Anyone running the new Spitfire V3 or any of the V3 Banshees?
I recently sold my carbon Transition Sentinel wanting to go back to a short(er) travel 27.5 bike and I've had my heart set on the new carbon Transition Scout. That was until I spotted the V3 Spitfire in raw and fell in love.
I had a Spitfire back in 2014/15 and absolutely loved it, I ended up selling it as we were moving house and needed the money as the new house turned into a money pit and was properly gutted. I've had a few bikes since but never really got over selling it. The numbers look right on the new Spitfire (my only worry being the seatpost insertion depth).
Reviews/real life experiences seem a little thin on the ground so I'm hoping someone on here may be riding one?
Pretty new release so likely to be limited. Lots of discussion and first ride reviews on mtbr forums. Pink bike reviewed the titan recently too.
Not seen anything in the uk yet but I do have a raw paradox V3 on order😁, and believe it’s coming with a shipment end of March early April. But can’t fully confirm that.
they all do look all very sorted and nice though. I’m just collecting parts for now ready to build 😉
It looks great doesn’t it? They all do, I’d like a Phantom or Prime V3!
They have the max seatpost insertion depth data on their geometry chart - the limiting point is 215mm above the centre of the BB, so if you measure your current saddle height you can work out what will fit. Measure your BB to rails distance, deduct the 215mm and that’s your max total dropper length.
I have the V2 Prime as my big trail/uplift bike. It's great. Slightly portly maybe, but that's the build as much as anything else.
It's numbers are not quite as bleeding edge new skool as I'd like, but in 2017 the choices were different. It always depends what happens in the market, but I'm likely to be replace it with the V3 in a couple of years.
A mate has ordered a V3 Rune. He's been waiting 6 weeks so far. I believe it's due to limited production runs.
I've had a V3 Rune for 2 weeks now, crash replacement for a V2 Spitfire.
Climbs better & descends a hell of a lot better.
I want one but £2200!
Thanks everyone.
scruff, I make it £2300 with an Ext Storia (two springs) buying direct, puts it in plastic frame territory but it makes me make a funny ooohhhhh noise every time I see one. Around £1560 frame only.
@chiefgrooveguru dropped a bollock tbh, I put my sentinel up for sale thinking it would take a while to sell as it was a reasonably specced build but it sold about a week later so I have nothing to compare the Spitfire to.
They all look really lovely, I rode a Prime and Phantom back in 2014/15ish. Lots of fun and very fast bikes and the V3s just improve on this it seems.
UK availability has been pretty tight so far but will get a lot better from the end of this month. UK pricing is still being finalized but it's not £2199 for the DPX2 frames.
Just built up a large v3 which replaces my XL v2 ( which is in the classifieds)
First ride seems promising, not to dissimilar to the V2 but must be 1 better.
Swapped most parts over, new tyres have LOGOs, grass needs cutting and fence needs painting.
I've got a raw Paradox V3 and it looks great. The ride and geo are outstanding. It has a proper stack height for tall people, take note other bike makers.
My V2 Paradox was delivered yesterday- f me it is fast and quick to get there too!
UNREAL frame finish and ribbed stays makes huge difference imo
I have a titan. 29er I know, but it is delicious.
Pics!?
I SIMPLY DON’T BELIEVE IT (you 😜)
I have a V3 Prime and it's great - I'm running it mullet at the moment and its very very capable for a 130mm travel bike, it's playful yet stable. Geometry is spot on. Only thing I may consider changing is the shock but thats because my previous bike had one and it made a substantial difference.
Only thing I may consider changing is the shock but thats because my previous bike had one and it made a substantial difference.
Yes running a full sus without a shock is never optimal ;->
@kiwijohn what's this crash replacement you talk of? I'd definately be interested in a V3 when the time comes to retire/sell the V2 Spitfire I've been riding for a good few years now.
@pedlad I cracked my first V2 Spitfire (facelift model) with 1 week left on the warranty. They replaced that & the new one cracked in 8 months.
No warranty on that, only crash replacement, which is a third off retail. They suggested I a Spitfire wasn't up to how I ride & suggested a new Rune.
Glad I did as the Spitfire was no better than the SB66 it replaced, but the V3 Rune is a huge improvement.
Very tempted by the V3 bikes. Considering a prime (along with some other bikes) as a replacement for the Aeries 160 as I think I need something a bit lighter and more versatile and the Titan seems like overkill.
For pricing - is that via the German distributors? I'd read somewhere that they were doing out direct in the UK from now on but there's no storefront.
Mate has a v2 and has just had a v3 in raw which looks fantastic.
The main thing you notice is how active the rear suspension is compared to the v2.
This map shows all the uk dealers when you zoom in, got mine from Bache Brothers, great shop I had not used before, ordered Monday & arrived Tuesday.
https://www.bansheebikes.com/dealer-map-1
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Oh my - SPAAAAAFFF!
Sorry the picture is terrible!
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Please don’t just don’t
my pc just short circuited- ya owe me a new keyboard too 😝
I’ve been riding a (Medium) V3 rune since March(ish). Got it from Loam distribution who were great to deal with.
Seatpost insertion isn’t huge and the weld fouls the connectamajig on a reverb making it less. If you want measurements let me know and I can provide some