[atrokz]

You've never even ridden a DHR have you?

Was going to say, I have a hard time believing an 8"+, very slack bike is going to have much trouble in the rough. Especialy a long 8" travel bike. You can always adjust suspension to be firmer or softer depending on how you ride the thing, and the DHR has a nice wheelpath as well. It was designed as a WC level DH race bike, to race any and every course on the circut, not just 'smooth' ones. That seems absurd to assume, but perhaps the DHR is just more nimble and a 'faster' bike in the right hands.

Maybe I'm missing something, but that's how I see it.

 

[davet]

Nothing wrong with it aside from the fact they dont seem to be made to hold up for long periods of time - they are labeled as FRO for a good reason. Bike developed creaks - and anyone of my friends can tell you I maintain my bikes well so wasn't a maintenance issue - I got a solid 1 1/2 years out of it and about 5 trips to whistler before it started to really be a pain in the rear

where was the creak coming from?

 

[StunZeeD]

where was the creak coming from?

Lower linkage, had the updated linkage also. Was able to fix it eventually but needed constant attention.

 

[climbingbubba]

I am super lazy so I haven't fully read everyone elses responses but I have owned both in the same season. Went from a Banshee Legend to a Canfield Jedi to a Turner DHR over the course of 1.5 seasons.

Here is my take on the two you asked about. Both had RC4 rear shocks with TI coil

Banshee legend - It was a medium which is what banshee recomended for someone 6 feet tall but it was a bit on the small side. Not unrideable but felt cramped a bit. It is one of the best technical bikes I have owned. Only the really rocky, slowish tech runs I felt a lot faster on this bike. It cornered amazing and did a good job eating up the rough stuff. It is a somewhat lively frame but not as much as the DHR. The pedalling does feel a bit strange with the rearward travel but nothing that bugged me too much. In the air and on big drops it felt fine. I wasn't as confident on it but I think it was due to the sizing more than anything.

Turner DHR - Size large, felt perfect for me at 6 feet tall. This bike is fast and low. I would clip my pedals pretty often if the trail was dug down a bit into the ground. It pedals great and handles high speed really well. Didn't feel as good on the slow tech as the Legend. Felt a bit more lively and not as much plow as the Legend. I have owned quite a few DH bikes and to me this one felt the most balanced between lively and plow. I don't have any real complaints about it at all.

In the end I would lean towards the DHR but I wouldn't hesitate to own either in the future. I sadly had to sell my DHR to pay for school so when I graduate I will get another one and both will be on the top of my list.

Also, with what you described you ride I would maybe look into a Transition TR250. My friend I ride with has one and we switch bikes often. On the smoother jump trails he works a lot less and pops way higher then I can. I have to take more speed into the same jumps to clear them so I can't ride to close behind him because I will get to close to him and then start casing everything. It can handle the rough decent but is a lot more rewarding on the jump/flowy trails then a dedicated DH bike. Probably the bike I would get unless I was really wanting to get into competitive DH racing.

Hope that helped some. Feel free to PM me with specific questions about the two. Honestly you can't go wrong with either if you get the right size to begin with.

 

[StunZeeD]

I am super lazy so I haven't fully read everyone elses responses but I have owned both in the same season. Went from a Banshee Legend to a Canfield Jedi to a Turner DHR over the course of 1.5 seasons.

Here is my take on the two you asked about. Both had RC4 rear shocks with TI coil

Banshee legend - It was a medium which is what banshee recomended for someone 6 feet tall but it was a bit on the small side. Not unrideable but felt cramped a bit. It is one of the best technical bikes I have owned. Only the really rocky, slowish tech runs I felt a lot faster on this bike. It cornered amazing and did a good job eating up the rough stuff. It is a somewhat lively frame but not as much as the DHR. The pedalling does feel a bit strange with the rearward travel but nothing that bugged me too much. In the air and on big drops it felt fine. I wasn't as confident on it but I think it was due to the sizing more than anything.

Turner DHR - Size large, felt perfect for me at 6 feet tall. This bike is fast and low. I would clip my pedals pretty often if the trail was dug down a bit into the ground. It pedals great and handles high speed really well. Didn't feel as good on the slow tech as the Legend. Felt a bit more lively and not as much plow as the Legend. I have owned quite a few DH bikes and to me this one felt the most balanced between lively and plow. I don't have any real complaints about it at all.

In the end I would lean towards the DHR but I wouldn't hesitate to own either in the future. I sadly had to sell my DHR to pay for school so when I graduate I will get another one and both will be on the top of my list.

Also, with what you described you ride I would maybe look into a Transition TR250. My friend I ride with has one and we switch bikes often. On the smoother jump trails he works a lot less and pops way higher then I can. I have to take more speed into the same jumps to clear them so I can't ride to close behind him because I will get to close to him and then start casing everything. It can handle the rough decent but is a lot more rewarding on the jump/flowy trails then a dedicated DH bike. Probably the bike I would get unless I was really wanting to get into competitive DH racing.

Hope that helped some. Feel free to PM me with specific questions about the two. Honestly you can't go wrong with either if you get the right size to begin with.

Very good review there - from what everyone seems to be saying and my buddy with the DHR says, the DHR is more of a race bike and with the right rider will excel. The faster it goes, the better it handles (like most DH bikes but more with the DHR)

I have a 2013 Rune for the flowy stuff - this bike is more for the comfort at speeds and bigger hits along with the few yearly trips to whistler.

 

[csermonet]

Very good review there - from what everyone seems to be saying and my buddy with the DHR says, the DHR is more of a race bike and with the right rider will excel. The faster it goes, the better it handles (like most DH bikes but more with the DHR)

I have a 2013 Rune for the flowy stuff - this bike is more for the comfort at speeds and bigger hits along with the few yearly trips to whistler.

I have been riding one for a little over a year and it is a pretty awesome bike. Definitely gets better the faster you go. I am no racer either, and although its an out-n-out race bike made for shaving seconds, you don't have to be Aaron Gwin to have fun on it. Granted I'm not the fastest guy but Im certainly not the slowest either. Speed is rewarded on this bike. Very stable and planted through the rough but also very ready and willing to be jumped, flicked, manual'd, anything you can ask from a bike this will deliver. In the right hands, I don't have any doubt it could be on the podium at a WC.

 

[StunZeeD]

Wanted to follow-up on the thread - got the Legend and have a couple rides in so far.

Bike rips, feels low, fast and nimble. The bike just accelerates through the rough stuff - really digging it so far

 

[kazlx]

Looks like a solid choice

 

[StunZeeD]

Here we are months later and I'm back at making a bike decision again. After taking this summer off from riding I only got a handful of rides in on the legend. Unfortunately me and the legend did not sync up, mainly fit wise. Since i am between a small and a medium, the small legend felt way too cramped and I never felt comfortable on it like I did my M9.

So considering a new frame and hoping to cash in on the end of season deals, anyways.

I am still interested in the DHR, after my further reading still somewhat concerned I may be too much of a hack for the bike. Considering a Session, Wilson or Podium as well.

 

[SCARY]

I would think V10 if you liked the way the m9 rode.

 

[StunZeeD]

I would think V10 if you liked the way the m9 rode.

I should clarify, I loved the M9 as it was very forgiving and confidence inspiring due to its plushness. I was looking for something a little more snappy and more poppy as it took allot of work to get the bike to be playful - kinda the same with the legend.

 

[SCARY]

Did you play around with all the adjustments and progression settings? I mean that bike can ride like 3 different bikes .ive had the ccdb on there and its so tunable its ridiculous. Ive got the db air on there now and its even better to dial in a spring rate.
Im scared to try another bike just cuz its so easy to change its character.
I understand the squeaking, but teflon tape and prep seem to cure most all of it.

Course, the only water my bike has ever seen is from a hose , to rinse the dust off.

 

[StunZeeD]

Did you play around with all the adjustments and progresdion settings? I mean that bike can ride like 3 different bikes .ive had the ccdb on there and its so tunable its ridiculous. Ive got the db air on there now and its even better to dial in a spring rate.
Im scared to try another bike just cuz its so easy to change its character.

I also had a CCDB on there which was great. Yes I tried all settings and ended up settling with the smallest travel setting. I did love the bike and also hope i can find what I am looking for, basically a more poppy M9 (and I have had a 951 which is a poppy but not the same bike)

 

[StunZeeD]

Did you play around with all the adjustments and progresdion settings? I mean that bike can ride like 3 different bikes .ive had the ccdb on there and its so tunable its ridiculous. Ive got the db air on there now and its even better to dial in a spring rate.
Im scared to try another bike just cuz its so easy to change its character.

I also had a CCDB on there which was great. Yes I tried all settings and ended up settling with the smallest travel setting. I did love the bike and also hope i can find what I am looking for, basically a more poppy M9 (and I have had a 951 which is a poppy but not the same bike)

 

[SCARY]

I think the poppy m9 setting woulda been...short chainstays, db air set to just under 30% sag, progressive shock position and 8.5" of travel.
The dorado matches up perfectly with the dbair.
Good luck with the quest

 

[time-bomb]

Since it was mainly the sizing as you say, why not try a medium Legend? You are already familiar with it and seem to like most of what it is/has to offer. Or perhaps it just won't ever get as lively as you would like even if the fit is good?

 

[time-bomb]

The dorado matches up perfectly with the dbair.

x2 Running this set up on my bike and love it!!

 

[StunZeeD]

Since it was mainly the sizing as you say, why not try a medium Legend? You are already familiar with it and seem to like most of what it is/has to offer. Or perhaps it just won't ever get as lively as you would like even if the fit is good?

The medium TT is too long, i ran my stem longer on the small and just did not like the feel of the bike.

 

[norbar]

The medium TT is too long, i ran my stem longer on the small and just did not like the feel of the bike.

Longer stem is not a solution, a longer tt is. Find someone with a med legend and ride it. It's pretty small. Small legends are only good if you are Tom Cruise short.

 

[bizutch]

Are you afraid of winning at life and thus avoiding the DHR purchase?

 

[buildyourown]

I have a DHR and it really is awesome. They are such a good deal direct from Turner right now. Not sure why they aren't more popular.

How slack is your Banshee? If you can go slacker, an Angleset will make the bike feel much larger. Wheelbase has a much larger effect on how big a bike feels than TT.
The TT on the DHR feels really short in the parking lot. Everyone, including myself, thinks it feels tiny. Get it up on plane and it feels normal.

 

[Uncle Cliffy]

I should clarify, I loved the M9 as it was very forgiving and confidence inspiring due to its plushness. I was looking for something a little more snappy and more poppy as it took allot of work to get the bike to be playful - kinda the same with the legend.

So I just want to say, that the decision to buy a Avy-tuned RC4 was the best thing I did for my M9.

Even in the long chainstay setting, I can actually get the bike to come off the ground whenever I want. Bike is even more forgiving in almost every situation. The CCDB gets a lot of fans for its adjustability, but it's not the best choice for the M9 IMO.

 

[HAB]

I have a DHR and it really is awesome. They are such a good deal direct from Turner right now. Not sure why they aren't more popular.

How slack is your Banshee? If you can go slacker, an Angleset will make the bike feel much larger. Wheelbase has a much larger effect on how big a bike feels than TT.
The TT on the DHR feels really short in the parking lot. Everyone, including myself, thinks it feels tiny. Get it up on plane and it feels normal.

What size, and how tall are you? It's interesting that you say that, mine feels pretty normal (for a DH bike) in the parking lot but seems spot on on the trail as well.

I'm 6' tall on a large with a 55mm stem.