Dorado Pro 29er!?!?!?!

[sikocycles]

Saw this on Pinkbike. Good news for us 29er DH fans. Now just have to get one of the Lenz DH frames........
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Manitou...29er-2009.html

[teamdicky]

Wow, some very "informed" opinions in the comments there.

[sikocycles]

Well the are pinkbikers so it is expected.

[cruso414]

The pinkbike crowd doesn't seem to get out much. Sounds like a discussion about 29er wheels from 7-8 years ago.

[shiggy]

Saw this on Pinkbike. Good news for us 29er DH fans. Now just have to get one of the Lenz DH frames........
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Manitou...29er-2009.html

IIRC the Dorado could already run a 29er wheel/tire without modification.

[D.F.L.]

Edit:

It is a reduced travel 26er fork, so expect about 6.5" travel. I didn't ask price.

[Jayem]

While no 29er FS bike that I've ridden felt like it had "more travel" than it actually had (sorry Mikesee), many DHers FRs and travel junkies agree that after about 7" of travel it's the quality and not the quantity that matters. I'd argue that it's always about the quality, but you do need enough to get the job done. I'd rather have an avalanche shock equipped DH bike with 7" rather than one with a DHX and 9" of travel, and same goes for the front fork. We saw DH bikes kind of go a little extreme with 9-10" of travel, but now they've settled back to a bit less, and that's likely where it will stay for a long time. Geometry constraints make anything significantly more than about 8" impractical because the fork won't match the rear travel and you can't increase the travel without increasing the BB height excessively. I don't know if 7" can ever be designed into a 29er, and this is where 650b may rule supreme (due to less geometry conflicts and compramises). On the other hand, it would be interesting to try 7", but at that travel amounts 29ers have a long way to go and I won't be going nuts for the first maker to pull it off, I have no problem waiting.

I think that dorado retails for something like $2800 as well. I'm pretty sure White Brothers or Avalanche could set you up with a 29er DH fork for cheaper, and with the Avalanche better quality of travel.

[sikocycles]

Avy would be my first option but have to see if Craig thinks it will fit a 29er wheel.

[Jayem]

Avy would be my first option but have to see if Craig thinks it will fit a 29er wheel.

Craig CNCes the entire fork, it may not be a big deal to do some sort of travel reduction with those types of forks due to the fact that they don't use casted lowers or parts from taiwan.

[boomn]

Wow, some very "informed" opinions in the comments there.

Going to pinkbike is like making a visit to the chimp exhibit at the zoo. It works on so many levels

[sikocycles]

Once I know that Lenz will be building a DH rig I will talk to craig. I will do front and rear avy becasue you cant beat it.

[slocaus]

Wow, some very "informed" opinions in the comments there.

I'll bet the earth is still flat there and you fall off the edge if you sail too close.