your right hand.

Whether or not these laws are known about these days or not is irrelevant, as the habit has been set. But when I was a kid the cops that came to my school even told us that it's against the law to sell a bike setup wrong. You can do whatever you like once it leaves the shop.

Almost everyone that craps on about being 'oh so moto' just ended up that way by default; it has nothing to do with you being cool or, more likely, otherwise.
  • 1 0
 Not to forget, the brain's right hemisphere (which is connected to the left hand) is faster than the left hemisphere (to the right hand). That's why left handed tennismen are generaly better than others.
So for control, it can be an advantage to be faster rather than having power from your dominant hand.
I ride left for front brake although I'm right handed and feel it's better for me.
I tried moto style in the past and it was ok too but I'm no motorbike rider and I play guitar, so even if I'm rigth handed, I usually use my left hand.
In the end I think it's just personnal preference, none of the two style is better than the other, just ride what works for you.
  • 3 0
 And for Stevie, you can take a look at this :
www.pinkbike.com/photo/10149124
  • 1 0
 True, Motos are a different story. Their brake ergonomics are inherently constrained because of the number of controls, it doesn't mean they're superior. With bikes it's a matter of preference. I'm happy with RH rear and LH front. Some of us drive on the right side of the street, some on the left. Who's right? Left? hehe
  • 1 0
 brutalpedz: The right hemisphere of the brain is faster than the left and therefore the left hand is quicker than the right? By what margin? What happens if you are epilleptic and have the two hemispheres seperated? I must say I have my doubts about what you say but am more than ready to be educated if you know your stuff. Please elaborate.

I am right handed and have FAR better fine motor control with my right hand. Writing with my left hand looks like the scribblings of a sleepy 5 yr old. I assume the same will be true of my braking control. Motor skills can definately be learned. The first time I tried left foot braking in my car I had very little control of power modulation, but with practice I have improved. My right foot is still far better even after extended periods of using ONLY my left foot.
  • 1 0
 Rear brake on right hand and front on left hand feels wayyyy more natural to me. I'd rather have my dominate hand control the rear since I usually squeeze the rear harder than the front. I'd hate to have it the other way around.
  • 1 0
 1st bike was back brakes (coaster), 2nd bike was a US import right hand back brake. 3rd bike was British style but mainly used on roads so I just pulled both levers. Then all my next bikes and my beginning MTBing proper were in the US so right rear left front. Borrowing bikes when I returned to Oz I found it hard to switch back when there are two brakes but easy enough when there is just one. I want to be able to be an ambidextrous braker if there is such a thing. I used to prefer right rear and left front so I could skid better and not go over the handle bars being a righty and having shit brakes. Now with hydraulic brakes that doesn't seem as important. I can drive on both sides of the road and ride a motor bike so why not be able to do both.
  • 1 0
 gabriel-mission9 : The hand is not quicker but the response of the brain is, so you gain a little time, but we're talking about milliseconds Wink
All I could find is in French, hard to know technical vocabulary in English to find articles you can read, except if you read French, sorry...
But basically it was just a poor argument (but true) like saying "Moto style is better beacause it's Moto".
And of course like you said, if you usually don't use one hand or an other, it will feel less confortable than with you dominant hand.
  • 1 0
 @deeeight, you are right, I should have edited my comment to say "almost all Commonwealth countries..."
  • 2 0
 My hard tail I have the rear brake on the right so I don't catch a handful of lever on barspins, and on my dh bike rear brake is on the left. I never get confused and both feel natural. Run at me
  • 2 0
 The regs for bicycles in the US state that a bicycle (for commercial sale) must have one brake capable of skidding the rear wheel on clean, dry pavement. Bike makers reasoned that most people were right-handed, and that their right hand would be strongest, so they agreed to put the single brake lever on the right side. BMX (arguably a US invention) cemented this trend for three following generations of dirt riders. That said, I'm with Steve Peat, Sam Hill and Minnaar on this one - moto style.
  • 1 0
 Bikes in the US don't legally require a front brake? Bloody hell. How do you stop when crazy taxi drivers pull out on you?
  • 1 0
 They don't legally require lights either in most states for riding at night, which is why they are sold with reflectors in stores (which they are required to have). But that didn't stop the moronic family of a 7-11 employed moron who got hit by a moronic driver of a jeep one night (who didn't see the cyclist) while riding home from work from successfully suing the bicycle store, and the manufacturer of the bicycle for NOT explaining that you actually needed lights for other drivers to see you from directions where reflectors won't reflect headlights. As I recall it was something like seven million in punitive damages and it basically crippled the brand for a couple years (it was also a totally whacko amount). The company that ultimately got sued was Derby Corp, because they owned the brand of bicycle (Nishiki) the guy was riding. The jury of course was stuffed full of morons to blame the bicycle store and the manufacturer for following state law on safety equipment, and ignoring basic common sense that reflectors only REFLECT light that is actually aimed directly at them. I found this report about the trial from one of the experts who worked the case.

www.johnforester.com/Consult/Green/derby.htm

Ironically our esteemed RC is mentioned in a different lawsuit (as the designer though he wasn't named as a defendant of the lawsuit) involving derby corp that had to do with a defectively manufactured rigid fork failure. The basic problem then was RC designed the fork to use a certain grade of tubing, the brand contracted out its manufacture and the factory in taiwan substituted in an inferior tubing and then made things worse by introducing a crack during the welding process which meant failure inevitable. The ultimate judgement totaled less than $400k which for 1997 and the type of injuries were quite reasonable.

law.justia.com/cases/california/caapp4th/56/618.html
  • 1 0
 In the US everyone runs around with concealed weapons so if the taxi driver pulls out in front of you and you are in fear... you can legally shoot them dead in certain states... amazing right..... No this is not a joke
  • 1 0
 I used to live in texas when I was a kid. Got used to finding spent cartridges on the side of the road whilst waiting for the schoolbus in the morning. Seemed normal at the time but thinking back to it many years later its actually bloody scary. guess i was too young to know about the front brake rule.
  • 13 0
 Don't understand people knocking a pretty badass looking bike. Looks bombproof to me, and I'm a fan of that. Kinda cool to see an elliptical ring on a DH sled too.
  • 4 0
 That's what I thought it looks sinister to me. I love it...
  • 13 3
 That is the most reasonable price for a DH frame that I have ever heard.
  • 9 0
 WHOA! Who makes that fork?!?
  • 12 0
 Umm i think its Fox… but i could be wrong
  • 10 3
 Looks like a nice frame but ISCG old, 73mm BB and a 30.4mm seat post? Odd "standards" are a pain in the ass.
  • 2 0
 I sorta agree with the ISCG and 30.4 being bizarre, but when I talked to Bill, he told me the 73mm BB was more to keep a wider range of cranksets available.
  • 1 0
 they should still only have iscg if you ask me aswell as ONE seatpost size for everything all of this crap is dumb. aswell as all threaded bbs
  • 5 5
 He's like, "I said 650B is better, now pay me!"
  • 3 1
 hahahahahahhahaa
  • 6 1
 Butters12,^^^ Bilt sends the frame out with a 27.2mm adapter sleeve, so customers can find a seatpost to fit anywhere except, maybe Texas.
  • 3 1
 They should have just made it 30.9 in the first place
  • 4 0
 Just a comment on the cable routing debate that has popped up. If you take into account that the rotor and caliper are on the left ( non drive side of nearly every bike ever made ) having your front brake lever mounted to the right hand side just makes a lot more sense. The hose always moves away from the tyre on fork compression. If you mount a front brake to the left side the hose want to move towards the tyre when compressed and also left real goofy imo.
  • 3 0
 Actually the whole setup is much reasonable. And there is nothing wrong with the dx spd being plastic, people ride plastic frames. Also the hope rotor works very well with long pad calipers and lasts longer. Function over fashion anyone ?
  • 1 0
 Grew up on MX from 4 to 34 years old. Started riding Mountain bikes at 17, and raced DH for years. Never had an issue with traditional brake setups on each and have never seen an advantage of either setup.. With todays technology it doesnt matter how strong your hand is (one or two fingers are) there is plenty of mech. advantage... WHO Cares?
  • 6 1
 Damn that Kashima is Yellow!
  • 2 0
 agreed
  • 4 1
 The joys of photo editing!
  • 5 0
 i dont think he has enough foxs logos on his fork yet
  • 3 0
 Anyone wants to see Moony and his bike in action check it out here.
vimeo.com/85905446

This is not my video or vimeo so don't give me credit for this amazing work.
  • 1 0
 "One of the oddities of DH is that, at present, over 75-percent of the leading pros ride Moto style (front brake on the right grip)."

WTF? LOL

Has RC considered that a great deal of guys that ride pedal bikes also ride motor bikes?

And just how many vids have you seen that shows our fav DH'ers on motor bikes?

I'm willing to bet that motorcyclists have a greater tendency to DH and FR then XC, which would explain why the lycra crowd is always so
shocked that anyone would do such a thing.
  • 4 0
 Looks Great Bilt! Happy to see a frame built tough and well priced. Don't listen to the nay-sayers!
  • 4 2
 I'm sure that linkage is built tough... but in photos Dat push linkage looks suspect long term
  • 5 1
 Knolly has used the push linkage system for well over a decade with no issues. The concept is to get past the seat tube and move the rocker that controls the shock rate to a more convenient place on the bike. The yoke that Specialized and Lapierre use to extend the shock is a similar strategy.
  • 2 0
 How strong is the linkage horizontally (laterally?) though? This is the only thing that steers me away from bikes with a design like this, even though I know they are thoroughly tested. Most reviews don't touch on this a lot. (I know this isn't a review)
  • 2 0
 @karpiel... same here. more precisely it's stiffness I wonder about. I'm sure it's plenty strong enough for a battering but single pivot linkage activated shock designs are most vulnerable to flex imo
  • 2 0
 We have had no linkage problems at all and we have had some big burly guys who ride hard on them all the way through development to present. The swing arm has large box section reducing lateral flex which equates to lower load on the linkage. Bill
  • 3 0
 Yes, stiffness is what I was referring too. That's understandable Bill, It just seems like the mounting points on the linkage would be the weaker area because of the length of the linkage. Just an observation though, it sure is a good looking bike.
  • 2 0
 Yeah..no doubt the bike is solid.. I'm just saying from photos or that angle of photo that the linkage looks like it would suffer from torsional flex over time. Bill has address my concern.
  • 1 0
 Can anyone tell me another frame that uses the CT linkage? just curious, the front of the rear shock looks places extremely forward on the bike
  • 1 0
 Bilt designed it and they're the only ones using it
  • 2 0
 Surely pros running their brakes in the non moto way would be an oddity if only 25% of them do?
  • 1 1
 f*ck That, Its a nice frame like the simple paint and the understated shiz although I wouldnt f*ck about with xtr - hope and ellipticals!!?? WTF chuck a biopace on it and gooooo!
  • 1 0
 Looks great. Saw one of these in action last year. Really nice. Hey Kane, photos would have been so much better if you moved the chairs out of the way
  • 1 0
 I would be very interested in riding it with 650b front and 26 rear. Like an old-school BigHit but not quite as drastic.
  • 2 0
 That is one tasty bike. Beauty in simplicity.
  • 2 0
 73mm BB on a Downhill Bike....why not 83mm?
  • 2 0
 It was a mistake made by the factory in Taiwan. Bilt asked for 83mm, but the prototypes come over with a 73mm. Bilt liked the 73mm and stayed with it. Smile
  • 1 0
 Sweet look bike! Liking the suspension design a lot. It'd be great if PB got their hands on one to do a review
  • 1 0
 Wait- who makes that fork?
  • 2 3
 Read the first line "quote" about the bigger wheel size and proceeded to disregard everything thereafter as more marketing garbage.
  • 3 0
 rookie error the bike fits both sizes. Its not actually about the larger wheel the article its just one of the things they talk about.
Moony rode the 26 size for a while and decided to test the 650b, this is not a marketing line this is how he felt on the bike, he was open to ride the 26 if he wanted to, I don't believe there was any pressure to do so as the frame runs both. . He also has said that the larger wheel size might not suit every rider in other reviews. flowmountainbike.com/post-all/video-testing-a-650b-downhill-bike-with-bilt-and-brendan-moon
  • 1 0
 Interesting he is using old Saint brakes. Nothing wrong with it, just odd.
  • 1 0
 What's not to like on a FREE DH BIKE?
  • 2 0
 And you came to that conclusion how?
  • 1 0
 Front and rear,left or right Christ this frame is HEAVY!!!
  • 1 0
 Pros use brakes?! I thought they hovered at around 60 mph to the finish.
  • 1 1
 Electrical tape on the chainstay that's hilarious. Lol. They need to add some more links to the chain it's too short.
  • 1 0
 Moto style braking ????? That hilarious !!!
  • 1 0
 T32
  • 1 1
 If is so good, why the hell you need an angle set?
  • 3 0
 It doesn't "need " and Angleset....But it is certainly nice to have options ands adjustability. Bill
  • 2 0
 tinkering around? isn't that one important aspect of DH riding? Big Grin
  • 1 1
 Looks like YT Tues Smile
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