Downhill frames

[Gowboy From Hell]

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

I know man. I’ve ridden a lot of the trails on Benson Grade and MQT Mountain, Houghton, Copper Harbor, that was about 5 years ago so I’m sure things have changed, but the UP defiantly has some great riding, probably the best in the midwest, same goes for skiing. Marquette Mountain actually hosted the first Monster Park.

As far as the bike, I know there are a lot of jumpy trails, so I would keep that in mind.

Say ya to da UP eh!

[Particle]

I pretty much scoffed at all these guys in Ohio who showed up to our 250' vert slopestyle/dh hill with monster DH bikes. Until I got my Blindside...and now I can't put the thing down. I can ride everything there on my Prophet MX, and go plenty big. But, when I get the Blindside rocking that place, I definitely go faster/bigger.

Sounds like you've got a good idea of what to go for. I'd definitely recommend the BS if you want a jumpier/fun bike. If you're looking for true DH, sounds like you can't go wrong with the DHR.

[Z]

Anyone else psyched on Giant's suspension design? I want a Glory DH. real bad like.

Similiar design to DW link? right? or am I way off?

[Dantheman]

Quite psyched. I am very heavily leaning towards a Glory FR when my insurance check arrives for my stolen bike. Although if I find a Turner Highline for a good price I may go for that.

boobookitty has been on a Glory DH for a couple seasons now and loves it.

[phatfreeheeler]

I pretty much scoffed at all these guys in Ohio who showed up to our 250' vert slopestyle/dh hill with monster DH bikes. Until I got my Blindside...and now I can't put the thing down. I can ride everything there on my Prophet MX, and go plenty big. But, when I get the Blindside rocking that place, I definitely go faster/bigger.

What if you split the difference and rode your Demo 7? I realize it's not in Ohio to make the comparison, but I'm sure you understand my point. I like my Blindside and all, but it's not as flicky or fun to jump as I had hoped. Of course I lack real jump skills. The build could be part of it for sure too. Mine is pushing 45 lbs, but I've got massive traction, and less worry of flat tires, or bent rims. I tend to ride this bike when I don't want to be very precise and don't want to get as beat up by the terrain.

I like my Reign X suspension, but it does have some differences from both the Glory and "DW-link" bikes. This is the bike I like when it comes to jumping.

[marshalolson]

What if you split the difference and rode your Demo 7? I realize it's not in Ohio to make the comparison, but I'm sure you understand my point. I like my Blindside and all, but it's not as flicky or fun to jump as I had hoped. Of course I lack real jump skills. The build could be part of it for sure too. Mine is pushing 45 lbs, but I've got massive traction, and less worry of flat tires, or bent rims. I tend to ride this bike when I don't want to be very precise and don't want to get as beat up by the terrain.

I like my Reign X suspension, but it does have some differences from both the Glory and "DW-link" bikes. This is the bike I like when it comes to jumping.

dang dude, my blindside is 38lbs, will get raced, is strong enough for a 220lb guy that rides fast and is not super graceful, and jumps as good as a slopestyle bike.

[funkendrenchman]

Anyone else psyched on Giant's suspension design? I want a Glory DH. real bad like.

Similiar design to DW link? right? or am I way off?

It is a DW-link without the name DW-link.

[phatfreeheeler]

You probably have more MSRP in the build. The funny part, is that I've got a Ti coil and ceramic bearings in the pivots because that's how it came to me. You would probably change a lot on my bike

Med Frame w/Floating brake (heavy 150mm rear axle)
DHX5 - Ti 450# spring
'05 888 w/Go-Ride crowns and Integrated stem
Orbit Extreme Pro 1.5"-1.125"
Azonic Outlaws w/12mm rear axle
2.5" Hutchinson Octopus tires (really 2.7"+)
Ghetto Tubeless
Thompson Seatpost
WTB Laser V DH
Huge older DH bars (I don't even know what they are anymore)
ODI lockons
Juicy 5, 8" front, Juicy 7, 8" rear
X9 shifter and med cage RD
XT e-type FD on E-13 DRS
175 Hone Cranks/BB w/o reinforced spindle
Cheap Eastern BMX pedals with extra long pins
XT cassette
Sram chain

I just ride this bike and forget it. I don't want to replace parts as they wear out and I don't ride it enough to dump tons of money into it. I doubt I did 50 days on it this year.

Not calling BS cause I've never ridden your bike and I'm sure it's nice, but I still have some doubts that a plush 8" travel bike will ever jump like a slopestyle bike. Most of the true SS bikes are setup with ultrastiff suspensions that I would only get 4" out of unless I cased.

[marshalolson]

how much sag are you running? i have mine setup at 28-30% w/ a 600 # spring, a good bit of low speed compression, a solid bit of boost valve (175psi)for a firmer takeoff from the lip, and still got full travel at race speed...

about the only difference is in the fork (totem air vs 888), no floater, tires (2.5 front, 2.35 rear - prolly 2+lbs alone here) and hugi hubs. most other stuff is comparable.

[phatfreeheeler]

Close to the same sag, 28-30%. I'm 160 so the weight difference is huge. Obviously, having a different spring rate and mass which is suspended changes a lot when it comes to damping. I run the boost at 130psi and use only 3 clicks of slow speed compression. Any more seems to ruin the ride in fast rock gardens. Less and I lose a lot of pop. I also had to add quite a bit of bottom out to avoid a hard clang off bigger drops and miss judged / overshot jumps.

Keep in mind, me tossing around a 45 lb bike is like you tossing around a 60lb bike. My 35 lb Reign X is much more manageable for that stuff.

[kidwoo]

Quite psyched. I am very heavily leaning towards a Glory FR when my insurance check arrives for my stolen bike. Although if I find a Turner Highline for a good price I may go for that.

boobookitty has been on a Glory DH for a couple seasons now and loves it.

Get a ride on one if you haven't already.


The glory dh and glory fr are different bikes. I'm a fan of the dh (like most people). I really don't like the FR frames.

[squatch]

Anyone else psyched on Giant's suspension design? I want a Glory DH. real bad like.

Similiar design to DW link? right? or am I way off?

yes. me want. me need $4000 more dollars.

[marshalolson]

Close to the same sag, 28-30%. I'm 160 so the weight difference is huge. Obviously, having a different spring rate and mass which is suspended changes a lot when it comes to damping. I run the boost at 130psi and use only 3 clicks of slow speed compression. Any more seems to ruin the ride in fast rock gardens. Less and I lose a lot of pop. I also had to add quite a bit of bottom out to avoid a hard clang off bigger drops and miss judged / overshot jumps.

Keep in mind, me tossing around a 45 lb bike is like you tossing around a 60lb bike. My 35 lb Reign X is much more manageable for that stuff.

the more i think about it, the more i think alot of the differnce is in the fork. those 888 are the plushest fork ever (especially that vintage) and that is awesome on a dh bike, but they jump like shit, loose alot of pop from that. of course you will never blow it up, toss seals and oil and you are good.

anyhow, they are sick bikes. i love mine. just need to ride it more...

[Dantheman]

Get a ride on one if you haven't already.


The glory dh and glory fr are different bikes. I'm a fan of the dh (like most people). I really don't like the FR frames.

Really? You're the first person I've heard give a thumbs down to the FR. I haven't got on one (no one in utah stocks them), but I have pedaled Korpi's ReignX and liked it. Obviously they are different bikes, but the consensus I have gotten is that it's basically a heavier, longer-travel Reign.

[Particle]

What if you split the difference and rode your Demo 7? I realize it's not in Ohio to make the comparison, but I'm sure you understand my point. I like my Blindside and all, but it's not as flicky or fun to jump as I had hoped.

I've thought about that for sure, as I should be able to consolidate the bike stable next summer. The Demo 7 and Blindside fill a very similar niche, with the main difference being the fork - big 203mm 888 ATA WC on the Blindside, 180mm 66RC2 ETA on the Demo. They are both low, slack bikes - they both corner like mad and are super easy to throw around IMO. I can notice the lower COG of the Demo for sure, but it's not a huge deal to me when I get back on the Blindside.

As far as jumping goes, I think they're basically sixes. Actually the Blindside is a bit poppier than the Demo...it just has that single-pivot style response. Mine is definitely lighter than 45 lbs, I've only put it on a crappy little fish scale and it came out to just about 40 even...the only heavy bits are the floater and Transition 32 wheelset. Everything else is light to moderate weight, but strong.

Bottom line, if I had to pick one or the other, I'd keep the Demo 7 no question. I just like the suspension design better. But the Blindside is 95% there for me as well. It's just a hop on and forget it bike, insta-comfort zone for me.

[kidwoo]

Really? You're the first person I've heard give a thumbs down to the FR. I haven't got on one (no one in utah stocks them), but I have pedaled Korpi's ReignX and liked it. Obviously they are different bikes, but the consensus I have gotten is that it's basically a heavier, longer-travel Reign.

Kind of. But the heft of the glory fr implies a certain kind of riding to me. The kind of riding that didn't feel very comfortable on it. Too steep and kind of a wierd feeling rear end (the length more than the suspension)


But I wouldn't say just because you like the reign (most people do) and the glory DH that you would automatically like the FR. Just see if you can get a ride on one before you buy it. That will tell you more than I ever could.

[craigstr]

Kind of. But the heft of the glory fr implies a certain kind of riding to me. The kind of riding that didn't feel very comfortable on it. Too steep and kind of a wierd feeling rear end (the length more than the suspension)


But I wouldn't say just because you like the reign (most people do) and the glory DH that you would automatically like the FR. Just see if you can get a ride on one before you buy it. That will tell you more than I ever could.

I just got rid of a Glory FR. While it's heft is very confidence building in terms of steamrolling through rough terrain, it is not the best cornering bike around, most likely due to its length and long rear end. I've heard the DH corners much better. While it was OK on high banked turns, tighter turns and switchbacks were not its strong point. I liked the rear suspension with the Roco TST-R, I was able to put it on its firmest setting when I had to do some pedalling but if the shock didnt have some sort of "pro pedal" feature, the suspension would move quite a bit while pedalling. Just my .02