Can any Spitfire owners comment on how it rides compared to a single pivot (Heckler or Five say)?
I know it's stupid but the back end looks spindly - can anyone comment on stiffness?
Any other comments about ride/reviews gratefully received, ta.
Bike Forum
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New build - Mythic / Banshee Spitfire
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Posted 2 years ago #
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I had an Orange Five prior to the Spitfire - the Spitfire's in a different class in terms of stiffness (in a good way). That rear triangle is double box section (i.e. ribbed, for your pleasure
), and the linkages are rather substantial and pivoting on greased bushings - it's the stiffest bike I've ever owned by a substantial margin.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Ace - Playing devil's advocate are there any negatives to this over the Five?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Here's a few more Five comparisons:
It's more stable on fast descents than my Five (same tyres / forks etc).
It can corner harder (it can corner harder than anything I've ever tried).
It's not as plush (I like this - it was a purchase criterion).
It takes significantly more effort to pop the front up (low front end)
It's a fantastic climber (that low front end again, plus chainstay length)If you're looking for plush, comfy very three dimensionally active bike, this may not be for you. If you want a taut, involving singletrack missile - you may have stumbled upon your perfect machine.
*Disclaimer - all comments have been filtered through the "rose tinted spectacles of new bike ownership"
Posted 2 years ago # -
Negatives, hmmm... well, I suppose "not plush" and "harder to pop the front end" could be negatives - or positives, it all depends on your perspective. I'm absolutely knackered now after a typical five to six hour blast - the bike just insists that you cane it down every descent - that could be a negative.
Other than those, I'm struggling.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I can't provide any comparisons with other bikes I'm afraid as it's the only full suspension bike I've had. Still loving it so far. I did 8 hours on mine on Saturday.
Here's a gratuitous pic...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Nice new forks - Revelation 150's?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Indeed they are
Posted 2 years ago # -
What bashring is that you're running on the XT's??
Posted 2 years ago # -
What bashring is that you're running on the XT's??
It's one of these...
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=40422
Posted 2 years ago # -
EDIT
Posted 2 years ago # -
OOps, try again
Shame it looks like a gate in XL
Posted 2 years ago # -
My eyesights not that great - got a larger pic? Try linking to the image instead of the thumbnail?
I take it this means you took the plunge? If so, enjoy it, they're great bikes.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Dexter, is that an XL?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Apparently so, looks a bit gate like, even though its 'only' a 20 inch. Have just emailed Freeborn to see if they have any built up to test for fit.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Looks surprising good for an XL. The XL Stumpjumper, or anything largish from Giant, now they are gates.
Last time I spoke with Freeborne (about 6 weeks ago) they had one XL in stock from their first shipment. Apparently there was another batch on their way but they didn't have a delivery date.
Posted 1 year ago # -
i'm loving mine. i do find the front a bit hard to pull slow speed manuals but once the speed is up that's when the fun begins.
160mm forks make perfect sense as i find myself hitting trails much faster than you would think on a 5" bike and the rear stays active under breaking.
one thing from a few other owners, this frame doesn't get on with short cage mechs and a 11-34t cassette due to the amount of chain growth.
i had a heckler for 3 years before this, the spitfire is a world apart.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'm running an 11-34 cassette on mine with a Saint rear mech (with a 22/36 up front), and I haven't noticed any issues with this combination. I'm not running the chain particularly slack, either.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'm running an 11-34 cassette on mine with a Saint rear mech (with a 22/36 up front), and I haven't noticed any issues with this combination. I'm not running the chain particularly slack, either.
Same here - seems fine.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Me likey
Posted 1 year ago # -
there you go steve, first ride today
Posted 1 year ago # -
Is that Llandegla, by any chance? If so, that means there's now two Spitfires in that neck of the woods...
Posted 1 year ago # -
A black Spitfire in the dark...
A really poor photo shot last night after I finished building - no illumination other than the flash. I'll try and get something a little better this weekend!
Posted 1 year ago # -
What happened to your polished / blue one??!!
By the way Llandegla is pretty local to me so there could be 3
Posted 1 year ago # -
My - lovely - polished / blue one wasn't very well, and it was terminal
This is the replacement and is looking good, if very different! First ride coming up this Friday.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Mttm what happened to it then..?!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Is that Llandegla, by any chance? If so, that means there's now two Spitfires in that neck of the woods...
yep!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Come on - details of what happened to the blue one!!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yep, want to know what happened, fancy a raw one...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hmmm, okay then - but please don't make more out of this than there is.
I was just unfortunate. It appears that the pivot axles were overtightened during original assembly at the factory which resulted in wear to the axles, the links and - to a much lesser extent - the frame. Freeborn were excellent in helping me sort these issues out, and this ultimately included replacing the whole frame under warranty. You really can't say fairer than that.
I truly believe that this was a one off, which was properly and professionally dealt with by Freeborn. I wouldn't let it put anyone off ownership of one of these bikes. Any production run by any manufacturer can have an occasional rogue frame that makes it through their QC systems - it's just the nature of manufacturing. I'm completely confident that the new frame is perfect and I can honestly say the experience hasn't dented my enthusiasm for the bike or the brand at all.
PROLINE85 - as I said, don't let this put you off, you'll be amazed how good these frames are! There's simply nothing comparable out there.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hmmmmmmmm
I'm just about to replace my pivots and bushes due to wear. There is play in the pivot above the bottom bracket and the pivot is worn right down. I've bodged it by wrapping some PTFE tape round the pivot for now to compensate for it being too thin for the bushes.
I showed a pic of my worn pivot to Keith from Banshee and he just said it's normal wear and that's why Freeborn sell pivot & bush kits. I've been riding it A LOT for the last 6 months though.
Shortly after I got mine I noticed some play in the pivots and it turned out (after hassling Keith about it - he must love me!) that they were actually not tight enough and tightening them up (and using threadlock) sorted it.
I also managed to completely snap the pivot behind the BB recently but that was just hamfistedness when tightening it I think. Freeborn sent me one for nothing.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I really like the look of these, but have read conflicting reports over how easy it is to get the front end up. Easy lofting = fun bike in my book.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Sorry to hear that mr_mills. The sort of wear I was getting wasn't what you'd expect from normal wear and tear, and certainly wouldn't have been fixed by just a bushing and pivot kit. Given that Banshee have been using this suspension design on other bikes (Pyre, Rune and Rampant) for some time and that the internet isn't awash with stories of problems, I've chosen to give them the benefit of the doubt.
You snapped the pivot. Hell's bells, that must have taken some doing.
Posted 1 year ago # -
So it wasn't just a case of the pivots wearing thin where they rub on the bushes? That's ok then
Not sure what happened with the pivot - it's not like you have to do them up really tight or anything. The bolt in the end was only part way in and just stopped in the thread and... "crack!"
Posted 1 year ago #
Topic Closed
This topic has been closed to new replies.
