Downhill frames

[Yukonrider]

Looking to get a new frame next year, and I'm looking for comparisions/Reviews by people that have ridden them.

Right now the Top two contenders are an Intense Socom, and an 08 Turner DHR

My friend swears by the Socom, and a lot of riders here have them, but I'm not 100% sold.
I've never heard a single bad thing about the DHR, but it is a single pivot.

The other frames I'm interested in are the:

Intense M6
Canfield F1 Jedi
Santa Cruz V10

Any others people think I'd like

I'm looking for a lighter weight (hopefully sub 40) Downhill bike. I ride mostly UP Michigan, and around Midwest, so tight tech stuff is common, no real wide open places. I'm replacing a 7point.

Well lets hear it.

[Arty50]

I've never heard a single bad thing about the DHR, but it is a single pivot.

Everyone I know who has a DHR loves it. My Highline, also a single pivot, blows away my old VP-Free which was a VPP design of course. So I wouldn't discount the old DHR just cause it's a "single pivot." Plus Go-Ride is selling them super cheap right now ($1,600 instead of the normal $2,200).

Beyond that, I haven't ridden any of these bikes; so I can't really add much more than that. They're all pretty damn good manufacturers though.

Don't forget the Ventana El Cuervo either.

[squatch]

Everyone I know who has a DHR loves it. My Highline, also a single pivot, blows away my old VP-Free which was a VPP design of course. So I wouldn't discount the old DHR just cause it's a "single pivot." Plus Go-Ride is selling them super cheap right now ($1,600 instead of the normal $2,200).

Beyond that, I haven't ridden any of these bikes; so I can't really add much more than that. They're all pretty damn good manufacturers though.

Don't forget the Ventana El Cuervo either.

Or he could get a new DHR, which is DW-link and thus satisfies the arbitrary need for a non-single-pivot suspension platform.

[bagtagley]

That's an awfully pricey arbitrary need given the insano pricing on 2008 models.

[marshalolson]

socom - super fast awesome riding bikes that you will have to warrenty at some point for sure because the tubing is simply too light
dhr - super fast bike that will kick ass for a very very long time with no problems at all. moderately good jumper.
v10 - super fast bike that rides on the ground and jumps like shit. awesome pure race bike.
m6 - see v10
canfield - never ridden one

i'd really strongly recommend the transition blindside. i know it sounds like a broken record, but for the price, it is by far and away the best riding dh bike (for me) that i have ever been on. its super fast, but less "plush" than a true WC dh ride, so it is much responsive, agile and jumps as good as a slopestyle bike.

i just sold my chumba to soul_skier, and that thing rode alot like a DHR. stupid sick bikes, awesomely plush and totally ripped at an alarmingly fast rate. but my riding style is more tech vs. plow.

anyhow, if you wind up on a transition or canfield, or possibly corsair (not riddent thier crown dh frame) i can get you a discount for sure.


ps: linkage driven single pivots (ie chumba, dhrs, transitions) are in my opinion more plush and pedal better, with much less maintenence than the vpp derived crap. just my .02

[kidwoo]

Everyone I know who has a DHR loves it. Plus Go-Ride is selling them super cheap right now ($1,600 instead of the normal $2,200).

Your decision just got made for you Yukon.

[Yukonrider]

Your decision just got made for you Yukon.

The DHR is Number 1 right now, even with the single pivot

The problem with the Go-Ride one is that I need a large. Or I'd have already bought one.

Marshal thanks, I'll probably be PMing you soon

[shmoesmith]

So far I have been impressed with my Iron Horse Sunday. The only problem I have with it is that I tend to knock the pedals on the rocks from time to time (I guess it has a super low BB). That thing is unreal in the corners (probably because of the low BB) and the suspension kicks ass (DW link). As far as in the air goes, it seems to do just fine. The thing took some getting used to though. definately a completely different feel than my AS-X

the iron horse fully built came in at 42lbs.

[reidhresko]

let me personally tell you NOT to buy a socom. they ride super awesome, but my downtube was dented literally driving up a shuttle road - fuckt. I have also seen a few of them self-destruct without even being crashed - you wouldn't even believe how thin the tubes are. I ride a 08 dhr and it is the beeskness for sure. that would be my call. i have owned vpp bikes and honestly think the DHR rides nicer.

[Arty50]

The DHR is Number 1 right now, even with the single pivot

The problem with the Go-Ride one is that I need a large. Or I'd have already bought one.

I'd give them a call and see if they're getting another batch in. Turner was using them to blow out the last of the 08 stock, and they were feeding them bikes in batches. So you might luck out. Plus once the 09s are out, everyone's going to try to get rid of the 08s.

[Gowboy From Hell]

You don't need a dh bike in the UP. Get a hardtail with an 8" travel fork and a 24" rear wheel. HARD TAIL PRIDE!!!

[kidwoo]

The DHR is Number 1 right now, even with the single pivot

What's your problem with single pivots?

[Dickeymotto]

Just out of curiosity marshal (or anyone who knows), how does the Cannondale Judge compare?

[tigerstripe40]

Personally, I am saving my pennies for a Ventana El Cuervo. Very well made bike from what I can tell. LOTS Of guys are racing them here in Utah (and the Blindside, my CLOSE second choice). The guys at Go-Ride had some input for the geometry, and to me that means that the bike geo is basically dialed for most of the trails around Salt Lake.

With that said, can you really go wrong with ANY of the DH bikes now being made?

[marshalolson]

Just out of curiosity marshal (or anyone who knows), how does the Cannondale Judge compare?

i don't get down with cannondale.

[Yukonrider]

What's your problem with single pivots?

I have none, hence the I was just trying to get the people that flamed me for saying "but its a single pivot" riled up. I listed my main hang up with both bikes, Socom is not too durable it seems, and I'm not sold on the single pivot, though Ive only ridden on, and I liked it, session 10. In reality, I have nothing against it, just gathering information about it. I was not discounting the bike in any way.

I know ideally I should ride them all and see what I like, but the only bike that I can really get time on is the Socom.

Thanks for the input guys, keep it coming.

[kidwoo]

Gotcha

I know ideally I should ride them all and see what I like, but the only bike that I can really get time on is the Socom.

I say this with complete honesty. I don't know a single person who has ridden one of the new dhrs and not been really impressed. All those in the market went and bought one. The DHR became the unofficial bike of northstar this past summer.

[Arty50]

^ Homer.

[bagtagley]

'08 Turners are being blown out by anybody that sells them, not just Go-Ride. Call Turner and have them track one down for you.

[Mr. Altagirl]

I've gotten to ride each of those choices, at least a little. If I was going to get rid of my El Cuervo, which I'm not going to do, I would look at the 08 DHR (can't go wrong, rail turns, beautiful) or the Canfield Jedi. I know I'm now officially a Canfield homer but we get to ride with those guys quite a bit and ride even more with their racer boy (Ben Craner); the bike RIPs. Another friend built one last spring to 37lbs with nothing out of the ordinary as far as weight savings. They are pricey though and the DHR's are on sale, seems like an easy choice if you can find one.


Although, if you can wait, I think AG may be selling her medium Cuervo later this year or early next year. She had hers refurbished by Ventana as well and it is like a new frame. One GREAT thing about Ventana is the customer support /service is unequaled. I couldn't be happier with my big bike.

[Dickeymotto]

i don't get down with cannondale.

Any specific reason? I can ep cannondale or scott, so I'm just wondering what the general consensus is. I love my prophet, but I've never had the chance to test ride the judge before.

[summitmtn420]

I don't know what your terrian is like in MI- but the blindside will be really good if you have lots of flats or up hills-- the blindside can actually climb up stuff like a freeride bike and thus it also jumps really really well. If you want the DH sled- ya go with the DHR (awsome bike)-- DO NOT get a SOCOM as can be attested to by the previous responses!
Oh- and you can put a front shifter on the blindside if needed (e-type ghetto- but check out e-13's DRS w/ e-type dur. bracket) -- it is sometimes nice to run a dual ring


IMO

[phatfreeheeler]

You don't need a dh bike in da UP.

fixed

I was thinking the same thing. A freeride bike maybe, DH bike....really? I would get a good 7" bike instead. Just say'n.

My Blindside runs a dual ring using an E-type DRS and one interesting note is that it actually pedals better in the 22 ring than the 36 ring. It would be a good bike for HammerSchmidt.

[Yukonrider]

fixed

I was thinking the same thing. A freeride bike maybe, DH bike....really? I would get a good 7" bike instead. Just say'n.

My Blindside runs a dual ring using an E-type DRS and one interesting note is that it actually pedals better in the 22 ring than the 36 ring. It would be a good bike for HammerSchmidt.

There is actually some nice stuff up here. I have a 7point now. I took the dual ring off it, and never missed it.

[phatfreeheeler]

Yeah, I know it's nice there. (Like many on here, I went to Tech - spent 6 years in the UP) I’m just doubting the extra benefit of even more travel when you have 600 vert. That’s a pretty short distance before the pounding is over and you are either pedaling back up or sitting on a chairlift. Even at Deer Valley I often wonder if I need a true DH bike. Once I find a 7” fork that performs as well as my old 888 I may not ride the Blindside much at all.

I’m pretty confident that I would ride faster on a smaller travel bike back in the UP. Most people would attest that I’m a faster rider on my wife’s 7” Stinky than I am on my 8” Blindside most places. That and less travel “can” mean a lower BB, shorter chainstays, and quicker handling. Just another opinion. You could also use a 8” DC fork on the 7point and that would give it the slacker angles without some of the losses of extra travel.