Heres a quick summary of the bikes I was able to demo this year at Bootleg Canyon. I tried to mainly comment on the suspension characteristics of the frame and not so much of each individual component unless one sucked badly enough to stick out. I know there are other great bikes than what I am used to so this was an opportunity to find out what else was out there. It was a blast. Please note: this is just my opinion on how these bikes were set up and rode on these particular trails during interbike. Component changes and environment could possibly change some of these impressions. Enjoy the ride.
Foes 2:1 FXR(Medium)
This was the first bike I took out at interbike. This is a beautiful frame that was setup for xc riding and could easily be a superb bike for anyone within its intended use. Whats cool is one could use it for xc or build it a little stronger for for more action in the 6” mode. This bike was taken solely on smooth, rolly xc terrain and according to Brent at Foes was set up in the rear for 6” of travel. The FXR handled itself very well, The neutral ‘feel’ made this a very easy bike to get used to. I did notice a small clicking noise as the frame cycled through the upper part of its travel, it was as if something was not right and was annoying. Out of the saddle sprints didn’t upset the suspension, it just lunged forward quickly begging to be thrown and railed around turns. Most notable on this bike was how nicely it handled speedy singletrack.
Cove Prototype(S/M)
I was eager to try this frame out when I saw it. During Crankworx, I saw it being built up for the first time and wanted to ride it. This frame was designed as a 7” slopestyle prototype for ‘small’ Cove teamriders. The small medium frame was ultra small for my tastes. Just pedaling around the rear end squatted and the front end felt like I was steering a chopper. I didn’t ride this bike very long because of the fit.
Cove Shocker DH (M)
I immediately like this bike leaps and bounds above the prototype I had tried earlier. This Cove frame, like the proto, gave me the impression that Cove bikes have smaller cockpits than the average. This may be a Northshore BC design for the Knolly delirium T felt like this as well. The headangle was very slack and the BB was super low, perfect for racing DH. Overall this was a stable bike that wanted to rip the mountain. The bike had a low BB, long chainstays, and super plush well behaved suspension characteristics. One thing that stuck out while riding was the positioning. While descending it was almost as if I were leaning back a little rather than forward in attack mode. I could say this was a squatty feeling descender, But it did this well once you were adjusted and became used to it. The 2.5 maxxis minions Frt & Rear hooked up well to the hardpack gravelly terrain. Overall the shocker DH was a superb ride with a decent build kit. I would own one of these if I could have 10 bikes.
Knolly Deliruim T (medium)
I had been wanting to ride a Delirium T for a long time. I was the first one to try this bike out since it had just been built. With the seat raised the bike climbed beautifully up the singletrack to the peak of the mountain. It tracked over rocks ever so smoothly and maintained its crispness in the sharp uphill switchbacks. Up at top I cranked down Armageddon, Poopshoot, snakeback & through the jump park before heading back to the demo. The rear end felt like it ate up bumps perfectly. When the saddle was dropped, the top tube felt a little tight compared to other mediums, this could easily be because of the seat tube angle. With the saddle raised for climbing the pedal positioning is spot on. When dropping the saddle the cockpit becomes much smaller due to the 64 degree seat tube angle. The fork choice on this bike could have made this one of the bikes to beat in the whole show. However, it was built with a Nixon which in my opinion wanked. The headangle felt steeper than I wanted it too as well. On this frame one can adjust the headangle and the wheelbase. Unfortunatly I did not play around with these settings, so the outcome could have been even better. Weight doesn’t really come into play once pedaling this bike, it is unnoticeable . Overall this is an excellent bike with some of the most aesthetically pleasing welds.
Knolly V-Tach (M)
The V-Tach felt better to me than the Delirium. The TT is longer, therefore it fit me better. I had a blast on this bike. The Totem coil up front worked hand in hand with the dhx coil in the rear (7.7”
. Suspension tracking on this bike is excellent, it was very plush and positive on the slow steep technical terrain. At speeds it felt strong as well. Keep in mind this bike is designed to be a freeriding champion. For its intended purpose it rules.
This bike felt like a bigger version of the delirium. I liked it more based on the fit and the fact that it was built very similar to my Highline. If technical challenging riding is your game this bike will serve you well. This bike feels so good it can probably convince you to go bigger and badder than you should. I believe it can handle anything. Both of the Knolly’s are two bikes I would like to own if money was no object.
Turner Highline (M)
I took this bike to the most challenging trail up in Bootleg Canyon. (Ginger) this is a double black diamond trail, not suitable for the faint of heart. I know this bike so it was a no brainer that it was time to step it up again. It was cool to try out a different build kit than mine. This one was completed using FSA/Gravity bits everywhere but in the wheels. There was a 2.5 2ply mobster up front and highroller in the rear. The mobster gave away to the sides in the the lose chundery rocks, I would have chosen a different tire. On the rear, the HR behaved well. The combo of maxis 2ply tires and dh tubes rules as far as getting flats goes. I rode this higline for about 3 days in a row all day.
Overall this bike is still my favorite. This and the V-tach by Knolly bikes. The Highline edges out the V-tach in my opinion, because the HL geometry and ride feels a little lower and longer, making it more fun to ride at high speeds. In the slow speed technical terrain the bikes are close neither one blazing past the other. Being used to a highline the higher ride height kept me a little more cautious on the Knolly. Both bikes rip.
Foes 2:1 FXR(Medium)
This was the first bike I took out at interbike. This is a beautiful frame that was setup for xc riding and could easily be a superb bike for anyone within its intended use. Whats cool is one could use it for xc or build it a little stronger for for more action in the 6” mode. This bike was taken solely on smooth, rolly xc terrain and according to Brent at Foes was set up in the rear for 6” of travel. The FXR handled itself very well, The neutral ‘feel’ made this a very easy bike to get used to. I did notice a small clicking noise as the frame cycled through the upper part of its travel, it was as if something was not right and was annoying. Out of the saddle sprints didn’t upset the suspension, it just lunged forward quickly begging to be thrown and railed around turns. Most notable on this bike was how nicely it handled speedy singletrack.
Cove Prototype(S/M)
I was eager to try this frame out when I saw it. During Crankworx, I saw it being built up for the first time and wanted to ride it. This frame was designed as a 7” slopestyle prototype for ‘small’ Cove teamriders. The small medium frame was ultra small for my tastes. Just pedaling around the rear end squatted and the front end felt like I was steering a chopper. I didn’t ride this bike very long because of the fit.
Cove Shocker DH (M)
I immediately like this bike leaps and bounds above the prototype I had tried earlier. This Cove frame, like the proto, gave me the impression that Cove bikes have smaller cockpits than the average. This may be a Northshore BC design for the Knolly delirium T felt like this as well. The headangle was very slack and the BB was super low, perfect for racing DH. Overall this was a stable bike that wanted to rip the mountain. The bike had a low BB, long chainstays, and super plush well behaved suspension characteristics. One thing that stuck out while riding was the positioning. While descending it was almost as if I were leaning back a little rather than forward in attack mode. I could say this was a squatty feeling descender, But it did this well once you were adjusted and became used to it. The 2.5 maxxis minions Frt & Rear hooked up well to the hardpack gravelly terrain. Overall the shocker DH was a superb ride with a decent build kit. I would own one of these if I could have 10 bikes.
Knolly Deliruim T (medium)
I had been wanting to ride a Delirium T for a long time. I was the first one to try this bike out since it had just been built. With the seat raised the bike climbed beautifully up the singletrack to the peak of the mountain. It tracked over rocks ever so smoothly and maintained its crispness in the sharp uphill switchbacks. Up at top I cranked down Armageddon, Poopshoot, snakeback & through the jump park before heading back to the demo. The rear end felt like it ate up bumps perfectly. When the saddle was dropped, the top tube felt a little tight compared to other mediums, this could easily be because of the seat tube angle. With the saddle raised for climbing the pedal positioning is spot on. When dropping the saddle the cockpit becomes much smaller due to the 64 degree seat tube angle. The fork choice on this bike could have made this one of the bikes to beat in the whole show. However, it was built with a Nixon which in my opinion wanked. The headangle felt steeper than I wanted it too as well. On this frame one can adjust the headangle and the wheelbase. Unfortunatly I did not play around with these settings, so the outcome could have been even better. Weight doesn’t really come into play once pedaling this bike, it is unnoticeable . Overall this is an excellent bike with some of the most aesthetically pleasing welds.
Knolly V-Tach (M)
The V-Tach felt better to me than the Delirium. The TT is longer, therefore it fit me better. I had a blast on this bike. The Totem coil up front worked hand in hand with the dhx coil in the rear (7.7”
. Suspension tracking on this bike is excellent, it was very plush and positive on the slow steep technical terrain. At speeds it felt strong as well. Keep in mind this bike is designed to be a freeriding champion. For its intended purpose it rules.This bike felt like a bigger version of the delirium. I liked it more based on the fit and the fact that it was built very similar to my Highline. If technical challenging riding is your game this bike will serve you well. This bike feels so good it can probably convince you to go bigger and badder than you should. I believe it can handle anything. Both of the Knolly’s are two bikes I would like to own if money was no object.
Turner Highline (M)
I took this bike to the most challenging trail up in Bootleg Canyon. (Ginger) this is a double black diamond trail, not suitable for the faint of heart. I know this bike so it was a no brainer that it was time to step it up again. It was cool to try out a different build kit than mine. This one was completed using FSA/Gravity bits everywhere but in the wheels. There was a 2.5 2ply mobster up front and highroller in the rear. The mobster gave away to the sides in the the lose chundery rocks, I would have chosen a different tire. On the rear, the HR behaved well. The combo of maxis 2ply tires and dh tubes rules as far as getting flats goes. I rode this higline for about 3 days in a row all day.
Overall this bike is still my favorite. This and the V-tach by Knolly bikes. The Highline edges out the V-tach in my opinion, because the HL geometry and ride feels a little lower and longer, making it more fun to ride at high speeds. In the slow speed technical terrain the bikes are close neither one blazing past the other. Being used to a highline the higher ride height kept me a little more cautious on the Knolly. Both bikes rip.
The bike gets the job done but was nothing exciting. I almost wished I had picked up something else. It just felt like too much work trying to ride it. When I picked it up the tires were way to pumped and the suspension was overdamped. After setting it up right it still gave me the impressions of being an average bike to forget. 
