[Tully]

Does anyone have any experience with the Shockwave 9.5? I am doing some research on behalf of a friend who is interested in buying one, which he found for a great price. He is 5'11", ~170 lbs, and planning to race beginner 18 and under next year. These look like really nice frames, but I'm having trouble finding any info about them.

 

[Lexx D]

Sorry don't know much other than i like the design. Come on people I also want info.

 

[Toshi]

PM TWISTED. he works for kinesis and has the whole range of mountain cycle products (and rides them very impressively)

 

[Tully]

It seems like it would be an awesome frame, and I believe it's not nearly as heavy as it looks, either.

 

[The Kadvang]

My friend has one, and it rides alot like a dirtbike. It pedals well, but is definitly big and slack, definitly not the most flickable bike out there. I didn't like it because I like to ride lighter, switching lines etc, but if you just want to plow down the hill it would be great for that. Awesome bike, just not for me. Note, I'm not the biggest guy out there ( 5'10", 125), so that definitly has something to do with it. If you have any more questions just ask away.

 

[Zark]

Brian P has one too.

 

[zedro]

well if this helps, and surely it will, its one of the sexiest bikes out there....

 

[The Kadvang]

well if this helps, and surely it will, its one of the sexiest bikes out there....

sex sells...

 

[Roasted]

It seems like it would be an awesome frame, and I believe it's not nearly as heavy as it looks, either.

thats my experience with it. A buddy of mine just got sponsored by them and is riding it right now (guy doesn't work...arg)...light frame, plush and bottomless feeling. Seems to match well with a 888. The guy is your size and race/hucks so he is putting the bike through a lot of abuse. From his mouth (as he is much better than I am at riding)

"The bike kicks ass, flys through the rough stuff and handles really well in the air"

Definately a good bike, unfortunately the guy is leaving tommorow and I can't get any long term time up the moutain on it. I still couldn't believe the pickup weight on it, felt so light yet looked so sexy

 

[Brian Peterson]

I have had mine for a little while now.... I love it.... Geometry matches well with a Shiver, Monster, or 888.... I switched out the 5th Element to a Romic and added the floating brake kit.... Smooth as buttah.... Not as heavy as it looks. I have no problem throwing mine around in the air. The only gripe I had was putting air in the shock, that's why the Romic went on..

At 5-11, your friend may want a Medium.. I am 6-1 and on a large...

Brian

 

[Tully]

So the bike is more plow-through-the-rough-stuff than hop-and-zigzag-around-the-rough-stuff?

 

[Brian Peterson]

Yeah, just let it roll.... It is a little long on the wheelbase, so sometime a little rear wheel steering may be needed....

Brian

 

[vitox]

Here's my bike and me on another 9point5

looks like you could help them out in the brochure department, too


btw you dont happen to have better pics of that silvery bike?

 

[Tully]

Thanks a lot for all the info. This bike sounds perfect for my friend--not to mention that I'm might be riding one next year!

 

[Brian Peterson]

Tully,
You'll be stoked if you get one.... I foresee my 9.5 staying with me for a while....

Brian

 

[dropmachine]

Did a review of one on DRopmachine.

Its a ridiculously fun bike, thats for sure. I am on my second one ( first was too small) and I love it. Its not that its not nimble, you can hop it and do whatever ytou like on it, its just that the length makes it a little difficult. Like Brian, i will be swapping out the shock soon too, as the 5th is just too much of a pain to get to. Avalanche, here i come~

Also, get the floater. If you don't brake, things are fine. But it does stiffen up quite a bit, and the floater makes things much nicer.

 

[Brian Peterson]

I was able to get my 5th pretty well dialed in, just didn't have an adaptor that would make putting in the air every other ride easy... I was looking into using something like an extender used for a dually... But, I couldn't past up the deal on the Romic...

Brian

 

[Ice Bullit]

I got to test one out at Whistler and I was really happy with it. It pedaled very well for what it was and although it was a little small on me (I ride larges) it still felt sturdy as hell and able to go where you point it. I would say go for it.

 

[SprungShoulders]

I'm 5'11" (32" inseam) and about 170 in gear; I ride a medium 9.5, and I'd definitely say it's the right size for someone in that general range.

As for the bike itself, it's great. Nice workmanship, reasonable weight, and once the 5th blew after all of 30 seconds of riding, the rebuilt unit has worked flawlessly. It just survived a week at Whistler without a problem. Speaking of, the 9.5 was definitely the right choice for Whistler. Riding some of the local trails around town - specifically "A River Run Through It" and "Kill Me, Thrill Me" - however, I wished for a shorter wheelbase. I still managed to navigate most stunts that were within my skill to ride on any bike, but there was a couple of places I got into trouble. A certain curved teeter on "River" comes to mind...

On the Whistler runs, though, the 9.5 rocked. Point and shoot. Even doing a great immitation of Wiley E. Coyote off the A-Line and Schleyer drops didn't bottom the rear. I run a Shiver on the front, which seems a nice fit. I bumped into a MC factory rider on a 9.5 while on the way down Original Sin, and he recommended I slide the legs down on my Shiv just a bit to slacken the HA. I'm currently running them with the top of the top caps even with the inner edges of the top crown, as the Marz manual suggests. Brian P?

I also have a floater, which definitely works as advertised. It perhaps works a little too well, as I'm more inclined to brake when I probably should be keeping my damn hands off the levers.

I'd say you pretty much can't go wrong with the 9.5 as a DH racer and big mountain thrasher. Lots of fun to ride, and a real looker, especially in annodized black.

 

[CHOP]

This article should help. Kalan has raced nothing but Mountain Cycles and swears by them. His RM name is BANCHE and would be glad to answer anymore questions you have.

http://www.newsleader.com/news/stories/20040825/localsports/1111298.html

 

[Brian Peterson]

So you were losing air? I had that problem once, I assumed it was because I had the volume adjuster backed out too far. I removed the adjuster and applyed some grease to the o-ring and have not had any problem with losing air since. That was about a year ago.
I heard there was a problem with the first run of shocks, the aluminum was too porous and allowed the air to leak through.

Brian, any tips on converting preproduction 66rc's to fully functional ones? neaky:

Mine wouldn't hold air for more than two rides... It rode well, but just too effort to keep it that way... With the Romic, if I add 2 clicks on the compression, it rides like a platform shock... But no matter what shock is on there, it doesn't help when I am pushing up the hill...

And just because you guys got the photoshoot fork up there doesn't mean it is supposed to be ridden... Wait for the production fork.... Just like I have too!!

Brian

 

[PBbike679]

PM castle he rides/races one,