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Sunn Radical experience

miuan

miuan

Monkey
Jan 12, 2007
395
0
Bratislava, Slovakia
CRC blows them out massively, and I always liked that bike. Wonder how they compare to other modern bikes. They also look too steep (and flexy). Do they have 1 1/2 inch HT so I can use some slackeners? Are the frames compatible with aftermarket shocks, or can a machined pushrod be made to accomodate other shocks? Is the frame cracking issue solved on the 2010 and 2011 frames? Any difference in geo between 2010 and 2011?
 
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,061
5,970
borcester rhymes
ha, you read my mind. Great deal on the Radical Finest.

If you go to the sunn website, it looks like geo changed from 65.5* in 2010 to 64* in 2011. They also switched to a chromo rear end. The 2010 does appear to have a 1.5in headtube. I can't find anything on the shocks, except that BOS makes a custom shock for it.
 
L

LP2011

Chimp
Feb 6, 2011
7
0
One of the best rear suspension systems on the market in my opinion !
The H.A if fairly steep... but with a good fork it rides really well. Not sure if they use a 1.5" H.T...but I heard CaneCreek is (or will be) making a 1.1/8 AngleSet of some sort !

I agree with sandwich, a BOS shock is what you need on this frame. Don't think you can stick a CCDB etc. on it as the shock needs a specific link that is directly attached to the shock's shaft.
And not only the BOS S**Toy has this specific link built in (fully one piece) but it has a custom valving (like all BOS shocks for any bikes out there) and custom body assembly.
It's the only shock out there that is (from scratch) fully Radical friendly.

Be careful with the size, because the TT can feel a bit short !
http://boutique.bosmtb.com/en/produits/p25-the-stoy-rad
 
miuan

miuan

Monkey
Jan 12, 2007
395
0
Bratislava, Slovakia
From the looks of it, I'm afraid the 2010 HT is maybe integrated or similar, but definitely too skinny to be true onepointfive.

Comparing catalogue shots, it seems to be almost equally steep as the new Glory. A small with -2deg insert would sure kick ass. Long CS + longer FC + slacker HA = win. If only we had that 1.5" HT.

As for 1 1/8 anglesets - it's asking too much from such small space inside the tube. It can be done, but the bearings would need to be tiny and fragile.
 
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4130biker

4130biker

PM me about Tantrum Cycles!
May 24, 2007
3,884
449
I wish they had a long, I would be going for one of these too- looks like a sweet deal on a nice bike you don't see here in the states very often.
 
norbar

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,367
1,605
Warsaw :/
The first seasons used to snap like crazy and the CS was crap. Supposedly it was fixed. You didnt need special shocks for them and you could always slacken them our with offset shock eyelets.
 
D

dublindh

Chimp
Jun 22, 2008
94
0
just dont buy one way too risky.....very tendant to cracking....friend has had one for the past year and has want rid of it since day one...i had a ride on it on a mellow track the geo felt awful and suspension design/function felt dreadfull (honestly felt like i was riding very long travel xc race bike)......

AND

look for pics of sam dale or the rest of the sunn frame at ft. will last week....they rode transition tr450s
 
miuan

miuan

Monkey
Jan 12, 2007
395
0
Bratislava, Slovakia
The bike has arrived. I ordered the Works components EC44 2deg headset and simulated how the bike will look like with 2deg offset. The result is very good.



Now if I'd only known before that I would need a longer steerer because of the external headset cups!!! :oops:
 
O

optim

Chimp
Jun 17, 2011
1
0
Apparently sunn have no new framsets to replace the current wcteam riders with .... and the new 2011 frame has been delayed in production . this is what ive been told anyway .
The single pivot hoist suspension system is sweet dublindh ... youre opinon is kind of flaud considering skipping down a fire road doesnt really give you an indepth feeling of how the bike feels .

It is abit strange tho that sam , joe and julien were all riding tr450s in leogang ... time will tell i suppose .
 
miuan

miuan

Monkey
Jan 12, 2007
395
0
Bratislava, Slovakia
Just got back from a week in Morzine. I really like this bike. Despite its modest amount of travel, I never felt left behind. The rate is really progressive with very soft initial stroke, which ensures a very comfy and confident ride. I ditched the stock Vivid which was valved like crap, and ordered a S*toy directly from BOS to Morzine. Arrived in 2 days with correct spring (275). I ended up using an older 250 Ti spring from Progressive, was OK for me. Bolted the S*toy straight on and enjoyed the ride. The Works 2deg headset did wonders. HT angle was spot on, WB at 1161mm was just enough for me. It was very nimble, yet stable on the fast stuff. We fell in love the third day out, riding Champery WC track for the first time. It was very dry, I was amazed by the amount of control and traction. The only problem was chain slapping agaist stays.. you do need to protect them with a thick tube at all times! I hope the frame last long for me, and look forward to this weekend's race.
 
R

ronan

Monkey
Dec 7, 2007
786
0
Toulouse, France
optim said:
Apparently sunn have no new framsets to replace the current wcteam riders with .... and the new 2011 frame has been delayed in production . this is what ive been told anyway .
The single pivot hoist suspension system is sweet dublindh ... youre opinon is kind of flaud considering skipping down a fire road doesnt really give you an indepth feeling of how the bike feels .

It is abit strange tho that sam , joe and julien were all riding tr450s in leogang ... time will tell i suppose .
Click to expand...
sunn is currently in **** with money and business, which is why all the team is riding tr450s
 
Harry BarnOwl

Harry BarnOwl

Monkey
Jul 24, 2008
174
38
miuan said:
The bike has arrived. I ordered the Works components EC44 2deg headset and simulated how the bike will look like with 2deg offset. The result is very good.



Now if I'd only known before that I would need a longer steerer because of the external headset cups!!! :oops:
Click to expand...
I'm assuming it's a 1.5" head tube then?

Could you post up a picture of yours? I'm interested to see it slackened out.
 
miuan

miuan

Monkey
Jan 12, 2007
395
0
Bratislava, Slovakia
Harry BarnOwl said:
I'm assuming it's a 1.5" head tube then? Could you post up a picture of yours? I'm interested to see it slackened out.
Click to expand...
No. It's a semi-integrated design with 44mm cups for 1 1/8 steerer, no matter what CRC says. I was clever enough to gather this before I ordered my headset.

The original bike had a zerostack HS and 134mm headtube. The Works headset added about 20mm stack height, so I needed a tall crown and about 175mm steerer. The long frame should be 10mm taller, so be warned. I don't race much, so my low rise bar + normal stem setup was good, especially at Champery. But you really want a flat bar and low stem to retain a lowish race geometry.

Don't have the bike nearby to take photos, but it looks just like in the previous picture. Not overly steep and not a chopper either.
 
al-irl

al-irl

Turbo Monkey
Dec 9, 2004
1,086
0
A, A
I owned one for two years. I wouldnt be buying another one. Head angle was too steep on my 2010, I cracked two lower chainstays and a front end. The back end did work very well, mine had a pushed roco which i was impressed by but the original roco was crap. It wallowed badly and blew through the travell. The push option greatly improved that. The sizing was a little odd the Large was too big for me at 5' 11" and the small was tiny. The after sales from Sunn was horrendous, I had to wait 3 months for a replacement front end. At no pint during that 3 months could they give me an answer if they were going to warranty my frame or not. There are little spherical that go into the end of the push rod were it meets the linkage which wears out v quickly and are impossible to replace from Sunn and any bearing shop ive tried couldnt help. I wasvery excited about my Radical when I got it but spent two years and i dont want to think how much money on getting it to feel right. I replaced it with a Morewood Makulu and instantly started getting podiums in my class. Were i was stugling to get top 10s the previous season. I also tore my mcl in the off season so did little or no pre season training.

One thing to note a friend with one got a modified shock shuttle made up for the front giving the bike a 62-63 degree head angle, lowering the bb about an 1" and shortening the effective top tube and it feels pretty sweet.

If you bought one I hope you have better luck with urs than I did on mine.

As for Sunn being in trouble it would explain the clearance sale on CRC they have a habbit of buying up stocks when companies go bust
 
al-irl

al-irl

Turbo Monkey
Dec 9, 2004
1,086
0
A, A
think mine could have been a 2009 but my work mate got one after riding mine about a month later and his was definitely a 2010 and it has the stupid bushing thing as well
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
That replaceable front shock mount screams easy way to make slacker and lower.
 
miuan

miuan

Monkey
Jan 12, 2007
395
0
Bratislava, Slovakia
HAB said:
That replaceable front shock mount screams easy way to make slacker and lower.
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Depends on what you aim to do. I don't need a much lower BB, thanks. I had one and kept bending chain devices and crank spiders on it. The 2deg headset was all I needed. Slackened the HA and effectively increased wheelbase, which was much welcome on my short frame.
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
miuan said:
Depends on what you aim to do. I don't need a much lower BB, thanks. I had one and kept bending chain devices and crank spiders on it. The 2deg headset was all I needed. Slackened the HA and effectively increased wheelbase, which was much welcome on my short frame.
Click to expand...
Fair enough. I've gotten used to stupid low bikes. Current DH bike is at about 12.9" BB which honestly is a little too low, but not all that badly so.
 
toowacky

toowacky

Monkey
Feb 20, 2010
200
4
Pac NW
More info on Sunn (from Tri-Ride because the translation is funn), gives a little insight into the problems...

2011.06.12 Sunn to partner/distribute w/ Look:

Link via Tri-Ride

Sunn Press Release said:
From the month of June 2011, LOOK becomes the exclusive distributor of SUNN bikes in France as well as on a worldwide basis.

Employing some 480 people throughout the world, with an important distribution network present in 60 countries and benefiting of great expertise, LOOK will bring the essential means and assets to the development of SUNN’s sales.

Much more than a simple distribution agreement, the two French bike trademarks wish to engage in the development of a real partnership.

Strengthened by the complementary product offers of LOOK and of SUNN in the fields of road bikes and MTB, and persuaded by the performance of SUNN’s MTB and the very strong identity of the brand followed for 25 years by all its enthusiasts, the ambition of both companies is to reinforce synergies between both organisations while keeping each trademark’s own identity.

HEALTHY, a trademark founded in 1988, is internationally recognized for the quality of its bikes. Elected several times “MTB of the year” and “Enduro of the year”, its MTBs come from the combination of a proven technology and of a refined design. Its bikes deliberately centred towards performance and riding pleasure have won many cyclists across the world. Competition also occupies an inseparable part of SUNN’s image. With not less than 81 World Champion titles in its assets, the quality of the products of the Pyrenean brand no longer needs to be proven.
Click to expand...
Background info:

2011.04.07 Sunn reorganization:
http://www.tri-ride.com/en/bike-industry/sunn-riorganizza-lasset-societario/
Tri-Ride said:
For some time rumors of a serious financial situation Healthy. Rumors fueled by non-delivery of products by the French firm. That there were problems Healthy it was also understood by the recent press release Chausson (see that). Today Healthy clarifies the situation with an official press release (bottom in French). The Healthy has recently moved its headquarters to Toulouse. At this stage, reads the press release, to protect the company financially, who had apparently had some problems, has started a process that put the mark under the control of Commercial Court of Toulouse. In the press Healthy confirms that it is a delicate moment, However reassuring its customers that this does not mean the company disappears. The team Healthy is in fact working on the range 2012 that will be presented to’Euro Bike September and Roc d'Azur. The statement then refers to a new recovery strategy is in the French market and the international. Of course it remains difficult at this stage be certain about the future of this brand. Possimao only hope that a big name like Healthy return to play a leading role in the bike business as soon as possible.
Click to expand...
 
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