Flux v. Spyder?

[homerjay]

Well?

Primary uses: singletrack riding, XC racing, long hauls.

[Tap]

head angles?
wheelbase?
TT length?

(i'm biased, i've got a 5Spot and love it)

get the turner, less than zero customer service issues and they are great to deal with....spyders have some issues with the linkages, I believe

[homerjay]

head angles?
wheelbase?
TT length?

(i'm biased, i've got a 5Spot and love it)

get the turner

I should add that I love the twitchyness and responsiveness of hardtails, etc...this would be my 1st full suspension bike. Demo'd a flux and it felt like a lincoln town car compared to what I'm used to.

[Tap]

that makes sense, going from HT to FS

maybe the spyder is more your style....but I'll tell ya, going from a HT to a FS, for me, changed my riding style. Stuff I'd flick around....now I just plow over.

[m1e448]

Why not keep riding a HT? Reynolds 953 will be awesome.

[homerjay]

Why not keep riding a HT? Reynolds 953 will be awesome.

I'm getting into endurance racing and my bum hurts.

It is way more cost effective for me, though, and a steel HT is being considered.

how are these guys: http://www.ionicbikes.com

[homerjay]

bump.

anybody ride one or both of these bikes?

bearing issues on the spyder seem to have been worked out.

and I can use my old 80mm fork and see if I want to get a 100mm at a later date, so I can possibly save a bunch of money.

[wintermittent]

I own a Flux. What would you like to know?

Haven't been on a Spider, but I have ridden similar VPPs like SC Blur Classic and Blur XC.

[homerjay]

I own a Flux. What would you like to know?

Haven't been on a Spider, but I have ridden similar VPPs like SC Blur Classic and Blur XC.

I've test ridden a flux and liked it, but it's so different than the hardtail bikes I've ridden for the last decade or so that I have no frame of reference. I'm also considering the Spyder. If you could choose between the two, what would you do and why? VPP vs. Turner 4-bar? (I'm also considering a steel hardtail to save more money)

I basically have everything but a frame to build a bike, and figure my first full susp. bike might happen now.

shit.

[m1e448]

There are tons of small frame builders on the front range if you decide to go steel. Walt Works, James Frames I believe, Ionic, Paketa (Sweet custom Mg frames) and many more, Matt Chester is in Leadville too. If you decide to go FS good luck, I've heard people like the Spyder, but haven't ridden it. Lots of people like the Racer X as well.
Edit: This is what you need to be concerned with too:
Geometry for Ionic
SEAT TUBE
C TO TOP
SEAT TUBE
C TO C
EFFECTIVE
TOP TUBE
HEAD
TUBE
CHAIN
STAY
HEAD
ANGLE
SEAT
ANGLE

X-SMALL
15.0"
13.0"
22.00"
4.0"
16.73"
71
74

SMALL
16.0"
14.0"
22.50"
4.33"
16.73"
71°
73°

MEDIUM
17.0"
15.5"
23.00"
4.75"
16.73"
71°
73°

LARGE
19.0"
17.0"
23.75"
5.33"
16.73"
71°
73°

X-LARGE
21"
18.5"
24.50"
5.50"
16.73"
71°
73°

[wintermittent]

shit.

Don't panic... Sounds like you need to demo an Intense or a Santa Cruz (if you haven't done so already). Maybe even borrow any old full suspension bike from a friend and put a few miles on it -- just to get one more point of reference to help judge between the Turner and a VPP bike.

Personally, I settled on the Flux for lateral stiffness, bushings instead of bearings, unique race/trail geometry and feel.

Don't get hung up on the VPP vs. Horst/faux-bar four-bar arguments, scientific or esoteric. Ride both. Then ride your hardtail. Ride more. You've got to get used to full squish before you can decide between the Intense and Turner, and even then it'll be a tough decision. You're choosing between two great bikes.

[Tap]

don't go backwards and get the hardtail. you'll have way too much fun on the dually. seriously! ride longer and stronger for sure.

either bike is great. be excited!

[homerjay]

Doubt I'll be able to test ride a Spyder....and the Flux is holding a strong lead at the moment.

anybody else want to sway me either way?

[Andy_B]

Full ridged SS.

[eb]

Matt Chester is in Leadville too.

He moved to Sandpoint, ID last year. He's also no longer taking new orders for frames.

[boobookitty]

For what it's worth, Dain loves his Spyder. He's super-xc boy, loves long, fast rides and gnar-gnar techy stuff. I can't tell you precisely WHY he loves it--but considering how many bikes he has to ride all the time, I figure it's a pretty big deal. I know he loves the weight, the responsiveness and the fit. That is all.

[spiderxvp]

Homer,
I have a spider, with a 100 mm fork on it. Its light and climbs better than anything I have ever ridden, very responsive on sprints, pure XC, desends well, but not built for big drops.
I have never ridden a Flux tho.

[homerjay]

Homer,
I have a spider, with a 100 mm fork on it. Its light and climbs better than anything I have ever ridden, very responsive on sprints, pure XC, desends well, but not built for big drops.
I have never ridden a Flux tho.

too late, dude

[Rontele]

:drool: but that is such a teaser of a pic!

[flowtron]

You have chosen wisely.
Flow<---not down with VPP (yeah you know me)

[kidwoo]

You have chosen wisely.
Flow<---not down with VPP (yeah you know me)

That's cuz you haven't ridden my uzzi.

You'd weep with joy.

The intense bikes ride very differently than the sc vpps btw. Look at the shock mounts on the uzzi vs the vpfree. It's a difference of progressive vs. falling rate.

That said, the 5.5 I've ridden felt like a noodle. Definitely not as stiff as the burners I've ridden.

[homemadesalsa]

Well I just bought a Flux after riding a really light K2 razorback for 3 years. I love it. It is light and responsive, makes me a better rider already. I have noticed that it does have a long wheel base compared to other XC bikes, so if you think you have a long torso it will probably be a good fit for you, if that helps at all. Great bike!

homemadesalsa