[powderboy]

I'm thinking about this frame... anyone here have one?

Post your pics and thoughts on the frame. Thanks!

 

[shaun]

Love it. Seems like more travel to me than five inches. Rear triangle is cromoly and is stifffffff. I can only compare it to the santacruz superlite though. Bottom swing link isnt the problem I thought it would be, and even if you do manage to mangle it, it's replaceable. It doesnt get hit nearly as often as you might think as it sucks up when the suspension is activated. There aparently had been problems with a few of the early model head tubes so be careful if buying a used one. I love the way it rides, it seems to suck up both small and bigger hits equally well pretty progressive travel. I have a six inch manitou slider on mine and it feels super well balanced. I have read more than a couple reviews of people saying there bikes didnt take any time at all to get used to. I totally agree with this. I did find that the chain would rub occasionaly on the bottom of the chain stay. This was easily fixed with a piece of tubing from my local hospital. Tonnes of stand over height. It is a bit harder to pedal due to body postion (seat tube angle) than a dedicated xc bike but I guess that goes without saying for any freeride frame. I would recomend it to anyone short of dedicated dh'ers and biggggggggggg drop riders. Even if money weren't an object I dont think I'd change frames. I find it perfect for all the west coast style stuff we have around here.

 

[powderboy]

shaun:

I notice that you have a Slider up front, which would change the head angle slightly. I'm thinking of putting a Boxxer up front on mine (when it comes).

Do you find that the front end wanders alot when climbing for long periods of time? There's nothing that I hate more than a bike that you can't keep straight on a climb.

 

[shaun]

It's not too bad. Dont forget it's only a 6 inch fork. I think boxxers are a bit longer crown to axel though, even in 6inch mode. I dont find it too hard to climb on. The seat tube angle puts me more behind the bb than would be optimal for pure climbing. But honestly I dont spend that much time just going up. It does slack it out a bit but not horribly so. incredible suspension action not alot of bobing.

 

[FlipSide]

I own one and I love it...but if you want to put on a DC fork, get a 2StepDH. Balfa don't warrenty the 2003 2Step frames if you put a DC fork on it.

 

[powderboy]

I'll have a way around that warranty issue. And, I'm not going to be doing any huge drops to flats either. I just like the plush-ness of a real fork as opposed to these single-crown wusses!!!

 

[shaun]

The 2002 2steps are waranteed with dc forks though. But yah that's right 2003 it isnt. For 2003 if it breaks you will need to send them your frame/fork/headset with proof of purchase for all three.