Slopestyle build? by Unhallowed

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jv86416 (Jun 11, 2009 at 12:40)

GO FOR THE RAMPANT. I'm not just saying this because I own one but if you're serious about slope-style this bike beats out all of you choices. Super short stays for spins and whips, super small geo. YOU HAVE TO TRY ONE. The Rampant changed the way I ride. I have tried the Wildcard, Bass and 4x.

Wildcard - Amazing bike also but Rampant feels nicer suspension wise because of the of the virtual pivot placement. For the Wildcard to not bottom on big jumps you have to run it so stiff whereas the Rampant's suspension significantly ramps up while going through the travel.

Bass - Horrible bike in my opinion - chain stays are so long, and since it has the stupid bottom bracket pivot it pedals like shit. My friend owns one and he wishes he bought a Rampant.

4X - Feels similar to the Bass.

I'm not a suspension expert but if I were you I would avoid getting a bike with the bottom bracket pivot. I run a Rolhoff single speed tensioner on my Rampant and I've had no problems. With the BB pivot, the bike automatically needs longer chainstays (so the tire doesn't hit the frame when going down). Also, since the pivot point is below the chainline, the suspension can "squat" when pedaling hard which makes your bike feel like a pogo stick.

Sorry I typed so much but I'm not lying to you when I say that the Rampant would be perfect for you. If you can, demo one so you can see for yourself.

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Unhallowed (Jun 11, 2009 at 12:44)

Hmm ok thanks.

Well, I'm used to the whole "faux bar" style bb link whatevers style suspension. Frankly, I love it and am used to it.
I basically want a hardtail feel with a bit of give to take the edge off so the wildcard seems like it would be a good thing... although the amount of travel worries me.

I do thank you for the input though, and will go get a test ride on a rampant ASAP.
Last I checked the website didn't have prices, any idea on a frame only price?

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TheDanish FL (Jun 11, 2009 at 19:21)

Unhallowed: I basically want a hardtail feel with a bit of give to take the edge off....

I heard that the Le Pink is supposed to ride and feel like a hardtail but it cushions your landing like a full-suspension.

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jv86416 (Jun 11, 2009 at 20:36)

I bought mine at a shop in Ontario for about $1700 taxes in. I got the upgraded rear shock (Manitou to an RP23) and the frame included a nice one piece seatpost.

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pdee (Jun 9, 2009 at 12:24)

well depending on if you want gears or not. cuz if you want run singlespeed, the bass is pretty much your only option. and supposedly KMI, the canadian distributor for Commencal, is droping them next year cuz their are really expensive. if you want to run gears, go for the 4X. but if you want like an all around bike, that you can take on a dh trail too, go for the wildcard, the remedy is more an AM bike, so it wont jump as well as the banshee.

summary:
singlespeed=Kona Bass
Gears=4x/wildcard

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Unhallowed (Jun 9, 2009 at 12:28)

I can singlespeed ANY of the bikes. The bass, commy, and Dob can all be ss'd without a tensioner.

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pdee (Jun 9, 2009 at 12:34)

well i dont know about you, but personally a bike like the wildcard with a long chain and a tensioner hanging low looks ugly to me. also the bass will probs jump the best, because it truly is a ss bike, and since it has 4" of travel, it rides similar to a hardtail dj bike.

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Unhallowed (Jun 9, 2009 at 12:40)

The stays are as long as any bike. There's nothing wrong with good tensioners. The remedy/wildcard are the only ones with more than 4" of travel... and the le pink has 3"...

Frankly, I moved on from Kona and am very reluctant to go back to riding their bikes.

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pdee (Jun 9, 2009 at 16:36)

ok well then the norco or the wildcard. cuz remember the remedy isnt the same one mccaul and semenuk are riding.

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pdee (Jun 9, 2009 at 16:36)

and you could try getting the shifter mounted on the downtube like they have it.

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Unhallowed (Jun 9, 2009 at 16:40)

I know, the current remedy is more of an AM bike... And that shifter is custom, although I could easily fabricate one up...

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eleventyfive (Jun 9, 2009 at 23:27)

I'd say the wildcard, 5'' seems reasonable for jumping and if you progress to much bigger stuff it'd be nice to run the 6 or 6 1/2.The wildcard seems like it would be good to go in all sorts of riding too.When is the remedy that mccaul and semenuk ride coming out...2010?

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Unhallowed (Jun 10, 2009 at 1:45)

I already have along travel FR rig...

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scotteh (Jun 9, 2009 at 21:27)

I'd avoid Kona, my buddy has an 09 Bass and it feels horribly off. He's used to it and likes it just fine but I really hate it. As for the Banshee's, I'd look for a Rampant over a Wildcard. I was talking to a Banshee rep and he said the nature of the travel causes the Rampant to feel like it has more travel than the Wildcard (VPP vs. Faux Bar), especially in the rough stuff. The Remedy is not that short travel but if you're interested, BSP in Langely has a ton of them. The Commencal looks sick but they are absurdly overpriced, the frame of their FR bike is as much as a complete would generally cost. I haven't heard all that much about the XXXX, check out bighuker if you want a review, he has a sick one. Yay, essay.

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collin7 (Jun 10, 2009 at 10:24)

if you can get ur hands on an absolute that would be sick. you can easily run SS on that too... no tensioner needed. i know u say the public hasn't beaten them to pieces yet but its gotta be better than the kona! to top it all off, its sexy as hell

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TheDanish FL (Jun 10, 2009 at 12:55)

I'll give you my opinions if you give me yours. (See my blog) The Bass and Cowan DS are decent bikes for SS, but you get what you pay for. I'm a bit iffy on the Remedy. I know it's used by pros like McCaul and Semenuk but it just doesn't seem like a SS bike to me. I'm sure that if you get the Remedy and replace the fork and shock and take a hacksaw to the seatpost it will be amazing. The Wildcard is a sweet looking frame but I know nothing about it. I'm not too sure about the Norco 4X but it looks like a good SS frame. As for the Absolut and Le Pink; they will be tough to find but I don't think it will be too hard to acquire one. Good luck!

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Unhallowed (Jun 13, 2009 at 10:14)

OK... so at this very moment this is how the build is looking. Frame may be swapped for Dob or Commy depending on how the perform/are priced.

FRAME: Banshee Rampant (Long)
SHOCK: X Fusion O2 PVA
FORK: X Fusion Shox Vengeance HLR
HEADSET: Crank Bros Iodine C
CRANK SET: GAP Moto-X
HANDLEBAR: Fireeye Calibar 75
STEM: Straitline SSC 35mm
GRIP: ODI Ruffian lock-on
WHEELS: Pimplites on Hadley
FRONT TIRE: Maxxis Larsen TT
REAR TIRE: Maxxis High Roller SS
REAR BRAKE: Juicy 5
BRAKE LEVER: Straitline
SADDLE: Transition Trail n Park
SEAT POST: Vsixty
PEDALS: Straitline

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knightridersix04 (Jun 13, 2009 at 16:57)

sounds good but why X Fusion suspension?

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Unhallowed (Jun 13, 2009 at 16:58)

X fusion is f*cking awesome.
Better than fox, in my eyes.

Hell, their factory MAKES the fox shocks(not sure about forks). So their stuff has gotta be a step above.

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knightridersix04 (Jun 13, 2009 at 17:25)

as far as I know, RST makes the fox lowers for their forks but anyway, I'd go for pikes personally

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Unhallowed (Jun 13, 2009 at 18:30)

I do not trust RS, nor do I like the feel of their forks.

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pimpedaline (Jun 13, 2009 at 18:59)

If you can get it, go with the le pink, solid steel bike made right here in Canada. I have met the owners of Dobermann and they are good guys and truely care about thier product, so pride makes good product. I think the suggested retail on them is $1200 or there about. I really hope that the price list we got from them isn't showing that as whole sale.

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Unhallowed (Jun 13, 2009 at 19:01)

last I heard it was going to be 1100, and then they said "significantly north of that" number a while ago.

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pimpedaline (Jun 14, 2009 at 5:42)

I have the 2009 dealers price list, and the Le Pink has no set price on it just a target price of $1200. I am working on getting our shop to be a Dob dealer, all I have to do is get one sold and we will order in a few

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Unhallowed (Jun 14, 2009 at 8:30)

Hmm ok sweet...

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Hummeroid (Jun 10, 2009 at 15:12)

Find a used medium or small 5 spot. If you find one in your price range, then you put shorter stroke and i2i shock in, and different rockers... and BAM SLOPESPOT. Best slope bike Ive ridden.

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Unhallowed (Jun 10, 2009 at 15:17)

So sm-med Turner 5spot. Smaller shock. And different rockers...?

Any recommendation on which size shock, or what rockers?

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Hummeroid (Jun 10, 2009 at 15:18)

Yeah, gotta go look at our lol

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jv86416 (Jun 11, 2009 at 12:41)

Why would you want to go through all of that trouble and money when you could get a frame designed for slope-style in the first place?

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Unhallowed (Jun 11, 2009 at 12:47)

performance+cost>ease

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benbiker1 (Jun 10, 2009 at 11:21)

Silly Unhallowed

You live in Richmond and your local shop (Caps) can get any of those bikes except the Commencal.

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Unhallowed (Jun 10, 2009 at 11:44)

1)never buy a new bike from caps as they will jew you out of every cent you got.
2)I wouldnt go with a new one, unless it was the commy/le pink.
3)not asking for where I can get them, I know where I can get them... I'm asking for reviews, opinions, feedback, that will help me make a decision.

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mehow1993 (Jul 4, 2009 at 23:22)

specilized sx might be something to look into, not going to lie its one of the nicest frames i have ever ridden

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Cmontjumper (Jun 9, 2009 at 12:07)

The commencal absolut looks really really nice but if not that the wildcard

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mwoodley (Jun 9, 2009 at 15:16)

instead of a wild card I would go for a rune those are supposed to be super nice

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Unhallowed (Jun 9, 2009 at 15:21)

Rune is a trailbike, do you mean the Rampant 4x bike?

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mwoodley (Jun 9, 2009 at 15:45)

oh yah thats what I meant.

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Unhallowed (Jun 9, 2009 at 15:47)

Yea idunno, I've yet to hear much about them so I'm not sure. I'm heading over to the banshee distro sometime soon and trying one out if I can...

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TheDanish FL (Jun 12, 2009 at 9:25)

Here you go. I have a feeling this is something that would suit you. www.pinkbike.com/buysell/429010

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Unhallowed (Jun 12, 2009 at 9:31)

lol, cept it's on the other side of the damn country?
And has a spec list I'm not exactly fond of?
And is asking more than I would spend on a used bike?

Other then that, yea it's perfect. >_>

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TheDanish FL (Jun 12, 2009 at 10:33)

Ok. Just making a suggestion. I guess it is kind of a rip for that bike. I found nothing wrong with the spec list. Sorry.

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Unhallowed (Jun 12, 2009 at 11:05)

Nothing wrong with it, just not what I really want.

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t-lum (Jun 9, 2009 at 15:22)

if you don't want a kona why did you put it as an option?

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Unhallowed (Jun 9, 2009 at 15:27)

It's an option, but just barely. If someone managed to convince me it's better than other options I'd go get one. If not then it's just up there to look pretty.