Banshee Prime

Hey looking for a bit of guidance. Ive run an Orange Alpine Evo for past 3yrs but looking to change. Really fancy a Banshee Prime in mullet setup.   Riding the south Lakes most weekends; Grizedale etc. Only question mark over the Prime is 135mm rear travel. (Orange has 155).  Anyone have experience of the Prime and how it rides?

I had a v2 with 160mm Lyriks and it was superb, riding similar to you mention e.g. Laggan, Ochils, etc. I’d still be on it now only it developed a hairline crack on the top tube and I swapped all the bits onto a Canfield Tilt. Really, really capable bike that rode a lot bigger than 135mm. I’d happily have another.

Not fancy a Rune instead if wanting a bit more travel?

Amongst my many bikes, I’ve owned both Rune and Spitfire in previous years.  Runes a rocket ship in the right hands – I don’t own the right hands!  One reason I’m curious over the Prime is Banshee make a very good product but my previous ones were V1s.

I have a V3 and absolutely love it. It’s way more capable than I am nowadays but for buzzing about Speyside, the Cairngorms, Laggan and the like it’s brilliant. I have it set up 29er f+r with the slacker flip chips and it seems to work well, for me at least.

Titan? That said I had a Phantom many years ago. The suspension felt deeper and more composed than anything I’ve ridden with similar travel.

I was initially pondering the Titan but it’s very similar to the Alpine evo and I’m at the point where I think its overkill for a decent proportion of rides. The whole long travel/enduro type of bike just isn’t as compelling anymore!  How grown up is that eh!!!

Pedals in Edinburgh posted recently they had some decent pricing on Banshee, might be worth chatting to them.

I have a 3.2 prime full 29 with 160 lyriks. Just spent the day at BPW and it rode everything fine, Ive had 2 spitfires, a rune and a darkside. Prime is easily the best all rounder, pedals very well and is fine just pootling about on a mellow ride or pushing yourself on natural trails. No issues with cracking seatubes or alignment on 3.2s, no bolts loosen, all threads, bearing seats etc very well finished.

I had a V2. Very good alrounder. A bit heavy for tech climbing, but descended very well and not at all like a 135mm bike.

I have a V2 (29″ both ends) and would echo previous comments. Rides way better than the travel would suggest. For reference my previous bike was an Orange 5, and the Banshee out-performs it in all areas from my perspective.

One of my riding group is a Banshee dealer. He reckons his Prime is seriously good. Greet pedaller and more capable than the 135mm suggests. I’ve only ridden at Grizedale once but it didn’t seem like there was need for more travel than my local trails.

spitfire v3 owner, and a mate of mine just frame swapped from his privateer to the prime.

As above, no real issues with the low travel figures for either of us on the 135mm bikes

Thanks for guidance and comments much appreciated.

Always wondered why there isn’t more love for Banshee on here – V2 spitfire long term owner. Slightly overbuilt but high quality frame that just does everything really well IMHO. Would love a V3 sometime.

[pedlad]

pedlad

Full Member

Always wondered why there isn’t more love for Banshee on here – V2 spitfire long term owner. Slightly overbuilt but high quality frame that just does everything really well IMHO. Would love a V3 sometime.

too boutique for some, and they also dont make plastic and eebs.

the 135mm travel bikes are all very very capable, i’ve had spitfires, but now on a Rune – i do miss my spitfire though.. Prime if you want 29er or mullet is a very good choice!

Always wondered why there isn’t more love for Banshee on here – V2 spitfire long term owner. Slightly overbuilt but high quality frame that just does everything really well IMHO. Would love a V3 sometime.

@pedlad I love my V3.2 Rune, but went through 2 V3’s and 2 V2 Spitfires.

Prime V3 owner here.  I’m running 29 both ends with 160mm Marz Z1 upfront.

Great bike, significantly more capable than me but I don’t feel over biked on tamer trails.

Can’t fault it.

@BillOddie out of interest have you ever run it as a mullet?

I have thought about it but to be honest never really felt the need.