Wow! This bike is incredible!
After bringing the new frame home Thursday evening, I finally was able to complete the build late last night, and took her out for our honeymoon ride this morning.
Heres a review on how the bike preformed in three different areas. First part of the ride was a reasonably flat fire road. With Manitou SPV equipped suspension on both sides on the bike, riding seated on smooth fire roads feels like you have very little suspension due to the SPV's pedaling platform. However, the suspension is constantly working underneath you absorbing the slightest bump without thought or hesitation. When youre just riding along, the bike pretty much sits solid at your static sag position.
Second part of todays ride a technical climb. This is the only full suspension bike that Ive ever ridden where at will - I could shift to my middle ring, get out of the saddle, and power through technical switchbacks without the bike feeling like a pogo stick. Climbing seated is effortless, and climbing while standing is phenomenal! While climbing, I would have NEVER guessed that I was riding a bike with 5 up front and 5.5 in the rear. This bike climbs much, much better than my SLX, and even better than my old i-Drive. Very impressed to say the least.
The end of todays ride led us to about a mile of fast downhill switchbacks. The geometry of the frame (70deg HT and 13.25" BB height) combined with the Minute Two fork, leads to an extremely confidence-inspiring descender. The suspension soaked up every little imperfection in the terrain and actually felt like it had more travel then my 7 SLX. This bike descends like it's on rails! Its simply amazing to believe that a bike with such supple suspension is the same bike that I was climbing while standing (in middle ring) just an hour earlier.
Intense really nailed this one on the head. This might just be the perfect trail bike ..
After bringing the new frame home Thursday evening, I finally was able to complete the build late last night, and took her out for our honeymoon ride this morning.
Heres a review on how the bike preformed in three different areas. First part of the ride was a reasonably flat fire road. With Manitou SPV equipped suspension on both sides on the bike, riding seated on smooth fire roads feels like you have very little suspension due to the SPV's pedaling platform. However, the suspension is constantly working underneath you absorbing the slightest bump without thought or hesitation. When youre just riding along, the bike pretty much sits solid at your static sag position.
Second part of todays ride a technical climb. This is the only full suspension bike that Ive ever ridden where at will - I could shift to my middle ring, get out of the saddle, and power through technical switchbacks without the bike feeling like a pogo stick. Climbing seated is effortless, and climbing while standing is phenomenal! While climbing, I would have NEVER guessed that I was riding a bike with 5 up front and 5.5 in the rear. This bike climbs much, much better than my SLX, and even better than my old i-Drive. Very impressed to say the least.
The end of todays ride led us to about a mile of fast downhill switchbacks. The geometry of the frame (70deg HT and 13.25" BB height) combined with the Minute Two fork, leads to an extremely confidence-inspiring descender. The suspension soaked up every little imperfection in the terrain and actually felt like it had more travel then my 7 SLX. This bike descends like it's on rails! Its simply amazing to believe that a bike with such supple suspension is the same bike that I was climbing while standing (in middle ring) just an hour earlier.
Intense really nailed this one on the head. This might just be the perfect trail bike ..
