Rode off road today with my new Reign 2. One of the best rides I've ever had. We rode at Alafia River State Park which is south of Tampa. These trails are considered some of the most technical trails in Florida, so I figured it would be a good way to test out the new ride. All I can say is WOW!! Well, actually, I can say a bit more.
First, let me say that I've been riding a 2004 VT3 since July, put about 1400 miles on it, so I had a bike I already loved to compare the Reign to.
Maestro suspension seems to be all that it is billed as. It was plush, and I mean really plush. Sucked up bumps on both climbs and drops with no problems. On a few climbs, I stood in the saddle and hammered, just to see how it would handle, and there was very little noticeable bob. Also, seated on climbs, the thing flew up the steep stuff. The VT is actually lighter than the Reign and I was a bit worried about climbing with it, but it actually did better for me than the VT.
On the drops, it was awesome. The drops on these trails are pretty much all very large palmetto and oak roots and lots of rocks. I flew down things that I would have hesitated on the VT. There is one section of whoop-de-doos that I always had some issues with, but on the Reign, I had no problems at all.
The brakes are very responsive. The Nixon fork is unbelievable, it was really firm, noticed no flex at all. The drivetrain was smooth as butter, although I did have a few laughs getting used to the Rapid Rise XT rear derr., as I was coming from a regular XT, so everything was backward. Stalled on a few steep climbs when I ended up shifting up instead of down....good for a chuckle.
The geometry is really comfortable. We rode for about 3 hours and I didn't feel like I was getting used to a new bike, but rather like I was riding an old friend.
Well, 3 hours isn't enough to really know everything, but it was enough to let me know I made a good choice buying the Reign. I've got another 3 hour ride planned tomorrow up at Santos, so I'll get another chance to put it through it's paces.
A few photos below (my buddy who had the camera isn't a Georgia O'Keefe or Ansel Adams, so be gentle)
First, let me say that I've been riding a 2004 VT3 since July, put about 1400 miles on it, so I had a bike I already loved to compare the Reign to.
Maestro suspension seems to be all that it is billed as. It was plush, and I mean really plush. Sucked up bumps on both climbs and drops with no problems. On a few climbs, I stood in the saddle and hammered, just to see how it would handle, and there was very little noticeable bob. Also, seated on climbs, the thing flew up the steep stuff. The VT is actually lighter than the Reign and I was a bit worried about climbing with it, but it actually did better for me than the VT.
On the drops, it was awesome. The drops on these trails are pretty much all very large palmetto and oak roots and lots of rocks. I flew down things that I would have hesitated on the VT. There is one section of whoop-de-doos that I always had some issues with, but on the Reign, I had no problems at all.
The brakes are very responsive. The Nixon fork is unbelievable, it was really firm, noticed no flex at all. The drivetrain was smooth as butter, although I did have a few laughs getting used to the Rapid Rise XT rear derr., as I was coming from a regular XT, so everything was backward. Stalled on a few steep climbs when I ended up shifting up instead of down....good for a chuckle.
The geometry is really comfortable. We rode for about 3 hours and I didn't feel like I was getting used to a new bike, but rather like I was riding an old friend.
Well, 3 hours isn't enough to really know everything, but it was enough to let me know I made a good choice buying the Reign. I've got another 3 hour ride planned tomorrow up at Santos, so I'll get another chance to put it through it's paces.
A few photos below (my buddy who had the camera isn't a Georgia O'Keefe or Ansel Adams, so be gentle)