Love it! Got an ML7/5 with DUC32s in the same colour and it never ceases to amaze me with its overall ability! The climbing really is amazing, but I spent the day arsing around at Swinley on the jumps and drop offs and it lapped up the black runs at Afan. Certainly never noticed any lockout when standing – it really is minimal.
Were you at Swinley last Sunday, albeit not riding with the STW posse? If so, I think I saw you when I was getting out of the car to get ready…
As an XC rider who likes to do the off bit of freeride, it suits me perfectly. Would like to see how the Durance differs to the ML7/5 as the Durance is the only bike I'd fancy changing it to! Have you ridden both?
Only had the briefest of goes on an ML7/5, but I used to own an ML7.2. As I understand it, the geometry on the Durance is very much designed around the DUC fork, whereas the ML7/5 and the ML7 were designed around a shorter fork (ie. the SC32). In that respect, the Durance is better, as I ran a DUC on my ML7 which was great for the downs, but did feel perhaps an inch too tall a lot of the time.
Oh, and seat angle is steeper on the Durance too which makes quite a difference IMO. The BB is marginally lower too, which seems to help make it feel a bit more stable.
Said the same about my ML7, the only bike I'd swap it for would be a Durance… Finally did it! 😀