Well,I gotta admit ,I was a little hesitant to get this bike.Based on other reviews and my own personal experience with Intense quality uncontrol and constant shifting of due dates and deadlines of replacement faulty parts.
-Granted,this is from 10 years ago,but it left a bad taste in my mouth.And from reading "some" posts it still happens at least occasionally.
-Coming off an Orange 224,thus far,was my favorite bike I've owned.Two things,it was poppy and very light.But an extremely fun bike to rideTwo other things,it was unpredictable in the air and I could never figure out how to settle the rear end.
- My criteria was ,had to be a made IN america bike,needed to posses my newfound love for liveliness,and my local bike shop sponsor (Kore Bike)had to be able to get it
-So after gathering info from you guys and getting a great price on it with a CCDB,I chose the 951.I recently had 2 days lift assisted runs on the thing and this bike is unbelievable .I just couldn't wrap my head around how and why this does what it does so well.It feels like it sits in it's initial travel pretty far,which had me a little worried that it was gonna be a plow.I didn't want that.
-Once you work in to that initial travel,the progressive nature of the design takes over.I never had a bike that had that much-I don't know the term-negative travel?It REALLY sticks to the ground exactly and only where I want it to.I did have to get used to this,as the 224 would skip and skitter over small stuff.Once I figured how to push the 951 into corners and it rides really well off the back of the bike I started to rail the SOB.
I've never owned a bike that felt this slow while I'm on it.That's fantastic!This is the first bike Ive had that Its a better bike than I am a rider.I am already faster with alot less effort .
-Just so you know,Im 5 11",185,I got a large with a 500 lb ti spring.
-Now keep in mind a couple things,my gut tells me the CCDB is the ONLY shock to have on this bike.I don't know,I've not tried the others.All I know,is that anybody that knows me,has told me I'm the most picky person when it comes to my bike setup.I only had to adjust this shock twice,on the first day,from initial recommended settings.I could normally mess with my shock 3times a day,on any day.Maybe the stars aligned,and I got lucky.Doubt it though.
-The other thing I did was order 2 degree angle offset reducer cups from Works Components.I've only ridden the 951 with them in.I got used to running the 224 really slack ,so I put these in and kept the rear adjustment in the middle position,as a couple guys said the low setting was too low and induced pedal whacking.So I figured the angle offset was the best solution.I also run it in the 8.5 setting.I do have to be careful where I pedal though.I can't really pedal in the middle of corners.But it really dosent bob at all under power.
-So,sorry for the uber long post,but Ive never been just, in awe of how a bike rides before.It won't be for everyone,it is a couple lbs over what I got used to,but Im over it.
-This is not a plow/hog of a bike.I'm sure the M9 is gonna be a great bike,but you couldn't pay me to even try another bike.So far,as as I am concerned,it's perfect.
-Thanks for the final push,Stik!
-Granted,this is from 10 years ago,but it left a bad taste in my mouth.And from reading "some" posts it still happens at least occasionally.
-Coming off an Orange 224,thus far,was my favorite bike I've owned.Two things,it was poppy and very light.But an extremely fun bike to rideTwo other things,it was unpredictable in the air and I could never figure out how to settle the rear end.
- My criteria was ,had to be a made IN america bike,needed to posses my newfound love for liveliness,and my local bike shop sponsor (Kore Bike)had to be able to get it
-So after gathering info from you guys and getting a great price on it with a CCDB,I chose the 951.I recently had 2 days lift assisted runs on the thing and this bike is unbelievable .I just couldn't wrap my head around how and why this does what it does so well.It feels like it sits in it's initial travel pretty far,which had me a little worried that it was gonna be a plow.I didn't want that.
-Once you work in to that initial travel,the progressive nature of the design takes over.I never had a bike that had that much-I don't know the term-negative travel?It REALLY sticks to the ground exactly and only where I want it to.I did have to get used to this,as the 224 would skip and skitter over small stuff.Once I figured how to push the 951 into corners and it rides really well off the back of the bike I started to rail the SOB.
I've never owned a bike that felt this slow while I'm on it.That's fantastic!This is the first bike Ive had that Its a better bike than I am a rider.I am already faster with alot less effort .
-Just so you know,Im 5 11",185,I got a large with a 500 lb ti spring.
-Now keep in mind a couple things,my gut tells me the CCDB is the ONLY shock to have on this bike.I don't know,I've not tried the others.All I know,is that anybody that knows me,has told me I'm the most picky person when it comes to my bike setup.I only had to adjust this shock twice,on the first day,from initial recommended settings.I could normally mess with my shock 3times a day,on any day.Maybe the stars aligned,and I got lucky.Doubt it though.
-The other thing I did was order 2 degree angle offset reducer cups from Works Components.I've only ridden the 951 with them in.I got used to running the 224 really slack ,so I put these in and kept the rear adjustment in the middle position,as a couple guys said the low setting was too low and induced pedal whacking.So I figured the angle offset was the best solution.I also run it in the 8.5 setting.I do have to be careful where I pedal though.I can't really pedal in the middle of corners.But it really dosent bob at all under power.
-So,sorry for the uber long post,but Ive never been just, in awe of how a bike rides before.It won't be for everyone,it is a couple lbs over what I got used to,but Im over it.
-This is not a plow/hog of a bike.I'm sure the M9 is gonna be a great bike,but you couldn't pay me to even try another bike.So far,as as I am concerned,it's perfect.
-Thanks for the final push,Stik!
oh wait, one more 
