Anyone tried both?
Nope. Had a HL 5 Spot and now a DW 5 Spot. Fantastic bikes. Would like to try a Ventana, they look beautifully built frames. Try over at MTBR.com, bound to be someone had/tried both.
El Ciclon uses bearings, Turner bushings, which is better?
I'd say bushings as Turners come grease ports on all the pivots to keep 'em topped up. My HL 5 Spot was over five years old and was only on its second set of bushings. Like I say, no experience of Ventana's, so don't know how the bearing last.
04 spot here one set of bushings at 3 years old and still going strong, easy to change as well, no presses or pullers or hammers needed and a nice touch is the pivot bolt threads are part of the bushing and not part of the frame so if you strip/crossthread a pivot bolt the frame is still ok
06' El Ciclon here. Not ridden a 5-Spot.
Had a Brain-Shocked Enduro before. Compared to that the Ventana has very active suspension. Certainly a more supple ride, not wollowy/bouncy, just very smooth. I tend to ride mostly with the ProPedal on & knock it off for descents. Very very stiff frame, no noticeable flex at all.
In honesty it has way way more ability than I have. Coil Pikes up front, running at 130mm most of the time.
Build quality is good, first glance it doesn't grab you, but look closely & there's lots of small detail. Excellent paint also.
As above with being easy to service. Frame is in bits in minutes, literally. Mine still on original bearings, AFAIK.
Bought mine S/H off here. Only downside is having to remove the upper shock bolt to add air, was sorted on the 08' on I think, (different shock top end).
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Hi Paul what size is that?
Medium.
And what's the mud clearance like?
Good. Has 2.35 Kendas on at the moment, bit draggy now the Chase is a mud pit. Might go to 2.1's for the Winter.
keep an eye on [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/sets/72157604090108999/ ]THIS[/url] FlickR set, I'm just uploading some more pics now.
i think ventana used to make frames for turner many moons ago, they look very similer construction wise so i dont think there's anything in it lookswise or in build quality, you need to demo them to see which you prefer ridewise, but i don't think either would be crap anyway
Thanks all
Dickie off here has both. He is sellinga large Ventana El Ciclon over on the classifieds.
Bearings on the Ventana will last a good 2-3 years. They have on both my X5's.
but i don't think either would be crap anyway
he is spot on with that.
Just a small point is that Alan at Riverside cycles (importer) of Ventana is one of the nicest honest guys you could meet.
I have owned both bikes and like the turner better. The DW set up is better than what the ventana has. The ventana can bob a bit without the propedal on.
Try both out
Thanks John - looking at TNT not DW Spot
same as John, in that I have owned both: I had an el ciclon and now ride a DW spot. Both are fantastic rides, up and down, but the spot is more lively (in a good way), in terms of climbing and acceleration - it makes me feel fitter than I am. On descents, both make me feel braver than I am. And I'd agree with Chucky that Alan at Riverside is great to deal with. The bearings on the ventana lasted fine - survived two years of wet and muddy lakes riding without complaint.
eenie meenie minie moe...
James, if your passing through this way your welcome to have a quick blast.
Cheers Paul appreciate the offer
Thanks for the mention chucky.
Mine has a PUSH'ed RP23 & I ride with the propedal off.
5 Spots are popular because they get more press.
Alan Richardson told me that when What MTB had a El Ciclon, Guy didn't want to give it back!
Had both.Ventanna had a far better paint job and the finish was of a higher standard.Because the V is so stiff in the frame and with the quad bearing option,the bearings last for eva.There is more bob with the V but also less feedback thru the peddles and i thought it was a more supple system.The T peddled better but there was a level of kickback on some big hits.Both fantastic bikes and really this is splitting hairs.For me the V had just a little bit more of the boutique feel and look.
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[url= http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/el-ciclon-07-19949 ]What MTB Review[/url]