Elka offered for new DHR's?

[Quantum23]

Sounds like a perfect combo to me. Any chance?
Also how much would a fully polished frame add to the cost? Anodized?

On a side note, how bout a slacked out, low BB 5-spot? Basically a DH'rs trail bike. Geo seems to be moving in that direction for fun trail riding. Since I've gone slack, I ain't goin back

Thanks, Brad

[flow_vs_speed]

Originally Posted by Quantum23

On a side note, how bout a slacked out, low BB 5-spot? Basically a DH'rs trail bike. Geo seems to be moving in that direction for fun trail riding.

Sort of like Santa Cruz Blur 4x compared to the Blur XC. Not many bikes fill that niche. Not many bikes are that much fun on ripping flowy xc style trails.

[Quantum23]

I only hear great things about the Blur 4x and what a shame it's not a current production bike.
I'm thinking of 5 with 66*HA and 12.5-13" BB would be pretty sweet...
Put a Hammerschmitt and a Gravity Dropper on for the ultimate "Mega" bike.

[Nagaredama]

Originally Posted by Quantum23

I only hear great things about the Blur 4x and what a shame it's not a current production bike.
I'm thinking of 5 with 66*HA and 12.5-13" BB would be pretty sweet...
Put a Hammerschmitt and a Gravity Dropper on for the ultimate "Mega" bike.

Sounds like the Path custom Ventana.

[Flystagg]

sounds like the banshee spitfire

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=537970

[fujirider1]

I like the slacked out 5 Spot idea, I'm actually looking for a ride like that.

[Quantum23]

Originally Posted by Flystagg

sounds like the banshee spitfire

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=537970

Talkin bout Banshee, whats up with their links? They look very close to DW!
is there any relationship between Banshee and Turner or DW. Didn't Banshee's also use Turner style bushings?

Don't get me wrong though, Banshee seems like good bikes.

[Marshall Willanholly]

Originally Posted by Nagaredama

Sounds like the Path custom Ventana.

Exactly. One of the most fun bikes I've ever had.

[boone]

Originally Posted by Quantum23

Talkin bout Banshee, whats up with their links? They look very close to DW!
is there any relationship between Banshee and Turner or DW. Didn't Banshee's also use Turner style bushings?

Don't get me wrong though, Banshee seems like good bikes.

No relationship. Similar? In what way? Banshee uses bushings instead of bearings on some of their bikes!

I was a pretty devout Turner man until the new banshee line-up came along! Great stuff and has been a pleasure working with them. Great dudes!

[Quantum23]

Originally Posted by boone

No relationship. Similar? In what way?

The links?! Check out the Legend vs the DW DHR.

Banshee links look very close to DW, no?! It could be they were developed independently, but somehow I think a few people were impressed enough with the DW system that they modeled it (maestro is very close) and can you really blame em? but it still makes me scratch my head.

[boone]

Originally Posted by Quantum23

The links?! Check out the Legend vs the DW DHR.

Banshee links look very close to DW, no?! It could be they were developed independently, but somehow I think a few people were impressed enough with the DW system that they modeled it (maestro is very close) and can you really blame em? but it still makes me scratch my head.

Sorry I did not mean to be combative
I think there are similarities but I know there are a whole lot more differences than one can see just by looking at them on the screen. I road the legend all last year and it was a great bike. Had some similar characteristics to the DW link bikes. Was the legend modelled after the DW link design? I have no idea, maybe keith the engineer at banshee can chime in. The DW system is a great design but i don't think that it is as easy as saying well it looks just like it it must ride like it

Anyway, no I couldn't blame them for modeling it after the dw link if they did! Its a great design and very effective under daves supervision!

[boone]

Originally Posted by Marshall Willanholly

Exactly. One of the most fun bikes I've ever had.

Holy crap! What is this? More info please!

[builttoride]

Originally Posted by boone

Sorry I did not mean to be combative
I think there are similarities but I know there are a whole lot more differences than one can see just by looking at them on the screen. I road the legend all last year and it was a great bike. Had some similar characteristics to the DW link bikes. Was the legend modelled after the DW link design? I have no idea, maybe keith the engineer at banshee can chime in. The DW system is a great design but i don't think that it is as easy as saying well it looks just like it it must ride like it

Anyway, no I couldn't blame them for modeling it after the dw link if they did! Its a great design and very effective under daves supervision!

The legend has been in development since 2005, so is certainly not a copy of the DW DHR, if anything it would be the opposite. The bikes may look vaguely similar, but are really very different.

[CharacterZero]

Originally Posted by boone

Holy crap! What is this? More info please!

Boone, here is the Path LBS page:
http://blog.thepathbikeshop.com/2008...n-has-arrived/

Certainly looks like a ripper...

[_dw]

Originally Posted by builttoride

The legend has been in development since 2005, so is certainly not a copy of the DW DHR, if anything it would be the opposite.

You know I love you man, but that actually made me laugh out loud.. It really did.

I could care less what other people are doing, because I know where the bar is and where I am going to push it to next.

[_dw]

Originally Posted by Quantum23

Sounds like a perfect combo to me. Any chance?
Also how much would a fully polished frame add to the cost? Anodized?

On a side note, how bout a slacked out, low BB 5-spot? Basically a DH'rs trail bike. Geo seems to be moving in that direction for fun trail riding. Since I've gone slack, I ain't goin back

Thanks, Brad

I tested the ELKA on both the new DHR and also the Evil Revolt at several locations last summer. ELKA has the shocks back now, and they are working on some revalves based on the feedback. I think that we will be pretty close in the near future.

I LOVE the idea of the low slack 5-Spot. DT and I actually discussed it recently. If enough people speak up, maybe it will become a reality? It's up to you guys to convince him!

[MK_]

Originally Posted by _dw

I LOVE the idea of the low slack 5-Spot. DT and I actually discussed it recently. If enough people speak up, maybe it will become a reality? It's up to you guys to convince him!

DT needs to stop trying to exclusively appeal to the geriatrics!
(yes I know, they buy more fancy frames)

_MK

[2w4s]

Originally Posted by _dw

I LOVE the idea of the low slack 5-Spot. DT and I actually discussed it recently. If enough people speak up, maybe it will become a reality? It's up to you guys to convince him!

OK, i'll take 500, when can I pick them up?

[cheezwhip]

Originally Posted by _dw

I LOVE the idea of the low slack 5-Spot. DT and I actually discussed it recently. If enough people speak up, maybe it will become a reality? It's up to you guys to convince him!

Put me down for one as well. You never know until it happens, but I think the Banshee Spitfire is going to sell like hotcakes - perhaps that will be the litmus test to demonstrate a viable market for that kind of bike.

BTW, hope you're well on your way to healing up DW.

[smithrider]

A spot with a 13.5 inch BB and 67 degree head angle with a fox 36 would open up my wallet.

[Marshall Willanholly]

Originally Posted by _dw

I LOVE the idea of the low slack 5-Spot. DT and I actually discussed it recently. If enough people speak up, maybe it will become a reality? It's up to you guys to convince him!

If that bike was available, I'd buy it today. I would leave work right now, drive directly to the bike shop, and pick it up.

I love my Ventana posted above, but I recently had the chance to demo a new Spot and was blown away at the suspension performance. I kept thinking if only my Ciclon had suspension like this it would be the perfect bike. 66° HA and a 13" BB with a 140mm fork and DW-Link would be heaven.

[CharacterZero]

Originally Posted by Marshall Willanholly

If that bike was available, I'd buy it today. I would leave work right now, drive directly to the bike shop, and pick it up.

I love my Ventana posted above, but I recently had the chance to demo a new Spot and was blown away at the suspension performance. I kept thinking if only my Ciclon had suspension like this it would be the perfect bike. 66° HA and a 13" BB with a 140mm fork and DW-Link would be heaven.

Just a quick question for you -have you tried running a non-fox-coil on that thing? I was surprised at how different the bike handles with a different shock on the back.

Not getting into a linkage argument, just asking about the damper.

[boone]

Originally Posted by Marshall Willanholly

If that bike was available, I'd buy it today. I would leave work right now, drive directly to the bike shop, and pick it up.

I love my Ventana posted above, but I recently had the chance to demo a new Spot and was blown away at the suspension performance. I kept thinking if only my Ciclon had suspension like this it would be the perfect bike. 66° HA and a 13" BB with a 140mm fork and DW-Link would be heaven.

I'm tellin you man, I road a Banshee Pyre all last year in a bunch of different configs and the last one was closest to the new spitfire. When Jay brought the Spitfire proto to Eugene and we had a ride on my local trails I was convinced that thing is gonna kill it. And the proto has had a number of changes to it to make it even better since then. I am really excited about this bike coming out. It is pretty damn close to the numbers you are talking about 66 HA 13.5 BB and longer wheel base with 5" of travel. Super fun bike. Maybe by the time the spitfire is out for a year folks will have had time to convince DT and DW to make something similar

[builttoride]

Originally Posted by _dw

You know I love you man, but that actually made me laugh out loud.. It really did.

I could care less what other people are doing, because I know where the bar is and where I am going to push it to next.

Haha, sorry Dave, I didn't mean to suggest anything about the DW DHR copying the Legend. Not sure my point came across very well, but was just trying to say that saying one design looks like another design is a silly thing to do. I know I'm fed up with a lot of people trying to say that my designs copy other designs... just winds me up when the arm chair critic doesn't have a clue what they are talking about most the time. You know I have respect for your designs, and no, I was not trying to imply that the DW DHR is in any way a copy of the legend... for a start... it is COMPLETELY different! haha

[builttoride]

Originally Posted by boone

I'm tellin you man, I road a Banshee Pyre all last year in a bunch of different configs and the last one was closest to the new spitfire. When Jay brought the Spitfire proto to Eugene and we had a ride on my local trails I was convinced that thing is gonna kill it. And the proto has had a number of changes to it to make it even better since then. I am really excited about this bike coming out. It is pretty damn close to the numbers you are talking about 66 HA 13.5 BB and longer wheel base with 5" of travel. Super fun bike. Maybe by the time the spitfire is out for a year folks will have had time to convince DT and DW to make something similar

Actually, it has a 13.0" BB with 66 HA (when run in slack setting with fox 36's at 160mm).

or

13.5" and 67 HA when in steep setting with same forks

[Marshall Willanholly]

I have thought about putting a Vivid on there, but my goal for this bike was to keep it light so I've stuck with an air shock. I did have it tuned by Push which certainly helped.

I've spent a couple years on DW-link bikes (IH Sunday and 6point) and really like the way they ride. I'm particularly fond of their performance under braking, which is something I spend far too much time doing.

Originally Posted by CharacterZero

Just a quick question for you -have you tried running a non-fox-coil on that thing? I was surprised at how different the bike handles with a different shock on the back.

Not getting into a linkage argument, just asking about the damper.

[KRob]

Originally Posted by Quantum23

On a side note, how bout a slacked out, low BB 5-spot? Basically a DH'rs trail bike. Geo seems to be moving in that direction for fun trail riding. Since I've gone slack, I ain't goin back

Thanks, Brad

You mean like this?

[LncNuvue]

My 2.5 cents. For All Mountain type riding, which is what I like to do, I wouldn't want to lower the BB much more than it currently is. I would love to see a 68* HA & 13.5" BB with a 520 a/c fork tho. Basically not much different than it is now just a full degree slacker and maybe a tad lower.

[boone]

Originally Posted by builttoride

Actually, it has a 13.0" BB with 66 HA (when run in slack setting with fox 36's at 160mm).

SICK! Even better! Thanks for correcting me where needed Keith
You da man!!

[turnerbikes]

So you want a 13" BB bike that won't be able to climb in the rocks, that has a HA like an RFX that can't go up hill slow or it flops from side to side and cost the same as a 5 Spot? I could see a play bike like this for the back hill slalom and jumpy fun stuff, that guy Kelly McGerry could use it in his line of work, but the wide spread use of this model is uhh, not wide spread. If I were a rich man, I would make a couple hundred of these to hang in the warehouse and gather dust next to the Highlines that would fly out the back door less than a couple a week. I KNOW it would be a fun bike, I know Marshall and the other SoCal boys including everyone that bought that special Path Ciclon would be waiting for me at work tomorrow, and I could load ALL of you in the GMC van to go to breakfast, yep I bet there is that few right here in the biggest toy land in the world that will pay $2500 for a US made bike to ride part time on. Fun? You bet, so is a single speed and a Highline, and a dirt jump hardtail and the Nitrous, but it takes a big pile of money to build and stock a model. So it had better move or the interest is going to eat your lunch.
2w4s you have not paid on that deposit invoice I sent, whats up? I thought we had a deal?
Smithrider is much more logical, a little slacker than what I have now. I get it. Anything else you want, besides stuff I can't deliver like $1800 USD frames? May as well put it on your Christmas wish list now!

DT

[SCUBAPRO]

Originally Posted by turnerbikes

Smithrider is much more logical, a little slacker than what I have now.
DT

Yes!!!

[FM]

Wow this thread got all jacked up. Anyways.... all I gotta add is the spitfire geometry and feature set are what I've been hoping for, for a while. Maybe it won't climb over rocky terrain well, but that's something I rarely do here anyways. For fire-road climbs to steep rooty XC descents with berms and booters, it looks bang-on to me.


DT, maybe consider adding ISCG tabs and a bigger head tube to the next 5-spot revision.

[turnerbikes]

Roll up, berms and booters down. That is what that geo is GREAT for. Look at the pics that LncV has posted from SoCal to Az riding a 5 Spot. That ain't for the low of crank. There is no bike for all riding and all people, because 'riding' is as different as the riders and the terrain they have access to.

DT

[006_007]

Originally Posted by turnerbikes

There is no bike for all riding and all people, because 'riding' is as different as the riders and the terrain they have access to.

DT

Well said Mr. Turner

[PCinSC]

Originally Posted by turnerbikes

...Smithrider is much more logical, a little slacker than what I have now. I get it. Anything else you want...May as well put it on your Christmas wish list now!

DT

A 67* HTA with 160mm fork sounds awesome. How about adding a 135x12mm thru-axle on the Spot, or that new-fangled 142mm thing you're putting on the RFX? Or maybe make it an option as a replace-able dropout system.

But on the other hand...if the RFX pedals as well as you say it does Dave, there may be no need for a slacker Spot. Personally, I'm on a 165mm travel (modded) Speshy Enduro with a 67* HTA, running a 50mm stem and it's a squatting slug going up, but pretty damn good going down. 170mm of DW squish on the new RFX has got to be a major improvement to my current ride and even the older RFX's in pretty much every area. Especially if the DW link eliminates (or at least diminishes) the squat tendencies that the Horst link exhibits. For those of us looking for a decent pedaling uphill bike with slacker angles that's built for the techy ups and downs then the RFX will probably be it.

The Spot seems like it's better for a more XC-type rider, one who likes a bit steeper angles and is looking for more efficiency while climbing and is willing to give up a bit of the downhill, techy capability compared to the RFX.

A slopestyle Spot sounds cool on paper, but I've got way too many rocks going up and down to make it a reasonable choice for my riding area.

[FM]

Originally Posted by turnerbikes

There is no bike for all riding and all people, because 'riding' is as different as the riders and the terrain they have access to.
DT

Cheers DT, I agree %100.

[beefmagic]

It's interesting that a lot of threads on here somehow evolve into an dw-rfx or low/slack topic.
It may be a case of the vocal minority, but I'm happy to be included in that group. I would love to see a ~13"bb, 66ha on a Spot. Until then, I'm looking forward to reviews of the production Spitfires.

[big-ted]

Whilst I think a low, slack, short-travel bike would be great fun, I would hope DT would realise that it would have to be in ADDITION to the spot in something like it's current form. I quite fancy a spot as a long-legged trail bike, but I would struggle to justify an almost dedicated play bike in addition to my DHR. Sorry to crap on everyone's parade...