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New DH frame ponderings...

6thElement

6thElement

Schrodinger's Immigrant
Jul 29, 2008
15,980
13,234
Currently have an XL DHR, there's nothing wrong with it, but I haven't bought a new bike for myself a while so it's the one I'm thinking about changing.

6'2" and I always wanted a little extra length than the XL DHR gave me. Don't race, not a big fan of groomed jump lines.

Price being a consideration I was thinking new wheels and fork and then moving across the rest of my drivetrain to the new frame as it's all in good parts in good condition and meets my needs.

Frames I've been considering:
Banshee Legend
Nukeproof Pulse
GG DH
Canfield Jedi

What else is out there I've missed that might be worth considering?
 
ZHendo

ZHendo

Turbo Monkey
Oct 29, 2006
1,661
147
PNW
I've been lusting after a Banshee Legend for a while now...I keep coming back to it. The Transition TR500 frame doesn't look especially pretty on its own, but I've noticed a few very sick builds in the back of truck beds lately that had me rethinking my prior opinions on them. I also happen to think the Intense M16 is a very, very pretty bike, and it seems to be well received.
 
Mo(n)arch

Mo(n)arch

Turbo Monkey
Dec 27, 2010
4,441
1,422
Italy/south Tyrol
The Nukeproof Pulse seems the bike to go to if you want a new generation bike but still run 26" wheels.
Since the bottom bracket seems to sit at +2mm from the hubs, you could easily get away with it. So no new parts needed. The fork needs to be clamped higher, though. Otherwise you steepen the head angle and lower the BB.
The rest looks pretty spot on.
63° HA
440mm CS
Reach in XL: 465mm
Stack: 672mm
Wheelbase in XL: 1272mm
BB drop: +2mm
 
TrumbullHucker

TrumbullHucker

trumbullruxer
Aug 29, 2005
2,284
719
shimzbury, ct
dude STOP

NO




i had some winter itch looking at newer 650bees frames, but i came to a conclusion that the DHR is still tits.. idk what i would achieve/gain if i got a 650 dh bike
 
6thElement

6thElement

Schrodinger's Immigrant
Jul 29, 2008
15,980
13,234
TrumbullHucker said:
dude STOP

NO




i had some winter itch looking at newer 650bees frames, but i came to a conclusion that the DHR is still tits.. idk what i would achieve/gain if i got a 650 dh bike
Click to expand...
Yeah, there's that aspect too.

Keep wondering if I should try and find one of those offset headsets so I could lengthen the frame a little.

Was it someone on here or emptybeer that made one for a DHR?

Works Components lists (but out of stock) for a ZS56 headset, but I think I would need ZS49...

edit: Superstar have an EC cupped version for an extra 7mm but I'd also lose a little going to a lower EC over my current ZS...
http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/stretchset-reach-adjust-headset.htm
 
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djjohnr

djjohnr

Turbo Monkey
Apr 21, 2002
3,017
1,719
Northern California
Have you tried any of the new school longer reach bikes? Do you like? My medium Delirium had a reach of 442mm, the large that I switched to is 468mm. The XL DHR you're on is ~424mm, and I'm a good deal shorter then you. I'd definitely try a newer long reach bike and see if you like it.
 
jackalope

jackalope

Mental acuity - 1%
Jan 9, 2004
7,610
5,926
in a single wide, cooking meth...
mrgto said:
Dang! If I weren't building a DH bike for my wife I'd scoop that up asap. New tires and your set! Then replace parts as needed.
Click to expand...
For real. I'm having tempting thoughts atm...Pretty sure I could do a parts swap on my current ride, sell it for it a little less than the GG/DH, and then I wouldn't be forced to buy an expensive new DH bike in a few years anyway. I'd be saving my family money! I feel confident my wife will celebrate my financial acumen.

Hooray for Bike Math™!!
 
Udi

Udi

RM Chief Ornithologist
Mar 14, 2005
4,915
1,200
Just an option but you could try the reach adjusting headset along with a 650b front wheel and fork. It wouldn't be a big loss if you still wanted a frame later down the track, you'd just need the frame and rear wheel.

I'd definitely go for the EC49 version if you go that route, I think this one:
http://www.workscomponents.co.uk/reach-adjust---ec49-ec49---to-suit-1-18-steerer-tube---7mm-reach-363-p.asp

At 6'2 I don't think the extra stack height is anything that wouldn't be absorbed by your overall setup for bar height anyway, the dw-dhr has a very short headtube.

I actually replied to one of your posts about this back in 2015 here, I ended up trying it myself a month later and absolutely loved it. I'm full 650 on everything now, but I honestly had more fun on the 650/26 thing, it was a great mix of motoring over rough stuff while still being able to rail a tight corner here and there.
 
6thElement

6thElement

Schrodinger's Immigrant
Jul 29, 2008
15,980
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Udi said:
I actually replied to one of your posts about this back in 2015 here, I ended up trying it myself a month later and absolutely loved it. I'm full 650 on everything now, but I honestly had more fun on the 650/26 thing, it was a great mix of motoring over rough stuff while still being able to rail a tight corner here and there.
Click to expand...
Instead of the 27.5 I found a 26" version locally in VGC that I picked up cheaply and was riding for the latter part of last season.

I ended up tooling around in the driveway on it with my lame attempts at manualing last night. Maybe I should wait until I've done a couple of days lift this year before making any changes, only 8 weeks until the first resort should be open for biking...
 
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,080
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borcester rhymes
At your height, I'd definitely be looking at a larger frame. Those turners are short. Beautiful frames, ride great, but weird geometry in the grand scheme of things.

If you like the DW link, most people seem to transition well to the banshee whatever link. I'm becoming a big fan of simplicity in a DH bike, but that doesn't work for everybody...the banshee is just about there, but I'd worry that the jedi has a lot going on, and therefore would be a lot to maintain.
 
StiHacka

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,505
In hell. Welcome!
Sandwich said:
At your height, I'd definitely be looking at a larger frame. Those turners are short. Beautiful frames, ride great, but weird geometry in the grand scheme of things.

If you like the DW link, most people seem to transition well to the banshee whatever link. I'm becoming a big fan of simplicity in a DH bike, but that doesn't work for everybody...the banshee is just about there, but I'd worry that the jedi has a lot going on, and therefore would be a lot to maintain.
Click to expand...
Fwiw, the suspension on my Canfield trail bike needs 1/10th of maintenance of a DW link Ibis. Not apples to apples, I know.
 
mrgto

mrgto

Monkey
Aug 4, 2009
295
118
StiHacka said:
Fwiw, the suspension on my Canfield trail bike needs 1/10th of maintenance of a DW link Ibis. Not apples to apples, I know.
Click to expand...
Good to hear. My wife's Jedi that I'm building looks burly as hell but the pivots had me worried!
 
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,080
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borcester rhymes
StiHacka said:
Fwiw, the suspension on my Canfield trail bike needs 1/10th of maintenance of a DW link Ibis. Not apples to apples, I know.
Click to expand...
idlers be idlin'.

but yeah, the ibis has something that resembles bearings, the canfield is pretty stout. It just has a lot of bearings, vs. a single pivot and an underworked linkage (or none at all).
 
TrumbullHucker

TrumbullHucker

trumbullruxer
Aug 29, 2005
2,284
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shimzbury, ct
Sandwich said:
At your height, I'd definitely be looking at a larger frame. Those turners are short. Beautiful frames, ride great, but weird geometry in the grand scheme of things.

If you like the DW link, most people seem to transition well to the banshee whatever link. I'm becoming a big fan of simplicity in a DH bike, but that doesn't work for everybody...the banshee is just about there, but I'd worry that the jedi has a lot going on, and therefore would be a lot to maintain.
Click to expand...
funny you should mention that.. when i was getting stir crazy during the winter i was looking at Darksides
 
6thElement

6thElement

Schrodinger's Immigrant
Jul 29, 2008
15,980
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The King is dead, long live the King.

XL Raw DHR, Boxxer Team and silver Deemax will be listed for sale very soon.
 
S

sbabuser

Turbo Monkey
Dec 22, 2004
1,114
55
Golden, CO
I'd get another Jedi in a heartbeat, if I had time to ride chairlifts. Instead, all my bike money goes into making my kids' bikes cooler.
 
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