Nice one. Sure your enjoy it.
When I demoed the Pedals one the gearing wasn't right for me and had way too wide bars for my womanly shoulders so have to say I love mine even more now it's set up for me.
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had it about 5 months now. Its awesome.
Running mine in the slack setting now. feels more or less the same climbing so cant fault it. Running dual ply 2.5 minions at the moment so its heavy. I will be going to exo once these run down though.
Im getting a warranty inline from cane creek as mine is leaking air.
Yep i am running mine in the slack position as well. I have not noticed any ill effects to the climbing but its that wee bit slacker and more playful on the downs.
Bloody love this bike 🙂
First day riding mine going of stuff I've never tried before [URL= http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/geoff1_photos/288A1B43-B07F-4049-B367-9D8394DF7E4A_zpsablwowxs.jp g" target="_blank">
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[URL= http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/geoff1_photos/487A93E4-DFD2-4C52-934E-8B9D5D18C171_zpsstjkiz3i.pn g" target="_blank">
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/geoff1_photos/487A93E4-DFD2-4C52-934E-8B9D5D18C171_zpsstjkiz3i.pn g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
[URL= http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx19/geoff1_photos/401E9939-4EC1-40F4-9B62-0DE3950458FF_zpshb1muvvh.jp g" target="_blank">
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that is sexual...!
[b]volatilemike[/b] & [b]soap[/b] what size are your frames, and what're they weighing in at?
Look like similar builds to what I'd be thinking of..
By the way, have y'all seen the Banshee app?
30.6 and a medium. Just doing the app now.:)
heres mine - awesome bikes
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@bennn - Mine is Large frame, Im 6ft and feels good to me.
I haven't weighed the bike. I would guess mine is a bit more than SOAP's just due to the dual plys.
A Banshee app? Is it just full of settings for the CC shocks?
A Banshee app? Is it just full of settings for the CC shocks?
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/banshee-3d-viewer-app-2015.html
Pointless geekery really! Though it's good if you're shopping and want to see what the less common sizes look like (even the XLs don't look like gates). Keith said they'd like to add the different fork lengths and dropout positions in the future (so you can see how that changes the geometry).
Ah, looks interesting although not sure what use I'd have for it myself.
Here's mine at the back o'Skiddaw. Love it! Have recently fitted shorter XT cranks to help with pedal clearance and a set of 650b pikes.
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Has anyone gone from 26 to 650 and if so was it worth it?
Mines still 26, sooo tempted to try 650 but would mean new forks/rims/spokes and tyres.
Mines still 26, sooo tempted to try 650 but would mean new forks/rims/spokes and tyres.
If you like your current forks/wheels/tyres then it's a lot of money to spend. I wouldn't and I really like my 27.5 Spitfire!
Running it 27.5 with the same fork travel will make it feel as slack as the slackest 26 setting when it's in the steepest 27.5 setting but the BB will be as high as the steepest (tallest) 26 setting when it's in the slackest (lowest) 27.5 setting... If that makes any sense to anyone other than me? 😉
The re-emergence of this thread made me go and clean up the bike for a proper photo.
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8688/16781062618_86d786119a_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8688/16781062618_86d786119a_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/ryTkgQ ]IMAG0020_1_2[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/57829889@N00/ ]ahsatb[/url], on Flickr
Spec 150mm pikes, XT 2x10, Hope brakes and hubs, Reverb stealth.
I've got a 650b fork with 26" wheels at the moment. I am thinking I will go 27.5" just to get the extra bit of ground clearance as am finding far more pedal strikes than the Nicolai (unsurprisingly). As said above, very very happy with it. Also need to sort out the one braided hose at some point.
Me likey ahsat, again your's looks so similar to mine. Saying that i have not even tried to get mine that clean for a while. Good effort 🙂
On a sidenote and sorry to hijack has anyone got a link for a replacement rear axle for a banshee?
Had to do a trailside repair and completely forgot to refit the wee screw to the axle after refitting. I doubt ill die but there seem to be about 5 different types.
Cheers
Yes considering I was riding a demo when I saw you, my finished product looks scarily similar!
Unlucky on tiny screws.
What did your hubby go for in the end?? was it a transition he was trying out?
He was acting as my pack horse. I was trying both. He already has Liteville 301.
Ah, good lad 🙂 everyone needs a packhorse now and again 😯
Looking sweet ahsat, Mines never been that clean since I had the frame in the box!
@mactheknife - check [url= http://www.ison-distribution.com/english/product.php?part=FMBESASK&PHPSESSID=a3fjhbcqiv9vfvtsuv0qbsku93 ]here[/url]
Ta. To be honest I needed to re heli-tape it hence the proper clean.Looking sweet ahsat, Mines never been that clean since I had the frame in the box!
Speaking of frame protection, what is everyone using for these frames?
I see invisiframe do a kit, but no option for an XL frame, and it's eye-wateringly expensive!
volatilemike, you are a star. Cheers 🙂
No matter how i googled i couldn't find that 😀
No prob mate!
I kind of wish I had protected frame in some way as the spitfire decals are starting to rub off, but meh its a bike, and Im too lazy. 8)
I had some 3M heli tape on the fork but thats come off. Areas like that are ones that concern me as the cable is literally eating into the metal on the upper crown.
I've just put some £10 ebay stuff round things like the headtube, top of the forks etc. Its not the prettiest looking job I've done (the stuff on my Cotic looks really good), but like volatilemike I worry about cable rub. I used a hairdrier (such a girl!) to seal the edges, seems to have done a decent job. Only time will tell!
Mistaken for a Santa Cruz yesterday, and today a Yeti:
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Now with less mudguard!
I had some funny looks from people in the pub trying to work out what mine was in stealthy black today!
Mistaken for a Santa Cruz yesterday, and today a Yeti
I hope you gave them a chinese burn and put them right?!
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Quick couple of hours out this morning, horrible thick fog as I left home. Got up above it a few miles down the road 😀
8lb is alot. Its over 1lb more than my beefy SC alu Butcher. Im still looking to replace my Butcher frame but the competition isn't looking enticing.
My medium is 8lb 6oz with CTD/dropouts/axle (to be precise)!
Have you thought of riding one to see whether the weight of the frame has any bearing on whether it is fun to ride and suits your style?
I have a phantom and rode a spitfire quite a few times. Can't say the weight of the frame bothered me. Or more accurately I didn't notice it in the slightest. They certainly go uphill quicker than my lighter (internet weight check only) Heckler did. The solidity of the frames however can be felt going downhill, and much appreciated it is too.
I agree with Shackleton. My Rune is no lightweight but it climbs far better than it should....the geometry is good as is the shock and suspension linkage. These are far more important than shaving a pound or two off the frame.
There's sone great looking bikes on here....makes me think thst a Spitty would have been a better bet than the Rune.
Mindmap3 would you consider a swap for a medium spitfire, I have a 2012 and wonder whether a rune would suit me better. I'm not 100% set on this just putting the feelers out.
Looks like I have a bit of play in my upper pivot linkage. Had it about 6 months, so not great but about the going rate for a linkage thats quite exposed. Probably get it through till May then change them.
Do I need a bearing press for this? Anyone done it on a spitty?
Has anyone been able to ride both the Spitfire and Phantom? I am torn between the two.
I like the idea of the Phantom and it would suit the majority of my riding. All the reviews are fantastic and say how capable it is, but the main reason for me wanting to move away from my current hardtail is because I notice it holding me back on visits to anywhere steep or rocky.
I'm not regularly sending big jumps or drops so I'm not overly concerned by the lack of travel, but I don't want to buy a new bike and find it still struggles at enduros and visits to BPW and the like.
I have been able to demo the Spitfire and Prime, and much preferred the Spitfire, unfortunately no Phantom demo in my size.
mark88 - where are you based and what size do you need?
All strictly IMO and based on being a Phantom owner, etc:
From having ridden both; the Phantom is the better tough trail bike but the spitfire is better if you need/want the extra cush or have a habit of riding full on DH tracks on a regular basis. Both bikes were awesome but the phantom had the edge for all round usability.
The Phantom handles better (subjective I know, I just couldn't stand the floppy, vague feeling from the front wheel of the spitfire), particularly uphill, but you obviously don't have the get out of jail free suspension that the spitfire will give you. If you don't stay focussed on the Phantom you could get into trouble, I didn't find that riding the spitfire needed as much focus. A bike guide mate had a go on mine and said it was a "riders bike". He thought it was the kind of bike an experienced rider could have huge amounts of fun on but would put newcomers to the sport off for life. I'm inclined to agree (and not wanting to sound like an arrogant cock); to get the best out of it you have to be able to ride a bike relatively well, but if you can do that then it is hilarious fun.
On the other hand the Phantom feels more taut and responsive and constantly feels more engaged and fun than the Spitfire. I've chucked mine down some pretty nasty stuff that I couldn't ride on my old heckler and it has had no problems at all. On slower, steep tech the short travel and big wheels actually help more than long travel. I have yet to find a situation (other than big drops) where I though "I need more travel".
The prototype Phantoms were ridden in the EWS so I suspect that they can cope with rockier, nastier terrain than any of us could put them through!
I'd say all of the online phantom reviews hit the nail on the head. There is a very recent review of phantom here if you haven't seen it:
[url= http://wideopenmag.co.uk/2015/04/long-term-test-our-29-banshee-phantom-review ]Wideopen Phantom Review[/url]
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Midway through my spitfire build, for some reason the postman is taking the piss and stopping me completing it... Hopefully finish it this weekend and give it a blast.
I have to say, I have never felt this, in fact I commented how planted it was compared to my old bike!(subjective I know, I just couldn't stand the floppy, vague feeling from the front wheel of the spitfire)
However, I am unable to comment on the phantom. I just decided our lives were too set up for 26" that 29er wasnt for me.
Russyh - looking good 😀
(subjective I know, I just couldn't stand the floppy, vague feeling from the front wheel of the spitfire)
I have to say, I have never felt this, in fact I commented how planted it was compared to my old bike!
I suspect it comes very much down to what you are used to. I'd been riding a 2004 26" heckler with 150m forks and a 29er Swift with 100mm forks. Both felt more "direct" in their handling than the 650b Spitfire and the 26" spitfire was about the same as the Heckler. The 650b spitfire felt like pedalling a whellbarrow as the front wheel felt miles away and then I could feel the wheel wanting to flop over through the bars on slow corners. To be fair this is what all slack 26"/650b bikes feel like to me.
The Spitfire pedalling uphill always reminded me that it was more about the downs because of this, whereas the Phantom pedalled uphill with much better manners and then tore the downs apart with equal aplomb. I'd lusted after a Spitfire for ages and was then disappointed by it's non-downhill front wheel manners when I tried one (downhill it was brilliant, awesome, fantastic, etc. and uphill pedalling through the KS link is phenomenal). Hence why I ended up with the Spitfires clown wheeled brother. But with a sample size of 1 it is hard to come to any firm conclusions about how my experiences impact on anyone else!
Very much want a stealth black Phantom at the moment but dare not press the 'buy now' button without throwing a leg over a bike or at least looking at the frame in person.
Plus I need to run it past management first 🙂
Just checked with the dealer nearest to me and they don't have them in store and won't be renewing Banshee in their product line up 🙁
KoB - if you are anywhere near Dundee you are welcome to throw a leg over mine.
I got to ride the Phantom a couple of times on a recent demo day with Nirvana. It was amazing what it was capable of. Perfect trail bike for most of the Surrey Hills. Although all of their bikes impressed me actually. Both the Spitfire and Rune were great fun.
