Really I would love to hear some thoughts (specifically from people who have them) on the Driver 8 I have had vp frees, v10s (1st and second gen, rode 3rd gens). I love the way these VPP bikes feel, I WILL NOT buy an Intense, so please don't suggest it. Any pictures of these bikes in action or still glamour shots would be greatly appreciated.
THOUGHTS on Santa Cruz Driver 8?
- Thread starter BikeFan84
- Start date
i don't own one, but a friend has one. it's a little higher and a little shorter than a V10, but it jumps better. it has VPP2 so is pedals fairly well, but its a hefty-ish frame. i personally don't find it too attractive in person, but that's obviously up to you. i would describe it as a park bike version of a V10 sort of...
^ any pictures by chance... maybe even in action, I loved my v10s, and currently have a vo free, and a canfield balance. I would go with another v10 but I just want to have something with a little less travel. And the current VP free incarnation is the driver 8...
I rode one when i was visiting California. It was only for a couple days so take it for what that is worth, but I was not a fan. Really heavy and clumsy feeling is the only way I can describe it. Didn't want to turn and did not give me much feedback. I tried to set up the fork (boxxer) and rear shock (Fox DHX 4) best I could for my weight and riding style. It did handle drops and rough stuff good as long as you were going straight. Plush like a heavy huck bike. Just my .02 cents.
We have a full demo fleet of d8s at the SolVista Bike Park in Granby, CO (www.bikesolvista.com). We have ours built up with Totems.
I hear nothing but great comments from our customers when speaking about this bike. Also, I have lots of riding experience with all the SC vpp models and find the d8 to be a really fun bike to shred around on our trails here. It's responsive, lively, and as plush as you would expect a vpp bike to be.
Things I really like:
-the full size run really accommodates a wide range of riders. The small is small enough for kids and the little ladies while the large is big enough for the giants.
-great standover
-we have very few maintenance issues. The occasional loose maxle in the rear is all we could come up with.
-the grease ports on the linkage are a welcome addition.
-the bikes were a breeze to build up, with no surprises at all.
Hope this helps.
I hear nothing but great comments from our customers when speaking about this bike. Also, I have lots of riding experience with all the SC vpp models and find the d8 to be a really fun bike to shred around on our trails here. It's responsive, lively, and as plush as you would expect a vpp bike to be.
Things I really like:
-the full size run really accommodates a wide range of riders. The small is small enough for kids and the little ladies while the large is big enough for the giants.
-great standover
-we have very few maintenance issues. The occasional loose maxle in the rear is all we could come up with.
-the grease ports on the linkage are a welcome addition.
-the bikes were a breeze to build up, with no surprises at all.
Hope this helps.
It's been a great bike for me.
I put some Works Components -2 angle headset cups in for a more DH feel. It feels good.
The stock HA felt OK with a taller fork, though.
Its hard to compare it to other bikes I've ridden due to different dampers, but it feels pretty stable on wooped out braking bumps/ big compressions. Planted.
Some things I like:
Build quality, zerks, pivot hardware
Maxle lite is nice, it'd be cool to have a 6mm allen version(no QR)
Prefer the clean dropouts vs. Intenses' G3 system.
Seat tube angle- 68.5 - this is great if you pedal it at all. On the flip side, the seat is too far forward for bracing the inside of your leg for DH. I may try a lay-back post soon.
I think the frame w/o shock is around 8.5#. Not as chunky as you might think, about the same as a SX Trail.
I put some Works Components -2 angle headset cups in for a more DH feel. It feels good.
The stock HA felt OK with a taller fork, though.
Its hard to compare it to other bikes I've ridden due to different dampers, but it feels pretty stable on wooped out braking bumps/ big compressions. Planted.
Some things I like:
Build quality, zerks, pivot hardware
Maxle lite is nice, it'd be cool to have a 6mm allen version(no QR)
Prefer the clean dropouts vs. Intenses' G3 system.
Seat tube angle- 68.5 - this is great if you pedal it at all. On the flip side, the seat is too far forward for bracing the inside of your leg for DH. I may try a lay-back post soon.
I think the frame w/o shock is around 8.5#. Not as chunky as you might think, about the same as a SX Trail.
Just wait and get the carbon v-10 it has an 8 inch option, although the price difference is a good margin.
3,185 with shock and cane creek angle set which you want. v-10 Carbon
2,185 with shock cane creek tapered. driver 8
2850 with shock headset. V-10 ver3
Overall I'd check your budget then buy the carbon v-10 anyway.
3,185 with shock and cane creek angle set which you want. v-10 Carbon
2,185 with shock cane creek tapered. driver 8
2850 with shock headset. V-10 ver3
Overall I'd check your budget then buy the carbon v-10 anyway.
I also am using a works 2* headset and it is sitting at 40lbs, really like the bike alot with the headset installed. not too much love for the bike with the stock angles.
There is a big difference between a driver 8 and a super 8. fwiw
That's one of maybe two bikes I've ridden that SC makes that I really liked. Nice and poppy, pretty nimble. BB height could be a little lower. It's definitely not a dh bike though. It's kind of steep stock. A buddy with one just got some 2dg offset cups and he's absolutely loving it. I need to take it for a spin because I'm really curious about it with that setup.
I don't know when it will be available, but why not get the new V10? It seems to check all the boxes: 8.5" of rear travel - and 10" when you need it, it's a V10 and you love them, and it is not an Intense
Why's that? Just curious...
I want to stick with aluminum, just for some reason don't trust the carbon, and really the price is a bit much for me to shell out at this time.I don't know when it will be available, but why not get the new V10? It seems to check all the boxes: 8.5" of rear travel - and 10" when you need it, it's a V10 and you love them, and it is not an Intense
I have a 2010 totem right now and will have a boxxer or a 40 shortly, just nice to know I can run it if the fund don't show up when they should
I have had terrible luck with them failing on me, tracer, uzzi slx, tazer ht. Once a company looses my trust they don't really get it back ( marzocchi after 2007, hayes, manitou, just a few manufacturers products that I will likely never run again)
I like this and it is good to know... thanks sooo much.
Good info and I'd like to hear more myself. I already took the plunge on a D8, just haven't had the time to put it together yet (been busy with other things... I know priorities, right?). I'd love a V10, but I agree it's a bit pricey relative to my skillset and wondered would it really make that much of a difference to my at this point or would I feel that much of a difference.
for me its more of 8 inches of travel seems to be just right. I loved my v10s, they were awesome, I miss them. I would probably get another one but carbon sketches me out after a few problems I have seen with Titus Ti Lugged carbon stuff. Plus I weigh a fair amount...
Please build the damn thing and send off a pic or two.
check out this blog (hopecyclery.blogspot.com) around interbike time. I should get some saddle time on both the new carbon v10, and D8
Please build the damn thing and send off a pic or two.
check out this blog (hopecyclery.blogspot.com) around interbike time. I should get some saddle time on both the new carbon v10, and D8
The problem was that it was a Titus not that it was carbon.
I think you could more accurately say the problem was it was lugged carbon, not that it was a Titus.
I would have to say that it was indeed the carbon part as well as the TITUS part.
Lets put it frankly in 5 years of working closely with titus there was a 43-45% manufacturer defect rate, that the customer never sees. Why, because the frames are brought into the shop attempted to assemble, and shipped back for another frame. Or maybe it could be their manufacturing process you say, well yes I would have to give you that as well, on a full custom (geometry) titanium lugged carbon road bike under a 115lb rider, their Maxm bull**** carbon, which is supposedly better than any other carbon on the market, fail under light acceleration.
I guess Tony Ellsworth, and Chris Cocalis have something in common, their companies suck. I cannot comment on Pivot as I have no experience with them, but I can only assume that they have similar problems.
This a a very lame statement.
You are saying that Pivot sucks because Chris owns it but yet you are making assumptions that they have problems since he was involved with Titus. He has not owned Titus for about 5 or 6 years and has not been involved at all in about 4.
I do agree that Ellsworth sucks.
Assume that was directed at me
.... Will do. I am in process of moving, changing jobs and taking care of an injured wife (bike related). Give me about two weeks to get settled.
If this is purely for lifts or shuttling I wouldn't trade my V10 for a Driver on any trail. I also had a 2nd gen V10 and the 3rd gen is lighter and rides higher in the travel. It can be setup light and poppy if that's what you want.
What I am saying, because you read it correctly, is that based upon the problems, I am making an assumption on Pivot, however I do not know if my assumption is correct or not be it that I don't have any real experience with Pivot as a company. Just wondering if you understood, that? I am not saying that Pivot sucks, and my experience with Titus and Chris personally was from 2000-2005 ( whatdayaknow right when he was directly involved with Titus). I also am not saying that all Titus bikes were bad, some of the models never had the same problems as the others.You lost all credibility with this last statement...
will do I cannot wait. They aren't nearly as popular as the VP-Free was, so this makes finding final build pics pretty hard to find.Assume that was directed at me
purely shuttle/lift runs. I would love another v10 i loved the ones I had. I (right now) can't afford another one so I am looking at the D8.
You'll have to wait till spring but I bet a lot of nice V10.3s will be on the used market when the carbon model is released.
^ guaranteed and I may wait and just buy one used, but the price of the new D8 is pretty awesome, and chances are pretty good i could get a new v10 3.0 for what everyone who ends up selling them will want.
I will see, but who knows, maybe the d8 will be an awesome bike once I get some saddle time in a few weeks.
I hope to throw a leg over the carbon v10 too. I am also going to be checking out the 2011 foes hydro, and the intense m whatever the hell number now and the 951. Maybe some yetis too, and the new demos.
I will see, but who knows, maybe the d8 will be an awesome bike once I get some saddle time in a few weeks.
I hope to throw a leg over the carbon v10 too. I am also going to be checking out the 2011 foes hydro, and the intense m whatever the hell number now and the 951. Maybe some yetis too, and the new demos.
Wait for a longer travel APP......