[Closed] Stanton Switchback, Production Privee Shan 27 or Bird Zero AM

Bird Zero TR.

Been riding a shan 27 now for a few months , did take a bit of time to get it right but love it now, unfortunately i only ride HT,s in the winter so a new FS is pending

I was about to respond but then I clocked your username. Come and ride my Bird next week!

P.S. Had a quality crash yesterday, sending a drop across a fireroad - not the bike's fault. Merely suffered flesh wounds...

Chromag Wide Angle.

doesn't the shan have press-fit bb?
that would be me out.

Having had both a slackline and switchback, the switchback is the better point downhill bike of the two for sure. 64 HA and 415mm stays make it a proper ripper and fun. It's not bad on the ups either. I run mine at 140mm tho, most seem to use 150 pikes.

There's a newer version of the switchback being released in the next few months...but reckon it will be £600+.

Nearly bought a Shan, but the pressfit BB put me off.

Not sure if it's true, but heard the Bird was a bit harsh.

There's also the Orange P7 to consider perhaps?

i have had a shan for a while now and can honestly say that it is superb, never had an issue with pressfit bb and have done 2 winters on it. Amazing downhill and a pretty good climber, i regularly ride in the peaks with it and love it, nothing is to much for it(cavedale,jacobs,beast) the closest to dh rig you will get in a hardtail.
Would definatly recommend shan as first choice, with bird second.
Not a fan of stantons just not my cup of tea really, shame as they just down the road.

but want a hardtail for my local trails and for the very occasional XC ride and I mean very occasional.

What's the difference between your local trails & trails that are XC?

I agree with paulthearcher.

bird AM

Not sure if it's true, but heard the Bird was a bit harsh

Perhaps because it's aluminium when the others are steel? Although I think it was designed to be stiff in any case.

I'd have thought the slackline was made for corners while the other bikes being a bit longer and slacker are more point and shoot?

Orange Crush or P7?

I'd have thought the slackline was made for corners while the other bikes being a bit longer and slacker are more point and shoot?

A longer bike can be quicker through corners because of the extra stability, IME.

Another vote for the Bird purely on the basis of geometry. And I'd consider the TR, as mentioned.

If you prefer steel, have a looksee at the new Genesis Latitude.

Great geometry and a handsome beast.

I thought everybody had heard, that the Bird is the word

I had a steel Switchback for the best part of a year and loved it. I used it for most things from trail centres to big natural rides and never felt that I was losing out when I took that instead of my full sus. Personally, I thought it was a great looking bike.

[img] [/img]

In the end I sold it and my Banshee to buy the Ti version.

I had a Slackline too which I liked but it as horrible to climb on, probably because it was too small for me. Was great fun on the local DH trails. I thought it was a much better bike than the BFe it replaced.

I really like the Shan and came close to buying one but was put off by the BB and the supposedly flakey paint.

Can't comment on the Bird, but they seem pretty popular and offer great VFM.

Blue pig

Money no object? BTR ranger or Nicolai AM 🙂

Some interesting thoughts, thanks. Without sounding too stupid why is the press fit BB a down side is it just the ease of replacing/servicing.

My local trails are twisty rooty single track but there are some local DH runs that I ride pretty frequently too. I'm a pretty aggressive riding and am used too a long top tube as like I said my FS is a SB66

At the moment I think i'm swaying towards the Shan but thats probably because its the only one I've ridden.

chiefgrooveguru think i'll take you up on that offer, i'll come round before the Thursday night ride and take the Bird for a spin if your still on baby duty.

Don't really want to spend anymore on a frame than the Switchback and thats £550

Press fit bottom brackets are known for creaking . But if they are correctly installed are fine . Generally.
It wouldn't put me off buying a frame but I understand why it might for others .

No bottle cage mounts on a Shan. Not the biggest of problems but may put some people off.

I have a Switchback and I love it although even the large could be a bit small for anyone over 6 foot.

Had a 26" Shan, I broke it. Now, I'm 70kgs, and a mincer, and I managed to unzip the welds on both sides of the headtube/toptube.

Paint wasn't the greatest ever (Personally, it's a mountain bike...mleh), press fit BB wasn't an issue, but IMO a campy internal headset on a HT with 160mm forks just didn't work, was forever having to adjust mine. It was however an amazing bike to ride, and if those things were sorted, I'd have one again.

Cotic BFe?

Hi just wondering what size frame you'd be looking at???

Had the Bird Zero AM v1 and would have described it as harsh. Very capable bike with the 150mm Pike and had to keep reminding myself that I had no rear travel when flying down rougher trails due to how stable the thing was.

The new TR is longer then the AM and been built with a little more rear compliance into the rear stays and made for a 130mm fork. The updated AM is longer than the v1 and a little shorter than the TR and a little more aggressive for a 150mm fork.

I'm moving on to the updated AM myself soon.

I'm 5.10 so will probably go for a large.

Ok, shame as I'm thinking of selling my xl.

get the bird if you are after a longer reach